Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-06-24
AND BUILDING NEW ONES
Tho sron Hnteresfs, Having Pns~cd
Through Long Period Of Deprca-
sion are Nnw Pronpering-Dc.
interests From the virginins to
Alabama.
Especial to virglnian-pilot.)

reported by the Manufacturers Record
are the continued activity in the en-
larGement of established cotton mills
and the building of new ones. 1t is
especially noticeable that throughout
the cotton mill districts of the South
the new mills are being built very
largely by local capital, and are to be
managed by local people. The pre-emi-
nent success of the textile interests of
the South has encouraged the increas-
ing investment of local money in new
mills, and at the present time nothing
else seems to appeal so strongly to the
local people as cotton mill investments
THE IRON INTERESTS.
The same thing should be true in the
development of iron interests, for the
Souths advantages for cotton manu-
featuring are not greater than its adj
Nantages for iron making. and though
the iron interests of this section have
passed through a long period of de-
preston, and in all other sections they
are now phenomenally prosperous, and
the entire output of Southern pig iron
is to-day probably being sold at 100
per cent. above the cost of manufac-
ture.
Outside capitalists. realizing the
South's advantages for this Industry
are making very large investments in
southern coal and iron properties, and
IN the purchase of idle furnaces to be
put into operation as rapidly as posi-
bic. Some extensive combinations are
being formed in addition To those which
nave heretofore been announced and
oil Indications point 10 Il very grea, de-
Velopnent of the coal, iron and steel in
terests. of the whole territory from the
Nirginas to Alaba ma. There might be
some reason to doubt the long continu-
ance OF the tremendous activity and the
great profits which the iron interests
or the country are now enjoying but
Tor the fact that in Germany a similar
condition has existed for the last three
or four years without any signs OF let
up. A letter received by the Manu-
facturers' Record to-day states that
German iron works are unable to ac-
cept orders to he filled within twelve
months. having sold their entire pro-
duct ahead and in some cases as far
as two years. The iron-mak king con-
Germs of Germany and Austria are ns
prosperous as those of this country
and this prosperity has lasted with
out break for some years: and at the
present time there is an incrca sing
scarcity of iron in England. with n
steady advance in prices in that coun-
try also However much we may be in
clined 10 look upon this advance as of
proba bic short dura ton. because of the
difhculty of believing that such per-
lou VI dttlNily anu prosperity can con-
tlnue Tor any great length OF time, vet
all of the conditions in this country and
In Germany and England would seem
to indicate that the result must be MS
predicted by Mr.. Abram s. Hewitt in
his recent letter to the Manufacturers
Record. in which he took the ground
that there would be continuance OF
this rush OF business for at least two
or three years.
Stimulated by the prosperity OF the
there Is a general tendency to improve
mert throughout that whole section.
and everything indicates steady adj
vance of the business interests Of the
Southern States.
RADIATING FROM BRISTOL.
In the tri-State region. which has
Bristol. Tenn Va. as a natural center.
energies Of various kinds are being ex1
erted in preparation to take advantage
of the expansion in the iron industry.
That the Virginia Iron, Coal and Coke
Company has decided to make Bristol
it's headquarters for its vast enterprises.
means much for Southwest Virginia
and Eastern Tennessee. The company
Is steadily developing. with satisfactory
results from its properties in Johnson
county, Tenn, and several thousand
tons OF iron of excellent quality have
been mined and stacked. while the
route of railroad up the Watauga
River Valley from I1liZabethton TO the
properties is being surveyed. Other
railroad enterprises are contempla ted
for that region. a charter has been
granted for road which it is proposed
to construct from Damascus, Va. to
Shady Valley, Tenn. an extension Of
the Abingdon and Damascus railroad
which will branch from the Norfolk
and Western at Abingdon. This road
is to bring out the immense quantities
OF timber from the mountains in Vir-
ginia and Tennessee. 1t is expected
mat the building of the Knoxville and
Bristol railroad will begin soon. BY
this road the Norfolk and Western
would have southern outlet from
Bristol. connecting at Knoxville with
the Atlanta, Knoxville and Northern
railroad.
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.
Over in Western North Carolina, in
the neiehborhood of Murphy. the adj
vance in the iron and steel industries
has started the mining and shipping
or iron ore. The property being opened
lies directly upon the Southern Rail-
way The extension of siding for
1900 feet will enable the company to
ship from 300 TO 400 tons a day mined
above the level OF the track. This OMEN
Ing OF new iron properties and the de-
velopment OF older fields In AIabam,
and Virginia. together with increased
demand for coal. is adding largely to
the tonnage OF Southern Railroad lines.
which has been swelled considerably of
late by the movement of large shin
nents OF cattle and lumber toSouth-
ments OF cattle and lumber to South
4 an excellent demand for both Is main
tanned.
THE RAILROADS.
~, 4f,e meantime propreas Ia maxine,