The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1899-03-09

supplying this furnace with all The ore II
requires.
IL Salem furnace is TO run on basic
open-hearth ore, the Rorer mines, only
six miles distant by rail, which have been
worked for years, and which are part OF
the largest deposit of Potsdam ore ] know
Of in Virginia, ought with ease to give
10000 tons a month. thus fully providing
Tor this furnace.
The Radfurd- Crane has no ores in its
immediate vicinity, and its supply would
have to come from other points along the
line of the Norfolk and Western railroad.
Satisfactory ohowings Of ore are reported
At Little River, II miles back, but to
reach these a road must he built. The
ore to supply this furnace at the present
time must he hauled from 30 to 80 miles.
Graham furnace occupies a peculiar
position. Within ten miles of the Poca-
hontas coal, il was supposed that appar-
emily large show;ngs of brown ore only a
few miles distant on the Clinch Valley
extension of the Norfolk & Western would
| afford an abundant and very cheap ore
supply. 1t subsequently proved that
these ores were Of the observation-disclosures
| states and were simply great cappings OF
| ore on slate and sandstone and without
depth. Prospecting was then begun on
the other side of the great fault, and very
excellent ore lying in and on the lime
stones forming the valley at tho base OF
East River Mountain, and through which
the Bluestone flows. A branch Of three
miles was needed to reach these ores, but
by this time funds were getting low, the
"boom" was waning and the furnace has
since stood cold and lonely.
But another and most important source
Of supply is now available-the red fossil
ores near Biz Stone Gap. These can he
mined at low cost with n moderate haul.
There is a further possible source of supply
not only to the Graham and Radford
furnaces. but also TO Dora and Max
Meadows, of such Importance that it
would he unwise not to consider 1.-THE
great Oriskany field. A bridge across the
New River and a branch l3 miles in length
has been built from the Norfolk and
Western TO the timber and ores ON the
Mountain Lake estate. Several openings
have been made in the ore aud shirlnents
made. At this point the Oriskanv is lean
and siiicious, running only 80 TO 40 per
cent in iron. At frequent intervals, both =.
along Craig and Potts creek, this great
Oriskanv ore seam. worked so c%0ntinu- =,
Dusly and successfully at Longdale, Low i
moor, Ritch Patch, Dolly Ann and other
makes bold shOwings. a practical ;
route can be had through this
country, running from New River to the r,
& Ohio. la these DAYS the '
building of - or 40 miles Of railroad to II
each timber and ores is a bagatelle. and
NOuHtNAlVu OHNt HNhC iuG Nblltlh RI
md Western furnaces will have great p
torres of ore TO draw upon. r
In my judgment this consolidation is =,
he most important industrial move ever
made in Virginia. The furnaces and ore .
'roperties in the hands of various weak q,
.wners were doomed to failure. Under q
he control of one strong organization o'
nth ample capital to back it, it ought to
made a great business success, and ic
rake the whole section in which it Oper- a.
ties prosperous. 1t must, Of course, not r.
top short at making pig iron. 1t must fs
lrn its pig into at least steel billets.
cnture nothing in saying that, with the til
ash it is said to control properly expend- hl
by a capable and economical manage 49,
tent, the Virginia Coal, Iron and Rail- NJ
ay Company can deliver the highest Ri
rade Of basic open-hearth steel at tide
alter as cheaply as can be done by any Po
her concern in the United States, with Ia
1T any exception. III VIII take a redSOH- -
bic amount of money TO develop the min hi,
Z properties to a point that will guaran- us
e a full supply of ores to all the furnaces su
ut if ! I'm not entirely mistaken as to
lie business abilities of the president and an
neral manager, MIR. Geo. l.. Carter, the ~
me taken will be so short as to surprise fro
'etty much every one. mt
| do not express any opinion as 10 the me
.Iancial outcome of the enterprise. This w.
'pends upon too many contingencies. We
IMPLY desire to say that with a fairly full
'rsonal knowledge of the field. it is sur
'riectly possible to supply at Il low cost Nj
e quantity Of ore needed to run the eu
ruaces embraced in the consolidation. ~,
EDMUND =. PECHIN. I'm
Buchanan, Va.
ANOTHER COMBINE. sta