The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-24
Iron and Steel In Virginia.

Editor Of The Times.
Sir.-Referrlng 10 YOUR recent editorials
as TO The prospective developments in
Southwest Virginia. permit me 10 tnank
you for the encouragement which YOU
give 20 the people Of this section 10 hope
for an active business revival which
viii be due 10 the existence or great
natural resources. 10 has not been many
months since the writer was I'm conversa-
ton with prominent and influential
gentleman Of this city who. I'm the course
OF conversation. referred TO the control
Of the great iron deposits on the north
ern lakes by Carnegie and Rockefeller,
and remarked that The mining Of those
ores ana the cheap rates o. freight 10
Plttsburg sounded the death knell OF the
IRON Industry in the South and made the
IRON ores Of this section practically wall
ueless.
Without claiming prophteic vision. the
reply was that the distance of transpor-
iatl0n more than Offset the quality OF
those ores, and the low rate OF mining
them with their improved machinery.
and that the proximity 90 the furnaces
Of an material required en- the manufac-
ture or iron, gave Virginia an advantage
In this industry which Pennsylvania
could not overcome. But my friend could
not be induced 10 believe H. Since then
Mr. Carnegie has practically conceded
this advantage
one other point however. has caused
some people 90 doubt whether Southwest
Virginia can successfully compete with
Pittsburg and other northern centres in
iron ANA steel making. 10 is, Of course,
well known that the Norfolk and West
eru railway is the ONLY transportation
line which penetrates this section. Some
people have an idea that II any CORPORA
ton enjoys a monopoly In any branch OF
industry 10 will take advantage of that
fact 20 Cypress those who may Zoe de-
pendent upon Il. In whatever direction
one may Wish to travel or ship merchan-
disc from the city Of Roanoke he is de-
pendent upon this single line Of trans
porfatiOn. and this IS true OF the entire
section west Of Lynchburg But the par
ties who control this great system are
not unmindful OF the fact that in pro-
portion 10 tine prosperity Of the country
tributary to the road is the prosperity OF
the road itself Corporations are organ
izei and conducted for the purpose Of
making money for those who put their
money in them and. as you have so
forclbly said 50 often in your columns,
n is not the small smount Of business done
at high prices. but the large amount done
at low prices which brings the largest
aggregate Of profits A prohibitive freight
tariff for a railroad brings no more reve-
nue. 10 the road than prohihitive reve-
nue. tariff TO a government. This road is
managed by men who thoroughly under
stand their business and are working for
the largest possible revenue for the road.
To get this they must help to develop
the territory tributary to the line and Of
fer all reasonable inducements to farm
ers. miners and manufacturers to ship
whatever they have OF marketable value.
The general manager Of the road gives
assurance that his company will give 10
parties shipping from non-competitive
points on the line as reasonable rates as
can be secured by other parties shipping
from competitive points
With this assurance no one need hest
tate 10 engage in business al any point
on this road through fear or unjust dis
elimination in freight rates. This fact
will accelerate the development. which
otherwise might be hindered or absolutely
prevented. Business men, such as these
men are. would have no credit for bust
! ness sagacity II they adopted n policy
which would practically prohibit the ship
ment OF freight from points along theii
| line OF road. ii.
Roanoke, Va, Jan. ~, lS".