The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1899-06-22
NOW IN FULL BLAST.
Six of the l3 Furnaces In the
Virginia District Running.
USE 5000 TONS OF ORE
DAILY.
Mr.. Chapman, Of the Virginia Iron,
TO a Representative OF the
New York CONNER
CiaI

Everett b. Chapman, OF New York, has
recently been on tour through Virginia
aud Tennessee, inspecting the properties
of the Virginia lion, Coal and Coke Co.,
in which he is largely interested. In an IN
tervicw with the New York COmmcrc'df Mr.
Chapman expressed himself as extremely
well satisfied with the improvements when
have been made since the consolidation OF
the iron aud coal properties III Virginia
and Tennessee took place few months ago
We have already running in full blast,
said he, "six of the thirteen furnaces ~
the Virginia district. New stoves are be-
ing placed in the Grocer furnaces, and the
capacity Of the Bristol plant will be IN
creased to 800 tons of pig iron per day
The other properties are being made ready
to work as quickly as possible, but 1t is
slow work. Nearly all the furnaces re-
onire 900 tons of ore day in order to
keep them running, and getting 'hem
Il
order 10 provide for the opening OF the
furnaces VIC must open NJ new MINES
provide for the transportation OF the coal
and coke as well as the ore. III Is no"
nroposcd 70 connect RadiOrd, Va, where
the Eadford furnace and pipe works are
located. by branch of the Norfolk ana
Western railroad with Floyd. The new
branch will open up very rich aud valu-
able iron ore bed that we purchased WIN
the Radiord furnace and plpc WORKS wheh
that property was transferred TO our com
pany 3.
1--WE are now making profit OF - a
TON on our pig iron, and the demand lar
exceeds our present capacity. The reason
we are able to manufacture so much
cheaper than Western concerns Is the TACT
that our iron and coal deposits lie, to all
intents. next TO each other. The best au-
thorities on this question, | may add, have
reporied that the deposits arc practically
inexhaustible.'
Mr.. Chapman said that as yet the whole
attention and resources OF the company
had been directed to the furnaces along
the line of the Norfolk and Western, and
in that vicinity. ave have not opened
our pine works at RadfOrd, but they Will
be put i'm operation as soon as the neces-
sary repairs can he made.
"Did the sale of the railroad properties
of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad
Co. TO the Louisville and Nashville and
Southern railroad mean a step in its ultl-
mate consolidation with the Virginia Iron,
Coal and Coke Coz" was asked.
4 Ia
"Is it the intention of the Virginia com
panv to amalgamate with the Tennessee
Coal and Iron Co. and thus control, as re-
ported, the vast coal and iron resources OF
the Southern statesY
cannot make any definite answer to
that as vet, replied Mr.. Chapman. "No
one knows what will happen in such cases.
There is no reason why such a step should
not be taken"
He then referred to the conditions OF
trade in the Southern states. Mr.. Chap |
mans interests, as identified with the
Moore aud Schley clientele, lie to Il great
extent in the south He has been stu
dent of trade conditions there for some
years, and states that never has he seen
such favorable conditions, 1.-The people |
are happy and prosperous said he, and
making lots of money. Labor is at II pre-
MUM, aud no one need 90 without work.
Along the line of our furnaces there is a
marked scarcity of laborers 50 much so
that we are compelled to import them
from localities further South. New in |
dustries are also being Incorporated to de-
yclOp natural resources and factories
which have been closed down are now re-
opening.-Puioski Neus Reriew.