Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-03
SOUTHERN DEVELOPMENT.
MOVEMENT OF CoAL-THE IRON
INDUSTRY.
Especial to virgInian-Pllot.)


Especial to Virglnian-Pilot.)
Baltimore. Md, Aug. Insignificant as
are the recent movements of coal for
export from Baltimore. Norfolk, New
port News and other Southern ports
md of the outward bound trend OF iron
through the Gulf ports, they are really
but indications of the immense bust
ness in that direction which may be
expected with full development of the
Souths powers.
Touching this matter n writer in this
weeks Manufa cturers' Record makes
the following suggestive statements:
IF one will look at the map 1t will be
very plain that the big bituminous coal
districts of Pennsylvania, Virginia and
West Virginia are naturally tributary
to the ports of the Chesapeake. The
nearest export outlet and the point
where Connellsville coke can best meet
ores from the West Indies or from
Nova Scotia is Baltimore and It's sur
rounding plants. And the Norfolk and
Western and Chesapeake and Ohio are
naturally tributary to Norfolk. New
port News, Gloucester Point and other
lower Chesapeake harbors. which Will
be equally meeting points for imported
ores
"Thnt from this on there will be a
steadily growing European demand for
American coal and coke Is rs certain as
any future event can be. But the
growth in domestic consumption of coal
and coke along the coast and concen-
trating on Chesapeake ports will be
even greater.
IRON INTERESTS.
at is In the hands OF the iron men
around the Chesapeake and others who
will follow them there to control the
enormous export trade in steel rails
that will grow out of Siberian. Chinese,
African and South American railway
construction. because. for export. they
can put their product on board vessels
at lower cost than can be done by
the great works at Pittsburg. Cleve-
land. Chicago or in the interior of
Pennsylvania. That proposition Is so
self-evIdent that it needs no argument
1t only awaits the development of the
orc fields of the West Indies and Nova
Scotia.
THE recently discovered enormous
deposits of basic ores in Antagonist
county. Nova Scotia, lays a foundation
for unlimited interchange of coke and
ore between Northumberland Straits
and Chesapeake Bay.
Again. while Newport News has q
great pioneer ship building plant and
Baltimore smaller ones,-there is room
for expansion, and from year to year
all of these concerns will find increas-
ing work to do, and there will be other
plants on the west side of the Chesa-
peakc, both in Maryland and Virginia
These will call for big plate mills and
for facilities for making all the forms
of iron and steel, including machinery,
that go into ship-building on the
grandest scale. And angles, beams and
whatever goes into the construction of
great buildings; pipe and all that goes
Into municipal underground work, for
which the great cities of the coast will
furnish so large a market. can be made
at coast plants at as low cost as any
where in the world.
MATTER OF FUEL.
"As to the fuel side OF it, Pennsylva-
mia. Virginia and West Virginia, the
great coal-yards full of steam coal to
supply our coastwise and foreign COM,
merce and for export. can lay down at
the Chesapeake ports an unlimited
quantity of the finest steam-raising
coal and the best smelling coke in the
world. and at cost below that at
which these great staples can be else
where assembled. That Is an indis-
putable fact and one that can't be got
over. and which will not be much longer
overlooked. The reaction now going on
in the iron and steel trade is already
calling very marked attention to 1t.
THE development of the coal inter
ests of Virginia and West Virginia has
proceeded steadily until the State is
Just coming into second place. and will
soon not only be ahead Of but will dis
tance Illinois, now next to Pennsylva-
MIA"
The writer Justly believes that the
Tennessee and Alabama fields will be
able TO take care of themselves. Their
development points to conditions on the
Gulf somewhat similar to those prom
ised for the Chesapeake ports. When
it is remembered that the demand for
industrial fuel is steadily on the in
crease. that much Of IL for many years
must be supplied by the South. and that
the uncovering of such resources there
has not begun to affect their strength
to an apprecia 5le extent the part to be
played by the South in the worlds in
dustrial history may be comprehended.