The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-22

MYSTERY AOV[ns OVER
MANUFACTURE OF AClD.
Plant at Pulaski a yeritable
Sphinx Among En-
terprises.
Especial to rho Timcs-Dispatcf,.)

4 especial TO Inc EllfneS-l)lSphICnJ
PULASKI CITY, VA. October 21.-1n
the sulphurlc acid plant, owned by tho
Pulaski Mining Company, Pulaski City
has yerltable sphynx among 1nanufac-
turing concerns, albeit one that promises
to become the leadlns industry OF this
prosperous and fast-growing young city.
There Is nothing In It's new point and
tional outlines that suggests the
mystery that hovcrs over and round
1t, and sets tho seal Of aloofness from
the world upon It's Threshold
Nevertheless. 1t is hedged about as eff
fectlvely as II guarded by Il hundred
headed dragon, like the golden fleece of
ancient mythology, or by an angel with a
two.edgcd sword.
Visitors are not admitted, and no men,
Der Of the newspaper fraternity has ever
by hook or crook, succeeded in passing
the sacred portals or extracting from Its
officials more than an atom Of infOrma-
ton concerning It's workings and the
amount of business II Is doing.
Thus a plhnt which Is valued at five
hundred thousand dollars, and which is
preparing TO double its capacity, has kept
out OF the public eye, and only few
paragraphs concerning It have appeared
In the public prints.
The plant Is of more than passing in
tcrest, however. 1t Is not merely the
only sulrhuric acid plant in this section
OF the State, but the only one employ
Ing exactly the same methods of manu-
facture. Indeed, the manner In which
the sulphurc acid is separated from the
iron ore was an experiment. But 1t has
passed the experimental stage, having
been In operation three months, and the
fact that the company Is doubling the
capacity f&its plant proves conclusively
the success OF the expe riment.
The sulphuric acid plant is situated
In East PULASKI, and comprises about
twenty acres. carefully enclosed. The
office and laboratory building guards the
entrance.
The following facts were CLEANED from
reliable sources By your correspondent:
The Pulaski Mining Company. which is
composed of Northern capitalists, own
extensive mines In Carroll county called
the Gossan Lead. IS The supply OF Iron
ore or mundice rock, rs it is termed, is
practically inexhaustlble but contains 80
much sulphur that It is not adaptable for
smelling. With the sulphur removed,
however. it Is more valuable than ordl-
nary iron ore, and It was for this purpose
that the new plant was built
Accordingly. the company has two yalu-
able assets, the sulphuric acid and the
iron ore which Is crushed and refined by
me process Oh removing the sulphur, ana
Is thus more valuable than other crude
iron ore, as 1t comes from the mines.
AS a result OF this superiority, 1t will
not only be sought after, but vii bring
better price. The company has the fur
ther advantage OF market at their very
doors. Pulaski has two iron furnaces,
The Dora and the Pulaski Iron Company
Furnace. -lsil
In an interview with Mr.. Howard.
superintendent Of the latter furnace,
asked: Have. you used any OF the ore
from the suphuric aoid plant 2" ~
Not as yet" he replied, but we intend
to do 50. Just as soon as they will fur
nsh 1t to u.s."
] have asked a number Of prominent
business men of Pulaski, but have never