Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1910-06-24
Mr.. CATLETT ON ESTABLISH.
MENT OF FURNACES At
CHARLESTON, s. G.

In the Manufacturers Record of
June 16, Mr.. Charles Catlett, of this
city, has a most interesting article on
the subject of Charleston, s. c., as q
new center of Iron Production. He
says in part:
If nine people out of ten who are
uulte familiar with the iron industry
were told that there was valuable
iron mine at Charleston, s. c., they
would listen with establishment, and
there would be an awful stir among
the erstwhile land boomers of the early
9Os if they were to learn that some of
the Virginia furnaces were depending
on this source of supply. YET there is
produced annually in Charleston a
sufficient amount of iron ore to supply
Small furnace, and within q reason
able hauling distance of Charleston
enough to run good-sized iron fur
mace The main portion of that which
has been marketed has gone to the
Virginia furnaces.
This ore runs over 60 per cent. in
metallic iron, and is very low in phos-
phoru,. 1t is high in sulphur and in
bad physical condition, but both of
these difficulties may be removed by
running through a nOdulizing furnace.
In tacl, such nodulized ore has been
sold " ilh a guarantee of IS per cent.
iron and .05 sulphur.
He then discusses that point as a
point favorable for the production Of
iron, and compares it with Sparrow Is
Point, Nd, and also the possibility OF
bringing Cuban ores to Charleston.
He thinks the location peculiarly fit
ted to retort coke ovens. On this sub
ject he says:
Charleston seems peculiarly well sit
uated for retort coke ovens. There is
already gas demand which would
take care of the surplus from block
of ovens, and the market could be
largely increased. The fertilizer fac
tories use far more ammonium sui
plate than would he produced by a
large block of ovens, and the tar should
find use in treating piles and ties and
in surfacing roads. The Pocahoptas
coke can reach Charleston over lines of
recent construction, but more especial
ly, since the completion of the Carroll
ma, Clinchfield & Ohio Ry. to Spar
tanburg, it is possible, in combination
with the Southern Ry., to place coal
in Charleston as cheaply as the Poca-
hontas coal can be delivered at Nor
folk, or the New River coal at New
port News. The industrial face of the
country has been permanently chang
ed. This coal is good coking coal,
and much superior to Pocahontas for
use in retort coke ovens. Plans are be-
ing made for exporting it largely, and
the vessels which carry the coal abroad
will collect ore and bring it back.
There is no good flux locally. and
probably the purest and on the whole
most economic limestone would come
from the excellent deposits on the line
of the Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio
Ry. in Tennessee. But the ore avail
able would require minimum amount
of fux, while the local conditions
would make the resulting Stag of spec
ial value for filling purposes and as q
substitute for broken stone, which
brings very high price.
He concludes his most interesting
article thus:
1t certainly looks as if, under the
changed conditions which are as truly
permanent as if a new river had COM
menced to flow or new mountain
chain elevated, Charleston presents
attractive opportunities for the inaug-
uratiOn of a furnace enterprise which
will in time grow to large proportions.