CUBAN ORES IN VIRGINIA.
Tha Engineering and Mining
Journal's Article.
It Attempts to Disparage Virginia'? Posi?
tion as an Iron Stute by Assuming thai
'Cuban ?res are Indispensable?Tho
Able Itcply of Mr. K. C. Peehln?He
States the Exact Status of the Cuban
Ore ?Jucstion.
Tndcr tho heeding, ''Carrying Cuban
Iron Ores into Virginia," the Engineer?
ing and Mining Journal of recent date
contains the following article :
Tho statement is nnido by the Vir?
ginia Manufacturer of the 4th instant
that the Norfolk and Western railroad
proposes to import Cuban ore via Norfolk
for smelting in furnaces along the line
of that road. Cuban ore is claimed to
bo excellent for mixing with Virginia
oro to manufacture Bessemer pig iron,
and this importation would furnish
freight for the thousands of cars that
now carry coal from Pocahontas east?
ward and return empty.
We hope our Southern friends will
give us some fuller explanation of this
matter. We have been told for the last,
ten years that. Virginia and other South?
ern Stales possessed all the ore and coal
necessary to supply the "marketsof the
world" with iron for ages to come: that
the oro and coal were nearer together
than anywhere else, and that iron could
bo produced as cheaply as in England;
but now we learn that, Cuban ore is ex?
cellent to mix with Virginia ore?in
other words, that Virginia ore needs
some other eve to be mixed with it. to
improve it. I: Cuban ore can bo carried
into Virginia to meet the Pocahontas
bokc, it can quite as easily be carried
into Pennsylvania to meet the Councils- |
villo coke, and, if so. with the exception
of the temporary difference in cost of
labor, wages in Pennsylvania being
higher, the much-lauded advantages of
Virginia do not seem so very apparent,
it has not yet been demonstrated that
Virginia hits any beds of ore which are
tfqual in quality and extent either to the
Cornwall bed in Pennsylvania) to those
of the Lake Champlaiu region in New
York, or to those "of Cuba, still less to
those of the four great Lake Superior
regions.
However, we would by no means decry
tho resources of Virginia. While we
do not believe that she is going to sup
plant cither Pennsylvania or Illinois as
an iron center, we would not be at all sur?
prised to see her surpass Alabama or
oven Ohio. Tho accessibility of tho
Cuban ore is the one thing which gives
her a great advantage over the two
last named States.
The fact is, the United States is too
large a country to have only one great
iron center. No one slate has such a
monopoly of advantages that it can
expect to retain control of the industry.
According to the census returns. Penn?
sylvania increased her production of
pig-iron in ten years from 1,030,311 to
4,712,511, or 2,782,200 net tons. Ohio
increased from 548,712 to 1,302,209, or
75;i,5S7 tons; Illinois from 05,467 to 074,
f>00, or 750,038 tons; Alabama from 02.
33ii to 800,432. or 828,10(i tons, and Vir?
ginia from 17,000 to 302,447, or 284,.">41
tons. Pennsylvania's percentage of the
total product of the country decreased
from 51.05 to 40.10 per cent., Ohio from
14.51 to 13.59, while Alabama increased
1.65 to 9.2!) per cent., Illinois from 2.50
to 9.04 per cent,, and Virginia from 0.5
to 3.16 per cent. Although the percent?
age of Pennsylvania decreased, its
actual increase or production was more
than three times the increase of Ala?
bama, and nearly ten times the Increase
of Virginia. So, while tho increase of
Virginia and Alabama has been phe?
nomenal when reckoned in percentages,
the actual figures merely show a ten?
dency to distribution of the iron produc?
tion. Hinong many centers rather than to
concentrate? it in one.
The importation of Cuban ore is a mat?
ter of considerable importance to the
iron industry of the whole country as
well as of Virginia. If the new mines
now being developed should prove as
profitable as the Jurugua mines, which
shipped over 260,000 tons to this country
in 1889. they will make up for the defici?
ency which is threatened in the Spanish
and other foreign ores, and make the
Atlantic seacoast one of the best loca?
tions in the country for the production
of pig iron. Tho Pennsylvania Steel
Company, in building its new works at
Steolton, Md., has shown great foresight '
in this matter.
Assuming that the Cuban mines are
going to he a permanent source of a large
part of our iron ore supply, the question
of the best location for iron manufacture
becomes a very complex one. Some lo?
cations have one advantage and some
have another, but there is no place with?
out its disadvantages. Eastern Pennsyl?
vania is accessible to foreign ores and to
the ores of New York and New Jersey,
and it has its own Cornwall ores, which
will supply a portion of its demand only.
Its anthracite is not as good a fuel as its
Connellsville coke, and that has to be
carried a great distance. Its market is
close, at hand, being the whole of New
England, New York and Mastern Penn?
sylvania. Western Pennsylvania has
abundant fmd and access to all markets,
but has no iron ore. It always pays the
highest price, for ore, and is the meeting
point for ores brought from points as
distant as Minnesota and Algiers. Its
location at the head of the Ohio river is
unequaled for giving it command of the
markets of avast extent of territory,
and there, can be no doubt, that as long
as its fuel lasts, Pittsburg will he a great
manufacturing city.
The great source of supply of good ores
being tho Lake Superior region, and the
great coke region being that of Western
Pennsylvania and Southwestern Vir?
ginia, any number of local ions may be
selected between the ore and the fuel
which may be called good ones. Thus
?Connellsville in the coke region, Duluth.
Minn., near the iron mines, and Chicago,
Cleveland, Youngstown. etc.. between
them, are ail good locations, each one
supplying certain market, but none
able to command them all. Bach loca?
tion has its disadvantages, gn at dis?
tance from either f he or.- or coal, or both.
In tin South wo are told that these
disadvantages disappear, and that the
coal and the ore lie close together. Put
the importation of Cuban ores into Vir?
ginia throws doubt upon this claim. It
also has the disadvantage of being fur
tier from it largo market than any of the
m: re Northern locations named. The
groat advantage oT Virginia is its Poca
hontas coke and its accessibility to
Cuban ores. In this it is far ahead of
Tennessee and Alabama. These latter
States have at present the advantages of
the cheapest labor and the closest proxi?
mity of ore and coal, but neither will
the ore compare with Cuban ore nor the
coal with Virginia or Connellsville.
They can make an ordinary quality of
foundry iron, and sell it in competition
with Northern irons in Northern mar?
kets, but there is not much protlt in
sending the iron so far for a market, and
the great feature of the Alabama fur?
naces should be in supplying a demand
yet to ho created in the South itself.
The claims that Alabama can make iron
as cheaply as England must be received
w ith great caution, and even if it could,
it has not England's location on the sea
coast by which it can secure a foreign
trade. ' When England's supply of coke
and the Spanish and African ore mines
are nearly exhausted, then the conjunc?
tion of Cuban ores and Virginia coke
may make Virginia, but not Alabama,
the best iron location in the world, but
that day is probably far distant.
Mit. I'KCIIIN'S ItKt'I.Y.
An enormous amount of twaddle has
been going the round of the press in re?
gard to the Importation of Cuban ores
into Virginia, and you yourself have an
elaborate editorial on the subject, under
date of September Kith. I am in a po?
sition to make an authoritative state?
ment with regard to these ores. The
Norfolk and Western Railroad Company
has not bought any ore properties in
Cuba, and does not proposo to import
Cuban ores via Norfolk for smelting in
furnaces along the line of its road. The
railroad company is not interested,
either directly or indirectly, in the
smallest degree in the purchase of the
Signa mines in Cuba, and in the devel?
opments now taking place at that point.
Some parties interested in the securi?
ties of the Norfolk" and Western railroad
are subscribers to the stock of the Signa
Iron Company, but they are in a very
small majority. . The company is
purely a Northern company, controlled
by Northern and Fnglish capital, and
its intent is to open up large mining
operations at Signa, and to import the
high grade ores found there for any
market that may be open, either on the
whole Atlantic seaboard, or at approxi?
mate points to the seaboard in tho inte?
rior.
There is an independent scheme on
foot to establish steel works at or near
Norfolk, because that is a very desirable
point for the landitig of the Cuban ores
in the United States, especially in view
of the fact that Norfolk has direct and
easy communication with the splendid
cokes of the Flat Top region.
I trust that this short statement is
.sufficiently specific to give the puplic a
correct idea as to who control the Signa
mines.
A single word as to the subject-mat?
ter of your editorial, touching upon the
point of the use of the Cuban ores in
Virginia. You are perfectly right in
saying that Virginia has not opened up,
on a commercial scale, any Ressemer
ores. What she may do in this line is
yet to bo determined: but Virginia pos?
sesses enormous stores, beyond any per
adventure, of brown ores, admirably
adapted for tho making of forge anil
foundry iron. You understand as well
as anybody the value of a high grade
ore as a mixture with lower grade ores
for specific purposes, and it is quite
within the range of possibility that Cu?
ban ores, delivered at Norfolk, will be
used to a certain extent at interior
points in Virginia for tk^ purpose of ad
mixturo %vith the Virginia ores for cer?
tain purposes.
It will be extremely valuable for one
use, and that is for a "fix." Virginia
has no good "fix" ore. The rolling mills
already in operation get their supplies
of "fix" either from Northern New York
or from the bakes, and necessarily it is
vory expensive. If they can avail them?
selves at Norfolk of a high grade Cuban
ore, to serve as "fix," and at a price
much below what It is now costing
them, it is going to exercise; a very im?
portant influence in developing the roll?
ing mill business all along the lines of
the Virginia railroads.
funeral of Mr. A. McD.Smith.
The funeral of Mr. A. Mel). Smith will
take place Friday morning, the 10th
inst., at St. John's Episcopal Church at
ten o'clock a. m. Services by the Rev.
Dr. Meade. ' oct 8-2t j
"VJOTK'E.?In accordance with the
1^1 resolution unanimously adopted by
the stockholders of the RiVermont Com?
pany in general meeting assembled, in
the city of Lynchburg, on September 25,
notice is hereby given that the second
installment of 20 percent, or $2.00 per
share is called tobe paid on or before
the 15th day of October. 1800, Remit?
tances will be made by check payable
to the Rivermont Company, or by post
office order or by prepaid express. Those
who have- already paid their second in?
stallment will understand that this
notice does not apply to them.
?. M. DOYLE,
Secretary of Rivermont Company.
oct2-lawk&octl4
W.u. F. Baker. Wm. II. Mauki.ky.
BAKER & MARKLEY,
Real Estate Agents,
Have removed to 160 Salem avenue,
s. w., Roanoke, Virginia.
City property, farms and mineral lands
sold. Correspondence solicited.
ap3-tf
A First-Class Investment.
We offer the best security in the city
and pay semi-annual dividends. Asa
savings bank this institution offers
special inducements. Paid up shares
$50 each. Installment shares SI per
month. Shares may be subscribed fin?
al any time. For further information
ad Iress The People's Porpotual Loan
and Building Association.
WM. F. WINCH.
Scc.'y and Treas.
Room l, Masonic TomWn if
J
Virginia Green Building Stone.
Tins rare and valuable building stone
is located Immediately on the Norfolk
and Western railroad, within one mile
of Prospect depot, In the county of l'rinc.e
Edward and State of Virginia.
It has been used in the neighborhood
in which it is found for the past fifty
years for building purposes, tombstones.
It stands the test of time, looking as
fresh, anil lines as sharp and well de
lined as when first put up.
The color is a beautiful green and in
certain lights has the appearance of
burnished silver, or of being studded
with diamonds, making a very attract?
ive building. This is so rare as to make
it highly valuable, and will be much
Bought after by those who wish to put
up a handsome building for trimmings,
mantels, inlaid work, <&c. The prox?
imity to the railroad makes the cost of
transportation very low, costing to this
i place seven cents per hundred pounds,
i thereby placing it on the market in fair
competition with other and cheaper
grades of stem1. It being soft,when first
quarried, makes it easily worked,which
cheapens it as compared to other stones.
When exposed, it hardens quickly, and
will stand the pressure? of any required
weight without crushing o? flaking off.
The tract of land on which this stone
is found contains two hundred and
i ninety (200) acres, and is a beautiful
1 town site. Lots enough can be sold at
I low prices, and on easy terms, to pay
for the property, and leave the quarries
I and sufficient land in the hands of the
: purchaser. In this event, and under a
j good management, wo believe the pur?
chaser will (if he desires it) have every
; dollar be lias paid in paid back to him.
' and be absolute owner of a valuable
j "quarry" simply for tho outlay of the
i money for a short period.
it is further helloved that it will be
adopted as the building stone of the
country in the erection of all handsome
buildings, trimmings, &a. It will be
almost a monopoly, as it is the only
stone of its kind in tho South.
Wo have secured the whole boundary.
It is more valuable than marble, yet
much cheaper. It quarries and saws
much easier than most stones.
Two experts, whom every one has con?
fidence in. Mr. C. C. Wontwortb and Mr.
15. 11. Henderson, have made a thorough
test of it. and do not hesitate to state
"it is of the highest value." The latter
of these two gentlemen, who is assist?
ant superintendent of the Roanoke Ma?
chine Works, has given his certificate
that it will stand a pressure of 12,000
pounds to a square inch. This is fully
equal to granite.
The following are the certificates of
experts who have examined, worked
and tested the stono. To-wit:
Ckhtificatk ok M. V. CORSE. )
Roanoke City. )"
I Report of analysis of Ripidolitc. sample
furnished by Mr. .1. W. Ncal, Roan?
oke. Virginia, duly 7. 1800.]
Minerological name, Ripidolitc.
Composition:
Silica.
Alumina.
M agnosia.
Oxide of Iron.
Water.
Chromium (trace onlv).
M. II. CORSE.
Certificate of Wit. D. ANOEL, )
Roanoke City, f
Roanoke, Va., .July 2isR 1800.
Having made a thorough examination
of the Oreon Stone Quarry at Prospect
Depot, on the N. & W. R. R., I hereby I
certify that it is my belief that the
quarry is very extensive, and almost in?
exhaustible in stone, and by proper ma?
chinery believe it can he gotten out
very economically and easily.
(liven under my hand this day and
year above written.
Wm. D. ANOEL.
CKRTIF1CATK of Capt. R. V. DAVIS, )
Prospect Depot, f
PnosrEcr Depot, Va., July 10. isoo.
Having been requested by the "Vir?
ginia Green Stone Building Company"
to give my opinion as to the quality of
stone on the tract of land belonging to
I. B. Fitzgerald and R. S. Paulet, at or
near Prospect Depot, in the County of
Prince Edward, and State of Virginia.
I hereby state that I have worked and
gotten out this stone for the past forty
years or more, and therefore donothosi
tatejto state that, in my opinion it is in
almost inexhaustible quantities, and is
capable of easy working, handling. &c.
tliven under my hand this the Kith day
of July, 1800.
R. V. DAVIS.
State of Virginia, ),,, ..
County of Prince Edwa no. j ?
[, J. B. Glenn, a Justice of the Peace
in and for the County of Prince Edward,
in the State of Virginia, do certify that
R. V. Davis, whose name is signed to the
writing above, bearing date the Kith day
of July. 1800, hits acknowledged tin*
same before me in tho County and State
aforesaid. 1
j (Jiven under my hand this 10th day of
I July, 1800.
.1. B. GLENN, J. P.
j Certificate of (5. R. HENDERSON, >
Roanoke City. )
MR. neal:
I have had 7*,'.000 pounds on this piece
of stone, or about 12,000 pounds per
square inch. This is fully as high as
fables give for granite and limestone.
You see the stone has just com
menccd to crush, Yours &c.,
O. R. HENDERSON.
Certificate of j. McD. Robinson.)
Roanoke City \
To P.. Lacey H?ge, Secretary und Treas?
ury,
DEAR SIR:
1 have just closed a two weeks'work
on the Green Stono Quarry at or near
Prospcot Depot, Va.. N. & W. R. R.,
and hereby certify that, from the de?
velopment made, thai the quantity is
abundant, and the quality equal to the
testimonials attending this certificate.
J. Mel). ROBINSON.
For further information, address or
call on B. lacy Hook, Secretary and
Treasury, room .">. Moomaw Building,
Jefferson street. Roanoke. Va., or J. W.
Neal. J. R. Cunningham. Dr. II. V
Gray, Roanoke, Va., and W. P.. Bright
well. Salem. Va.
Ladle* Have Tried it.
A number of my lady customers have
tried "Mother's Friend." anil would not
he without for many times its cost.
They recommend if to all who tire to
become mothers. R. A. Payne, Drug?
gist, Greenville, Ala. Write Rradflold
Reg. Co.. Atlanta. Ca., for particulars.
Sold by Budwell Christian & Barbee.
Rowaro of Frauds.?Be sure you get
tho genuine Dr. Thomas' Eclectric oil.
It, cures, colds, croups, asthma, deaf?
ness and rheumatism.
The leading taouso In Southwest
Virginia for
OYSTERS
Wo aro now serving the celebrated
LYNN HAVEN BAY OYSTERS.
In ?very style?Fried, Stewed, Broiled,
etc., and we make a specialty of
STEAMED OYSTERS.
In addition, we have the finest
Pool and Billiard Parlor
in the State.
Ladies' and Gents' Dining
Rooms np stairs.
OPEN ALL NIGHT.
Chas. J. Ormsby,
Proprietor.
142 First avenue s. w.
We wish to call your attention to the
fact that tho
COST-FOR-CASH SALE
Is still going on at P. G. May's, and
we can save you big money if you will
call and examine our line of
DRY GOODS, NOTIONS, SHOES, ETC.
Shoes at prices lower than the lowest,
in fact almost at your own figures. An
examination will pay you. aug-Ttf
ENGLEBY & BROS,
MANUFACTURERS OF
TIN AND SHEET-IRON WARE,
AJTO DBAI.RR8 ix ai.i. kinds OF
COOKING AND HEATING STOVES.
Plumbing nnd Gas-Fitting, Roofing,
Spouting and Jobbing.
10 Salem avenue, ROANOKE, VA.
au.vtf.
J. U. McNAMEE. TOM. HAYSLIP.
McNAMEE & HAYSLIP,
HOUSE, SIGN AND FRESCO PAINTERS,
GRAINERS AND PAPER HANGERS.
Shops, Radford. Va. Riehlands, Vn.,
Ruena Vista. Va. Headquarters, Roa
noke, Va. Lock Rox 0, Roanoke, Va.
tf
FUQUA & BOAZ
PRACTICAL
Tinners,
Plumbers,
Gas and
Steam Fitters
Heating by Steam. Hot Water or Hot
Air Furnaces.
ItOOFtNO, GUTTKRING, SPOUTING
401 JEFFERSON ST.,
ROAXOKB,.VHIGIXIA.
Estimates cheerfully given on this line
of work. jetj-Cm.
A. L. GoRLKY, President.
S. P. GORI.KY, Vice President.
J. S. Simmons, Sec'y. and Treas.
WEST END
Brick and Tile Works,
Manufacturers of first-class llrick of
all kinds, including No. 1 Press Rrick
Draining Tile. Ac. Works on West
Campbell street, Roanoke, Va. Rox
013. apri-Gm
UNIVERSAL WORKSHOP, 11!
Commerce street. We make to
order rubber stamps, stencils, corporate
seals, wax seals, steel and iron dies,
keys of all kinds, key tags, name plates,
badges, branding boards. burning
brands, baggage checks, stamping tools,
otc. We repair sewing maecinos,
watches, clocks, music boxes, writing
desks, fans, lawn mowers, typewriters,
canes, scissors, table cutlery, toys of all
kinds, glassware, earthenware, trunks,
valises, and everything generally. If
you have anything broken do not throw
it away before consulting us; if we can?
not mend it WO will tell you where you
can have it done. Wo will lit your
Ionise with electric, bells, burglar alarms,
annunciators, gas lighters, dooroponers
etc. Special attention given to fitting
hotels with electric call-bells, and Pat?
rick Carter return call and lire alarm
system combined. SHARP A ADDICKS,
115 Commerce street. B0p27-lm
W. S. GOOCH,
President.
C. E. H?GE,
Vice President.
lt. L. CHILES,
See'y & Tr.,
Old Dominion Investment Co.
OFFICE IN CITIZENS' BANK BUILDING.
Makes and Negotiates First-Class Investments.
apft-Gm
J, E. Mulcare & Co.,
Manufacturers of
TIN AND SHEET-IRON WARE,
And dealers in all kinds of cooking and heating stoves.
Plumbing and gas and steanifitting done. Tin roofing a
specialty. Satisfaction guaranteed. No. 115 First avenue,
Roanoke, Va. aps-tf
lNVKST IN
ROANOKE REAL ESTATE.
For example: Three lots bought for $17,000 five
months ago sold for $35,000 last week.
Similar instances numerous.
FRANCIS B. KEMP & CO.,
Agents for all kinds of property, improved and unimproved, city and suburban.
_ tf
Geyer's Tailoring Parlors.
Our stock having been destroyed by fire, we have just
received an entire new line of goods which we should be
glad to have our patrons and the people of Roanoke,
generally, call and examine. No trouble to show goods.
A. J. OA vis.
J. A. PAGE.
AUGUST HEXING
ij^C-Ajezie is/loistbtst fast.
If you want to make
Safe and Profitable Investments,
Call on or write to
ID^TTIS, JF-A-O-E 6z CO.,
Heal Estate Agents. 23 Salem Avenue, Roanoke, Va.
We have a corps of salesmen that will always be ready to show our customers
about the city. Parties desiring information in the mater of investments,
grea t or small, will do well to consult us. ocU-lm
REMOVAL.
J. F. WINGFIELD,
Fire, life ?and accident, in?
surance and real estate agent,
has moved his office to
NO. 114 COMMERCE STREET,
Where he will be pleased to
see his customers. Major A.
Iv. Pitzer is with this firm, and
would be glad to see his friends.
fob2-tf
JUST RECEIVED
A full line of
Boots.
Hats
AND
Trunks
Which are open for inspection.
E. GOETZ,
31 Salem Avenue, Roanoke, Virginia
tt
H.M. LINNEY&SON,
REAL ESTATE AGENCY.
For Sale.
Twelve Store-Houses on Salom Avenue.
Ten Building Lots on Campbell Street.
LOTS ON THE WEST END BOULE?
VARD
Prom S<iO() to 81,500. In Rcllmont, from
$100 to ?500.
A GOOD PLACE TO INVEST.
Near the College Institute from ?300
to 8400. tf
fATffiiYftW W. I., onunaij Mhoen are
uAUlivil w nminted, and ?vory pnir
Iiiih IiIm iiami) mid price Mumped on bottom.
W. L. DOUGLAS
$3 SHOE GENTLEMEN.
Vine Calf and -Laced Waterproof Grain.
Tho excellence and wearing qualities of this shoo
cannot lie better shown than by the strong endorse?
ments of Us thousands of constant wearers.
Sh.OO (.canine Hnnd-fievred, nn elegant and
O stylish dress Shoo which commends itself.
S A .OO Hand-Hewed Weit. A fine calf Shoo
unequalled for stylo and durability.
BO Ooodycar Welt Is tho etandard dress
B4.
Shoe, nt >, popular price.
$*S.RO Policeman'* Shoe 1bespecially adapted
o for railroad men, farmers, etc.
All mado la Congress, Button and Laco. i
$3&$2 SHOES LAFD?,gs.
taavo been most favorably received since Introduced
and the recent improvements IT"*"
to any shoes sold at these prices.
and the recent improvements mako them superior
' j any shoes sold at these prices.
Ask your Dealer, ar.d if he cannot supply you send
direct to factory enclosing advertised price, or a
postal for order blanks.
*^ . W. Li. DOUGLAS, nrocktoo, Maas.