1907 - Iron Industry in Southwest

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Roanoke Times - June 11, 1907

IRON INDUSTRY IN SOUTHWEST

   A special correspondent of the Tradesman, writing from Big Stone 
Gap, Va., under recent date, says:
   In both the iron and coal trade of Big Stone Gap and Middlesboro 
conditions were never more favorable, and the business transacted 
this spring will far surpass that of the spring of 1906. The furnaces 
here are running full time and turning out a large quantity of 
material -- there being only one idle furnace (No. 1 in Middleboro) 
in this territory. This one is under much needed repairs, and as soon 
as complete the torch will be applied and iron making will be 
resumed. There is in this territory an urgent demand for all iron 
that can be produced-- especially pig iron -- and there is a movement 
afoot to greatly increase the production.
   There is very little accumulated on the yards owing to the ever 
increasing demand for the product -- especially through local 
conditions. On some of the railroad lines there is considerable 
congestion, and car shortage complaints are still heard. Quotations 
remain well up to the standard -- firm -- though many of the 
manufacturers even declare prices will advance before July 1. Present 
prices, $29 per ton, and increase of $2 since March 1st.
   The Powell's Vally Iron Company's plant here was "fired in" April 
15, and has since been running full time. Every plant here is working 
overtime, consequently other plants could do a good business.
   On Guests River, in Wise county, there are immense quantities of 
iron ore, and it is said that plans are on foot make early 
developments there. This is on the Norfolk and Western. Powell's 
Mountain, east of Norton, has also vast quantities of iron ore.
   A few years ago the coal development of this section was in its 
infancy, but the present year has seen its growth to the greatest 
industrial factor in the commercial possibilities of the South. Coke 
manufacturing towns have sprung up as if by magic, and in a territory 
all around the city of Big Stone Gap a veritable beehive of coke 
ovens is now evidenced, while other coke and coal towns are planned 
for the immediate future. The monthly pay-rolls of the miners in the 
Wise county field alone amount to close to the million mark and 
continue to increase at a rapid rate.
   "There years hence it will not surprise me to see no less than 
fifty vast coke manufacturing operations in Wise county, with the 
towns covering three-fourths of the entire area of the county," said 
a shrewd prospector to the Tradesman representative yesterday.
   At Looney Creek (Inman P.O.) 300 new coke ovens are being built. 
Electric machines for pulling coke, and entirely new device for Wise 
county, have been introduced. The plant at Imboden, on Pigeon Creek, 
will next put them in use. This plant is building 200 new coke ovens. 
The plants at Blackwood, Josephine, Stonega, Tom's Creek, Dorcester, 
Sutherland and Bear Creek, are all preparing for large increases.

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- Roger Link