125 years ago in 1899, transcribed as originally published in the Youngstown Vindicator:

This city will be greatly benefited by the addition of a new steel plant to the list of industries. Will be a first-class plant with all modern appliances — something about it.

The announcement of the Republic Iron and Steel company’s decision to establish a new steel plant here, which was made Thursday, was the chief topic of conversation throughout the city today. For many years the Mahoning Valley has been recognized as a leader in the manufacture of pig iron. It is now regarded as one of the most suitable localities in the country for the manufacture of steel. All the conditions favorable to that industry are to be found here, and its future as a steel producing section is regarded by men of long experience as most promising.

As stated Thursday, the Republic company will remove the mill now located at Alexandria, Ind., of which it recently secured possession, to this city. The location proved to be a poor one for the manufacture of steel, owing to its distance from blast furnaces, the nearest being over a hundred miles away. This disadvantage was too great to be overcome during the times that then existed, and, although it was completed ready for operation, the plant was never started up. The mill was built at Alexandria at about the same time the Ohio Steel works was constructed here, and was equipped throughout with modern machinery. At the time of the organization of the Republic company the property was in the hands of a receiver. Subsequently its affairs were straightened out, and together with a rolling mill it was purchased by the Republic.

After the purchase of the plant, local stockholders of the company who have been active in their endeavors to secure the location of a steel plant in this city ever since the company was organized, proceeded to set forth the advantages to be derived from moving the plant here, with the result being announced yesterday.

The mill will give employment to several hundred men. Another gratifying feature is that the bringing of this plant to Youngstown would seem to indicate that the Republic company is preparing for the future. There will come a time when the mills that can produce iron or steel cheapest will be the only ones kept in operation. The others will be shut down. It will be during such times as this that its benefit to the city will be greatest.

With its furnaces, steel mills and finishing mills grouped in this city, the indications are that the local will be the last of its plants closed down by the Republic company. The establishment of the steel plant here would seem ample assurance that if any are operated when hard times come, the local mill will be among the number.

The equipment of the mill as it now stands will be reinforced by the addition of a considerable amount of new and more modern machinery. Its capacity will be from 600 to 1,000 tons a day, not so large as the Ohio Works, by any means, but of very fair proportions. It is the intention to add to it as time goes on, and in the course of a few years the capacity of the plant will have been doubled.

The work of rebuilding will be commenced as soon as the first consignment reaches here from Alexandria. In the meantime, active work in preparation for it will be carried on.