Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-05-21

! the revolution; but was. discontinued
shortly thereafter. In 1884 the works
were rebuilt, and have been since ex-
|tensively operated. There are other
deposits Of ore in Buckingham, near
Williams mountain, and on the head
waters ofStall river. In Nelson coun
lty, there is one smelling furnace; in
Campbell, two; in both of these coun-
ties the deposits of ore are extensive.
In Patrick Henry, Franklin, and Pitt
sylvania, the production Of iron has at
tracted some attention. Limestone is
not abundant in This region; it is found
in Albemarle, Amherst, Nelson, and
| Campbell, and also in Patrick, Henry
and Franklin.
Through this division of that state
passes what has been called "the Gold
Belt. T" Commencing in Spottsylvania,
lit extends through Louisa, part Of
Goochland, Fluvanna, Buckingham,
Prince Edwards, Charlotte, and Pitt
sylvania. Vast sums Of money have
been expended in searching for the
treasures of this region; and, while
some rich deposits were occasionally
discovered, it has BEEN, upon the
whole, disastrous employment OLA
Dor and capital.
Small veins of copper ore are said
to exist in Fauquier and Amherst; but
believe they are found to be so minute
as to be of no practical use. In
Buckingham county, near the Virginia
mills, there are extensive quarries of
slate, admirably adapted for economi.
cal purposes. This is not properly a
mineral, but may, think, with propri.
ETY., be mentioned in this connection.
There are many other minerals in this
region, but they are of that class, in
teresting only to the geologist. e
Throughout this whole district there
is most abundant supply of ex-
cellent stone for building; granite, near
the head Of the tide and in Bedford
county; with sieni'e, gneiss, and sand
stone more generally diffused. Mid
die Virginia possesses another great
element of wealth to a people having
such resources in Goals and iron ores,
which form the basis Of manufacturing
industry, in the unrivalled water pow
er afforded by her principal rivers, in
passing from the great elevation at
which their sources are found, to the
ocean. At either Fredericksburg,
Richmond, Petersburg, or the falls Of
the Roanoke, all the factories Of Lo-
well or Patterson might be propelled.
These are the prominent points; but
along the James River Canal, from
Richmond to Lynchburg, there are
many localities where manufacturing
towns and villages might be located to
very great advantage. AtLyEch5urg,
beng the western terminus of the ca
nal, and the point at which all the iron
of Botetourt, Bath, Rockbridge, and
Allegheny comes, to be; transported to
the markets of the Atlantic seaboard, it
would seem that these advantages
were very attractive; yet but little has
been attempted in manufacturing by
the citizens Of that wealthy, and, in
some respects, enterprising town.
will next glance at the mineral re-
sources of the third great division of
the State; that portion SO well known
as the "Valley Of Virginia" For the
production and manufacture Of iron of
the most superior quality, the counties
between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny
mountains have unrivalled advantages,
in abunnance of ores, fuel, water pow
er, cheap subsistence for laborers and
and animals. The excellent quality Of
the iron Of this region is not mere mat
ter of opinion, but is established by au-
thority of the most conclusive charac-
ter. The records of the ordnance Office
Of the army and the bureau of ordnance
for the navy, bear testimony to the
great strength of the cannon made from
the iron ,smel,e9 at the old Clover
Dale furnace, land that Of Messrs. Shanks
and Anderson, both at Botetourt. In
like manner the proof boat of malleable
iron at the Washington navy yard ,sus-
tains the reputation ofthe Virginia iron
manufactured at the Tradegar works
in Richmond. Some recent expert
!. ments have been made in Boston, BY
Mr.. Alger, SO we'll known as an iron
manufacturer, which have, resulted in
showing that the pig iron. from the
Roaring Run furnace (also in Bote-
tourt, } is remarkably adapted for all
foundry purposes. Within the last
year excellent steel.has been made at
Richmond from iron manufactured at
the Buffalo forge in Reckbidge, Of pig
metal from Weaver and Newkirk's fur.
mace in Bath county. In Pulaski