Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-05-21
From Hunts Merchants Magazine.
( MINERAL WEALTH AND RE
SOURCES OF VIRGINIA. q


That portion of Virginia known as
the tide water district, like all 1.-The sea-
board country south of the gulf Of St.
Lawrence, is barren in minerals; but
even there, nature has not withheld
other favors, than those which meet
the eye of the casual observer. Thro'-
out this whole region, extensive beds
Of mari are found, waiting for the hand
ffndustry 70 use them in restoring
the exhausted fields, which the improv-
ident agriculture of our ancestors have
detailed upon their descendants.
Ii we draw line across the state,
from Maryland to North Carolina, pas
sing the:P Potomac, Rappahanock, James,
Appomattox, and Roanoke rivers, at
the head of,ide- water, we divide two
important sections of Virginia, whether
we consider their typographical fea-
lures, or geological structure. West
of this line, to the summit Of the Blue
Ridge mountains, is what is termed
".he middle country" This district
possesses many striking advantages for
the agrlculturist, as well as induce
ments for the investment of capital in
mining and manufacturing. The most
important mineral formation Of this re-
pion, is the bituminous, coal. This
coal field commences one mile east OF
Tuckahoe Creek, and twelve above
Richmond, measured by the line of
The James and Kanawha River Canal,
which passes through that portion of
the field, north o. James river;) its
western limits is on the head waters of
Jones' Greek, in Powhatan--the nor
thern out-cross near the line, dividing
Henrico and Hanover counties-to the
south it extends to the Appomattox,
and very probably beyond it. Within
these limits, coal is mined at many pla-
ces: and in some, the workings are
quite extensive. On the north side of
the river. the mines of Messrs. Crouch
er and Sneads, Randolph's, Bars
Woodwark's Der and Daton's, and
Duyal's, are .:he principal. On the
south side, the Blackheath, Mid Lothi-
an, Mills and Reeds Stonehedge, and
Jailei's are the most extensive. The
Clover Hill mines are now worked to
a sufficient extent to attract attention to
Z the very excellent coal which they yield.
The Goals from this field, both north
and south from James river, will COM
pare advantageously with the bi.umi.
mons Goals both of this country and
Great Britain, as is shown by Professor
Johnson's Report to the Secretary OF
the Navy. ssOn the Evaporative and
other Properties Of Goals made in
June, 1914. .s
In this coal field are found extensive
beds Of mineral, which Professor Ro-
.rers calls natural coal; it is valuable
fsa. beihg found by analysis to cont t
1890 Of carbon, in the loo grams
Ison ores. in. small veins, exist IN his
,oc.,;ty: but None have yet been is-
.ared of sufficient importancetqau'
re the erection Of smelling Una.
North of the coal field in
sssnsoottsylvania and Louisa, theirs are
several large deposits Of iron oFs.-
Al the places ofgreatest develoFe ut
Viz: near Louisa courthouse, ~ e, ,el
miles west of Fredericksburg 'ht
smelling ofthese ores is successfully
nrosecuted. I would here marx
that near the present location qpne Q
these furnaces, on the RapPamn g !
liver J was smelted the FIRST " 'na'
was sent from the colony OF vglnla g
Great Britain; the furnace waeerec1eo
BY Alexander Spoitswood. no was
governor Of Virginia in l7F
The. next important dept IS q
buckingham; Eye miles 70 OF - sne
r;ilsce 81 New Canton. hat yicin-
ity afurnaee was in opf0n during