Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-06-04
CIayton q. Coleman. M. Cnl J. ,;nerr,n,
FROM HuHrs MsrehSHrs Magazine
MINERAL WEALTH AND REsOUR-
CES OF VIRGINIA

Tha, portion Of Virginia known as the tide water dis.
like all the seabOard country south of the gulf of ST.
Lawrence is barren in minerals but there nature has
withheld other favors those which meet the eve Of
the casual observer Throughout this whole region eS
tcnsVe beds Of mari found. waiting hand Of IN
dusy TO use them in restoring the exhausted fields which
the mprcyden agriculture Of have detailed
upon their descendants.
Ii draw line the State from MARYLAND 10
North Carolina passing the Potomac, Rappahannock,
James, AppomaoI, aud Roanoke rivers at the head o
dewaer, VIC divide two important sections of Virginia
whether consider their typographical features or geo.
graphical Wet of this line TO the summit Of
the Blue Ridge mountains, in what termed he middle
country" This district possesses many striking advan
ages for the agricuuris, well inducements for the
OF capital IN mining and manufacturing The
important mineral formation of this region the BIZ
luminous coal. The coal field commences one mile east Of
Tuekahoe Creek, and twelve miles above Richmond
measured by the line OF the James and Kanawha River
Canal which through that portion of the field north
James river limits IS on the he ad waer. of
Jones' Creek in Powhaanthe northern ouLcruss near
the line, dividing Henrco aud Hanover counues-to the
south extends TO the Apponaox and very probably be
yond it. Within these limits coal is mined many pla-
and in some, the workings quite extensive On
the north side OF the river, the mines Messs Crouch
and Snead, Randolph's, Bar's Woodwark's Bar and
Deaton's and Dulvan's, The principal On the south
side, the Blackheath Midlothian, Mills and Reeds
Stonehedge, and Jaeis the extensive The Clo
yer-Hil mines now worked a sufficient extent to
The Goals from this field, both north and south from
James rver will compare advan'ageousy with the bum
Goals both OF this country and Great Britain as is
shown by Professor JohnsOns Report the Secretary of
the Navy ION the Evaporatve and other ProDerties of
Goals" made in June, 1874.
In this coal field found extensive beds Of Mineral
which Rogers calls natural coal; valuable fuel being
found by analysis contain 81 30 of carbon in the 100
grains.lrOn IN small veins this locality; but
have been discovered OF sufficient importance to
authorize the erection OF smelling furnaces North of the
coahCld, IN Spousylvana and Louisa there several
large depOsltes the places Of greatest d.
veCpment, Louisa court house. and ten miles
OF Fredericksburg, the smelling If these ores is sue
cessiuy prosecuted would hete remark that near the
present location Of one Of these furnaces Kappa
hammock smeited the that was sent from
the colony Of Virginia Great Britain furnace was
erected by Alexander SpotswOod, vino Governor of
Virginia IN ITO.
The next important deposit is in Buckingham FIVE miles
south Of the village OF New Canton. In that vicinity fur
operation during the revolution but was dis
continued shortly thereafter In 1884 the works were re-
built, and have been since extensively operated There
other depostes OF in Buckingham near Williams
mountain and the head OF Stall river. In Mel.
county there is one smelling furnace, IN Campbell two;
IN both OF these counties the deposits OF extern
In Patrick, Henry Franklin and Ptsylyann the
production OF iron has attracted attention. Lime
stone Is not abundant IN this region found in Abe
marie. Amherst, Nelson, and Campbell and also in Pat
rick, Henry and franklin.
Through this division Of tbat State passes what has been
called "the Gold Belt Commencing Spottsylvania it
extends through Louisa, part Of Goochand, Fuvanna
Buckingham, Prince Edward, Charlotte and Psylvania
Vast Of money have been expended IN searching for
the OF this region and Will, rich deposits
occasionally discovered u has been upon the whole
a disastrous employment Of labor and capital.
Small veins Of Copper said exist IN Fauquer
and Amherst; but believe they found so minute
70 be Of no pTact cal use In Buckingham county near
:he Virginia mills there Guarres Of slate adj
mraby adapted for economical purposes This il not pro-
peIy mineral but may, think, with proprety be men
toned in this connection. There many other minerals
IN this region, but they Of that class interesting only to
the Qeoogst.
Throughout This whole district there Is a most abundant
supply % excellent for building granite near the
head Of the tide and Bedford county with sene gneiss
and sandstone moro generally diiused. Middle Viz
gina possesses another great element Of wealth people
having such resources in Goals ores which form
tie basis Of manufacturing industry the unfiyaIed
power afforded by her principal rivers in passing from
the great elevation At which their found,
the ocean. ~ eiihor frodencksburg Richmond Peters
burg, the ss OF the Roanoke, all tho factories of Low
ell Patterson might be propelled These are the promi
points, but along tho James River Canal from Rich.
mond to LYnchburR there many localities where manu-
featuring and villages might be located very great
advantage. AtLynchburg being the terminus Of
the canal and the point which al the Of Boetourt
Bath, Rockbridge and Allegheny comes be transported
q the makotOi the Atlantic ssaboard. would seem that
these advantage were very arractye yet but little has
been attempted in manufacturing Oy the citizens Of that
wealthy, and, m some respects, enterprisinR town.
will next glance the mineral Of the third
great division Of the State, that portion we'll known
the "Valey Of Virginia" For the production and manu-
iactue Of iron Of he most superior quality, the counties
between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains have
unrivalod advantages IN abundance OF ores fuel wator
power, cheap subsistence for sb1rers and animals
The excellent quality Of the OF this region b. not
mere matter OF opinion bot IL established by authority
tho conclusive character The records Of the ordnance
Office D the army and the bureau Of ordnance for the navy
boar testimony % the great strength Of tho made
from the iron smcIted the old Clover Dale furnace and
that of Messrs Shanks and Anderson both NJ Botetourt
lu like manner the proof boat Of malIoabo iron Of the
Washington navy yofd sussns the reputation of the Yf-
GINA iron manufactured the Tredcgar works r Rich
mond. Some experiments have been made in Blq-
ton, by MI A'gcr, well known iron manufacturer
which have resulted showing that the pg iron from tho
Roaring Run furnace laso n Bootouri,l s remarkably
adapted Tor OIL foundry purposcs Within the last year ox
colent steel has been made Richmond from iron nanu
iact1rcd 90 the Buffalo forge n ROckbudge, Of pig meta
from Weaver and Ncwkuks furnace 90 Bath county In
Pulaski county. the Messrs Graham manuac turing eu
mills oi superior quality. ln Montgomery, Wytho nud
Washington, bumnsus coal 10 found u the same locaIiiy
with tho Of good quality; but no furnaces have
yet been erected 10 that fuel DO smelling these ores
This coal formation extends into B1teiour, whore vein
OF four feet hos been opened, the Catawha uacc bu
mined 90 any IN Wyihe lead ores have been
smoited with much The lead wagonod 10 Lynch
borg from whence inds way the northern market
" with ready sale and considered equal
any produced elsewhere In the q. States Extensive bed
Of gypsum found IN Washington. Wyto, end Gfangef
which not inferior % that 70 extensively imported from
Nova Scotia. Ia Washington county on tho waters Of th
Holson river, extensive aa works have long been in ope
ration, and havo proved productive investments N thoi
owners we'll a. q great advantage 90 ha community.
| will not longhen this communication by any rsneo
tons on this enumeration Of Of tho treasure
which Virginia possesses In this delightful valley.
the short sighted policy which hsf Tor wsut u line
Of transport to market 70 gro, remsn whor
placed hon, but will merely refer n the fourth Rroa
division Of my state tho Trsns- Allegheny counties.
naturs hos doslt DOT her riches with other part
Of Virginia she hts dispensed them here proiusoy
Western Virginia b. Ike the great wost" with which III
10 connected Geographically, and In political destiny nj
most approximately 5uPpcd with oil the elements u ma
tonal wealth.