The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-17
Western Virginis-Minera sc.
CorresDondence of the Virginia Republican,

same period.
Western Virginis-Minerals, SC.
Correspondence of the Virginia Republican,
GUYANpoTT, Va, Monday, July Is, 1850.
Sir: 1t is gratifying to find that the mineral
wealth of western Virginia is beginning to attract
the attention of men OF capital, and that companies
have been formed, now in actual operation, and
will soon, trust, give convincing proofs that q
handsome be made from the outlay.
Let it, however, be remembered, that many unex
pected difficulties have to be encountered by the
first projectors, and that the ultimate development
of a whole county State depends very much up
on the of the first adventures. Hence il is
the duty of every man who wishes well to his coun
try, TO enterprsing individuals or companies
succeed, and instead OF sneerlng at any miscar-
rage or misfortune each should first put his
shoulder to the wheel and help his neghbor up the
hill; when it s considered that so little has been
done in the construction Of railroads, the improve
ment of rivers, &c, and that TO get an outlet IN
wolves a great portion of the capital of the public
spirited men who have stepped forth and have
proved to a considerable extent that under many
difficulties much good can be done. Now this Is
not mere question as regards either private in
dividual or public company, but it is question
of vital importance TO the whole State of Virginia.
and more particularly TO this section OF 1t. 1t
has been truly observed that the coal fields Of Great
Britain have done more for that country than all
her other mincs at home in her colonies, but
that coal would have been vaueless TO her if pro-
per outlets had not been provided for getting it
away.
The fact that this is much richer more extern
sivc, and more easily developed than any in Bri-
tain, and equal, believe, TO any other in America,
offers to the capitalist great inducements to con-
struc railroads. The State could very easily Gre
ate say $50, 900, 900, lend it to the companies at
five per cent, taking security the collierics,
iron works. and the roads and other improvements,
until the profits cancelled the debt, or the stock
holders able 10 take il up; the whole manage
ment 10 be in the hands of the companies; the
State appoint to investigate the accounts
and competent engineers to examine the roads be-
fore opening. These roads could be made al very
low cost. The natural levels of the country point
out their localities. The lands through which they
would pass would cost but little; all the elements
required for their construction are on the spot.
'Dceley's patent" or any other similar furnace,
could be erected at suitable places and with forge
ana mill, all the iron machinery, fittings, &c,
could be manufactured of real Virginia iron ore, of
which an abundance can be had. Limestone OF
various kinds, from the easily reduced carbonifer-
Gus TO the impervious aud hydraulic; free stone
FIRE clay, in short every thing required for build
ing roads machinery, houses, &c, can all be had
in the same section. The capital, therefore, re-
quircd would be spent in the State, and its circua-
ton would forward other manufactures. The sur
plus skill and labor of Britain and other countries
would flow into Virginia, and che would, in a
short time, take her place as second TO none IN
America.
The lands which at present comparatively
valuelcss, would, in short time, become of im-
portsnce; the owners would then be in position
]
and the laborer, whose employment at certain sea
is but casual, would participate in the general
prosperity of those around him lt is only by com
parison that any real idea can be formed of the
wealth of one country compared with that of an
other. i will, therefore, place South Wales, IN
Britain, il was fifty years, footing with Ca
bell, Wayne, or any Of the adjoining counties,
where the minerals contained are in the same po-
stion now that those of Monmouth were at that
time. The mineral basin in Wales however, lie
more remote from market than the basin OF the
Ohio, for the deep minerals OF the OHIO can be oh
tanned on the very edge OF that noble river, and
furnaces might be erected and the iron shipped at
the furnaces mouth and 10 of coal. And from
the same shalt the componcnts required in making
iron can be gotten but, independent OF the deep
/ minerals, series comes in, which can be got by
adits driven in the face Of the hills Tor ridges,
they termed in Nrginia,) and ores OF the rich
est kind of fossilerous and Hematitic, varying in
thickness from one TO five feet, will repay the
miner for his labor.
Limestone and coal can be gotten in the same
manner, hre-clay, frecstOnc, &c, &c. The mine
raj basin OF South Wales il not so situated. There
the ores, &c, invariablyTcpose on the mountains,
limestone commencing about elk miles from the
river Severn, the outlet for that section. Consc-
quently limestone has TO be hauled n great dis
lance 10 the Worss not Immediately situated on or
near the edge of the basin. Tho ores are more IT.
rcfractble than any have seen I'm America. The
Hernnttic ore, 80 necessary for MATCHMAKING with
the Wcch ores, Is brought at n very great expense
from Stafiordshire and Dcvonshirc and add TO the
great CT ptnse Oh INNING Orcs IN many cases 70 8
inches thick-not any one vein reaching twelve
inches. Tho country does not possess the facili-
ties that this does for constructing roads, yet
nails, roads, harbOrs, towns, villages, and works
| that may vic with any in the world have sprung
up; the rugged sides OF the mountains present
green fields, and the mansions OF the mionaires
prove that the mountain in labor has prod dia-
monos, although OF n dark hue. The immense
| profits made in times OF prosperity have enabled
the iron masters there TO construct their works on
the very best principles, and, therefore, when tho
trade il Frustrated and the wages of the workfnen
reduced TO 40 low cbb IA hardly TO sustain exist
ence, still the iron master makes something; even
II he gets only five per cent. clear the make, he
can send iron 10 New York cheap, but II is at the
expense ofhc workman toll and exhausted strength.
The natural advantages Of this sectfon arc such
that with good workncn, at high wages, a very
great profit con be made, and the manufactured
iron of Britain entirely excluded from Virginia.
The value Of the timber on the mineral lands here
would form another source of profit that cannot
be had in Wales, for the hills of little value
there, but here il is not 80; and although do not
advocate the value OF tho hill land hero for farming
purposes, yet much rich and good land can be
brought into cultivation by accustomed To the
same kind of land in Britain will say, however,
with perfect confidence, that country better
adapted for pasturing cattle and sheep cannot be
found The hcrba ge rich and full of sustonanco,
and tho ver-failing springs of wntcr give every
induccment 90 tho grazier to locate in western
Virginia. My principal object, however, il 10 di-
tho attention OF men OF capital TO this section
of the country who are DESTROYS Of cmbarking in
the COAL iron, and salt business; and to the really
y, sciical men say, " Come and examine for your
selves, and will stake my reputation ths you will
not be disappointed" The Creator, in his muni6-
corcc, has bestowed upon this section of country
not srnal share OF his bounty, and sooner later
1t must be developed. Here in a small space ie
contained more lasting wealth than the plains Of