Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1856-12-23
that Virginia should be one in sent
ment and interest. Yi

= LII TIC COIIottuCtiOu OittiCs N<Oyiil.'
ton and Ohio Railroad is not Of such
enormous expense as our people gen
orally estimate. In order that il shall
be OF practical and profitable use to
itself and to this region, the road need
only to be constructed toythe head Of
navigation on the Kanawha, at cost
probably ofnot more than SO, 900, 006!
The whole ofthis expense need mot
be borne by the State. A Northern
company of capitalists who are deep
ly interested in the speedy construc-
ton Of the road to the coal fields OF
kanawha where they have. invested
toavery largeextenta are willing should
the State permit them, to take stock to
the extent of Two .fifths ofthe cost OF
the road, thus lessening the amount
necessary to be raised bythe Statesome
81, 4oO, 600. :.
Besides the advantages Of the coal
trade aud travel which would enure
to. this road il it were completed,
there is reason to believe that owing to
its light grades, milder climate and
shorter distances from the Ohio river
to the; Chesapeak Bay, this road
would do most of the transportation
Of the, produce OF. the West TO the
Citieslof the East. The ships Of
Richmond City which now car
ry cargoes ofIfour to South A.
merica and the West Indies, would
return to Richmond directly, loaded
with sugar. molasses and coffee which
would seek its Western markets over
the, Coyington and Ohio road, in
stead Of carrying. rs they now DO
those articles to New York and Bal
timore for transportation by the
Railroad through the Northern states,
Richmond ought to be the grocery
and produce market Of the States Of
Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana.
The construction of the Covihgton
and. Ohio Road will make it SUCH,
We have made some enquiries in
to the statistics Of the Salt and Coal
business of kanawha and will give
our readers a mere outline OF the
facts. There are in the Kanawha
Valley, commencing about 5 miles
above Charleston and extending some
twenty milesupthc river, some eighty
or a hundred Salt wells. The guam
tity of Salt annually made is about
two millions and o quarter Of bush
els. The salt. business is and has
been for some years under the con-
troll of a join Stock Company. This
Company for the purpose Of limiting
the supply Of Salt and in order to
prevent ruinous competition in the
sales of Salt, have rented many wells
which they throw idle, and have con-
traeted to purchase the Salt made by
individual enterprise, at a fixed
price, 1G cents the bushel. The same
Company is generally the purchaser
If all Salt manufactured near Pome-
10Y, Ohio. For all purposes cvn-
,ected with the curing Of bacon and
,eef, the Kanawha is worth vastly
more than any Salt in our markets.
rhe Salt of the New York wells is a
in the Western markets.
Vast quantities of money have been
made in the business in this county
int owing to the great fluctuations of
he market, the hazards of naviga-
ion, and the cost of operation, very
CIV have left the business in as pros
,erous condition as they entered. ~
The wealth of kanawha is beyond
In extent ofmines, in
tariety Of kinds and iH favorable To-
atoms for mining and transportation,
here arc no soaf mines in the Union
quail to them. The coal fields are
principally owned by wealthy New
[ork and English Companies who
re willing to expend vast sums of
money in developing her resources.
The best specimens of Camel and
,itumous coal are to be found upon
Goal and Elk rivers. Knowing the
leep interest which these coal COM
16 or 90 in number j
AVE in this section, one is not there
ore surprised to meet on the streets
# Charleston, or on the banks OF
he Kanawha, the many intelligent
md fine looking men from New York
ind England, whom we have. met
With during our stay here. The sala-:
les paid the agents OF these compa-
lies average about $4,000 per an
lum, TINS securing the, best geologi-
,al and mining talent for the control
If the affairs Of the respective com,
panies. s The best of coal is deliver
din Charleston at cents the bush
j. Would not our friends in Char
ottesville like to get such coal at
even 90 cents the bushels {! :"
AtStockton's mines of Cannel-coal
"a Welch corruption of Candle, so
called because a fire. made of this
.oal is SO bright as to do away with
he necessity for candles-about 20
niles above Charleston, operations
ave been commenced for the cree
ion Of a large factory for the con-
- AZ. 81 ~