New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-09-11
MINING CAPABILITIES OF VTRGINIl.

correspondence OF Inc ~ l. Tribune.
WILDERNESS Va, Aug q, 1856.
Truly is Old Virginia, in her territorial position,
diversity of soil, salubrity of climate-in her noble
harbors, her nayigable rivers, and more thanSll
her inexhaustible mineral resources entitled 10 be
not only the "Mother of States but herself an
Empire, in political power and material prosperity
That she has failed in the proper ulllment of her
high destiny, is evident to the most superficial OBJ
server, who sees around him, 90 where he WILL
undeveloped wealth to an extent hardly expressble
in figures. Virginia lacks nothing, at the hands of
Providence, to render her the home OF happy and
prosperous millions She should be-may yet be so.
The place from which | write is but seventeen
miles from tide water, six or seven hours from
Washington ard less than twenty from New-fOrk.
Tie whole region round about is filled with gold
ores, the beginning of those mineral deposits-in-
GLIDING also silver, copper, Lead iron, zinc, coal,
salt-that extend in broad belt of from twenty to
forty miles along the eastern slopes of the Aegha-
nies, Blue Ridge southwestery for 500 miles, till
they sink beneath the delta of the Mississippi to re-
appear again in the Sierra Madres of Mexico
Tie veins Of gOld-bearing rocks are numerous,
and the ores of every mine have visited have the
metal in sufficient quantity to pay profit on
proper and economical system of working 1t
needs however, but to the foolish, reckless
pendituTe at most of the mines, from utter lgn0r
ance of the first principles of mining, in order to
have some idea Why there have been so many fall
ures. There are mines on which 100000 to
100000 have been expended, and it would puzzle
a shrewd person 10 tell what had been done with
the money, to any better purpose than throwing 1t
into the sea. Yet had the same mines been opened
in scientific manner the reduction works erected
upon system suited to the character Of the ores,
properly managed, dividends would have been as
sure as in any banking, insurance or railroad com
pany in the world.
Certain it is, that if gold mining don't pay" it
is not the fault of the mine one time in ten. In
abundance Of ore-g0od ore, tOo-cheapness OF
labor, fuel supplies, every needfil thing, there Is
nothing to be desired beyond what exists, here in
Virginia. California is scarcely more inviting
field for the miner than this very State, not days
Journey from the commercial capital OF the Union.
Facts in proof are not wanting.
am well satisfied that, considering the recent
improvements in metaurgcal scence-especialiy
in the treatment Of the pyriterOus ores which form
so large portion Of the gold and copper odes of the
Southern States-a new era is about to be opened,
in which capital will find the reward hitherto not
realized. The great obstacles to successful mining
have been greatly lessened within the past year.
They are likely to be wholly overcome at period
not very remote.
The mine at which | am now stOpplng-the
"Woodville after years of perseverance, under
the direction of DR.. 5. +. Amber, has become
success. DIR. Amber has recently invented and
erected a new and admirable continuance for work
ing the sulphurets, for which he has applied for
patent. have seen its operation, and have no
doubt whatever that he has hit upon desideratum
in the reduction of the phur ores, and the release
of the gold. 1t needed but such discovery to rem
der all the auriferous suphurets profitable, which
have ever before stubbOrnly refused to yield up
their treasures.
Tie weather has been as cool here as at the
North, but with less rain, which, at this time, is
much needed. 1 observe fine fields of corn, and
already the pltw busly performing its work for
another crop of wheat. The nearness to market
should stimulate agricultural operations, yet there
is less done than the capabilities of the soil demand
the crops being almost wholly confined to wheat
and corn. j. WINCHESTER.