Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-02-06
From the kanawhs Valley STAR
OLD DOMINION COAL COMPAS,

L
We have read with much pleasure the report OF tht
| Old Dominion Coal Company, written BY its Chic
Agent, Philip P. Dandridye, Eaq
The report speaks of the great demand IN the Wee
tern markets for Coal, of the vast amount Of Goa
now consumed on the Western waters and in tht
| Western citiss, and shows that the demand now u
much greater than the supply. aud this demand vii
increase with tbs rapid increase oi population in the
Great Mississippi Valley.
| The report goes on to show that at present the
| Pit,sburg Coal fields supply chiefly the Great Wes
| with coal, and that the Pomeroy Coal ield., sl.6
supply large quantics, and it then enters into COM
| pari.on respecting the Coal-hetis Of hans~ha, o
Piitsburg and OF Pomeroy, and shows that hanawhs
Coal has the advantage over the Pomeroy Coai III
quality, and that it has greatly the advantage owe,
the Pltsburg coal in it's nearness to the Western
Markeis-tho Kanawha River lat its mouth) being
about 3U0 miles nearer Cincinnati than the pif's-
burg coal.ields. In fine it shows that If the Ptsnurg
coal mines nre profitable tho kana~ha coal mines
nearer the Western markets than Pittsbnrg, and be-
cause the Kanawhs coal, in quantity and quality,
equals il it does not surpas, The PIttsburg coal.
Respecting :he Improvement OF the kanawha
| river, the report says:
of the navigation of the Ksnawha river from its
mouth to point 30 miles above, promising partial
improvement during the summer OF ieo. and perfect
work by the fall of 1858. Steps are also IN progress
TO remove some of the difficulties in the Ohio, be.
time. These works will progress under the stimulus
of the large amounts OF capital interested in their
completion-of capital invested in the various en-.
terprises above, and in the trace OF the cities and
country below; Of capital creeping at Increased pro-
fits; and of enterprises dependent upon their suppies
of fuel for continued existence. The m"st compe
tent engineers have charge Of tue improvement,
while the work" has been let 10 responsible con-
ractors."
And respecting the resources and future of the Ka-
Val. tho concludes N follows:
.Ths valley of the kanawha possesses unsurpassed
facilities for manufacturing enterpr'ses-employug
large amounts Of epital now-giVing CONSUMPTION
of about 5OU0,0UU bushels coal annually These
mus: increase with the increasing want OF the West
with increasing facilities for ths delivery OF their
products 20 the markets OF tie world
"rhe 'Salines' are capable OF lndennlte extension
Coal exists in quautiries estimated to reach nearly
l,UU0, 200 of bushels per acre.
lrop in iuxtn.position with coal and limestone, is
found in Iarve quantities and of excellent quality.
"Dsnse forests, accessible to the river 'communi.
oationu have their valuable woods almost q. yet un'
touched.
Agricultural lands Of excellent quality may be
bought at almost nominal prices ,
"Tbe sol! and the climate are well adapted 10 the
growth of The vine, Of tobacco, ana OF Inc various
graius grasses End other vegetables produced III the
temperate region. No portion OF the t2!'ed States
erirys more uninterrupted health. Its broad ano
osniy flowing river connects with the many thousand
nioation with the Gulf of Mexico and the Lakes OF
the north, andea access to the railroads ,rav.r'ns
the almos: bouud!ess territory OF the valley OF the
Mi,sissinpi The Covington and Ohio road will bring
it within few hours OF the cite, Of the ess whit.
it presents the only "pass" through which canal boats
NAV be towed from the uttermost limits of western
navigation, to the ports on the Atlantic. without
1susSpment of their esrg0es; ,,s. with the h a0an 1s.
sssy access to Market and the means Of sustaining
Ssn.e Ssss Svopusou-t: easy foresee that large
nufaSuring enterprise. mus. eventually occupy this
rtory and increased consumption 10 ts fuel, in the
nrensrstion Of the minds in the improvement Of the
liver in the erection of mills. and establishments for
manufacturing coal oils, candles, &c and in the bet
ter organisation of the salt interests, assurance Is
given tba s about TO be brough; into
sotiye demand, and that it may soon begin to claim
the prosperity to which it's advantages 90 emnently
sntiil, it-advantages based upon substantial re-
sources, constituting the chief elements OF the active
prOgre,. of the country "6elo""-of resources dss.
tinsd 10 increasing demand, as long as the country
sball continue its prosperous career"