The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-01-23
MINERAL WEALTH OF KANAwHA.

the demand for coal in the Ohio and Mississippi
Vallies:
MINERAL WEALTH OF KANAwHA.
We think we hazard nothing in saying that the
Valley Of the Kanawha contains deposit of min
eral wealth uuPqualed by any portion of the Uni
on not even excepting California, with her golden
pldcerS.
The area of the coal field on the Kanawha and
its tributaries, Elk and Coal rivers, embraces at
least 200 acres and some parts of il contain
sixteen seams fthe different varieties of bitum
nous, spint and camel Goals. II would be safe to
estimate that this entire coal field contains an av-
erage thickness of fourteen feet of coal in workable
seams, above water level, and which would suffice
to supply 1880 600 bushels of coal each year. for
period of two thousand years. The different va
retes not excelled by any coal of the kind any
where in the world. Some of this coal will answer
without coking for smelling iron ore, and is ex-
tremely well suited for the manufacture of iron in
every mode. The camel and splint Goals wher-
ever used, have proved their superiority over any
other coal for use as fuel The camel coal has also
been tested in the manufacture of oil, and it has
been found to yield sixty gallons of oil to the ton
equal to the best sperm oil for Illuminating and l-
bricatug purposes. One ton of camel coal will
yield oil and other products to the value of $50,
| and the expense of manufacture is insignificant as
compared with the value of the product.
A mandatory of camel coal oil is at this time
| in successful operation in Kanawha, and 10 turn
ing out about four hundred gallons of oil per day
| Other manufactures are being erected in Kanawha
and there is but little doubt that in brief period,
the manufacture of oil frsm camel coal will be-
| come most important branch of business, yield
ing large profits to the parties engaged in it, and
adding immensely to the wealth of that section of
| the State.
| Parties engaged in the management of railroads
and manufacturing establishments containing ex-
tensive machinery can testify that oil is one of
their heaviest items OF expense, and fully ap-
prsciate the value of the discovery that there are
exhaustess beds of camel coal in Kanawha, one
ton of which, worth one dollar at the place where
mined, can at trif1ng expense be converted into
| sixty gallons of OIL
juxtaposition with the seams Of coal are to be
found extensive deposits of iron ore of superior
quality. The fuel and the ore are found In Kama
wha, resting undisturbed in the same mountain
within ten feet of each other, and at as little ex-
pense, nywhere else In the world, could iron
sufficient in quantity and of superior quality, be
| manufactured to meet the entire demand of our
| State, and also to supply the wants OF adjacent
States.
DEMAND FOR COAL.
| To ascertain the immense amount of coal which
will be required TO meet the demand in the Ohio
and Mississippi valleys, it will only be necessary
TO refer to the ascertained increase in the demand
within the last few years.
In lS46 the whole quantity of coal mnedat Pitts
burg and the vicinity was l9 000, 900 bushels the
| quantity exported down the Ohio river in the
same year was 6,O00, 900 bushels. In the year 1857
the quantity mined at Pittsburg exceeded CO. OOO-
| 600 bushels, and the quantity exported down the
Ohio river in the same year amounted to 80 900 600
bushels The following extract from the report of
the Chamber OF Commerce, of Cincinnati, for the
year 1857, will show the extent and regular in
crease in the demand for coal in that city:
THE following table shows the receipts of coal at
this place for four years: