Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-04-09
For tic Enquirer.
Por hc E"9nrer.
LETTERS,
on THE IMPROVEMENTS. RESOURCES AND COM.
MERGE OF rTRGLyLi.
LETTERS.

L,
beg the liberty Of calling consderste attention 10 The
elaine Of Richmond for the site OF National Foundr;
as designed by Congress not only as tho most prac
ticsl and available, but the best, most economical
and most desirable in every respect that could posi-
bly, be selected And here, We may remark that We
do not advocate the merits Of Richmond from motive:
of interest or for local aggrandsemeut merely, but be
cause we think exactly what say. and feel confident
too. that the facts mus convince all who will take the
iroubla1o investigate.
In order to reach this part of our subject at mo-
ment which seems auspcious, and when public atten
ton is directed towards it, have In this ua.ance
stole march in advance of the proposed courss pro
missing, however, to bring up the we proceed
1t would be matter to be deplorsd and regretted il
we should allow the city to lose the advantages OF the
Foundry, and the Foundry the advantages which
Richmond presents merely for want of attention
particularly, whsn We know that our merits are uur
vailed.
In order to give credit to whom it is due, we quote
the following from an article signed, "C. D." in the
"Whig" of the third. Ii is strictly true, aud EN-
braces 20 much in few short paragraphs, that il
would be vain to alter or amend them:
"As it seems the determination of Congress to have
national foundry, the question next TO be consider
ed ia, its location. This involves:
lst. A central position on the Atlantic coast.
-. 1t should be rs near our largest naval and mill
tary stations possible
Sd. The means of transportation from it TO every
Navy Yard and Fort, should be certain, convenient,
always opsn, winter and summer-and economical.
lth. 1t should be where the beet IRON for cannon
be had, certain ecoaomtca and at all seasons Of
Me gear.
5th. 1t should bs near good coal and at cheapest
rates.
9TH. While it should be near our military and ma.
val posts, it should BIZ safe from any sudden destruc-
tion by An active enemy.
9Th. ltshoud be where water power is abundant.
5th. II should be at point from which cannon en-
Elnes, shells, shot, &C., can rsdiate III every drec.
tion, at all seasons Of the YER, as we'll as to supply
the West and South as North and Esst.
Now, the writer Of this challenges any and every
State in this Union to show location 30 emnently
embracing the above requirements as Richmond.'
That the ls I'd, Sd, 9th, 9TH and 9Th propositions
fsots, settled and beyond dispute need no conr'
maton-they self cpjdent-and no one, acquaint-
ed with those facts would presume to claim for Alex
andra, or any other place, North South, pre- emi
nence; indeed there could be no comparison
Therefore, we will not waste time arguing facts which
are recognized and stamped 10 substantial truths on
the map OF Virginia. demonstrated by nature hersef,
fixed and unaterable.
The claims Of Alexandria, under superficial and
oircumstantial view of hnge they now exist, are
undoubtedly great; and perhaps, being near the seat
of government, equal to Baltimore, Philadelphia, and
other places whose merits have been discussed; but,
when compared with Richmond, every advantage re.
mains with the latter CITY, not in nice distinctions
merely, but in such weighty and overwhelming pro.
postions, that to those who have not sought the in
formation, it must be truly astonishing
sThe greatest merit which Alexandria claims il her
accessibility TO coal and ron and these truly are the
most important items TO oundriea, private or public.
Coal and IRON are indwpen,abie and f"Uncle Sam
has any regard for economy, then proximity to those
two articles imperative. Both of those items are
claimed as peculiar advantage. by Alexandra, aud
therefore admitted by her. And this is exactly what
want to arrive at for it id peculiar claim aud at.
tribute of Richmond that shs is the only tade ,catrr
city in the Union that lies to cool-ihat is.
within l2 miles, both by railroad and canal
This coal deposts crosses the james river II miles
above Richmond, where it is ntersected by the James
River and Kanawha Canal. 1t extends from North
to South 80 miles in undulating beds, and sr miles
from East to West; forming an area Of $50 square
milesand ranging from 81 to 81 feet thick ~ feet
Of avaiInable coal. But only take half of that
amount for an estimate, We might extract ,OOOD OF
tons per annum for 900 years, without exhaustng
this priceless deposit.
The cost of producing coal ready for shipment In
coal cars or boats, varies in different regions In Eng
land it ranges from to 4 shngs 75c to 81 nO) per
ton-including rent or royalty from deep mines. In
Pennsylvania 1t averages 81 25. At the Cumberland
mines it will average not leas than 81 OO In East
ern Virginia. not more than 81 80. The present ac
tual coat of mining here will be greatly reduced by
the introduction Of mining improvements and (aciIi-
ties elsewhere employed.
From the Cumberland mines to Alexandria the
distance is 1874 miles by canal The cost Of putting
the coal on board Of the boats at Cumberland s not
less than 81 36 per ton, since the lateral railroads
from tho mines to the canal from II to 36 miles
long.
COST OF CUMBERLAND COAL AT ALEXANDRIA.
Cost of producing coal at the mines including
rent :, - WV
Freight from mines to canal-railroHda average
"a miles at II 1f.....--.--......---...-. 50
Transhipment at Cumberland. nd...--.-......... ID
Freight on canal 1874 miles at cent per ton per
mile. -..----..--------..-.. ! ~
Actual cost of coal at Alexandria without profit
TO the miner, per ton, -.---F9 10
If tha coal is transported entirely By rsiroad the
cost would be not leas than 81 OO per ton.
COST OF RICHMOND COAL AT RICHMOND.
Cost of producing coal at minea, including
rent. ......................... sl.3O
Freight from mines to canal, rail road > =,
miles, at 3 cents. Is
Transhpmsnt- ~
ouo; ,,;as os at a"s " " - 25
Cost of coal, without profit to the miner, a.
Richmond per ton. .-.--..-.-...------.-- St.o'
Difference in form of establishing iron works IN
Richmond, $ls5 cents per ton, which, in an e1ten-
sive manufacturing establishment would effect asaving
of UOO on consumption of lOOOOO tons of coal
per annum; which, OF itself is certainly inducement
enough to make Richmond the Birmingham of Ame
rica Indeed, Richmond has been sadly neglected in
this respect.
think the above figures enough to convince any
one of The superior advantage of this city in regard
to its coAL-wbich, in quality, ia equal to any Btu
minous coal in the country.
The iron in the immediate vicinity Of Richmond is
rich and PLENTIFUL and can be made productive; but al
present, the best cast iron made in America, or pei
haps in the world, s brought by the James River ca
nal from the mountains, where it exists in unlimited
quantities. There can be no doubt Of the quality OF
this iron for guns, particularly whsn they are manu-
factured with Richmond coal-since it has been ir
use for ages. 1t does not depend on experiment. Il
is certainty, established by long experience. The
guna which have been at the Tredegsr Works and
the Bsllons Arsenal are, without exception, the nost d"
rable n character. At recent trial of LOT made oy
Dr.. Archer, at the Bsons works, thonsdHa PROOF
charges were fred from one without sensio'o INJURY
to its effect or appearance. Whist more can oe sao
on the quality of the metal.
But not only the quality, the quantlty too' IS IN