Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-10-05
Correspondence of The Richmond Enquirer'l
Tour Through Virginia md the South

Tour Through Virginia and the south.
LOCOMOTIVE skETCHEs-No. MIL.
Sal and Plaster Trade 0fthe South West.
The sal, aud plaster deposits Of Smyth aud Wash
iugton COUNTIES in this state, are not only peculiar for
their exceeding purity and richness. aud their SEQ
logical formation, but for the many advantages OF
their position. 1t has been remarked, rs a matter OF
regret, tina. they were not nearer to the tides oil tne
rivers and the coset, instead Of being 80 far inland;
but this of position is, in fact, one OF
the many advantages claimed; and We can ZEE IL d
,Isnce that such ia the case, when We consider that I
ia much cheaper to transport heavy freight outwS'o
than inward, or towards the coast, instead OF tie H.
terror, as both rivers and railroads dsscend IRON the ih'
terror. But here we have the salt and plaster Jus'
where it is wanted, and the transportation from
the coast TO the interior, is not, therefore, re-
suired, Flowing by and over the gypsum de
nosi.s il the calm and beautiful! Holston. which,
though running at the feet Of the mighty Allegha
MES themselves, and though but a comparatively
small stream, ia n~avigable for Oats containing heavy
Loads. within twenty miles OF its head waters. al car
tain seasons of the year. At a comparatively sniH'i
expense, q slack water navigation might o.. secure
from the head of steamboat navigation at hlng-foh
mr. Knoxville, which would open the plaster banks
m the whole of the South west by water transports
lion through the broai and beautiful Iennessee.-
Tn, H1ls,ou is not u rapid river, and would, ther--
fore, be ess ~ improved, and open tor Steam navigation
from its junction with tho Ciinch below hnoxVllie
IN Sal, vile. whers il would be Connected WITH the
V,rrini, and Tennessee Rail Road by the "Snlf-
works Branch nov made and in operation. In view
of The Introduction OF steam Oh cansl, ana On Gil nu'
alsck water uavigsrions, and the probable result,
such \ contamination il worthy ct consideration "no
attention. In aplte i our greatsst eXertlons 10 ra''
road en,err:lses, nue.. Of the produce OF Tennessee
and most OF that of Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi
will take down the rivers 10 market, or over our river
Southern lines. But give US the prepondersnce OF E
water lins. or as much Of il as the natural htnesS oil
things will allow, and ne cannot sec what ID 10 Pre-
vent us from controlling the trsts of the above mar
tioued States. From Bristol To Chattanooga 10 233
mies by rail, all of which might be made by w"'e'
Ar the rate OF half a oent, or i've mills per ton per
mile. But even presuning the cost Of transportation
from Iuscumbia, Alabama, To Satvills, Virginia, Ia bt
one cent per ton per mile, and the distance 3OO Inies.
". still have q diff France in favor OF water over rHii,
Of not less than - G6 per ton! even calculating ran
road treights at three cents per Ton per mile, when II
lsss than the average.
AT present the only advantage va have over ih-
South Carolina and Georgia Rail Roads lie IN cur
water facilities. which they have not. We have no"
= portage of 334 miles OF rail road from Knoxville to
Lynchbury. They have Iu9 miles from Cbat'anro-
"a 10 Charleston or Ssvaudsh. Blu. by making fhr
waters of The North Fork of the Holstsn nsvigabit
10 Saltvils, the portage from th-nce TO Lynchbure,
would be but l84 miles. This would give us such Ill
advantage that the trade of Tennessee River wou.d,
beyond competition, BIZ ours.
But we did not intend IN this connection 10 discuss
the best means OF securing the trade OF tha South
West. Our object WAS. and lie, 10 show the location
! Of Ssltyill- and the means Of supplying 4 vast terri
tory still plaster aud salt al cheap rates; yet We Gait
not help remsrkiug, that in accomplishing this object.
We could kill two birds with one stone.' That M
secondary object would be the greatest one, and the
ona most conducive TO the b.. 8, interests OF the State
d., .,.oru NJ fhs tirviujp and TpnnehaEr Rail RaSi
the plaster and salt of this place reaches Lynchburg,
and might even be- carried III: thee Esst, with pr'h;
under iudicinus regulations, aai a great part ut the
Valley, by means of the James River Canal and ,hc
Orange and Alexandria e%xttntior, might n!so b.
Supplied. beyond the present FINITE Of the salt and
plaster markets.
But perhaps ne greaies opsnis, for Is plsster trade,
indsp-nderi oi the S0H'n w., g. ID b- down the
NV Rive f-uir Central" gvlicl. uva awaits The
ro,aus of navigation ia make il av6'.rl. for Il large
trade throughout he Valley ~ ~: Oslo. THE,
howeve!. would open OCT a 80 ma!'st Tor the
! hsruwha sHit. wh.ch would - re!u-' III exchange
for pla.teL and which wouli pr5baG.. .ou: A.isi
G. ch o.ner.
Wit.uct TAX. .i.,o coa.!leratioa any o.is: &c. .st
tian tie sai, .rd peter of this locality. we i1c =
most mag %n:ticert rrai- IN proeprciiv" ami c'e too,
which pni only .ffords wealth and rr.Iess 10 the
plscs. and freight tof our frsns porting Avenues.
hut also increases The productive pow 81 UI q, SOILS
within its reach, and decreases our common e1pepdI-
ares. Every hushrl Of plaster Gown adds TO The ler'
tIlity and prOductiveness VI our lands, and consequent,
! ~ adds 10 the wealth OF the State and the people sud
svery busL-l of salt manufactured in Virginia, SUD
.nade use of by our people, saves us The amoun;
Of money which it would cost If imported. We pur-
SUE a euicida. policy when We go abroad for our pla.
ter aud ralr, our iron and our coal; which We can. or
ought TO produce NJ home equ Ally as cheap, or cheap
ar than they eau be produced abroad, particularly
when We include the cost Of transporting them there
A million bushels vi salt por year colld be produced
! a. the S.ltviil1 s4lines with but n small drain On their
resources, and with much more prtii 10 the propfie'
turs. even at reduced prices, than can now he obinin.
I'd from 8 comparatively email business. The same
may be sa;.l Of the pln-ter. or gypsum, since the cup
Div is inelhaustible, Whit the production of one Oh
economics principles would assist in the production
! Of thu other, since they rx;st in ciose proximity
The hesi required to raise steam in generating power
10 grind plaster, would, it ecqlonised, also corporate
ihs brine; or the gurE{us Strsm. 10 immediately a.
piled. would also effect The same thing and ground
plaster might thus BIZ produced aud suli 1T prices
lower than The lump plaster is nov produced ara
.olJ II. When we state, M Wa hsvs done, that a
crest part OF ihs UniDn d-psnds on this location for
both raj. aud plaster, and that 8 10000 Of souls might
be- supplied from the Ssltviile ssIines. we presen; u
magnificent pic: ure of the future ct this rich spot, III
Vlrpinis's rich domain But whsn W. consider that
this lrade must increase with the increase OF The peo
pie, and the growth of the dependant; country, We
stili have reason to enlarge our vlews aud incr"ase
our figures. DEBo".