Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-05-18
For the Enquirer,
For lie EN2u1rer
LETTERS,
ON THE RESOURCES IMPROVEMENTS, AND co W
MERGE OF VIRGINIA.
The anthracite Goals Of Virginia.

The anthracite Goals Of Virginia.
The value and uses of anthracite coal, in our do
mesic economy, are too we'll established aud known
10 merit elaboration here. 1t is mineral charcoal
and when pure is composed entirely of carbon. The
white ash Goals of Pennsyvania average about 90
per cent but specimens exist which yield 81 parts o
l0D in carbon. Its constituent qualities are the
same as coke, for which it answers az substitute;
but mined, or produced in our markets, cheaper
than coke and being less liable TO crumbe or waste
it takes the place OF coke in the Eastern markets
and not because it is better or more desirable.
The success of the Pennsylvania anthracites does
not lie in their superiority over coke, but in the rea
tive cost Of production and transportation Of the two
Presuming the cost of producing coal-anthracte
and bituminous respectively-st the mines to be 81
per ton, and presuming the cost of cokeing bitumi
NOUS including 50 per cent one.third of loss, to be
81, find the actual cost Of coke at the mines to be
~ per ton double the cost Of anthracite. Bui in
the process Of cokeing, though the coal loses SO per
cent in weight, it increases % per cent. in bulk
which also increases the cost Of transportaton.-
From Cumberland 20 New York-including from
mines to Cumberland-the difference would be 80
cents per tom or from the Richmond coal mines to
New York, GO cents per ton; making difference in
favor of anthracite coke, at equal distances OF
81 per tom including the advantage derived from ts
own density, which is 400 pounds per cubic yard
greater than btunnous coal. II therefore requires
double the space occupied by ton of anthracite to
store ton of artificial coke. The natural coke OF
the Richmond coal tiald, has the properties of an
thracite, though it ignes easily and is equally
az dense as the red aeh varieties.
We wish TO remark in this connection, that a ton
OF anthracite, mineral charcoal, natural coke,
bon, however designated or locally named, does not
contain more caloric or heating power, than common
btuninous Goals. The difference which we show
above in favor of anthracite, is only possessed over
the artificial coke of the bituminous COAL aud not the
coal itself. As the following facts clearly demon
strate: Twenty two hundred and forty pornds of ar
tifcal coke will produce Is gallons of tar and 49, GOO
cubic feet Of gas and the heating power of the gas
and tar combined are equal to half ton of coke or
anthracite COAL 1t requires 5000 pounds, or l tors
OF bitumnous coal 70 produce these results-hence
tons of bi.uminous coating the mines 81 3d. are
equal TO Il toas of anthracite costing at the
place 81 ~; or one ton Of Kanawha camel coal
tans 1000 pounds Of coke-equal to the same
amount of anthracite-and 10 gallons of naptha, Gil
OF parstne and dead oils and 80 Of pitch, 100 ga!
Ions of tar, weighing 900 pounds the heating pow
er Of which, as fuel, is equal to 1000 pounds Of
coke, or anthracite coal. Therefore the calorIc in
coal greater, in proportion to the bitumen or oils
it contains The great difficulty in respect 10 bi.
luminous COAL has BEEN and still it, our ignorance Of
its qualities and
Nature has been liberal in her distribution of bi.
luminous coal, but she has been sparing of her an.
thracite. Out of $4,000 square miles Of coal in Penn
aylvanis only 500 anthracite; and of the 5000 in
Virginia, the probability is, that have still !esa,
and this proportion is about equal throughout the
world.
Of the Virginia anthractes We cnn only give q
mesgre description, such rs We have been able to col
lect by personal observation II s known, however
that Rockingham, Augusta, Rockbridge, Botsonr
Montgomery, Pulaski and probably, Wythe counties
contain either anthracite, semi anthracite Or semi
bilumnous Goals We ars cognizant Of the fact, that
some of these counties at least, contain excellent an
thracte, equal in purity and constituent properties
to the anthracites of Pennsylvania.
containing coal and lying West of the Valley Of Vr
gina corresponds in feature and position with the an
thracite regions of Pennsyvanis-msy in fact, be
called continuation of the same. Lying between
the great Allegheny ranges and the large Blue kitta
timing, Blue Mountains of Pennsylvania, or North
Mountain of Va the hills, or valleys containing
Goals or iron ores are grouped promscuously without
order or uniformity. In Virginia, however, the noun
tain ranges are contracted and the country which Ie
between them in Pennsylvania, over hundred miles
wide is here narrowed down to less than ~ in Mont
romery The effec, of this contraction is beneficial
since it throws the coal near the greater deposits
iron ores, copper and lead of the North Mountain sne
the Blue Ridge; and places the miner and the farm
er the producer and the consumer, in close pro1lni
ty. With the anthracite coal of Montgomery county
ze are personally acquainted, having sunk over
hundred feet into Of the deep basins there, on
vein of pure anthracite Elk feet thick at poin
too, designated by soms Of our prominent geoogists
as unworthy OF attention. We have quite dfferen
opinion of both the Goals and the geology Of this in
teresing region-just descrbed-from that expressed
| by our predecessors-8ud we have formed our opin
ion from practical experience snd investigation, NOR
! than theory.
We cannot hazard any thing definite, in regard t.
the quantity or quality OF the coal which may III
in the counties, formerly named, to the north o
Montgomery and Botetourt; but we can state posi-
lively, that in these two countless there is abund
ancs of splendid anthracite fit for all the purposes Il
which coke or the hard coale Of Pennsylvania, ar
adapted. vas: quantity of this coal will eventually
be required in the important and prolific mineral re
gion which surrounds it; from Lynchburg TO Ten
nesaee, and from the base Of the Aleghanies TO tn
Eastern foot OF the Blue Rdge-indeed, we ma,
speculate with certainty on its reaching Richmond
to the exclusion of Northern Goals, and it may ever
be carried TO Norfolk; since he cost Of transportation
from Bote.ourt to Norfolk, according to the rate
charged from Cumberland TO the sape place, woult
be but little over 81 50 cents per ton, which at tbs
price now paid for anthracite there, would leave {
fine profit to the coal of Botetourt But even suppo
sing that il should cost 81 per ton to mine and place
it there the profit TO the miner would still be from
rs cents to 81 per ton-the price Of Northern anthrs
cite at Norfolk, ia generally over, instead of under
$5 per ton.
Ii the anthracite coal Of our mountains can com
pete with that Of the North at Norfolk, the trade o
Richmond in this article would oe our own, without
competition, snce it could be sold here with profit tt
the producer cheap bi.umnous coal is now solo
at Alexandria, and this, We may remark, is another
strong point towards establishing our claims for the
site of the National Foundry, aud another argument
which must make an irresistible appeal, in favor o!
the James River and Kanawha canal. Yet is i:
not range that in the face of these facts, over
10000 ions OF coal annually transported into the
heart of Virginia, half of which is foreign COAL actu
ally carried over our own fields Of mineral fuel
which might be obtained at less than half the price
now paid for the foreign1
Lynchburg sef uses nearly 10000 tons of coal
per year, much of which she brings from the far of
mines OF Pennsylvania-more than quo miles. Yet
this city stands a. the very entrance of our OWN grea
coal REGION and within sight Of our mineral noun
tans. She loses $40 400 per annum because she will
not use her own coal; since che pays that amount