Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-01-23
The Coal 0f Western Virginia,

some lew weeks ago we wrote and pub
lshed an article in wllichswe endeavored to
give some idea of the immense wealth Of
the State In the article of coal. Extrava-
CANT as our declarations may have appeared
we are satisfied that cur estimates fell short
OF the reality, rather than exceeded it. The
coal Of Virginia that has already been dis
covered, IS enough to supply the.whole con-
tlnentTitb fuel for many years to ONE
ana there. are, doubtless, many rich and
valuable fields of coal yet concealed in the
earth, which have never been exposed to
public view.
1t may seem strange, that the people of
Virginia, should send to Pennsylvania and
Maryland for coal, when there is so much
OF 1t almost at our very doors 1t may seem
strange, that the people Of Lynehburg
should pay thirty FIVE or forty cents a BUSH
81 for coal, when, if there were any wav Of
getting it from Western Virginia, it could
be procured for one-third of the money
I 1t not only seems strange-but it is strange.
And yet, with this g. cat source Of wealth.
almost inviting us to come and take adyap-
tage OF 1t, we are content to nlod along in
our old way, and to pay annual tribute to
other States for that which we have in such
wonderful abundance, almost in our yery
midst
The coal Of Western Virginia can be
mined for two cents bushal sNoone' need
be told then, that if there we're any means
OF bringing it across the State, it could be
sold here for one-th third or one fourth the
price we now pay for coal brought from
other States. The mechanic. whose fuel
for himself and family, costs him one hun
dred dollars per winter, finds that his in
come is seriously affected by the high price
OF the article. Perhaps lie removes from
the city, to'se.nes point where fuel is cheap
er and more abrndant, fer this very reason.
thus, not only dtes the whole population
suffer, IN consequence IF the high cost of
coal-but, it"may To 4tsli,;t the Interests and
prosperity OF the city are injaricusly affect
ed by the expulsion of those who are unable
to bear the heavy burden. If the people Of
Lynchburg had the means of getting coal
from Western Virginia, they would in all
probability, save as much, in one year, as
would be their proportion Of the cost of
opening lntefnsssl communication with the
exhaustless coal fields Of their own State.
Pittsbnrs, Wheeling, and Cincinnati
have been built up mainly by their manu-
factarers-zand those manufacturers have
tlounshed bcca1so Of the cheapncss of their
fuel. BY having direct communication with
w estern Virginia, we could procure coal
almost as cheaply as those cities. We
might make Norfolk the great coaling sta
t.on ct the Western continent, for tile nu-
mcrons steamships now navigating the high
seas. We might establish iron furnaces
and rolling mills all over Western Virgin
Ia, wherever that metal abounds. In shert.
Virginia possesses in her coal fields mine
Of ineShaustible wealth, which she seems
indeed to have net even a faint appreciation
of.
This, alone, would justify the completion
Of the James River and Kanawha Canal or
Railroad from Coyington to the Ohio-in-
dependent Of the fact tAtat such commune
cation would be the great highway of trans
portaton from The Western States to the
Ocean. Let our legislators in Richmond
think Of these things, while consulting the
best interests Of tic State.
LynchJary Ti1y.
= = There is coal enough in Western
Virginia 70 supply Tie State for thousand
years, and i can Be bought for 4, 5 and
cents per bnshel