The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-11-04


eoFrespondence Of the Richmond D,spatch.
's"o-1Hs Lodi Region of Psansyirasia- Coai
Tyade--Lskigh Cdaai, &C.
nro,. LEHiGH, "a, Oct. 2sth, 1850.
i. D1vpPeu, rs u were, from the sunny South In
~ terrible snow storm, we nnd ourseIf this
MoIning looking out on snow covered streets
III houses, and on distant snow covered hills
c,ona. mo.n Oackgrounds % Of heavy Threatening
s..9sm, Ssuuus, while the bleak, chilly winds, ars
vi, ,"r,nsring the fields and the trees, which yes
10y looked green and inviting This is,
noWever one Of the riches and mosr interesting
vaIIo~ s ol,ns keystone State. Wefeel as ifin the
-,a ~ "a virginia texceptiBg the snow, when
~ see tne Understanding fields of rich lime
stone lands around u.s. with the tall and rugged
@ ains aooye,and the diminished hills fcor-
responding to the Blue Ridge. below us. We
nnd the same geological formations the Same
uinestohes, the same iron ores and the same
minerals, though less profuseIy. scattered on
erery eve nand; Naturally, we are the richest;
put In availability, in deveiopment-how far
oehind! Around us we can count IS or D, huge
IRON furnaces in full blast, yielding thousands
oi TONS OF the most precious Of meta l. each week
e. pe scattered East and West, North and
LAND ringing back millions ofdollars per
annum, to enrich the enterprising men who
nave laid out their s'talents, SO wiselv-brinp
ing, 100, wealth and prosperity to farmer and
me ,,s merchant and miller; all share in
turer. VIC
In sight, along the rapid Lehigh-that comes
uo"n TO this rich and pleasant valley from
~ eecPVSt, udrAcSt gOTgeS OF the most rugged
ana wild mountain region that mortal ever
saW-Wlnds, like silver band the celebrated
Lehigh navigation. Crowds Of boats are al
Ways coming and going At the entrance of
the locks at this season of the year a half
dozen boats are nearly always waiting TO mass
Wnlle the echoes of the boatman's horn are for
ever resounding from the mountain passes
above. AT the undulating plains below ", the
Irelgnt In this single article of coal is four
times as great as the present tonnage on the J.
H. q n. Canal, and yet it might be reversed.
az may be, If tce are mise. Between us and
lhe canal, runs the Lehigh Valley Railroad,
Wnlcn is splendidly built track of forty miles
In length, and which was built almost entirely
oy the enterprise. energy and wealth of one
man-Hon. Judge ePacker-managed byt un-
sirlhg assiduity and watchfulness of private
care. with an eye to profit, as well as useful
ness, TINS road has paid from the start, and
now promises 10 be one of the most prosper
Gus and paying roads in the world An engine
passed down few minutes ago with 15l cars
In Train. carrying over 700 tons of coal it
would seem, without extraordinary exertion
ms road lies on the banks of the Lehigh
river, and presents an uninterrupted dowE
grace 10 the heavy traffic which passes over
1t. Here, there is great competition with the
water navigation; but with all the advantages
OF grade, of trade, of carefuness and econo-
my, the railroad has no advantage over the
canai, except it's ability to freight in winter,
When the waters of the Lehigh are locked up
by TWO feet layers of solid ice.
IL mas generally been supposed in Virginia
sIiot ~ ou HAS ltTS WeTc6n adventurous. needy
class OF speculators. But here they are the
most wealthy and influential men in this rich
and wealthy region.
Inc iron furnaces on the Lehigh are all paw
ing handsome dividends and we learn from
uhuoupted authority, that some of them are
making from 25 to 33 per cent per annum on
their investments.
Ihere are advantages here but they only ex.
Isl In early development; otherwise our own
James river presents a more inviting field for
enterprise and capital, and, we must add ex-
| perlence. For, to practical experience are we
mucn more indebted than TO professional skin
for the present results of our iron furnaces and
| the same may be said of the coal fields and ore
| banks, into which the mines of Pennsvlyan,a
| have dug so deep,apd from which they nroduce
| so much to swell the tide of trade and wealth
No encouragement. however has been Of
1 fered by the State of Virginia for the deyelop
| ment of her vast wealth. Over S30oOOO ha 70
been spent by this State in geological research
es, while millions in addition have been used
NY individuals. thus encouraged, to open coal
| fields, iron mines, build furnaces, railroads
| &c, sc.
| We would be much pleased to aid in impress
| ing our people at home with the importance
| of developing the immense mineral wealth O
| Virginia, which is, in fact. greater than thi
| State can boast OF, but which adds nothing I,
| our resources in comparison to that whicl
| how encircles the Keystone State. The Goa
| trade alone of Pennsylvania is worth neari,
$50. ego per aDnUm, while the iron furnace
is, perhaps, equally as productive.
I RYaFxMovp