Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-01-28
TIE Most Available Site for Nation,l Fcuniry.

:. III. DEEow.
TIE Most Available Site for Nation,l Founiry.
20. H.
Jn our first paper we argued our superior
advantages in point Of position, being central,
convenient and available with the hest facilities
for the tranit Of munitions Of var to ell parts
OF the Union, which we think sufficiently plain,
without going into figures and distances, since
the most ;ncrcdulous mast be convinced, by 4
rlcrc glance a, oar railroad map. This impor-
tant consideration being disposed Ct in ctr f.
vOr, sc come next 10
THE ECONOMY nF THE LOCATION.
]. would bo idle TO talk Of orr CENTRAL rosr.
rIoS merely, did VT not slso possess the g;saM,
and tie material in an available manner. But
we DO possess them. to an eminent degree and.
perhaps, as far As these are concerned, our adj
vanrlgcs are etM greater than that Of position.
Certainly no point North or South can be CON.
pared with lis on the score of economy, with
the prestige OF unrivalled passed productions in
our favor.
Bniding MterM!-In the erection Of such
An establishment al the Government you'd
require for National Foundry, the most dura-
BILE material capable Of resisting the action Of
time and the violence Of man, should be made
use Of: and for such purpose. wha; is better
than our james River Granitef Immense
quantities Of this splendid material, correspond.
ing TO the .J;,moa- Sisnits of Egypt. whlsiI the
Romans imported for the architectural AMI
statuary decorations Of their capital, lie on
each side Of the James River for many miles 10
the West Of Richmond, and il even found
under the city. 1t can be qmsrricd Is
cheap us ordinary building stone, il any size.
shape or character that may Dc desired, and
being rear the line Of the james River ard ka-
nawha Canal, il can be brought 20 Richmond
at q mere nominal cost. 4 granite building Of
such character aS our quarres could furnish.
would compare for strength and durability.
with the best material the world could produce.
and, ss far as beauty and elegance is concerned,
il approaches marble: for such a purpose it
would he preferable. The Washington Monn-
men,. is built Of this everlasting granite. and
our new Custom House, an uniform and impos-
ng structure, both display the James River
granite. or sienitc in m attractive manner. 1t
cannot be cqualcd.
B,it we have choice ia softer material
should he preferred. then, VIC would recon-
mend the Sandstone Cliffs, or 0uarrics Of the
Tuckahoc, about y miles from Richmond. in
the coal field. and on the line Of the Canal. \
great deal of this stone has been used on the
Canal bridges and elsewhere. showing its dit
rability and heavy structure. 1t is abundant.
easily ouarried and easily dressed to any re.
CURED shape, and for all common work would
answer the purpose Of granite Still further
up on the line of the Canal, in Buckingham
county, we have formation Of Limestone and
a rsin Of ticgnnt G1d ma~'irc mar5lf. which
We predict will bc found valuable, when We
become practical enough 10 know how to work
it and how 70 Use il. Let this lee remembered
and made use of when opportunity offers. In
the same vicinity, in buckingham and
rluvanna, we lind ineyhaustible slaif
qvar,its, the states of which, We will
offer in competition with the beat in market; and,
in fact, we challenge the world to excel them.
For roofing purposes, no material is equal to
good slate, properly made ami put on; and
buckingham slate has been worked and used
for hundred years and has not bctn known
10 decay, t:ic, cr'.ck or gather moss i'll any IN.
stance. Here we also find unlimited quantities.
of soap stone, and in such proportions that
Gen. Cooke uses it for ordinary gate posts on
his farm. With such choice OF building ma
tcrial we might be satisfied; hut fearing that
some one else may claim the same variety.
(Which. however. we seriously doubt We will
enumeratc still greater variety. And iirsi'
in Cumberland county. near Farin'iic. and On
the line OF the South-Side Rail Road. we find
splendid formation Of soft and white yet du-
rable sand stone moro elegant in appearance
than that Of the Tuckahoc, (briore alluded TO,
and more admissible Of artistic design and
polish. This stone can be cut and dressed with
common axe: vet il has been in use since the
early DAYS Of John Randolph, in the buildings
that remain of old Bizarre, showing no signs
of decay. Nearer to the centre Of Cumber'
land. beneath Willis mountain, and at the
head Of Willis navigation we find variety oi
red and brown sand stones ri very elegant ap'
pearance We must gay, however that this
stone has never been used for building pmr
poses. ard. therefore, we cannot, under present
a.oua;ntancc. endorse it as durable. Still. il
exists, snd is worth an examination and trial
But we will return again to Richmond and !hr
vicinity Of the location proposed. Here, Ii
addition 20 tho building material before
mentioned. We find immense quantities Z"
excellent fire clay, scattered over large
extent Of country, but still IN tire nc,
available positions for use This fact Is al
important one, and one which has never. 10 on
Knowledge, been urged in our favor. Ever,
practical founder and snelt-r knows the ust
and value Of rooi and nheap .'re-Lri:h in tn
buildings and subsequent operations pertainio;
to their pursuits. That the best ant: PureS
hre.clay, known or used in this country. or per
haps any country, here exists, We have abnn
,lant proof I, has been in use ~ the Es!lo"s
/, Gur Foundry for forty ycars-since the day
of its celebrated founder, Major John Clarke
and has invariably been used in preference Il
the best imported .frt-brirIs. though frequent
! " tested side by side with them That ther'
| NAV be no doubt oil that subject, we woul'
refer all those who will seek information to pr
Junius l.. Archer. the present proprietor Q
Bcllona. The e-iiences Of its ineXhauStibl
existence. may he seen, at any time, in the vi
cinity of the "Rchmond coa-iicld" and nj
we say or this subject. or others connccte'
herewith. we know from personal examination
and experience.
Common brick can be produced here az ehea!
| and as desirable as at Baltimore since We hav
! the material in more available connections an
positions. We c1E gHqra.t>e. for the purpos
. here proposed. to deliver to the Governmen
the best common brick for go pr: 6olty
per thousand. We say this deliberately an,
advisedly! Now, with such an array Of fact
before US, can any other place offer the sam
facilities for building: We think not. Still "
have said nothing Of the vicinity of ourcemta
porls &c, &:. The building material i !
abundant ard various, beyond dispute. "
will next COTS der the site and it, conno ctlol
in rclat on 20 the .eonon,y of 'oe h;o".
S. II. plB)w.