The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-10-19
western Virsinia's Mineral Wealth.

western Virsinia's Mineral Wealth.
The observation has been often made that
the coal fields OF Great Britain have done more
for that country than all her other mines, at
home or in other countries, but that coal
would have been valueless to her II proper
outlets had not been provided for getting 1t
AWAY With reference to the coal OF Western
Virginia alone, the immediate completion Of
The James River and Kanawha Canal-the
only prospect OF which is through the agency
of the French company-is of the most i'm
measurable importance to the power and
prosperity OF the State.
The most distinguished mining engineers,
who have made thorough investigations and
explorations OF the spot, testify that the coal
fields Of Western Virginia are richer, more
extensive, and more easily developed, than
any in Great Britain. With the extension Of
the canal iron works will be multiplied, and
roads tributary 10 the canal, which can be
made at u very low cost, be constructed. All
the elements required for the construction are
said 10 Re on the spot; limestone Of various
kinds, from The easily-reduced carboniferous
TO the impervious and hydraulic free stone,
and Are clay can all be had in the same section.
The surplus skill labor and capital of France
and Great Britain would flow into Virginia.
Lands would rise in value, capital find de-
sirable investment, and labor permanent &C.
cupation and reward.
JAMES TODD, Esq, distinguished Mining
Engineer, in publication upon the mineral
resources OF Western Virginia, has very strik
insly illustrated his subject by placing South
Wales in Britain, as it was fifty years ago, on
3 footing with some OF our western counties
where The minerals contained are in the same
position now that those OF Monmouth were
at that time. He says that the mineral basin
In Wales is more remote than the basin OF the
Ohio; that i'll Western Virginia. from the same
shaft, the components required in making
iral can be gotten and, independently of the
deep minerals. = series comes in which can be
got by an edits driven into the face of the
ridges and ores OF the richest XII nd OF fossilife-
Ious and hematitic, varying in thickness from
one to five feet, will repay the miner for his
labor. Limestone and coal, fre-clay, free
stene, &c, can be gotten in the same manner.
On the other hand, in South Wales, the ores
invariably repose ON the mou ntains, lines tone
commencing about six miles from the river
Severn, the outlet for that sec ton, and has
con.eq uently TO be hauled great distance to
the works not Immediately situated on or
near the edge OF the basin. The ores, Mr..
TODD ssys are more irrefractiole than any he
has seen in America the hematitic ore, neces-
sary for amalgamating with the Welsh ores,
is bought at a very great expense from Stat
tordshire and Devonshire; no vein reaches
twelve inches In thickness, nor does the coun-
try possess the same facilities that Western
Virginia possesses for constr ucting roads. Yet,
SAYS this Intelligent observer, canals, road.
towns, villages, and works that may vie with
any In the world, have sprung up in South
Wales; the rugged sides OF the noun taius pre-
sent green fields, and the mansions Of the m H.
iionaires prove that the noun tain in labor has
produced diamonds. He adds that the i'm.
1nense profits made in times OF prosperity
have enabled the iron-masters there to con :
struct their works on the very best principles
and therefore, even when the trade 10 pros
1rated, they can send iron TO New York cheap.
Tie natural advantages OF Western Virginia
are such that, with the extension of facilities
for transportation and with good wor kmen,
The man ufactured iron OF Great Britain might
be entirely excluded from Virginia. The value
OF the timber on the mineral lands would
Iorm another source of profit that cannot be
haG in Wales. Whilst Mr. TODD does not ad-
init the value Of the hill land In Western Vir-
ginia for farming purposes, yet he holds that
much rich and good land caa be brought in to
cultivation by men accustomed to the same
kind Of land in Great Britain, and declares,
WI tn perfect confidence, that a country better
adapted Tor pasturing cattle and sheep cannot
be found. The heritage is rich and full OF sus-
tenance, and there are new er- failing springs OF
wastr.
Were Western Virginia as barren rs an
ocean rock, it would still be an object of in =
tense interest to every travsler, tor the unsur-
passed grandeur OF its towering mountains,
its lovely valleys, its rushing torrents, and
its wonderful subterranean caverns, glitter
lng with lus,re which throws in to the shade
the spiendor OF palaces. But, when we add
to these striking and impressive features o.
natural beauty, fertile soil when beneath
this soil we find iilimitable stores OF the mos
valuable minerals; in almost every county.
Aedicinal springs; and a climate unsurpassed
In healthiness on the continent, how can we
account for the fact that ms tead Of teeminx
with life and activity, 1t is 10 this day, in
comparison with such a country as South
wales, almost solitude The reason simnIv
S' Aa' ~ not penetrated by either railroad
OF canai, and never, till the Coyington and
ONO RAILROAD and the James River and Ka-
nawha Canal are completed. can even a.
Western Firginians themselves hava an.
faintest conceptions OF the capacity of ,hs,r
country, and Of the prosperity and power
which II will one day attain.