The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-01-14
DEFENcEs OF WESTERN VIRGINIA.

The capacities of the Salnes in Smyth county,
for the production of salt, are equal to four mil
lions of bushels year for all time. The eonsump-
ton of the South is about three millions and half
bushels of salt per annum; so that we have IN
SINGLE depository of that mineral capacity for
more than supplying the entire Confederaey.
The lead mines of Wythe, the county adjoining
that of these saines, among the richest and
most productive in the world. The lead is of a
most rare good quality, and the limit to the pro-
duction is only that which results from the amount
of labor employed. The Confederate Government
obtains nearly its whole supply of lead from these
mines. The value of these lead veins is only Sc
eond to that of the repositories of salt hard by.
One of the largest iron foundries in Western
Virginia is furnace in full operation in this same
county of Wythe We have already stated the
fact that the Confederate Government ID in more
apprehension for adequate supplies of iron than
of any other mineral; for without iron it would be
powerless indeed. There are now but four or five
furnaces in full operation in Virginia; and there
are few if any others in operation in all the South
ern States This furnace and foundry in Nythe
is one Of the most important in the Confederacy,
and is of incalcuable value to the South at this
time.
Extensive preparation has been made for the
manufacture of satpetre in Southwestern Virginia,
a region Astounding everywhere In limestone caves,
containing most rich and extensive deposits OF
earth strongly impregnated with this mineral.
There is probably greater capacity for the pro-
duction of saltpetre in Southwestern Virginia than
in any other region of the Confederacy.
Right through the heart of Southwestern Fir-
cna runs the great line of railway connecting
Virginia. North Carolina, the Atlantic seaboard,
and the Confederate Government with Tennessee,
Kentucky, Missouri, all the country east and west
of the Mississippi, of which the great city OF Mem
phis is the centre, and all our armies In the West
If the value, military and civil, of the Virginia
and Tennessee railway, whether tot the Government
or to the Southern public were to be estimated by
comparison, it would scarcely be extravagant to
say that the destruction of this road would be
| more injurious to the South than that of all the
| other roads within her borders together.
| The whole of Western Virginia, except this in
valuable region of the Southwest with It's salInes,
lead, ron satpetre, and invaluable railroad line,
has been surrendered by the Government to the
| North. Perpont's Government has been estab-
| lished by the tactes of our Confederate Govern
ment, charged with the duty Of protecting the
Southern people and States. All of Western Vir
| ginia being turned over to Pierpont, except the
| Southwest, with its invaluable treasures, would
any one in his senses believe that that region
| had been denuded of its own soldiers, and left
open and defenceess, an inviting prey to the enc
my? But for the fact staring the public In the
face, so garlnS ana mohsIrouS piece VI lmoeciit-
ty would be absolutely incredible.
Such road, such country, such treasure,
of indispensable minerals, being abandoned to the
enemy by the Confederaey, what is to be done!
| Plainly this: the State Of Virginia must herself
| interpose and provide the requisite to Its
| protection and to her own salvation. The delegates
of all that region of country, naturally offended at
the condition in which their constituents have
been left, devsing plan of State action, such
as will meet the demands of the occasion. We
| trust that their measures will be speedy and efec
tive. No time is to be lost, and no expense spared
make good the tenure of Virginia to at least this
portion of her Western domain.-Richn,ond Dis
pdtch