The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1864-12-08

Canal. with view OF supplying the
French Navy with fuel. Tho outbreak
Of the rebellion prevented the consuma-
ton Of this project, which, it is hoped
may ye! be resumed upoa the return Of
peace,
The next mineral in order OF sStSnt
is lime, which is present upon the sur.
face of more than one.half Of the State,
Salt has been extensively manufactured
in The KanaNhs Valley for half centu.
ry, and, for many years past, also in Ma.
son county, ON tho Ohio river. The
supply from both these sources is only
limited by the demand. Indications OF
salt are prevalent al many other points,
but not 20, eSpoTimenled upon. Iron is
abundant in many locslities, and has
been mined and manufactured in West
Virginia Tor number Of years SoVC.
raj furnaces are now in operation 10 the
northeast section Of tho State and will
multiply with tho increasing supply Of
labor, Sslipeire, slate. sulphur, cement
poIier's clay, and white sand, for the
manufacture Of glass, are found and
partially developed in. various sections.
All these minerals with the exception Of
salt and petroleum, are available without
lsboriouS and unusually expensive mi.
ming, from the Goct that they are found
near the surface, or above in the hor.
izonial s,ralidestion pertaining to this
geological district
From tho foot Of the Allsgkany noun.
tsius to the Ohio river, tho unevenesS
Of the surfsce appears to have resulted
from the gradual abrasion Of seconda.
ry or in part, at least, tertiary plateau,
originally on \ level with tho Glades, or
nearly so. With the exception of the
narrow, uphooved strip in the countios
of Writ, Richie and Pcasanls, contain.
ing the oil fssureI, no trace Of disturb
auco Of the original deposits have as yet
been discovered Considering, howev.
cr, that the region just designated, wos
inhabited oni improved for more than
city years before iIs geological peculiar.
ity was suspected, It is reasonable to in.
fer the probability Of similar accidents
in other localities.
The process ofgradual and constant
abrasion TO which our State owes its tos
pogmphicsl physiognopy, accounts for
the uniform and Tranquil character of
our prcdominatipg scenery, presenting
an uninterrupted ramifcation OF divi.
ding ridges and spurs with THAR cor.
responding drains, The latter are des.
ignalcd as runs, creeks, and rivers, acs.
cordhg to their respective dmensions---
and form tho picturesque valleys and
glend where ehomes of0dFpeople are
chiefly built, and the surface Is suscep.
tibls OF the highest order Of culture -
Our streams which retain water TO their
uppormost head branches, during most
Of the whole year. ara generally stock
cd with Gsh Of oxcellcn, quality, and in
crease in spightlness and Transparency
in the direction OF the mountains, the
crystal home Of tho trout.
The main horoughiarcsof WeatVirgiu.
ia are The navigable Ohio and Great
KanaWho rivers, and the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad, which dverging at Graft
ton TO Wheeling and Psrkersburg, con.
aec,s us Immediately with the fuuhsas
accessible points in every direction of
the compass. Thc distance from the
letter cities 10 Dollimoro is about $50
milcs ard is travelled in ls hours. The
West Virgioia Central Railroad, conneo.
ting with tie pcnnsy lvania Central, and
trsversing our entire territory mas W.
direction, is oready chartered by the
Legislature, and is looking to tho spec
dy completion OF the hands Of Ponnsyl.
vsnia capitalists. Ths wOsl end ofthe
Covington and Ohio Railroad, entering
our State with the valley of GreSnbriar
river, and connecting the Virginia cen.
traI with ghs 0biJ river at ths mouth of
Big Sandy was 10 progress Of eonUtruc.
ton before The wSr, and will, when
completed together with the James rivar
canal; play a conspicuous part in tho
deyrIopemrnt Of our principal mineral
region The Sandy valley railroad, ard
one or two others, have al'o been incor.
poratel, but their construction is yet
100 distant to admit Of lhsir definite 10.
cation OF the map
Moderate sized streams in every part
ortbc State facilitate the transportation
q ,sw.logs, lumber mineral and agri-
cultural produce. Several firstclasS
macudamlled luppikes, running East
and West. are interSsctsd with large
number Of sscond.clas roads connsctlRg
with every county. the very worSt Of
which are wogonable, at least during
the dry seasons of tho year, and are be.
inr nnniinnnllr imnrnvnh. Undnr the