The Baltimore County union., 1866-01-13
The IMMORAL wealth OF vireinia.

In llarper's Magazine for Dccemher, Is n paper
on the Natural Wealth Of Virginia" giving In.
formation, We have 40 doubt, which Ia entirely
new TO great majority Of its readers To many,
the knowledge obtained Of that State waa con-
hned to the swamps Of the Chickahoniny the
barren sandy plains South OF the Potomac, the
dreary pines Of the Wilderness, and tie Woru out
region around Petersburg But he who has
campaigned In the famous Valley Of Virginia,
has entered the vcsibule ofthe great Agricultural
and Mineral Region Of iha, State destined a, 40
distant day to rival California in richness aud
excel Il In actual value as IL lies So near to the
great --Ntres Of ,rsde.
This golden lone can be traced on the map for
more than 500 miles from Maryland to North
Carolina, running parallel with the Allcgauy
mountains, aud is from two TO twenty miles in
width. Prof Ovcrman. in 1851, in a ~VrA OIL
practical mnerology says I'VE have belt Of gold
ores Of unparalleled extent, immense width. aud
undoubtedly reaching TO the prmaiiyc rock,
which cannot be less than >, OUO fee, deep. Here
is a mass Of precious metal which cannot be cx-
hausied for ages, and in this respcc, this region
Is the most important Of all known gold deposits,
California not excepted"
This gold is found in the quartz rock, which
appears TO be upheav,d between the granite aal
slate formations. But 4, is not gold alone ,ha,
gives this region such great value II abound.
with iron copper. silver, tin, lead, coal, marble
and many other valuable minerals
The writer Of this article, since the suppression
OF the Rebellion made tour through a portion
Of the gold region, and gives his experience in a
very interesting pap,r.
In all the localities tlsic.. there WAS tie sam,
want Of iniclligcn, exploration and working
The veins were followed until the water wa.
reached, and then abandoned. no arrangement,
having been made foF pumping the mnc when
IL Is known that the richness increases will
| depth and the rock was reduced in u very
rough and incomplete manner, by small water.
mills. lie visited some dozen mines iha, had
been previously worked with profit. and with
modern machinery, and in the hands OF cncrgci.
iePraeiical men, there is no calculating III,
amount OF riches that might be obtained, and ,h,
effect this region may have on the future of that
great State aud Of the Nation.
We will close this notice by giving an ex,rac;
from the paper in the Magazine
THE geographical position of Virginia is mos;
remarkable aud i.w realize IL until they careful.
ly examine map o: the United States. II !,
nearer from -. Louis 10 Norfolk than from 81
Louis 10 New Orleans II is nrarrr los several
hundred miles from Cincinnati 10 Nutflla. than
from Cincinnati TO New York The ,hori,s,
pathway from the great basin of the West L.
ilde'waier, hes directly across the State Of Nirgi-
MIA, by route which the fros's and snow oi
winter never blockade. Across this route liz,
the extension Of the Pacific railroad in q s,rnichl
line to the Atlantic. The lake cities Chicago az
their head are taking away the trade o: Clucin-
natl. Louisville, and 81. Louis by reason Of their
lying on the great water line Of Transportation.
leading through the great lakes. and over the
New York aud Erie canal. These central cities
must and will open a shor, route for themselves
TO the Atlantic. and that route will De lir,c,ly
across the State OF Virginia. The Valley Of ,lir
Ohio, and the States Of Missouri Kansas. and all
the great central belt OF country running back
10 the rocky mountains will soon he az the door
OF Congress demanding opportunities for opening
this short cut 10 the Atlantic