The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-06-21
.MThe coals of this region. generally,

lIl6EOuSy hnO
than in any other portion of this coal
field; it can be mined cheaper and with
more economy generally, under the
same rates of labor, than in any other
region in this country without eScep-
ton, The markets of the West, or the
great Ohio and Mississippi valleys, are
open beyond any controlling competi-
ton to the trade Of the kanaWha CS IN
coal, oil, salt, iron and lumber. Charles
ton is two hundred miles nearer Gin
cin1iati than Pittsburgh, and always
open to navigation; while the Ohio to
Pittsburgh is frequently closed by ice
in the winter, and Interrupted by low
water in the summer. The principal
volume of the great and rapidly in
yerted 10 the seaports of the East by
way of the Kanawha Valley, with
much economy in time and transport
ing, power. .,.,-o,.,osa ron,or,,s 40
invidious comparisons. Nothing we
can say will detract from Pittsburgh;
nor do we wish to say one word against
that noble city and her vast resources.
We only " ish we could say to the help
less, diIatory Virginians, Go ye ana do
likewise;' and we would willingly show
them the.way."
IL this mountain region, extending
into North Carolina, is rich in coal, 1t
is no less prolific in iron ores. we eN-
tract the following in relation to this
subject, and give also the authors hints
as to the feasibility of connecting the
coal and iron beds by railroad. He
says: l..Ha.Il
IRON ORES OF WEST VIRGINIA AND
NORTH CAROLINA.
"This region of iron ores will per-
haps rival any locality in our country.
Iron Mountain, Pilot Knob, or Lake
Superior not eXcepted-either IN guam
ty or quantity. There is no limit TO
the resources ofibrown hematite in this
section. 1t exists in massive beds OF
great extent, and ranges through vast
area of the country. We have seen beds
of ore in this region equal to the cele-
brated Cornwall deposits, and can state,
from practical experience, there is no
richer or purer iron ore of this descrlp-
ton 10 be found The Kanawha is In
close proximity to this great region of
iron, and connected by large river,
which levels, as it were, the mountains,
and grades a uniform path through the
huge Alleghanies. From the Ohio
river to the boundary of North Caroll3
ma the ascent is easy and uniform, ana
the elevation moderate. The point at
which the dividing ridge between the
waters of Virginia and North Carolina
NAV be pierced by tunnel is not over
twenty-five hundred feet above tide,
and only two Thousand feet above the
Ohio: while the distance is about two
hundred and fifty miles, or "A common
grade of less than ten feet to the mile.
But, as the upper portions of the DIS
tance overcome the most elevation, the
grades at the summit would be fifty
feet to the mile for short distance.
This. however, would have no refer
ence to the rich hematitic iron region
of the valley. These ores may pc
reached att maximum grade OF twenty
feet to the mile, with common de-
scending grade rom the ore oePosl's "
the coal of the Kanawha. a. -
"From the magnetic iron regions OF
North Carolina the grades would be ad-
verse for short distance to the sum-
nit. But the great richness of the ores
which yield about seventy per cent
of metallic iron in the charcoal fur
nace-would compensate for addi-
tionnl freight or transportation. The
railroad line thus suggested from the
Ohio to the great iron and copper re-
pions OF Southwestern Virginia and
North Carolina not only gives the val
lev of the Knnawha an abundant sup
piy of the richest and Purest iron ores
and open out splendid mineral and
AGRICULTURAL region, but also open d.
rect communication between Virginia,
North Carolina and the great West,
and. we hope, at no distant day, the
golden gates of the far Pacific.
"At No. (on the map) the Green
brier river joins the New rivers ana
here the projected and partially hnlsh-
ed Covington ana ONO Rallroad enters 1It,is
the valley of the great Kanawha. This
line connects at Covington with the
Virginia Central Railroad, which CEN
tres at Richmond. By this line the dis
tance from tide to the navigable waters
of the West is less than by any, other
route, and the grades are more favora-
bic. But farther up the New river, at
No. G. is the mouth of Sinking creek !;
and at this point u means of Communl-
cation exists from the waters of the
West to those of the East, which has
been long and singularly overlooked.
The mountain ranges here run parallel
from the New river to the James and
their valleys afford the lowest point OF
elevation from the eastern to the west
ern waters. The great Allegheny
ranges are cut down to their bases by
the waters of the New river, while the
waters of the James drain its eastern
escarpment. The deep valleys of the
east cross the courses OF these rivers
consequently, u line from river to river
along the valleys must have less eleva-
tion to overcome than n line across the
summit of the Allegnanies. The wrl-
ter examined this line in 1S5S-59, and,
bv baronetrical observation, found
that the elevation to be overcome was
nearly eleven thousand feet less than
the most favorable present route from
cast to west; or the greatest elevation
ia less than fourteen hundred feet where
the denuding ridge or watershed may
be pierced by tunnel.
hThis route offers to Eastern and
Western Virginia natural advantages
which no other route from east to west
can possess. 1t presents line whose
maximum grades shall not exceed
twenty feet per mile, and whose dis
tance from Richmond or City Point to
nayigable water on the Kanawha is
only about three hundred and twenty
miles. -....-sr. -.-.ys5- - &.
THThese natural advantages are so inn
portant and desirable not only for the
development of the region in question,
but ali the great West, that they must
and will force themselves on the atten-
ton of the enterprising and far-seeing.
The Contamination of such desirable
object would lift Virginia from her pres
ent ruin and desolation and place her
fairly and advantageously in emula-
ton with the progressive northern and
western states. 1t would be more eff
fective in eradicating sectional preJu-
dices and strife than provost marshals
or bayonets, lecture or sermon; ltwould
teach our 'erring sisters the way 70
wealth, power and prosperity, ana
show them that all they sought by war
and separation exists in peace ana
| union" 1aE s7za7i. .iI.l =
Ual washington County, Pa
The Union Republicans of Washing
ton county met at the Court House in
washington borough, on Monday, and