Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-02-07
The Kanawha Valley-Its Re
sources.

Tbe Legislature of West Virginia,
during its present session, will in all
probability settle upon the perma-
ncnt location of their State Capital.
During the war the State government
was temporarily located at Wheel
ing. The war now being over and
danger past, the capital will natural
ly seek some more central point.
The geographical center of the State
lies at or near the corner Of Clay,
Braxton and Nicholas counties. Our
neighboring town Of Charleston is
the nearest accessible point to this
center, and its citizens together with
all the South w estern portion Of the
State are strongly urging its claims
as the proper and most suitable posi-
ton for the permanent location of
the capital. The agitation Of this
question has elected many interest
ing facts touching the natural wealth
and resources of the Kanawha Val
ley, which may we'll attract the at
tention both of the public al large,
anu especially of capitalists seeking
investments. In o pamphlet lately
published at Charleston and address
ed to the members of the Legisla-
ture, many Of these facts are grouped
together. We take pleasure in CIV
ing them such circulation as our pa
per commands, for we feel that we
also have a vital interest in the
speedy Development of the mineral
wealth Of that Valley. Its develop
meut can not fail to favorably affect
the interests of our ewn city.
From a letter printed with the
pamphlet and written by Mr.. John S.
Swami of Charleston, we extract the
following interesting facts in RELATION
to the coal deposits Of the Kanawha
River and its tributaries. Mr.. Swami
says:
Many Geolegists of high standing
concur In representing nineteen diff
ferAnt seams of Coal, presented
above water level, in this basin.
Twelve of these seams are presented
in localities above water level on or
near the Kanawha River, which cuts
the Coal measure to its base. About
one-half the seams, peculiar to the
Kanawha River, are presented above
water level on Elk river, its princi:
pal tributary, and remarked for its
adaptation to slackwater navigation.
And in addition to the seams CON-
mon to the Kanawha River, Elk
River presents seven seams, peculiar
to itself, several of them very supe-
rior. Some six or seven seams are
presented on Coal River, some of
them common to the Kanawha River,
and among them a very fine Camel
Coal seam. Having examined many
of these seams, find the reports of
Geologists fully confirmed. The
seams examined vary from three to
eleven feet in thickness-some of
them splint, some camel, and some
bituminous Coal; but the seams of
enc locality change greatly in anoth-
er, both in quality and thickness.
Some of the seams are free from any
foreign substance whatever, others
are mixed with slate or niggerhead.
The thick seams being generally
composed of two or more seams
forming themselves into one. The
base and roof of most OF the seams
are solid sand stone, with a thin
stratum Of soft, shaly substance at or
near the bottom. / also notice a
seam of bituminous Coal, Al feet
thick, which, after eight years ex-
posure, remains perfectly firm. This
Coal is superior for blasting purp0s-
es. The coal shipped by Compa
nies which have recently commenced |
operations here, commands as good |
price in Cincinnati as the best
Pennsylvania Coal; and one variety
commands, l am credibly informed,
higher price, ewing to its superi
ority for blasting. The splint Coal
varies from to s feet, the bitumin-
GUS from 8 to 10 feet, the camel from
one to five feet in thickness. The
camel Coal seams also vary greatly
in quality; some yield 60 to so gal
Ions of superior oil per ton, other
varieties ere equal to the best Scotch |
and English camel for fuel
Iron ere is found in several places.
/ have examined seam Is inches
thick, imbedded in shaly sandstone,
through which are interspersed large
nodules of the same ore. think
this the gray limestone ore. Also a
seam Of brown hematite ore, 16
inches thick, of very superior quail
ty. l have noticed in a certain To-
cality, large blocks of ore, several
inches thick, nearly as pure as pig
iron, but 1t has not been opened.
Fine clays abound in many localities
of superior quality, also hydraulic
cement. 1t must not be inferred
from these general remarks, that
good Coal is found in every hill. The
fact is not 50. All can say is, that
the Kanawha River cuts the Coal
basin for 40 or so miles, Elk about
go miles, and Coal So miles or more.
The Coal being both above and be-
low their levels in sundry places.
In regard to the present navigation
of the Kanawha River, and the ease
with which it can be further improv-
ed, Mr.. Swami says:
I must say q word concerning the
navigation of the Kanawha River. A
Coal mining Company, engaged in
shipping Coal from a point 20 miles
above Charleston, Is months pasi,