The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-06-22

works q small railroad has been con-
structed to the canal, By means Of which
the ore can be conveyed thither with the
greatest ease. Immediately adjoining this,
vein Of silica of the purest character Is
being worked, and preparations are being
made for washings by means Of changing
the bed Of small strea m so as that it will
run very convenient to the works. This
vein has been thoroughly examined and
explored by Colonel Mcdonald, the pro-
fessor of mineralogy at the Virginia Mill
tary Institute, q gentleman Of great prof.
cheney, and he has expressed the opinion
that the vein is ineXhaustible. After Q
number Of experiments, he finds that with
a certain solution he can remove all
foreign properties from 1t, and produce it
pure at a cost Of about two dollars per
ton. These iron and silica works, unfortu-
nately, for lack Of capital, cannot as yet
be carried on on very large scale.
At the mouth of North river the water
power is immense, and can be easily put
to use, as the canal company has there
large and ell-constructed dam. Eight
miles below this is Jordan's furnace, which
has been in operation for some time. It's
operations are being extended, and pre-
parations are being daily made to carry
them on on a more extended scale.
A mile or two above Balcony Falls, on
Buffalo creek, large deposit of manga.
neSe has been discovered, and near this q
large one of barytes, both valuable mine
rails. A deposit Of the latter has also been
found near the Natural Bridge. The first.
mentioned deposit (manganese) has been
delayed in its workings by an injunction
now impending in the County Court Of
Rockbridge, which will not be decided be-
fore next fall. 1t is hoped, however, that
compromise may be made which will put
an end to the delay.
Near the iron works isa bed of very supe-
rior brick clay, which is now manufactured
into bricks in this city. On James River,
above Balcony Falls, are the James river
cement quarries. The operations of these
are being very much extended.
Near Buchanan marble quarry has
been opened, and specimens have been
sent to the Virginia Military Institute to
be tested. 1t is said to be very durable,
and is as susceptible of polish as beau
titul as the rarest specimens Of Tennessee
marble
What number of enterprises men of
capital could safely enter into within the
comparatively small area Of country .
Here we have the discovery of valuable
minerals in inexhaustibIe quantities within
convenient distance Of the canal, awaiting
simply the labor required for their re-
moval, which, from all that is stated by
men Of knowledge, isecomparatiyely small.
These are facts which are doubtless ap-
preciated. Capitalists who visit the mine
raj regions of Virginia express themselves
delighted, but complain of the high prices
at which owners hold their lands. We
suspect the truth is, that they are deceived
in the Outstart with the impression that
land, no matter how rich, can be bought
at mere song. If fair prices only will
be asked and given for mineral lands, their
sale will prove beneficial both to the buyer
aud seller.
In addition to facts already given, we
have the following concerning the West
ham Iron Works:
The Westham Iron Works, which have
lately been bought by Messrs. Aspinwall
& Co., have made n contract with Colonel
Stone, Of the Dover Mining Company, for
scvcnty-fyc tons of coal per day, and have
made arrangements to transport from Bal
cOny Falls seyeGty-fige tons of iron per
day; and as soon as this is smelted, it will
be carried to the extensive rolling g-mills
being built above Lynchburg.