The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-12-24
TmE KAsAwHA VALLEY.
Iron ore DIseovery-ALst.er ON tne
Subject. iH

-N...I hublccb
we noticed In yesterdays paper a
statement that iron ore had been dlscoy.
cred on oampbell's Greek, In the Kama.
wha Valley, aud that General RuHner
and others were about TO put up a blast
furnace. The following letter is from
8. H. tDaddow,l 10 gentleman announced
by the Kanawha Republican as Geolo.
glst and author . ...I
ST. CLAIR, Nov. 20, 1867.
GENERAL RuFPNER, Dear ,,Sir My
brother informs me thatit is the design
Of yourself and friends, to erect blast
furnace near Maiden, 10 test the Goals
and ores of the Kanawha for tho pro.
duciion Of iron. u am glad 10 bear
that you are one OF the first TO inaugu.
rate such an enterprise: The result
must be that the old citizens OF the
Great Valley will lead the way TO its
regeneration. lean not doubt the sue.
cess Of such an enterprise, u properly
and economically na1aged.
Attention 10 the superior ores Of the
coal measures Is now generally at.
traCted. The discovery ofa magnificent
bed Of black faced iron ore In this re.
Rion-owing partly 10 my efforts In
calling attention 10 the subject-haS
already drawn The notice OF English
md American capital 10 this region.
Ihave been devoted during the past
summer tothe investigation OF our coal
measures generally, under the employ.
ment OF wealthy and enterprisIng
New York company, who are largely
interested in iron works, both North
and South and have been fortunate
enough to have discovered several dd.
ditionGL beds ofrteh and excellent iron
ores! We are now making prepnra.
tiOn to develop large tract Of coal
and Iron land, on grand scale; but,
while these preparations are In pro.
Rress, may be able 10 spare time to
pay you u visit, and assist In your en-.
terprlse. .-..... ...
Ia the Maryland coal regions there
carbonaceous and caloarlOus iron ore,
Of incalculable value to that region.
These carbonaCeous ores are now being
used with great success In the furnaces
Of both this and that region, producing
pig.lrOn which supercedes the celebra.
ted Scotch pig In our markets, and Ia
also pronounced Of the proper quality
for the manufacture ol steel by experts.
tfa small experimental furnace Ia
contemplated, only d comparatively
small amount OF money will be re.
quired; but furnace on working
scale will be the most economical and
profitable In the end. The cost OF such
a furnace will range from 500 up.
wards, according to size and appoint
ments. have seen successful fur.
naces, producing from three TO five tons
OF pig metal per day, which cost less
than $1,000; and have seen furnaces
OF the same style, (vlz: small furnaces
OF no greater productions; and much
less economy Of production, which cost
from $4,000 TO $50,000l .
Much depends on the site and cir
attending: no proper plan
ought TO be adopted until your best far.
mace sites are carefully studied, and the
question Of supply-ciS coal, ores and
ttMeStone-fully determined. have
the plans OF great number OF furna.
ces, but they should ali be modified to
meet the natural advantages OF site and
Itspems to me, that nothing can be
wanting In your valley. You certain.
ly have hills high enough for elevating
the material to the top OF the furnace,
without requiring the aid of ma.
chinery. You have any quantity OF
good building stone, and, l think,
"nre.stOne," also, FOR the hearths-Ii
not, there Is plenty OF fire clay. Labor,
! suppose, Is plenty, aud comparative.
ly cheap, In proportion 10 the prices
paid at the established iron wo0ks in
other regions.
II company is formed with small
capital TO start with, there would be no
difficulty In increasing II as Iron Is
now about the only thing which capital
will consider, outside OF bonds and real
estate.
My principal aim Is to profit by the
development of that region, as my.
self and friends are largely Interested
In lands on Lewis Greek, Coal River,
&c. ...,',.
My partner, MIR. Bannan, has lust re.
turned from Il trip 10 England, and one
OF my friends IL now there's We have
placed a full statement OF the advan.
Iages Of the Great Kanawha In proper
hands In London, and l am now pre-.
pairing II series OF letters for the London
Mining Journal, on the same subject,
w request OF Its manager.
Yourstruly, s.H. DADDow.