The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-02-15
THE KANAwHA VALLEY.
sT. GLAZE, PA., Eel. 4, 1sl
Hon. Il. c. ArcRhortar.

AOHs IL Ss 4HC WHOTGoTg
DEAR SIR:-Yours of the SOth ult.,
including the State documents, came
duly to hand, for which please receive
my thanks. l was particularly inter-
ested in the Governors Message.
1 haYs strong inclination to visit
the Valley of The Great Kanawha again
In the spring, with particular reference
to the iron ores of the coal measures,
which wish to investigate closely.
feel confident that have identified
the coal beds OF the Kanawha with those
OF the anthracite regions of PennsylVa-
mia, and, consequently, believe that
our iron beds here must also exist and
be indentical there. l have recently dis.
covered in this region, no less than five
large and vGtudbte beds of iron ores, be-
sides many which are larger than the
average of the justly celebrated iron
bands of the WEIGH and Scotch mines,
and which produce the greatest portion
OF the English iron. These iron beds
sink into insignificance the Iron Noun
tains of Missouri, or the great deposits
on the eNorthernLakes,o on account Of the
greatness of their horizontal spread the
economy OF production, the ease with
| which they are smelted, the SUPERIOR
ity of the resulting metal, and chiefly
because they cEiSt side by side lUith the
fuel! have found evidences that these
same beds exist in the bituminous
but that they must all exist in the
Valley of the Great Kanawha, where
| the coal measures are developed in
| their greatest perfection, and where we
| may justly expect both coal and iron
to be of the most superior character.
It is the heart and centre of the Great
Allegheny Coal Field, which, without
exception is the largest, richest and
most available coal deposit in the
IVorIdy
You may estimate the value of other
| material resources in any reasonable
measure, but in comparison to your
coal and i1oH, every other product of
your State is insignificant, and upon
these West Virginia must depend for
her future greatness and prosperity.
On the energy aud enterprise of her
| people will depend, in a great measure,
how soon and to what extent these re-
sources may be made available. Ma
tural resources are of no avail unless
| realized by the industry and intellI-
gence of men. The richest portions of
our country and of the world are not
the most prosperous or the most pro-
ductive. But when the people, eli
mate, mineral and soil, respond to
each other; when the laws OF nature
and the blessings OF Providence are
| Virginia, we may reasonably expect
the best results of industry and intel
ligence.
1t is both probable and possible how
ever, that the greatest expenditure of
individual enterprise and energy will
be devoted to localities which possess
no extraordinary natural advantages,
and that public attention will be de-
verted by individual interests in the
aggregate. L wish, notwithstanding,
to express a conviction, which formed
long ago. without bias or self interest,
q a gIkV for
examination of the principal industrial
centres of this country, viz: As a
mining and manufacturing centre, the
Valley of the Great Kanawha is the
m9St available natural locality in the
United States, or in the world, and
may, with a reasonable amount of de-
velOpment, be placed beyond competition
in few years. l do not mean simply
in coal and iron, though these are the
two most productive of all industries,
In these we find the "open sesame" to
Natures vaults, the talismanic power
which turns all else to gold. But not
not only do both the mineral and agri-
cultural Kingdoms conspire to make
this valley the central point, from the
peaks of the Blue Ridge to the Black
Hills of the West, here we find
also the gates through which
the wealth of both the Old and
NcW Worlds will, or may naturally
pass Lu6 l4dkbs lne ROfIl TO
the Gulf in the South, there is no other
spot so available and no other route
leading from East to West, or vice versa,
as through the Great Kanawha Valley
where a greater trade-or so great
a trade, may be concentrated.
1 do not hesitate to say that the steam
boats which now ply on the Kanawha
may be taken across the mountains to
the Chesapeake Bay at less cost than
the construction of the Baltimore 81
Ohio Railroad, and that a greater trade
may be concentrated thereon in less
than ten years, than now finds its way
from theLakes to the great and insatiate
mart of New York. 1 do not say this
mere dd cdptGndtIul but from personal as
investigation of the most ditilcult por-
tions OF the line.
1 also reiterate my statement, as
made in my late work entitled Goal,
Iron and Oil" that Railroad may be
constructed, with maximum grades of
20 feet per mile, from the Ohio to the
Chesapeake bay. These facts ought to
be known to the world, and they cam
not bP too often repeated or too loudly
proclaimed. They ought to have the
tOeight of the most potent authority, par
ticuLGrLy at the present moment, when
Boston, New York, Philadelphia and
even Baltimore, are exerting every
nerve TO divert as much as possible of
the trade of the West TO their own
doors. Their railroad kings are all
struggling for the prize, like the gladi-
Rtors of old, which lies in the gift of
the Pacific Railroad, all striving to
the extent of their powers to make their
great lines the leading Atlantic termi-
nil.
In this struggle the Virginia line is
ignored. There seems TO be no vitality
infused. Your leading men do not seem
to appreciate the Importance of the
subject, or the value of time in the
present struggle for supremacy.
1t Is true, the city of Richmond has
done nobly, and many of the counties
along this great route have assumed
their share of the responsibility. But
fndnciGrS, as well as your statesmen
aud people, should assume part in this
great struggle, and put all their spare
strength to the task. Money is pIen-
tiful. There is no lack of means. You
only require tact-the skill and address
tn convince capitalists. You have the
best side of the argument. The facts
are in your favor. Nature Is your ally.
You have no mere speculative enter
prise to present, but stand, in every re-
spect, better chance to obtain the ear
and the attention of capital than any Of
your rivals.
No Individual can be so deeply inter-
ested as the State. Therefore, the Slate
should put forth every proper effort to
secure the best development of her re-
sources. 1 think the State may secure
the attention of capital and accomplish
this development, without becoming
directly interested in public improve
ments, or without becoming either all
or part owner. Her profits should
arise, not from freights, tolls or divi-
dandS. but from the aaDnrpciafinn Of har