The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-11-18

beaux, and other malgn influences, which
might, in less favored locality, distract
their minds from their studies!
These are DO mere conjcctural advantages
They have been verified by actual expert
ment We already have three female schools,
of the highest order, in our town, under the
patronage of the Episcopal, Presbyterian and
Methodist denominations. All these schools
have, by their admirable management, SO ef-
fectually commended themselves to public
favor, that VIC believe, they are all now fill
cd to the extent of their means Of accommo-
dation.
The "old fogy' idea of Jealousy, between
these schools, has been completely exploded.
The enlightened principals know, that the
more schools we have, the better. Each, in
stead of injuring tends to stimulate the
others to greater effort and diligence And
We believe that those having charge Of the
existing schools, would be gratifed if the
Baptists, Lutherans and Catholics, would
each establish similar schools.
We venture, then, to urge our fellow clti-
zens of these denominations, to bestir them
selves, to carry this desirable object into ef-
feet. We do SO, not only for the benefit Of
their children, but for the promotion of the
general cause of education, and the advance
ment of the interests of the town. There is
no good reason why we should not have six
or seven hundred young ladies educated here
annually.
IF this were the case, it would be hard to
over estimate the advantages that would flow
from it. Two or three hundred thousand dol
lars, expended every year, in a community
like ours would make marked difference in
every branch of business. Such an outlay
would promote all classes of society. Farm
ers, merchants, grocers, mllliners, mantua.
makers, and shoe-makcrs, would all receive
their share. And besides the immediate ex-
penses of the pupils, there would be impor-
tant advantages to our Hotel-keepcrs, from
: the numerous visitors, friends and relatives
of the pupils, who would be attracted by the
presence Of so many young ladies'.
We can hardly persuade ourselves, that
the Baptists, Lutherans, and Catholics are
more Indifferent in regard to education, or
less cnterprizing than other denominations.
They are only little slow in their movements
Our purpose in writing this article is, to spur
them up, by calling their attention to the ne
cessity of prompt and energetic action.
Report of Professors Campbell and Allan.
f WASHINGTON COLLEGE.
LEXINGTON, VA, Dec. 1st. 1868. I
G. c. BALDWIN, ESQ.
Dear Sir: We have examined with some
care, the extensive deposite Of g ArgMace.
ous Slate" on your lands. 1t lies near the
) Blue Ridge, in the S. w corner Of Amherst
: county, within or miles of the Rope Fer
G ry, on the James River Canal and about %
miles above the city of Lynchburg We ex
/ plored the slate formation on your lands to an
i extent of two and half miles, nearly paral-
: lei with the general bearing of the mountain
:, and found the width of the out-crop not much
. short of half mile. The dip of the strata
is such as to make quarrying easy; while the
> extent and position are such, that many large
d quarries could be conveniently opened, al
: points so much elevated as to have natural
:, drainage.
. As far as could judge from surface indi
r cations and some limited openings, the slate
: seems to have fine texture, to be very com.
pact in structure, and SO stratifed and lami
; mated as to be readily split with regularity to
any thickness desired. In these respects, it
compares favorably with states now quarricd
: in large quantities in this and other States
It's durability has been tested to some cx-
t tent. Besides numerous FRAGMENTS scattered
. over the surface, and which have probably
been exposed to the weather for centuries, we
found pieces lying near a small quarry, sai1a
to have been opened by an old man who made
homes in the neighborhood, some 40 years
ago. Although SO long exposed, these frag-
ments were but slightly affected by the wealth
er. The sample you gave us in the form of
: a schooi-slate, as well as other specimens pro-
cured by us from near the surface, give
highly favorable indications as to the value
of the slate roofing school states, and for
nantes, table tops and other ornamental work.
for which this material is now very extensive
ly employed. 8
Quarrics opened near the South west ex-
tremity of the out.crop would be easily acces-
; sible from the canal, by wagon road OF very
moderate grade and very easily constructed
By the canal you would have convenient and
cheap transportation to Richmond and other
markets. Two considerable streams Of water
running through the slate formation, con
f venient and extensive water power on the ca
nal, together with great variety of timber
near at hand, afford ample facilities for manu-
featuring the slate in any form and to any
extent desired. Convenient, pleasant, and
healthful localities for dwellings, are to be
found in the vicinity Of points, at which large
quarries could be conveniently opened.
The demand for good slate is 50 rapidly in
creasing, and the value Of the deposite on
your lands is SO promising, that we shall be
glad to hear Of your giving it speedy and
full development.
There are two other points to which our
attention was directed, and which may add
greatly to the value of your lands. The first
is surface indication of Magnetic Iron Ore
! No excavations had been made, and we could
therefore form no definite estimate Of the ex
tent of the vein, but specimens of the ore,
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