Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-12-03
THE MINERAL WEALTH oFvlRGlRiA.

A NORTHERN VIEW OF THE GREAT
OPPORTUNITY OF THE STATE
COAL DEPOSITS SUPERIOR TO
EVNSYLvAN A IRON OR; UNLIA-
lied, e., &c. 80
We End the following interesting article
on the resources of Virginia aud West Vir-
ginia in the New York Tribune, which indi-
Gates the interest now being awakened in
the II inds of the Nnthern people on this
subject. The Tr,5ahEsays:
Toe iron deposits in Virginia and Wet
Virginia are edrsl To. if NOT mara . xtensiv"
than, those III PeDnsylvania. Along the
line OF the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad
are found nexhsustible deposits OF superi'r
iron ore. From Stauuton, Va, to the
White Sulphur Springs 10 West Vng mis- !
a distance Of one hundred miles, there ale
very large quantities OF valuable iron ore.
| Also, along ,ihs line Of the James River
cansi, west of L>nchburg, is found superior
| iron ore id great abundapce.
10 fact, the entire Allegheny range of
Mountains, in both Virginia AID West Vir-
ginis, extending $50 N les, from Maryland
| to Tenn. ssee, are flied With ir''n ore, In
qu unity aud quality ca To the mosl val
uable deposits found in Penpsylvania-the
largest quantities being found at Of the
main Allegheny range Uf mountains and
west of the Blue Ridge.
West of this vast area Of iron ore deposits
Is to be found the Appalachian coal Geld OF
West Virginia, which, In extent, Is greater
lthan the coal field of Pennsy lvaDia. For
the coal aeld Of West Virginis is estimated
to contain is, 900 square miles, while that
of Pennsylvauia is estimated to contain
IL, 656 square miles. The coal area Of Greal
Britain Is esirnlted to be 1859 square
miles.
The Chesapeake end Ohio railroad aud
the James river aud kanawta canal (whet
completed to the Onie riveII will pass
through the very heart and centre Of the
coal and iron deposits Of Virginia and Yves
Virginia. These improvements will PAT
through tho New River Valley and the
great Kanawha Valley TO the Ohio river.
distance Of two hundred miles, cutting q
: right angles the most extensive deposts o
, camel, splint and bituminous' coal know
{ in the world. Coal remarks BILE for It's su
{ periority in generating steam, In smeltinl
iron ore aud in making gas, and unsurpassed
as fuel.
Thus, 10 Virginia and West Virginia, an
= especially along the line of the Chesapr ak
;, and Ohio railroad and the line OF the JAIME
1 river and Kanawha canal, are to be foun
9 10 great abundance and Of supe Tor qualit
| two great clemeutS VI uAtlOno noosh
}. coal and iron.
d Not long since Mfr. Gladstone, ina speec
! delivered in the English Parliament, sal
II the commercial prosperity OF Great britsi
d over all other countries was chiefly OWN
y no her coal deposits and their location nes
y iron ore--that coal and iron In close pro,
% imitp to each other constituted the sui
= stratum Of E"gland's commercial prospe
D. ity. ,
10 The same may be sail Of Pennsylyani
IL IL is the Development Of the coal and ire
a. Of that State that constitutes tho bisis
its wealth and power. Aud what hos be,
n done in Pennsylvania may be done In vi
2 ginia and West Virginia, aud eve n to
~ greater degree. For the deposits Of co
D. aud iron are more numerous and varie
p and more favOrAbly located for thoroul
H. development, by means Of Virginia's cent?
ny water Iin- aud railway, uniting the gre
he West with the Atlantic seaboard.
d. Pennsy lvania capitalists have alTea'
Ia commenced investing in this coal and ir
OF region. In the past few weeks Hester o.
Of mer, W. Firmstone hnd others OF PENIS.
" vAnia, have bought very large tracts OF II
At land in Allegheny county, Virginia, nc
So 9th the canal and railroad.