The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1870-08-11
WEST VIRGINIA.
It's Rich Agricultural and SIineEal Re-
sourees.-The Report Of Prof Daddow'

From the Piltsburg Commercial;
CuARLEsroS, WRsr Va, July 20, 1870.
There appears to be so little known Of
| West Virginia, or what is worse so little
attention devoted to it, that propose tax
ing advantage of your columns, to offer q
short sketch Of its recourses and adyan-
tages.
/ am writing from one Of the mostbeau.
tiful and one ofthe richestagricultural and
mineral regions in the United States, yet
for all the attentionpaid to our undeveloped
State, we might be as far way as Alaska,
and Charleston, situated 10 no more inyit-
lug region than is Sitka. Nature has here
stored vast treasures Of iron aud coal and
salt and lumber. Capital alone is necdcd
to take advantage Of this wealth. Capital
toIdeyelop our coalmines; capital to develop
our stores Of iron; capital to cut down our
forests Of pine aud oak and poplar; capi-
tai to bring to light ourroscrvoir ofoil and
salt water.
AS the most important, l shall here on
" touch on the one article Of coal, resery-
ing for two future letters; First iron aud
lumber; second, salt, oil, agricultural ad-
yautages, real estate generally, and the
capital city of Charleston in particular.
That you may nOtsuppose speak mere
| ly on tie authority Of private opinion, |
will Grst give one or two quotations from
Prof. Daddow's book on thc "Coal, Iron
and Or Of tho United States Prof. Dad
dow made a thorough geological explora-
tion Of this country, aud as gentleman
connected with coal mining interests in
Eastern Pennsylvania, as capable and un-
preludiced observer, his words should carry
weight. His book is dated 1866.
The Great Kanawha river running off at
right angles from tho Ohio, trayerses the
richest portions of the Allegheny coal
fields cutting the coal treasures Of the rc-
gton 1000 feet thick. their base, md
developing their exhaustless mineral treas
urcs 10 the most available manner for prac-
tical production. But after performing
this most acceptable service to the future
prosperity Of the West it renders the
benefits conferred still moro valuable. by
dividing the otherwise impossible Appala-
clliou chain at the right angles. and taking
the nearest course to the waters of the East,
thus opening the most available route IRON
the great rivers Of the West to the seaports
of the East, aud connecting tho minerals Of
the oldcr geological formations-the iron,
lead. eopper, &c. with tie AlleghaniesI
THE kane@ha region ls sun undeyeI-
opeds In no other portion q our county,
NoFth or 'sOltss are mere !, ,asil.s ]. !;
prospects to labor, enterprise ana capl.ai
than is now presented in tue greas Mana
wha Valley. MOI only lts uhllmlseu ni'n. l y.
cral resources invite attention. oHs 'le yes:
portion OF tho trade OF inc great MlsslsslPps !
Valley may DC diverted INTO Tue ehaoncl ~ 81
tho 'hanawha by Ordinary means: ~
those who have observed tho proliglous
growth OF that trade, and Inc SUI! sape'
rior proportions it must assume IN the tu-
ture, the questions We are now discussing IL
of this now route to the East, w'l not DO
matter OF speculation; Gas 10, 81 NECESSITY
Inc routes now proslueu M'li uoy a0.V"s W
modato it, while the superior advantages Of
tered by this route, IN the hands o., o! q lree
and chtcrprlslng people, cannot Iali 20 at
tract attention. The atsFaNce tne e, acsa-
ton, the frcedoR from acc, ana tue con,
slant supply of water from the mouth q
the kanawha' all present important anu
available advantages whtchs cannot Oe over
looked"
The Goals oil the Great hanaWna region,
as We Shall specially describe, are o. various
constituencies and are adapted 70 oil inc re-
quirementts OF the trades aad Tue manulae, a, y :.
lures. The hard aud caEipg' WIN Ine ls .as
and gaseous bitumlnouS, the variable anu