Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-01-14

can be reached by branch from Rocky
gap Of Wolf creek to poin, north of JEFF
iersonville-lhe distance Vest of Stanton
10 the coal deposi. being abou. the same
by your road as by the Chesapeake and
Ohio. OF course, il would be unre asona-
BILE TO expect that coal can be sent over
your road to Tide water in competition
with Goals from nearer localities on the
Pennsylvania and Baltimore and Ohio
Railroads. Its consumption will be local
and chiefly in the manufacture Of iron and
salt. The coal possesses good cokeing
qualities, and the ability 10 obtain it a,
reasonable rates mus, stimulate tie iron
production 10 gres, extent. The iron
deposits are very numerous. and Of supe.
rior quality. Pennsylvania. rich as she
ls. IS poor In iron ores as compared with
Virginia. and capitalists are no, generally
slow 10 invest where large returns can be
considered certain. 1t requires now more
than million of tons of railway iron per
snnnm to supply the wants of the United
States, and HE demand constantly and
rapidly increases. |, has been stated that
our consumption in 1869 was 93s. 5s6
tons, while our production was only
593.5s6 Three.6fth OF the rails produce
ed IN 1859 were made in Pennsylvania.
The consumption OF iron for Other pur-
poses is also Increasing rapidly, and there
is room for all the furnaces that can be
erected. Iron is now sen, from East
Tennessee 10 Philadelphia 10 be made in
10 car wheels, because it is The best for
that purpose YET discovered. and variety
is also found well adapted 10 the manufac-
ture of Bessemer sleel.
The manufacture OF iron would afford
large business TO the road, mol only in
the products Of the furnaces. bu, also IN
coal. limestone, and supplies for laborers.
Experience shows that with an increase
in coal, or other heavy tonnage, there is
always an increase in ordinary merchan.
die aud passenger transportation.
MARBLE.
The extension of the road through Eas,
Tennessee, will develop the vast deposi.
o. variegaled marble. which is one Of the
most beautiful varieties in The world.
This deposi, extends for distance Of
about 25 miles. lis found in a ridge
from SO TO 100 feet above water level has
but slight covering of earth, and Can be
qusrrled very chespy.
A, present the blocks are roughly hewn
by hand. containing from ten 10 fifteen
cubic feet, and hauled by wagons over
miserable roads.
Some of This marble has been used in
tie interior finish Of The Cspitol,a Wash
ingion il was sent down The Holster in
ia, boats TO Chattanooga, thence trans
ported by rail to Augusta. and by sea
nuIlhward. lis price in eastern cities has
been as high as 81 per cubic foot.
With proper machinery for cutting out
The blocks. this marble could be pu. upon
The cars for sbou, twenty-five cents per
cubic foot and at two cents per ton per
mile for transportation, the cost al Phia-
delphia aud New York would be less than
$3.50 per cubic foot.
1t ia evident, therefore. that this beau
iilul material affords very la'ge margin OF
prof, 10 parties who would engage IN the
business OF qusrryiug and shipping 10 the
eastern cities, where il could be employ
ed for furniture for veslibules OF highly
finished houses, for maniels and other
purposes. flow prices lie use would
no doubt be greatly extended. 1t would
probably bear much higher rate than
two cents per ton per mile. without serI'
ously diminishing the volume OF transport
.stion, and become an important source OF
revenue.
To prevent combinations and high pr-
ces, which would limi, the demand and
injure the business of The road. it might
be expedieo, for the Company to gel The
control of portion of this deposit which
would enable them to control prices IN
this as also in The case of gypsum. but
not 10 interfere with individuals, unless
charges should exceed a reasonable limit
This limit should be high enough to al
low very liberal profit 10 operators, bur
no. 80 high as 10 greatly limit production
and transportation.
TIMBER.
Timber is abundant along the whole
line Of The proposed extension OF the
Shenandoah Valley Railroad. from Gov
inplon 10 Big Moccssin gap; but is par
,iculsrly abundant and readily accessible
on all tributaries of New river, above the
mouth OF Wolf creek. Logs thrown into
any OF these streams would be carried in.
to New river, and could be caught by
boom below tie mouth of Wolf creek. as
al Lock Haven, on the Susquehsnna.
The varieties of timber are white and
yellow pine. locust. poplar. walnut, cher
rs. chestnut and all the varieties OF oak.
Oh these, white OAK. poplar and walnut
would bear transportation to The sesbosrd.
While pine would find market westward
where hard yellow pine is now used Tor
sash and doors. bite pine is very
scarce, there is probably not more than
10000 acres in all southwestern Virgin
ia, and this could all be brought to your
road by the tributaries of New river.
Poplar and walnut command high
price in eastern markets. and both are