New-York tribune., 1872-09-14
COAL AND IRON DEPOSITS OF VEST
VIRGINIA..

The completion Of q new line of railroad
between the tidal waters OF the Chesapeake Bay and
the Ohio River at point the center Of that great
Valley. must naturally attract good deal OF attention.
since 1t viii have important bearing on the problem
of transporting the immense surplus products Of the
West TO Eastern markets. The Chesapeake and Ohio
Railroad which announced to be in operation before
close OF the year, will enter the field with decided
advantages in its favor in waer-line connections at
either terminus unobstructed at all seasons, in light
grades a direct ine and cheap fuel good portion Of
the distance the road the rich coal deposits OF
the Kanawha Valley and at another portion of the line
deposits of iron and limestone traversed
Beside the advantages Of large through traffic. 1t will
have important mineral movement to both Eastern
and Western markets. The Western cities Cincinnati
and Louisville in particular, pushing lines forward
to connect with the Chesapeake OhIo and before
long 1t will be in direct with the whole rail
road system Of the West and South West In regard
the Coal and Iron Ore Deposits Of West Virginia. Prof
Ridgway, who has had field experience OF thirty
years. and recently made an extended examination OF
them, says, in his Report to the Railroad Company:
Reviewing the ground between point in the Pied
pont where your ne oG ION ' ana the
ton distance Of 325 miles, as traversed by your road
find an almost constant succession of the minerals
prominently used IN the mechanic arts and commerce;
presented at the surface from their abundance and va
rety and from their proximity TO- and elevation above
Al
and profitable coal mining and iron manufacture are
found closely associated and the most favor
able conditions for The iron are especiav
rch OF great variety; the carbonerous limestone Il
especially superior for huXng purposes the several
kinds of coal are. IN their several ways, specially
adapted for manufacture, refining and working i'm
iron and steel and am decidedly OF the opinion that
both the crude metal and its finished products
may be produced along this portion OF your road
at less cost, OF, in other words, To Yield a
larger profit, than in the most favored l0cali-
ties In other states. Having heretofore invest-
gated and reported upon various furnaces, and
having view the Of coal and charcoal fuel
labor in Virginia cOlored), and the resources Of water
power aIn satisfied that pig iron be made at
merous points along the road at from SIS TO t0 per tun
The fact that good servceabe coal be placed In
your cars per tun exclusive OF royalty Is one OF
the first Importance, both the workers in Iron and To
the Immense distribution Of coal for various uses
throughout the Mississippi Valley. II will be observed
also that unlike most railroads. by the establishment OF
iron works between these extreme points, reciprocity
OF freghts would follow the cars passing one way
loaded with coal aud the other with ores The llght
grades OF line will not only admit OF THIS inter
change, but also enable you 10 distribute the minerals 10
works along the line at less cost and also ada 10 the
net OF the Company Finally, there Is no better
outlet for coal and manufactured iron ana Oher pro
ducts TO the Mississippi Valley on the one hand, py
Of the I2OOO miles Of internal navgaton added 10
the network of railroads with which the Chesa
peake and Ohio Stem Line s destined 10 be connected ;
the other hand TO the seabOard Cities by way OF
the cheap coast navigation which your line reaches at
lie eastern terminus Oh the Chesapeake Bay"