Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-09-28
S--TTIE Old FAMILY JOURNAL.
TO BUY CHEAP
Harper's Ferry.


TENDER contained a lengthy letter descriptive
of Harper's Ferry, its magnificent scenery, its
vast unemployed water-power, the accessible
ty of the place, inexhaustible supplies, near by,
Of black and variegated marble, minerals, &c.
We have only room for an extract:
"But detailed description of the beauties
of the varied scenery at Harper's Ferry would
occupy more space than we can afford; and
besides, written words can but fain do justice
to the magnificent reality. In order to be full
ly appreciated. the place must be seen; and
no one in search of the picturesque and majes-
tically beautiful will turn the back on Har-
per's Ferry dissatisfied with the result of WIS.,
it. Being a station on one OF the hlshroads OF
travel-the Baltimore aud Ohio railroad-the
place is easy of access; the Winchester and
Potomac railroad has its northern terminus IN
the town the Metropolitan railroad will soon
be completed all the way from Washington I;
and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal is in the
immediate neighborhood. 1t will thus be seen
that there is no want of facilities of communi-
cation and transportation; and no place in the
United States is more eligibly situated rs a
centre of manufacture or industry of almost
any kind. The tourist will find good accom-
modations in the hotel, at the railway station,
kept by Mr. Reed. Mr.. r. is courteous and
attentive to his guests, and sets table that
leaves nothing to be desired.
Aside from the attractions of its superb
scenery and historical associations, the blunt
peninsula between the Shenandoah and Poto-
mac possesses still other claims which, before
long, will bring it into notice, and draw to it
large amounts of capital and hosts of laborers.
1t is not generally known that this section OF
the Blue Ridge-at the point where the two
rivers break through it-abounds in the most
valuable mineral deposits The soil is rich in
iron ore, which, in many places, is being work
ed with most profitable results. The furnace
at Antietam, only few miles distant, derives
its supply from the rich ore beds on the oppo-
site banks of the Potomac and on Bolivar
Heights, the writer has picked up large Jumps
of heavy blossom ore while the red color
of the soil on these heights, and in the valleys
below, indicates the wealth of the deposits they
contain. But it is not alone in iron that these
hills abound. On the ridge west of Bolivar
Heights, extending from north TO south, are
situated, what will probably before long be
bic quarries in the United States. These
quarries are located chiefly on two farms; the
one belonging to Mr.. Brady, and the other to
Mr.. Strider, both old West Virginia farmers /;
and from personal observation and the state
ments of such eminent geolosians as Professors
LOOMS and Hall, We arc well assured that the
supply of marble here found is well nigh mex
haustibe This same ridge is, at no distant
day, destined to become the source Of supply,
not only for the United States, but for the
world, of black and variegated marble of the
finest quality. These deposits extend all
through the ridge, from north to south, and
may be seen cropping out through the surface
in the form of immense boulders. Upon two
or three points, quarries have been opened, and
specimens of the solid marble rock laid bare,
which sufficiently indicate the quality aud
quantity of the valuable mineral which can
here be worked without difficulty. Not only
is black marble, usually considered the rarest
and most expensive kind, found here in bound
less quantities; but almost every shade and
coler between that and perfectly pure white
can be quarred. beginning with jet black at
one end of the hill, at the other pure white,
without spot or a vein, may be quarried (;
while IN the intermediate layers arc found
veiued. mottled, dove-colored, and all the other
varieties. 1t is perfectly astounding to behold
the immense wealth which lies buried here,
awaiting capital to develop it only; and we
venture again to predict that, at no distant
day. Harpers Ferry will be known all over
the world for its black and colored marble, as
Carrara in Italy, has for centuries been known
for its guarres of "petri6ed snow" 1t is the
unanimous verdict OF biologists who have en-
amired samples from these quarrieS, that the
quality of the black marble from the Brady
and Strder farms, cannot he exceled, and that
it is fully equal in every respect, to the best
imported And yet, there it lies, millions of
cubic feet Of it, untouched ia tie ground, await
ing the advent Of those two great factors with
out which even the richest gold mine cannot
be worked-Capital and Labor.
Besides marble. which forms the most valua-
tie and extensive deposits, the bills and ridges
are rich in limestone, cement stone, plaster,
and all the other minerals which usually are
found in the vicinity of marble. For many
miles above this beautiful spot the soil is one
vast deposit Of minerals, representing untold
millions of riches. which it will take centuries
to develop. Easy of access, and with every
facility of transportation close at hand, it can
not Gail that the quarries at Harper's Ferry
will ere long come into public notice, and the
beauty and attractyeneSs of the spot, which
now annually draws thousands of visitors and
seekers after health to the heights of the Poto-
mac and Shenandoah, will be a secondary con-
sideration to the traveller and capitalist who
will come in search of riches Nor are those
fancicd or imaginary ones. There they lie,
imbedded in the soil, awaiting emily the magic
fnnch of cnInrnrirn and ca nifal