Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1872-10-15
tCorrtspendent Of the Richmond Dispatch
The Wonders Of Cumberland
Gap.
CUMBERLAND Gar, Tenn,
0ctnhar ( 1872

- CUMBERLAND GAP, Tenn, !
October 5. 1872.
As this the great natural outlet be-
tween Kentucky and Virginia and
Tennessee, and the objective point Of
several important railroad connec-
tions. is likely TO become a place of
40 small importance, / propose to
give YOU some account of the miner.
al wealth of the adjacent country. as
we'll as OF its wonderful natural beau
tics.
1t seems that by some mighty con-
vulsion Of nature the country along
the line of the Cumberland mountains
has parted from all its true geologi-
cal position and upheaved to the
height off 800 feet, forming thereby
"A nearly perpendicular cliff of 500
feet on the Tennessee and Virginia
side, and then sloping the balance Of
the way to the valley below. As a
natural consequence the country on
the Kentucky side was thrown down
with gentle slope north, thereby
forming these mountains. BY the
same mighty convulsion the range
Uas parted in twain, leaving great
natural outlet where otherwise would
have been an impossible barrier. The
ridge or narrow backbone of the
mountains mark the division between
the limestone and sandstone forma
ton.
At the foot of the cliff on the south
or Virginia and Tennessee side is a
beautiful level valley, about three
hundred yards vide, and which grad
ually rises into high hills as you leave
the gap going south for about two
miles, when they, too. suddenly
break off or throw down, forming the
Powell Valley and river, noted for
its agricultural wealth. The scenery
from these hills, looking north to
wards the gap, surpasSes any thing OF
the kind / have ever seen, not exceP.
ting the celebrated Hawks Nest, on
New river.
At the foot Of the cliff, and three
hundred feet above the level of the
valley, large. clear stream, sufh-
cient to turn grist mill and carding
machine. gushes out from a large
cave under the mountain, and rushes
over the rocks to the valley below.
The cave is said by those who have
explored it to excel in size and beau
ty the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky
A gentlemen told me he had explor-
cd It for three miles. but | shall be
better able to speak of it Tomorrow,
asa party of us contemplate visiting
il to- night.
Near the centre of the valley. fac
ing the cliff, is very fine sulphur
spring. bold and, strongly impregna-
ted. 0verlying the range of hills
mentioned as runUing back from the
gap and occasionally cutting them,
is wonderful vein of brown and he
Matte iron ores, the latter better
known as the dyestone ore. Your
correspondent examined these veins
for miles, and can truly say they sur
pass anything Of the kind he has ev-
er seen in richness and quantity
The vein is from three to sixteen feet
thick and extends for twenty miles
along this range of hills, dipping
north with the bills. and apparently
running under the Cumberland noun
tains. The ore is almost pure iron.
and has yielded in the crucible. by
Bradley process, 81 pounds of steel
from 100 pounds of ore, and from GO
to Is per cent, Of pig iron. The vein
is three-quarters of a mile wide by
fully twenty long.
In close proximity to these ores.
which are remarkably free from all
impurities. are inexhaustible supplies
Of both bitnniinous and camel Goals,
as we'll as an abundance OF timber
for charcoal. and limestone for tiues,
and fire clay also. An English com
pany has recently purchased Por-
ton of the lands for $3.50, 600. The
entire country from here 20 Mt. Ster-
ling is uuderlaid with superior quail
ty of camel and bituminous coal,
mostly above water level.
f0IlE correspondent has just rode