Huntington independent. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1871-1874, 1873-09-18
The Natural Wealth of the State.

Valley of the Kahawha, from ever,
portion Of the country, and ever
faom Europe, for investment o
capital where it will 60 the mos
good. 0oly few weeks ago 500,
1000 worth Of laud on Elk River wat
sold to gentlemen in England; a
few days aftea, $4,000 worth of lane
on Davis Creek, West of Charleston
four to eight miles, covered with tim
Der and underlying with the best o.
bituminous, camel and spliut coal
was sold to parties, some of whom
are non-residents, who will com
mence as soon as practicable, mining
coal and hauling timber. On Satur-
day last, another valuable tract Of
coal and tim Der land on Hughs' aud
Kelly Greeks, was sold for $4,000.
There is SlS3,000 worth of almost
wild land sold within three months
time and two to ten miles distant
from Charleston. Ofcourse non-res-
dents would not invest such amount,
Of money here without some certain
ty OF profitable return.
Along the c. & o. R r. from the
Ohio to Jackson River, have lately
come in capitalists au invested in
mining or manufacturing of some
description; all of course being salts
fed with the prospec, for the future
and none Of them without carefully
inspecting the resources and tue ad
vantages for the business they have
severity engaged in.
The opening OF the G. Il .. R.
R., and the noise that event created
throughout the country, has brought
many traveller 10 the Interest Of
some periodical. wide awake to give
fresh information and announce new
discoveries in science, arts, manufac-
lures and natural resources. COnse-
queurIy, the leading magziues and
newspapers Of the country have Civ
en- to the world some of The late dis
covered wonders Of this undevelop-
ed country
Men of science and research; men
who hunt up new counties aud In
spcct new Inventions for the pui pose
of adding 10 their store Of knowl-
edge. have been leisarely investiga-
ing this whole section Of cou ntry
from Biz Sandy to the little Ka-
nav ba, from the Ohio to the Alleea-
uies East and all without exception,
have expressed much surprise at the
extent, rIchnrss and uudeveloped
quantity of resources for building
up an empire Of power and wealth
in miuig and manufacuriOg within
the territory named.
Thos. S. RidgSay GeOlogist and
mining Engineer, says:
The portion of coal measure en-
braced within West Virginia, embra-
cling the South East portion of a cen
trail section, containing the sc ANS Of
coal thick est, and of better quality
;hao ia Pennsylvania
At CaDnelton, Fsyette Co, there
arc FIVE workable .eams # coal ope0
continuing au aggregate thick ness of
twenty niue feet.
The amount Of coal available
from West Virginia is incalcuab!y
arge sufficient all wing for a norm
ratio Of increase III consumption,
70 supply the Western market for Il
thousand years 20 comer
Without Griviug the business at
all, the production Of SALT, at the
furnaces near CharlestoD, often
amount. to 8 100000 bushels in one
yeafl Furra up thu valley and be-
ycud the head OF the kiuawha are
more salt springs. and it is quite
probable many manufactures Of salt
could be profitable teried upin that
section.
The soil of the whole of the south
western section Of the State is ad-
mirably adopted for the production
of grapes, peaches, apples aud pears,
and for raising neat stock aud sheep
and woo Nearly all the mountain
land, when the timber is cut oft OF
partly cut off, will grow the blue gross
SO famous 10 Kentucky, and the natu-
rsl grass of tne hills makes good
pasture. The climate is temperate
ilhout the extremes Of heat or cold
There are already about half
dozen quite celebrated Healing
Springs" iu West Virginia, and tht
climate of the country around al
these springs, is claimed, and justly
100, to be as health as uy in th'
world.
\ correspondent Of one of the lead
Jog agricultural periodicals OF th'
country, says;
"Were it NOT for the Salt and Goa
of the great Kanawha valley anC
vicinity, that region would be famous
Tor its Lumber. Nowhere east Of th'
Rocky mountains, is there SO hne q
body of timber as is to be found II
West Virginia; and it is especial.
valuable for Its hard woods, which
have 40 representative 10 the Slerras
The oak, ash, maple, black walnut
hickory aud chestnut, so valuable II
ship building, in the manufsctuin!
of ayr cli.ural implements aud house
hold furniture, and which are becVm
nag so scarce on the sea board, OF
here the most abundant tree, 10 tn
forest, and the forests hard y invlde'
; By the woodman's axe. It's esilma
ted that there are as least ten millo
a acres ofprimeval forests IN West WI
ginia, besides the million more IL
Guiding in the farms, which have
e large share of tim Der lands, that NOR
than meet the wants of the owners
e Ui course all the natural ad9sr
i tages for mining. agricultural an
y.