The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-09-26
THE FUTURE OF VIRGINIA.

A New York paper, speaking of the
growing scarcity of coal and iron in Europe
and of the ultimate necessity of the opera
tors there seeking elsewhere for these arti-
cles, which are the levers whereby the
whole framework Of society is now kept in
motion, thus alludes TO the capabilities Of
our own state: 't y
"In Virginia and West Virginia, in par
ticular, there is trustworthy evidence that
there are on one flank Of the Alleghanies
deposits Of iron ore rising into cliffs seven
tv.fve feet high, easily loaded into cars !;
while on the other flank in the Kanawha
Valley, are the richest coal seams in
the world, embracing varieties of fuel,
one Of which can be used in the furnace
in its raw state, while the others are ser
viceable for steam-generation, gas, and gen.
eral purposes. These ore beds are now
connected by the Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad, q line of low grades, and adlnira-
bly, fitted for large mineral traffic, com
handing as it does both eastern and
western markets. A thousand furnaces
might safely be erected along the western
most 800 miles of this road without fear of
successful competition by either foreign or
domestic markets. OF the dozen now at
work along the road nearly all are enlarg-
ing three new ones are going up, and
sites for others have been chosen. Over
TO- 900 acres of ore lands have changed
hands within few months and of coal
lands, further west, over 10000 acres
have changed owners t; nearly dozen
new mines being started or contemplated
in this coal field alone. These are but
slight indications of the great stimulating
wave which is about to expand our mineral
and mining interests immensely. ra
The great questions engaging the atten-
ton of the British and Belgian operators
seem to be, "Where to find cheaper raw
materials and how to work them up
cheaper than at present ?" We in America
can point next year triumphantly to on,
hills and to the fertile fields of the great
west beyond, and say to these capitalists,
"There are your e, erlasting storehouses oil
ores and fuel, and there the ever teeming
granares of food; plant here your fur
naces, mills, and FORCES; we will pay you
well for the use of your money, laborers
will throng to us from all parts, and VIC
can make the world at large the market for
our products" ,.a# lasgz.t s5I /
Ali which is doubtless true as preaching.
But suppose the Conservative party gains
the day, and the vandal horde of adven-
turers who would open these mines and
build these furnaces are driven from the
state" what then? Why the coal would
sleep peacefully in its bed, and the thou.
sand furnaces" whose fires to fancy's eye
already light the Alleghanies with perpet.
ual glare would remain but castles il
Utopia. Virginia would remain a true
Conservative paradise dreary waste O
old fields waving with broom sedge, where
cross-road politicians could assemble tt
drink Mr.. Barbour's cheap whisky ant
curse Yankees to their hearts content
The adventurous traveller would every.
| where, then as now, see naught--
But lonely pastures, wild and arear,
| And lonely dwellings far apart,
With only here and there a steer
/ Yoked to an ancient two-wheeled cart.