The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1874-01-08
[From the Xenia Torchlight.l
THE COAL AND IRON FIELDS OF
JACKSON COUNTY.
A New Coal Road Revival.

The question of coal and iron, in other
words, the question of the material re-
sources OF the State OF Ohio, is one which
is beginning to loom up in some little
proportion to it's Importance. 1t is diff
cult to exaggerate this importance,
whether absolutely or relatively. That
the mineral resources of a country pro-
duce it's greatest wealth is admitted, and
that there is undeveloped mineral wealth
in Ohio almost beyond the bounds of
calculation, is a conceded fact that has
almost become automatic. Still, while
the reality OF all this is undisputed, there
has been scarcely anything done to de-
velop this hidden wealth which is said
to underl.e the future prospects of the
State. Why, one Nould ask, if these
things be not the mere dreams of a wild
imagination. does not capital and nter-
prise discount the brilliant prospects of
the future and get little OF it for the
benefit of the living present.
During the most critical period of the
battle OF Stone River, private soldier
was S en- fleeing with all his power of leg
and wind from the conflict He was
accosted by a furious officer, who gave
spurs to his horse and headed him off,
with the patriotic~inquiry as to what he
meant 10y thus acting the coward. What
the nation" said he, would become OF
the constitution if all the Union army
should act likewiseG' What good" was
his pertinent, but very unpatriotic re-
sponse, would the constitution do me
alter | am dead" 1t is all well enough
perhaps to dream the dreams of future
greatness after we are dead. but to de-
pehd too much on the future is neither
practical nor conducive to the very result
which is so desirable.
The demand for iron, for instance, is
not thing to be created by the supply.
1t exists already. This is the iron age.
Iron is the marketable product of the
world. For years Great Britain has
main tanned her supremacy in the COM
mercial world by virtue of her developed
mineral resources. For years the United
States has been Great Britain's best GUS
toner, and the very rails that sleep over
and along side our richest mineral d =
posits in this country are chiefly made i'll
England. For various reasons iron is
proportionately the very dearest OF all
our products, and consequently the profit
OF its manufacture has exceeded that OF
all others
jackson county is situated in the very
heart of the coal and iron belt of the
State, and, strange as as it may seem, it
y
tiveness in this particular has been dis
covered. Many years ago furnaces for
! the smelling OF iron ore were established
| in various parts of jackson county, but
| they were charcoal furnaces. TO supply
| these furnaces with fuel, the face oil na
ture, in their immediate vicinity, has
| been denuded of timber, and even a sec
ond and third growth have taken place
and been used up in like manner. The
scarcity of timber therefore threatened
seriously to stop. at no distant period,
the smelling of iron by means OF char
coal.
At this juncture a bituminous coal
with smelling properties was discovered
in the vicinity OF jackson G. II and
since that time-some three years ago.
the impetus that has been given to the
manufacture of pig iron in jackson
county is wonderful. Five furnaces
within the corporation of the town ot
jackson or within the immediate vicinity
belch forth fire and smoke and illume uI
the landscape at night with their lurid
glare Below jackson is another furnace
which turns out very superior kind o
iron. OF course the prosperity OF the
4 town of jackson has increased in a re
mar >able degree in consequence of this
discovery OF smelling coal and these en-
terprises born of it. -.-.-. -- ..-.--.-,,
But the most wonderful discovery re
mains to be told. To the north of Jack
son c. H.. and some two miles from the
station of Hamden on the Marietta rail
road, and on the railroad, and on th'
railroad branching off at Hamden TO
) Portsmouth, there has recently beel
found another vein OF coal, which no
only possesses very superior smeltin!
properties, but is at the same time. with
out donbt, the very best coal for heating
purposes vet discovered. 1t is this tina
peculiarly interests the people OF thi
portion of the State, and OF which w
desire to speak.
The road from Hamden to Portsmouth
leads down a valley which, to an observe
from the car window. suggests ideas NOR
l. of q pastural than mineral nature. 1t
. not often that q more lovely spread {
land meets the sight than that whic
expands out about two miles from Han
den into what is known as the Austl
and Bundy tracts. Hills with gentle d.
clivities are to be seen in the distanc,
crowned with verdure-hills neithe
barren or precipitous, and evidently e.
cellently adapted for grazing purpose
This is the scene OF the recent dlscoverit
y of coal and iron ores, which promise
be, at very early period, the very
Z Dorado of the mineral regions oil Ohio.
At this point a shaft has already bee
~ sunk and U tugRace erected. Az depi