The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-10-06
mtNERAE. yvEALTHO OF SOUTHWEST
. VIRGINIA.
OHIO CITIES LOOKING TO POUND GAP VIA
SARROW.GAuGE RAILROADS.

NARROW-GAuGE RAILROADS.
Major Charles g. cambridge, the writer of
the letter we copy below, is q young Virgin.
ian of very decided genius and acquire
ments. He has been engaged upon several
important railways. among them the Ches.
apeake and Ohio, and made the survey for
the extension of that road from Huntington
to Cincinnati. We invite attention to this
letter as furnishing interesting facts concern
inc the mineral wealth of Southwest Vir.
GINA:
W.sHIsGros, CINCINNATI & ST.. LOUIS R. b.
CHIEF ENGINEERS OFFICE.
HARRIsosBuRG, Va, September 30, 1874 }
FIN. Imboden, Esq, Richmond, "a:
Dear Sir,-From my personal knowledge
regard the district lying north OF the Clinch
river and south Of the Cumberland range,
embracing portions of Buchanan, the whole
of Wise, and the northwestern part Of
Scott counties, as the richest in minerals,
particularly coal and iron ore of the
finest quality, that I have ever examined.
Wise county has throughout from five to
seven veins of camel and splint coal vary
ing in thickness from four to eight feet. The
srlint is of the purest variety, giving only
about six parts of one per cent. Of sulphur,
and capable of smelling without coking
the hardest ores with admirable economy.
The ores are the brown, red, and gray hema.
tltes generally, with occasional heavy de-
posts of the dyestone ore "a pure and ex-
ceedinely valuable and scarce variety of red
hematite), and specular. These are the last
ore-beds of The hematite variety found in
going northward, the deposits changing to
the liminite block and kidney character
(lssay ing only So TO AZ per cent? after cross
ing Cumberland range 10 the Kentucky side,
similar to those found throughout North
east kentucky and in Ohio, and are buried
in heavier masses aud veins than | have
touEd at any point during an extended ex-
animation Of nearly the whole of the eastern
slope of The Allegbanies and the iron-tields
of Tennessee. North Georgia, and Alabama.
| was particularly struck, as were the
practical iron-masterS Of Ohio who accom-
panied me, with the contiguty Of fuel and
orc in Wise county, aud can assert without
fear of contradiction that the production OF
pig metal can be accomplished TO an un-
limited extent within its limits ten Or fifteen
per cent. cheaper than ut any point in the
Virginlls, Ohio, Pennsylvania, or Kentucky.
The quantity, quality, and contiguity of ma
tcrial necessary to production of pig metal
found on the slope Of Guests, Powell's,
and Indian rivers, in Wise, has been pro-
bounced by all competent judges who have
examined the region personally as being
without parallel. Timber is generally good.
particularly on Black, Guests, and PowelPs
mountains, and their subsiding spars.
The soil OF the district north Of the Clnch
and northwest OF Scott and Lee counties Is
not CT value, except in some OF the valleys
OF the larger streams. Immediately upon
crossing the Clnch to the sonthward the
qualification becomes entirely changed. The
dip on the north side is from twenty to
twenty-five feet per mile in j southeasterly
direction, while on the south it is, within
TWO miles OF the CIinch, inclined from sixty
to eighty degrees, and continues at this in
with some variation, throughout
the limestone region of Russell, Washington,
Smyth, Bland, TazewelI, &c.
The Clinca is the marked line Of the coal
fields. Within mile, on the north, veins
Of six feet are seen, and within the
same distance southwark all vestigCs
of coal disappear, and are not to be
found in the same direction until
reaching Montgomery and neigbboring
coun ties, belonging to 4 totally different field.
Tns is explained by the tdalt existing
rom near the Adirondack-, in New York,
70 me uorthern part of Georgia and Aa-
bama, and which varies from 10000 to $1,000
'eec in depth. So wealthy is Wise county
md Il portion of the adjoining district that
he introduction OF transportation must :.
effect more complete revolution in values
Of real estate and material interests gene
rally than probably in any region of similar
area 10 be found in The State. The rich ag
ricultural counties of Lee, Scott, Russell,
and Washington, adjoining, will at all times
afford cheap aud ample supplies Of the pro-
auctions which Wise cannot give to her
and her geographical posi-
hon would give ample and profitable mar
kcts south, west, and north could line of
road connecting the northern and southern
systems passing through her territory be ac-
In this connection l cannot say too much
for the merits Of the line, now being con-
>idered by Richmond and the southwestern
couutieS, under the management Of General
lmbodcn. Ii successfully accomplished it
will undoubtedly be one of the most import
ant and the best paying roads in The State.
The Kentucky and Ohio people fec! equally
the necessity Of completing their portion of
the line northward Of the Cumberland noun
tains; and from my own information | am
sure they will act promptly whenever the
Virginia division promises to be an accom-
piiShed fact. No less than four charters are
now eXtant from different points on the Ohio
river to Pound gap, and all backed by earnest
businessmen representing the commercial
and iron interests Of Kentucky and Ohio.
Hoping that this little information I
have given will be Of use, aud placing N.Y.
self at your disposal for the future, remain
yours truly, CHARLES &. DASDE1DGE.