The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-04-22
3,ra Mines-Narow Guags- Harrisonbrrg.

;AG IA1AeS-NaIiUW CuasyyS-
We were shown in the Oil Commonwealth
nj r. IIarrisonburg, few days ago :. number
tn si'rcmcns of anthracite coal, taken from he
VA Coal Mines. located in North River Gap,
.'n - miles from Ifsrrison5urg, on the line
: The Narrow Guagc Railroad, and about 16
les from Sta.lltol, in Northwest direction
Use specimens, were principally, from sur
:: gatherings indicating superior quality
% this valuable mineral. The vein from which
't'y were taken is ascertained to be about sew
g feet thiclf, and the quantity is regarded as
.-iaaustible, at least during the present gem
tion. The strata has been traced for Sc .cr-
i miles. and openings hsve even been made
III RaWley Springs, about, we would sup
i, 'se, twelve miles distant from Dora, discover
ia.s the sumo quality of anthracite. Active eff
IT'S are now being put forth, under the pat
image of Mr.. A. Nicholas, an intelligent north
IN gentlemen, to test the capacity and the
merits of these mines, employing number of
l.nds for that purpose. Experienced gentle
men consider the indications thus far as prom
.:.g the most fattering results, and fully sus-
sining the conclusion reached by Capt. Fon-
!:le i'll his scientific examinations of these
t..nes.
We exhibited, also, some excellent spec
.'.ss:is OF the brown hematite iron ore, taken
f.''n the same locality, and from vein ascer-
'sined to be fifty feet thick, and existing i'll il
Unstable quantities.
F!le Importance OF these developments lies In
se fact OF the close proximity of the anthra-
ate coal and the iron ore, the two major essen
tials in the manufacture OF iron, without the
all OF coke. The lime Of course, is to be found
ia the greatest abundance and all that is want
s:ss to bring these natural developments into
:s.tive wealth, is the energy and money to es-
:'5lish furnaces for the manufac turc OF pig
as,i
The Narrow Guage Railroad is graded from
biarrisonhury to the Dora Mines. The fact of
'.a existence of these two valuable minerals
such large quantities. under the control, too,
a company representing, it is stated, 50, 500,
$40, will go far to give assurance OF the ear
II resumption Of work on the railroad, and its
.lApleton to the mines. At this point, an en-
-lnce is just commenced into the richest min
e.il region on the continent. For fifty miles
al the route Of this proposed enterprise, west
recession of iron and coal deposits, until it
reaches the county of Webster, where there is
HE richest fields OF bituminous and spiint
Goals, to be found in Western Virginia. In the
county of Highland, but short distance from
The Dora Mines, (Which are in the north-wes
trrn portion Of AugustaD there arc actually
mountains OF iron ore, and all along the pro
posed line of the Narrow Guage road, the evil
denccs of the existence of these valuable min
erals. are abundant and tangible.
when we consider the fact THAT iron capital
ISIS afe 1ssw convinced that they wii have tt
change Their base Of operations from. the cas-
fern States,tC localities where iron can be man
fractured cheaper than it has been heretofore
,,ro,.uccd-tllat here, in the Valley Of Virginia
we llaA'e all tle advantages OF every clement
that eiitcl:S into Che composition of ifon-that
we have Il better climate, are equally accessi-
lie te'marketss- and thai every inducement is
tcitfou to iilsftc Investments OF nsoiley and
energy, We cannot but conclude that a bright
asture isabout to dawn upon CIR section.
IIariisonttlrg is advaMtageously located fol-
f9,e establishment of Blast Furnaces to work
she minerals that will be developed ty the con
sletion Of the Narrow Guage Road to the Dor;
fines. 1t is located at the point where The
Sarrow Guage intersects the Valley Road, thus
Communicating with the east and Che south,
Trough that important channel OF intercourse
s.tween the two sections, all tlc natural STR
iNildiags at that point converge to demon
strate the practicaLility of sucl. enterprises,
sid if the citizens Of that place will take adyan
ages OF the present suspicious developments
,ey may soon lay the foundation for flour.
a-ing ihlaud city.
We throw oet the suggestion to our neigh
A1rs, and hope to hear of some active efforts tc
Reduce it to Il tangible reality.