The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-04-05

y. tS'ooSiI "Aa nH BOD, OF htcGtn0pus mSt tAc
,arty at ifonsa,l ], aud accompanied them. "A
or then;.
!" TIE party left here In charge OF Captain
a.. e. Parsons. II is expected that General
orge, and accompany them from there"
Itseened better not to atop at Cannelton
or Eate's mountain especially on account Of
the weather, but also because OF nv desire
to accompany the party In their examination
In the iron region proper We passed the
night (TIesday) at Coyingtou. The next
morning, In special train, we went to Low.
moor and made . thorough examination Of
the iron mines 80 far as developed. Low
moor Is situated short distance above jack
son River DEPOT, and is connected with the
Chesapeake and Ohio railroad By railroad
two miles in length. The exhibition of iron
here good. / saw here fer the first time
how the miaes are opened, the tuanels cut,
and the tram.roads run. The workmen were
busily employed in digging the ore and send
ing il by the tram-road to large iron wash.
er, propelled by steam, where the ores, being
thoroughly washed, are again collected and
placed in the cars for transportation, IN the
crude state, to distant furnaces. There fs no
furnace at Lowmoor. Taking our cars, we
arrive at Clifton Forge, where we have the
railroad and its attendant conveniesces; and
we rightly consider ourselves blessed in be.
ing able to avail ourselves OF saddle.
horses and wagon to proceed on
our journey. These were improVised
by Major Cook, one of the owners Of
the Cally furnace, which was the next
place to be visited. For all the fatigues of
cold ride over mountain pathway covered
with snow we were fully repaid when We
arrived at his mines. They have been open
ed and worked in several places, showing the
continuous direction and richness OF the
VEN. The perpendicular exposure of the
vein is now, say fully sixty feet in depth on
the side Of the mountain, and the iron ore
is mined and thrown down q shaft to tram
road below, which passes through a,short
tunnel, and then in the side of the mountain
to the forge. The exhibition of ore superior
in quantity and quality is simply wonder
full. will not waste words In describ-
ing it. Like the Falls of Niagara, it must
be seen to be appreciated. You are prepared
to hear that the furnace is not now In blast,
owing to the depression of the iron interest.
It requires railroad to connect 1t with the
Chesapeake and Ohio railroad to bring to it
the cheap fuel Of the Kapawha. Once made,
it was agreed that iron could be- manu-.
factured for S10.50 per ton. Major
Cook says that the cost Of min.
ing iron ore is twenty-five cents
per ton, including movement to his furnace.
To this is TO be added the items of coai-two
tons-from Kanawhs, labor, contingencies,
and red tape-making together $10.50 per
ton the cost of manufacturing one ton Of
iron. What vision OF power and wealth
does this present. It renders possible the
manufacture at cost so small as not only to
chill every furnace in Eastern Pennsylvania,
but to compete with the furnaces OF Great
Britain. The price of iron now in Great
Britain IS $15 to SIG per ton. The difference
in price will make US their competitors in the
markets OF the world, and render tariff on
pig iron unnecessary. s1
Of course the manufacture of ofpig-iron into
the finer fabrics must be conducted in our
cities In the East and West. For this large
number OF skilled workmen must be en-
ployed, and there find their homes In cities
that give the advantage Of schools, churches,
amusements, and the excitements Of So
called higher and more refined civilization;
and as coal and iron are the basis upon which
rests the material prosperity of Great Britain,
SO will Virginia and Western Virginia, occu-
pying the coal and iron belt OF this conti-
nent, become her compeers in material great.
ness.
TIVE Of our party, Mr. Pechin and Mr..
Hearn, rode on horseback with Captain
Reynolds, the proprietor of the adjoining
| lands, to see his property. Here the iron has
natural exposure, rising in perpendicular
| cliff, and Of course exhibiting immense
quantities Of the same iron-ore to sight.
Parting with these two most agreeable gen.
tIemen we had the misfortune to be separated
| from them till our arrival at Lynchburg Sat-
| urday morning. But neither they nor We
| were idle in the mean time. Trudging
through the snoW-coVered roads, and having
| to proceed up the river TO cross the bridge,
| night overlook US at the hospitable manson
| of Mrs. Haden. From this place we traced
| the limestone cliffs to Buchanan-limestoue
| that is said to yield nipcty-five per cent. Of
pure lime. We diped at Mr.. Sheets, a. the
mouth of Craig's creek, and inspected there
+ the iron property partially opened. The ore
| is still OF the same quality, and affords every
indication Of being in large quantities. We
pass down the banks of the james river,
where the river makes Its way through 8
nountain-pass which compares fsvorably
with Clifton Forge in grandeur and sub1m.
ity. This pass has received the singular
name OF the &C Rat Hole" from cave
on the left-hand Of tho road, the entrance
TO which has q general resemblance that
strikes you as making the name appropriate
On the opposite side there is beautiful cave
abounding in s:alectires. This cave pene-
trates the whole mountain spur, and is open
on both sides Of the mountain. Three OF
our most adventurous young men deter.
mined to explore this cave for themselves
Mr.. Hubbard, Mr. Dwight, and Mr.. Cabell,
Jr. Providing themselves with a guide,
flights, and matches, they left us making pre-.
| parations for our further journey, it being
necessary to provide another wagon and team.
| This involved delay. When we started we
overlook two Of that party opposite the cave.
They told US that Mr.. Hubbard had walked
down the river to get boat to carry them
across to the cars. It, was time to proceed
with our journey, but as Mr.. Hubbard's boat
was in sight, slowly polling up the river, it
was determined that we should proceed
about three miles down, to Mr.. Flarety's,
near the river bank, and that they, after Wis.
ting the cave, would sail down the river in
this batteaux, and would probably arrive
there before We, could make the three
miles of muddy road. However, when
we had reached that point the party had not
arrived and the boat was not in sight, and We
sadly contem plated another separation, or
stopping over for the night to await their
arriysl. On a short time, however, they aP-
peared. They were enthusiastic 10 their
description Of the cave. Entetng It, they
had % climb up some twenty feet, holding on
to the ROCKS, and then to pursue their way
tn tho other nutIer az best they eeild. Mint