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


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RICHMO OND, va
able. In passing the shoots the front half oil
the batteaux would be elevated entirely
above the surface OF the water, such was the 4
suddenness and rapidity of the shoots, and
the waves would dash higher than the top
of the boat, and sometimes the channel was
so cut that our course described the
letter S, and yet such was our con-
6deuce In the crew and so exhili-l
rating ell attending circumstances, that with.
out any fear of danger we felt joy and glad
meas as we pursued our onward way. About
dark, having passed a very difficult S.shaped
shoot. the pilot pleasantly informed us that
was called BuZzsrd shoai, from the number
of wrecks that had been there caused. It1
becoming still darker, some one inquired the
distance to Buchanan. "About six to seven
miles" was the reply. The night was cloudy,
and the darkness intensified by the river.
being shut fn by the overhapging mountains
through which it forced its way. We should
by that time bave been In Buchanan, accord-
ing to our expectation when We embarked
on the batteaux, and some little regret was
|inwardly felt that We had left the safe though
slow wagon conveyance. ~ -
In a little while, having passed another
shoot successfully, the nan at the rudder ex.
claimed In triumph to bis companion, g W by,
Jim, we, got through safely-I forgot al
| about this shoot till we were half through
it." But; notwithstanding, the spirits OF
the party did not fisg. Some capital stories
| were told. Our friend - had commenced
telling one; he bad progre. sed with it until
| we were In the midst Of the most dangerous
| shoal in the riyer-be had gotten In the
story down to Divine Providence" when
he paused, and the end of the anecdote we
have not yet heard. However, we got to
safe landing about 81 O'Clock, oVerjoyed with
the trip, and found welcome in the hosplta-
BILE mansion OF Mr. Joseph b. Shultz, who
| had been prepared to expect US. / would
| sdvise every tourist to take this trip by the
| batteaux, provided he can get through by
day otherwise not.
After breakfast the next morning (FridaJ)
| we passed over to Buchanan, the head OF
| canal navigation, distant from Richmond 1876
miles. Conducted by our friend Mr.. JohnA
! son, we rode up the mountain lying to the
| east, and came to an iron mine recently
opened. The iron ore differs essentially from,
the iron we had previously seen. The OPEN
ipgs on the river were more difficult of ap-
pro2ch, and we were contented to see this,
as 1t was the same In character with the iron
on the mountain side near the river. 1t may
be proper to state that when we came to this
iron we found the approach all covered with
snow, but our ardent young friends soon
brushed itaWay. ~.
That evening, through rain, slush, and
mud, we fastened on to take the cars at Bu-
ford's-a station on the Atlantic, Mississippi
and Ohio railroad-passing over the Blue
Ridge and near the Peaks of Otter, through
the widest and most grand and imposing
scenery in Virginia, as we were informed.
We could see little of 1t, as the majesty Of
cloud and storm rested upon mountain and
| vale.
Lynchturg was the end Of my part Of the
exploration, business requiring my return
home.
The scientific portion Of our party re.
NAMED ip Lynchburg to continue their In.
yestigatioas Of ore for thirty miles below
Lynchburg-of the famed ore-beds on the
very bank Of the canal. The ore here is
the specular and maynite-great In Quantity
and rich In quality This Is the ore our
Pittsburgh, Wheeling, and steubenville
friends desire to mix with their native ores
the brown hematite. This country has
been recently explored by Professors Mallets
and Smith, of the University of Virginia,
accompanied by General St. John, and there
| is no doubt that the party will find it all It
has been represented. And what then !
Why, the connecting link OF tnlrty'three
miles of railroad being assured be-
tween Clifton Forge and Buchanan,
connecting the Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad With the James River and Kanawha
canal, bringing the cheap and excellent Goals
of the Ksnawba, which can be used to great
extent without coking, to the iron ore in the
east, and in the returning cars the iron ores
from the cast to the 'Kanawha Goals, not
only will the lines of transportation be sup
piled with freight, but large portion OF tne
chesapeake and Ohio railroad and of the
James River and KanaWha canal will be
lighteued up with one continuous line of
furnaces or workshops, always visible to the
passing traveller.
The Importance of this connecting link,
either by canal or railway, cannot be over.
estimated. The Legislature has determined
| to prosecute the work by railroad, charter
has been granted, and by grants of right or
Way. which can hardly be refused by the
proprietors whose lands and minerals will
be 80 much enhanced In value by small
money subscription by the liberal and en-,
frightened citizens Of the various counties on
! the James river, of Lynchburg and Rich-
mond, and by the subscription to Its stock
by the James Riyer and Kanawhs Company,
and other aid obtained from the western
furnaces, which require the ore to be mixed
with their native ores, 1t would seem to re-
auire only faithful directory to insure the
completion OF the railroad and its financial
success. -....s. Il.
The cost OF freight of the raw material, OF
the iron ore, the coal, and the limestone that
enter into and constitute the manufactured
pig.irou, are the constantly varying factors.
the functions that we propose to reduce to
its minimum cost. Thus, at Cooks furnace
| the cost Of pig-iron will be as follows when
1.-The. railroad, from Clifton Forge to Bu-
shanan is completed:
r. Cost or w r
| Lahor..... .....,..,................ 0O
| Ore ~ tons).... ................'.'..'-.''' So
| L1me... ........,'', '',.."s'''''''.':, SH
Contingent expenses, es.,.........'....'. w
ep aa,4r sle so
The labor is constant quantity the iron.
coal, and,lims varying as different means OF
transportation are used, and so costly when
unimproved modes of transportation are
used as to render the manufacture Of pig.iren
a financial impossibility. The mountains have
| been stripped of their forest to furnish char.
coal for the charcoal furnaces They must