The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-04-01
aiclu'lolld lispatrllI.
SATURDAY. IS. !. 49,. APRIL !, 1876
The James River valley.

SA1ShUAIsss ..ss 80 80 -
The James River Valley.
The prospect for enterprise and develop.
men, In the JAMES River valley Is bright,
and encouraging. The wonder is that more
has NOT been done to make available the solid:
mineral wealth OF that valley, hardly ex-.
celled anywhere else. The fact Is the world
has not known much OF it. The access to
the principal region of this wealth has been
not easy certainly, and cannot be called 80
yet. But tho Chesapeake and Ohio railroad
had made the way to it far more easy than It
has been, and the numbers who have been
to examine for themselves and test by their
own observations the wonderful statements
they have beard have been greatly increased.
Finally, manufacturers from the West and
the East have concurred in the belief that
tits Ia the James River valley that lies the
mineral wealth that Is to become the chief
source OF supply for the Atlantic States.
This conviction, which has been slowly
arrived at, Is positive. A good beginning
shas been made. Some Of the most capable
and efficient of the manufacturers of Penn
sylyania have entered this new field, as 1t
were, and founded important enterprises.
And The powerful manufacturers OF the
West, after fully examining the James river
ores east and west of Lynchburg have pro-
ceeded to form plans to open the way for
supplies of these ores for the numerous
foundries of the Ohio river. That important
undertaking with this view will soon be In
successful operation, we feel confident.
The world of on.manufacturing is one
of remarkable peculiarities. In none Of the
pursuits OF life is there required more expe-
rience and shrewd and ready comprehension
in matters bearing on occupation than IN the
iron business. The chemist himself VINO
had not taken few lessons from the men
who handle, and smelt, ard manufacture
iron would be utterly at loss In the practi.
cal operations of the furnace. Ores differ in
60 many ways that none but those who work
them can tell how they will turn out and
wha, mixtures Of them are necessary for the
production of useful or workable iron.
Now, the Jsmes River ores are necessary for
mixture with other ores, and from their
situation ard ultimate convenience for ship.
ment they will be cheaper to the Ohio manu-
facturer than the same description Of ore
from any other source. 1t is just the ore
that combined with another ore which is &C.
cessible TO tie Ohio FORCES will make supe-
rior iron-apd, indeed, steel.
We say that tie prospect of the develop
ment Of this mineral region Of James river
is encouraging. 1t is impossible that such =
tempting mass of wealth should be idle after
the way to il is established. The Chesapeake
and Ohio railway at Clifton Forge is right
upon the edge of it. The establishment OF
the means Of transportation between Clifton
Forge and Buchanan distance less than
forty miles-taps the very heart of this grand
region. A bill 10 establish this means Of
transportation passed the late Legislature,
and is law. The inducement of the desire
to get at the coal is so strong that we regard
the prospect OF the improvement very good.
That Improvement made, and at once the
ores and the limestone will commence to
Dow westward and eastward, while the in
exhaustible Kauawha cosl.mineswll supply
the fuel at all points to which the ores may
be carried for smelling.
1t is found in manufacturing iron that 1t Is
best to transport the ores to some CONNER
cial point, and there to brig together the
ores and fuel for manufacturing. At such a
point labor is more easily obtained than else.
where, and means more promptly accessible.
For instance, iron that may be temporarily
dull may be more easily means of credit IN
a town than when far away 10 mountain
region SO it may be more promptly disposed
OF in such place. Therefore the great, busi-
ness of manufacturing in latter days is located
in towns. 1t is every way best. Where the
manufacturer fixes up bis works in the woods
he is compelled to make sort of town him.
self for the iaborers, which Is heavy ex-
pcuditure to him and then he has not what
are most advantageous to him-the facilities
afforded by an active commerce and the
convenience of well.regulated financial in
situations.
Considering these matters, we are naturally
led 10 inquire, Why shall not the river towns
OF james river become seats of active manu-.
featuring In ironY The routes of Transports
ton being through east and west, the ores
and the fuel can be readily accumulated at both
Richmond aud Lynchburg; and then we
have the additional advantage that manufac-
tured iron may from this port be conveyed to
all parts of the world by Sea, and to the en-
tire interior by the system of railways that
connect with this city. We have not doubt
that some OF the most enterprising manufac.
turers of the East and the West have In con-
temptation plans for carrying out this very
idea.
We repeat that the wonder is that the great
storehouse of veal Of which We speak has
! been so long idle. But having attracted SO
much attention, and excited SO much interes
amongst practical and capable men, we may
reasonably hope for its early development
For the reasons we have given we may ex'
pect, besides the advantages Of converting
the dead ores into money to the great advar'
tage of our impoverished State, very large
addition to the manufacturing enterprise Of
this city. Such advantages for the purpose
as she has cannot be overlooked. No place
has finer facilities for distribution Of trade to
all onarterc foreion and donoaatic -