Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-04-11
'ihc Er0n Interests OF yirSin.n-lhe
Topography ofLOdestOne Ridge and
s'rOOlxeii Kun Valley

'ihc Hron Interests OF yirgintm-4iIe
Topography 0fLOdeStOnc Ridge and
Crooked Run Valley.
70 he c,}tor Of the A(etan,lrtu Gazette:
Ashby's Gap, in the Blue Ridge, is crossed
by the old turnpkc-tle Ashby's Gap Turn
pike leading from Aldic to Winchester, pass
iDg by the village OF Paris, situated at the
eastern base Of the Blue Ridge, COZ feet above
tldewaer. AT the summit OF the Gap, near
the road, Ii Z large poplar tree, the corner
between the counties OF Clarke, tauquier and
lIoudoup. This summit, at the CAP, is 1905
feet above tide water. Gap run rises 10 Asllby's
Gap, the head spring being only short dis
lance below the summit. a ridge branches off
from the Blue Ridge southwest Of Paris, run-
ming nearly north aud south direction through
Bleak Hill, the larm OF George ". Slater, aud
connected with the Blue Ridge by another
ridge, buttress. to the Blue Ridge, branching
off mere, and in iroat OF his house, and running
westward, losing itself 10 the slope Of the mau
ridge. On this ridge have been tound splendid
specimens OF iasppry sperular iron ore, contain.
ing crystals OF purc specular or magnetic iron,
mems OF magnetic oxide Of irou There is y
deposit OF ta!cosc slate ia his yard, short dis
tancc south Of his house. The ridge IS cus
through by valley, formed by the northwest
branch OF Gap run, heading 10 deep ravluc,
or cove, 10 the Blue Ridge. Near its head are
Indications of iron orc, several stroOg springs,
strongly impregDatcd with the oxide 81 iron,
very good chaly bcatc water. After this valley
Is crossed, We enter upon Tie northern end OF
Lodestonc Ridge, running liz a southwark dl
raa!ion 10 Simr2r3' Mills, where the ridge i
again cut through BY Crook ed run. AboH! 200
yards south OF Slater mine, located nea. the
norlheru enti Of Lolcst01e Ridge, and near the
Shippers lina.) an1ther ridge branches off from
Lodestonc Ridge, nearly at right angles TO il,
and as it approaches the Blue Ridge it asccnd5
at quite steep slope until the two ale uuitcd.
Nearly west OF this point is The head spring CT
the northeast branch OF Crooked run. On the
Iand OF Mr. Henry Shippers, and above This
spring short distance, stands % l-nGIl, 90
the crest Of the Blue Ridge, station of the
United States Coast Survey, the highest point
0n the Blue Ridge between Iiarper's Ferry
aud the GJlncr between Clarke, Eauquer and
Warren counties, haiug .923 feet above tide
water This lateral ridge. or buttres3. connect.
ing L3destone Ridge withthe Blue Ridge, forms
Tic divide between the waters Of Cap :un and
Crooked run. Tie old Manor or Iced : road
cr0sS2a this ridge bear the house oil Mr.. John
SIrothcr The lIodesIoue Ridge is az outlicr
Of the Blue Ridge, ard gooIoricaiIy. a similar
formation. Sill refer to shls AGAIN when |
refer slcriu!lY TO the geology ul tbs ridge.
CROOKED rau rises Al sptluE Dear tie summit
OF tbs l:iuo Ridge, about three miIcs above
Shippers Mills, III peculiarly formed cove,
or bCo,7, and nearly opposite 10 tie we'll known
and celebrated "focE Spring. located on the
Western slope III thc ridge, ard only short dis
tarca below lie "illumt. This cove Is formed
On the southwest BY q ridge, ! long, lofty,
buttress, extending cut from The Blue Ridge
proper, nearly ~ right angles, on the dividing
line between Tie !arri ri DR.. a. Payne aud
the uarman tract crossing the road leading
from Shippers Mills 10 Markham, and connect
ing with BTushy Mountain, which extends and
connects with Mount Eddie to The northeast
and Naked Mountain TO the southwest Crooked
run cuts through three parable! ridges before it |
leaves the Ildgc proper, and uucorer3 nearly |
all the rocks aud formations of the Blue Ridge, |
magnc3a lalcosc marbles, Dor
phores, serpentlnc, gneisS, sycnte, &c. No |
doubt the formations disclosed by the valley OF |
Crooked RIM, from lis head to Byrncs distiIlery,
belongs to the HurOnian Period. Between |
Byrnc' distll!ery where the sycuitc is developed |
10 massive amounts, we discover the presence |
CT Tie formation OF the Sauriua Period,
and above the SaurDa rocks, higher up, on
The mountain slopes, some Of the fluronian
rocks, chlorides and hornblends states are cz-
posed. ga the southern edge Of Crooked run.
at Shippers Mills, commences Mount Eddie"
; c0nical shaped hill, rising from 200 to $50
feet above the valley, and containing about 200
acres Of land, showing signs Of i2neous action,
he samples OF iron Ore found On the surface
being generally reddish and sandy, containing
. large per cent. Of silica aud aIumina, and
some good specimens of iron ore, aud magnetic
)xide Of iron have been found. An analysis Of
he surface ore shows 51.1C per CT. metallic
rou as 40 average Of specimens have late
y made i survey Of this farm. Mount Eddie"
md iounI local attraction at the northern side
II the farm, in the valley OF Crooked run, very
strong, at one corner being 3, 40 tie miners
compass also Indicated the presence Of massive
deposits OF iron ore. Mount Eddie is a con-
mutation southwark Of l.0destone Ridge, ts
lirectl0n beng very yearly north and south.
'nt the surface OI this knob, or mountain, is
10 doubt OF q more modern formation than the
Of Lodestone Ridge, for the crup.
lou that raised up this knob 10 doubt caused
he valley that gave passage to the waters OF
he flur0nlan Lake that 10 the prmative ages
1 the ancient world filled the cove at the head
t Crooked run. The fossils contained 10 the
le gnesan aud taleose marbles prove the pre-
uce CT marine life aud the existence OF lake
! tie Blue Ridge ct period when the surface !