The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-11-08
Practical ENTERPRISE.

We alluded last week to the importance
attached to the sale of Elizabeth Iron Prop
erty to this portion of Virginia. 1t intro
duces to this section gentlemen of large ex-
perience in the Iron business, with capital,
enterprise aud far reaching sagacity, and is
the first step to the proper development OF
the wonderful mineral resources Of this part
of the State.
1t is proper thai we should now give cled-
it where credit is due. Mr.. r. n. Pool. OF
the Royal Land Company" was the agent
through whom the sale and purchase were
made, and it was his representations and
descriptions of the value of the Elizabeth
property, as well as other properties, that
induced the Messrs. Greene, the purchasers,
to examine and finally buy. The repre-
sensations were so far short of the reality,
that those who have familiarized themselves
with the actual extent of the mines and
their great value, were amazed. They had
expected to find that the agents description
was exaggerated, but instead of that, it is
IL
not only as to Elizabeth, but other proper
ties of similar character for which, we learn,
parties OF capital are negotiating. The
Iron tract" OF Elizabeth is stratified noun
tain of ores, the most Indifferent of the
qualities of which are as good as the best OF
the ores worked in many of the furnaces in
the Ohio valley and in Pennsylvania. There
is no estimating the value Of this property
under the management of skillful aud expe-
rienced capitalists. At LoMmoor, in Allegha-
ny county, tunnel of eleven hundred feet
has been made through solid ore, and yet no
adequate idea can be formed of the extent of
the deposit. 1t far surpassss the Iron noun
tain of Missouri, and every other known
Iron district Of the world. The Elizabeth
property is not far behind it. Mr.. Pool has
various other iron and coal tracts in his
hands to manage and dispose of, and recent
ly various parties, other than the present
proprietors of Elizabeth, have been in COM
munication with him with direct reference
to investments. He seems to be ambitious
to verify his prediction made years ago, that
this portion of Virginia would become the
Iron centre of the United States; and to
that end is directing his untiriug energies to
bringing the mineral resources OF this Sec
ton in contact with capital and enterprise.
He has spent much time and labor in tho
roughly informing himself of the various
mineral deposits, and is satisfied that the
time is not far off when others will think as
he does, that Virginia is where iron manu-
features will pay. 1t was with this view
that he conceived the scheme of bringing to
life the Orange & Fredericksburg railroad.
and inducing northern gentlemen to take
hold of and complete it, and eventually ex-
tend it to Harrisonburg, and into the coal and
iron region in North Mountain, about % miles
distant from that town. The original road
has been finished, and is now running on a
narrow guage, with profit. He has faith in
the 'Dora Mines" and believes the anthra-
cite coal deposits there will develop up to
his most sanguine expectations, and justify
the construction of the road to that point.
Mr.. Pool is GEL tainly doing great service
to the Valley of Virginia. He is making
known her natural resources and afiuence
where tangible results must follow. He is
bringing sagacious capitalists to know
leege of our minerals, and when they exam
inc them they find that the most flattering
representations have been short of the
reality.
We hope for his own sake and for the flu
ture welfare OF the State, that he will keep
steady on, until his earnest labors will be re-
warded in the busy hum OF machinery and
the stir and commotion of Industrial enter
prises, enlivenng and enriching the people
Of Virginia, and those who may cast their
lot with them.
One SUCH man as r. N. Pool is worth to
Virginia whole regiment Of blathering poll
ticians, and all TIE immigration bureaus
that could be legislated into existence. He
is bringing hundreds of thousands of dollars
into the State, with the foundation laid for
millions, while the politicians have been
driving thousands of men and money out,
and making the State poorer. He is quiet
ly, yet with ceaseless activity, attracting the
intelligence and wealth of the North and
West to the unboundel hidden riches OF the
Valley and the unequaled facilities for their
utilization, and this, too, upon his own mo-
tlon and unaided by legislative Hobbies and
caucus rings. 1t is just such enterprise that
We need-sucll practical business effort.
which brings tangible results, that must
contribute to the material advancement of
the Commonwealth, and lift her out OF her
environments.