The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-04-04
[From the New York Iron Age.]
The Bituminous, Anthracite and Camel
Coal Fields of the Virginias.

VIVA
To the Editor Of the Iron Age:
DEAR SIR: 1 respectfully submit here
with a brief description Of some of the most
prominent points Of the immense coal meas
sures of the two Virginias which came I'M
der my observation during recent visit to
that region, including principally those lying
in Rockingham, Augusta, Fayette and PEN
dleton counties, along the line of the Ches-
apeake and Ohio Railroad, and also some
remarks upon those lying in the northeast
ern counties of West Virginia. 1t is need
less to add much to what has been already
published in a general way relative to the
great coal deposits of the Kanawha Valley
and its tributaries hence I will confine my
remarks principally to the more recent de-
velopments made in certain localities, with
some reliable analyses of the same.
The best-known authorities agree that
the Appalachian chain, Or Cumberland coal
fields, contains the largest carboniferous de-
posits on the American continent. 1t is es-
timated that West Virginia alone contains
over 10000 square miles of coal lands, prin-
cipally btuminous. camel and gas Goals.
These measures are remarkable for their
depth in vertical section and the variety and
excellence of the deposits. Besides the Goals
of West Virginia, there are immense depos-
its cast of the dividing line between the two
States, lying in the eastern slopes of the
Shenandoah Tor Great North) Mountain,
and in both sides OF the ridges lying east Of
this mountain to the western borders
of the Great Valley of Virginia, in
Guiding the Little North Tor Narrow
Back) Mountain, as defined upon Hotch-
kiss nap of Augusta and Rockingham
counties. Eastward from the Kentucky
State line and along the line of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway to the Blue
Ridge in the Valley of Virginia, the immense
beds of very superior bituminous coking
Goals, camel and other gas Goals and anthra-
cite of Rockingham and Augusta counties,
lying in close proximity to millions of tons
of iron ores and limestone of excellent quail
ity. mark the site of the future most i'm
portant iron manufacturing districts in the
world.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, 60
ing west, enters the first outcrop of the BIZ
luminous coal field near the junction Of
New River and Meadow Creek, few miles
| west of Hinton, and skirts the New and Ka-
| nawha valleys, (the coal seams are traced on
| either slope to a point near Coalsmouth or
| st. Adams, los miles west of Hinton and
about As miles beyond st. Adams to the
Kentucky State line, along the northern
boundary of North River, Guyandotte and
| Big Sandy coal fields, and as feeders to this
road some 400 miles Of branch tracks can be
made at very moderate cost up the Gauley
and Elk rivers. The slopes and side drain
age of this field are very favorable for coal
inclines, making the cost of mining and de-
livery very low. Nature has here sunk the
pits and shafts, which never need repairs.
The law of gravity has provided against the
necessity for pumps or other costly ma
chinery and for the perfect ventilation of
the mines without any resort whatever to
artificial means, being the result of the nat
ural position of the coal strata. The facili-
ties here for opening slope (the mining
fixtures consisting simply Of side tracks, in
clines and tippleD are exceedingly easy.
Mr.. Howell Fisher, of Pennsylvania, in 1873,
said in respect to the conditions most favor
able for mining 'sThis region stands I'M
rivaled."
| Bituminous coal beds ale reached soon
after crossing the Allegheny mountains 60
ing west, along the waters of the Cheat and
Greenbriar rivers. in Preston, Tucker, Ran
dolph, Pocahontas, Greenbriar, Marion and
other counties drained by the New and
Gauey rivers. These being the lowest group,
outcroppings of which may be seen Oh the
geological map of the Virginias, drawn by
Prof. VIM. B. Rogers to illustrate the Vir-
| gnia State survey of 1886 and 1S41, meet the
| great Pittsburgh seam. These Goals reach the
Eastern seaboard Ui0 the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad. 1 am informed that as much
as 10000 tons of these Goals are shipped an
nually oyer the heavy grades Of the Laurel
Hill and the main Allegheny range over this
notwithstanding the famous Paramount coal
OF Marion county, which is held in such high
IL
gas-producing qualities.
A new railroad is laid out and chal tered to
extend from Fredericksburg ION tide water)
TO the coal fields of the northeast counties of
west Virginia, ria Harrisonburg, at which
point connection will be made with the
valley branch of the Baltimore and Ohio
haiiroad, east, and south to Staunton then
connecting with the Chesapeake and Ohio
Kaliroad. This road when finished will add
much toward cheapening the transportation
OF these Goals East, South and West. A
large number Of mines are being vigorously
worked along the line OF tile Chesapeake
ana ONO Railroad in the New River region,
anu Inc coal delivered over inclines, many
Vi "ihch are long and very steep, to the bot
toms OF the hills, when they are caked and