The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-03-14
An Interesting Lstser.

We publish on our first page the first of
series OF letters from Mr.. T. T. Moore, the
regular correspondent OF the Iron Age. in
the result of his observation and
examination in the iron and coal regions Of
this portion of Virginia. The long delay in
the appearance of this letter caused us to
offer some impatient reflections in conse-
quence thereof, several weeks ago, and hence
it affords us the more pleasure to give
our numerous readers the first instalmeEt
from this intelligent and sagacous gentle
man, to correct any erroneous impression
We may haye created. We shall, as subse-
quent letters appear, transfer them to our
columns, to the end that the whole circle OF
our readers may understand, though the in
formation be imperfect, the facts upon
which our hopes for this part of Virginia
are based. Mr.. Moore gave the various
properties he visited critical examination,
assisted by large experience in that partic-
ular line of investigation. We are sure that
he has done less than justice in his state
ments, and that the real facts will more than
bear him out in all his figures and deduc-
tions, extravagant as they may seem to
those who have never seen with their own
eyes what he describes.
The fabulous wealth in minerals which
lies all along the line OF the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railroad, and in other sections not dis
tant, may be imperfectly estimated from
the sentences of this letter, and aid may be
furnished in arriving at an approximate idea
of what it is, by pamphlet which now lies
before lis in the form of report from the
Consulting Engineer Ct the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railroad to the Receiver, General W..
C. Wicllham. Mr.. st. John gives detailed
statement of the various Goals and the guam
tity shipped over this route since 1873, when
shipments first commenced, showing the in
in 1877, either in actual operation or avail
able for immediate service. This coal mine
development commenced about the time OF
the financial pressure of 1873 and continued
through subsequent pressure, so severe gen.
orally upon enterprises of this kind. In
1875 there were 37,901 tons of camel coal,
16S, 239 splint and bituminous, and 2o,577 oil
coke shipped over this road east from the
coal fields of West Virginia and in 1875,
10000 tons of camel, 234, 2S2 tons OF splini
and bituminous, and 3G,O7O tons of coke
or an aggregate of tons of Goals for the years
1875, 1876, and 1877 of, respectively, 23l.7
264, 1856, 310,352. Much of this was mar.
keted in New York in competition with the
Pennsylvania coal, and where 1886 tons
Of Nova Scotia and English Goals were re-
ceived there as Notwithstanding an increase
of shipments to New York over the Chesa
peake and Ohio Railroad for 1877 over 1915
of IL per cent, Notwithstanding the compe
tition. The steam Goals, splint Goals. can
mel, and gas Goals constitute the varletie!
which form the bulk of the shipments, anc
which exist in unlimited abundance, con-
tiguous to and Immediately west of the iror
deposits noticed by Mr.. Moore.
It is these wonderful formations, so preg-
nant of wealth, to which the attention O.
the country is now being called, and in ait
of which the interesting article which WI
publish so felicitously appears. It. is these
various possessions that we wish Senator
johnson and the party Of gentlemen who
will accompany him, to visit and see fol
themselves what boundless fields Of enter
prise and industry present themselves TO
the capital OF the east.
Our space and time this week forbid
further reference to the subject. but w
shall renew the theme as the occasion i
furnished by other publications hereafter
and in the meantime let every one who feel
an interest in the industries dependent upol
the minerals of coal and iron, read the let
ter of Mr.. Moore.