The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-03-09
I,YNCHBUR(I.

II
Wholesome RELIABLE DATA ON THE SUB
JECT-TUE RAILROAD DEATH OF TWO VEN
EEABLE CITIZENS.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.l
MARCH s, 1880.
| Now that the speedy building OF The Rich
mond and Allegheny railroad is secured be-
yoDd doubt, which will insure the devel-
Opment Of tue JameS-river ores TO an eX-
tent perhaps not dreamed OF by their own
ers a short while ago, the inquiry as 10 the
real extent aud character OF those ores is
invested with deeper and wider interest.
| propose to furnish your readers some
valuable Data from competent authorities
on the subject
JAMES RIVER ORES.
In regard 10 the quantity aud quality OF
the ores Of the James River Valley, writer
thoroughly posted on the subject and well
skilled in minerals says that from Galt'S mill
TO Howardsyiile, distance OF thirty-hye
miles, is an ron-0re belt which contains
more ore and better ore than any similar area
in the United States or any other portion OF
the world, without exception, 20 far as yet
discovered. The peninsula OF Michigan
known as the Lake Superior region con.
tains immense beds OF ore, but only one
winch csn rival dozen within twenty miles
Of Lynchburg. II required twenty years OF
prosperous time, with the great demand du-
ring tue war, TO bring the product OF that
region 10 | 100000 tons annually. Ftre years
OF development, even OF such limited char
acter "a is now going on In the James
River Valley, will show a larger ostput
from the latter. Given series OF enticu-
lar veins such as are here found, rur ming
from so TO 20 per cent. iron, OF purity and
freedom from phosphorus unsurpassed by
the ores II Sweden. Africa, Elba, and Spain,
with a total absence OF sulphur, workable
by aditS, above water level, upon line or
water transit which only needs proper man
agement TO make IT better than any railroad.
aud nearer TO the great irOn.consuming
centres OF the Atlantic seaboard than any
other region, it l. simple question Of time
and arithmetic as 70 the extent and certain
ty Of an iron-producing industry which
shall be the natural creation thereof.
The valuable ores found along this belt
are hemaiites in the form OF specular, mi
caceous. and red ores iimonite drown
hematite, magnetic, and mixture Of
specuIar and magnetic ores. The most ex-
tensive openings have been made in the
sDecular ores. These, on account Of their
low percentage OF phosphorus, are regard
ed a. peculiarly adapted to the manufacture
OF Bessemer steel. The other varieties have
also been worked To some extent. and pro-
mise valuable results when they become
more fully developed.
General st. john aud Professors Smith
and Malle, Of the University OF Virginia,
in a communication to President CARING
ton in 1873, speaks thus: "Our attention
having been given TO the district in ques- !
tion as a whole, without entering minutely |
into the respective advantages OF individual |
points therein, we may say. with entire |
confidence, that we are satisfied Of the ex |
istence OF iron ore 10 large qnantity-smpiyt
sufficient for the supply OF numerous fur
naces for long period in the future. While |
the flittened masses, locally known as
veins which occur, conf0rmable in DID |
and strike tethe metamorphic rocks Of the
region, are found at some points TO thin out /
and come 10 an end In the line OF strike,
they succeed each other 50 closely and In
such number, and they attain at single To-
calities such very large absolute dimensions,
that II II safe TO LAY, without calculating on
future developments, that there Is ore al
ready uncovered and in outcrop compare
Bile as to mass with the more favored Ioeali-
lies OF iron production In the United
states.
"To mention one or two instances One
VEIN with an exposure OF 80 TO IS feet
n width, and traceabIe. with large, II not
inform, width. for two or three miles 10
eDgtb; one OF Is feet In width, where ex-
'csed and Visible, for very long distance