The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-10-05
rr,on, me p,ttstareh Dlspatch.I

n.
wes,ern Iron Association and Pittsburgh
editor OF the Iron Age, returned yesterday
from a week Of personal investigation OF the
great ore.beds in the vicinity OF Lynch.
burg. Va. made In the interest OF bis Jour
nal. Mr.. Weeks came back laden down with
specimens taken from the outcroppings and
the mines-where be knocked them OF
himself 10 insure no doctoriug. He brought
hack n weight OF enthusiasm apparently
quite equal to that OF his large assortment
OF ferruoinous rocks. To a representative
Of This journal Mr.. Weeks stated the result
Of his observations In detail. The progress
of the Richmond and Allegheny railroad
has from time TO time received such note in
these columns as was OF news interest.
Within day or two the action OF the citi-
zens OF Lexington respecting its proposed
extension to Pittsburgh was given 10 full.
THE IRON HORSE IN historic VALLEY.
With respect TO this railroad, which Is thus
assuming much local interest, this concise
information was obtained from Mr.. Weeks.
The proposed Richmond and Allegheny
railroad begins at Richmond, aud, follow
ing the valley OF the James and Cowpasture
rivers, extends 200 miles to connection
with the Chesapeake and OhiO at Clifton
the forks Of the james northern branch
will extend to Lexington, following Jack.
sons river, and il is from this point that
the proposed extension to Pittsburgh will
begin. The greater part OF the railroad Is
being built upon the towpsth OF the
James River and K,nawha canal. 1t Will
have no grade exceeding fifteen feet to
the mile, and will therefore have an
L. ,ap.nifv for riaan tran snOrtdtiQn.
Lexington Is about 200 miles in a direct
line from Pittsburgh, and will probably not
exceed 240 miles in actual distance OF
feasible route. As this is not a new COM
pany endeavOring TO sell its stock, 1t may be
said with grace that it is very solid in Its
dictatorship, tue board consisting OF Hugh
McCullOch, ex.Secretary OF the Treasury !;
George Nj. Bartholomew, OF Hartford f.
o. French, j. j. McCOOk, and Samuel
Sbethan, New York bankers; Joseph IL.
GRAY, OF Boston; Cyrus ii. Mccormick, OF
Chicago; Senator james &. Blaine; and
Charles +. Worthsm and Ii. G. Parsons, OF
Virginia.
ITS HISTORIC TowPATH.
The whole legislation OF Virginia in the
past seems TO have been directed TO keeping
railroads out OF he James Valley. Along
the fertile bottoms OF this river. where were
the old colonial estates, each thousands OF
acres in extent, have come down TO this
date intact. The Valley has slumbered du-
ring the modern era OF Improvement, and
the scattered mansions OF colonial times and
the decayed cabins OF the slaves mark the
wreck Of fortunes and the absence OF en-
terpriso. The "raging canawlp alone has
afforded meagre transportation lfacli-
ties and a water-power almost une-
qualled. Up TO this time between ten and
twelve millions Of dollars was spent upon
this canal. THIS valuable property few
months since passed into the possession OF
this railroad company, which first bought
its bonds TO the extent OF SS50,000. which
is the full amount they have paid for it, the
State surrendered its stock and franchises
upon the condition that a railroad be built
upon the towpath. Thus, for this small
sum, a road-bed, graded and with the
bridges built, passed into their hands, and
the company will be able To construct its
two hundred and fifty miles OF line for
$4,000 per mile. More than this, they OBJ
tam by this action the great docks at Rich
mond and the valuable water-power OF the
canal, 10 preserve which they will not de-
stroy that transportation line.
PKOukEsS Of HE Nohhs
The new company have opened the first
twenty-five miles OF the road from Rich
mond to Naiden's- dam, and will
have twenty-five miles more opened in two
weeks. They are also working at the other
end OF the line from Clifton Forge. BY the
1st OF January they expect TO be running to
and to have fifty miles Of the
western end completed.
As repects the construction OF the link
between Lexington and Pittsburgh. which
the citizens Of Lexington are clam0ring for,
the impression has gone out that this is the
Pittsburgh Southern's proposed road. Such
IS not the case. The Lexington people will
be satisfied TO connect with this company or
with the Virginia and Charleston, the South
west Penn, ConnelIsvile, or any other rail-
road leading in that direction. The move
ment has not thus far attained shane
that has interested any particular Penn
81 Iyania company In IL. AS for the
interest Pittsburgh has in the railroad,
a knowledge OF the claims made-it seems
justly-ior the Lynchburg ore.field shows
what it is. Lynchburg promises to be the
greatest railroad centre in Virginia. The
is being opened up in way that
will invite trsde from as well as to Pitts
burgh. Builders hardware, nails, and other
products that Pittsburgh is so able 10 furn-
isb, will be in demand. 1t is a great field for
this city.
THE ORE-FIELDS.
Mr.. Weeks visited the ore fields in two
localities while absent from the city. The
great deposits about Lynchburg begin about
8 miles below that city, at Mount Athos, the
home OF the Robertsons, who reside In
house planned by Jefferson, and run to
Greenway, go miles further, so far as the
openings have been made. The ore exists
10 true veins. not in pockets. On the