The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-12-09
Resources of Virginia.

published to show the advantages OF hlch-
mond as a manufacturing centre and to the
evidence of its prosperous future. But the
facts stated are of great interest, and give an
important exhibit of the wonderful material
wealth possessed by Virginia. We copy 1t IN
full, as the information it contains, reaching
our wide circle of readers outside OF Virginia,
may attract attention, and induce emigration
Noticing the article copied from the Balti-
more American in your paper to-day, take
pleasure III drawing your attention to another
branch OF industry which must eventually be
come one of great Interest and value not only
to this city, but the whole State. 1t is of mould
ing and shaping all kinds OF clay and kaoline,
mixed with telspar and flint or quartz, int
useful as well US ornamental wares of all sorts
Fire the same into kins or furnaces, and thus
turn mother earth into shining metal, and eX-
tract millions from many Thousand acres
impoverished soil
Many landowner, now hardly able to
raise crops sufficient to make living and pay
taxes, has hidden treasures below the soil. 1t
becomes his duty to search for that which
Providence has deposited for him. Take no.
tice OF the appearance of the ground as you
pillow it up, the rocks and stones on your land,
the appearance of minerals and clay substances
will meet with something to fix your attention
If different from the other soil it should be
brought to the notice of some one who can tell
if of value or not Yes; let landowners use
pick, shovel, and auger freely. and not mind a
little trouble; sink shafts and bore down and
search for those hidden treasures, and ten
chances to one you will be well rewarded
for it.
MY attention was first drawn to the miner
al Ntaf,
came here aud piospected through severai
counties. l was astonished to see what vast
deposits of materials lay here unused Test
were made, and l found especially the kaoline
and felspar of excellent quality superior Il
any found in this country or Europe, and
equal to the celebrated "Kao' clay from til.
hills of Ling" in China. From this the wore
kaolin was derived by leaving the letter ou
In England this kaoline was pronounced th'
finest ever seen. So too, the spar. The da,
will not be far distant when | will ship bot
these from here there as well as to France an(
Germany. Besides the two articles named,
have found flint and tire-clay for the manufac
ture OF firebric retorts, terra-cotta, DC. Ii
abundance, and am sure of their respective
virtues for the manufacture of all kinds o
earthenware.
The kaoline is abundant through all TIL
counties from Washington up to Fairfax, an,
ed from Washington county, however, excel
all others, but may have been selected. Almos
daily new discoveries are made. Parties who
expect to realize fabulous prices for the sam
will be greatly disappointed.
I have made porcelain out of this kaoin
which rivals the best French, and fires "a beau
tiful tint of white, without the admixture o
other substances.
Trenton, N j., and East Liverpool Ohio
have been thus far the principal places wher
the manufacture of pottery has been carrle'
on. Materials have to be brought to then
from great distances and at heavy expense
The freight alone on raw materials to the lat
ter place amounts to from $50 TO $50 per Cal
load. Besides materials of all sorts in the i'm
date vicinity of this city we have coal an
wood in abundance as well as water-powe
and cheap labor. Wares can be made her
cheaper than any other place in the Unite
States and skilled labor and mechanleS can b
brought from Europe We must have NOR
manufacturing here and with such natural re
sources there should be no hesitation TO con
-mence operations as soon as it is possible /
put up the necessary buildings and machil
cry.
Of the Virginia Mining and Manufacture
Co., Col. A. S. Butord, president OF the Ricl
mond and Danville railroad, is president, an
W. II. Haxall, Esq, vice-president. In add
ton, as directors, the company has Messr
Thomas Branch, Frederick Scott, president
the Petersburg railroad; Isaac Davenport, il
A. Y. Stokes, A. l.. Elliott, W. J. johnson
VIM. Taylor, Gen. T. M. Logan, attorney;
G. McRae, and Capt. Richard Irby The MAY
imum amount of capital is 100000 and tl
minimum amount $4,000 al 500 per share.
1t is the intention of the company to deve
op the mineral resources of the State. pros
pect for, buy, lease. and sell mineral proper
ties, mine and prepare materials, and sell i
ture fire bricks, porcelain, and other earlheI
wares
Hundreds of hands will find employment
through this new enterprise. Very few pei
sons have an idea of the immense benefits t
be derived from the same for the future. Whe
once established and the superior facilities al
known, other enterprises will follow, and thi
city will become famous for its porcelain
works, and the wares made here will be ship
ped to all parts of the United States.
The iron interest is growing stronger ever
day, and the furnaces cannot be built withou
fre-bricks. Why should we bring them her
from Scotland, Pennsylvania, Ohio. and Mary
land, when We have all the materials and fue
here? At Bon Air, but eight miles from her
have opened up vast deposit of fire. brio
and china-clay, as well as excellent ochre, an
the company owning the land may calculat
on some dividends for the future from it
mineral deposits. The entire property is I'LL
derlaid with heavy deposit of ochre and kae
line of excellent qualify, and arrangement
have already been made to put in sidin
and ship twenty tons per day TO lie increase
to one hundrtd TONS Other materials such a
gold, silver, lead copper, zinc IRON, nl.ing alIce
chrome, plumbago, asbestos, marble, baryte,
&c, are abundant throughout the State, an
samples are being daily received from a
parts. 1t is the intention of the company L
have branch offices in New York, PhiIldel
phia, Boston, ana Chicago, where parties il
search of minerals or properties on Which the
are found will lie offered for sale, as well as tn
production of the works. Railroad agent
along the various lines of rail- Dads will be IN
structed to send small specimens of mineral
found free of charge and chemist will be EN-
ployed to analyZe them at a moderate and low
rate. Ii is also intended to instruct young mel
in chemistry at the laboratory, and when til
pOrcelain-wOrks ars started a school of desigl
and decorating will be connected with it, an,
chance given to both sexes for making them
selves useful in this ceramic art industry. Hav
ing visited the most celebrated manufacture.
places of this kind in England France, Gel
many, and Austria as commissioner OF the In
ternational Exhibition of Philadelphia, | hav
had chance to see the deficiencies of the fac
tories there, and can assure you that there i
no place better situated to produce porcelain
and other wares at lower rate and ofbette
quality than this city. You have the resource
to make this State the great manufacturer,
centre of the Union, and promise to do M
Share as new conner. Very respectfully,
W. A. ii. SCHREIBER, General Manager.
Mr.. w. B. Hazleton, of The Baltimore amer
lean writes from Richmond about the capt..