Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1880-03-30

~ H''e' "N"''y we Nnole OF virginia has
been investigated and written up by
such men as Professors VIM. b. Rogers.
/. z. Lesley, and ID. I. Austed, T. r. s.
Of England, none Of these distinguished
scientists have ever carefully explored
this wonderful region. True in 1871
Prof. Lesley, State Geologist of Pa, en-
tered upon Its outskirts. He wis in
Wise, Russell and Tazcwell, but seems
not to have come further southwest in
Wise than Little Stone Gap, therefore
only saw and described few of the up
per seams of coal In that county as ex-
posed along Guests river and its tiibu-
tarics, and some ofthe mountain creeks
running into the Clinch in Russell and
Tazewell. Even there he found great
wealth ofcoal, but it is In fact buta frac-
tional part Of the Wise county Goals. II
is only ut Big Stone Gap we strike the
heart Of the basin. Here Powell's river
breaks through that wonderful barrier,
Stone mountain, which rises like n wall
1000 feet high and over 20 miles long
with only here aud there an opening
through which man cun pass. The
principal of these is Big Stone Gap, a
great gateway into the coal fields. The
Roaring rerk Of powells river, the Pig
con fork, Luny and Callalmn's creeks,
here all unite their wNters, coming to-
gcther like the fingers on a.man's hand.
The erosion of the the carboriferous
rocks here is 800 to 1000 feet deeper than
it is about Gladovilc and up on Guests
river, and seams Of coal are exposed
above water level that lie so deep in the
northern part Of The county that they
will not be worked for ages to come.
But within two miles OF Big Stone Gap
they are perfectly accessible on any Of
the prongs Of Powell's river above nam
ed. The General made careful masure-
ments of the largest seam, only a mile
from the Gap on Pigeon fork and about
200 feet above water level, and found il
to be II feet inches thick, with only
two slate partings in it, aggregaling ID
inches, thus leaving ever 10 Feet Of solit
coal of the verJ finest quality of Blum
nous, This seam falls to the water lev.
81 m!'ss north on Kelley's fork of Cal
, iahan's creek, and is probably 800 fee
underground at Gladeville. On Lunl
creek, only two miles from the Gap arr
two other seams, one Of 6 feet, the Other
from z to s, exposed to view. These ar,
evidently under the big seam, The oll.
or seams, of about feet, are found still
lower in the formation We thus hav,
just back of Big Stone Gap an aggrega.
ton of over 30 feet ofas fine coal as any
in the world, above water level, and nj
workable by open drifts. When it il
remembered that every foot in thickness
ola horizontal coal seam, yields l5O0(
tons net coal to the miner. per acre, tn,
mind becomes staggered Mt the quantity
available within I'm area Of five miles
square Just back of Big Stoue Gap. Il
Is from this locality that all the coke ant
coal for all southwest Va, Il. Tenn,
and western North Carolina Is likely t
be drawn for hundreds of years TO come
because II can here be mined so mucl
cheaper than anywhere else this side o
the Kanawha. 1t Is likely that the Mar
row Gnage road, within ten years, vii
be taxed TO It's utmost capacity to bring
out fuel to work the vastdcposit Of roI
within 100 miles Of Big Stone Gap.
The General finds the iron ores of lie,
and Scott rs wonderful In extent ant
richness rs the Goals of Wise. Parable
with Big Stone mountain on its south
eastern side unbrokcn seams Of the fin
est fossil ores (rcd oxides run for 20 o.
so miles. They are In Poor Vale,
Ridge, in Wallcn's Ridge, In Powcll'
Mountain, and In Copper Ridge, and II
wild Cat valley, and Cllncb mountain
aud Copper Ridge, are vast beds oflIcm
attic, carrying over so per cent Of metal
lie iron. AT Big Stone Gap, In wiz
Cat valley, at Clinch river, Estilvilt
and Bristol great iron works are certain
to be ercted In the near future, MS tina
the world lasts.
At Esllllyillc we have immense beds
of the beautiful Tennessee encrlnal mar.
bic TO be opened mp 10 tho world, and
on all the mountains aud IN all the val
lcys from Bristol to the Kentucky line
arc uu'urpassed forests of oak, poplar
nsh, and other hard woods now so muc
IN request.
Iron can'bo made $40 per ton cheaper
IN all this region, when the coal mine.
nrc opened up, than In Pennsylvania
simply IN the saving on transportation o
rdr material. l'hlsfact solves the prob
lem Of the future Of Southwest Yir
gInla