The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-01-22

Magnesia, Trace Trace Trace
found in any of these ores.'
1t also stated that in Ashe county, North Caro-
lima, bordering on the Virginia State line, and
about 81 miles south OF the A.. M. & o. Railroad
there existed the largest veins OF magnetic iron
ores that have ever been discovered east OF the
and distinct veins, near together, and running
parallel with each other. The vein farther south
Is five feet In width. and several miles in length.
lew hundred yards north OF this vein is anoth-
| er and much larger one. This has been develop
| ed at number OF points within distance of two
miles and shows an average width of fourteen
feet OF solid compact ORE Two miles still fur
! Their north we come to the third vein, The de
velopments that have been and are now being
made Indicate the existence of ores equal in
quantity. and if anything superior in quality to
both OF the two other veins, the following
| analysis made by Fred P. Dewey, ESQ.,, Chemist
| to the Roane Iron Co. at Chattanooga Tenuessee)
will demonstrate
Sttni :, 1888
Metaiic lron .........................t 1856
rAoSpnor 0:Uz5
O:09z
AlIauic None
Not one OF these three is merely bed or a
bank or an uncertain deposit; but on the con-
trary they are all regular an true veins, and the
quantity OF ores they could supply may therefore
be reasonably calculated. A visit to them would
credulous man might entertain to their extent
and quantity. WHAT then be said OF the
| carefully selected average surface samples from
| the Two most southerly veins to Hon. ID. ]. Nor
rel, Of the Cambria Iron Company. at Johns
| town, Pa. and he had them Analysed by his own
| chemist, who obtained the annexed results In
soluble matter, 2O.lS; metallic iron, from the
| ore just as it was received, 1881; phosphorus
.01; sulphur. 81 Silica 1872 titanic acid little
or none." Signed, T. T. Morrell, chemist.
and age % I'M enis company mas since visited
ores from all parts of the veins which being ana
lyzed by the same chemist gave the following !:
metac iron, o1.6O; phosphorus. 025; silica, l7.5y
| TRANSFORMATION
| ipt1
| found. and that its length would BE- about 80
| miles. 1t would pass through region nearly its
entire length Where ne land damages would be
exacted or claimed. On the contrary, not only
! would the right OF way be given, but very con-
siderable landed and timber subscriptions would
be made, sufficient, at least, to furnish all the
| cross-ties and other requisite lumber needed in
the construction OF the road. OF course some
other cash subscriptions would be m ade by indi-
viduas along the line but these wo uId not exceed
'$S6,OOo The leading business men at Ashe Court
house and elsewhere in that county, assure me
tnaG tnat county in It's corporate capacity would
vote description OF from $50 900 to $4,000 and
! believe the sane. Certainly it is able so to do.
| that its interests would be promoted by such
action, for know that it is rich in mineral
wealth, almost beyond belief. The route sug-
| gested would require scarcely any bridging. for
itwould follow the course of the streams instead
OF crossing them, and none even OF these are
large,
| Now what sort Of road sh ould 1t be an
swer most positively Narrow Gauge. The A.,
road, as well as remember in the State exceeds
| four feet, or 81 inches. Generally speaking |
for special purposes there can be no doubt about
their capacity and value. There are too many of
them now in successful operation in all parts of
the Union to leave any substantial ground of con-
| troversy. For mining purposes specially, for
| transportation OF crude material such as iron
surfaces at a minimum cost for Carrying the
same and for operating the road, they are sim
Completed from near Pittsylvania Court House .
ON the line of the Va Midland Road, to Rocky
Mount in Franklin county Va, distance OF near
forty miles should presume. 1t owes its origin
| and completion almost entirely to the iron ores
along its course, and these will n OF bear compar-
ison with the Ashe county ores either in quanti-
ty or quality. Yet many tons pass over 1t daily
en- route to Harrisburg. Penn ylvania. and else
two months since, was reliably informed that
| the cost Of transporting these or,s from the
mines to Harrisburg (al the way by raiD was
In advancing Narrow Gauge road to the Ashe
ores have not lost sight Of the delay, inconve-
nience and expense of "breaking bulk" but all
these are far more than overcome when you con-
slider the rapidity and cheapness with which it
could be built equipped. and operated, as con-
trasted with the broad gauge; and these were
the considerations that induced the building OF
over 300 miles Of such roads in the Unit States
during the lest year.
have given this question very thorough and
careful examination, and do not hesitate to
assert that such road as have suggested could
be constructed and equipped at cost OF $lO.OUO
per mile or $30O.OO0 for the entire distance. or
and corporatey subscribed,G am certain Of this,)
and should the state be in Condition to furnish
the 100 convicts labor free) which she has prom
ised to do in granting charter, the remaining
cost would be less than $200OOO, So far as Ia Dor
is involved, there need be no trouble or doubt
hands could be obtained in thirty days at $lOO or
less per days pay. Very great numbers of able
very hour working upon the farms of this sec
ton for from $8 to $I2 wages per month.
CHARCOAL, COAL AND COKE.
u come now to another very cheerful part OF
In all the region adjacent to them timber is
scarcely all object; indeed TO many it is an IN
they would ssd give to
large hot blast furnace at or near the mines
would be very profitable, for charcoal could be
5, and cents bushel, delivered at the furnace
stack. Such a furnace ought to and would pro. |
duce from thirty to forty tons OF metal each day
Of an unsurpassed quality. And without weary.
ing you with details let it suffice for me to assert
now can @ IL, and stand prepared
this metal would not cost over $l3 90 ton at the
furnace to make it.
CHARCOAL as the fuel must Of necessity, be limit
ed when compared with anthracite and coke and |
very few enterprises in iron can be iudiciously
entered into when such enterprises require a |
large preliminary outlay Of money in developing,
purchasing, &C., unless 1t is absolutely certain |
that either one or the other. or both, of these |
fuels can be gotten in large quantities., OF good
quality and at reasonable rates. Owing to the |
quality and cost of Connellsville coke pittsbnrs
can and does afford to bring to her limits ores
from Lake Superior and elsewhere at an average |
cost Gor the best for 10 years Of 5000 per ton |
and $500 ton.
Taking it for granted that you and those who |
have felt any real practical interest in the SUBJ
iect familiar with the quantity, quality, and
cost OF Quinnimont coke, and that made at other |
localities along the Chesapeake and Ohio road,
now invite you TO read the enclosed extract in |
regard to the work upon the New River Railroad |
and what is thought ofits early completion and |
the results that will follow. regard its compile |
tion, at an early day. as fixed fact, from my |
personal knowledge OF what the company is now |
doing. In order to facilitate a quick apprecia- |
tion of its Importance and bearing upon the |
magnetic ores, have hastily drawn rude out |
line OF map, showing Its route. length and |
ted the vein of Red Hematite ore which will be |
crossed by the road, when ever built. from the |
have never had these ores the
yzed as yet, (but will do so in short timeJ and
cannot therefore speak positively concerning |
their richness and purity, but they have every |
appearance of being. good ones. The vein is a |
bold one, averaging from to feet across it, and
extending several miles. have also noted on it |
the now famous deposits of brown hematites Of |
Cripple Greek in this county, lying from to 10 |
miles south OF ana running somewhat parallel
20 miles. The red and brown hematite ores of |
Giles county, Va. are also located, and it was |
ores that Pennsylvania capitalists invested their
money in that locality. and haying SO invested
ana mspkt smell iVes verg go
ofores thus shoton has positiue and direct bearing
each upon the other and all Of them o,oe their great
est present and prospective vatue to the proximity Of
Quinnemomt coke.
CAPITAL REQUIRED, COSTS AND PROFITS ESTIMATED |
II your patience has not already been exhaust
ed bear with me now and review some calcula-
tions that want to submit, to determine wheth- |
er it will pay to organize large company to buy |
the magnetic ores OF Ashe county, las well as |
some others along the line.) and build a Railroad
to them. to ship q part Of them If need be to
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Harrisburg and other
Eastern markets. and to erect large furnaces at |
proper points, to reduce them,
To accomplish these purposes It will require |
capital Of 100000. This Is not large. but 1t is
enough Ofthis snm from 5000. 900 to $3.50 600 Will