The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-02-26
Mineral Industries.

/
there are four or five establishments in oper-
alton in the New River District, each re-
ceiving orders beyond its capacity to fur
nish. Fire Creek is running about sixty
ovens; Quinnimont about eighty; Sewell,
about fifty, which is exclusively appropri-
ated to the uses of the Furnaces Of the
company at Lengdale Nuttallsburg about
sixty. Two others are in process OF con-
ovens, for the use of the furnace at that
place, now rapidly approaching completion;
and another in the New River section, by
Bramwell & Co., Of about two hundred
ovens. This establishment will make coke
for shipment. All the others which have
been shipping their products, contemplate
charging their facilities to meet the in
creasing demands, as the superior quality
Of the coke becomes more generally known.
A remunerative market is found in the
West, not only for all the coke that is
made in the New River district, but
all the coal which is mined there would
be readily taken If prompt transportation
could be assured.
In this seems to be the. greatest obstruc-
ton to the more rapid development of the
mineral interests Of West Virginia. We
frequently hear complaints that cars can
not be sec ured for the transportation Of
coal and coke to the Ohio River, where the
most profitable market is found. One gem
tleman informed us that he had sale for a
barge, Or about two hundred tons Of coal,
every three days, delivered on the Ohio River,
| but that since the first of February he had
not been able to transport it. Want OF
transportation facilities is generally COM
planned of, and this has very discourag-
| ing effect upon those who have already in-
| vested their means and others who are
making arrangements for large future OPP
erations in the mineral districts of Virginia
| and West Virginia. Doubtless it is the pol
| icy of the railroad to influence as much OF
| this trade as possible to the eastern markets,
| as the greater distance to the seaboard would
add to the receipts from this class of bust
| ness. 1t is possible, however, to push this
policy too far. The coal and coke of New
River have ready sale in the West. Orders
larger than can be shipped are constantly
on file, at better profits than can be OBJ
tanned by shipping east, and the only i'm
pediment to meeting them is the want of
tual suspension of coking operations has Ia
ken place for want of transportation, and
similar condition of things exists in the
coal mining. This is damaging not only to
those who have invested capital, but dis
couraging to those who contemplate invest
ing, as well as injurious to the interests Of
the railroad. The mineral development Of
Virginia and West Virginia should be slim
ulated by every means possible. 1t is in its
| infancy yet, and cannot afford to be taxed
with lost time and suspended business for
want of transportation. That is the way
to kill it in its chrysalis state and to put a
stop to generous flow Of capital and en-
terprise to the inviting coal and iron fields
of the Virginias. The arrangements now
matured and maturing to complete the
western connections Of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railroad, and to open up direct route
to deep water, look to the establishment of
a great national thoroughfare between the
West and East, and it should be the policy
Of the company therefore to develop the
intermediate resources, which must add, in
course of time, to its volume Of trade in
the East and West. To this end, the en-
deayors of those who have already invested
capital in the mining business shonld be
literally encouraged and every possible ad-
| vantage offered them, so that their expe-
rience and success may have their influence
upon others who may have means to en-
ploy in these industries, and those incident
to them. The choking off or force policy
never paid in anything, and never will. The
good old rule of ''liye and let live," is that
| which makes the world move, balances so
| ciety, regulates social life and stimulates
the humanity of man, as we'll as physical
| and mental forces.