The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-08-22
BUCKINGHAM,

MINERAL WEALTH OF THIS COUNTY-OLD FINDS
ANDvALUABIE NEW DISQUALIFICATION AND
GOLD-RICHNOND AND sOUTHe&sTERN RAIL
ROAD-POLITICAL; THE READJUSTERs FOR
THE HANCOCK TICKET.
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dspatch.l
AUGUST II, 1880.
Befose the late war a vein Of magnetic
iron ore was opened four and half miles
west OF Ca Ira, immediately on the main
road from Richmond TO Buckingham Court
house, about sixty-eight and a half miles
from Richmond. II was 80 to feet wide,
aud one analysis OF it gives 64.1 per cent.
iron, This is by Professor John NJ. Sher-
rard. This one Is on the land OF the late
William 4. Shepard. Transportation In
wagons TO Ca Ira, and batteauX from there
TO Richmond, did not then promise profit
on shipments, and it was never worked.
About four miles west Of this point Will
ls's mountain ridge crosses the main road,
being at that point merely high hill. But
one mile TO the south OF the road the noun
tain looms boldly up 10 a considerable alti-
tude, having a crest OF rugged and broken
volcanic rocks, varying from twenty to fifty
feet high, with few serubby pine trees
struggling up through the creviceS in this
rocky crest. The " Round Uop) mountain +"
is very pretty elevation OF the same gen.
eral ridge, separated by pretty "saddle"
from WIllis's mountain. Upon the Round
top Colonel Sewer sunk q shaft q consider
able depth for copper-ore a few years after
the war. Much volcanic rock with the rain
bow tints, indicative OF copper, were found,
and some sulrhuret OF copper. The bear
ing Of this mountain range is about 10
to 90 east Of north. On the west side Will
hiss river rises, and, making n southcry
circuit, OF last strikes boldly of TO the north
east, and emptieS into James river thirty
miles below, at Cartersyille. Just east Of
the mountain, across valley bali mile
wide, rises the highest point Of " Rocky
RIDGE" which, with varying hearing from
north 40 east TO about north so east. and
with lessening elevation. loses itself in
about six miles. This mountain group, as
said. is evidently OF volcanic origin, and by
reason OF the upbeavaI the mineral devel.
opement has always been very distinct.
Fifty years ago Mr.. Ltnaeas Boiling, who
owned some six thousand acres OF land in.
iersected by the Rocky ridge, confidently
predicted that the day would come when
the metals with which The lands around the
mountain abounded would prove TO he OF
great value. Three miles TO the west OF
Wiiliss mountain The Old Garrett d Moseley
gold mine Is now beng energeticaily worked
by the Morrow company. The waters of
whispering creek Zone branch OF winch
the Mountain Fork-rises at the north end
OF WHits's, and the other farther north
ward now swiftly through chasm Of 100
Ieet breadth, cut through Rocky ridge, and
show many traces Of gold, and on one OF
It's tributaries between Wiliis's mountain
ana "the RIDGE Mr.. T.. A. HUBBARD has
recently uncovered . very rich vein
~ iron-ore from ten 10 twenty feet thick.
or!g about three miles west OF and parallel
w.t. The Shepard vein. Recently Profes-
sor SSaivrs party OF mineralogists have
made dlllgent examination OF this locality,
nnd are delighted With Its mineral 70.