The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-06-08

1 and their escorts from this pace. Inel
made good time to Ffrrol, the brst sioppint
place, where the whole party disembarket
| and spent half 40 hour q deserving the opera
tions at Grace furnace. located oil that poln'
Mr.. j. +. Lewis Is the superintendent o.
the company operating here In connectior
with QUInnemont q large iron estaDlisn
ment on New river about 200 miles west o.
Grace. Mr.. Lewis met the pari payin2
them every attention and accompanying
them westward.
The train next came 10 halt ut Long
dale. and everybody got out and pacSeo
themselves away on some fats which TOOK
them eleven miles up the narrow-gauge
branch road to the furnace aud the mines.
The ladies and a few gentlemen got of at
the residence Of Colonel johnson, the man
ager, where they partook OF an elegant
lunch while the scientific gentlemen were
investigating the wealth OF the mines. After
spending pleasant hour at Longdale the
train moved up TO Low Moor, where the
new and extensive furnaces OF the company
are located-the largest yet In operation In
the Virginias. Here the travellers were
msgui6centIy entertained by George T..
Wicks, Esq, the resident proprietor and
superintendent. The collation. which was
served up here by Pizzinl was abundant
and elegant, and the company tarried seve-
raj hours, being much impressed with the
richness OF the ore, which Is literally an
| iron mountain here, and the extensive and
improved arrangements for Its manufac-
ture.
The special transferred the party from
this place to the White Sulphur In good
time for them TO take In the beauties and
extent OF this great watering-place before
night brought them into the great hotel,
where they had fine supper. The Insti-
tute then met i'm the ballroom and heard
with much interest a lecture from Major
Jed. Hotcbkiss on the Valley Campaign OF
Sionewall Jackson, which brought bedtime
and rest until next morning. After hearty
breakfast the party were oil early Friday
morning for the New. River and Kanawba
Valleys, stopping at The coke furnaces OF
Fire creek and Sewell, which are quite
extensive and in full operation, and baul-
ing up about noon at Hawks Nest.
From this station they had quick run on
the narrOw-gauge branch road up the
mountain to the mines OF Hawks Nest Coal
Company, some four or five miles. Two
trips got the party up TO these wonderful
mines, where the coal strata is from six 10
eight feet deep, and the engineers passed
all through them with the greatest ease and
satisfaction. A sumptuous dinner was
served TO the party in the woods, and after
partaking heartily they all embarked again.
The engine ran down TO the river,
and the long train, controlled only by the
brakemen, wound swiftly down the noun.
tain side, along the steep preciplces, over
high tressle-wofks. across deep gorges and
foaming torrents, and landing them. greatly
10 their relief, in safety at the DEF OF, where
they were soon aboard and off for the ka-
nawha. Down this valley the company tray.
eIed as far as Coalburg, enjoying The pie
turesque scenery OF rocks, torrents, cl!fis,
aud falls with intense satisfaction; but The
rain prevented their leaving the cars again
until they returned to the White, reaching
that rostful haven at 0 p. NJ.
Saturday morning they were of again at
an early hour, and took a special train on
the Richmond aud Allegheny road at Will
liamson's. At Clifton Forge, where the
headwaters OF the James force themselves
grandy through the mountain, the geolo-
gist viewed with wonder the immense
geological arch OF 1000 feet span, and
would willingly have spent the day eXplo'
rfDg the interesting aud remarkable lorna
iiOn but time was limited, and the warn
lUR NUlSlIt llOul tue NdltlnS NbS 'bN
brought them back to the train which took
the company down the pretty and fertile
Valley OF the James past Jackson and
Buchanan to a point opposite the Natura
Bridge, where they were met by backs,
omnibuses. and bugeies from Lexington,
and conveyed to the bridge-a wonder seen
for the first time by many OF the party.
A big dinner here, and the event OF the
day most interesting address from Vice
President Parsons, OF the Richmond ard
Allegheny railroad, which gave the noith-
ern and western visitors new insight INTO
the great plans OF that most energetic cor
porstion. Mr.. Parsons assured them that in
eighteen months the great connections
would be completed, furnishing a direct
route by easy grade from Chicago and To-
ledo to the deep water OF the Atlantic.
Much qualification was expressed at the
bright prospects Of the great new line, and
the opening and prosperous trade sure to
follow.
Returning to The Chesapeake and Ohio,
the party separated in different directions,
with many expressions Of pleasure and salts
faction, some going West, some East, and
some laying over at the White. Penn.