The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-08-11
The Resources Of Augusta.

In long and finely written letter to the
"Industrial South" the Hon A. II. III. Stuart
of.this city, among gother things gives the fol-
lowing summary Of the natural resources of
Augusta county:
In tie county of Augusta, along the western
base and foothills of the Blue Ridge, and also
along the eastern slopes of the North noun
tan-and in several ranges OF hills in the main
valley, between these mountains, large depos-
its OF hematite and specular iron ores, of good
quality are to be found. In the valley OF the
South river, both above and below Waynes-
boro', valuable mines of manganese have been
worked with profit. In the same valley, about
six miles above WaynesborO and in close proX-
unity to the Shenandoah Valley railroad now
in process OF construction, there is a vast mass
Of kaolin, covering an area of forty acres, and
forty-two feet deep. 1t is perfectly white and
adapted to the manufacture of fine wares, and
also OF fine brick. A few miles further up the
same valley, there are immense deposits of
pure white sand, which might be mistaken for
graduated sugar, and which, / have no doubt,
cefore many years, will be used in the manu-
tacture of tirst-class plate glass. This sand is
within half mile, of the Shenandoah Valley
railroad, In other parts of the county, near
Greenyille, Newport and Craigsville, large
quarries OF variegated marble have been open
ed Those near CraigsvllIe, on the line OF the
Chesapeake and Ohio railway, are now being
extensively worked by parties from Ohio and
Pennsylvania In other localities, lumber, Or
chIe, and mineral paints. of excellent quality,
exist in abundance.
In the northwestern portion of the county,
anthracite coal has been found in considerable
quantities and OF good quality. This coal is
now used for neighborhood purposes, but the
absence OF the means OF transportation has
heretofore prevented such thorough eXplora-
tions as would be necessary to determine, in
erfectly satisfactory manner, whether it exists
IN mere pockets or in continuous veins, as in
the coal region Of Pennsylvania. These boun-
tiful provisions of nature must in a few years,
make Augusta county the seat of numerous
profitable industries.
Rumor says that the Richmond and Allie
ghany Railroad Company have employed Prot
j. l.. Campbell, Of Lexington, an accomplish
ed geologist and mineralOgist, TO make a full
survey and report the mineral resources of the
country which will be tributary to their road.
Why sAoult, not the Richmond and Dan
vile, the Norfolk and Western the Chesapeake
and Ohio, the Midland, the Shenandoah Val
ley, and the Valley railroads profit by the ex-
.ample'of the Richmond and Allegheny rail
road company, and cause similar explorations
and reports to be made of the resources of the
country bordering on their respective lines?
Above all, why should not Virginia takesupi
the work of a complete geological and miner
illogical survey OF the State, where the great
scientist, William B. Rogers, was compelled to
leave off? The cost would be trifing compared
with the rich results which would be certain
to follow. 1t is hazarding little to say that the
survey of Rogers Though he was denied the
privilege of completing it, first made known
ana awakened the attention of the North to the
mineral wealth Of the Old Commonwealth of
Virginia; and his report, more than any other
cause, has led TO the expenditure of millions of
dollars in the two Virgnias in the construc-
ton of railways, the opening Of mines, and the
erection OF furnaces. 3gEg Gft