The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-01-06

NEW,
Editors Stanton Spectator:
Gentlemcu.-I have recently respond.
ed with Professor William VI. FOntainc, OF
the University of Virginia. on the subject
Of the geological and mincralogical eXplora-
iionS which he proposes to commence IN
Apri next. and 10 continue during the
summer; and am gratifcd 10 be able TO
state th1t in letter which | received from
blm few davs ago he announces his pur-
nose TO commence opCTatlons neat Wayncs-
boro', and 10 extend them SOuihwcstWardly
along the mOuntain.TangeS and spurs which
he near TO the projected cXtcrS iOn of The
Shenandoah Valley railroad to some point
I'm Ifockbldoe not far from the mouth Of
North river.
Several considerations have irhu need
Professor FOUtaine III determining 10 COM
mcucc his operations at tui> pomt-V'z.:
!. l., proximity 10 She University, being
not more than tweuty.four miles distant.
>. The abundance. variety, and fine quail
ity Of the ores, and other substances OF
commercial value which are known 10 cX-
III IN jhe region which he proposes 10 eX-
porc.
}. The urgency OF The demand for an im
mediate scientific examination OF This par
j
have ALREADY constructed a railroad which
connects Phihdelphia with Wayne>boro'.
and propose during the coming spring and
summer 10 extend II as above statedio some
point m 4 ckbridge where Twill CONNIE ct
with the Richmond and Allegheny railroad.
A. tbc Shenandoah Valley railroad was
originally Projected. and l. nOW being eX-
tended maiulC with reference TO he develop
ment If TN. mineral, along lis line, il j. OBJ
viOu>y proper That the people OF Virginia
shall manifest purpose To cooperate WIN
The projectors and owners Of this road in
advancing She laudablc Obicc, they have IN
view.
Crude observations and some practical
EXPLORATIONS have developed the fact that
there are lar.c deposits Of specular ana he
matilr iron ores, manganese. lumber, Ochre.
and klo lin, on or near the proposed line Of
exploration, and not far from he projected
route Of tEe railroad. but thus faf there has
been no scientific Investigation OF the eX-
tent and value OF these dtpo>is. Should
tle results II Professor FOntaine's re-
searches c0Trc>pOnd with the popular cStl-
mate of the extent and value OF these mln-
eIal substances. large investments OF for
eign capiial will! be madC, and Gordon OF
iron furnaces erected al an early dly be-
"a
North river. thus giving such an impulse to
our industry ana material prosperity a. mas
never been witnessed before.
II il known 10 most Of your readers that
a number Of northern gentlemen Of skill
and capital haVc at various times been
"prospeciug" through this region with
view TO tue purchase of mineral propertIcs.
and the erection Of furnaces, fOundlies, &c.
hu, bar nF FpI O.fT them
from making investments. One was, the
want oy faciitieS Of transportation, and the
other the absence OF accurate and thorough
knowledge Of the nature and extent OF the
ore banks.
Tne SPEEDY cob StructiOn Of the Shenan-
doah Valley railroad, and The ::obtble en-
tension. in the near future. OF ibe Valley
railroad from StaunlOn 10 Salem, VIII le-
move The Gr>t difficulty, and the report OF
Professor FGnraine will Obyiatc the last.
The explorations Of Professor FOntalnc
NAV a,o be the means Of revealing the en-
I>tcncr OF other minerals IN these mountains
OF which We are now ignorant. There Is
tradition among the people IN the nelghbor-
hood # GrcebVil'c 81 hich | remember 10
have heard many years ago, tb9t both silver
and lead had been found in the mountains
few mites south of that village.
When il Is remembered that Professor
Fontaine is one OF the most distinguished
and experienced OF living geoiogist> and
miperaloe So, and il accredited as such by
men like William B. Rogers and other lead
ing scientists OF the United State, there can
be 20 question that his report OF the result
OF his investigation will be accepted As au-
thentic ana satisfactory by all WHO may de-
sire TO purchase mineral property.
regard the Tact that Professor Fcntaine
is about 10 make THIS exploration aS one
which Is to baYc deep and abiding ihflu-
cnce on the future wealth 9nd prosperity OF
our county. Indeed, 1 shall be dlsap-
pointed # II connected with the extension
OF the Shenandoah Valley rairoad) does not
lead i'm a very few years 10 the investment
OF hundreds OF thousands, if not OF mil.
lions. OF dollars OF foreign capital within
the limits OF our county.
The coal and coke Of West Virginia can
he brought down on the Richmond and Al
IeeEqpy railroad at low freiGb,s, as they
will be on "down.grade almost the entire
way TO the irOn.mines. Cheap fuel will
thus be provided, and as limestone i
,GbuDdant and near 81 band, there Is no To-
eality at which iron can be produced at less
cost.
II must al,o be reme2qOered thst IN the
course OF his explorations Professor Fon-
tame viii be obliged 10 Irass quiIe neer seve-
raj large deposits Of kaOlia, suited net mefe-
la for making firc-OFlek 10 line furnaces.
Ialt a'sO for the iBanufaetIre OF tableware,
md ,terra.cOtta piptag for drainage and
,.i,er purposes. Ii IL al@o known that at
me o. more points on thIs route pare
sbHe sand has beea found quite as well
dspted for the manufacture OF the btst
luaiiiS .of glass as that whcb is now
,rousht 64r that puTpO-<e from Missouri 10 |
Wheeling and Pittsburgh. why, theE |
h0uld MT these valuable materials be
tillzed III the county lB which they are
ouud! !
Some may regard these a. dreams Of an /
nthusiasi. such is generally the estimate
laced on SuggestioOs which pass out OF the
sual track OF popular thought. fenem-
er when, in pDblic speech 10 our court
ouse in IS4S, 4 expressed the confident
pinion that a nPDsGODtiDental railway from
t. LOUIS 10 San Francisco, and probably
mother from Memphis TO san Juan, would
e constructed witii,B twenty years from
l0t day. the announcement was greeted
iib shouts OF derisiye laughter; and
hen. after the merrment bad nb-ided, }
1de0 that men were then In the souDd 0f
" voice who would live TO zee tile teas, {
nd silks, and splces OF japan aud Cbina