The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-03-18

TIE WEALTH OF THE JAMES RIVER VAL
LEY-WHAT PITTSBURGH THINKS OF RICH.
MoND.-Mr. JOSEPH d. WEEKS, the accom-
pIisbed editor OF the Iron Age, read paper
on the 22d ul;imo, before the Society OF En-
gineers at Pittsburgh, entitled "Notes Of a
Trip Through the es-Ryer Valley"
Mr.. WEEKS was with the party Of Pitts.
bureh capitalists who visited Richmond in
November last on their way through the
james River Valley to see for themselves
the rich stores Of mineral wealth awaiting
development in that lovely valley. We
wish we had space for the whole Of The pa
pert is so full Of interest. 1t treats main
ly OF the deposits OF most interest to Pitts
burgh-namely, iron-and gives sundry
analyses Of these ores, extent of deposit,
location, &c. The paper concludes as. fol-
lows:
"Of the value and abundance Of the rich
and pure ores Of Lake Superior and Mis-
souri, there is no question, and the fact that
for years TO come we must draw large
percentage Of our supplies from this local.
ity is also evident but it is only the dictate
OF wise business policy to secure il posi-
bic other and nearer sources Of supply.
The locality in which these supplies are to
be sought is undoubtedly the Virginas.
They are the nearest, and the indications
are thar they are the purest aud most abup-
dant. Within less than 800 miles Of this
city, 'as the crow fiIes,' lac these Immense
bodies Of ore, Of some OF which have
endcavored 10 give YOU some general
-, l.aR
and are suitable for our furnaces and our
work. Is proven by the facts. From the
region below Lynchburg 10000 toLs have
already been sold by Messrs. MAYOR & Co.
for delivery this year, mainly to Western
Pennsylvania furnaces, among (which are
Dunbar, Charlotte, Edgar Thomson, and
Cambria. From the Low Moor property,
for several years ores have been sent to the
Ohio and down the river to Ironton fur.
naces. The product OF Longdale and Qun-
nemont furnaces Is well known in this mar
ket, and that OF Callie and Low. Moor will
soon be.
"The chief hindlance 10 the development
OF these ores has been the lack OF transport
tation facilities. With the completion OF
the Richmond and Allegheny railroad,
which Is being laid on the tow path OF the
Jatnes-Ryer canal, access to many OF these
ores viii be easy; ana as the grades are very
low, freight can be easily moved; but the
great hope is the building OF q line Of road
TO connect Pittsburgh. Through West Viz
gInla with the Valley Of the James.
"The value Of such road to Pittsburgh
cannot be told. In addition to orening M
these vast stores OF iron-ore il would omen
up a large market for our product that is
now controlled by the East. The develop
ment OK The South IN the next ten years
promises 10 be marvellous. lis rich and fer
Tie lands are being broken up into small
farms, and With prosperity will come de.
msna for all OF the products for which our
city Is noted. Such road would give us
new outlet TO the sea, and that by port
tn'cnmondl that promises, il improvements
~ contemplation are carried out, to be the
x.eal seaport OF the country south OF New
- submit that here is field for pitts.
burgos energy. Surveys are now in nro.
gress Tor this road, and believe tba, !,
Pittsburgh will show an interest i'm Tho
project In any way commensurate with The
value 1t Will be to her industries. the road
VIII be butt, the vast mineral resources of
The James-ryer region and the timber Of
Yves; Virginia made cheaply available, and
The great southern market opened TO her
merchants and manufacturers"
The reading Of this paper was followed
by iircly discussion Of tho subject by the
members Of the Society. Mr.. w. +. I'm.
xEshAS observed.
I'm conversation recently with an en-