The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1882-09-16


of salt have nearly stopped its manu-
faeture here. The clements of wealth
and prospective growth of the Kama
wha Valley are in its immense de-
h>sits of coal and iron ore and the
products of the forest. The output
of coal is rapidly increasing both by
shipment East over the Chesapeake
and Ohio Railroad and by barges
down the Kanawha and Ohio rivers
to the Southern markets. The Chesa-
peake and Ohio Railroad Company
shipped during the first five mouths
of1sS2 OF coke and coal $4,000 tons,
long measure, of which 10000 tons
were coke. A large proportion of
this shipment was East. The ship
ments by river in 1872 were about
III, 900 tons, and in 1880 about $780,
600. The Kanawha coal comes in
direct competition with the coal from
Pittsburgh, which has controlled and
supplied the markets of the Ohio and
Mississippi for nearly half century.
But it is only a question of time
when this supply will be superseded
by West Virginia coal, which prac-
teal experience has demonstrated
as equally good, and the advantage
of transportation is greatly in favor
of the latter. AT Cannelton, thrifty
village twenty-six miles above
Charleston, very superior article of
camel coal is found, which is used
as an enricher in the manufacture of
gas. 1t is mined quite extensively,
and large quantities are shipped to
Richmond and other Southern cities
The narrow valley is studded with
thrifty coal villages, and as this in
dustry is growing rapidly a dense
population may be expected before
many decades roll away.
BLACK BAND IRON ORE.
Another great and growing indus
try OF West Virginia is the mining
OF iron ore. A company has recently
been organized under the laws of the
State, with paid up capital 81 ,000,-
coo, called the Black Band Iron and
Coal Company, for the purpose of
developing the immense deposits of
coal and iron ore on Davis creek,
an afiluent OF the Kanawha, entering
that stream from the west about four
miles below the city Of Charleston
The officers and Directors of The COM
pany are: President, John Wool
dredge; Treasurer, William S. Den
ncy; Secretary, Frank A. Draiborn,
Directors, Frank M. Ames, Ezra w.
Baker, and George s. Corliss, all of
Boston, Mass. and William NJ. Hovey
of Charleston, w. Va. James II.
Huling, of Charleston, is Superin-
tendent. This company owns some
four thousand acres of land well
timbered, and the whole tract is I'M
derlaid with both colSing and splint
Goals of superior quality. In the up
per parts of the ridge are extensive
beds of iron oxides Of the character
Of the well known block ores, which
have been the basis of the Hanging
Rock, Ohio, industry for half a cen
tury, and they seem to be well devel-
oped on this property as in the Hang
ing Rock region, where they have
been used for many years in the max
ing OF carwheel iron. They contain
in the raw state about 40 per cent.
of metallic iron, but the great value
of this property is believed to
be its remarkable deposits of this ore
from three to six feet thick, and yield
ing when roasted IS per cent. of
metallic iron. The ore as taken from
the mine contains sufficient carboni-
ferrous matter TO roast it. The com
pany is now building the necessary
furnace for melting the ores; and
the ease with which they are reduced,
the close proximity of the fuel and
fux, and the great waterway to
market give promise of large re-
turns to the prominent gentlemen
who have embarked in this industry.
VAST TIMBER RESOURCES.
West Virginia is mountainous
State, but when the land is not too
steep for cultivation the soil is gen
erous and yields abundantly all the
products adapted to grass, and even
on the summit of the mountains arc
some of the finest stock farms in the
State. In those localities where the
limestone crops out the famous blue
grass springs up spontaneously and
grows luxuriantly. But, next to the
iron and coal, the timber resources
stand, if they do not take the lead.
Elk River, when it's resources are
made accessible, will add materially
to the wealth and prosperity of
Charleston and the whole valley.
This stream and the Gauley, which
with the New River forms the Kama
wha, head in close proximity near
the summit of the Alleghenies, in
Pocahontas county, where is found
the best timber district in the State.
Here are immense areas of Virginia
forest, covered with cherry, ash, sugar
maple, black and white birch, hem
lock, spruce, cucumber, white and
yellow poplar, chestnut, white and
yellow pine, and the different varie-
ties Of oak. The tops of the noun
tains are broad. and here the black
spruce grows to great size and from
fifty to seventy feet to the limbs.
Red cherry is very abundant, and