The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-08-04

vice bill, providing for the geological sur.
veys in the States, and which, II 1t passes
will affect West vjryinia first among all
other States, Mr.. Kenna believes the Con.
ference Committee will agree to It to.mor.
row, and that II will become a law. There
Is little doubt about agreement, he thinks,
and it will bring the mineral interests oi
bis State into prominent National notoriety
within n brief time. H.. ~.
WASHINGTON, August 3.-The CORE.
spondent Of the INTELLIoEScEn had the
following interview with Representative
Kennn: M
Said your correspondent, "Mr. Kennu,
notice the Senate has stricken out the words
'0fthe public domain in the clause Of the
civil service bill relating 10 geological sur.
veys. viii you tell me exactly what the
effect Of that amendment Is ?" f.
"The effect Of that amendment is 10 ex-
tend the United States geological surveys
into the States"
"lIow is that"
When the bill was considered in the
House, n number OF gentlemen, consisting
chiefly OF members from West Virginiu,
Virginia, Tennessee, Michigan and Mis-.
souri,, and some other delegates, endeavor.
ed to secure M amendment to that bill
which would extend the surveys into the
States. Because Of the rules which prevent
amendments 10 appropriation bills chang
ing existing laws, they could not adopt
tho phraseology they wanted, point Of
order being made against it; but barring
majority mt command they did increase
the appropriation 100000 for the general
survey and secured an am endment requir.
ing geological map to be made OF tho pub
lie domain OF the United Suites. This was
done with the idea that by an amendment
IN the Senate, which would strike out the
words public domain" those words being
in this instance words OF limitation, the ef.
feet would be to extend the surveys into
the States; and the Senate, MS anticipated by
lis committee through our own Senators
and others, has stricken out these words.
Thus We have avoided parliamentary diff.
Guilty, and il the bill finally passes in that
shape, which regard rs now assured, Sc
cures the extension OF the surveys into the
States. In my judgment it is Il most i'm.
portant and valuable enterprise, especially
us it relates to those States like Virginia and
West Virginia, which are already celebrat-
cd for their mineral deposits.
I'm what special respects do YOU look for
advantages 10 West Virginia from these
surveys?' - If.. : So -,
I'm the first place, the known mineral
deposits are 80 authenticated by govern.
ment investigation, maps, exhibits, etc,
and their relationship TO each other that
value is increased many fold. In the sec.
ond place it is believed by scientific men
that iron ore OF the different kinds exists in
that range OF mountains SO proximately to
each other that il can he mixed in the fur.
mace and.produce the finer qualities OF the
metal at q mucli less cost than in any other
part Of the world without the use Of flux,'
which is about one.iourth OF the cost of the
production oil the metal. The iron in the
Pennsylvania furnaces is made from ores
brought from Iron Mountain, from
Michigan and from other distant parts OF
the United States besides the production
Of Pennsylvania. This necessarily greatly
increases the cost. The admixture of ore
secured in this way does not overcome the
necessities for "llux." Ii, rs is supposed
the ores OF q character to overcome tho
necessities OF its use are found and devel-
oped in this mountain range, with coal OF
the finest quality for the furnace in
abundance in the same locality, this in.
dustry alone will make the region 10 be
surveyed in very short period OF time
one OF the richest and most densely
populated in the world. .g5 8 4.
Gypsum, when ground, used rs plaster.
enters largely into consumption rs ferti.
liaer in all the Atlantic States. 1t is brought
now principally from New Foundlaud. The
cost OF transportation is paid by the farmer
aud consumer. Tile mountains of Virpi.
min, and and West Virginia are known to
be full OF it, and NIL that is needed for its
development by investment and cani.
tai, and its production for one.fourth
its present cost, is such Authorization
rs this survey by its investigations will
give it. This fertilizer is oi insignificant
importance when compared with deposits
OF mineral phOsphates along the southern
sen coast, and in South Carolina, and
is being utilized to limited extent. These
phosphate deposits are believed to exist in
great quantities along the rivers and coasts
Of North Carolina, perhaps Virginia in
South Carolina and Florida, certainly at
many points, easy OF access TO demands in
our own section OF country. II this belief
is sustained by investigation, it will be
worth more not only to the United States
but to the world than all the gold and sill.
yer mines in existence. 1t can be pro.
duced as cheaply as coal and It's PREPARATION
Tor use ought not to cost exceeding five dol.
lars ton. This and other phosphates OF
similar character now cost thirtv.tive to
fifty dollars ton. At ten dollars ton it
would reduce the cost OF the cereals
nearly one-third' and farm labor ines.
timably. But apart from this rs nm
illustration it is fact now recosniz.
ed throughout the country the mineral re-
sources OF West Virginia is not exceeded
by any like area in the United States. eth.
er in quantity or value. We have for sever.
!" J. S"o SbhSiSoo pGcll paying SEV.
eral hundred thousand dollars for explora.
tons in the western territories OF the Uni.
ted States and as result have rcceiy.
cd surveys and admirable cxhib-
its oil their mineral and other physical
characteristics Of soil, climate, timber, nc.
riculture, topography and the like. WHY
should our people be taxed to promote
this admirable enterprise without
realizing corresponding benefit? The
extension Of these surveys into West Vii.
einiy, il 1--we were governed solely by local
and selfish ends, will do more to advertise
our actual resources, bringing them into
prominence and thereby promoting the
prosperity OF the State than any other re-.
suit, in my judgment, which our deleca.
ton in Congress could hope to accomplish.
Moreover, m effort has been made TO give
some degree Of political character 10 this
issue in West Virginia, contining their
views to a local standpoint, and,
it seems to me, n narrow one,
Certain political factions have recently
by their platforms denounced the State ,ec.
~ T. l..