The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-09-21

The poet man was much downcast,
The lustre left his eye;
He rose to 60, and sadly said;
81 cannot tell a ue." !.
Coal and Iron Development In
Virginia.
Correspondence American Manufacturer.
WYrHEvrLLE, WYTHE Co., VA, Aug. %, 1882
The coal fields of Laurel are destined to
show a remarkable development within very
short time On the southern slope OF the Flat
Top mountains, along the course OF Laurel
creek lie three extensive seams OF bitumlnous
coal, which are being rapidly developed by the
Southwest Virginia Improvement Co., OF
Philadelphia. and of which Edward L. Steel
is president. A sample of coal selected from
the mines of the company at Pocahontas'
Tazewell county, yields the following analysis
Water. .932; volatile matter 20.738 fixed car
bon, 70. 72S sulphur, .618 ash, 3.9S4-1OO.0 900;
coke, per cent, $3.50; phosphorus, .0013. The
result of the analysis shows coal OF excellent
quality. Coke produced from it should not
contain over five per cent ash and sixty one
hundredth per cent sulphur, leaving about
ninety -four per cent for fixed carbon. Chem
ically, this is much superior to the famous
Connellsvile coke The very low percentage
of phosphorus in the coal will commend it
especially to ronmasters making high grade
of Bessemer pig iron. The Norfolk and
Western Railroa Company, "a corporation
backed by Philadelphia capital), is now con-
structlng its New River branch of seventy-two
miles, from New River bridge, on its main
line, to Pocahontas-the mining town in the
coal district-a thoroughly built mineral road
five-feet gauge, stone ballasted and well equip
ped. This will be finished and in operation
in the autumn of this year. The coal prop
erty faces the line for about twenty miles.
The main seam, of an average width OF twelve
feet, has been traced along five miles by out
groupings, and is being opened on an extensive
SCALE A large force Of miners is employed,
and the gangways have now been driven in
over eight hundred feet. Three eight-hour
shifts of miners are kept at work. and the
output is expected to reach one thousand tons
a day by the TIM the railway will be ready to
receive it. The seam is in such a position as
to drain itself, and coal can be mined and de-
livered at the minimum OF expense.
1t is impossible within the limits of space
allowed to do any extended or particular JUS
tice to the variety and characteristics OF the
ore deposits in this vast and remarkably rich
region Brown and red hematites appear in
the Shenandoah valley below Luray in incal-
cu.abe quantities, and these continue with
imoniies, specular, fossil and magnetic ores in
almost uninterrupted succession through the
entire mountain ranges extending through
Southwestern Virginia into North Carolina
and Tennessee. The Shenandoah Valley, Nor
folk and Western and New River railways
have been constructed directly through this
-ore belt, and the delivery of the Flat Top coal
and coke was the only thing wanting to rem
der its development active and renulneratlve.
1t has already supplied multitude OF small
furnaces and FORCES scattered along its entire
extent, generally coal-blast CHARCOAL OF from
FIVE to ten tons daily capacity. Most OF them
are rude in construction, antiquated in appll-
ances and managed more or less carelessly.
But they have turned out superior quality of
car W heel iron, which has had widespread de-
maEd. Where these have been concentrated, as
on Cripple creek, the exhaustion of the timber
has limited the duration of their continued
production. Some OF these furnaces haye been
in opeI ation for century, and have made
many of their proprietors wealthy. The fuel
question, however, is now settled. The con-
struction of the mineral lines of the Norfolk
and Western railroad will enable such as de-
sire it to continue the production OF charcoal
iron, by bringing in the wood or charcoal di-
rectly TO the furnace floors, or as is now plain
w evident, will induce the erection of large
hot-blast coke furnaces, equipped with all
modern machinery and appliances Many OF
the most valuable ores have been untouched,
owing to the difficulty of treating them in old
STYLE furnaces. All through the iron country
are swift streams, generally permanent in sup
ply in water and furnishing power and facil-
tiles for washing ores. Limestone Of superior
quality for fluxing is abundant and convenient
In some localities excellent stone for furnace
heartbs is found. Nature seems to have pro-
yided everything in its province for the most
economical manufacture OF iron. 1t only re-
mains for man to apply the energy, skill and
capital, to insure the result 10 this end the
management of the Norfolk and Western rail
road comes with It's contribution of cheap and
efficient transportation. 1t has opened the
coal fields of Flat Top, and this autumn will
be pouring in the supplies OF coal and coke,
and il is now building the Cripple creek ex-
tension of the New River railroad to bring
coke and ores together, and render their re-
duc,ion possible at the minimum of expense.
This extension now under contract and in
active construction will form another mineral
branch of some seventy miles five feet gauge,
stone ballasted and thoroughly equipped. 1t
will pass through immense deposits OF iron
ores. zinc and copper pyrites,and deposits of,as
vet but partially appreciated mineral wealth.
Other branches have been projected and are
under examination 1t is the aim of the pres
emit management to develope the resources OF
this long neglected Section and make them
tributary to the traffic of the lines. The tacil-
/. tiles for reduction will be provided at the
source Of supply, as well as the ores trans
d ,rted to distant iurl aces where an exit nsive
and expensive plant has been located, and
which now look TO foreign supply and profit
able production The variety in the character
ros,tc the nQlPui aft,D2 made as
To this branch OF railway revenue. In addition
TO carwheel iron, for which the limOnitcs will
continue TO supply all possible demands,man
If ,he ores are perfectly adapted 10 the Besse-
mer prucess, and will be utilized on the spot
or shipped TO Northern furnaces, Extensive
nurch,.see of mineral tracts have recently been
made with the view of supplying this demand
Rolling mills and steel works are in the course
of projection at several favorable points, the
assumption being, that rs railway develop
ment for som, years to come will be more
,tl\ e in the South than elsewhere, such works
located at the cheapest point of production
and manufacture, and SO much nearer 10 the
source of demand, will be able to compete
successfully with the Pennsylvania works.
The CITY of Roanoke, in the heart of Roam
oke county, is fast becoming The centre OF coal
and IRON operations. The two railway cor
norations are making extensive improvements
it being intended TO make this the central
point in the administration of the combined
system Large round houses and machine
shops are in the course OF construction, and
still more will be added as quickly as possible
as here will be built and repaired all the en-
gines, cars and equipment OF this extended
railway combination. Other important indus
trial enterprises have been started. The town
has been divided into six wards. The first
and second wards have been devoted to man
ufacturing and furnace establishments. In
the second ward the Grocer Steel and Iron
Company, with Samuel A. Grocer us presi-
dent and treasurer, and Col. David F. Houston
as secretary and general manager, is erecting
furnace equipped with the latest improve.
n,ents and sufficient capacity to produce one
hundred tons of iron per day. This company
has been chartered under the laws Of the state
of Virginia, with paid up capital of $500. 00(
| and power to increase at option to 80 600, 900
Another company, for the erection of fur
mace of equal capacity, has been formed, and
but small amount of stock remains unsub
scribed before commencing operations. Al
iron bridge building company is also in cours'
of organization.
BY contracting severe cough and cold,