West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1883-09-01
EMBREY0 SCIENTISTS.
THE RECENT EXCURSION OF
THE BOSTON STUDENTS
Th rous h the Vall,ys and Over the
M ountains of West Virginia. -
EXplora tion of Min es
and Caves.

] 'H h'N'"i uSNONeh IOl kuN 10 lue
coal and non OF this State. This
second stage Of the Journey was pref
sced 10y day in the field with Mai.
Hotchkiss, the well-known editor of
the Virginias. The looality chosen
was Iron Gate, the gap through
which flows Jackson river. the chic!
tributary Of the James, The noun
tain, some thousand feet or more
high. seems to have been cleft in
two, levlng a narrow go:ge. The ia
ces OF this cleit are remarkable for
the exposure OF rocks OF SIX members
OF the Rodgers formations, resting
one above the other in series of
rainbow arches, aud extending to
th9 top Of the mountain. Thin beds
Of iron ore, one of which is now
worked, are interstratfed with the
rocks. About the middle Of the per.
pendicular face OF the mountain, is
seen the pronnent and nearly per
leot arch composed OF blocks of Me
dina sandstone and Oneida congom-
crate, which has been made familiar
TO all students of the institute 10y the
large wall-chart painted in colors
maoy years ago ny Prol Rodgers.
Before examining the rock in detail
a large block Of white conglomerate
was found under the esstern cliff.
which served Maj. Hotch&iss admi-
rabty as black kbOard, while the
group seated around, listened with
great interest 10 lucid exposition
OF the geology al Virginia in it's
prominent features. As students
only, we were not prepared Tor de-
tails or GontroverlaI points.
Tuesday, June 10, was spent at
Low Moor, and proved TO be one OF
The most enjoyable days Of the whole
trip. The iron furnace is of modern
construction. making l25 tons Of a
fine quality Of mIII.iron per twenty
four hours. The coal is cuken on
the spot. The ore is mined some
three miles defiant and tAe ride
thIther was greatly iIoyed Chairs
for the party were plac-i upon plat
form care, so that tle ene.y along
the creek could be- ssu8 fo toe best
advantage. The return from the
mine, coast down grade by gravity,
the speed Of the car contrOlsd by the
brake, was a novel Experience to
most Of the party. After the exam
ination OF the nine and works was
completed, all.of which was most
kindly facilitated by the presence Of
the manager, Col. Goodwin, two hours
remMued before strsin lime, aud in
that time occurred the most exciting
adventure of the excursion. The
week before, while quatrying lime
stone for the furnace, the workmen
had broken into cave. Accompa-
MED by mine superintendent, Mr..
Brainard, we took the opportunity
Of exploring if. To enter we bad to
pass over steep incline Of fra gments
lor some 100 Feet and then to Climb
about thirty feet up an almost YER
tical well, hand over hand. on a
| weak looking rope Passing through
a narrow opening, We were in dark
ness which our half-dozen candles
seemed only to intensely. Several
chambers were tfaversed, from the
roof Of which hung stalactites. among
them many not formed Of limestone
as Is uscal, rut Of iron ODE, These
were very fne, and Gred the smbi-
tion Of all to obtain such unique
specimens The 1oor was irreeulsr.
full Of pitfalls and thickly set with
stalagmites, so that the return, with
arms full Of pre- sioos specimens which
must be protected at any cost was
series Of clips and falls The hour
before the arrival Of the trsia wac
busly occupied in endeavbrs to re-
gain a aDfdcIeut degree Of respeota- -
bility to ,nsots adnittahce to the
fssbioDsble hotel at White Sulpbor
spnBs, our rext stopping place
andtbe Jttle oolored boot black 0.
Low Moor viii long remember tn,
boom in h's busintsss The splendor,
ferI