Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-09-02

0lNlA, tributary 10 Uue llucS u GHo
| Norfolk and Western and Shenandoah
Valley Railroad Companies. By AN
DREW S. MCCREATH, Chemist to the
Geological Survey of Pennsylvania, men,
| Der of the American Institutes of Mining
Engineers and of the American Philo-
sophical Society, sc.
F. J. Kimball, Esq, President of the
Norfolk and Western and the Shenandoah
Valley Railroad Companies, has furnished
us with a copy of the valuable work re-
Gently from the press bearing the above
title.
To state the objects of this volume, which
is fully illustrated with maps and geologi-
cal sections, the following extracts from
the preface by President Kimball will be
clearer than any other introduction.
Referring to the trunk route, known as
the Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia Air
Line, of which the Shenandoah Valley
Railway is section, he says:
''The country traversed by this system
had long been known to be rich in minerals.
in fact supposed to be richer than any other
portion of the Union; but though this sec
ton had been productive in coal, iron, lead,
zinc, and copper from the early colonial
times, and it's iron and lead had furnished
material sinews of war in the campaigns of
the Revolution as well as in the latter stir
ring struggle of the Confederate States.
the construction of mineral branches to
develop the il industries had not been inau-
gurated, nor sufficient encouragement given
to the local traffic of the line-that vital
| oil 70 he q
railway system.
| THE new management took hold, re-
solved to make every mile pay it's quota to
the general revenue, and to develop every
source Of income, in coal, iron, woods, cat
tie, and miscellaneous business"
And again he says:
exact and reliable knowledge of the
probable amount, quality, and value of the
sources Of traffic became a necessity and at
an early day received the attention of the
new management.
"Upon consultation with many of the
leading iron masters of Pennsylvania, Mr..
Andrew S. McCreath, Chemist to the State
Geological Society of Pennsylvania, was
recommended as an eninentIy capable.
trustworthy, and conservative person to ex-
anime, sample, and analyze the various min
eral developments tributary to the lines, and
prepare report upon their commercial
values"
After reviewing the extent of the work
accomplished by Professor McCreath and
presenting his report Mr.. Kimball con
cludes as follows:
''Ihe object of this report is simply to
furnish reliable information to all persons
inquirlng into the resources and condition
OF the territory tributary to the RAILWAYS
1t IS unnecessary to remark upon the care
and labor given to the examination, or the
entirely conservative character of the in
formation now furnished. This has been
satisfactory to the companies, and is pre-
sented to the public with their indorse-
ment."
| The instructions to Mr.. McCreath were
to report on every thing, good, bad and
Indifferent" just as found, and it is only
necessary to read his valuable contribution,
in surveying the field of Virginia mineral
wealth, to realize how completely he has
complied with them. Commencing in 1882,
and concluding his labors few months
since, he presents the results of his re-
searches in clear, explicit, and compre-
hensive manner. Every mineral of com
mercial value known to exist, or of which
there was information sufficient to prose-
cute enquiries, from Clarke county to the
Tennessee line, has its place, with COM
plete analysis, in this book.
| The New River Division of the Norfolk
and Western Railroad to the Flat Top coal
fields and the extension beyond, and the
tributary country, is likewise embraced.
So, also, he includes the projected Cripple
Creek Division, which is the largest and
richest in iron, lead, zinc, and copper. re-
sources of any Of the Southwestern devel-
opments
With tie following extract flom tie re-
port, we close our present references to
this volume. Hereafter and often we shall
have opportunity to consult its pages in
order that our readers may have his views
and conclusions in relation to the resources
which are capable, under full development,
of adding vast wealth to the wide sections
Of the State where they abound, and render
just value in return by swelling tonnage
for tue railroads, without which they would
forever lie dormant. We have, too, local
interest. Large sections of Rockingham,
Augusta, and Rock5ridge, in close COM
mercial relations with this,city. are 10 be
benefited to a degree commensurate with
the well known value Of their mineral re-
sources But to the extract:
$50 varied are the geological features of
the country traversed by your several lines
of railroads, that every important Geologi-
cal formation known to be in North Amer
lea. can be reached within easy distance:
and it follows az a necessary consequence
that all the different minerals found in the
various formations should be tributary to
your railroad system.
The varied character of the minerals,
their great abundance and superior quality,
taken into consideration along with other
natural advantages as ready facili-
ties for mining, abundance of water sup
ply, numerous outlets to markets in every
direction-should suit in the establish
ment of many industrial enterprises along
the lines of your railroad
MARL.
The mari which exists in great quantities
in the Valley comes in for careful consid-
GRAFTON in Professor McCreath's tGIineroI