The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-09-24

THE MINERAL WEALTH oFTHE SECTION
DORA COAL MINES SOCIAL NOTES.
Editorial Correspondence.

THE MINERAL WEALTH OF THE SECTION
DORA COAL MINES SOCIAL NOTES.
Editorial Correspondence.
STRIBLING SPRINGS. Sept. q, 1885.
Reference has heretofore been made, in
this correspondence, to the existence Of
varied mineral deposits in this region of
country, as evidenced by the presence of
diversified mineral waters, stretching for
a distance Of eight or ten miles or indeed
throughout the entire Valley of Virginia,
along the depressions or valleys Of the
North Mountain, or more properly the AL
leghany range of mountains. For really
the mountains known by the various local
names of North Mountain, Narrow Back,
Hankey, Shenandoah. etc., are but part
of the vast and picturesque chain of the
Alleghanies, Their undulating grandeur,
as they stretch out in succeeding upheay-
ais, present an. awe-inspiring picture
of the mighty throes that threw into
disordered shape the. hills and valleys.
which excite the onder and admiration
of the casual observer. Not only is their
attraction in the alternating rock-ribbed
hills, reaching high up to kiss the clouds,
and The yerdant wales, pregnant with the
yitaliZing forces which give to man and
beast sustenance, but in the buried
wealth which lies entombed beneath the
conglomerate stones that mark the sur
face of the mountains. Nature must have
been in one Of her most compromising
moods, when chaos was rebuked and form
and shape given to this section. The
health and wealth of man might have been
primal consideration, for to the life-giv-
ing waters, such as Ponce de Leon might
have exaggerated into source of peren-
NAL youth, and the fertile plains that
bring the seeds and fruits in their season,
is supplemented the diversified minerals
which move the commerce of the world
and play their part in the grand achieve
ments of civilization. The coal and iron,
which form the basisof the multiplied in
dustries Of the Nation. and pillow the
ocean, in the Interchange of the COM
modities which the peoples of the friendly
powers have to offer, await here the touch
of the magnetic influence of capital and
skill and enterprise to bring them forth.
as the silent and forceful agents in the
enlargement Of trade, the advancement of
| science, the expansion of intellections
and the consummations of enlightened CIV
! iliZation.
| The readers of the VIRGINIAN have
often heard of the Dora coal fields. There
have been many conflicting statements
about their value, some scientific, experts
contending that they are not within the
range Of the regular coal measures, while
others havel giyen.f Favorable opinion as to
the quality and quantity of the coal found
at these mines. The openings are located
in North River Gap, in Augusta county,
on what is called Little North river, and
tain. That is, the original opening is
| there, as well as number of more recent
exposures. The practical miner has his
reliance for tests in the pick and shovel,
and not theories. and .fspeculations based
on theories, as found in the books. The
experience of the miners, gained in the
coal fields of Pennsylvania, is very valua-
| BILE, and it is known that in some of the
localities where the most prolific coal
mines have been found in that State, the
same geological confusion exists, as is
found at Dora. These miners seem to be
confident that large quantities Of the best
of anthracite coal can be found in this
! North river range, and to judge from the
openings made, merely as tests, and not
for commercial purposes, this conclusion is
correct. Two miles northwest of the
Dora mines there have been three or four
openings, one of them exposing vein
eight feet thick. Above this opening.
vertically, another vein four feet thick is
found and above this last another neither
so thick nor of as good a quality. An intelli-
gent miner, who has spent his mature life
in the mines of Pennsylvania and num-
Der of years prospecting in Virginia, says
that he has traced the veins exposed in
North River Gap, to Frederick county, on
the north, and to Montgomery county, on
the south-a distance of two hundred
miles. Coal has been found at Rawley
Springs and in Brooks Gap in Rocking
ham, and the same vein west Of Winches
ter: while it is known to exist at Buffalo
Gap, and a regular stratified vein, two or
three feet thick, has been opened in Mont
gomery county. This miner recently said
that there was enough coal at, Dora and the
adjacent openings to melt all the iron in
Virginia, and that as soon as the contend
ing companies settled their difficulties
and the titles to the land in controversy
are cleared up, he could and would make
such exposures in two weeks as would in
sure the construction of railroad to the
mines. This informant is an intelligent,
determined, patient and persevering man,
with full knowledge of the import of
what he says, and sincere and honest in
the convictions he entertains. There are
three or four companies claiming priority
in the lands. each jealous and suspicious
of, as well as hostile to the other.
and until they shall adjust their conten-
lions and recognize the fact that nothing
can be done until this is effected, whatever
value may be in these coal fields. will re-
main an unknown fact. These several
companies are on the make in the sale, for
neither has the available means. to construct
a railroad and provide other essential
equipments for the development of the
mines That coal exists in the re-
gion named there can be no reasonable
doubt with any one not a pr Professional ex-
pert. 1t is reached at every point where
the surface indications have induced exam
nation and with the veins here ex-
posed, continuing, by actual examina-
ton, for over two hundred miles, north
and south, it would be strange contra
diction, if it were not found in CONNER
cial quantities. Your correspondent can
reach no other conclusion than that this is
the fact, and believes that the time will
come when demonstration will satisfy the
skeptical.
In Narrow Back Mountain, not mile
from the eight foot vein of coal, as above
mentioned, there is remarkable exposure
of red Sha1a and brown hematita iron orac