The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-09-30
Iron 1dounuain Of Allegheny.

The Allegheny Sentinel, of last week,
has an interesting account of a personal
visit by it's editor to the Iron Mountain of
AIleehany county We take thefollowing
extract from it with the Suggestion to the
editor that if Democratic policy were III
force the hands employed il mining the
ore at these mines would be sucking their
Thumbs and whiting sticks for want of
some more profitable employment. Free
trade and iron industries do not go to-
gether. Nothing short of the Republican
policy OF protection is adapted to the
needs of Allegheny, rich as it is in min
eral wealth. The Sentinel says:
Boarding the engine we proceeded to the
point of destination, enjoying thoroughly The
brisk spin through the fresh mountain air
En- route to the Iron Mountain and immedi-
ately on the line of the road, we pass the Dolly
Ann Mines, the ore beds opened recently
through the capital Of that wealthy, enter
prising New Yorker. Mr. Frank Lyman, and
his experienced lieutenant, Mr.. Jno. s. Ham,
Reaching the Iron Mines we 'sunload'' near
the terminus and are soon met by Capt. Nc
work, who kindly becomes our escort The
first point of interest is the Incline a double
track railroad up The steep mountain side, a
distance of 475 feet IL almost makes one dizzy
to look up it, and when Mr.. Mccarthy indffer-
entity suggests our riding up, we look at him in
amazement but when we see he is in earnest.
remembering our expired insurance pol
icy and the BARNS at home, respectfully
b bat em aec sc st we need not
cline is reasonably safe from accident The
ore cars are attached to either eud of a
an immense drum at the top of the Incline
The loaded car is started from the top and it's
weight draws up the empty, and moment
after moment. the go up and down with
mOnOtOnous regularity.
Before reaching the top of the incline on foot,
we begin to think that we have merely made a
choice of deaths, the one sudden, the other
slowly pumping the life out of us. But we
reach the top, pulling and blowing, and are
confronted by novel sight. An excavation
has been made in the mountain side, exposing
a large area OF the crest of the mountain, which
is literally one solid wall Of pure iron ORE
Rising a distance of fully Is feet the whole face
ofthe mountain is one " i'll or block of richest
brown hematte iron ore. There is no percep-
tible amalgamatlon no sand rock, but solid
ore. A body of men ui.dsf the foremanship of
Messrs. PettigreW, Beale aud Callaghan, all ex-
perlenced men, are engaged in blasting. break
ing and removing the ore. 70 give some idea
OF the Immense quantity of ore here, our atten-
ton was called To a huge boulder, ten feet high
and about Tvs yslds in diameter which had
been blasted from tue mountain and which
was pure unadulierated iron ore. And it must
not be understood that only one spot is thus
enriched, but the lofty mountains upon the
right and left contain In pretty much the same
proportion the richest of iron ore An expe-
r1enced miner said to us that with In
| creased facilities, twenty years would be %
ore from the mines included III the A. l. M.
lease. The mining is carried on with system.
The foremen are men of practical experience
and their value to the company is clearly
shown in the comfortable residences provided
for them. The labcrers are housed in most eX-
cellent Shanties. The stock, cars &C., are in
good condition. and the entire work impressed
us with the idea that excellent management
was in force at Iron Mountain.
Mr.. McGehee, a practical experienced bust
ness man, has charge of the books and conf
the superintendent, we listened to sslron talk"
pro and con. The stockholders OF the company
as shown on the bill paper are: Maj. ID. Shana-
| han, Messrs. ID. A. and G. NJ. Shanahan, of
Louisville, Ky; r. L. Parrish w. A. Rinehart
and Dr.. Geo. Il. McCorkle, of Covington; Il. L.
Williamson, Epes Randolph and the estate of
| the late Q. II. Mason, of Augusta county.
The principal market for the ore is Low Moor
| Iron Furnace in this county. About so tons
| per day are shipped to Low Moor. There are
about so men employed about the works. The
CENT which is an exceedingly fine quality of
| this ore, 90 per cent. being the maximum In
hematite ores Indeed we doubt whether there
[ is a finer bed of brown hematita ore in the en-
| tire South, than that leased and worked by the
Allegheny Iron Mountain Company. Should
| Goshen furnace go into blast the Allegheny
Company would double it's present sales, tho
under the present order the work is prospecting
and preparations will be made and facilities
| introduced to meet the demand that this ex-
cellent ore will create
AT the hospitable and comfortable home of
Supt. Mccarthy we enjoyed an excellent dim
ner, and feel ourselves indebted to Mr.. Nc
Carthy and his hospitable wife, for the kindly
courtesies shown us.