The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-02-02
Benner's Prophecy.

Fig Iron Benner, as he is known, has
been very fortunate, to say the least, in
times past, in his predictions as to bust
ness. He bases his forecasts on price cy-
cles, claiming that there is regular and
certain recurrence at stated intervals of
high and low price cycles, and those who
have watched his predictions in former
years, must admit that he has been more
successful than the weather prophets. OF
the future he says:
''This year, 1888. being the closing year in this
cycle of low prices-seven years from lS8l-is
foundation for BUSINESS tbere Is any b enc
eft to be derived from a knowledge of these
cycles in trade. it will be in taking advantage
of them.
.Young men who are about to commence
their business career should embrace their
these chances in an ordinary life. Il requires
about ten years to complete an up and down In
general trade.
when the depressions which follow COM
mercial crises reach their lowest limit, as de-
termined by these price cycles, they afford the
best opportunities for investment. and the
gerous periods to make commencement in
any enterprise.
mine, to build furnace. to erect q mill, to
build a ship. to equip railroad, and to make
Investments in agricultural. commercial and
"George Peabody laid the foundation for his
fortune by buying American securities in one
of our comm ercial depressions."
In confirmation of this prophecy we
learn that there will be unusal inquiry
for mineral lands all along the western
base Of the Blue Ridge in the early spring
or before. A thorough investigation for
manganese will be made, we learn, as it is
believed that vast bodies of it can be found
in the South River mineral district south
of Waynesboro. 1t is conceded by dealers
in this metal that for steel making pnr-
poses, there is no such manganese to be
found in this country as that in the Sec
tion mentioned. The pockets and beds
found and worked have been the result Of
accident, for there has been no intelligent
search yet made for it. Almost every one
has a theory of his own abont the forma-
tlon of the ore and where to find it. Most
of the prospectors are looking for another
Crimora, as they gathered all the infor>
nation they possess from the develop
ments there, forgetting that that is phe-
nomenal formation which may not be re-
peated in the district where it lies. The
most intelligent of the experts with whom
we have conversed, are of the opinion that
the entire deposit at that mine is float
caught and held there by the peculiar bowl
shape of the rOck-and that it comes from
above, where its home is in the noun
tains. Those who have prospected for it
confne themselves to the depressions or
bottoms-want to find "basin, '-and
consequently have squandered good deal
of money in folio wing up their fancy. We
know Of one party that abandoned good
opening where several hundred tons were
mined, and thousands more could have
been gotten out, because it was on all ele-
vation-a spur or the remnant Of noun.
tain long since worn away-and went to
the basins" or creek channels to prose
cute their search. They were looking for
another Crimora and did not seem to think
it possible to find the ore in commercial
quantities unless it should be discovered
in similar position to that at Crimora.
We have no doubt that vast quantities Of
this ore can be found in the same geologi-
cal range with that of Crimora, and that
a search directed by common sense and
ordinary intelligence and experience in
mining, would result in finding even more
remunerative deposits than that at Cri-
mola.
1t is the purpose, we learn, of eastern
parties interested in steel making, to in
stitute thorough examination of the
South River district, running through
Augusta and Rockbridge, to ascertain
whether or not mnch needed supply of
the ore cannot be found. If they will
make careful and intelligent examination
we are satisfied they will find what they
want, and in abundant quantities.