The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-07-25
SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
IT'S GREAT NATURAL WEALTH.

train at Waynesboro Junction, we met
with two intelligent Northern men
standing ON the bridge under which
that road passes. They seemed absorbed
in the landscape which spread out be-
fore them, and charmed with the alter
mating shadow and sunshine which the
setting sun cast upon the mountain side,
as its rays broke in upon the eternal
blue that gives the name to the Blue
Ridge. Up and down the Valley was
stretch of level, rich, productive land;
on the west the undulating surface,
clothed in verdure, engaging the eye for
miles and on the east the gradually
rising ground until it eliminates in the
massive mountain that stands a perpet-
ual barrier to protect the lovely Valley.
As these strangers caught the gorgeous
panorama, and stood entranced with the
splendid view, one of them remarked
what beautiful spot for a city this
would be- The other responded that
it was the ''most attractive location he
had ever seen for a centre for industries
and business" And turning to us he
made inquiry as to the resources of the
surrounding country; the peculiarities
of it's formation, remarking that the
mountains must contain values which
could be made useful, and asking why it
was that such site for busy town had
not been utilized. We could only reply
to the latter part of the question by say
ing that our people were not ':built that
way"-like Topsy, our towns had just
to grow up of themselves, and take their
inspiration from the slow methods of
frugal agricultural people, who give
very little thought to building cities or
delving under the ground for hidden
treasures We informed them, however,
that we were standing in sight of one of
the most remarkable and valuable miner
al formations on the continent-th the
railroad at this point, a few hundred
yards east of them, cut through six
veins of specular iron ore, which had
never been explored except specifically,
that analysed from 45 to 80 per cent. of
metallic irOn-that its depth was I'M
known, although about 100 feet had been
reached and it's length running with the
mountain to what extent no one knew
that hematite iron ores were side by
side with the specular, formed from the
latter by precipitation, and that in the
same neighborhood there were strong
evidences of large deposits of manga
nese. Turning to the north we told
them that eight miles below them was
the celebrated Crimora Manganese mine,
worked by the Carnegies, of Pittsburg,
out of which between two and three
million dollars worth of ore had been
taken and the supply was yet abundant.
We told them south of the junction
there were almost continuous veins and
beds of iron ore and manganese, run
ming to and beyond the Rockbridge line,
which could be made tributary to the
establishment of iron and steel plants at
Waynsboro Junction, where rail compe-
tition would be reached. Before we
could fairly get into the subject the train
came along and we separated, both Of
the strangers remarking- "Well, we will
look into this matter" But we have
never seen or heard of them since.
Ayear or two after this Mr. Jacob Reese
of Pittsburg, whose name is identified
with the basic process for making steel,
was in this section examining the iron ore
of the South River district. He announced
the conclusion that the phosphoritic he
MATTE ores along the base of the Blue
Ridge and it's foothills. were well adapted
to the basic steel process, and expressed
the opinion that Waynesboro Junction
would be an admirable location for
steel plant. He has recently made the
public assertion, as will be seen by an
article on the first page of the VIRGIN
IAN, that Waynesboro is among the eli
gible sites for the manufacture of basic
steel.
Recently, Gen. W. S. Rosencranz made
thorough examination of the Davidia
property, near the Junction, and he
summed up his opinion as follows,
speaking of the specular and hematite
ores You have the quality and the
quantity of ores and the location for
furnaces. What more could you ask ?"
Well, the other thing is the money, and
that, we hope, will soon be available.
The South River District is the richest
mineral region in this country. All that
it wants is means to demonstrate this.
A company has recently been organized
which has under its control mineral and
other lands, embracing specular and
brown hematite iron ores, manganese,
&c. They are now making arrangements
to interest eastern capital and enter
prise in the project, and have every en-
couragement to believe that they will
be successful in engineering a scheme
that will result in an industrial centre
at Waynesboro Junction.
When the almost fabulous material
wealth of the section that would be
tributary to such an enterprise is con-
sidered, and the railroad facilities which
already exist, to accommodate all the de-
mands of traffic are known. it is a reasOna
BILE conclusion that when others who have
the means, understand these conditions
and the large profits that would be prac-
tically assured, they will at once avail
of the unparalleled advantages here
presented. The limestone and ores are
right at hand: fuel could be gotten
either from Connellsville and Cumber-
land or Flat Top, on the Norfolk and
Western, or New River, over the Chesa-
peake and Ohio The Junction would
be at the point of competition for the
products of each and all of these coal
fields, as well for the marketing of the
products which would follow the es-
tablishment of iron and other indus
tries.
The anthracite coal of North River
Gap, we have good reason to believe, will
soon become a factor in the commerce of
the country A railroad is in contem-
plation from Staunton to these mines, and
the conditions are favorable for it's con-
struction With that field developed,
coke, bituminous and anthracite coal
would be within easy reach and every
essential requisite at command for the
use and sustenance of an industrial
plant.
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