The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-02-21
sssuuton and We at Augusta Railroad


at th 1t point and at Stanton. The char-
ter for ne railroad makes the termlnl at
the poin S namei. On the property con-
troled by the company there have oeen
number of openings on anthracite coal,
five distinct veins. ranging
in thickness rom p to feet ABOVE
water level. and two below. The sur
face product. as in all cases Of this species
of coal. is some what fiiab,e, but 1t bears
all the distinctive characteristics of the
I.ykens Valley anthracite coal, manifest
ing Oh analysis. greater per cent. OF car
bon. than the Pennsylvania coal. This
objection will not appear when the veins |
are penetrated, as has been proven by the |
character of the coal taken from tun-
mel years ago. Mr.. Jacob Saylor. who |
devote fifteen years of his life to mining
in the LYken' Valley district. and has re-
sided 10 North River Gap for the past
thirteen years. is very positive In has opin-
ion of the coal at this latter place, and
does not hesitate TO say that the future
anthracite coal fed Of the United States
Is TO be in the North Mountain range,
with its basin in North River Gap. He
further says that there can be no doubt as
to the quality and quantity of the coal
coal that in all respects will con-
pare fayorably with Lykens Valley, and
that as the supply in the Pennsylsa-
mia district is running short. and must
continue to grow less, the major source
for ;his val must be the North River Gap
| mi nes. This opinion. based upon Nr.
SAVIOR practical knowledge of the for
nations in Pennsylvania and the Gap, and
actual pick and shovel tests. is amply sus
| tanned by the expert examnatloEsof Boom
& Garrest, the eminent Philadelphia ana
| lytical chemists and mineraloglSts. and
Other experts of well.estabished reputa'
| ton. These reports. all in the possession
! of the Stanton and West Augusta
| Railroad company, unite in the most ia
yorabie determination as to the great
| wealth of the coal fields under considera'
| ton as well as their practically exhaust
less quantity.
In close prox nifty to the coal. are found
/ red shale and brown hematite iron ores,
IN lnitless quantities. with limestone
close by presenting field for iron manu-
features scarcely equaled anywh re i'll the
country. The location in the Gap for
furnaces is all that could be asked. Every
facility for making Oh at the least posi-
BILE cost. is at hand. and with railroad to
stanton. to ntersect the two g eat trunk
line, which meet here, and reach out to
every portion of the Euion there can he
no quest ion about the advantages CT the
Gap for an industry of this nature.
This is not all. With the fuel at hand,
as it would be with the railroad running
to the Gap. Stanton would be an ayaila-
bic point tor not only furnaces, but roll
Ing M II aui kindred enterprises. ut this
point we would have the brown hematite
iron ore OF Frrroll aud Buffalo Gap, AS
we'll as the specular ore or red oxide OF
the Blue Ridge, all right on the line of the
Chesapeake and Ohio railroad, and about
equal distance from this place, with the Gap
Staunton would be the central point
the dumping place for the ores and coal
to be utilized by the enterprise and capital
of our citizens.
While the promoters of this movement
for Il railroad from Staunton to North
River Gap, were instigated primarily by a
purpose to develop oar local resources and
give 10 the outside world some idea Of the
! marvellous natural wealth OF Augusta
county and its advantages for industrial
enterprises, the Interior possibilities of the
scheme are no less attractive and Inviting
} With the road completed to the terminus
! mentioned by its charter, there would be
open to it for extension two itch and at
tfactivs sections to penetrate. The one
through Pendleton to Tucker. to meet the
) Davis road coming Southeast from Pied
mont, and the other through Highland
and Pocahontas to the coal fields of Web
ster and then on. il demanded, to the
Ohio River. through Braxton. Calhoun
Writ and w God, to Parkersbprg. by tap
ping Webster county, it would place the
coking Goals of that section at least seven
ty-fives nearer Staunton than the New
River District, and would open up an UNI
developed territory unsurpassed for its
timber. grass and Ill ineral resources. In
fact in whatever direction an extension
from North River Gap might be deter
mined on, it would penetrate virgin. is
olated country and command a traffic linn
tied only by the enterprise and capital
that would be appropriated for its devel
opment.
These things are only mentioned as pos
sibilities in the future. 1t Is not in the
arrangement of the present management
of the S5aunton and West Augusta enter
prise to do more than develop the natura
resources Of Augusta. accommodate the
, trade of HIGHLAND, Pendleton, T ocahontas
, Southwest Rockingham and Northwest Au
gusta, and draw it to Staunton. This &C
complishad, it would be glory enough for
one day. for it would give StauntoD boom
that would yield its frnitions in live
progressive, populous, wealthy manufac
turing centre, built upon solid foundation
that would continue to grow in proper
ton to the development that would be
made.
There has been no enterprise suggested
for the past quarter of a century in which
, Stanton was more interested than the pro-
posed railroad to North River Gap. Its
completion would work a revolution in
this whole section, and uncover an extent
of wealth never dreamed of before. The
project is pregnant of the most stupen-
dous results. 1t is feasible. The road
could be constructed without Il tunnel, OF
extra0 dIEaly fill, OF cuts, ard very little
brid4ing. 1t would pass through rich
agricultural ST C ion, capable Of iEdt finite
improve nel t, ami acc )mmodate immense
mineral resources, which must remain
valueless uatil approached hy such an i'm
pTovement.
WITH all these practical advantages to
be 81 re |. and possibilities to look to-
We do n,t entertain doubt that the road
will be constructed, as We believe advan'
tage0us arrangements can be made to So
cure the necessary capital for that pur-
pose.
New M xlco