The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-11-28
A Suggestive Comparison.


We publish elsewhere from The Iron.
of Philadelphia, a comparative state
ment Of the Increase OF iron furnaces and
their output i'll Pennsylvania and Ala
bama. The suggestiveneSs of the state
lnent is found in the fact that Pennsyl-
vania industries have the advantage OF
half century of development and oPer-
alton over those of Alabama.
1t has only been within the past few
years that iron-malling has been COLI
sidered product of Alabama, and yet
the progress has been SO rapid as to at
tract the attention of iron men and deal
ers in iron interests in the North, and
cause such tabulation of figures as is
given in the article referred to.
Material development in Alabama is
in it's infancy yet, as it is throughout
the South Exceptional as are the re-
sources of our Southern sister State,
Virginia possesses even greater min
eral wealth. The coal in Southwest
Virginia is superior to that OF Alabama
for coking purposes, and the iron ores
of that section and the Valley, are even
richer in metallic iron and more diver
sified than in either Alabama or Penn
sylyania. Yet here in Virginia, outside
of the coal region, we find very few in
dustres representing this vast mineral
wealth We have here in Augusta
county enough iron ore to run thous-
and furnaces, and the adjacent counties
nd Pc, hpiI trn
prolific in valuable minerals; while High
land and Bath, as yet unaccommodated
by rail facilities, bear equally abundant
supplies.
Should the improvements which has
made the values of Pennsylvania be du-
pliactel in Virginia, the marvellous III ner-
al wealth of this State will be underst COD
and appreciated. Iron can be made ,
greater profit here, all things considered,
than in either Alabama or Pennsylvania.
What is wanting is knowledge of our
resources, and the capital will follow to
utilize them
Prof. R. n Pool is doing a patriotic
work in bringing into the State capital
lists and expert knowledge to examine
mineral properties and learn of the won
derful opportunities here offered for in
vestment He has had to encounter
MANY difficulties in his commendable
efforts, but we hope soon to be able to
announce that several of the important
projects he has inaugurated III tbs
county. have materialiZed, and that his
labors have met merited reward.
The stockholders of the Pittsburg and
Virginia railroad. the promoters OF the
ENTERPRISE to build a straight, short rail
road from Lexington, Va. to Pittsburg,
one hundred and fifty miles through one
of the richest mineral and timber regions
vet undeveIoped in the country, met
in Lexington on the 23d to further the
object of the project. Col. w. A. Ander-
son was reelected vice-president: W. 3.
Hopkins, secretary; directors, w. A.
Anderson J. X. Edmundson, A. l.. Nd-
son, r. F. McCorkle, A. i. Barclay. f.
r. Glasgow and S. H. Letcher, LeXing
ton; Gen W. H. Payne, Warrenton;
Chas. P. Jones, Highland, and H. r.
Gardner, New York. This is an impol
tant improveme both for Virginia and
Pittsburg, and if capitalists could be
placed in possession of all the facts there
would be very little difficulty i'll securing
the necess lry means for its carly con
structiOn.
r. II. Brown has been appointed post
master at Balcony Falls, Rockbridge
county, Va; John Whitmire at Forrest
Vile, Emma Whitaker at Zepp, both in
Shenandoah county, al d Thomas b.
Myers, at Kyle, Botetourt county.