The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-01-03
The Wealth Around Us.

j
md plant it anywhere in Pennsylvania, or
my Northern or Western State. it would
got be sixty days before any amount of
nillions could be commanded TO utilize the
wonderful natural advantages which sur
round us on every band. We can con-
ceive of nc similar area of territory where
there are so many advantages for the H.
vestment Of capital and enterprise as right |
here in Stanton. We are in the center
OF The Valley, and bounded on the east by |
the Blue Ridge, and on the west by the |
North Mountain Range. The intervening
country is fertile. and possesses every |
thing for the sustenance OF a dense popu-
lation. Rivers and smaller streams &C
commodate every portion of it. We have
four railroads. or railroads Which reach out
to the four Cardinal points of the com
pass, and can communicate directly with
every portion of the country. Within a
radius of thirty miles around Stanton, we
have almost every conceivable class OF
iron ores. In the Blue Ridge there is
mountain of specular iron ore, which
can be taken out in lodges, just as in
marble or limestone quarry. 1t is exposed
for length of eight miles and has been fol-
lowed 100 feet. without approXinating its
depth. Along side of this stratilied forma
Lion is found brown hematite ore, in
great abundance, Both formations are
cut through by the Chesapeake and Ohio
yield from % to 40 per cent, and at the
depth of 40 feet. 81 and - per cent. OF
metallic iron. The brown hematite Will
yield fifty per cent. of metallic iron. The
extent of these deposits may be formed
from the expression Of an expert, in reply
to an inquiry, that there are enough oil
them to run a thousand furnaces for a
hundred years. These ores are about 10
miles from Staunton. with direct rail com
munication, and can be mined at the
cheapest possible rate, as there are
enough OF them above water level to last
thu ough one generation at least, with all
the force thai could be worked on them.
On the west side of Stanton, along the
line OF the Chesapeake and OHIO Railroad,
eight miles distant, we come upon the
Buffalo Gap property, where there is
furnace already which with some mo>.iflca-
tions, could be put in condition to operate.
Here there is on the Buffalo Gap tract
proper, and Rippetoe tract. all the ore that
could be mined for Macy years to come.
Arrangements are now under consldera-
ton for the utilization of these properties,
and we hope soon to be able to announce
that they have been contaminated, with
view to immediate operation. Eight miles
west of this. Immediately on the railroad
is Grace furnace. on the Ferrol property.
pronounced by experts to be the finest
body of brown hematite ore il Virginia.
Here there is literally mountains of ore.
with an exposed breast of from Az to 80
feet. penetrated by tunnels in solid ore.
This property on the 1st of this month
passed into the control of the North
Mountain Iron and Coal Company. ard ar.
engagements ale making to mine aDd ship
the ore, at least fer the present. Adjoining
this, and three miles from the above, is
furnace was run during the war. This is
another tract rich in ores, and COMFORTING
ia character to The Ferrol ore. There are
ether properties n.this locality all of which
could he made tributary to industries
in Stanton.
In the Northeastern portion OF the coun-
ty, 20 miles FROM Stanton. are the an
lracite coal fields. pronounced by Booth
& Garrett of Philadelphia. Strough, and
u her mining engineers. to he in good
u ,antity and superior in quality to the
i.9kens Valley an. hracit4, of Pennsylya-
ni. In this sane region are henatlte and
Il. Il shale iron ores in great abundance. A
r.ilroad twenty miles i'll length, thJt u 5h
a rich agricultural and grazing section,
would bring these minerals right to Siam
toll, where freight competition to all
parts of the country could be be hsdu for
tia manufactured products, and wLece
liis cokes of Flat Top, New River and
{ .nnellsville, would be available.
With all these facilities right at Our
d Or, 1t is believed that q ton Of p e met
al could be produced for less money. than
ii; almost any other pIace in the country,
" len the facilities for reaching the mar
KITS are considered.
Two miles from Stanton. We have a
deposit of clay. which recent test has pro.
y~n to be number one material for the
~ .nufacture of terra Gotta ware and fire
brick. Eighteen miles west, on the line Of
te railroad, is found the Craigsville mar
bic, in practically inexhaustble quanti-
ties, capable of fine finish, and OF COM
mercial value.
In the Blue Ridge range there are vast
deposits of manganese, which by the use of
Iii )dern machinery could be made to pro-
d Ice all the manganese the market de.
nands. Four-ffths of the manganese
mined in this country,is gotten out in this
r.nge, and at the only point where ma
ciinery has been introduced to work it.
other localities in the range would be
found equally rich in the ore and profita-
lie to work, although not found in the
tine form as at Crimora. At one To-
Guilty an expert gave it as his opinion.
That whole spur Of a mountain could be
proftl5ly washed for manganese. as the
ore is thoroughly diffused through the
clay, constituting. in parts of it, from one.
half to three fourths Of the clay.
We have nearly all the desirable timbers
within easy reach of Stanton, and avail
able at moderate prices.
notwithstanding all these sources Of
natural wealth, there is not an industry to
utilize single one of them. A small
quantity of ore is mhed and shipped to
d Instant p It's but there is not an iron
or wood industry to convert a single nat
urAl pre- duct.
Stlunton is right in the center of this
vast natural wealth, with railrot DIS RAINING
in 8 very direction.
Ye5 with all these exceptional advantages
enjoyed by no other loca y. TO an equa
extent, in the North Or the South, Oul
peop are running off to tt1er sections at
Ter boom. infatuated by a craze, they
pass by the affiuence of their own county
and hasten with their money and energy
to JON in the crazy excitement which