Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-18
THE RICHMOND DIsPATCH--sUNDAY. AUGUST Is. 1885,
A GREAT VIRGINIA THoRoueHFARE.
The Future OF the Chesapeake and ohio
Railway Well Put.

The following from the American Md'n'-
6,ci,fre-. of Pittsburgh. will DO read with IN
terest. II is q true and conservative view,
we take IL. of the future OF the great
Chesapeake and Ohio system:
II the rumor is true-and we nave the
beat of reason for believing that ~ ls-thi1s
the recent purchase of 10O,OOO shares OF
Chesapeake and ONO stock wa ia u'o
Vanderbilt interest, 1T means more 70 .le
industrial interests of the state OF VII.
oinia. and especially to the development OF
lis iron and coal resources IN the near fu-
ture than il at FIRST evident. This road, as
is well known, Is in the State OF virginia,
an east and west road, and IN its passage
through tho two Nirginlas cuts with us
main line the ores Of the Clinton ana the
Oriskanv. as well rs the magnificent coking-
coal deposits of the New river. IL ~ along
the line of this road, near Clifton Forge.
that the limOnites of the Oriskany reach
their highest development, the VEN OeiaE
Mt times sixty feet wide. aud averaging
eighteen to twenty feet. giving nm ore thaC
Yields in the furnace 43 per cent, making
a foundry iron remarkable Tor us strength
and huidity, and mill-ron that mus
ready market in Pennsyivaniaro lilnS- IN 'lis'
for working into the best qualities OF lner-
chant iron. The cOking Goals OF the New
river district are too well known 10 need
AM description, hut thus far they nave
been worked chiefly along The canon OF the
New river. The vast bodies OF TINS coal
that have been cut through 10y tine creeks
that flow into the New river are as yeL
practically untapped, and these BODIES OF
coal lie so as 10 be much more easily ana
much more cheaply mined than the same
seams along the New river. On these
creeks. also. there are larger and more ire
uuent bottom lands, giving plenty OF OPP
portunitv for good locations Tor coke
ovens. requiring little grading, and near an
abundant water-supply. 49,,
With the requirement OF the Richmond
and Allegheny the Chesapeake ami ono
road also have = lOw-grade road from thi-
/ ton Forge to Richmond along the uanks or
the James, thereby avoiding the heavy
grades between Clifton Forge and itch
mond on The main linc.
The policy of the new management OF
| the Chesapeake and Ohio has been 10 en-
courage the establishment OF industries
! along the line OF their road in Virginia.
! To be sure this policy has as yet LAD nut
| little chance for Development, but any
! thing that broad, liberal policy can ito 10
develop the magnificent resources along
| the line of this road IN the two NirgInlas
will be done.
The purchase of the stock in the Van
! dorbilt interest, the connection OF DreXtl,
| Morgan & Co. with the property, the con-
| solicitation at least OF interests) OF the Big
! Four with the Chesapeake and ONO, the
increased amount OF freight that this con-
| soudation Will give over the chesapeake
| and ONO 10 tidcwater, tho better credit
and consequently the better opportunities
/ for raising money that all OF these condl-
tions will give. will have n marked IN
! fuencc on the industrial development OF
| the Virginigs. and especially on the de
/ yelopnent of he iron and coal properties
| along this road.
Already their policy Is taking shape, lines
! of road are being surveyed up the creeks
| in the New-riyer district for nc purpose 81
developing the enormous cOal-lands and
serving as feeders to the road. a bridge
! has been built across the New rive. near
! River View, 10 tep tue coal-helds on me
opposite side of the river up Dun Loup
! creek. and the other creeks IN the vicinity.
! Extensive shops are TO be- Quilt at Clifton
| Forge. an iron-and-steel plants under con-
struction on the Richmond and Allegheny
at iron Gate, two miles south OF Clifton
| Forge, and other extensive operat ons are
nearly decided upon, while still Others ere
| in contemplation, 80 that on the whole 1t
NAV be said that under the new conditions
that result from tho changes above re-
| ferred to, the prospect Of development IN
Virginia is very good.