The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-04-18
The Wealth OF the Two Virgines.


The Washington correspondent of the
Richmond Dispatch, under date Of April |
18th, says:
A northern capitalist who has been on |
a prospecting tour along the Chesapeake |
and Ohio railway in Virginia and West
Virginia. was here this week. and III The |
company of several prominent men de
cared that in The course OF ten or fifteen
wears he thought there would be won
derful development of the iron ana coal
business in the two States and that north |
ern capital would he invested Ill large ,
amounts He thought that section wculn
one day be the greatest manufacturing
section in the United States. and predicted
that the men who got control OF proper
ties in the mineral regions OF the Two
States would make money. lie expressed
surprise that more people were not ALREADY
going into the two States to develop the
resources.
Those who have given the matter re
ferred to above any thought, know what
is said t. te true. The EIRGINIAN has Of
ten and over made the assertion that there
was more undeveloped wealth between
the Blne Ridge and Kanawha Falls, and
more prospet tive remuDela'lve business
for The Che sapeake and ONO rallft ao
within that area, than on the entile line,
including its through freight from the
West We haye mentioned some OF the
Or ,ptrtie3 which promise returns that
would stag ger the imagination OF the un-
informed. At the Blue Ridge there is
de ,os;t of specular iron ore or red oxide,
that for extent and value has not its
euull il the country. There Is III the
same locality both brown hematite al q
man yanese At Buff alo Gap there is
valuable brown hematite. At Ferrol u ere
is the largest and most extraordinary body
OF brown hemaLlte to he found on The
continent. A safe and practical iron ore
expert remarked to us the other day, at
ter careful exam nation OF the openings
that there were POO coo tons OF 50 per cent.
Ore in sight, with assurance OF almost
indefinite development. EStallne, the
iron property adjoining, contains i'm
mense untouched wealth, and so vn alcng
that whole iron district, where the only
present organized force for its utilization
Is at Longdale and Low Moor.
The movements going ON at CLIFTON
Forge and viclnity-especially in the build
ing up of manufacturing town at Iron
Gate-have taken tangible form and are
inspiring confidence. The management OF
the Chesapeake and Ohio railway appre
clate the situation and are formulating
their plans to take advantage OF it. This
great corporation can do much to assist IN
the exposure of the marvellous natural
| resources of the entire section. and SUM-
ulate private enterprise to invest capital
and energy in the Important work. iron
Gate is now practically an assured fact
A rolling mill 10 cost 800 600 and employ
flom 225 to $50 hands IS already provided
for. With four or five furnaces III operas
ton. in the immediate neighborhood,
turning out from 500 to 400 tons OF
pig metal per day, it's success is liked
Naturally it will be followed by nal
factory. "a horse shoe plant and other
industries which will seek location whert
active projects will be organized and cap
ital concentrated. The location presents
eye.y natural advantage for thriving
progressive manufacturing centre. al
the junction of two railroads, both unit
ing in the purpose to make the town
success, with an unlimited water power, {
site carved out by nature for business
city, as well as a resort for health ant
pleasure, there is nothing to prevent The
plans of its projectors from being fully
realized, The whole scheme is so solldly
based and so W SO engineered that the
public mind al on e recognizes its merits
and comedies its success.
And so on through to the Ohio River
the ineXhaustibie resources of iron and
coal. timber and farm products, combine
to confirm the most eXtravagant predlc-
tions and promise the most satisfactory
results. 1t is the dawn of new era-tht
breaking away of the clouds which have
hung over this wonderful region. Where
nature has been prodgal in her gifts anf
only man has been remiss in duty.