Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-03-12
Who Will Be The Leader 2

Who Will Be The Leader
The leader of whatP To utilize the DOR
mant soil-improving resources abundant in
our valley counties. No geologist, COM
mencing with Professor Rogers, the
'Father of American Geology" who has
investigated the value of the natural re-
sources of our section of Virginia, has ever
failed to dwell upon the opportunities we
possess for lime-naking, especially as the
advantages would enure to the permanent
improvement of much of our soil and the
consequent enlargement Of the production
of our staple and all other crops adapted to
oar climate and location. For the purpo.
ses now in view we may add also the testi-
mony of the late Professor Campbell: of
Washington & Lee University, and Profess
sor McCreath, of Pennsylvania, and we are
sure we can add other testimony OF like
character to the very full elaboration of the
subject by Professors Rogers and Camp
bell and the fund of information impaired
by Professor McCreath.
Passing by the volumes of scientific
research made by Professor Rogers Of
other parts of the State touching this
matter, and the value of the practical tests
on the tide-water lands by the lats Edmond
Rufin with mari or green sand in its
natural state, we confne ourselves to the
mari resources of Augusta and Rock
bridge counties when burnt into lime. We
would not have taken up this subject ten
years ago as we do now, for the very good
reason that then we could only have treated
it as local or neighborhood progress, but
now we can enter upon it from large
commercial standpoint, possessing the ad-
vantages of railroad transportation and 10
many instances the lines of the roads cut
through immense banks Of mari and many
miles of the deposit of great depth in few
rods of the railroad track-from personal
observation as well as the specific writings
of Professors Campbell and McCreath the
truth of this statement is corroborated.
Both as a soil-improver and stimulant to
production we count ton and quarter of
maritime equal to ton of the average
commercial fertilizer. The next question
to be considered is the cost-that is, on
board of cars-the charges of transporta-
sion being equal per ton on both COM
modities, so that after delivery on the
car the future charges are alike on each.
Mari formations exist in both counties
on the lines of the Shenandoah Valley, and
the Valley branch of the Baltimore Is
Ohio and the Chesapeake & Ohio railroads,
and at many other places in these counties,
but we deal with the question in an eco
nomic view, and therefore if agricultural
lime is made of mari as q commercial
article, it will, of course, be manufactured
where the raw material is nearest trans
portation.
The next question is as to the selection
of location for commencing the enter
prise. Nature formed the material, in
larger quantities than elsewhere to be
found, in Augusta and Rockbridge, under
and on the sides of tho numberless little
streams which, in the latter county, flow
down the cliffs of the long ridge which is
on the western side of the trough like
South River Valley. Commencing at Vesu-
vius, near the source of the South River,
and thence to its mouth-a distance of fif
teen miles-the eye of the observer on the
cars of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad,
when looking West is constantly attracted
by the many small ard picturesque and
rapid waterfalls, every one Of which PUSHES
over mari beds which grow as the streams
descend, and where they enter the river
there are formations of mari extending
hundreds of yards up and down the same.
IF the production of agricultural maritime
is judicious enterprise, here then is the
most inviting field Of any we know of to
commence it, for the line of the Shenan.
doah Valley railroad runs over and near to
all these deposits of raw material, where
limestone for the construction Of kilns, and
wood for burning, are upon the ground,
and where labor is abundant and living
cheap, and at every point the kilns for
burning can be erected on the side OF the
railroad track, and the cost Of mining it
is much less than that of mining rock.
The next question is the cost of pro-
duction. From the enquiries we have
made, maritime, made in the locality
named, can be put on the cars with fine
profit above all expenses at twelve dollars
for one and quarter tons, if not less-a
lime which will be equalizer all the purposes
it serves IS soil-improver if not ferti-
= lizer, to the commercial article which
would cost from eighteen to twenty five
dollars per ton. This view we believe will
be sanctioned by practical farmers who
have tried lime upon their lands
AS to the economy and profit derived
through the use Of lime, we can very well
introduce the writings of the distinguished
geclogist and chemist, to whom We have
made mention in this Particular-not as an
argument solely, but for the tender Of good
advice which is the more to be prised, be-
cause merely incidentally offered. Profess
sors Campbell and McCreath were e1amin-
ing the country along the Richmond b AL
leghany and Shenandoah Valley Railroads
as the iron-ores and on-making there
would become valuable by means of these
newly constructed lines of transportation.
Philanthrophists as they were in the
highest sense, they could not pass by this
excellent opportunity to benefit agriculture
and enbody in their reports the assurance
that along these river valleys, through
which these lines Of transportation had
been recently built, were the very best els-
ments for good and permanent soil-im-
provement, and that in view OF the cheapness
of mining and the advantages for burning,
it's value at much less cost would be equal
mercial fertilizers.