Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-09-10
LETTER FROM oAPT.JoHN HOWARD
A Practical Miner or Is Years Erpe-
ffeRce.

| have carefully eAhniueu W
openings the Strata of Iron through the
counties of Jefferson and Clarke and submit
the following report:
The first outcrop is on the Potomac river'
about eight miles from Charlestown. Al
this point Ore was excavated in colonial
days. and from time to time since, to supply
furnaces located in the neighborhood
About year since a railroad was built to
this mine, and it is now being worked con-
tinuously, shipping about 1000 tons month
ly.
It is estimated that not less than one and
a-half million tons of ore have been taken
from this mine the land worked not exceed
ing two acres, and to the depth of about 100
feet.
This Ore is Brown Hematite of the red
short variety. regard this deposit as prac-
tically inexhaustible.
re-opened this bank in 1867 and super
intended the mining until the panic OF
1873.
Since April of this year an ore bank has
been opened on the land adjoining the
above
Following the Iron Belt south of the above
about four miles, this Strata again makes
its appearance about two and a-half miles
from CharlestOwn. The surface soil at this
point is full of Wash Ore. l made three
excavations from five to seven feet deep, and
discovered solid bank of Ore, correspond
ing in quality with the Ore on the Potomac.
The indications point to an immense deposit
of this Ore at this point, and extending over
an area of about 100 acres.
A bali mile from this found surface in
dications of cold short Hematite Ore and OF
Manganese.
The indications induce me to believe they
are both here in large quantities. One and
a-half miles south of this deposit is the
Maltby Ore Bank, referred to in Maury'
Report in the following language:
an Jefferson County, on the East bank
of the Shenandoah, is located Maltby's ore
mine. This is one of the most valuable
mines in West Virginia and gives promise
of an abundant supply of excellent quail
ty."
Cold short Hematite Ore is here in great
abundance, and in conjunction with Ore (red
short Hematite) mined on the west side of
the river was used by the Lockhart furnace,
located here in Manufacturing Iron of q
superior quality as late as 1858, and more
recently has been extensively worked by
Mr. c. 5. Maltby, of Baltimore.
have not examined the Ore lands south
of these deposits, until we reach the Carna-
gle Ore Bank, near Castleman's Ferry,
Clarke county, which is referred TO in the
letter of Prof w. n. Mcdonald addressed
to your Company.
am acquainted with this Ore Bank, and
from personal examination can full indorse
the estimate made in McDonald's letter.
Indications point to very valuable depos-
its of Hematite Ore on the lands south of
the Carnagie mine, on which your Company
has options.
From an experience of forty-fve years
spent almost continuously in furnaces and
mines, am confident in giving my opin-
| ion that most valuable ores in inexhaustible
quantities are to be found in unbroken
Strata between the Bank OF the Potomac and
the Carnagie mine. The Ores are of espe-
cial value because Of the proximity of the
cold aud red short varieties of Hematite
Ore. This taken in connection with the
presence of au abundance of limestone suit
able for hux, and Manganese in payingquan-
titles, should serve to attract the attention
of those who are seeking a location for the
cheap Manufacture of Iron.
1t may be well to add that in Penn5yl-
vania these valuable Ores located in the
same Iron belt are becoming exhausted, and
are now being shipped from this county to
furnace, in that section.
Yours Respectfully, JOHN HOWARD.
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