Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-04-03
A Big Thine for HdilDlPg
AND OUR COUNTY GENERALLY.

AND OUR COUNTY GENERALLY
EARLY OPENING OF GREAT MINING AM
MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY NEAR TIA
| PLACE.
| For some years past the South general
| ly has been attracting the attention o
mining experts, and tie developments IL
this great line of Industry has grown e
an extent that shades all other portions
of the country and is over reaching limit:
that a score Of years ago would have
souuded like tie fabulous dreams of the
Arabian Nights. To no section of the
South does the mineral wealth make
greater promise than in the Valley Of
Virginia. where the range of the different
minerals seems to embrace such variety
and the deposits such vast extent as to
make it the very centre of Natures store
house. OF this wealth Shenandoah
county Is undoubtedly the heart, as the
investigations now going on and which
will be increased IN every direction with
tho opening up of good weather viii
prove. That this country will soon be-
come a great mining section and tie seat
of many and vast enterprises for the
manufacture of the products of these
mines into the many articles required, by
the constantly increasing wants of tie
world, is fact we'll established. AT the
head both in quantity and usefulness Is
our iron deposits. For years these have
been worked on small scale, but suf-
| fcient to make an article that has stood
at the very top of the market for its
superior qualities. Following this is a
wide range of other minerals that will be
found in sufficient quantity to be mined
and worked on a large scale, while the
supply of stone for building and orna-
mental purposes, such as limestone, sand
stone, granite, marble, &c, is simply in
exhaustible. Among the recent discov-
cries is one rear Edinburg that will prove
to be of immense value. Nearly a year
ago Mr.. Jos. Hoffman's attention was
called to these deposits, and it is to bis
careful and patient investigation that
these valuable minerals have been brought
to the attention of the capitalists who
propose to work them on a large scale.
For some months Mr. Hoffman continued
bis examination until he became con-
WINGED that he had, beyond all doubt,
discovered minerals that must tnrn ont
to be of great value as the supply was
apparently inexhaustible, and he at once
secured editions upon the property, and
sent for his son-in- law, Mr.. r. II. Lacey,
who was then in California. Mr.. Lacey
| came in and was surprised to fiuJ the
real value of the property, and at once
commenced to get things in shape for
working it on an extensive scale By get
ting up a joint stock company with
ample means. Mr.. B. II. Richards, OF
the well-known firm of StOneburner &
Richards, wealthy citizen Of Baltimore,
is one of the principal stockholders. The
hill CT rather mountain spur IS on
the river about one and a half miles
from the Edinburg depot and four
and a half miles from Woodstock, and
is leased from Mr.. John w. Santmier.
So far 1t has been demonstrated that there
is vein of black mineral paint over three
hundred feet thick, and the mining tx
pert, who made the examination, says
there is at least l,600,000 tons Of this
mineral in sight. 1t is of kind now
much sought after as it is very valuable
for making paint for all kinds OF iron
work, heavy machinery, &c, and Is the
pnrest yet discovered. In the same bill is
an enormous deposit Of yellow ochre
which has not yet been fully exl loTcd,
but sufficiently to expose not less than
100000 tons. 1t is of the best quality and
makes fine paint, and. as the expert
ments show, OF different beautiful shades.
On tract OF 900 acres Immediately adj
joining this, and which Las also been
leased by Mr. Richards, is large vein OF
black marble ten feet thick, inexhanst-
ible In quantity, and as the tests show OF
a very fine quality, ialing beautiful
polish. THIS is so located as to be of ca. J
access and caE be mined with but liitlC
expense. A piece of tim Der properly clos,
by has been purchased, and the compan!
will at once set up their own saw mill fo
cutting all the timber necessary for thel
building purposes. We are reliably in
formed that the organization Of the stool
company will soon be completed, and a
soon as the weather will permit activ
operations on large scale will be com
menced. Employment will be gwen to
large number of hands, as it is the in
tentlon of the managers to manufactur
the paints at the mines. Mr.. Richards
WIN 10 bbC VI IhO hCh III VI
work, is very wealthy as well as publi
spirited and will invest great deal @
money in pushing the work ahead. Messr'
Hoffma and Lacy will also be prominent
ly engaged in the developing of these de
: posits.
This enterprise must prove OF grea
benefit to this county generally, and W
wish the gentlemen who are pushing
{ along every success.
South of Taylortown, and few mile
from Edinburg, large quantities of wha
is thought to be granite has been dis
covered on the lands of Mr.. Thos. Hof
man. This stone has been examined b
persons who are familiar with this kin
of stone and they have all united in pro
Il