The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-11-22
THE ROANOKE TIMES. SUNDAY, NoyEMBER ) 1oo,

mans farm. On the contrary, there
| constantly intrudes barren pieces OF
ground. The only point the writer de-
sires to make is that there is large
district practically untouched, that with
the advent of railroads and good mining
will beyond any peradventure give
abundant supplies of ore for many
years to come, not only for existing fur
naces but for others to be erected at
proper localities when mines actually
opened up and producing, justify them.
"Back of Christiansburg, thirty-three
miles from Roanoke, parties interested
in the Roanoke Iron Company have
secured tract of land that from tho
developments made, seems to promise
large amounds of high grade red
hematite ore.
"The Consolidated Mining Company
during the last six months has made
new openings on it's Gale-Rorer prop
erty, which have rapidly become large
producers and at the same time is
steadily increasing the output from the
Rorer mines proper. Further to tho
east, the Mine Bank, near Vesuvius
station, will have a branch road built to
it this year, when Messrs. Moore &,
Hubbard calculate on daily shipments
of from 100 to 200 tons of mountain ore.
The same parties have lately secured
tract to their Stuart-Draft openings,
are putting in new machinery and think
they can average forty tons day of
high grade limestone ore.
sat Cornwall just east of Buena
Vista, an unusually good mountain ore
has been opened, which is to be trans
ported to the Norfolk and Western rail
road by an overhead tram.
The Shenandoah Iron Company,
owners of large tracts at the base of and
on Massanutton mountain, report the
finding there of apparently large de-
posts of excellent Oriskany ores.
Shenandoah, it is proposed to establish
q large mining operation.
Enough has been said to show that
there is an intense activity all through
the region, and all indications point to
such an early output of ores of varying
kinds as to insure beyond any question
regular and ample supply to every fur
mace in the field.
In what has been said no reference
has been made to the great Oriskany
ore fields of Craigs and Potts creeks;
but in the writer's estimation it is as
certain as the sun shines that at no dis
tant day rail connection will be made
to them, thus giving new source of
supply to this section.
The quality of tho iron which has
been and can be made by the proper
admixtures of the above named ores
requires no elaboration. Every grade
of iron is possible. rank and mild red
short, neutral, mild or rank cold short.
For basic steel our brown ores are
ideal.
''In the past there has been entirely
too much dependence upon the imagi-
nation in talking of the untold mineral
treasures of Virginia, and as result
large individual disappointments have
resulted and in certain lines there has
been premature activity. While every
hillside will not prove to be mine,
there are beyond question in the ag-
gregate very large quantities of ores to
be cheaply and continuously had by
diligent search, proper equipment and
careful business oversight, and it is
equally beyond question that South
west Virginia will certainly become the
seat of great iron and steel industry
that will grow year by year and decade
by decade, and which will bring wealth
and population and prosperity.
"We can say of Virginia's great val
ley as has been said of her favorlte son,
lis all right. EDMUND c. PEcHIN."