Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-23

eanese deposits yet discovered in this
country, and limestone IS abundant
throughout the belt.
AROUND CLIFTON FORGE.
What may be termed the second great
area cut through by the Chesapeake and
Ohio is the Synclinal trough, starting
from Buffalo Gap, in Augusta county, and
embracing portions of Rockbridge, Allie
ghany, and Botetourt, the whole length or
Craigs creek, and the territory drained by
Potts creek. This trough proper IS esti-
mated by Campbell to be seventy-hve miles
long and from SIX to ten miles IN width.
Speaking in general terms, the predomi-
nant ores in the richest portion OF this belt
are in the Clinton lRogers Y. and Orls-
kany Rogers Will epochs, those OF the
latter existing in marvellously massive
groups. E.
A clearer idea, however, of the magnih-
cent resources of the area may be arrived at
by taking Clifton Forge or Iron Gate as
focal point and studying somewhat detail
the results of development and prospect;
ing within comparatively circumscrioed
radius.
The country within O radius of twenty
miles of these points is virtually underlaid
by massive veins of ores, outcroppings OF
which are encountered at every turn, and
the geology of the region is such that
millions of tons of stock can be gotten out
before the Weter-leyel is touched. In this
region are embraced the Rich Patch, the
Craig rs creek, and the Potts creek sections,
and the Douthatt survey. not TO mention
specially such mines as the Dolly Ann, the
Stack, the LongdAle, Iron Mountain, and
Dunlop Creek beds, and Others, whose
furnace products have proved the high and
economical quality of the general deposits.
For many years this section was the seat
of numerous charcoal-furnaces, and now
the iron industry IS represented there by
number of modern stacks and several more
are in process of construction.
poUTHATT SURVEY AND RICH PATCH.
The Douthatt survey, comprising o
princes domain in itself and on which rich
openings have already been worked. has
been prospected its entire length and
breadth by an English expert, who pro-
nounces its deposits practically inexhaust-
able.
The Rich Patch mountain and its con-
tinuation, Potts mountain, separate the
waters of Craig's creek and Potts creek
and abuts, so to speak, against Jackson's
river in the vicinity OF Iron Gate. 1t Is
coming within bounds TO say that the
possibilities of the ore-bearing strata OF
the Rich Patch region are beyond reason
able computation. The ore In the property
of one company operating here Is esti:
mated at $50, ,O00, 600 tons. One vein OF
limonite from 35 to so feet wide has been
traced for five miles through the property,
and the output from it is now being
shipped to Low Moor furnace. A rich vein
of red shale also runs through 5000 acres
of the property. The possessions or TINS
company, which is known as the Rich
Patch, are.so far as they have been worked
connected by 6 branch line with the Chesa;,
peake and Ohio road, which branch Will
be extended as occasion and necessity re-
auire. This region affords abundant water
for ore-washing.
THE cRA1o's-CREEK AREA.
Contiguous TO the Rich-Patch region and
forming an extension of il is the Craig's-
Greek area, a mineral field which surveys,
prospectings, and actual workings have
demonstrated is of broundless wealth.
The central point of this area IS New
Castle, adjoining which is Craig City, the
property of the Craig City Improvement
Company. New Castle is the county-seat
of Craig county and is situated ut the con-
fuence of Johns and Craig's creeks. the
latter being one of the largest tributaries
of James river. II is twenty-slx miles
from Eagle Rock on the James-hlyer di,
vision of the Chesapeake and ONO road
and the terminus of a branch line rom
that station. As far back as 1882 Campbell
predicted that the Clinton and Oriskany
formations of this region would Yield az
no distant day abundant haryests to the
railroad company and capitalists that
would provide means for their develop,
ment, and this prediction Is being yerined
beyond the most sanguine dream of that
Thorough and conservative geologist.
The mountains here are literally
blanketed with high-grade ores, many
Of them being within the Bessemer
limit. The exposure extends for miles, ana
as IL nature was striving TO outdo herself
m lavish generosity, manganese and IRON
ores are in juxtaposition IN bound.
less quantities. Often solid belt OF
limonites of vast thickness and yielding
an average Of 90 per cent. of metallic IRON
will crop out Immediately above
stratum OF the best of limestone lhogers
VII for huxing purposes. while justsbe-
meath will be found the red shales and fos-
sil ores so valuable for mixing. and which
will run 40 per cent. OF metallic iron and
over. The New Castle branch Of the ghesa-
peake aud Ohio road follows the valley Oh