The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-10-16


More Abundant Than he has Ever secn
Elsewhere.
Prof. John r. Proctor, Director of the
Kentucky Geological Survey, was recently
engaged to make report upon large
body of coal land near Big Stone Gap, and
tributary to 1t. After discussing the
Goals at great length, he then speaks OF
the iron ores which will work in connec-
ton with these Goals, ard afterwards
gives facts and figures regarding tic TIM
bers which arc especially valuable, show
ing as they do the wonderful wealth of the
forest growth in our very midst. Tie fosT
| is allowed to give extracts as below:
0The Goals Of this region arc rendered
more valuable because of their proximity
to large deposits of iron ores. Along the
southern base Of Cumberland and Stone
mountain the Red Fossil, or Clinton ore,
extends from Big Stone Gap to Cnmber-
land GAP, and beyond, aud is duplicated
along the slopes of Powell Mountain and
Wul,en's Ridge. The main bed ranges
from two TO five feet in thickness, and
usually mos; favorably located for cheap
mining. During the last year reliable
and extensive deposit Of superior brown
ore (Limonite) was discovered extending
parallel with the red fossil ore. Under
nv directions openings were made in this
ore proving thick dcposi, of ore aver
aging about 81 per cent of iron. Tie
South Atlantic and Ohio road parallels
these two ores for distance Of about
twelve miles, and the extension of the
Louisville and Nashville from Cumber-
land to Big Stone Gap, runs near and par
allel to the outcrop Of these ores for Il
distance Of 81 miles, insuring an album
dant supply of iron ore for furnaces erect
ed in the ncighhorhood OF Big Stone Cap.
The brown ore referred to is known rs the
Oriskany, from the mamie of the rock as
sociated with it. 1t is the same as the
ore so successfully used at the Low Moor
Longdalc, aud other furnaces in the Gilt
ton Forge District. The Oriskany is
brought up above drainage hy the great
Pine mountain fault aud II large deposit
Of this orc has recently been discovered
at Pincvilc, and the evidences are strong
that it will he found along the northern
face Of Pine mountain for it, entire
length. Here is an abundant supply OF
iron ores at hand, TO which add the ores
in the great valley, fine abundant brown
ores in johnson, Carter, and unicol Couii-
ties, Tennessee, westward extension or
the Cripple Creek ores OF Virsinia, and
the great Srecular and Magnetic ores
along the base Of the Great Smoky moul:-
tains in East Tennessee, aud Western
North Carolina; and we have here !: ccn-
binaion Of Besscmcr ores, and cheap
ores unexcclcd in any other region OF
| like area in America. The great purity
and excellence of the coking Goals in this
region will insure large Local Develop
ment in iron and steel Featuring,
and the coke from his re.ion .h"uld also
| ind market in the Chattanooga, Decatur
ard Sheffield districts. IL c0nnot be TOO
much emphasized ihot Bessc "er Stecl ores
md c0aing coal ere here nr0rPr toJethsr
than elsewhere IL .imericd.
TIMBER.
/ "The entire tract under consideration is
covered with forests OF valuable timber;
white oak, yellow poplar, black walnut,
hard maple, lynn, buckeye, chestnut, ash,
hickory, and the prevailing timbcrs.
Along the south slope Of Pine mountain
The growth is mainly chestnut oak and
yellow pine, with fine growth of hem
lock in the valley, and near the base OF
the hills On some Of The sharper ridges
and chestnut. nemock prevails also in
moist valleys on many of these streams.
counted over 40 large hem'ocks on !,
single acre OH the upper Rearing Fork.
Along the North and Souti, Forks white
oaks Of fine size and qualify abonnds. For
some distance along the South Fork es-
lmuted the large white oaks at from five
to eight on each acre.
do not hesitate to say that the timber
on the Big Black Mountains is larger and
more abundant than | have ever seen
elsewhere. In order to fully realize the
wealth of timber it is necessary to make
an actual count. measured off at vari-
Gus places and made count of the timber.
These were not taken because exceptional
but represented II fair average on the re-
spectivc slopes where the measurements
were made. counted no tress below X
inches in diameter. ] give barometer
elevations, which will not vary much from
tho elevations above sea. Count OF two
acres ascending Big Black mountain:
Acre No barometer elevation 32Ot
feet above sea level.