The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1892-01-15
A SINGULAR FACT.
THAT so LITTLE Is KNOWN OF THE
RESOURCES OF THIS SECTION.

Lamcntable ignorance OH the part OF Gov
ernor Mckinney as to Natural Wealth of
his own State-Thc sritishers Amazed at
the Iron and Coal of Southwest Virginia.
louisville Post
II is singular fact that the two states
that have the greatest interest in the de-
vclopmert Of their mineral religions are
apparxrt!v least concerned about fhc vast
wealth which they contain. Gov. Mchin-
new, Of Virginia, was interviewed the 9TH
OF daY ard lie showed lamentablc igno-
rance Of the resources of the the South
western section Of that State; and it is
seriously proposed in Kentucky to aho'-
ISL the Geological Survey.
The members OF the British Iron and
j steel Institute who visited Virginia and
kentucky last summer were amazed at the
abundance and quality of our iron ores
and OF the superiority of our coking Goals
VIII these deposits had remained so long
undcycloped and comparatively unknown
they could not understand. When they as
ceriained, too, that the coking coal, the
iron ore and the limestone were located
nearer together than in any part Of the
known world their amazcment was COM
plete. The fact is too, that these tOrma-
lions are not only nearer together in the
district embraced by part Of West Vir-
ginia, Southwestern Virginia, East Tenn
essce and Eastern Kentucky, but the fac
lilies for mining them arc superior than
elsewhere. In England and Germany
much Of the coal has to be mined at a
denh Of several thousand feet, whereas
both the coal and iron can he had in un-
limited abundance iu the section referred
to above the valleys, and the law of gray
itaton will aid the mining process in the
one case while it must rctard it in the 9TH
or. Even throughout the Conncllvile
coal fields, hch are already half exhaus-
ted, two tons Of water must he pumped out
to every ton Of coal obtained, and wooden
braces are needed for the roof which are
unnecessary in the six and ciSht-foot
veins Of the Appalachian range.
Coke containg over "a per cent. of fixed
carbon and hardly a trace Of sulphur can
be made in Wise county, Va, and sold
81 81 per ton at profit. When prom
nent member Of the British Institute WAS
shown specimens of this coke he said the
only coke yielding such per cent. Of
Fixed carbon made in the British Kingdom
was had in Wales, and readily brought Sc
per ton. He added that The supply ofsuch
coal WAS exceedingly limited and nothing
like adequate quantity could be obtained
The day will come when this wonderful
section will become the center of iron and
steel manufacture in this country, and
perhaps Of the world.
But wny such deposits do not attract
more attention and their Importance upon
the commerce and wealth of the nation be-
come r,orc appreciated, is mystery. The
fact may be explained by the indifference
Of newspapers to their Importance, and in
most cases the ignorance of writer's who
s,nft the journals with political platitudes
and know but little beyond the catch
phrases Of party platforms. They do not
seem to realize that such section must hc
como seat Of political power ms well as
Of man utaeturca; for wealth is sure to car
~ power with il. and it will be felt both
in the Legislature Of States and the halls
oi Congress-
In spite Of drawbacks the industrial
N. vemcni is stadily progressing; and the
development within the next ten years will
probably surpaes the expectation Of the
mGst snnguine persons Of today.
1t is important, however, that every
thing that cnn be done in the way of MAX
ing known these resources should be done
as carly as possible in order that the
present generation may reap some Of the
advantages of their development. Virgin
ia, particularly with an overwhelming
debt hanging over it, and the entire cas-
tern section impoverished by the exhaus
ton of it's soil, should appreciate the i'm
portance ofthe movement, Had half the
money spent by the newspapers of the
State in discussing politics and gathering
political items been devoted TO reports OF
the States resources, there would be vast
Improvement in its financial condition
and in its political power.
Tho same and more NAV be said of Ken
lucky, The entire line Of Eastern coun-
ties draw more money from the State
Treasury than they pay into it. The pop
nlation is, as rule, ignorant and vicious.
There arc few school houses and still few
er churches The numerous feuds and as
sassinations that occur in them have made
the Commonwealth byword and re-
proach to civilization. Yet, in natural re-
sources they are By odds the richest condties
in the State The sooner they are develop
ed the sooner will they become wealthy,
law abiding and industrious communities.
Tramps Form Trust.
rnmnrk hla nrranizafinn of trampS