Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-02-12
Letter from Virginia.
Mushet, Va,

Feb. 4. 1892.
DEAR Mr.. EDIToR-I have just fin
ished reading the dear old REGISTER,
and it has made me right homesick.
thought perhaps you would like to
hear something about this section OF
the "Old Dominion" which | am in.
Doubtless YOU have often heard of
the celebrated Crimora manganese
mine of Virginia. | have been at
this mine since the 10Th of October
last. teaching, aud thought that if |
were to write you description of the
mines and vicinity it might be of in
terest TO your readers, as | know that
many of them never saw mine.
The Crimora manganese mine Is
situated on the northwestern slope
OF the Blue Ridge mountain about
twelve miles from Basic City aud
eighteen from Stanton, Augusta
county. Virginia
The ore j. inbedded i'm a stiff clay
which requires the use of washing
machinery 10 remove. 1t lies at a
depth from a few feet 10 one hundred
and fifty feet below the surface.
They are taking the ore rom
shaft one hundred and fifty feet deep,
which has tunnels running ont in
various directions aud at different
elevations. As the ground through
which they are working is very loose,
il requires an abundance of heavy
timbering. About 200 tons of materi-
al il taken from the mine daily
which when washed leaves about 10
tons OF ore.
This mine for the past few years
has been producing 50 per cent Of all
the manganese produced in the
United States and is the largest of lis
kind in this country. but at presant
its resources seem TO b. about eX-
hau>ted TIE manganese wIan ana
lived contains from - to 80 per cent
of metallic manganese, aud 10 -
per cent Of silica
They bring the ore from the mine
in little cars on a cage worked by a
pulley which in turn is run by ma
chiuery. The little cars are then
drawn by mule down a little rail
road 20 the washer where the materi-
al first goes through what is called
the rock breaker" Then on to the
log washer, which is shaft with
spiraIly arraug ID teeth which revoIve
inside a wooden cylinder abont %
feet long From there the material
passes OH TO the Bradford washer,
which is cast-iron drum containing
teeth. This is the final wash and
from there the ore passes on 10 a con
zeal cylinder perforated with about
half inch holes through which the
fine ore falls into an elevator which
carries il up aud dumps il into the
cars. The coarse ore falls into auoth-
er elevator which carries it up past
four or six little boys who pick out
tile rocks aud mud balls that NAV
have come through with the ore. in
to another cylinder where il is divided
from all remaining impurities by the
difference in their specific gravity.
This machinery is run by 40 horse
power engine. The water is pumped
from the brook, aud in dry seasons
from the Shenandoah river, three
miles away. a small branch of the
n. & w. Railroad runs from Crimora
TO the mines (about p miles), aud Il
freight train comes up every morning
and takes the ore to Pittsburg
The chief use OF manganese is its
use in the manufacture of steel 1t
has that strengthening and season
ing" quality in the Manufacture OF
iron and steel that salt has for domes-
tie purposes. 1t is also used for med
iciual purposes, for glass making,
aud in bleaching powder. In the last
named article it is required to be OF
the very best quality. The present
market value of manganese is Sl5 per
ton. but the purest grades bring from
800 to $50 per ton.
They work about sixty hands, now,
night and day; but several years ago
they employed about four hundred.
New they have the work in such
shape they do not require 80 many.
Hoping that the above Information
may be of some service to you, | am
Very Respectfully,
y. NJ. Z.