Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-05-21
yIRGINIA'S WEALTH.
THIS SUBJECT DISCUSSED IN A LET
TER FROM GOVERNOR M'KlNNEY.
Rapid Developers ns OF All Our Indus
tries-Timber and Mineral Iutsrssts-
The scarcer Minerals Found.

One of tie most interesting letters
in the Baltimore Nees' Worlds Far south
ern edition is that from the pen Of Cover
nor 2. W. Mckinney. Of Virginia. The
letter is valuable in that 1t presents In
clear, sensible manner the peculiar advan'
tages of this State, especially in the mat
ter of its mineral and timber interests
The Governor in opening says
THE State Board Of Agriculture d.
rected last year the preparation ana pup-
lication Of handbook OF virginia, which
should be as full and complete descrip:
ton Of the resources and advantages OF
the State as could be made from abso-
lutely reliable information. Inc Commis,
sloner of Agriculture. bylaw conquer anu
editor of the work, has carefully sought
out facts general and special elhoracin.
great and small industries.
beginning with the settlement at
jamestown, it will geographically and
historically and industrially come down to
1893. As distinguished mlneralogists have
predicted. for the last twenty years. tir-
GINA in the variety, quantity. and quality
OF its minerals will be found to be the
richest State IN the Union"
oUs MINERAL WEALTH.
His Excellency then quotes from Colonel
Whiteheads report of 1891 and '92 to show
that Virginia has richer mineral deposits
than any other land. and adds:
Petroleum has been discovered east or
the Blue Ridge; beyond persdventure IN
the coal section near Richmond. Many OF
the MINOR and scarcer minerals and metals
have been discovered IN mining and de:
veloping those well known. The stone OF
Virginia-granite, soapstone. marble. ana
sandstone-are being more extensively
developed and regularly worked than
ever before and the manufacture or
brick In all qualities. tiles, drain
pipes, etc.. is becoming large III
dustry. Manufactures of wood. iron,
and tobacco still hold their prominence.
and are followed by numerous smaller
manufacturers. attracting attention. Man
utacturers of wool are increasing, aud hne
woollen goods from Charlottesville. Bed
ford City, and Bueua Vista are well-known
in the markets OF the Union, while many
smaller factories are sprlnglng up. oince
the above was written there has oeen
much larger investment OF capital and
greatly increased work IN tin, gold, mica,
steatite, cl8ys. marble, and pyrltes.
HAVE MANY EXPLORERS.
There are now in the State more ex>
plorers and prospectors for minerals than
ever before and there have been more
ANALYSES IDAl4b huu lDOst plaNblthi bNoso u
minerals of all varieties. This work
has disclosed the fact that minerals IN
paying quantity are to be found in loca-
tons not heretofore expected, and that
the quantity in many instances is found
much greater than supposed. Another
discovery has caused investigation that
will inure to the advantage of tho State.
The proximity of different minerals
renders much cheaper certain valuable
products. for instance coking-coal. iron,
lime. and manganese FOR cheap iron and
steel; salt, coal, llme and manganese for
soda. ash, and bleach; high carbonate
marls and fine aluminums, clays for CO.
meni fire-clay and alkaline-clay for vitrl-
fed brick, and pyrite, coal. and lime tor
sulphurlc acid.
RAILROADS AND TIMBEB.
Another consideration of value is that
already there is railroad transportation IN
nearly all the mineral sections aud abun-
dant water in all aud water power IN
mauv.
More than thirty distinct varieties OF
valuable timber grow in Virginia. and tie
wood for fuel and for charcoal Is excessive
and rapidly increasing. The Dismal Swamp
can supulv "A cOuDtrV 100 wears with gum