The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-26

Guauy mountains, which form barrier
to the Roanoke Valley on the southwest
is situated, what Is considered to be by
competent judges, one of the best iron
ore deposits in the country. Yesterday
when representative Of THE THINKS
looked over the plant Of the Castle Rock
Mining Company, and viewed its opera.
tions on the easterly slope Of Sugar Loaf
Mountain, 1t was evident that the most
enthusiastic witness of the resources
and capabilities of development there
could not have overestimated or en-
larged upon the possibilities of the place.
Situated about three-fourths OF a mile
from Cave Springs, the land of this
company Is being worked to only q small
proportion of it's capacity and yet is
turning out daily about 200 tons of red
and brown hematite OF the finest quality
and purity to be found in this section.
Being deposited in the cars run over a
spur OF the Roanoke and Southern rail-
road, 1t is shipped as fast as delivered
from the washers to the West End Fur.
mace and will soon be sent to the Max
Meadows plant, there to be run into
pig gh iron n;,o ., ,so oo,,, :. :.
a pleasant Indian summer day is
beautiful beyond comparison, but not
only has nature favored tho spot from
an artists point Of view, but as was re.
marked by member OF the company
when he was first introduced to the sur.
roundings: God has put this ore here
for the use OF mankind" and as he
looked down the magnificent valley to
where tho tracks of the Roanoke
and Southern RAILROAD were being
tended it should be made available. I"
The land which is being worked is upon
a continuous incline to the top of the
Eugar-loaf shaped hill, which crowns
and adds lustre to the setting there
displayed. 1t is therefore possible to
operate gravity roads from the tunnels
where the ore is mined down to the
washer, and from there the grade is
descs nding to where the spur track
meets the main line of the Roanoke and
Southern just this side Of Cave Spring
village.
Five OF six years ago Mr.. Thomas w.
Miller located this favored drift and
obtained the refusal Of the property from
the owners in Pennsylvania. The Nor.
folk and Western people did not then
comprehend the real value OF the place
and were loath to assist in working up
an easy task to build spur from the
main line between this city and Salem
to the property. But it was never done
and as time went on and the Roanoke
and Southern was constructed it was
then that Capt. William WEIGH, the
present head of the company, conceived
the idea OF tapping that division of the
Norfolk and Western system.
Sometime about the first of the wear
the offers for the purchase of the land
were made and accepted and arrange
ments made for it's immediate develop
mept. The Castle Rock Mining Company
was organized with Captain Welch as
president, George Ramsey, secretar y and
treasurer; and Messrs William WEIGH,
George Ramsey, R. R. Washburn,
Joseph II. Sands and Thomas w.
Miller directors, these men becoming
sole owners of the property.
1t was arranged with the railroad
company that if the roadbed to the
mine should be graded they should Law
the track. The mining company ex-
pended about $18, 900 upon the road, and.
although 1t has heavy grade from the
mine, this works advantageously for the
transportation of heavy trains, and
saves large amount of work at the
washer by making the work OF a shift
ing engine unnecessary.
During the recent hard times the com
pany has been going forward with it's
and now that reverse in
the tide is about to be felt they hope to
be among the first to reap the benefits.
One of the first things to be put in was
the pumping plant which is situated at
cave Spring proper. The machineryis
OF the best, the pump alone costing
$4,000. Water is forced to the washer
through 5000 feet OF wrought iron pipes,
which In itself is no small item in the
cost Of equipment.
Work was begun at opening up the
drift about three months ago and about
September 12 the fret products of the
mine were shipped to the West end fur
mace. In September 1880 tons in all
were shipped and thus far this month
5000 tons have been hauled away.
UP to this time only one washer has
been In use, but to-day the second will
be started up and the output materially
increased. 1t is now estimated that the
capacity of the plant, with the two
washers in operation, will be between
8 1000 and 10000 tons monthly.
Through the courtesies Of the clerk
OF the company, r. d. Digges and the
genial DIR. White, of Cave Spring, the
physician In the employ of the com.
pany, THE TINES man was shown over
the fine plant. Tunnel No. 1 was NOT
being worked, but No. Q was in full
operation, Mr.. j. 81. Carbaugh being in
charge OF about twenty men at this
place In digging the ore and shoveling
lt into the train cars running in the
tunnel beneath the excavation. The
miners had Just struck particularly
Nd III
rapidly carried away to the washer.
Tho ora had hnan otrnnir .,.i4hi