Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-16
THE STATES ORES.
THE FIGHT THAT ~ TO DE MADE
FOR a GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
HON. A. T. WITHROW DISCUSSES IT.
Tells About the Wonderful Veins OF
Iron Ore West of the blue Ridge
Thousand Dollars.

Hon a. +. Wiihrow, If he Is returned
10 the next House OF Delegates from Bath
county, and there seems to be little doubt
that he will be. will be a strong ally Of
the Commissioner Of Agriculture in the
latter's Efforts to secure an appropriation
to defray the cost Of geological survey
Of the state.
"The States mineral resources are her
chief wealth." said Mr.. Withrow at New
Ford's last night SAY what you will
about her fertile farming lands. her tim
Der, her fish and oysters. some day more
fortunes will be made, more lives will be
supported, and more income into the.
Treasury will be derived from the de-
velopment Of the mineral wealth Of the
state west Of the Blue Ridge range than
from any other source.
a WONDERFUL IRON DEPOSIT.
"Why. / could take you tomorrow TO
a vein Of iron ore I'm Allegheny county
50 feet wide and 20 thick" continued Mr..
Withrow, with animation. 1--WE could get
on our horses, and for three days we
could ride on that vein Of ore and not
reach the end Of It. People generally
don't know anything about this. Outside
Virginia little or nothing is known Of the
minerals in Virginia The railroads have
done far more to disseminate informa-
ton on the subject than the State has.
IL heard the late Major Joseph HOtch-
kiss, of stanton, who knew more about
Virginia ores than anybody in the State
say that our chief wealth was our mine
rails, but that few people knew anything
about them. They have hardly been
touched. Major HOtchkiss desired above
all things to have a complete geological
survey Of the state made. and used his
influence. but without success, TO have
the LEGISLATURE make the necessary APP
preparation. We want capital TO come
into virginia and develop our mineral de-
posits." concluded Mr.. Withrow but It
Will never. never do IL until capital knows
what we have got to develop. Capital
won't know until we have told them. An
accurate geological survey IS the best
way. and about the only way, in which
| 10 tell them"
ABOUT GRAYSON COUNTY IRON.
Mr.. Koiner. Commissioner OF Agricul-
/ ture is very much in earnest about So
| curing an appropriation for survey, and
will put forth every effort TO induce the
LEGISLATURE to grant il. He regards II
/ as one of the most important present
needs of the state Nearly every day
! the commissioner receives one or more
letters asking for information regarding
| the minerals of Virginia. He also ire
| auently receives specimens of ores toI
assay. Some Of these are very fine me
other day Mr.. Kolner received a speci'
men Of iron ore from gentleman il
Grayson county, which, upon assay
proved TO be very fine. lie wrote 10 me
gentleman. asking him how much ore h'
had Of the character Of the specimen
sent. The owner Of the vein replied ina
the vein was three miles long ana as III
had never been able to reach the bottom
he had concluded that 1.-THE deVii wa
making handouts from it on the othel
side"
1t will require from $4,000 to $4,000 t.
make a complete survey OF the mlnera
deposits of the State. 1t viii require
hard work to secure the appropriation
But strong effort will be made.