Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1905-08-18
BERKELEY RICH IN STONE AND
SHALE
PROF. GRIMLEY,s REPORT.

Morgautown. w. Va, July 1905
The counties of Berkeley and Jefier
sen. in the eastern panhandle Of the
state OF West Virginia, are character
lied by wide outcrop OF limestone and
shale. The former is known as the
Shenandoah limestone, and the latter
as the Martinsburg shales.
Near Martinsburg there is belt OF
limestone trending IS degrees east of
and traced for distance of 10 nrles,
with width varying from as to over
800 feet which will average in com
position over o5 per cent. OF lime car
Donate A large part OF it will run oS
per cent and in places it will ana'yze
90 per cent pure.
The lime stone near this belt will
run about 90 per cent while at some
distance IRON the high grade rock
comes dolomite limestone, valua.
BILE for open hearth steel reduction.
Bordering the high-grade lime stone
in the area near Martin sburg and
other places is the shale, forming
belt OF varying width, but averaging
several hundred feet.
The clay, or shale, used in Port.
land cement should not have over 81
per cent, Of silica and alumina and
In the above sLale there is less than
90 per cent. The percentage ratio of
silica or alumni should be in the linz
its OF to and 4 to I. In the above
shaie 1t is 3 to /. By calculation OF
the formula from the analysis made
in the state laboratory, it would re-
quiie $50 parts OF lime stone to 100
parts OF shale to make Portland ce.
ment. The materials are adapted to the
manufacture OF high grade cement.
NATURAL ADVANTAGES.
The depth to which these rocks
can be worked is al least 100 feet and
probably much more. BY selecting
good location, the shale and line
stone could be worked In open quar-
ry with face Of 10 to 100 feet, with
good drainage away from the quarry,
thus avoiding any necessity of pun ps
or trouble with water. The length OF
face could be measured in miles il
necessary. Tue amount OF cover to be
stripped would be practically none.
The limestone and shale are side
oy side, thus enab ing a plant to
have quarries in both materials close
to the mills. The Opequon creek in a
considerable portion Of its course
runs in close contact to the shale
aud limestone. 1t has abundant water
supply throug bout the year. and
would furnish the necessary water for
mill use and fire protection.
ADVANTAGES OF LOCATION.
An electric power plant has been
estat listed on the Pc omac. using
the water power about miles dis.
tant' and is now supplying light 10
the town of Martinsburg. This would
furnish mill with cheap light and
power.
The best grade of Pittsburg coal
from the Fairmont mines, used over
the United States for cement mills.
can be supplied for the rotary kilns,
Tor $I.8o a ton at the mill. Cheaper
fuel can be supplied from the Cum
berland mines for power or boiler use.
Tracts of land containing limestone
and shale can be purchased at the
present time and which come out Oh
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad main
line, and within one or two miles oil
tnis road, thus locating a mill "a
miles from Washineton, 100 miles
frsn Baltimore, and 40 miles from
Philadelphia. The freight per barrel
OF cement 400 pounds) to Baltimore
and Washington would be about ~
cents. The cost Of manufacture al
Maftinsburg would be about 10 cents,
including Office and selling expenses,
wear and tear of machinery. which
would place this cement in Baltimore
or Washington at cost OF % cents
per barrel, where it is now selling at
retail fol $z.2o.
In addition othe cement manu-
facture, comparatively small addi-
ton expense would add crushing ca
pacity for ballast rock and rock for
use in the steel works of Pirtsburg
and Baltimore. The screenings would
be available for concrete. The high