The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-11


Wsse and Lee OF these. Wise and Taxewell coun-
ties are the most Important producers At present.
It 10 due to the southwest virginia fead that
Virginia is entitled to take rank among the prin-
cipal coal producing States. Wise and Tazewen
counties are the two most important producers.
The other counties contain large reserves of coal.
which in places are rapidly undergoing develop
ment. Many of these reserves have been made ac-
cessible recently through the construction of new
lines of railroad, which means increased activity in
coal mining in the State and greater production
in the immediate future. The area OF the South
west Virginia coal field is estimated to be 1850
square miles, with the original supply of coal
placed at 225oo. oeo. 900 short TONS OF this sup
ply It was estimated that at the close of 1907 a
total of only 50 22s,1s2 short tons had been mined
'The production In 1so7 was 4,71ass5 short tons,
equivalent TO an exhaustion of little 1000 900
TONS SO that the coal left in the ground in Virginia
at the close of 907 2,000 times the exhaustion
represented by the production OF that year The
annual production OF coal in Virginia amounts to
about $500 600 short toms valued at about $4,000
Gee.
The rapid development of the coking-coal fields
in southwest Virginia during the last few years has
given Virginia rank of the four principal
coke-producing States. There nineteen coke
producing establishments in virginia with total
number of exceeding 5000 The annual
coke production In the State amounts to approx
iInately 150e eco short tons, valued at about 49,,
100000 Mt the coke ovens.
The caays of Virginia show great variety. are
widely distributed and are suitable for many com
mercial purposes. Almost every county In Viz
ginia contains clay suitable for the manufacture
of common brick. and, in most cases. the deposits
are Of such character that common brick Of the
best quality be made The brick-yards can
he located usually near railroad transportation,
and fuel for burning the brick be obtained, as
a rule, ut a minimnm price. Virginia clays used
,xns sse residual and sedimentary. The total nun
her of clay operating firms in Virginia exceeds
eighty, producing annually clay products valued at
The production OF stone has been important
industry In the State for many years. and the pro-
auct OF some varieties especially granite, has been
used In many notable structares. The rocks Of
Virginia include large variety and abundance OF
excellent stane suitable Tor buildng. decorative and
other purpases These have wide distribution over
the Crystalline and Mountain provinces. comprising
In the former. granite gneiss, and schst, traDpean
sssa ,s -, "a .sndssone limestone and mar
b}e; and In the lAtter. sandstone. limestone. ana
marble The stone industry in fourth In Importance
the State being ssspaassd only By the ceal. clay
products and irsa ores The annual production b
valued al abont fSe0 geo.
The mineral waters Of virginia are an Important
source OF revenue IN the State. virginia has
large number Of spring resorts and great variety
indeed virginia Is par e1osIlsnce mineral aprnss
State, occupying among Tho South Atlantic States
the same position tnol NeW tOf1 0Os8 n tne
North Atlantic section. T1rginis = second only to
New York in the number Of springs that are util-
lied commercially. ana exceeds New York In the
number OF resorts
Out of total OF sixty-eight mineral springs
credited to Virginia 1ens than nfty report aaaes
with total annual alanfsty ~ waaer amoxnttnE
TO more than 2,0Oo. 600 gallons. s~aued II shout
@50A.O00.
The abundant water powars, and the Widespread
occurrence of materials In tie TsAeWAber region
and west Of the Blue Ridge, suitable for the MAN.
ufacture OF Portland cement 1naks up rery val
uabae part of Virginias minarAl wealth OF the
three plants granted charters for the manafacture
OF Portland cement In Tlewaker v3Fslnaa. the Nor
folk Portland Cecent CorpOEaffons p1ant nesE Nor
fOlk fs now producing The raw Mnterials to be
used by these plants 3sr TIE Ma1ufacNare ~ Pert
1aud cement are the extensive deposits ~ marls and
elays of the immedfatD axaa.
Thnpugh the active work Of the Virginia Geo
logcaa Survey, the mlasEA1 resources Of To State
are Aetag systematically a1died and mappad. snd
fully made known BY pnh1shed reports. Thc H4r-
Sey solicitations haW Niae dfntributieu n this
ceunfrY and abroad. AnA can b. DbtainoA m aay
"a ~. - 49, -