The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-09
GREAT ACTIVITY
IN BUCKINGHAM
Slate Quarrying Progresses Sat-
Observation-Disclosures Report
Dull Season.
tSpe cial to The Times-Dispatoh.J

AiFoHld, Va, december e.-lnere Is
considerable aorivity at this time IN
the matter OF mining and minerals In
Buckingham County. especially in
copper A copper and Iron pyrites
mine. formerly prospected and found
IN good order. Will shortly be worked
At New Canton. three miles east of
here. The material in this mine Is said
to contain large quantities of .pyrites.
with more or less iron and copper.
The material which viii be gotten from
this mine viii also be shipped North
for hux purposes. while part will
be sent 10 fertilizer factories, where
II Win be reduced TO sulphuric acid.
Buckingham County is said by many
biologists 10 contain more valuable
minerals than any county of the State.
The late DIR. william II Ruffner. re-
nownei educator and noted geologist,
often stated that this county was most
remarkable for It's wide range OF val
liable minerals and ores. There are no
Itss than fifteen gold mines that have
formerly been worked, many of them
most probably. In ante-bellum days
vast quantities OF gold was taken from
the Booker mine, the London and Var
ginla and other mines OF the county.
Slave labor was employed, as a rule,
and the machinery was of the orudest
type. II is thought that there will
shortly be a great revival OF gold min.
ing in the county.
Slate quarrying Is progressing sat
isfactorily in the Buckin CHAM field. and
Il is said that the Fluvanna extension
Of this field Will shortly be opened for
wide operation. Expectation the Uni
versity OF Virginia and representatives
OF the United States Geological Survey
have visited the field recently and
passed favorably upon IL The slate
IS practically the same as is found
south of the river IN Buckingham
County.
Next week q large commercial Or
chard Will be planted near Arvcnia. the
new dynamite methods being used to
prepar the soil Much antivity In
fruit growing ts shown IN this section
recently Though the county Is bor-
dered on the north by Albeniarle and
Nelson, two of the largest fruit pro-
ducing counties of the state. only spo-
radio efforts have been made hereto
fore in the line OF apple raising. Such
orchards as have within recent years
been planted and cared for have begun
10 produce In enormous quantities and
with the finest possible fruit. Experts
who have inspected these orchards say
that the soil and climate OF Buckins-
ham are peculiarly adapted TO apple
growing, and predict that within a
few years thousands OF acres Will be
planted with apple trees
Farmers hear with grumbhng and
disgust reports that dark tobacco is
being SOLD IN the markets at merely
nominal prices The buyers In Farmviiie
ard Dillwyn claim that there are no
orders from the Italian and Austrian
governments for dark tobacco. and
hence they are not buying II except at
sacrifice prices. AS the ssh and meth
cd. of this county can produce only
heavy dark shipping tobacco. the 20
bacoo farmers stare ruin IN the face
Those who are in a position to know
the facts declare that dark tobacco
will never again bring good prices. as
the natives OF both Italy and Austria
have learned to use and like the bright
leaf and Will hereafter have nothing
else AS the soil OF Buckingham Is, as
q rule. heavy and strong, IL Is probable
that few farmers will even try 30 raise
the light tobaccos. Already farmers
are talking of giving up tobacco rails
ing entirely AMI turning their entire
attention to wheat, hay and corn. al
falfa and all kinds of feedstuhs. 1t is
probable that much more money can.
and could all along. be made by "a e.
Ing these crops instead OF tobacco.
Seekers after the various post-ofiices
rhrourhout this section are little de-
TERED By President Tafts orders plac-
ing all fourth-c class pcst-offices IN the
civil service. and are going forward
with their petitions ss though remov-
ais next spring will be the order OF
the day. Some seem TO think tnat the
Presidents order will be revoked by
the incoming Democratic adHfnistra-
don. At any rate, the applicants nope
tha- the inspectors will see At to make
changes IN their favor, PROVIDED OF
cour=s the inspectors De allowed, as
nublished 20 appoint fourth class post
masters getting less than $500 q year
Hunters still report q great shortage
in birds. o. quail Most sportsmen
are genuine enough 20 refrain from
hunting further this season. a. there
- DANCE apparently of complete ex-
termination Of the cartridges unless
something Is done IN their favor. While
the-c are some who maintain that the
scarcity 0: birds Is only apparent. and
that they are hiding In the cover THIS
,-esr a majority Of sportsmen state
oositivelv that the game - well-n'gn
ex.e-rn.uated movement viii proo-
abi~ be made % have the Board o.
Sups-v.sors o. the county pu; co''i-
rlete stop % far-aer hunting tAis sea
son
Deer still seem 20 b plentiful IL
Cumberland AM IA Buckingham. near
the lire. IN ,azh eiseWhe-c IN ;hs eoan-
- there are practically none Ior-
ievs are. e anything. more slea'iiHl
,hts season than usual Rabbits are