The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-18
CONVICTION GETS
BIG ENTERPR|SE
Ancient Mari Beds Have Become
Mighty Industrial Venture.
Ohio Capital Interested.


Virginia. that is to say some parts
or II. is getting right much free ad-
vcrtising in certain parts OF the coun-
try. and 1t is entitled to all that lie
coming to 1t I'm that way. for there
is no part of the world that has more
to advertise than old Virginia. have
been reading paper published in
| AKRON. ohio. which has been having
something good to say about certain
development In Virginia A few ex-
tracts from the Ohio paper will toll
tho story without going into details
rms Akron paper tells of a citizen OF
! that town who came to Virginia to
| invest some Of his surplus cash, and
ii says:
Folks in and around Covington, Va.
| VIII proceed to get acquainted with
| O. c. Barber. of Akron. Ohio. and his
big way of making things movo when
! he puts his shoulder to the wheel
! That is a sufficient text for an indus
/ trial story.
! Incidentally the millions of people
who arc interested in lowering the
! nigh cost of living. in the conserva-
ton OF natural resources. and in max
( tnS OF the soil more productive will
/ oe interested in what AIr. Barber is
! going to do at Covington.
i. NJ. Gathright. of Covington, who
has owned the Falling Springs mari
deposit. recently interested o. c. Barber
\
put up sufficient capital to develop
and market this mari on big scale
The Failing Springs Mari Company
composed of the three gentlemen above
named is now being formed. and Will
oe ready to make shipments within
| three months.
between Covington and the Virginia
Hot Springs is situated the beautiful
Falling Springs, the grandeur of which
mas attracted thousands of people. Lit
tie. however. was thought by the
visitors to this spot Of the hidden
wealth that had been precipitated from
this immense spring, which will mean
millions of dollars TO the farmers OF
Virginia and nearby States, and the
rehabilitation of the soils to their orig
inal fertility.
The immense volume of water pass
ing through the underground stratas
of tho rich soft limestone of Falling
springs Valley causes the limestone TO
dlsinteSrate, and II comes out in solu-
ton In this strong limestone water
There is no precipitation of the in
gradients of this water while IN pool
or eddy form. but just below the
spring there is an abrupt fall of about
40 feet. which sets up rapid evapora-
ZION, the mist settling back OH the
face of the mari, where the moisture
eVaporates, leaving the ingredients or
this water in a solid mass, which
gradually hardens.
In this manner there has been de-
posted over loo,oo0.000 tons of this
mari. Analysing 81 per cent calcium
carbonate. This is the most soluble
and readily available form OF lime, be-
ms as quick to act as burned agri-
cultural lime without containing any
caustic properties.
Years and years ago the Virginia
natives discovered that this mari de-
posit, pulverized. vastly improved the
productivity of their farms But their
crude way Of preparing II for their
heius was 10 break il up with slcdge
hammers
1t is here that Mr.. Barber comes
along with his scheme OF doing things
upon hig scale.
Two years ago Mr.. Barber printed n
paper. addressed to the farmers OF
america telling how the product OF
their farms was being restricted be-
cause OF their inability to give to the
soil the right combination of elements
that it needed to mako it yield
IN abundance. lie told how a
syndicate controlled by j. p.
Morgan controlled the phosphate
mines of Tennessee, and how what the
Morgan syndicate didn't charge for
the phosphate product went 10 the
Morgan railroads, so that the price OF
Orio farmers made its use prohibitive.
copy OF this paaAx fell into tho
hands OF citizen 81 Covington, and,
knowing the value of the mari deposit
at Failing Springs. he concluded to
pay Mr.. Barber a visit, inviting him
TO come down TO Virginia and look II
over.
Not until four weeks ago was Mr..
Barber able TO CO. but what he saw
was sufficient 10 make him resolve TO
make up for lost time. The result is
the organization OF the Falling Springs
Mari Company, which will spend
100000 developing the new fertilizing
product.
Thus II is n far call from the sledge
manner method OF crushing the mari
to the 100000 mill being constructed
by Mr. Barber This explains why
the Covington folks are pretty well
Pleased with the Akron way OF doing
things The mill will have capacity
o. 500 tons day, and az there are
over l0e.0oo00o tons in sight, there is
good reason why the working men or
CoVirS ton should be happy in the CON
temptation of the steady employment
before them.
y very unique feature Of this en-
terprisc Is that by means of water
power II Is made possible to put the
nnlsnod product on board cars very
theaply. ny means OF large pipe
line the water is conducted from the
top of the falls down the valley, "a
distance OF one mile. giving a fall OF
ABOUT 500 feet. where n water power
plant VIII be erected TO furnish cleo
trio power for pulverizing and haul
ing thls mari down TO the Chesapeake
ana OHIO Railroad, a distance of two
miles over the electric line now being
built
large electric locomotive, MS well
as generating machinery and other
equipment, has been purchased and
construction work is being pushed
rapidly.
PICTURES WORTHY OF STUDY.
Pictures are good hihge. but they DO not