The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-26
BILLION TONS OF
COAL IN VIRGINIA
Investigation by Eminent Geolo-
gists Show That Southwest Is
Richer Than Supposed.
WISE AND DICKINSON FACTS
Millions of Unearthed Wealth in
the Pound Quadrangle III
Old Virginia.
WISE AND DICKINSON FACTS

Charlottesville, Va. April 25.-That
Southwest Virginia contains billions OF
tons of coal In what Is practically a
virgin field. is one OF many interest
ing facts disclosed In a volume issued
yesterday by the Virginia Geological
Survey entitled, The Coal Resources
and General Geology OF the Pound
Quadrangle in Virginia"
DR.. Thomas L. Watson, director Of
the survey. says that this report, which
WAS prepared in cooperation with tho
United states Geological Survey. is the
first of n series To be issued I'm connec-
ton with the work OF investigating
and mapping 1850 square miles of coal
lands in Southwest Virginia When
the work is finally completed, gen.
eral report will be issued and widely
distributed by the Virginia survey. The
publicity thus given 10 this vast store
house OF wealth WILL 1t Is believed,
lead to immediate development by ma
tive OF foreign capital Only one op-
Grafton is now being conducted there
or n commercial scale.
Whnt and Where u Is.
DR.. Watson says this particular Nir-
ginia coal IS bituminous and of cx.
cellon1 quality; mining conditions seem
nighly favorable. and this region
should. he says, become with proper de-
'elopment one of the principal coal
producing centres Of the central .,n-
palachian coal field
The region covered in the present re-
port is technically known as the Pound
QUADRANGLE. l. includes parts OF Pike
and Letcher Counties, Kentucky ami
Wise and Dickinson Counties Viz
iinia 1t Is located few miles north
"cst OF the Toms Creek coal field. i'm
the territory between the great Poca-
hohtas coal field on the northeast ana
the Zig stone Gap field on tho south
west. Until recently tho region was
chtlreiS uhdeVelopcd and little infor-
nation concerning i. was available
Within the last three years railroad
communication with the outside world
mas been established. and OH the Ken
lucky side fourteen shipping mines are
In active operation. ON the virgins,
side only one large mine has been
operated put doubtless others viii be
established III the near future.
The number OF coal beds II, the Quad
rangle is probably greater than else
where in the Appalachian coal field
1t is said; and in the thickness and ex
tent OF it's beds the area will com
pare favorably with most others I'm
that field. These factors, combined
with the excellent quality OF the coal.
insure me area prominent place
among the future fuel-producing CEN
Easily Reached.
The report which is profusely Illus
trated and contains numerous com
parative tables OF tonnages, etc. is
concluded as follows
~ was ascertained by this survey
that The maximum thickness OF the
coal-bearinS rocks of the area Is
$500 feet. This thickness is attained
In Black Mountain and is probably tho
maximum thickness for the coal meas
nres OF the Appalachian coal field out
side OF the Coosa and CANADA coal fields
of Alabama.
The coal resources OF the lower
1000 feet OF these rocks could not he
thoroughly investigated. but II is
known from borings and scattered ex-
posures OF coal beds on the outcrops
of these rocks that there are a dozen
beds or so. fourteen inches.to four feet
Continued On Fifth Page.)