Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-10-13
VIRGINIA MANGANESE
NEEDED BY GOVERNMENT
Owners Of Lands Containing Val
liable Metal and Capitalists Should
-, ~ Get Together and Act.
VIEWS or a MINING ENGINEER
Virginia Has More Manganese Than
ANY Other Statc-Also Has Some
Pig-Headed Owners OF Same.
Uncle Sam Needs IL.

IlE-Hcaued owners or Same,
Uncle Sam Needs IL.
The shortage in the production of
manganese in the United States for
this year. according TO the latest esti-
mates of the United States Geological
Survey, will be $4,000 tons. and thus
there comes to Virginia. which has
hidden in its hills millions of tons OF
manganese ore, an q call. so to
ter OF this year. that is from January
l to March 81. show that IT. that time
Virginia produced 1880 tons of 40 per
cent manganese ore, 1855 tons OF -
10 Is per cent ore. The estimated
product ion OF the three grades of ore
in this State for the entire year is
Marshall Haney, a prominent and
well-known consulting mining engi-
neer of this State. whose home is up
in Greene, manganese producing
county, in very interesting letter on
the subject. says considering the num-
Der OF rich DEPOSITS of manganese in
this State, this output is entirely too
small He thinks Virginia. with fair
effort. can and ought TO produce 100000
tons this year and be Ia position to
double ii next year.
VIRGINIA HAS MILLIONS OF
TONS UNDER GROUND
]; is we'll known that Virginia is
the largest producer of manganese in
the United States. Il metal that is used
principally to harden and tougher iron
and steel. and is in immense demand
just at this time. n demand that is far
in excess of the supply. Virginia has
ranked first in tive production of this
valuable metallic substance for the past
developed and promising prospects
than any other State. Many of these
mines have been developed to the point
OF production. and then left idle while
hay
not been touched.
Mr.. Eaney explains that capitalists
for some reason or other have been
very slow 10 seriously consider the
advantages OF s'und investments in
manganese property. This is partly
due TO the fact that quite often few
or business ability have purchased
whist they thought to be a manganese
preperiy and after blowing in from
$4,000 TO $4,000 on what they call
development" quite often purchasing
an elaborate milling equipment before
they have a ton OF ore in sight. and
borrow. will run back to their starting
point and howl nothing in the man.
Esnese industry"
MISTAKES THAT THE WISE
DEVELOPERS SOMETIMES MAKE
II would seem from Mr. Haney's
modest statements. and he evidently
speaks OF what he knows, that few
hundred dollars spent in the employ
ment OF competent mining engineer
to go over the proposition before the
money or made success of the Ven
ture. The largest investors in man
Eanese property or any other mining
proposition would no more think OF
operating manganese mine, or other
kind, without the he p of an engineer
than banker, for instance, would
think Of treating a member OF his
influenza without n physician.
Air. Haney relates case in point.
He says:
manganese deposit on which over s25.-
600 had been spent and the owners
had quit. All the owners were good
business men along their lines. but
mining, and they put tirst-class trav-
cling salesman in charge OF the de-
relopment. Result, $4,000 spent or
properly spent would have put the
property on a paying basis. They had
the ore. but the salesman in charge
did not know how TO get at it."
TIE PRESENT DUTY OF
OWNERS OF PROPERTIES
Continuing his interesting letter. Mr.
haney says:
Many owners of valuable manga,
nese properties are dogs in the man
capital TO operate the property. and
are afraid that if they lease II the
lessee will make a few dollars; or
property where the risk is small and
the ore can he gotten out quickly anG
without expensive machinery, l WOULD
think it fair for the lessor to have 4
10 per cent royalty on the value or
board cars, and in some Instances from
to 10 per -Sent of the profits. Or
propositions where quick returns ar,
not in sight and large sums must bt
smaller royalty should be satisfac
tory.
Il think that if a man has ore tina
may be of such great service In win
ming the war II is his patriotic dut.
10 make such concessions az will make
/; available now when ii is needed
The owner should remember that ne i
getting a share OF the high price which
will prevail only for a limited time
4 royalty Of 10 per cent now means
more than 80 per cent in normal times
NOW Is TINE FOR
CAPITALISTS TO STEP II
The mining engineers. realizing tn
necessity and need OF manganese as
war material. are striving might ant
main TO increase the production, blu
without the proper backing their effort
viii bring only limited results A few
capitalists have recently taken hol'
of this industry and have made larE
profits in short time on small in
Nes;ments. The mining OF Manganese
is not millionaires business, but
business which man of moderat
means can so into.
The United States government need
the manganese for war purposes. am
must have il. Iron and steel work
all over the country need II, and mus
have il. Numerous mining engineers
like Mr.. Haney, are trying 10 answc
the appeal of the government for
greater production of this valuabl
material, and thousands Of tons OF i
lie under the surface OF Virginia an
the owners Of the property doubles
Will comes across il the capitalists wi
only step in. There is money in Nir
ginia manganese for all OF them.
CAMP WORK IN CAROLINA