Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028785520 L c23l -3 7^ W^ 0L1N LIBRARY - CIRCULATION DATE DUE BEe^ «^K4i mk CATLORD PRINTEOINU.S.A. bale's palls, GRAYSON CO., VA. (P. 308.) RESOURCES South-west Virginia SHOWING THE MIISTEEAL DEPOSITS OF lEON, COAL, ZINC, COPPEK AND LEAD. ALSO, THE STAPLES OF THE VARIOUS COUNTIES, METHODS OP TRANS- PORTATION, ACCESS, Etc. ILLUSTRATED BY N0MEEOUS PLATES AND LAEGE COLOKED MAP EEPEESENTING THE GEOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY OF THE COUNTRY. BT CTR. lOYD, E.M., MzXBXB or An. Soo. or Civn. EsoimuM, akd or the Ihsiitute of Mmnra EnoiifiiEES. NEW YORK : JOHN WILEY & SONS, 15 AsTOB Place. 1881. e ,/^' V UNIVERSITY^ ■ y LIBRARY^ COPTKIGHT, 181, Bt JOHN WILEY & SONS. NEW VORK : J. J. LITTLE L CO., PRTNTERS. 10 TO 3D ASTOR PLACE. Contents. MONTGOMERY COUNTY. _ , PAGE Geology 3 Brush Creek— Gold Bearing Rocks 6 Brown Iron Ore g The Valley of Blaeksburg 10 Blaeksburg College 12 The Millstone Grit 17 Poverty Valley and Gap Mountain 17 Mineral Springs 18 Dr. Genth's Analysis 18 The Montgomery White Sulphur Springs 21 The Yellow Sulphur Springs 31 Towns and Villages 23 Blaeksburg. 24 Central Depot 24 Alleghany Station ; 35 Big Spring 35 Lafayette 35 Public Schools 35 Production of Cattle, Sheep, Wheat, Corn, and Tobacco 26 Timber. 36 Water Power 37 Grape Culture 27 Bee Culture 37 Fish Culture 28 PULASKI COUNTY. How Watered 30 Description of Section 31 Iron Ores 33 Red Iron Ore 87 Iron Carbonate 37 Manganese Ores 87 Coal 38 V Tl CONTENTS. Lead and Zinc 40 SUver 40 Limestone 43 Building Stones 43 Mineral Springs 43 Timber 42 Water Power 43 Manufactures 43 Agriculture 44 Scenery 44 Fruits 44 Trade in- Cattle, Sheep, Wheat, and Tobacco 45 Lines of Transportation 45 Towns and Villages 45 Public Schools 46 WYTHE COUNTY. How Bounded 48 How Watered 49 Geological 49 Coal 53 Iron — Brown Iron Ore 55 Analysis by J. Blodgett Britton 56 The Second Horizon of Brown Ores 57 Sir Robert Mallet on Volcanic Energy 59 The Brown Iron Ores and Manganiferous Ores of Lick and Draper's Mountains 66 Eed Iron Ores 69 Magnetic Iron Ore 70 Sulphureted Iron Ores 70 Manganese 71 Lead and Zinc 71 The Furnace and Works of the Wythe Lead and Zinc Mines Company. . . 74 Copper 75 Gypsum 76 Marble 76 Barytes 77 Kaolin 77 Timber and Charcoal 78 Agriculture 78 Manufactures 79 Scenery, etc. . . 80 Scenery, Mineral Springs, etc 81 Wytheville ' 83 Lines of Transportation 83 Pish Culture 84 Production of Cattle, Sheep, Wheat, Pig Metal, Lead, and Zinc Ore 84 CONTENTS. Tli FAQE Quotation from Howard Shriver, A.M., of ■Wytheville, on the Flora and Climate of Wythe County 84 Eain-f all ; and Averages for Month and Year 87 Monthly Average Temperature and General Averages for Month and Year 87 Maxima and Minima of Thermometer 88 Eange of Barometer 89 Monthly Averages 89 Furnaces and Forges in Wythe County, Virginia— AU Cold-Blast Char- coal 89 SMYTH COUNTY. Ho-w Bounded 93 How Watered 93 Geological 93 Iron Ores 94 Ked Iron Ore 99 Magnetic Iron Ore 100 Iron Pyrites 100 Copper 100 Lead and Zinc 101 Salt and Gypsum, or Plaster 101 Gypsum 104 Barytes 108 Marble 109 Kaolin 109 Timber 109 Water Power 110 Agriculture 110 Scenery Ill Mineral Springs 113 Manufactures 113 Furnaces and Forges 113 Lines of Transportation 114 Trade in Cattle, Sheep, Wheat, Corn, etc 115 Education 115 Towns and Villages 116 WASHINGTON COUNTY. How Bounded 118 How Watered 118 Geological 118 Iron 119 Bed Iron Ores l^** Magnetic Iron Ores or Semi-Magnetic Red Ores 120 Copper 1^1 Lead and Zinc 131 Till CONTENTS. FAGS Plaster and Salt ISl Marble 133 Barytes 133 Timber 133 Water Power 133 Agriculture 134 Tobacco Culture 135 Mineral Springs , 135 Washington Springs 136 Scenery 136 Manufactures 137 Furnaces and Forges 138 Towns and Villages 139 Bristol 139 Glade Spring 130 Buena Vista 130 Emory 131 Lines of Transportation.. 131 Pish Culture 131 Annual Surplus of Cattle, Sheep, Wheat, Com, Tobacco, etc 183 Education 133 Emory and Henry College 133 Martha Washington College 133 Stonewall Jackson Female Institute 134 GILES COUNTY. How Bounded 185 How Watered 186 Notable Physical Features 136 Section through Giles County 137 Geology 188 Iron Ores 140 Fossil E«d Iron Ore 143 East River Mountain Ore 143 Flat Top Mountain Ore. (Fossil Red.) 143 Brown Iron Ores 144 Manganese 147 Analysis of Manganese Ore 147 Copper 148 Lead and Zinc 148 Silver 1 49 Limestone. . . '. 149 Marble 150 Timber 150 Agriculture 151 Fruits 152 Grapes 152 CONTENTS. IX pAaB Bee Culture 153 Mineral Springs and Watering-Places 152 Scenery - 153 Trade 155 Manufactures 155 Schools 156 Fish Culture 156 Towns, etc 156 Transportation Lines 157 BLAND COUNTY. How Bounded 158 How Watered 158 Geology 159 Iron Ores 16i Red Ores 163 Manganese 164 Coal 165 Lead and Zinc 105 Barytes '. 166 Building Stones 166 Mineral Springs 166 Timber 167 Water Powers 167 Manufactures 168 Agriculture 168 Scenery 168 Trade in Cattle, Sheep, Wool, Wheat, and Com 169 Lines of Transportation 169 Towns and Villages 169 Public Schools 170 TAZEWELL COUNTY. How Bounded 171 How Watered 171 Geology 173 Iron Ores 173 Tazewell County 173 Red Iron Ores 176 Iron Pyrites 177 17ft Manganese ^ '° Coal "^ Lead and Zinc 18" Barytes fj- Copper 1«! Salt l**! S COHTENTS. FAQE BuUding Stones ^^^ Soapstone Marble ■ ^^^ Mineral Springs ^° Timber 1^^ Water Power 1^4 Manufactures , '^ Agriculture ^° Scenery ^°' Trade "in Cattle, Sheep, Wool, Wheat, Corn, and Tobacco 189 Towns and Villages 1^^ Public Schools 190 RUSSELL COUNTY. How Bounded 190 How Watered 191 Geology of Kussell 191 Section through Russell County 193 Iron Ores 194 Coal 195 Lead and Zinc 196 Barytes 196 Copper Ore 196 Salt 196 Limestone 196 Building Stones 197 Marble 197 Mineral Springs 197 Timber 197 Water Power 198 Manufactures 198 Agriculture 198 Scenery 199 Trade in Cattle, Sheep, Wheat, and Corn 300 Lines of Transportation 300 Towns and Villages 301 Public Schools 201 SCOTT COUNTY. How Bounded 203 How Watered 303 Geological 303 Cross Section in Eastern End of Scott County 208 Cross Section West End of Scott County 303 Coal 304 Iron Ores — Fossil or Red Ore 304 CONTENTS. XI PAGE Brown Ores 205 Manganese 3qq Lead ] 306 Salt 306 Marble 207 Baj^tes 207 Fire Clay 207 Water Power 207 Timber 208 Agriculture 208 Mineral Springs 208 Scenery ; 209 Manufactures, Furnaces, and Forges 310 Lines of Transportation 311 Annual Surplus of Cattle, Sheep, Horses, Mules, and Wheat 311 Principal Towns, etc 3ia Education „ 212 LEE COUNTY. How Bounded 314 How Watered 314 Coal 314 L-on Ores— Fossil Red Ores 316 Two Sections taken within two miles of North Fork Gap (or Pennington's Gap), showing the Fossil Ked Iron Ore of Lee Coimty 217 Brown Iron Ore 318 Lead and Zinc 218 Limestone 318 Barytes 319 Kaolin 319 Timber 319' Water Power 33a Agriculture 330i Scenery 320 Archseology 331 Manufactures 331 Pennington's Forge 333 Lines of Transportation 333 Fish Culture 333 Annual Surplus of Cattle, Sheep, Wheat, etc 333 Education 334 WISE COUNTY. How Bounded 335 How Watered ■ ■ • • 335 Iron Ores 336 Xll CONTENTS. FAGtE Cross Section at Big Stone Gap, Wise County 337 Coal. 328 The Iron Ores 335 Limestone * General Summary of the Resources 339 Lead 343 Silver 343 Building Stones 343 Timber 344 Agriculture 344 Manufactures 345 Schools 345 Trade in Cattle, etc 346 DICKENSOK COUNTY. 346 BUCHANAN COUNTY. How Bounded 347 How Watered 347 Geology 348 Iron Ores 349 Coal 349 yertieai SecHon-Conway Creek 350 Salt 351 Building Stones 353 Timber 353 Water Power 353 Agriculture 353 Scenery 353 Trade in Cat-tfc and Sheep 254 Lines of Transportation 354 Towns and Villages 354 Public Schools 354 FLOYD COUNTY. Section through Floyd County 356 Gold 361 Agricultural Features 363 Annual Shipments over and above Home Consumption of Several Pro- ducts 364 Timber 365 Water Power. . . '. 365 Fruit 265 Fish Culture 365 Bee Culture 366 Towns and Villages 266 CONTENTS. xiii FAGS Public Schools ggg Scenery 3g^ Puncheon Run Falls 367 CARROLL COUNTY. How Bounded ggg Section through Carroll County 370 How Watered 271 Gleological 271 Specular Ores 275 Magnetite 275 Iron Pyrites 276 Copper Ore 276 Native Copper 277 The Peach Bottom Lode 378 Northern Lode 279 A Table of Analysis upon Samples of Ore Obtained from the Different Shafts and Openings upon the Property of this Company 389 Gold and Silver 289 Mica 390 BuUdiag Stones 290 Mineral Springs 390 Timber 391 Water Power 391 Manufactures 393 Agriculture 393 Scenery 393 Fruits 393 Trade in Cattle, Sheep, etc 294 Lines of Transportation 294 Towns and villages 394 GRAYSON COUNTY. How Bounded 395 How Watered 396 Geological 396 Section through Grayson County 397 Iron Ores , 399 Iron Pyrites 301 Manganese 803 Lead 303 Copper 303 Gold 304 Silver 304 Limestone 305 Felspar 305 XIV CONTENTS. PAGE Granite and Syenite ^^ Asbestos 306 Soapstone 306 Timber 306 Water Power 308 Manufactures 307 Agriculture 307 Scenery 308 Fruits 309 Trade in Cattle, Sheep, "Wheat, Corn, and Tobacco 309 Towns and Villages 310 ASHE COUNTY, N. C. How Watered 313 Geological 313 Copper 313 Copper, Gold, and Silver 315 Iron Ore 317 Mica 318 Kaolin 318 Talc '. 819 Timber and Charcoal 319 ALLEGHANY COUNTY, N. C. The Counties of Southwestern Virginia 320 Census Items 831 EESOUEOES OP Southwest ViRaiisriA. It is hoped by the writer that the matter contained in thi» book will be a sufficient apology for its appearance. Not that he is, by this means, trying to forestall criticism upon the manner in which the subjects are handled. No doubt a much more beautiful structure could be built of the same materials by more skillful hands, but noio is the time when the general public desire to be informed about these most lavish and bountiful resources of this section of Virginia ; and if the more competent heads and hands will not under- take a work which, if even tolerably well done, would be alike gratefully received by a progressive public and a needy State, why some one must do it who may barely have nothing more than a love of his country to urge him to the task. The great and crying need of Virginia now is not so much the continuance of a suicidal strife over an issue already determined by the highest law and usage, but that we should forget all animosities, and labor together to build up and largely enhance the financial power of such communities in the State as are capable of further development. This can be done by showing up our resources in a proper manner ; thus bringing iu many men of capital to willingly help us not only bear our burdens, but create new facilities for mak- ing money, in the erection of furnaces, etc., and in the build- 2 EESOUECES OF SOUTHWEST YIBGINIA. ing of new lines of railway. It is not any attempt at proph- ecy to say that the financial power of Southwestern Vir- ginia and of the James Eiver Valley in ten years will be in- creased thirty-three per cent. If we of this section can con-, tribute anything to hasten the good time, why then let us do it. The facts truthfully stated, a picture or two here and there of the fine scenery, a measurement now and then of the vast mineral Teins and lodes with which Nature has so lav- ishly blessed this country, and an earnest endeavor to bury self a little while, and resurrect the country, will do the work for us. This work, then, upon the resources of a section so rich naturally, needs no introduction, other than an apology for the great imperfections which must mark an attempt to treat so important a subject in a manner it deserves. Some of the dear friends of the writer desire that he will use the occasion to express his views upon the great question which is said to have such a bearing upon the speedy devel- opment of the massive resources described in this volume : namely, that of the tariff ; but he begs to defer such a dis- cussion to a more suitable occasion. Likewise it has been contended that the great purity and excellence of the ores of iron described, and cheap and abundant fuel, mark the sec- tion as the one to which the attention of " government officials should be timely directed, in anticipation of the great efforts likely to be made to bring up the naval armament of the country to a condition of high efficiency ; but, though it is to be regretted that such friends will be disappointed here, the writer begs to submit the impropriety of loading the book with arguments and opinions that would obscure a clear view of the subjects treated, besides creating prejudices in ad- vance against the territory described, that would remand both the noble area thus treated ajid the writer, to a last- ing want of appreciation. MONTGOMERY COUNTY. — GEOLOGY. 3 MONTGOMEEY COUNTY. It may be of interest, before going into a description of Montgomery County as it now looks on the map, to revert to its earlier history, speaking of its origin. Augusta County, which once contained all that there is now of Southwest Virginia, was created in 1738 from Orange County, a scope of country which comprised not only the territory that this book treats of in Virginia, but the whole of the State of Kentucky. Bottetourt County came next, being taken out of " West Augusta ; " and then, in 1772, Fincastle County was formed, covering our ground. A short time after, in 1776, the county of Fincastle was extinguished by the formation of Washington, Montgomery, and Kentucky counties, the last comprising the present State of Kentucky. It is needless to remind many of the readers of this book, that General Washington, when he spoke of the possibility of having to retreat to the mountains of " West Augusta," al- luded to the chains of mountains which pass through the heart of Southwestern Virginia. Montgomery, shorn of much of its original territory by the formation of several new counties on every side, may be said, now, to lie between the crest of the Gap or Walker's Moun- tain on the north, and Laurel Eidge and Bent Mountain on the south ; bounded west, practically, by New and Little Elvers, and east by no very marked geological data, running parallel with the line between it and Eoanoke County. Geology. The geology of the county is comprised between the Huronian rocks, lying on the south, and the proto-carbon- iferous measures toward the north side, inclusive. The classification of the rocks and the divisions between different epochs are more or less easily defined, with the ex- 4 MONTGOMEET COUNTY. — GEOLOGY. ception of some of the limestones in the valleys. These great masses of limestones, which are, very frequently, indiscrimi- nately assigned to the Trenton sub-epoch, are almost totally ■without fossils of any kind ; and, but for their known rela- tion to very correctly determined data, might as well be as- signed to the Eozoic as any other period, so far as fossils are concerned. They lie conformably above the rocks showing that well-known fossil the scolithus, and do really belong to the Calciferous sub-epoch, which throughout this part of Virginia is very thick ; and in it mainly repose the thickest and most valuable deposits of brown iron, zinc, and lead ores, of which this volume is likely to speak : though it is by no means to be understood that any invidious distinction is being attempted, in advance, against the fine brown ores in Numbers VII. and VIII. to be found in the Gap Mountain. It is not here assumed that there are no Trenton limestones in this section of Virginia ! The remarks above apply to the main body of the limestones in this southwestern extension of the Great Valley of Virginia. Underlying the north base of some of the larger mountains, the Trenton is very well represented. The cross section on the opposite page, twenty-two miles in length, which has been taken across the county from south to north, may lead to a much clearer comprehension of its geology. It will be seen from an examination of it that the Huronian strata, as well as the neighboring rocks of the Potsdam and lower part of the Calciferous, have been slightly overturned toward the north, or partially reversed in their true order. Next to these, going north, are the great^lime- stones of the Calciferous, carrying us over the great iron, lead, and zinc beds. Proceeding northward over a repetition of the broken Calciferous, crossing the line of the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Eailroad, a _great fault is encountered, which repeats itself several times in Southwestern Virginia. MONTGOMEEY COUNTY. — GEOLOGY. ^ Si I i ^ ^ 2^ Toms Oreek. VcUley of' BladkihiYg Stroubles CreeH Priees Mountain Gap on WaikertiMmmtain) Pcfoerly VaUeu Pilot Mountain Laurel Sidge, D MONTGOMERY CO. — GOLD-BEAEING BOOKS. That is, we have the rocks of the Calciferous brought up into contact with a downthrow of the proto-carboniferous, or lower coal rocks. Passing this fault, the measures holding the Price's Mountain coal are soon encountered, lying in the shape of an anticlinal ; then the limestones of the beautiful valley, watered by Tom's Creek and Strouble's Creek principally ; then the Brush Mountain coal measures. After which the Olean conglomerate, underlaid by a great width of slates, shales, and sandstones, through the entire upper petroleum rocks, upturned and visible. Then reaching the base of Gap Mountain, the Marcellus black slates and shales, under- laid by occasional beds of the Corniferous, the Oriskany, the lower Helderberg, the Clinton, and the Oneida last. These last mentioned of the Upper Silurian, outcropping almost in- variably on the southern slope of the mountain, dip at angles varying between 60° and 30° southwardly. BBUSH CEEEK. — GOLD-BEAEING EOCKS. The south side of the county is marked, as we have seen, by Huronian strata. These rocks, Inainly micaceous, felspathic, and chloritic, banded here and there with heavy dikes of quartz, trend N. E. and S. "W. the length of the county on that side. The decomposition of these rocks through many ages has not only left a good soil along the valley of Brush Creek, but now the people of that region are somewhat excited over the gold which is being found along the streams. "Whether any distinct stratum exists with well- marked veins of the precious metal has not yet been so fully determined as desired. The washings so far show the gravel, etc., to yield about 33 pennyweights to the hand per day, with rude sluice boxes. These same strata cross the South Fork of Koanoke Eiver, about the line between Mont- gomery and Floyd Counties, and ought there, in the deeper MONTGOMERY CO. — GOLD-BEAEING EOCKS. 7 gorges, to yield more lieaTily tlian anywhere else. To speak more to the point, by looking at the general map accom- panying. Pilot House will be found on the southern side of the county of Montgomery on Brush Creek. Three miles east of Pilot House, more gold has been washed from the gravel and other detritus than at any other point. The gold has been found in surface washings over an extent of country six to eight miles wide, chiefly in quartz dikes in mica slates alternating with granite which is occasionally porphyri- tic. The dip of the rocks is north here, but on the south side of Laurel Eidge the dip is the other way. Gold has been found in very handsome quantities on Laurel Creek. The rock ledges near Pilot House are granitic next to Pilot Mountain ; near the foot of this mountain, next to Brush Creek, hydro-mica slates come in, showing here and there ledges of quartz, one of which, from six to twelve feet thick, holds the most of the much-talked-of gold of Brush Creek. Then south of this' are the hydro-mica, chloritic, and schistose bands, which are again repeated in Laurel Eidge, giving the gold again. Then again on Laurel Creek in Floyd County. A large vein of pyrites, containing copper, exists undevel- oped in this valley, as well as lead ore. Occasional frag- ments of magnetite are also found. Next to the north is Pilot Mountain, the eastern prolongation of Iron Mountain, occupying the line of junction between the Huronian and Cambrian rocks, that is between the metamorphic and more distinctly fossiliferous, such as the Potsdam. This mountain is cut off just east of the prominent and well-known peak called Fisher's View, by the south fork of Eoanoke Eiver, and rises agaiu farther east in a series of high and steep spurs known as Poor and Bent Mountains. In the northern escarpment of this range is the division be- 8 MONTGOMEEY CO. — BEOWN IKON OBE. tween the Potsdam and calciferous sub-epochs, marked by a vein of BEOWN lEON OBE, • trend N. E., from 15 to 30, and sometimes 100 feet thick — a decomposition of pyrites. Here and there, owing to end compressions and side flexures, this vein assumes a much greater thickness. For instance, a flexure in the Big Bend of Little Eiver, near Elliott's, caused the vein to have a measure through a hill of about 300 feet. This mass will yield about 400,000 tons of ore in 375 feet length, above water level. To attempt to estimate the quantity this vein the whole length of twenty miles in the county would yield, would be absurd. Above water level it would give a breast of several hundred feet elevation, approaching the perpendicular in attitude. Near Tice's Mill, South Fork of Boanoke Biver, the comparatively deep gorge takes us down below the de- composed zone, and you find the vein of pyrites nearly 100 feet thick. In many places this great vein is charged with manganese to such an extent as to render the iron made from it very hard. Here and there it is phosphoretio ; but as an ore for general purposes, to be mixed with other ores, it is very good. Now and then it assumes the form of pipe ore in some of the hills, becoming stalactitic and mamillary in form, and these ores usually are among the best in the great Iron Belt. In other sections there are generally two iron veins of lesser thickness between the one just described and the measures holding the lead and zinc, but in this county they are not so distinct. The lead and zinc are not more than 900 yards, across alternate strata of red and gray shales and limestones, northwardly from the great iron vein in Mont- MONTGOMEEY CO. — BEOWN lEON OEE. 9 gomery County. Beginning at Calfee's in Little Eiver Dis- trict, and continuing nortlieast-wardiy through the mine opened by Col. Langhorne of Shawsville, are here and there interesting exposures of the vein. Proceeding on eastwardly toward Big Spring, the exact locality of the vein is lost un- der the great amount of debris in the foot hills of the higher mountains. At Calfee's and at Colonel Langhorne's the ex- posures made show the vein to be nearly on its edge, be- tween walls of limestone from 9 to 12 feet thick, and yielding very handsome specimens of lead sulphuret and zinc blende and carbonate. After leaving this measure, going northwardly, you pass across several hundred yards of Calciferous red slates and shales and magnesian rocks ; the reds now and then giving fine crystals of specular red iron ore. From the decomposi- tion of these rocks must result a great part of the irregular deposits found in different parts of the limestone valley farther down and somewhat north. The limestones toward the middle N. E. and S. W. belt of Montgomery are so well known as the limestones of the Great Yalley of Virginia as not to require any^great amount of description. In them occur beds and deposits of brown iron ores. In one series about three miles south of the At- lantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad, which runs east and west through the middle of the county, there are surface indications of magnetic ore. It has not yet been developed. Just south of this line is a series of easily decomposed limestones, running the length of the county, from which has resulted a great deal of crystalline lime carbonate, some- times having the appearance and texture of Mexican onyx. North of the line of the A. M. and O. E. K* the fault is soon encountered which separates the great valley lime- stones from the coal rocks of the western end of the county * Since the book has been in press, this road has passed into the hands of the " Norfolk and Western Kailroad." 10 MONTGOMEEY CO. — THE VALLEY OF BLACKSBUEG. and from the Devonian limestones, slates, shales, etc., of the eastern end, which correspond in position to the coal rocks. In this line of Devonian Eocks occur the celebrated springs of Montgomery, with the exception of Alleghany- Springs, which are situated at the base of the mountains, holding the earlier formations, on the south side of the above-named railroad. Of all these mention will be made in detail presently. The coal rocks, which begin to show in the southern spurs of Price's Mountain, three miles N. W. of Christiansburg, on the lands of Kyle and others, belong to the earlier sub-car- boniferous, or proto-carboniferous ; and, for that side of Price's Mountain, while here and there sufficiently regular to yield a good return for mining, it is not until you reach the northern escarpment of this mountain and the southern side of Brush Mountain, inclosing the valley of Blacksburg, that you reach the better areas. THE VALLEY OE BLACKSBUEG. Among the mere exhibitions of beautiful landscape scenery, presented so frequently to the eye in traveling over South- west Virginia, perhaps no scope of the whole extent will so forcibly remind the beholder of a fine English landscape as the valley of Blacksburg : swelling and undulating grassy meadows and grain fields, relieved by occasional extensive areas of woodland, in which the oak almost invariably out- numbers all other trees put together; numerous streams, flowing from springs in the limestone, sometimes so bold as to afford power sufficient to run a grist-mill within a few hundred yards of the source ; mountain chains, on the north and south, with its western limits defined by a broad and beautiful river. MONTGOMEEY CO. — THE VALLEY OP BLACKSBUEG. 11 Olean ^^y Conglomerate 12 MONTGOMERY CO. — BLACKSBUEG COLLEGE. BLACKSBUEG COLLEGE. In this valley, near its eastern side, are the town of Blacks- burg, and that State institution of learning known as " The Agricultural and Mechanical College." The reader, it is hoped, will excuse us for a moment, if we delay the discus- sion of the geology of this remarkable section, in order to say a word concerning Blacksburg College. This college, erected by the State at a time when her financial embarrass- ments were such as to render it impossible for her to put enough money into it to either complete it in a manner to meet the objects for which it was organized, or to maintain it properly when so built, has practically proven the grave of an estimable faculty. Without wasting more time upon the discussion of disagreeable matters, it is a question whether or not it would be advisable for the State to con- sider the propriety of turning this college into an asylum of some sort — an institution which she has also been trying to secure — to be located in that part of the State ; and then, taking advantage of the fact that Emory and Henry College owes the State a large sum of money, to buy out that institu- tion with this debt and the proceeds of the sale of the State farm at Blacksburg ; thus not only securing the admirable grounds and buildings of Emory and Henry College, but rendering it possible to make up such a faculty out of the two schools combined as will make an entire success, as a whole, out of the two, whose hope of a successful future apart is entirely chimerical. If such a solution is possible, Blacksburg and vicinity *in the matter of dollars and cents must be gainers by the change. The overcrowded condition of the asylums in dif- ferent parts of the State would render it necessary to send more persons there to consume the produce of the surround- ing country than they now have to supply at the college, or MONTGOMEET CO. — ^BLACKBSUBG COLLEGE. 13 are likely to have for many years to come. On tte other hand, Emory being now brought down in the number of its students by the erection of Vanderbilt University and other colleges west, after becoming a State institution, under this plan, would have a great accession in numbers^ in the State students, as well as many others attracted by the greater facilities for a liberal and cheap education it would then pre- sent, compared with its present status. To those interested, who will follow this line of reasoning out in all its bearings, it must be evident that on all sides there would be great gain to State, to faculties, and the public. ... To resume the geological features again, this valley of Blacksburg presents quite an interesting prob- lem to scientific men in her coalfield. Do the coal meas- ures which outcrop on either side of this valley form a lenticular basin underlying the valley, or is it broken in the middle by an intrusion of silurian limestones from below ? Let us here insert an accurate cross section, taken directly across the valley, to assist in the discussion, a distance of just 3.34 miles from outcrop on the south side to the corre- sponding strata on the north side. It has been assumed by Professor Lesley, of Pennsylvania Geological Survey, that the limestone in the valley is lower silurian ; consequently, that there has been such a disturb- ance of the earth's crust as to force a great fragment of this limestone into a rent made in the coal formation. This may be true ; but a very close examination has reduced the proba- ble lateral thickness of this limestone of the lower rocks to only one mile or less. Beginning at the outcrop of the coal on the south or Price's Mountain side, 6,000' feet were meas- ured before the coal rocks, which could be identified with some certainty, were passed ; and then on the north side, within about 6,000 feet of the outcrop in Brush Mountain, a repetition of the same rocks, dipping southwardly, was 14 MONTGOMEEY CO. — BLACKSBUBG COLLEGE. encountered, making 12,000 feet out of 17,625 feet, which was the whole length from one coal outcrop to the other of the basin, toward the center of which the coal dips from each side. The general absence of abundant fossil remains in the limestones so far as you can see them would naturally lead to the belief that they belong yery low down in the order of true position ; but they may belong to that class of rooks which are formed as a precipitate sometimes in waters rather too deep for animal life of any kind. In that case they may as well be referred to one age as another. After a tolerably diligent search there were a few fossil remains found, but too indistinct to be regarded as positive evidence. Eemains of what was without doubt either a McLurea, a Goniatites or Clymenia were found as you approach the northern side of the valley, while on the southern side some of the limestone was brecciated with distinct crystals of 'gypsum, an almost conclusive proof of their being Carbon- iferous ; with a considerable measure of these limestones not only lying conformably upon the well-recognized red and gray shales of the coal measures, but differing very materi- ally in structxire from those near the center of the valley. They were crypto- crystalline over much of the ground where much exposed; as though they had been largely composed of fragments of gypsum which had decomposed and passed away in solution, leaving the mass full of cells. But it is not proposed to render any decision here, or to prolong the dis- cussion to the exclusion of other matter which may be more agreeable to the reader ; but it is a question submitted to men of science as to whether this is a true basin or not. If it is broken how is the intrusion of the lower rocks into so small an aperture, comparatively, without bringing along with them much of the intervening formations, to be ac- counted for ? Industrially, these coals are valuable. Four MONTGOMERY CO. — BLACKSBUEG COLLEGE. 15 veins, the larger haTing fifty-four inches of good coal, in a Tein nearly nine feet thick, the smaller two and one-half feet of good coal in a vein three feet thick ; the smaller being much more bituminous than the larger, which is an anthra- cite coal. These veins lie very much as represented in the cross sec- tion, coming in again on the south side of the anticlinal formed by Price's Mountain. In Brush Mountain the most satisfactory measurements were taken at the Kinser Bank and at the Faulkner Hollow. In Price's Mountain, Bruce's Mine gave the most accessible openings. From these meas- urements the identity of the veins was established, and as they varied so little at different points, it may safely be as- sumed that the measures given are the proper ones upon which to base calculations as to quantity. These two veins, the only ones of any consequence, are much broken up and disturbed from New Eiver, going east, some distance beyond Poverty Gap, leaving ten miles length, however, of regular measures, beginning as you ap- proach Price's Mill, and becoming broken again in the vicin- ity of Blacksburg : ten miles on either side — ^both Brush Mountain anw Price's Mountain. These veins will average • at their out|Kpa 180 feet above water level in Tom's and Strouble's creeks, judging from careful barometric reading — average dip 25° — giving 426 feet on the length of the incline. Specific gravity being 1.65, the quantity in the larger vein above water level in these creeks will be found to be over 4600,000 tons on each side of the valley ; deducting one-third for space taken up by ravines and loss from handling, there would be 3,000,000 of tons for shipment. In the three feet vein, as remarked above, there will be two and one-half feet of coal of a more bituminous character ; this will yield for each side in the same distance over 2,500,000 tons above water in the same creeks, or over 1,600,000 tons for shipment. 16 MONTGOMEEY CO. — COAL FOEMATION. There would be yet remaining the coal below water level, which would run on the inclination, or dip, of the veins at least 5,000 feet on each side of the valley, and would yield a tonnage more than ten times as great as that enumerated above. Other parts of these veins will yield many hundreds of thousands of tons, both as you approach New Kiver, and as you go toward the valley of the North Fork of the Eoanoke ; but those sections, as well as the south side of Price's Moun- tain, will never be regarded as reliable as that from which the above calculations were made. The analysis of these coals may not be uninteresting : Coal from the large vein analyzed by J. M. Safford, State Geologist of Tennessee, in 1876, gave the following results : Moisture 0.89 Volatile matter 7.82 Fixed carbon 67.29 Ash of grayish color 24.00 100.00 Mr. Safford declares it an anthracite. The coal of the smaller vein, analyzed im 1876, in the laboratory, of the University of Pennsylvanw' y George A. Koenig, Ph.D., professor of metallurgy and applied chemis- try, gave the following results : Moisture at 140° C 0.20 Gas given out by heating to a yellow-red heat one hour 27.44 Fixed carbon 57.92 Ashes (white) 14.34 Sulphur 0.10 100.00 MONTGOMERY CO. — POVEETT VALLEY AOT) GAP MOUNTAIN. 17 This chemist places this coal in the dry semi-bituminous class. The whole quantity of the coal removed from these veins does not exceed 50,000 tons to date. The average quantity per year is about 1,700 tons. THE MILLSTONE GEIT. The millstone grit, nowhere more than 245 feet thick, is well exposed in Brush Mountain, near Price's Mill ; several ledges of it there yield a stone from which millstones have been made for many years. These millrocks have even been used with satisfaction in the large mills at Richmond ; and would, no doubt, form the basis of a large business, if there was a railroad passing by. Between this millstone grit and the coal there is a ledge of conglomerate, the pebbles of which yield a low percentage of silver upon analysis. POVEETY VALLEY AND GAP MOUNTAIN. Passing then into the valley next Gap Mountain, nothing of note is encountered until you reach the limestone of the Lower Helderberg group, which will be valuable for furnace use. It sometimes contains small quantities of blue lead ore. Close to this going north, as you ascend the Gap Mountain, is the remarkable ledge of brown weathered-look- ing sandstone, which all through this section is an iron and sometimes a manganese-bearing rock. Frequently the sand- stone gives way entirely to a limonite highly prized by iron men, making the Oriskany an exceedingly valuable member of the series. In this particular the Oriskany has great supe- riority over the Clinton in this vicinity. The Clinton or Dyestone ore here does not seem to have the character possessed by the same measures in Poor Valley Ridge, Lee County. Now let us revert to the mineral springs, after stating in 2 18 MONTGOMERY CO. — ^DK. GENTH's ANALYSIS. brief that tlie northeastern quarter or division of the county is composed mainly of Devonian rocks, on the waters of the North Fork of Eoanoke Eiver, inclosing , Lewis Mountain ; with the exception of the north bend of the above stream, which is of lower limestone lying next to the proto-carbon- iferous rocks in that extension of Brush Mountain. MINERAL SPRINGS. Alleghany Springs are very pleasantly situated on the south bank of the Boanoke Biver, three and one-half miles south of Alleghany Depot, a station on the Atlantic, Missis- sippi and Ohio Bailroad. These springs may justly be ranked among the most excellent and desirable summer resorts in Virginia. The waters are highly medicinal in their charac- ter, judging from the following thorough analysis : ■ DR. GENTH's analysis. ■" According to my analysis, the composition of the water from the Alleghany Springs is as follows : " One Gallon, 70,000 Grains, Contains Sulphate of Magnesia 50.884390 grains do. Lime 115.890482 " do. Soda 1. 717959 " do. Potassa 8.699081 " Carbonate of Copper 0.000359 " do. Lead 0.000569 " do. Zinc 0.001713 " do. Iron 0.157049 " do. Manganese 0.060617 " do. Lime.... 3.613209 " do. Magnesia 0.362362 " do. Strontia 0.060036 " do. Baryta.; 0.022404 " do. Lithia 0.001679 " 183.069331 grains Solid ingredients by direct evaporation gave 184.072000 " Half combined carbonic acid 1 885536 Free carbonic acid 5.466726 " Hydro-eulphuric acid 0.001839 " Nitrate of Magnesia 3.219563 grains do. Ammonia 0.5n9412 " Phosphate of Alnmina 0.025549 " SUicate of Alnmina 0.207399 Fluoride of Calcium 0.022858 Chloride of Sodium 0.374676 " SilicicAcid 0.882783 CrenicAcid 0.001921 " Apocrenic Acid 0.000193 " Otlier Organic Matter 1.9' Carbonate of Cobalt.. I Teroxide of Antimony ( "'^™^- Total amount of ingredients 100.411912 MONTGOMERY CO. — ^DB. GENTH'S ANALYSIS. 19 " With regard to the medicinal qualities of this mineral water, I beg leave to copy a few passages from a letter of Ch. Cocke, M.D., a gentleman who has made for a number of years a series of observations of its healing qualities, and has furnished me with information on this subject. He says: 'I have spent a portion of six seasons at the Alleghany Springs — the two first for the cure of an inveterate case of dyspepsia of twenty-five years' standing — the stomach being the chief seat of the disease, with many sympathetic affections, such as nervous headache, palpitation of the heart, etc. The cure was perfect.^ ******* " ' In short, I have never met with a case of derangement of the digestive organs (where the waters were properly used with the necessary perseverance) that was not cured or greatly relieved, except where the patient was far gone in consump- tion — a complication of diseases by no means rare.' " The numerous ingredients found in the water of the Alleghany Springs, in small quantities, in connection with the more active salts of lime and magnesia, must certainly produce decided effects, and in combination with the delight- ful climate, fresh air, and exercise, cannot help but have a highly beneficial influence in many affections of invalids. " (Signed) F. A. Genth." A stay at these springs has often proved highly beneficial to those who have become debilitated from any cause. A most healthy desire for food is one of the marked effects, and with it that most grateful feeling produced by a restored power of digestion which all mere appetizers cannot claim. This condition, however, may be owing to the pure and wonderfully bracing atmosphere of the place, seeming ever to 20 MONTGOMEBY CO.^DE. GENTH'S AliTALYSIS. be renewed and freshened by contact with the lofty moun- tains stretching away for miles in the background. As to its natural beauty ! It is picturesque and romantic in the highest degree ! No lover of the beautiful in nature could fail to be deeply thrilled with the almost perfect har- mony in every feature of the noble landscape, presented by the grounds and buildings of the springs, in their setting of wooded hills and mountains — the mountains rearing their towering summits, plumed here and rock-covered there, far into the unlimited space above, as if wooing the soft embrace of the fleeting clouds. In its front flows the never-failing South Fork of the Eoanoke, washing the foot of the lawn, fresh from more than a thousand crystal springs, dancing to its own sweet music, as it rapidly descends over boulder and pebble. It may be as well that we have no sketch of these springs, for no pencil could portray on pq,per the charming picture. Near to these springs is the fine scenery afforded by the mountain streams in their rapid descent through the deep gorges — Styles' Falls of fifty feet. Puncheon Eun Falls of three hundred and fifty feet at the steepest, with much of it a cascade coming down a thousand feet. Add to these, two falls on this fork of Eoanoke Eiver, which will have to be de- scribed in the scenery of Floyd County, the Beatrice and Prince Imperial, and you have a group of attractions very rare to occur in so short a distance of each other. It is sel- dom that two streams unite in the manner presented by the South Fork coming over Beatrice Falls eighty feet, forming a basin at its foot, into which a smaller stream pours its waters two hundred feet over the Prince Imperial. Space and our feeble powers alike forbid us to attempt a description of all this scenery. Nature will not fail to im- press any who may visit these places with their exceeding beauty more than their awful grandeur. To see them is to «.* ''^ , *:«> V& ^ m a o g MONTGOMEBT CO. — THE YELLOW SUEPHUE SPEINGS. 21 read what nature has written in a language no pen can de- scribe nor pencil portray. THE MONTGOMEBY WHITE SULPHUB SPEINGS. These springs derive their waters from Devonian lime- stones, just about the line of the great fault. The grounds and buildings are situated in a very attractive spot, about one and three-quarter miles north of the Big Tunnel, a station on the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Bailroad, with which they are connected by a narrow-gauge railroad. All that can be said of pure air, mountain scenery, and excellent diet may very well be applied to this locality. The waters are of sev- eral kinds — three bold sulphur springs, one chalybeate, and a freestone spring, besides limestone water in abundance. The handsome pavilions over the marble reservoirs, in which most of these waters are caught, are not the least attractive feature of these springs. It is claimed that the hotels and cottages here will accommodate one thousand guests, and that they are well supplied with that great luxury absent at many places — bath-rooms. In this vicinity, on a stream running into the North Fork of Koanoke' Biver, are the Dudley Falls, a beautiful cas- cade ninety feet high, where the limestone water, agitated in its descent, has deposited in so many years great masses of tufa. On the North Fork of Eoanoke Eiver, easily accessible to these springs, are many wild and romantic dells. In all these places in summer, or when the trees are loaded with the frosts of winter, there is a distiuot charm that impresses every lover of nature. THE YELLOW SULPHUB SPEINGS. The fine mineral spring to which this place owes its repu- tation is situated also in the general line of the great fault 22 MONTGOMERY CO. — THE YELLOW SULPHUB SPBINGS. before alluded to, and may deriye its waters from the mate- rials composing tlie earlier as well as tlie Devonian lime- stones. The site for its grounds and buildings was well selected in a wooded glen, about three and a half miles northwardly from Christiansburg Depot, on the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Eailroad, at an elevation of about two thousand feet above the sea. It is in full view of fine mountain scenery, besides possessing a spring, the waters from which have few rivals and no superior as a curative agent in many of the ^ most distressing complaints to which frail humanity is sub- jected. In cases of ulceration, scrofula, and debility from whatever cause, the cures said to have been effected by this water are marvelous. An analysis, as given by Col. Wm. GiLHAM, late professor of chemistry at the Virginia Military Institute, gave the following results, which are not only inter- esting to the physician, but to the scientific, as showing the materials of the rocks from which the spring derives its elements : Carbonic acid. 9.360 grains. Sulphuric acid 53.383 " Phosphoric acid 0.013 " Magnesia 7.723 " Lime 32.150 " Oxide of iron 0.432 " Alumina 1.729 " Potassa 0.119 " Soda 0.359 « Chlorine 0.092 " Organic extractive matter 3.733 " These substances, existing in the water, give rise to car- bonates, sulphates, phosphates, and chlorides, as follows : MONTGOMERY CO. — TOWNS AND TILLAGES. 23 Carbonate of lime 8.642 grains. " " magnesia 1.389 " " " protoxide of iron 0.617 " Free carbonic acid 4.680 " Sulphate of lime 63.302 " " " magnesia 21.098 " " "alumina 3.176 " " " potassa 0.107 " " soda.... 0.750 " Phosphate of lime 0.015 " " "magnesia 0.011 " Chloride of potassium 0.097 " " " sodium 0.076 " Organic extractive matter 3.733 " Protoxide of iron Traces. "This water contains an unusual amount of sulphuric acid." There are many fine mineral springs in different parts of this county. So many indeed that the majority of them must always remain unknown to fame. All of the above-named springs have telegraphic communi- cations with all points. TOWNS AND TILLAGES. Christiansburg, near the center of the county, on the At- lantic, Mississippi and Ohio EaUroad, is a place of about one thousand or twelve hundred inhabitants, including the suburb at the depot, which has a special name and a sepa- rate post-office called Bangs. Here is situated the county court-house, containing the records of a great part of Southwestern Virginia. There are quite a number of hotels, stores, and establishments for the 24 MONTGOMEBY CO. — CENTEAl DEPOT. manufactory of saddlery, tin ware, boots and shoes, etc. Here is located the office of an enterprising and excellent journal, The Montgomery Messenger, devoted to the im- provement of its section. There are churches of the various denominations, and schools both public and private. The female schools are somewhat noted . throughout this region as being organized on a higher basis than is usual in country towns. BLACKSBXJEG. This village has already been mentioned as being situated toward the eastern end of. the valley of Blacksburg. It is a place of about two hundred and fifty inhabitants, and is now noted as being the location of the Blacksburg Agri- cultural and Mechanical College, an unfortunate institution, the child of our good old mother, Virginia, during the time of the great prostration, consequent upon the event of the " late unpleasantness," and could not, reasonably, be a very vigorous institution. This village is pleasantly situated, and would of itself form a delightful summer resort, surrounded on all sides with rolling grass and grain fields, dotted here and there with handsome residences. CENTEAL DEPOT Is situated on New Eiver, toward the western limit of the county. This point is one of much importance in the county, as having a great part of the repair shops of the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Eailroad. Here is a large round-house, and a lay-over station for engines, engine-men, conductors, etc. It of course affords a very nice little mar- ket for much country produce. There are churches, stores, hotels, etc. MONTGOMERY CO. — PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 25 ALLEGHANY STATION, On the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Eailroad, is a small place, as you approach the eastern side of the county. It is situated in quite a tobacco producing section, and is of some importance as a shipper of that article. It likewise has stores and a church close by. It is the landing-place of visitors to the Alleghany Springs. Near to this is an open- ing on the ziac and lead Teia. BIG gPEING. This place takes its name from a limestone spring of ex- traordinary volume, which rises close by, and flows into the South Fork of Koanoke River, upon the south side of which stream Big Spring (the station on the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Eailroad) is situated. This place is very attrac- tive to persons seeking an excellent summer resort. The clear water, fine air, noble sugar-trees, and high mountains, with splendid fare at the hotel, render it very inviting. There are several stores, and a factory for making lathes, upon which to turn wagon, carriage, and buggy spokes. The enterprising proprietor and inventor of this machine, Mr. Coffee, takes great pride in showing the machine at work, turning out two spokes per minute. LAPAYETTE Is an ancient village at the junction of the North and South Forks of Eoanoke Eiver, close to the eastern bound- ary line. It has one or two stores, a church near, and a fine flouring-mill. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. According to the recent report of Db. Eupfneb, Superin- tendent of Public Education, the public schools of Mont- gomery are improving. There are thirty-nine white schools, 26 MONTGOMEET CO. — TIMEEE. and nine colored. For these there are thirty-nine white teachers and nine colored teachers. Upon- these schools there are in daily attendance about eight hundred white children and two hundred and fifty colored. At Ohristiansburg and Bangs there are two graded schools, one for white, the other for colored students. The white school is one of six grades, the colored of two. The average daily attendance of the white school is twenty ; of the col- ored, one hundred and twenty. PEODtrCTION OF CATTLE, SHEEP, WHEAT, COEN, AND TOBACCO. This county is divided into several sections, of totally dif- ferent agricultural capacity, by the different geological form- ations. Those parts which are best adapted for cattle are of course the great grass areas, common to the limestone valleys. We have already seen that a great part of the county is of this nature. It is more than one half, when you add to the lime- stone grass lands those lands along Brush Creek which have been rendered fertile by the decomposition of fel- spathic rocks. Sheep can be raised profitably all over th^ county. "Wheat is apparently in its native element. Corn does well on all the grass lands, and tobacco is suited to nearly all the soils in the county. It is mostly cultivated in the southeastern and northeastern parts of the county. Of cattle, averaging the last few years, the county has shipped per year . . . .1,800 head. OfBheep, " " " .. u 25 car-loads. Of wheat, ■• " " >. .. ...3ti,700 bushels. Of com, " " " .< u ....3,600 " Oftohacco, " " " .. .. ..613,600 pounds. TIMBEE. The different kinds of timber native to this latitude are very abundant in the northern side, and more mountainous MONTGOlCEEt CO. — BEE CULTUEE. 27 districts of the southern belt of the country. The oak is predominant. Over much of the area between Brush and Gap Mountains, there are fine bodies of good hard wood for charcoal purposes. The south side of the county occasion- ally shows considerable bodies of hemlock and white piae, as well as good areas here and there for coaling. WATEE POWEB. There is much unused water-power in the county. New Eiver, discharging about eighteen hundred feet per second at low stages, has fall enough at two or three places to be used; but on account of the height of the floods it might not be profitable to use it. Little Eiver, discharging one hun- dred and eighty feet per second at low stages, will be a very useful stream. South and North Forks of Eoanoke River, of rapid descent, present many locations suitable for wool- carding machines and grist-mills. Tom's Creek, and several other streams of smaller volume, afford constant streams throughout the summer. One of the advantages possessed by these rivers and creeks is the never-failing character of their flow. GEAPE CULTUEE. The cultivation of any imported varieties of grape upon this elevated dividing ridge, between eastern and western waters, must be attended with much uncertainty. Experience has proven that careful attention paid to native varieties not only causes them to bear a grape of fine flavor, both for wine- making and eating, but an unfailing crop may, with greater certainty, be looked for with the native than with the foreign varieties. BEE CULTUEE. The luxuriant growth of flowering trees, shrubs, and plants of this section would render bee culture, under proper man- 28 MONTGOMEEY CO. — PISH CULTUEE. agement, a paying industry. There is much interest mani- fested in the recent improvement in gums, but very little more honey is made than is necessary for home use. FISH CULTUEE. The work done in the last year or two, both by the State Commissioner and private individuals, is beginning to show in the large number of black bass, and other fine varieties, making their appearance in New Kiver and tributaries in this county. In the Eoanoke, near Big Spring, Alleghany Springs, North Fork, etc., the large increase of fish has been owing, to some extent, to the exertions of Captain Sumter, of Big Spring. PULASKI COUNTY. 29 PIJLASKI COUNTY. It is difficult to find language that will introduce, with proper and merited description, each county as it presents itself, without drifting into a condition of sameness desirable to be avoided in treating of important matter. And when, as in the case of the different counties of Southwestern Vir- ginia, candor would compel the impartial writer to use many- adjectives of praise in speaking of their resources, the task of properly presenting the subject becomes still more diffi- cult, if the appearance of mere flattery and adulation is also to be avoided. Particularly is this the case with the county of Pulaski. The natural features of this county are nearLy all of that order, which, if known universally, would fix the attention of the least observant, whether it was invited to the scenery, made up of mountains, forests, and broad streams, great grass fields, dotted with herds of fine cattle, or those extra- ordinary exhibits of mineral material and mineral waters that mark the belt in which Pulaski is situated. Though small in the extent of its territory, in comparison with the other counties of this section, Pulaski is making a wide and favor- able reputation for the almost fabulous quantity of its iron ores and the extent of its fine coal fields, to say nothing of the ores of zinc, lead, and other minerals. In addition to which, it is making giant strides to obtain a position as the leading manufacturing county ! Look at the large zinc-re- ducing establishment recently erected at Martin's Depot, and at the very extensive iron furnaces in course of preparation at the same place ! Altogether, Pulaski has no reason to blush for the part it is performing, either for itself or for the State. The course it is now pursuing makes of it a most valuable factor in the final settlement of the disturbed financial condition of the State, enhancing, in large measure. 30 PTILASKI CO. — HOW "WATEEED. the tax-paying power of its own and neighboring communi- ties. Pulaski is bounded nortli by tlie county of Giles an4 a small part of Bland, marked by the crest of Walker's Moun- tain ; east, by New E.iver,.up to the mouth of Little Biver, which stream then forms the boundary for eight or ten miles on the southeast ; on the south, by Floyd County, and a part of Carroll ; west, by the county of Wythe. The south bound- ary line follows very much the crest of the Poplar Camp, or Iron Mountain. HOW WATERED. The county is well watered by Kew Biver, Little Eiver, and their tributaries. Among the latter. Back Creek, Peak Creek, Big and Little Eeed Island Creeks, and Laurel are the most important. GeologicaUy. — Pulaski shows nearly all the strata from the Potsdam to the Proto-Carboniferous inclusive. It is similar to Montgomery County in this respect, except that, in the elevation made by Draper's Mountain, it has a much larger exhibition of Potsdam rocks and ores. The county is divided into four main geological divisions, in part owing to the position of Draper's Mountain, which severs the western half of the county nearly in the middle from west to east. The first, or soiithern section, is a great synclinal trough lying between Iron Mountain on the south, and Draper's Mountain, as above described, with New Eiver occupying its greatest depression. The second, northern, is the Eobinson Tract and upper Peak Creek country, a broken anthracite coal basin, bounded south by a fault line between the underlying Devonian rocks, and the upthrow of the Pots- dam, and north by Little Walker's Mountain. The third, or eastern division, is the great plateau of beautiful grass lands, bedded upon Silurian limestone, occupying the space from PPIASKI CO. — DESCBIPTION ■ OF SECTION. 31 Cloyd's Motrntain, soutliwardly, to the foot hills of Mac's Mountain, Draper's Mountain having come suddenly to an end in Peak Knob, leaving a wide plateau of grazing and farming lands between its eastern end and the line of New Kiver, after that stream turns a northward course. The fourth division is the valley of Devonian strata lying between Little and Big Walker's Mountains. It being somewhat unusual to find the Potsdam and Devo- nian rocks thrown into contact in this section of country, the accompanying geological section will be found to be located across Draper's Mountain, the north side of which shows this unusual occurrence : DESCEIPTION OF SECTION. The southern end of the geological cross-section on the southern boundary of the county, shown on page 41, begins about the crest of the main Iron Mountain, near a point where Mac's Mountain, a lateral spur of the main range, diverges from it on the north side. These rocks represent the series about the division be- tween the Huronian and Cambrian, or Lower Silurian. The conformability of the strata has been greatly disturbed, both by the pressure from the southeast, and by a great end- pressure or strain at right angles to the southeast pressure. Consequently, the dip is very variable. It- may be recorded as being southwardly at high angles. To the south we have the hydro-mica slates, overlaid with a broad felspathic and quartoze series, terminating in a band of iron ore ; above this, nearly one thousand feet of Potsdam sandstone, with occasional bands of slates, some of them very dark ; over this, in the order of stratification, are two veins of brown iron ores, 6 and 9 feet respectively, separated by a band of slate not over 20 feet thick ; next to these come nearly 1,600 32 PULASKI 00. — DESCEIPTION OF SECTION. feet of CalciferoTis red shales and slates interstratified with limestones more or less magnesian, and sometimes highly- ferruginous, here and there showing lead and zinc, the red slates, etc., very frequently yielding fine specular iron ore. After this an unknown thickness of the upper Oaleiferous limestones, much folded and repeated as you approach the basin of the river, where they begin to assume a more regular and horizontal attitude, as often showing a gentle inclination to the east or west as any other way. From the river to Draper's Valley, which lies just south of and parallel with Draper's Mountain, there is a repetition of the red slates and shales, alternating with limestone, and sometimes hard sandstone, so folded as to afford little chance of ascertaining thicknesses. Draper's Valley is a beautiful and fertile limestone valley, showing some ledges of lime- stone which make a beautiful ornamental stone belonging to the Oaleiferous series. You then encounter Draper's Moun- tain, with the Potsdam rocks dipping southwardly at an angle of about 60'', bedded upon buff and various colored slates. A part of this mountain is a broken anticlinal — par- ticularly that about Martin's Depot — with its northern limit defined by the great fault just now mentioned, in which the Potsdam and Devonian rocks are brought together. The rocks of the Potsdam lining this great fault on its south side are those which hold the heavier bands of iron ore, and they are so thrown together for several miles along this line, that the fault is marked by one of the heavi- est beds of iron ore in Virginia. Passing northwardly the section reveals aboiit 2,500 feet of Devonian rocks, mostly fossiliferous slates, dipping northwardly, overlaid by the low- est beds of the Proto-Carboniferous, showing some coal in thin seams. Tou may then say you are in the Pulaski coal basin until you reach Little Walker's Mountain, six mUes to the north. About Martin's Depot the red slates, which over- PULASKI CO. — IRON ORES. 33 lie the coal at some distance, are easily distinguislied in a railroad cut, and in the bed of Peak Creek. From there until you reach Eobinson's Tract, which lies next to Little Walker's Mountain, the stratification is much disturbed ; and Tract Mountain, which bounds Eobinson's Tract on the south, is a rather broken arch compressed from the sides at the springing line, showing an upheaval of the larger coal veins. Passing across the undetermined limestones of the Tract, you reach the more undisturbed strata containing the best coal veins in the south flank of Little Walker's Mountain, dippiug at various angles up to 45° southwardly and south- eastwardly. Underlying the coal measures is a few feet of fine grindstone, followed by slates and sandstones 1,200 feet thick to the Olean conglomerate, which here outcrops nearly at the crest of Little Walker's Mountain, dipping 40° south- wardly. This measure is over 300 feet thick. Next under this is hard sandstone underlaid with an alternation of slates and sandstones, some highly fossiliferous and calcareous, for more than 1,500 feet down to the black slates and carbona- ceous limestones which represent the Coal Oil rocks. Leav- ing these, you pass northwardly over the upturned edges of the Marcellus and Hamilton, the Oriskany, etc., the Clinton and Oneida sub-epochs, to the northern end of the section in Big Walker's Mountain, on the northern boundary of the county. A section toward the eastern side of the county would be similar, except that the great central part of it would be an exhibit of Lower Silurian limestones, leaving out the south- em rim of the coal basin, and the showing of upturned Pots- dam rocks presented in Draper's Mountain. IRON GEES. In the continuation — north 70° east, and south 70° west — of the flanking ridges of the maia Iron, or Poplar Camp Moun- 3 34 PULASKI CO. — ^mON OEES. tain, on tlie north side, is a tMck series of tlie Potsdam and Caleiferous rocks, as shown in the cross-section. Through- out its length in the county of Pulaski, perhaps it would be a difficult task to approximate even the quantity of brown iron ore it will yield. The Mac's Creek Furnace is built in this range ; the old Laurel Creek Forge also used ores from it. With the exception of occasional flexures and dislocations, this Iron Ore is continuous throughout the length of the county. At Mac's Creek, the nearest veins to the furnace, are the two spoken of as being 6 and 9 feet respectively, in walls of slate, and occurring about the division between the Potsdam and Caleiferous ; but under this, geologically, about the beginning, or bottom, of the series of sandstones, marked by the Scolithus Linearis, seems to be the largest deposit, or vein. At one point, about five miles southwest of Snow- ville, the ore beds formerly used by the Laurel Creek Forge give such dimensions as follow : In 1,000 feet length of the vein, 180 feet of this length is 940 feet wide, the remainder having a width of 200 feet. The vein goes down nearly vertical to great depths, this being on the crest of a high hill, and it may safely be esti- mated that the ore can be stripped to a depth of 300 feet. This condition, of great thickness, is, without doubt, owing to end pressure on the great mass of the stratification, caus- ing either a lateral flexure and reduplication, or an interlacing of fragments. To a depth of 150 feet this body of ore will yield over 8,000,000 of tons of brown iron ore of good grade. On the south side of this ridge is Laurel Creek, flowing northeast, on which are situated good ore beds of high- grade iron ore, much of it being derived from the decompo- sition of ferruginous limestones, the Lowest of Lower Silurian limestones. In this vicinity is, also, Redland Mountain, near Little Eiver, a good ore-bearing ridge, conta;ining that class of ore PULASKI CO.— ^IBON OEES. ig5 whicli stains the soil a deep red. These measures trend south-west through the Mac's Mountain and Mac's Creek re- gion, giving the great and almost unlimited deposits upon the strength of which Mac's Creek Furnace was located. As you approach Eeed Island Creek going southwest, the dupli- cation of the mountain chain seems to cease somewhat, and at Flannigan's, or Graham & Robinson's lead mine on New Eiver, the Potsdam and lower Calciferous rocks have sub- sided so much as to leave exposed large masses of the next succeeding series, the white silicious limestones, and blue wavy limestones, which, while they are distinctly Lead and Zinc-bearing rocks, also carry in places very heavy deposits of sulphuret of iron. The brown ores resulting from their decomposition form very extensive beds, as at Eieh Hill, and those interesting deposits of pipe ores at Andrew Moore's, below, on New River. A few miles up Little Eeed Island Creek frOm its mouth, near the Pulaski and Wythe County line, there are the only evidences' of the terrace epoch to be seen in this section of country, as is also mentioned in the description of "Wythe County. This is in brown iron ore of a very high grade, in terraces about GO feet above the present level of the creek. These terraces are, no doubt, owing to the creek, in past ages, cutting through the immense beds of sulphurets of iron and copper in Carroll County above ; and its waters coming down heavily saturated with a solution of iron, while passing here through a more level country, became stationary long enough to make these singular depositions. While this is the main source of the iron, it is very probable that the decomposing rocks of No. 2 close by added largely to that derived from the creek. These ores are largely in use by Forney's Forge at Allisonia, near the mouth of Eeed Island Creek, at High Eock Forge, and by Graham's new furnace farther up in Wythe County, as well as by the Boom Furnace in PulaskL They 36 PTILASKI CO. — ^lEON OEES. have proven to be not only of very tigh grade, but in very great quantity. The next great deposit of brown iron ore is that in the north of Draper's Mountain, along the line of fault just now mentioned. At one mile and a half south of Martin's Depot, on the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Eailroad, at what is familiarly known as the Honaker Ore Bank, may be considered the heaviest exhibition yet ascertained along the lead, which runs with intermissions both ways fpr several miles. At the Honaker Bank a body of the ore was measured, and found to give a length of 1,000 feet, 75 feet thickness or width, by an average elevation of outcrop above water in the small branch near of 125 feet. Throwing out one half for intrusions of / .... ■. . quartz and clayey impurities, this body will yield 500,000 tons of good ore, down to the level of water in the small branch. This little stream marks the division between two large bod- ies of ore. Perhaps the deposit west of it is equally as large as that just now described. This ore is underlaid by the felspathic series of the lowest Cambrian, or upper Huronian epoch, and would show over it the Scolithus-bearing series ; but the great fault by which these low measures have been brought up so high has protruded the Scolithus series, so that it has been denuded and carried away. The analysis of the Honaker brown ore is as follows : Iron 58.00, Phosphorus None. — ^De. Genth. There are also surface exhibitions of brown ores in the south flank of Little Walker's Mountain, very probably the result of a decomposing vein of iron carbonate in the Coal Measures. Occasionally, in the hills among the limestone grass lands, brown ores show. They are generally very pure, but as yet undeveloped. The next locality of brown ores of any consequence is the line of Oriskany rooks in the south flank of Big "Walker's Mountain. The measure of the Oriskany in Pulaski is not PULASKI CO. — MANGANESE ORES. 37 generally more tlian 18 feet. Occasionally this is nearly aU brown iron ore of high grade ; again it gives way to manganese ore, and very often it is nothing but a highly ferruginous sandstone. It is nearly 20 miles long in Pulaski County. RED lEON GEE. Specular ore may, now and then, be found in the large Potsdam vein above described, but not in well-ascertained quantities. In the overlying red shales and slates it is in very considerable quantity, but not yet found well enough in hand to justify mining. It forms a very large proportion of these rocks, but unfortunately too generally distributed. It is only after their decomposition that it begins to enter as an important factor into the question of iron ores. It then be- comes the parent of some of the fine deposits found in the limestones at lower levels. In Draper's Mountain there is a thin vein of red ore ; also in Big Walker's Mountain. This last is the fossil red, which, from the specimens so far exam- ined, does not bid fair to be of any consequence. mON CAEBONATE. There is no doubt a vein of black band about 20 inches thick overlying the coal, but as yet not developed. In the rocks at the northern base of Little Walker's Mountain there is a measure of highly carbonaceous limestone, about 15 feet thick, which is also impregnated with iron to the extent of about ten per cent. This is a low form of iron carbonate. It may be regarded as a very valuable measure for furnace pur- poses. It is just about the position of the coal oil series. MANGANESE GEES. Manganese will be found a large constituent of all the Potsdam iron ores, except occasional lengths on the veins,' 38 PtTLASKI CO. — COAIi. •where there seems to be but little. It rarely ever assumes the character of a pure oxide of manganese in those yeins in Pulaski, but in the Oriskany ores of Walker's Mountain it is an ore of very high grade. Now and then, as at the Alum Springs and Spur Branch, it bids fair to be found in sufficient quantities to make it a heavy item of transportation. COAL. The discussion, in a public print, of a matter of so much importance to this county as the Coal is, is entered upon with some reluctance in this work. To describe the Coal Field correctly, and outline the proper course to be pursued for its successful mining, is a delicate point. It occupies the north- ern and northwestern portions of the county, extending from New Eiver on the east into Wythe County, 20 miles, on the west. The upthrow of Silurian limestones by which its width is limited on the south is observable along Back Creek until you reach the eastern limit of Eobinson's Tract, when it begins to assume the appearance of a basin with northern and southern outcrops. It is really an irregular basin, from a line across the country just below Martin's, until you pass into Wythe County on the west, occupying all the ground be- tween the ridge just north of Draper's Mountain and Little Walker's Mountain, six miles in width. It is much broken toward the middle by several nearly parallel ridges, such as Tract Mountain and Chellokee Eidge. The coal measures are only considered, along here, reliable on the side next Little Walker's Mountain, to which the Altoona Coal and Iron Co. has built a narrow-gauge railway from Martin's Depot on the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Eaileoad. Just at the point where the Altoona Company has hitherto mined the coal there is a very considerable disturbance of the stratification composing the south flank of Lit- PUIiASKI CO. — COAL. 39 tie Walker's Mountain ; hence tlie measures here given were taken a mile or so farther east, where no such disturb- ance existed. Throughout the whole extent of workable coal there are considered to be two reliable veins : the underlying Tein measures 2 feet and 3 feet at different points; and where there is no folding or sliding of strata, it is separated by 15 feet of slate from a vein giving 4 feet of solid coal with 3 feet of looser coal over it, over which, at 25 feet, there is a vein of soft coal 4 feet thick. The middle vein, as in the Al- toona mine, sometimes assumes a thickness of 22 feet; but this is no doubt owing to crowding of the strata f^om press- ure. From the outcrop southwardly, before any possible fault intervenes to cut off the coal, it is an average distance of 3,500 feet ; and if Eobinson's Tract should be a true basin, there would be nearly two miles' width, from north to south, of the best workable veins, though about the middle of the basin the coal would lie very deep. One mile length on the veins — that is from northeast to southwest — by a width of 3,500 feet will yield about 4,100,000 tons of coal, that approaches very nearly a true anthracite in character. The Altoona coal mine will this year dispose of 47,000 tons of its two varieties of coal. As you approach the western end of the county, close to the Wythe County line, the coal near the Atlantic, Missis- sippi and Ohio Eailroad, or southern side of the basin, becomes more regular, and for an area of several miles is valuable. The best vein shows six feet thick, and assumes its best character about fifty feet below water level. It may be suggested, that the character of the coals of these Pulaski measures would be found much superior below water level. It is fair to assume, where they have been sub- jected to so much disturbance, and the coal near the out- crops has been exposed so long to the action of the elements, that much of the carbonaceous material has been lost ; but 40 PULASKI CO. — SILVER. the same constituents in the coal below water level have had no chance to be eliminated to such an extent, or rather, to escape, and an analysis of that coal, say two hundred feet below water level, is likely to be found much higher in car- bon, and lower in percentage of ash. It might be of interest to mention the names of special localities where these coals have better developed ; but as the veins are continuous, from New Eiver almost to the Wythe County line, along the south flank of Little "Walker's Mountain, it is not necessary. LEAD Am) zmc. Pulaski holds a part of the great Zinc and Lead Basin, which is developed to so valuable an extent in Wythe County, a few miles to the southwest. About two miles be- low the mouth of Eeed Island Creek, on New Eiver, there is a great fragment of zinc and lead rocks, now being mined by Flannigan, and Graham & Eobinson. Both above and below this point these strata are thrown out for some distance by the obtrusion of the underlying red slates and shales ; here, however, it is likely to prove of value. The dip of the rock is northwest 30° from the horizon. The greatest mass of ore is found at the junction of the white silicious limestone with the blue and white lamellated wavy limestone. When last examined there were one hundred and fifty tons of ore on the ground. The mine was opened by a tunnel three hun- dred and thirty feet long. There are occasional displays of ore east of this point, but of no great consequence as yet. Lead also shows in small particles in Proto-Carboniferous rocks in Tract Mountain, and in Lower Helderberg rocks in Big Walker's Mountain. SILVER. 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Reduced to 33° F. and corrected for Capillarity, Temperature, and Variar tion in level of mercury in cistern. Instrument (No. 1560 by J. Grbbst, N. T. : except from Nov. 1, '65 to Apl. 1, '69; and Sept. 1, '69, to Sept. 1, '73, during ■which time an ordinary instrument was used). Observations previous to Nov. 1, 1876, are reduced by the constant — .145 to correspond to current observations at present station. Add 37. to the thousandths in Table. BY HOWABD SHEIVBE, A.M., WYTHEYILLE, WYTHE CO., VA. Jan. 1865 1866 649 1870 631 1873 597 1869 537 1870 631 1871 711 1873 548 1874 664 1875 536 1876 687 1877 631 1878 540 1879 579 Feb. Mch. April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. , 569 588 649 931 579 513 597 648 473 53i1 574 571 608 659 654 697 686 635 591 518 563 641 631 639 666 669 646 634 597 633 490 567 570 470 634 647 694 749 591 583 675 473 530 574 571 608 659 654 697 686 635 691 604 580 539 604 604 638 630 717 736 596 646 504 55S 478 545 619 693 666 676 638 513 671 630 568 553 573 637 665 633 678 680 693 676 568 553 514 569 645 645 615 653 603 590 536 618 533 573 636 605 685 675 576 575 643 536 610 504 495 500 610 630 600 639 634 600 688 459 531 403 541 568 637 570 700 633 546 518 547 •600 £i03 634 616 633 598 697 743 678 635 Avg. 608 618 600 617 633 591 635 584 609 593 553 630 MONTHLY AVERAGES. Jan. Feb. March April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Avg. 613 549 548 541 559 614 654 643 675 641 600 619 604 ITDRNAGES AND FORGES IN 'WTTHE COUNTY, VIRGINIA — ^ALL COID- BLAST CHARCOAL. Cedar E.un Furnace, Graham & Eobinson, near Graham's Forge (Graham's old furnace), built by David Graham. One stack 32x9. 1832. Water power. Capacity 6 tons. Barren Springs Furnace, J. "Williamson M'Gavock, near Car- ter's Ferry, New Eiver (Graham's new furnace), built by David Graham in 1853 and rebuilt by Graham & Eobinson, 1873. One stack 35x8, cold blast. Capacity 5 tons. Eagle Furnace, or Gray Eagle Furnace, built in 1863 by Buford, Stuart & Co., now owned by Graham & Eobia- 90 VriTHE CO. — ^FUENACES AND FOBGES m WYTHE CO. son. One stack 33x9. Odd blast, water power. Capac- ity 5 tons. Brown Hill Furnace, built by Abraham Painter & Sons, 1870, now owned by the Lobdell Car "Wheel Company, Wil- mington, Delaware. One stack 32x9. Cold blast, steam power. Capacity 8 tons. Walton Furnace, built by Howard & Saunders, 1872, now owned by Lobdell Car Wheel Company, Wilmington, Delaware. One stack 33x9. Capacity 8 tons. Bavenscliffe Furnace, Crockett & Co., one old stack 29x9, built in. 1810, rebuilt 1876, and a new stack 33x9. Water power. Capacity 14 tons. Speedwell Furnace, D. E. James & Son, built 1873. One stack 32x9. Water power. Capacity 6 tons. Wythe Furnace, Sayers, Oglesby & Co., built in 1873. One stack 33x9. Steam power. Capacity 5 tons. Irondale Furnace, Noble, Allen & Co.; built 1880-81. P. O., Crockett's Depot. Capacity 10 tons. Beverly Furnace, Crockett & Co., built in 1880. Water power. P. O., Crockett's Depot, 36x10. Capacity 12 tons. Furnace of the New River Iron Co., at Pierce's Falls, New Eiver, built in 1881. P. O., Jackson's Ferry, 34x10. Capacity 12 tons. Furnace of the Hendricks' Bros., of New York, 1881. New Biver Mineral Co., now building at mouth of Painters' Branch, New River, two miles above Wythe Lead Mines. One stack 10|x40. Capacity 20 tons. P. O., Brown Hill. Forges. — Of the numerous forges once existing only one remains, Graham's Forge Rolling Mills and Nail Works, built by David Graham, on Reed Creek, 1828. Three heating fur- naces, four trains of rolls, five nail machines, and one hammer. SMYTH COUNTY. 91 SMYTH COUNTY. Smyth County, for tlie princely resources it contains, lias been more neglected comparatively, hitherto, in all reports having the sanction of authority, than any other county in the State. The great Valley of Yirginia, as widely renowned as it is for the beauty and fertility of its soil, and its match- less wealth in ores, would be incomplete indeed without the county of Smyth. The citizens of the southwestern end of the valley, being very generally acquainted with the charac- ter of what may strictly be termed the Shenandoah end of the valley, live also in the knowledge of the extraordinary resources in Salt and Plaster, Lead and Zinc, and great masses of Magnetic and Brown Iron Ores, which add such an addi- tional interest to their own end. Could there be that capable and trustworthy management of public property that there is ordinarily of property in private hands, what a source of revenue would there be to the county, as an owner, or the State, of the vast salt interests at Saltville, and the great plaster beds there and above, on the Holston Eiver and tribu- taries., How many of the burdens would be thus removed from the people of a county, with a revenue coming into its treasury, annually, equal to its receipts from taxation. Such a revenue would not only do away with the taxation, but a great part of it would be spent among the people for the build- ing of many needed improvements. Though it is now too late to think of such a possibility for the salt works, could the great plaster beds even, on Cove Creek, become the property of the county, and be leased out to competent and honest men to be mined for its benefit, cheap railway transportation be- ing understood, what a source of revenue would thus be opened. If this railway transportation would open up Kentucky and 92 SMYTH COUNTY. its connecting lines of railway, it would be difficult to esti- mate the vast quantity of this cheap and abundant fertilizer which would be annually consumed. But, pleasant as it might be for the county to have an independent source of revenue that would free it from the necessity of taxing its people, would it not be an impracticable thing, because of the impossibility of employing agents to handle the property who would, with single-hearted fidelity, conduct the manage- ment as judiciously as they would in the position of private owners ? Could the county, under the law, become an owner, the results of the venture might be anticipated as of rather doubtful success, unless the properties could be handled with address and fidelity. However this may be, Smyth County, not merely because of the existence of these remarkable deposits of plaster and salt, is great. There are vast deposits of iron and mangaiiese of superior character ; and these magnificent veins and de- posits lie sometimes within, and generally but a mile or so from grass and grain lands unsurpassed in fertility. Could the resources of Smyth County be utilized, so really abundant are they that it is not too much to say the finances of the State itself would feel the beneficial effects of such development in a marked degree. This is another one of those counties to which it will be ■J impossible to do justice in anything short of a volume. A full description of the Plaster and Salt deposits alone would require much space ; but in the section allotted to the county, enough, it is hoped, may be said to draw attention to its highly valuable resources ; and that, too, if the design should be successful, in a manner which will show their bearing upon the general prosperity of the country. SMYTH CO. — GEOLOGICAL. 93 HOW BOUNDED. Smyth is separated from Tazewell, on the north, by the Clinch range of mountains; on the south, from Grayson, by the Iron Mountain, the southwest corner being on the great White Top ; on the east side it is bounded by Wythe, and west by Washington. HOW WATERED. The county is watered almost wholly by the different branches of Holston Eiver, two of which — the Middle and South Forks — take their source in the county; but in the head of Eye Valley are some of the head-waters of Cripple Creek, which creek flows eastwardly to New Biver, while the Holston waters flow southwestwardly toward Tennessee. GEOLOGICAL. The geology of Smyth is comprised between the Upper Huronian Eocks, showing in White Top Mountain, and the Proto-Carboniferous, showing in Brushy Mountain ; in one place there being an exception — at Saltville, where there are evidences of the Cenozoic, or Mammalian Age. With the exception of the Salt and Plaster, there is no marked difference between this county and other counties of the Great Yalley, either in its geology or mineralogy. The cross section, here given, will show the geology of the Valley of Virginia somewhat differently disposed from what it is at other points east, but not essentially different in character. A description of the geological section here given is scarcely necessary, as it explains itself with sufficient clearness for general purposes. The county, really, would require a num- ber of cross-sections to show the dip of the rocks in each district ; but the section given wUl show the general order 94 SMTTH CO. — ^lEON OBES. and position of the various strata, faults, etc. It may be proper, however, to call attention to the series of mountains near the middle and in the eastern part of the county : three high ridges, running side by side, a course north 70° east, dying down near Marion, at the west end, and breaking off at the eastern end near the county line, forming a great island of Potsdam sandstone, iron ore, and red shale, surrounded by the valley limestones. Likewise Big Walker's Mountain, which is such a vast barrier in the eastern end of the county, as it approaches Saltville becomes a mere hill, and after that, going southwest, has no longer the same character. The other mountaia ranges are continuous, except White Top, which is a massive and towering outburst of granite rock material, standing almost isolated. IRON ORES. It would seem as though we were to have a redundancy of the subject of iron ores in this work. In each county it has been a prominent feature ! In Smyth the measure will be found full and running over, and the only regret will be that of the writer at his inability to present the subject as it de- serves. Beginning on the south boundary of the county and going northwardly, the first great extensive line of iron ore deposits are the brown ores at the base of the Calciferous and the up- per part of the Potsdam sub-epochs in the spurs and parallel ridges of the north side of Iron Mountain. These ores com- bined with manganese ores form heavy beds and deposits in this range, apparently more profuse as to surface indications toward the eastern than the western end. That the mas- sive parent veins from which these decomposed ores are de- rived are some of them over 50 feet thick, I have no doubt. Pearce's Forge, near by, on the South Fork of Holston Eiver, SMYTH CO. — IBON ORES. 95 Sick Mtri. Clinch Min. Brushy Mtn. 1; i' 2;(mri •i I p I luVvparboTiiferoiis 1 /Plaster >Mai-uie 1/ / $/tvf l) i i'\i( Walkers Mtn. i /J )J / ^^ /^y^^UoUUm S. //^7 //Sv iii//^7\ ? 3 fn SI / A & 1 / 1 ( gi § I \ \%%V®s^ § s\^s;'^^i ? ^Vs?-^\i''^^^ri^?^^*''^ ® ^ \S^ Plaater ^ > — 7 S — S \3^ SaUvaie Q —J k,. ^ "V ^ ^ > 96 , SMTTH CO. — ^lEON OEES. derives some of its ores from eitter tlie parent or deriva- tive beds of this line of ores. Much of this ore is no doubt the result of the decomposition of the heavy measures of sul- phides of iron, lead and zinc, which once extended in masses up and down this valley, in a prolongation southwest of simi- lar great deposits in Wythe ; and although developments there are still in the very earliest stages of the initiative, enough may be seen, by a careful search, to prove that there must still re- main somewhat of this same formation, here and there, suf- ficient to warrant the belief of paying quantities of zinc still remaining, particularly toward the middle and east end of Rye Valley. Then, crossing over to the north side of the South Fork of Holston, along the strike of the northern out-crop of the great synclinal — of which the river and Eye Valley are the marks of the greater depression — we see another long line of beds of brown iron ore, parallel generally with the course of the river and valley, and showing in many places profusely from the Smyth-Wythe line to Thomas's on the Marion-Grayson turn- pike. These ores are likewise here and there mixed with manganese, but often a pure brown hematite, so-called, of a high degree of purity and excellence, and in quantities cor- responding to the vast parent veins from which the ore was derived. These ores are frequently pocketed in the lime- stone, and when so found are regarded as the purer ores. Next of importance are the almost inconceivably vast beds and deposits in the series of mountains running from the immediate neighborhood of Marion, eastwardly, to the Smyth- Wythe line, in which the Glade Mountain, with its extensive veins, bears so important a part. Up Staley's Mill Creek, Nick's Creek, heads of Aker's Creek, Phillippi's and Steffee's branches, in Glade Mountain ; in the White Bock Mountain and the space between it and the flanking ridge on the south, and in that district, where these mountains die down under SMYTH CO. — IRON OKES. 97 ■ the limestones just soutli of Marion, the deposits and veins of iron ore, from very careful and repeated observations, are judged to be among tlie first in the world in size, in facility of mining, and easy accessibility. This is saying no more than the facts warrant ; and although it will be impossible to give, in this space, the exact measures of all the beds — those fine ones nearer Marion, and those nearer the White Rock Furnace (formerly the Panic Furnace) the measures of just a moiety it is hoped will be convincing. Taking from the field notes we have : " Head of Steffee's Branch," a heavy body of iron ore following the strike of the rocks a great distance, 130 feet across the vein which runs north 75° east about, on the same lead which gives the fine specular ore, chalcedony, etc. ; barometer 3,200 above sea level ; dip of rocks south 15° east ; stratification as follows : Beginning south a heavy band of sandstone, then specular ore eight inches, then thin bed of sand-rock, then (manganiferous iron ore perhaps a third of the vein, followed by pure brown iron ore) the 130 feet of ore. Then at about 700 yards north, down the mountain (north 15° west) passed another iron ore lead (parallel to the first) 24 feet thick at the division between the ScolithuSr marked sandstone and the red shales, etc., of the Lower Cal- ciferous ; then at 500 yards more on the cross section (course north 15° west), struck 10 feet of kidney ore overlying a heavy ledge of sandstone, dip 20°, south 15° east, barometer 2,760 above sea level, which point was 250 feet above the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Eailboai), two miles farther north. Then, again, in the examination up Nick's Creek, the largest bed of good ore, situated at the western end of White Eock Mountain, where Nick's Creek cuts the mountain off, from the surface indications, is judged to be 300 feet thick, dipping southwardly. This vein or deposit, like the others just men- tioned, is continuous for miles through the country — for ten miles, if not more — ^in easily accessible ground. Of good ore 7 98 SMYTH CO. — IRON OEES. in these veins, which might be mined or stripped above or- dinary water level in the creeks, there are not less than 25,000,000 tons. Some experts, accustomed to the examina- tion of ore deposits, give the beds nearer Marion alone credit for more than that amount. The curious and critical may take the elevations as given by the barometer above, and only one half the recorded thicknesses of deposits by a length of ten miles, and readily see whether the quantity is an exag- geration or not. Again, as you approach the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Bailroad in the middle of the county, on either side of the valley of the Middle Fork of Holston River, there are de- posits of brown ores which have evidently resulted from the decomposition of the ore beds at higher levels, and subse- quent precipitation in the cavities of the limestones below. Then going northwardly over some lines of lesser veins in the flanks of Little Walker's Mountain, the next notable de- posits of brown iron ores are along the outcroppings of the Oriskany measures in the south flank of Big Walker's Moun- tain. This line of ores, showing generally not far above the base of the mountain on the southern, side, lies in a line fully twenty miles long, coursing north 60° or 70° east. These deposits are similar to other Oriskany deposits described in different parts of this book. Now and then the lead shows but little ore, and again the surface is covered with an excel- lent brown ore which has not yet been found to yield on analysis over three tenths of one per cent, of phosphorus. Then, again, at Ward's, near Chatham Hill, are brown ores formed from decomposed pyrites in respectable masses, but no doubt belonging to the division between the Black Eiver and Trenton series. These same conditions, as to Oriskany ores, are repeated again in Smyth County, in the south flank of Clinch Moun- tain, and in Poor Valley Eidge. SMYTH CO. — BED lEON ORES. 99 In truth, tlie brown iron ores of Smyth, above water level, are not far from 100,000,000 of tons. Red Iron Ore. Beginning at the southern boundary line, and going from south to north over the various strata, not much pure red iron ore is met with, until you reach the extraordinary vein in Glade Mountain, mentioned above. This ore — a pure specular, crystalline .in structure, very dense and free from impurities — is only, so far as developed, about eight inches thick, with an evident tendency to thicken eastwardly and to thin out in the opposite direction. It is singular that, at the head of Steffee's Branch, a vein of this nature should occur in a regular and well-defined system of rocks, and be confined to only a few hundred feet either way. The next notable line of red ores met with, going north- wardly, are those occupying the line of felspars at the junc- tion of the Black Eiver and Trenton limestones. This remark- able band of ore, which has such a large development in Giles County, about Chapman's, shows best in Smyth at Til- son's, east end of the county, in Eich Valley. The ore is of the finest quality, and is apparently not less than six feet thick with the rocks dipping southwardly. In nearly every hill, as you go down the valley, this remarkable ore shows itself with the felspar overlying it. It will prove of very great im- portance to the iron interests of that section, as it is not only a remarkably pure ore, but in great quantity in the aggre- gate. After this no very considerable masses of red ores are again met with until you reach Big Walker's Mountain, where the fossil red ores show, some distance below the crest of the mountain, on the south side. In addition to the strictly fossil ore there is a red hematite in the same series 100 SMTTH CO. — COPPER. of rocks, slaty in structure, and apparently a valuable ore, being in quantity now and then. The fossil ore, wMcli dips southwardly between ledges of red sandstone, rarely ever ex- ceeds eighteen inches in thickness. There is also a short line of these ores in the south face of Clinch Mountain, and again in Poor Valley Eidge. Magnetic Iron Ore. There is a line of magnetic ores leading from near Marion southwestwardly toward the Smyth-Washington line near a poLut where the South Pork of Holston Biver leaves the county. These ores show in fragments on the surface, but sufficient developments have not yet been made to prove quantities. The measures seem to be confined to the Lower Silurian limestones. Iron Pyrites. Iron pyrites is, perhaps, the original material of all the iron ore deposits of the county except the specular and fossil ores. On the South Fork of Holston Eiver, in Eye Valley, Glade Mountain, etc., and in Eich Valley, iron pyrites must be abundant below water level. Cubical pyrites are largely disseminated in the slates, etc., of the Proto-Oarboniferous series, just north of the fault in which the plaster and salt are found, as well as in larger masses in the lower limestones south of the same fault. COPPER. Carbonate of copper is distinguishable in the line of rocks in which the barytes occur, just south of the Atlantic, Mis- sissippi and Ohio Eailroad, four miles east of Marion. Cop- per pyrites are, no doubt, in the same series. In fact, fol- lowing the same series eastwardly nearly to the Smyth- SMYTH CO. — SALT AND GYPSUM, OR PLASTER. 101 Wythe line, copper carbonate and sulphide are so abundant as to create the impression of large quantities below tlie sur- face. Copper pyrites ought also to be found in the line of rocks in Kye Valley and south fork of Holston Eiver, which represent the lead and zinc-bearing formation. Again, in the Hamilton slates, in Lick Creek Gap, in the northern portion of the county, and at points in the same strata in Poor Yalley, indications hare, now and then, been found to lead to the belief that sufficient quantities existed to pay for mining, but this is doubtful. LEAD AOT) ZINC. It is unfortunate that the Lead and Zinc indications show- ing at some points near Sugar Grove, in the South Fork Val- ley, should not have been prospected to such an extent as to permit measures to be taken. Without more evidence, the presumption is that there is here a continuation southwest- wardly of the heavy lead and zinc-bearing strata showing so conspicuously in Wythe County, the general geological for- mation being identical. Lead has been occasionally found in Rich Valley, near the line of the division between the Cal- ciferous and Trenton rocks. Again in the south of Big Walker's Mountain, in the Corniferous flint on Bear Creek, and in the Lower Helderberg group. The same may be said of the like formations in the south flank of Clinch Moun- tain, These latter ores have often been claimed to be silver- bearing galenites, but Dr. Genth's analysis failed to find the silver. SALT AND GYPSUM, OB PLASTER. In treating this highly valuable and important subject, it will not be inferred that the author regards his statements concerning either the geology or other important features 102 SMTTH CO. — SALT AND GYPSUM, OB PLASTEE. of the formation infallible ; but believes, from the fact that bis examinations have continued over a longer period than most others have been ablfe to devote to it, that his conclu- sions are safe. Saltville, the place where salt has been manufactured, without intermission of any duration, for a great many years, including the ground occupied by the Buena Vista Plaster Mills, is the southwestern limit of the extraordinary deposits of salt and plaster which mark the line of a great fissure in the crust of the earth, along the course of the North Fork of Holston Eiver — mainly in Smyth County— about seventeen miles of which show Salt and Plaster ; but only that sin- gularly beautiful basin surrounding Saltville is positively known to yield much salt. This great fissure, it may be as well to say, brings up the limestones of the Lower Silurian division, charged with sul- phide of iron, against a downthrow of Proto-Carboniferous rocks, charged also more or less with sulphide of iron. It is possible that after the great pressure (from southeast to northwest) upon the arched crust of the earth had resulted in the above action, a compensating pressure was then ex- erted at right angles to the first, causing in many places great fragments of the crust to slide between each other ; in other places (as the one now treated) causing the great fis- sures between great fragments to yawn (at the same time the whole being raised) and remain open, probably because great pieces were precipitated into the chasm, preventing the sides from settling back into close contact with each other. Into such a great yawning series of chasms, on the line above mentioned, since the close of the Carboniferous age (when the fracture is supposed to have occurred) have the waters coming from the surrounding strata, charged with brine from the salt series of the coal rocks, and with sulphuric acid and lime from the decomposing iron sulphides and limestones, mrrn co. — salt and gypsum, or plaster. 103 been pouring thousands upon thousands of tons of both salt and sulphuric acid and lime, now combined into sulphate of lime, or gypsum. These solutions finally deposited the rock salt and plaster; the salt seeming to have been deposited first, as at Saltville, over 175 feet thick, its top being at a depth of 200 feet from the surface. Then above this comes about 100 feet of bluish slate, overlaid with gypseous clays of variable thickness. These measures are only local to Salt- ville. At the Buena Vista plaster beds, a mile or more south- west of the Saltville beds, the plaster is a fine compact body of great but scarcely known thickness, though it is some- times asserted that its depth is determined. Northeast- wardly from Saltville six miles, immediately on the river, the Pearson plaster beds have been explored to a depth of about 180 feet ; and they indicate not only continuity, but great solidity. At Buchanan's Plaster Cove, sixteen miles north- eastwardly from Saltville, on the north side of Holston Biver, the great chasm must have been very wide and deep. Here, an 8 by 10 shaft, which was sunk 592 feet in search of salt, was in fine plaster all the way down, showing saline satura- tion to some extent near the bottom. While it is not unreasonable to suppose that at Saltville and the immediate vicinity there are 500 acres of land under- laid with rock salt, there can be no impropriety in giving the quantity of it underlying 100 acres. Such a calculation will serve to show why these deposits have been drawn upon so long without apparently losing anything of their original strength and quantity. The most reliable data give the thickness of the rock- salt at 175 feet, with the certainty of much of the overlying and underlying material so heavily saturated with brine as to almost, if not quite, form a source of supply equal to one half the volume of the rock salt ; but, discarding this view of the case as not fully proven, the calculation upon the basis 104 SMYTH CO. — GYPSUM. of 175 feet thickness -will make manifest tlie inexhaustible source from which the Holston Salt and Plaster Company are deriving their salt. For 100 acres the result is about 2,100,000 tons of rock salt. It is true, that in the 175 feet there will be a considerable quantity of earthy as well as rock material; not only is this saturated with brine, but enough of the surrounding material to justify the calculation being made upon the basis of 175 feet thickness, solid. Now it may be assumed, without reasonable doubt, that there is at least five times that quantity, with the very high proba- bility that the rocks of Nos. X. and XII., the original source of supply, are still by drainage annually adding fresh sup- plies. It may be submitted, then, that an annual consumption of 23,000 tons of salt, as is the present yield, will not exhaust the supply under 100 acres of land for seventy years to come, assuming that in the past the quantity consumed is about equal to 500,000 bushels annually for thirty years ; and if the rocks of X. and XII. are still giving up salt, it is truly inexhaustible. It has never been necessary to pump in fresh water, as sometimes asserted, in order to keep up a, regular flow through the pumps. The water, finding its way to the salt alone as fast as needed, soon takes up the necessary quantity, and comes out saturated to the usual density, which is now given at 98 per cent. GYPSUM. As to the quantity of the gypsum, if it were solid, 80 feet thick, it would yield about 90,000 tons to the acre. But there is really no telling how much ground about Saltville is under- laid with plaster. It may be confined to the edges of this basin, or, if deposited from a solution, as is strongly sus- pected, it is likely to underlie the whole acreage of the Salt- SSIYTH CO. — GYPSUM. 105 \dlle basin. In this case the quantity is far beyond any de- mand wliicli is ever possible to be made upon it. At the Pearson plaster beds these conditions are likely to prove the same. At Buchanan's Plaster Cove, sixteen miles east of Salt- ville, the plaster is known to be 592 feet thick at one point ; and, in all probability, underlies an acreage fully as large, if not larger, than that at Saltville. One acre of it, to the depth above given, from actual measurement, holds over 666,000 tons. One hundred acres will yield 66,600,000 tons, if the data derived from close investigation be admissible. The acreage under which this extensive gypsum deposit has been positively ascertained — in the Saltville Basin, about Pearson's, Taylor's, and the Buchanan Plaster Cove ' — may almost be estimated by the square mile rather than by the acre. To give the acreage would therefore be super- fluous. The present annual consumption of plaster, from all these deposits, is about as follows : Holston Salt and Plaster Co 3,000 tons. Buena Yista Plaster Co 2,000 « Pearson Plaster Banks 800 " Buchanan or Cove Plaster Banks 500 " Total 6,300 tons. The first two plaster companies enjoy railroad facilities, supplied by the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Eailroad- Com- pany ; the latter two hope that within a year or two, either the ElCHMOND AOT) SOUTHWESTEEN EaILEOAD, Or the YlEGINIA, Kjentucky and Ohio Eailboad will be built through both their properties. It may not be inappropriate to say, before dis- 106 SMYTH CO. — GYPSUM. missing tlie subject of plaster, that its use as a fertilizer, in Virginia alone, should be much greater than it is ; not only because its consumption would save annually to Virginia a very large sum, which is now being sent out of the State for other fertilizers not as good ; but for the reason that, the State finances being low, so fine a basis upon which to create much more extensive operations, and much more the ability to pay taxes than now exist, should not be neglected. Now, it is plain that, without other lines of transportation even than those at present in use, this desirable object can be to some extent accomplished, and that will be by causing the plaster to be used as a permanent fertilizer, instead of a mere stimulant for growing crops, as is now generally the case. The following being the reasons for the assumption held forth above : Plaster, or the ordinary gypsum, contains about forty-five per cent, of sulphuric acid. When finely pulverized and inti- mately mixed with any soil it is clear that this acid must be a solvent for many of its constituents, all, in fact, upon which it will act anywhere. Now the soils of this country contain a good deal of silica combined with potash and soda, as well as iron ores in greater or less quantity, more or less charged with phosphorus. It is plain then that if a cheap reagent can be had which will dissolve these substances, and cause them to yield the potash, soda, phosphorus, etc., we have all the requisites. It is here submitted that gypsum will do this, if it is a good soluble article. The reactions are likely to be something like the following : The gypsum thrown into the soil in a pulverized condition, and coming into contact with moist substances, for which its constituents have a high aflSnity, it begins to break up or dissolve, the sulphuric acid attacking mineral and organic matter alike, together with the downfall of ammonia in rains and snows, causing it to take forms highly useful to plant life, which the plant couldn't utilize SMTTH CO. — GYPSUM. 107 before. Thus the flint gives way and yields potash, soda, and silica ; clays are dissolved to some extent and form new com- binations ; the iron ores give up their phosphates, as well as the minute fragments of apatite ; and the lime, left to itself as pure calcium, forms other reagents, prominent among which is calcium hydrate or caustic lime, which is itself one of the most powerful reagents known. All of these acting together do all the work nearly, in the soils of Southwestern Virginia and the neighboring States, which any fertilizer can accomplish. Let us see then if there is any prominent practical illustration of the theory. Mr. Legrand Sexton, of Chatham Hill, in Smyth County, having bought two old worn-out farms near the Cove Plaster Banks, determined to try the efficacy of plaster as a perma- nent fertilizer, since he was so close to the deposits as to bring the question of cost to a nominal figure. Upon these two places the soil had been reduced so by constant cropping that they would scarcely produce nine bushels of corn to the acre ; the soil being in the limestone belt, and covered more or less with flint containing potash and soda and doubtless much comminuted iron ore. At first he plowed four inches deep, sowing about one bushel of plaster to the acre ; the next year he gauged his plows two inches deeper, sowing an increased quantity of plaster, the yield of corn — the crop he used — greatly augment- ing ; the third year he plowed two inches deeper, about eight inches altogether, using something less than two bushels of plaster to the acre, his crop of corn at the end of the season being so great as to astonish him. The fourth year he plowed still deeper, bringing up the clay subsoil into contact with an increased quantity per acre of plaster, making a yield, at the end of the fourth season, of one hundred and twenty-five bushels of corn per acre, on ground that had been really abandoned by the unenterprising people who had previously 108 SMYTH CO. — ^BABYTES. held it. This land when last seen seemed to be in a state of permanent fertility, for the corn on it in 1878 looked to the writer as though it would yield over one hundred bushels to the acre. It may be inferred from these facts that, should the owners of plaster deposits who can afford it send out competent agents to all points accessible by rail, and there lecture upon the true i character and capacities of plaster, demonstrated both by chemistry and practice, they would thereby so greatly in- crease the demand for a good article as to make it difficult to supply it. As long, however, as the active canvassers of fer- tilizers from enterprising Eastern firms go through the country, making statements sometimes prejudicial to the use of plaster, and altogether in praise of their own wares, without meeting men of like activity and enterprise working for the plaster interest, we may conclude that just so long will the important industry of plaster development remain at a standstill, if it does not recede. BAEVTES. This has been another source of revenue to the county of Smyth. An enterprising gentleman from New York State, some years since, finding barytes in large quantities near Marion, began its mining and shipment. From this business he has made large profits ; and, by his work, has demon- strated that the county, particularly in the localities just east and west of Marion, is capable of yielding a very large tonnage of this material. It seems to be pocketed in Lower Silurian limestones, in a series parallel with and just south of the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Eailroad. It is sometimes picked up in other sections of the county, but, as yet, not in sufficient masses to justify the expectation of large quan- tities. SMYTH CO. — TIMBER. 109 MABBLE. Smytli holds two lines of rock yielding handsome speci- mens of variegated marble. One is a gray variety, closely resembling that from Tennessee, found in a railroad cut one mile east of Marion ; the other belongs to the series of rocks near to and just south of Saltville, and all the way up Eich Valley, which lie about the Junction of the Trenton and Hudson sub-epochs. In these ledges may be discovered marble of purple and brown variegation, and a gray variety also. Both of these would polish well, apparently, and yield a handsome ornamental stone. Should they prove suj6B.ciently firm LQ large blocks, there is scarcely any limit to the quantity. KAOUN. The mountainous region between the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Bailroad and Eye Yalley shows beds of kaolin of unknown extent. The quality, also, has not yet been tested. It is supposed to result from the decomposition of strata largely composed of felspar in the Potsdam rocks. TIMBEE. This county can enumerate all the valuable kinds of timber known to the latitude, including two or more varieties of the fir tree. "White Top Mountain has a large body of balsam fir ; with this may be placed the lashhorn, a kind of fir with a differently shaped leaf from the ordinary balsam fir, and having its limbs to grow out from the body of the tree in such a manner as to form a lace work, apparently lashed together so thickly as to permit a number of persons to occupy the flattened top without danger of breaking through. All over the sides of "White Top Mountain are vast forests of a superior growth, including much wild cherry, poplar, 110 SMYTH CO. — AGfilCULTUEE. etc. In tlie Iron Mountain there are fine bodies of white pine, and all through the county, except right on the line of the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Eailroad, and the Ticinity of Saltville, there are immense primitive forests miles in extent. Such is the case in the north spurs of Iron Moun- tain, Glade and White Eock Mountains, Little Walker's, Big Walker's, Brushy, Clinch, and Poor Valley Mountain, and adjacent valleys. So that the iron master need not fear the early disappearance of an abundance of charcoal. In many of the limestone districts there are still remaining very large quantities of walnut, sugar tree, and other fine woods. WATER POWEE. The three forks of Holston Biver, each discharging about 150 cubic feet of water before leaving the county, afford suf- ficient water power with their tributaries to supply all the de- mand which may ever be made upon them. These streams are constant. AGEICULTUEE. The most pr6fitable branch of agriculture is grazing. There are but few large farms employed in raising grain alone. The lands are generally well adapted to grass, bring- ing blue grass naturally. A very large area of the county is taken up by high mountains ; but the area of limestone, or strictly grass lands, is more than half the county. The val- leys of the North, Middle, and South Forks of Holston Biver, including Bich Valley on the north side of Walker's Mountain and Bye Valley on the south side of the county, show all the fine features characteristic of the best lands of the Valley of Virginia. Sinclair's Bottom, on the South Fork, near the Smyth-Washington line, is often quoted as one of the best bodies of land in the State. Every one who has seen the Francis Palmer. At 2 Years. ^^\ms:<^^^mw^^:si^f^-$-^^'^ 11378. Albert Edward. At 5 Years. TWO OF THE FINE HERD AT SALTVILLE, VA. (P. 111.) SMYTH CO. — SCEKEEY. Ill Saltyille basin can only speak in terms of praise of the great fertility of its loamy soil, and tlius could many places noted for the excellence of tlie soil be called over in the county. Poor Valley makes no pretensions to richness of soil, but many farms are situated in it notwithstanding, the people living well. It is superfluous to name the different farm prod- ucts of the county : wheat, corn, oats, hay, rye, and buck- wheat are the ordinary crops throughout, and no season is remembered when there was a complete failure in any crOp. Cattle, horses, sheep, and hogs do well, some of the finest herds of cattle in the country being now raised. SCENERY. Smyth, Washington, and Grayson counties may all make equal claim to the incomparable scenery spread out on every side of the White Top Mountain. To confine one's self to the magnificent picture presented to the tourist on first seeing the carpeted summit of White Top, relieved by a background of fir and lashhorn trees, is itself sufficient to stamp the place of the first order. This grassy plateau, on the top of the mountains, of one hundred acres, is covered over with a thick and deep turf of some grass usual to high altitudes, and un- known in the valleys below ; watered here and there by crys- tal springs, it affords, in spring and summer, fine, nutritious grazing to stock, etc., which only serve by their presence to heighten the effect of the rare, splendid picture of the green field with its setting of darker green, 5,500 feet above the sea. Then, looking through the clear atmosphere on any side, with the field-glass, or without it, a rare and lovely landscape meets the eye. In the distance may be seen the pigmy look- ing railway trains, apparently moving at a snail's pace, though going at high speed, leaving behind them trails of smoke of deeper and lighter shades. 112 SMYTH CO. — MINERAL SPEINGS. The open farms look like blankets of green upon a great surface of darker colors. Only by seeing it can the view be appreciated. Saltville stands in broken groups in a basin, cut by the hand of nature out of an emerald. This lovely vale sits the mistress of all scenery ! Beyond the power of description, a vocabulary of praise would hang like an ugly web upon its quiet beauty. It is sweetest nature in its noblest moment frozen into eternal repose. It is a poem of Heaven, making music in the hearts of the glad and the sad alike. It is the last and most beautiful touch of the Almighty Hand, re- newed every year in changing hues, speaking plainly, " This is my handiwork ! Behold it ! " So are the many other beautiful pieces of nature's painting in this county, but all must yield the palm to Saltville Basin. Not in the days when it was but a salt, salt sea did it give promise of its resurrection, in these latter days, into such a living source of beauty and profit. What a pity that man should mar it, or make other use of it than for the glory of Him who made it. Not that we say it is being used other- wise now, for it gives of its substance to thousands. To attempt to eulogize its beauty would be to multiply words without the power to touch the subject ; so we leave it, radiant in its own power, to best proclaim itself un- equaled. MINERAL SPRINGS. At this time the Chilhowie Holston Springs, on the Middle Fork of Holston Eiver, ten miles southwest of Marion, are the principal springs prepared to keep visitors. Their waters have not yet been fully analyzed ; but their general character, together with the fine air and lovely river scenery, combine to render the place attractive. SMYTH CO. — FUENACES AND FORGES. 113 MANrrACTUEES. The county is not only supplied witli the requisite num- ber of good grist and saw mills, in various neighborhoods, tanneries, etc., but it has two first-class woolen factories, be- sides the great manufactory for salt at Saltville. The Holston Woolen Mills, situated about six miles south- west from Marion on the South Pork of Holston Eiver, now annually turn out large quantities of cassimeres, jeans, blank- ets, etc. The factory in Eich Valley will do the same, and both have become recognized as safe and successful institutions of their kind. Marion has long been known as having one of the best plow factories in the country, supplying a very large trade. FUENACES AND FOEGES. Panic Furnace, or what is now called White Eock Furnace, went into blast August.9th, 1875, for some years out of blast, but is again at work under its new ownership, that of the Lobdell Car Wheel Co., of Wilmington, Del., as a cold-blast charcoal six-ton furnace. It derives its ores from the large beds in the slopes of White Eock and Glade Mountains and vicinity ; and will perhaps command some of the magnetic ores of Grayson and Ashe counties, it being proposed to con- nect this furnace, the magnetic ores mentioned, and Eural Eetreat on the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Eailroad, by means of a narrow-gauge railroad. Pearce's Forge, three and a half miles below Sugar Grove, on South Fork of Holston Eiver, makes excellent bar iron from the ores of the great iron belt in that vicinity. This is about the sum of the important manufactories, fur- naces, and forges in Smyth now in operation, or contem- plated to go to work soon. The old fuamace in Staley's Mill 8 114 SMYTH CO. — LINES OP TEANSPOETATION. Creek neighborliood is scarcely worth mentioning except from a historical point of view. It seems to have been in use duriag the late unpleasantness, and is said to have illus- trated the high quality of the ores of that vicinity. LINES OP TEANSPOBTATION. The Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Eaileoaj) runs through the county from east to west, or, rather, from northeast to southwest, bringing the county into communication with the eastern seaboard, and the western and southern railroads and rivers. The Saltville branch of this line also leads back into this county, although it leaves the main stem in Wash- ington County. In Rich Yalley, or the valley of the North Eork of Holston Eiver, are the projected lines of branches of the Eichmond and Southwestern Eailroad, and of the Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio Eailroad. Either of these, if built, will open up the vast plaster deposits of Buchanan's Cove, and the agri- cultural and mineral resources of a fine section. There are also one or two lines of railway chartered to cross the country, leading both toward the copper mines south of the Iron Mountain, and toward Tazewell County on the north side. One of them to the south, the Virginia and Statesville Eailroad, may at some day be built from Adkins, on the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Eailroad, through Grayson and Ashe, etc., to Statesville, N. C, opening a rich mineral and timber region. The other, the Saltville and Coal Mine Eaileoad, will soon commence construction from Saltville to the coal measures in Eussell, etc. Fish Culture will finally become a necessary industry in Smyth County. The streams now have a great many fine bass, redeye, chub, sucker, and the mountain streams some trout. Lick Creek, which comes out from the direction of SMYTH CO. — EDUCATION. 115 Burk's Garden, has still some trout, as well as many streams flowing from the Iron Mountain. The streams are well adapted to game fish, and will at some day be utilized on account of their industrial value in this way. Bee Ovlture is carried to some perfection in Smyth, not so much for the profit on the honey raised for market, as for home use. Many improved gums have been tried, of which the Starbuck patent seems to be very generally in use. There is also another one of home invention, known as the Davis hive, which seems to meet the requirements of this latitude. Orape Culture, which seems now not to attract so much at- tention, was once a subject of importance. Much wine was made, by the Sprinkles particularly, a few miles east of Ma- rion ; but now, except for table use, but little attention is being paid to the improvement of the grape, or to its culture as a wine crop. TEADE IN CATTLE, SHEEP, WHEAT, COEN, ETC. Cattle, about 2,300 head sold annually— 75 thorough-bred annually from Palmer at Saltvllle. Sheep, " .... 3,500 " Wool, " 15,000 pounds. Wheat, " ....95,000 bushels. Corn, hat a small surplus is sold. Barytee, 1,600 tons. EDUCATION. More than usual attention has been paid to the important question of education in Smyth. There is a fine high school at Marion, the Marion High School for boys and girls. This is evidenced by the numbers that are sent from sur- rounding counties. Besides this, and other good schools of its kind, the public school system is kept up to as high a state of efficiency as the public funds will permit. 116 SMYTH CO. — ^TOWNS AOT) TILLAGES. TOWNS ANT) VILLAGES. ^ Marion, the comity site, is nearly in the center of the county, on the Middle Fork of Holston Biver, and by it passes the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Ohio Eailroad. Marion, besides its good school, has timber factories, fine flour- ing mills, hotels, churches, stores, a bank, and various repair shops, and ought naturally to be a thriving place. Saltvilh, as yet a village, is at the present terminus of the saltworks branch of the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Eail- road, and is the center of a large trade growing out of the in- dustries of salt manufacturing, plaster mining, and grinding. It has a good hotel, a tasteful church, and handsome resi- dences, store, and numerous salt factories with their appur- tenances. Its trade amounts to about five hundred thousand dollars annually. When the contemplated system of roads, north and south, shall have been completed by which the great sulphureted beds and veins of Grayson, Carroll, and Ashe counties can be utilized, extensive works for the manufacture of the fine fertilizer, soda ash, will be erected at or near Saltville. England now manufactures many millions of tons of this cheap fertilizer annually. Seven Mile Ford, on Middle Fork, long known as the west- ern terminus of the macadamized turnpike which leads east- wardly to James Eiver, is now also a station on the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Eailroad. It is a beautiful place, taken with its surroundings. AdJcins, toward the eastern end of the county, and Greevers, toward the western side of the county, are both thriving places, on the same railroad, doing a good deal of trade. Chatham HiE, in Rich Valley, near the great plaster depos- "WASHINGTON COUNTY. 117 its of Buctanan's CoTe, has two or three stores, a church, and smith shops. It is a rambling hamlet, healthfully situ- ated on the road leading up from the south bank of North Fork of Holston. Broad Ford, on North Fork, is a place also where a great deal of business is done. And among other known places in the county are, Thomas's, Holston's Mills, Harmon's, Til- son's, Sugar Groye, Ohilhowie, Blue Spring, and Sinclair's Bottoms. WASHINGTON COUNTY. It is not astonishing that one of the fairest portions of the State should have been chosen to be named after Washing- ton. The county which bears his name is one of the largest, most populous, and among the most important in the State, in every respect. Its large area ; wide expanse of grass, grain, and tobacco lands ; fine ores, marbles, etc. ; fine for- ests, mineral springs, and noble scenery, make it necessary to use language in its description which, to the impartial reader, sounds like mere fulsome flattery. Several of the mountain chains, which are so high and rugged farther east, in passing through Washington are so modified as to be no longer the barriers they are in Wythe and Smyth. Thus the Big and Little Walker's Mountains, particularly, have so far disappeared as to present almost one vast plain of undulating fields and woods from Clinch Mountain on the north to Iron Mountain on the south ; leav- ing so much broader an expanse of arable lands to meet the eye, and contribute to the wealth and prosperity of the com- munity. So that in Washington the Great Valley of Virginia is twenty miles wide, unbroken except by inferior ridges, which serve more as divides between the waters of different forks of Holston Biver than anything else. 118 WASHINGTON CO.— GEOLOGICAL, Washington, also, holding some of the most considerable towns and Tillages in that section of the State, claims addi- tional importance on that account. HOW BOUNDED. The Clinch Mountain separates Washington from Eussell on the north, a length of thirty-three miles. On the south, the Yirginia and Tennessee State line is the boundary ; toward the southeast is the great White Top Mountain between Wash- ington and Grayson Counties ; but that southeastern corner, which is alike the northeastern corner of the State of Ten- nessee, is not in the White Top Mountain, but on Pond Mountain, seven miles southwest of White Top. East, Washington is bounded by Smyth County, and west by the county of Scott. HOW WATEEED. The different branches of the Holston Eiver and some of their tributaries afford never-failing streams to every part of the county. A part of the lower section of North Fork of Holston Eiver, as well as the South Fork, discharge enough water to render their improvement for navigation purposes possible. The Middle and South Forks of Holston unite in this county and continue as the South Fork. Laurel Creek, a tributary which derives its waters from streams flowing out of White Top Mountain and from Tennessee, is a stream of great importahce, as affording abundance of water at all seasons. It empties into the South Fork. Wolf Creek and others which flow near Abingdon are valuable ; likewise is the creek which flows out by Bristol, besides others of value in different parts of the county. GEOLOGICAL. It is merely a repetition to put in a geological section for Washington, although for convenience it is proper to do so. "WASHINGTON CO. — ^TBON. 119 The section for Smyth County shows the different rocks making their appearance in "Washington, though there is a difference in their arrangement. Unlike Smyth County, Washington is free from those intermediate ranges known as Glade and White Eock Mountains, and their extension is occupied either by Lower Silurian limestones or St. Peter black shales and brown sandstones, as is the case two or three miles south of Abingdon, in the Knobs. Toward the extreme southeast are the Huronian rocks, in White Top and Pond Mountains ; then going north oyer the Upper Huronian, the Lower Cambrian are encountered in the north slopes of Iron Mountain ; then in the main val- leys, as on South Fork of Holston Eiver, Lower Silurian lime- stones. These limestones then prevail entirely across the valley, except the district of the Knobs just spoken of, and also a line of rather indistinct Upper Silurian rocks near the south side of North Fork, and such of the Devonian series as show the succession of knobs westwardly, toward the Scott County line. On the north side of North Fork are the Devonian rocks in Brushy Mountain, succeeded, northwardly, by Clinch Mountain and the Upper Silurian series. That this enumeration includes valuable mineral-bearing series cannot be doubted. moN. The valuable Brown Ores of Washington are mainly con- fined to the Oriskany measures on the south side of Clinch Mountain. That portion of Iron Mountain in the county must yield some of those brown ores for which it is noted at other points, but no great developments have been made as yet. Toward the point where the South Fork of Holston flows into Ten- nessee there are excellent brown ores in the limestones, found close to a band of magnetic ores. From these deposits 120 "WASHINGTON CO. — MAGNETIC lEON OEES. has been taken a great deal of ore for use in a furnace close by, now out of blast, known as tlie Eagle Furnace of Sullivan County, Tennessee. The ores of the Oriskany rocks in Clinch Mountain are not the only brown ores in that section ; but they are the most important, not only on account of their greater purity, but more reliable quantity: they, however, follow the rule govern- ing these measures farther east, and are found at intervals along the course of the mountain, on the south side, in a direction about north 70° east, and south 70° west. v Bed Iron Ores. Ores of this class, except a considerable band of pure spec- ular ores on North Fork, are not reported in any appreciable quantity outside of the fossil red ore in the Clinch Moun- tain. Some handsome fragments have been taken from an 18- inch vein, just east of Little Moccasin Gap, in the Washing- ton-Kussell line, on the Fossil Belt. Magnetic Iron Ores or Semi-Magnetic Red Ores. The magnetic ores of Washington seem to be of that class, which, at the same time they are abundant, are of the kind most easily reducible. The most considerable deposits oc- cupy a line about IJ miles south of the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad at the GoUaher Bank, and also running with the general direction of the South Fork of Holston Eiver ; and one deposit may be said to show to advantage in the vicinity of the mouth of Fifteen Mile Creek. Here the measure is about three feet — sometimes greater — generally between walls of limestone, dipping at a high angle south- wardly. The Gallaher ore is near a stratum of St. Peter's sandstone, and shows nearly 1,000 tons on the surface. WASHINGTON CO. — PLASTEE AND SALT. 121 These measures are more or less continuous for eight or nine miles, with a high probability that farther developments will prove them much longer. The old forge on the south side of the river, near the mouth of Wolf Creek, has used these ores, producing an excellent bar iron. The next observed line of magnetic ores is on the lands of Preston, three miles east of Bristol, about 300 yards south of the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Eailroad. The developments now in progress will reveal their true character, quantity, etc. That the White Top Mountain and vicinity will reveal mag- netic ores, specular and brown ores in quantity in this county there can scarcely be room for doubt ; though it is now to be regretted that so few developments have been made both in that vicinity and in Iron Mountain. COPPEB Will be found to exist in several lines of ores in the county, but not in sufficient quantity to justify working on a large scale. At least, up to the present, no developments would lead to other conclusions. LEAD AND ZINC. The extraordinary measures which hold such vast amounts of lead and zinc farther east in Wythe, etc., would naturally pursue a line running with the general course of the South Fork of Holston River ; but it seems, from the examinations made, that this fine series has been thrown up in the general upheaval to such an altitude as to have been denuded and carried away. No large quantities of either of the minerals may be confidently looked for, to judge from present indica- tions. PLASTER AND SALT. It would be difficult to estimate the approximate quantity of the great Saltville deposit assignable to Washington 122 WASHINGTON CO. — MAEBLE. County. The great fissure in wliicli these invaluable depos- its lie extends for some miles into the county, iu a direction parallel with and south of the North Fork of Holston Eiver. It is not at all conclusive that the lesser apparent surface indications determine that a smaller quantity exists in Wash- ington than in Smyth ; that is, as to the Saltville deposits. No one can tell what great cavities and inequalities between the sides of the fissure may exist below ground. That there are such the Saltville basin itself is positive proof; and, oc- curring as it did so near the surface, it needed but little exploration to bring out its character. Washington County, it may confidently be asserted, holds immense masses and deposits of both these valuable min- erals close to the Washington-Smyth line. At the Buena Vista Plaster Works, the quality of the plaster is unexcep- tionable, and the only wonder is that the sale of this valu- able fertilizer isn't treble what it now is. As remarked in treating of Smyth County, should the own- ers adopt the plan of showing all its qualities as a permanent fertilizer, as well as a mere stimulant for growing crops, it can scarcely be doubted that the demand for it will greatly increase. This result could not better be secured than by studying thoroughly all the relations borne by gypsum to agricultural chemistry, and then having them thoroughly ventilated before the people of every county in each neigh- boring State, as well as in Virginia, by a good lecturer at every public gathering. MAEBLE. A variegated marble in thick bands exists in a line of rocks south of the North Fork of Holston Eiver, and parallel in trend with the general course of that stream. This series may be said to lie nearly at the junction of the Trenton and Hudson sub-epochs. The industrial value of these marbles WASHINGTON CO. — WATEB POWEK. 123 has not yet been fully tested ; judging from their good appearance now and then they will be in demand for orna- mental purposes. BAEYTES Exists in some quantity about the middle-southern part of the county, but the quantity has not yet been fully ascer- tained by actual development. TIMBEE. The southern part of the county, in the vicinity of White Top Mountain and the slopes of Iron Mountain, presents areas still very heavily timbered with a growth of fine tim- ber. Poor Valley, except in the vicinity of Saltville, is still heav- ily timbered. Should the question of quantity arise in con- nection with the making of iron in the vicinity of the greater deposits of iron ore, it may be answered that a sufficient quantity of cheap charcoal is accessible to supply a large demand for a number of years to come. The kinds of timber are all those common to the latitude. In the southern part, besides balsam, lashhorn, etc., there are quantities of wild cherry, poplar, etc. About through the great valley district there are fine walnut trees, and in places quite abundant. White oak is the prevalent tree. In the Clinch Mountain are large boundaries of chestnut, chestnut oak, with hickory, etc. WATER POWEE. Washington could afford water power for any desirable purpose if called upon. The different branches of Holston Biver and their tributaries offer facilities possessed by only a few counties in the State. Taking into consideration the large area of the county, and the unfailing character of the 124 WASHINGTON CO. — ^AGEICULTUBE. rather large streams contributing power, tlie aggregate num- ber of mill sites wbicli may be used indifferently for large grist-mills, cotton or woolen mills, or saw-mills, is great enougli to defy computation. South and North Forks, where they flow into Tennessee, discharge about 400 cubic feet per second each. AGEICULTUEE. Agriculture being the chief pursuit of the people, and the land being in a fine grass-producing section, the county now derives nearly all its revenues and support from that source. Like its sister counties, Washington does not pretend to have made much headway in farming as a science ; land is still too abundant and cheap, and population too scarce ; but nature has made these limestone lands so rich, and has given such propitious seasons, together with so admirable an eleva- tion above the sea, that the different grasses, growing in rich profusion season after season, would almost alone render the county remarkably capable of producing the best and most constant revenue. Space would not permit a description of particular locali- ties most famous for the fertility and productiveness of their soil. It would be an invidious task at best. To get on some elevated point and look over the broad expanse of the county, the eye meets with a most pleasing picture in the alternation of hill and dale, of woodland and pasture, occupying such a widely extended area. It is not a mere series of plantations, side by side along the banks of a large stream, with all the rest in swamp or inaccessible mountain ; the whole broad val- ley is quilted over with farms of princely size, and many of them of surpassing beauty. In wheat, com, grasses, rye, oats, barley, buckwheat, flax, etc., the county for the greater part has few equals as a pro- ducer. WASHINGTON CO. — MINEEAL SPEINGS. 125 TOBACCO CTJLTUEE. Of late years tobacco culture has reached a high limit in the county, and that staple is now being produced to the extent of 1,200,000 pounds of leaf annually. MINEEAL SPEINGS. The Seven Springs, between Glade Spring and Saltville, on the SaltTille branch of the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad, is the place at which is now being made the widely and justly famed Seven Springs Iron and Alum Mass. At these springs are nicely arranged furnaces and boilers for reducing the water drawn from the Seven Springs, the waters from which, when analyzed together, gave in advance the medicinal constituents which have proven of such high effi- cacy in nearly all forms of disease. De. J. W. Mallet, of the University of Yirginia, is the chemist whose searching analysis first showed the wonderful therapeutic value of this water. It is now confidently believed that, with an energetic sys- tem of advertising throughout the country, the demand for tliis mass must be far in excess of any possible supply. A most careful inquiry into results reveals the fact, that out of the thousands of medicines of every conceivable kind put before the people as infallible, the mass of these springs has been found to yield an almost infallible remedy for the diseases indicated by the distinguished chemist named above. Mungel's Springs, situated nine miles northwest of Abing- don, has a fine spring almost in the edge of the North Fork of Holston Eiver. This spring yields a distinctly white sul- phur sediment, with an arsenical tinge. It has a high local reputation for curative virtues, and, with proper accommo- dations for visitors, should command a good patronage. Its 126 WASHINGTON CO. — SCENEBT. situation is romantic and picturesque to a very high degree, •with a loTely river flowing through rich scenery, set in a background of high hills overtopped by higher mountains. WASHINGTON SPRINGS. These springs are one and a half miles north from Glade Spring Depot, Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Eailroad. Be- sides being situated in a lovely spot amid the mountains, with extensive views of noble plains and the vast mountains about the White Top, its springs are justly regarded as dis- tinctly medicinal and of high curative power. At these springs are found waters of four distinct varieties, the most effective being an alum-chalybeate spring near and east of the hotel, and a white sulphur spring, yielding a low per- centage of arsenic, situated in a lovely spot west of the hotel. If mere curative power is a matter of importance, these springs may be ranked among those most likely to sustain a high reputation. To this should be added the healthful and beautiful location close to a leading line of important rail- way. Mendota has in its vicinity, in the Hamilton Slates, several good sulphur and chalybeate springs. In the county, at nu- merous places, are springs of lesser note, needing only de- velopment to prove their efficacy and value. SOENEBY. When it is remembered that from nearly all parts of the county can be seen the White Top and Balsam Mountains, towering 5,500 feet above the sea, with other grand moun- tains in the distance, it is not too much to say that Washing- ton County presents every description of fine scenery. A view of the vast plain of the great valley itself, in its garni- ture of mountains, is most beautiful and pleasing. Such of ■-'V f-^^'^T'^ 1 *r Jci AKSENIC SPRING, WASHINGTON SPRINGS, WASHINGTON CO., TA. (P. 126.) ■WASHmOTON CO. — MAmTPACTUEES, 127 the creeks as lead down from tlie liiglier mountains, with their bright limpid waters dashing over numerous ledges and boulders, in cascades and falls of a thousand different forms, fringed by dark foliage composed of tree and shrub, present innumerable pictures at once romantic and surpassingly beautiful. No power can describe the inimitable view from the White Top Mountain. From this elevated point the dis- tant mountains of Kentucky are visible far to the northwest. The serried lines of the parallel chains of Virginia mountains stretch away to meet the sky, until the view is lost in the azure haze of the great distance. To the south, the lone and lofty mountains of the Unaka Eange relieve all sameness, not more by their isolated grandeur, than their beautiful and gi- gantic proportions. MANITPACTUIIES. Washington County has shown a fine spirit in the estab- lishment of fine woolen mills, so well calculated to consume at home its own surplus wool, and much of that of the sur- rounding counties. Besides these woolen factories and the large tobacco factories at Abingdon and Bristol-Goodson, there are no manufactories of consequence. One mile west of Abingdon, on Wolf Creek, are situated the woolen mills of J. H. Pepper & Sons, running one set of cards, 340 spindles, and 4 looms, making jeans, flannels, linseys, cassimeres, and blankets. A regular custom mill, run by a Leffel's turbinfe wheel. The Bristol Woolen Mills, half a mile east of Bristol, on the Town, or Beaver Creek, runs 504 spindles and 8 looms by water power — most improved 48-inch machinery — making linseys, .cassimeres, jeans, satinets, and blankets, consuming 50,000 pounds of wool annually. It may not be out of our province to mention the mills on the Tennessee side of Bristol. The City Woolen Mills are 128 WASHINGTON CO. — ITJENACES AKD FOEGES. situated on the same creek, half a mile west of Bristol, using 40-incli macliiaery, run 240 spindles and 5 looms, con- suming 100 pounds of wool a day. Goods of excellent qual- ity, cassimeres, satinets, flannels, blankets, shawls, etc. ; yarns card and spun for farmers. Business chiefly, like that of Bris- tol Woolen Mills, with the farmers, in exchange, at the rate usually of one yard of satinet to two pounds of top-washed wool ; cassimeres, one yard for two and a half to three pounds of top wool. Below these mills, about one mile, are the Bristol Cotton Mills, on the same stream, 992 spindles, 18 looms ; product, 80 bimches of yarn daily, and 650 yards of sheeting. Factory employs twenty-five hands. One half of the machinery was made by Danforth, of Paterson, N. J. The new, or last half, came from the machine works of Lowell, Mass.; appears very fine indeed. At Abingdon is situated one of the finest tobacco factories in the State. The quality of the article produced bears favor- able comparison with the product of the older factories. It was established in 1876, and now handles over 1,500,000 pounds annually. At Bristol-Goodson there is also a to- bacco factory, with the prospect of another soon. There are also at Bristol two tobacco warehouses handling about 1,000,000 pounds of leaf — possibly 100,000 pounds of chew- ing and smoking tobacco. At Abingdon the tobacco ware- houses are the Greenway, Snow, and Holston factories, to which has just been added another. FUBNACES AND FOEGES. Washington County has now no iron furnaces in operation. There is a good forge of 700 pounds capacity, situated near the mouth of Wolf Creek, on the south bank of the South Fork of Holston Eiver, which runs chiefly on magnetic ore of that vicinity, not now in blast. WASHINGTON CO. — BEISTOL. 129 TOWNS AND VILLAGES. Abingdon, the county site, with a population of 1,700, is one of the oldest towns west of the Blue Eidge. Its situ- ation is pleasant if not beautiful, haying many attractive features about it. Its two fine female colleges, handsomely situated, add much to the attractiveness of the place. Abingdon, besides these schools, has a spacious court-house in which is held, not only the county and circuit courts of the commonwealth, but the circuit court of the United States for the large district of which Abingdon is nearly the geographical center. Here are also churches of nearly all denominations, three well-kept hotels, a good livery stable, numerous stores, dealing in every description of merchandise, medicine, stationery,- etc. There are tanneries, establishments for the manufacture and repair of wagons, harness, smith shops, etc. This town being situ- ated nearly in the center of the county, on the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad, commands a considerable trade, not only from the county of Washington, but from sur- rounding counties in Virginia, Tennessee, and North Caro- lina. Among Abingdon's chief institutions are her two en- terprising weekly public prints, The Standard and The Virginian. BEISTOL. Bristol is a town of 4,000 inhabitants lying in the States of Virginia and Tennessee, at the western terminus of the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Eailroad ; its Virginia portion being usually known by the name of Goodson. It is a town of quite recent origin, dating back to about 1858. Bristol is the center of quite a manufacturing district ; besides the woolen, cotton, and tobacco factories enumerated above, it has quite an extensive machinery for facilitating carpenter's work. 130 ■WASHINGTON CO. — BTJENA YISTA. Its enterprising citizens have made Bristol the center of a large and growing tobacco trade ; in fact there is no branch of : industry left neglected. The various newspapers published there, of which there are two or more, have been very efficient in building up the place, though it has not had such a magical growth as most of Western towns. Its hotels are sufficient in number and attractiveness to be efficient aids in the develop- ment of the place. The stores of all kinds of merchandise, attractive watch-making establishments, presided over by the best talent in the country, together with churches of various denominations, make Bristol a place of note in the surround- ing country. GLADE 8PEING. This name applies to two places near each other, Glade Spring Depot, at the south terminus of the Saltville Branch Bailroad, taking its name from Old Glade Spring, which is situated two miles to the south on the old stage road. Glade Spring Depot is an inviting looking place, with most of its houses built in good style and freshly painted. Its good hotel helps to render it a desirable place to spend the hot summer months. The cool vine-covered veranda, good table, and cleanly rooms will be remembered by many who have partaken of its comforts. This place has some trade, chiefly with the southern part of the county, Tennessee, and North Carolina. It is supplied, like nearly all the towns, vil- lages, and hamlets of Southwestern Virginia, with Masonic or Odd Fellows lodges, or both. BUENA VISTA. Bvma Vista is in that part of the Saltville Basin extending into Washington County. It is from its mills that the excel- lent article of plaster known as Buena Vista plaster comes. WASHINGTON CO. — FISH CHLTUBE. 131 EMORY. Emory is tlie noted station, on the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Eailroad, for Emory and Henry College, through the grounds of which college the railroad passes. On this railroad west of Abingdon are Wallace's and Mont- gomery's, two points that bid fair, at some day, to become trading places of some note. Mendota is a village on the north side of North Holston Eiyer, important on account of its good school, besides hav- ing some trade with the neighboring country. Greendale, Friendship, and Mock's Mid are places of some note in the county. LINES OE TBAI^SPOETATION. The Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Eaileoad passes through the heart of the county, in one of the great through lines from New York to New Orleans. From Glade Spring starts the Saltville branch of the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad, nine miles to Saltville. From Bristol to Cum- berland Gap is now being constructed a narrow-gauge railroad — known as the Bristol Coal and Iron Eailroad — ^by the Tin- salia Coal and Iron Company, the object of which is to bring Bristol and connections in communication with the vast beds of coal and iron along the route of the proposed road. Washington County will also derive a proportionate advan- tage from the construction of the Saltville and Coal Mine Eailroad, the route for which is now being surveyed. Both forks of Holston Eiver might be determined, upon a close examination, to be susceptible of being made navigable. nSH CULTURE. Some gentlemen of the county are taking quite an interest in the propagation of fine varieties of fish. The German carp 132 WASHINGTON CO. — ^EDUCATION. seems to be a favorite. No doubt tbe State Commission will take tlie waters of the Holston under its special care soon. Bee culture is an industry of great local value, as evidenced by the interest taken in different improved hives. Grape culture in varieties for home use is carried to considerable perfection. ANNUAL SURPLUS OP CATTLE, SHEEP, WHEAT, COEN, TOBACCO, ETC. Fat cattle, 2,500 head. Stock cattle, 5,400 head. Sheep, 9,300 head. "Wheat, 60,000 bushels. Corn, 1,000 bushels. Oats, 5,000 bushels. Leaf tobacco, 465,500 pounds shipped. Manufactured tobacco, 130,000 pounds from Abingdon, and about the same quantity from Bristol-Goodson Factory. Staves, 3,362,000 pounds. It is almost impossible to get at the exact number of cattle and sheep in any county ; but the above estimate, made from different sources, may be said to give reliable figures. EDUCATION. Much to the credit of the citizens of the county the sub- ject of education has always been one of great importance, and has fully succeeded in engaging their attention to good effect. Outside of the public schools there are no less than five permanent colleges and schools, four of which are institutions chartered to grant diplomas for a full course of scholastic learning. Emory and Henry College is the principal male college, WASHINGTON CO.— MAETHA WASHINGTON COLLEGE, 133 and Martha WasMngton College and Stonewall Jackson Fe- male Institute, both of Abingdon, are female colleges of .high merit. EMOEY AND HENEY COLLEGE, Situated twelve miles east of Abingdon, on the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad, was established under au- thority of the State, in the year 1838. It has had quite a successful history in the past, some of the most distin- guished men of the country having been students there. With an excellent faculty now, and fine facilities for education, it is entitled to a large and growing patronage. The grounds and buildings, laid out with great skill for the objects aimed at, have been brought in the course of over forty years to a high state of beauty as well as adaptation to the purposes in view. It has a very attractive feature, also, in a fine farm of over 300 acres. From the beauty, convenience, and perfec- tion of this college, in all its appointments, we are led almost irresistibly to advocate still further the views set forth in the treatment of the County of Montgomery — namely, that Emory should be secured by the State, and turned into the Agricultural and Mechanical College, combining the excellent faculties of these two institutions, and using the buildings at Blacksburg for the purposes indicated in the remarks on that part of Montgomery County. Without going more into detail in the description of Emory and Henry College, the subject may be dismissed with the hope that the excellent and convenient location of the col- lege, its fine faculty, and the really beautiful arrangements of its buildings in a place of great natural beauty and health- fulness may bring it a prosperous future. MARTHA WASHINGTON COLLEGE Was established at Abingdon, previous to 1861, to be a col-> lege, of high grade for young ladies. It is generally be- 134 GILES COUNTT. lieved to fully meet the expectations entertained of it by its friends. Its faculty is highly recommended by the most experienced talent in that line in the State, and it is fair to presume that this institution is justly entitled to high commendation. It occupies a beautiful and tasteful building surrounded by admirable grounds in the old town of Abingdon. STONEWALL JACKSON FEMALE INSTITUTE Is also situated in Abingdon, with grounds and buildings that should alone speak Tolumes in its favor. It was established subsequent to 1865. Its history has been a record of a de- gree of success which its friends could hardly have hoped for it. Its name, its painstaking faculty, and fine situation, should enable it to command a growing patronage. SuUin's Institute of Bristol, though just over the line in the State of Tennessee, is regarded almost as a Virginian institution. It has been very largely patronized by young ladies from Virginia, and bids fair to have a very successful future. The same may be said of King's College, likewise located at Bristol. Mendota High ScJiool for Boys and Girls is regarded as one of the best schools of its kind in that section. It has had, hitherto, great success, and has drawn pupils from quite a distance. There are other excellent schools in different parts of the county, besides which are the usual number of public schools throughout the county, now reported by the Superintendent of Public Education as increasing in efficiency. GILES COUNTY. It is rare that nature repeats such a combination of fine ores in veins and deposits, mineral waters, sjiperior gi-ass and grain lands, together with noble forest, river, and lake GILES CO. — ^HOW BOUNDED. 135 scenery, as is presented in the area covered by Giles County. The great mountain chains, which may be said to occupy the southwestern prolongation of the Alleghany Eange, are here broken in two, and apparently swept back, like the stately and beautiful structures which form the sides of a pair of gates incomparably great in size and architecture. In the great basin formed by this vast opening is the heart of the county: green fields and |orest-covered hills, threaded through the center by the beautiful and rapid New River ; a stream buttressed half its length by lofty cliffs of limestone, carved out, in the course of time, into such shapes as to lift the scenery along it out of the mere commonplace, and ele- vating it into the beautiful, not to say the sublime. To its other more notable features, Giles County adds the highly important one of being the great gateway of all the projected lines of railway, both leading from the Virginia seaboard toward the great west, and from north to south. In this particular this county is peculiar, seeming to oc- cupy a position which brings it within an air line for four different east and west railroad lines, and for two from north to south. To do justice to this noble county, in the space here allot- ted to it, is an impossibility. Indeed it is a question, whether or not any description could be written adequate to the just claims of this county to pre-fiminence, considered in all its features actual and possible. HOW BOUNDED. Giles County is now one of the border counties of Virginia; its northern neighbors being the counties of Monroe and Mercer, in West Virginia, separated from Giles by the great iron-bearing mountain range known as Peter's and East Eiver Mountains. 136 GILES CO. — NOTABLE P^TSICAL FEATUEES. West, it is bounded by the county of Bland, Va., east, by Craig County, Va., and south by the counties of Montgomery and Pulaski, two of the important counties treated in this volume. HOW WATERED. The whole area of the county is well watered by New Eiver, flowing through the middle of the county, from south to north, and several of its larger tributaries, such as Big and Little Stony, Sinking and Doe Creeks, on the east side, and Wolf and Walker's Creeks, with minor tributaries, on the west side. Little Stony Creek has for its source the cele- brated mountain lake on the top of Salt Pond Mountain, 4,000 feet above sea level. NOTABLE PHYSICAL EEATUEES. As before remarked, the northern boundary line is marked by Peter's and East Eiver Mountains, really continuations of each other, Peter's Mountain being to the northeast of New Eiver, and East Eiver Mountain to the southwest, in the same line. Next toward the central part of the county is the lofty and beautiful Angel's Eest, about 4,000 feet above sea level ; opposite to which, on the northeast side of the river, is the Butte Mountain, of the same general elevation. Plank- ing this latter on the south is the Salt Pond Mountain, with its bald knob towering nearly 6,000 feet above the sea ; the northwestern face of this high knob being washed by the crystal waters of Mountain Lake, no less remarkable for its beauty and elevated position in the top of a high mountain than for the fact of its recent origin. The Salt Pond Mountain, on the northeast, seems to answer in position to the Sugar Eun Mountain, on the south- west side ; leaving between them, as well as between An- gel's Eest and Butte Mountain, six or eight, or more miles GILES CO. — GEOLOGY. 137 |t| S p » fi « s O S g s" 5>-S I " a a- o ~s a- §8 I'VERTIOArseXIX O ™ "is- Ef East River & Fetsrs Mm. Bu Poplm ' ^hhorn & Zittle Mtng. WolfCreeK H 'olf Creek Mourdam {^CJS.) "■■ARISBDRO Butte Mbunfam (tut^) Angels ifes{,(A.K,) P nris Mountain [p-m.^ at TqpMfa; (s^TX.) i. alt Pond Mtn^ (sp.ir.) 1 M( untain Lake. , BaMKndb. (b.k.^ ■Su jar Run Mtn. (sjRiH,) mil Walkeys Creek Ghim n Mtn. ^keye & Spruee Sun Mba. Walker's Mtn. 138 GILES CO. — GEOLOGY. of limestone grass lands, divided in the middle by New Kiver. Toward the southern side of the county are the impor- tant iron-bearing parallel series, composed of Spruce, John's Creek, and Gap Mountains on the northeast side of New Eiver, and Buckeye, Guinea Mountain, and Walker's Moun- tain on the southwest side of the river. Gap Mountain and Walker's Mountain answering to each other in line of continuation. Angel's Eest Mountain is but the northeastern terminus and culmination of the great iron-bearing ridges of Wolf Creek Mountain, Pearis Mountain, and Flat Top ; to the im- portance of which the reader's attention will presently be called. GEOLOGY. The geology of Giles County rocks is comprised between the Upper Calciferous limestones, and the Hamilton Black Slates, inclusive. In the latter are sometimes found two or three inches of impure bituminous coal, creating the impres- sion in the minds of the uninitiated that there are valuable beds of coal close under the surface ; but this hope will not be realized. To properly illustrate the geology, there should be drawn several sections across the country, from northwest to south- east; but it is hoped that the section here given will be ample to show the positions of the various strata relative to each other, as well as their general position, dip, etc. Beginning at the southern or southeastern end of the sec- tion, the rocks of the Oneida series are first encountered, dipping southeastwardly, at angles varying between 30° and 60°, and occupying a position nearly in the heart of Walker's and Gap Mountains ; being on the extreme southern bound- ary line they dip at once out of the county, just here. GILES CO. — GEOLOGY. 139 Next to the north of, but under the Oneida, are the vari- ously colored rocks, highly impregnated with lime, belong- ing to the Hudson series, nearly 1,000 feet thick ; next to the north, the outcrop of some of the Trenton limestones, 850 feet thick about. Here a fault or great plication is encoun- tered at the northern base of Walker's Mountain, and, at the south base of Buckeye Mountain, the Oriskany rocks are en- countered, about sixty feet thick, showing six to eight feet of fine brown ore, both in Buckeye and Spruce Bun Mountains ; then north of this the red sandstones and ores of the Clin- ton ; then the Oneida, bounded on the north by the Hudson series again, with its various colored limestones, based on thirty feet of fine variegated marble, somewhat similar to Tennessee marble ; then the Trenton, 500 feet thick, gradu- ally losing its steep angle of dip as you near the great basin in the heart of Giles County, and becoming, for considerable distances, almost horizontal. Near the bottom of the Trenton rocks, if not in the division between them and the Calcifer- ous series, is the position of the famous Giles County semi- magnetic red iron ore. This vein of ore is one of the most remarkable ever en- countered. It has been a source of much speculation in the minds of scientific men, and is yet, in the estimation of many, an undetermined problem. It deserves a chapter to itself, and will receive more full notice further on. Pursuing the section northwardly, you begin to ascend out of the Trenton into the Hudson series, showing in the base of Angel's Ee^ Mountain, as well as in a corresponding posi- tion in Butte and Salt Pond Mountains. This is then over- laid in regular order by the Oneida, Medina, with the Clin- ton capping the summits of these last-named mountains ; ex- cepting some very large areas, which have also the interven- ing rocks up to the Oriskany, inclusive. In these last-named mountains, as will be observed in the section in Angel's 140 GILES CO. — IRON OKES. Eest, tlie rocks dip gently toward the center of the moun- tain. Leaving these great. mountains, going north there is a dis- location about the line of Wolf and Btg Stony Creeks, and you then encounter the steeper dips on the south faces of Buckhorn, East Eiver, and Peter's Mountains, and their flanking south-lying ridges. In these all the rocks from the Hamilton Black Slates to the Oneida, inclusive, are found, dipping southwardly at angles varying between 35° and 60°. The writer here, in closing the geological description of Giles, pays a justly deserved tribute to the fine discrimina- tion shown by Peof. Wm. B. Eogebs while in charge of the geological survey of Virginia. All subsequent work has proven him correct to a degree surprising for the small amount of development at the time of his explorations. mON OEES. The iron ores of Giles County may be divided into three general classes, as follows : The Semi-magnetic Bed, the Possil Bed, and the Brown Ores or Limonites. The semi- magnetic red ores showing at Johnson's, Chapman's, and Pack's, on and near New Biver, occupy a position, as men- tioned above, nearly at the junction of the Calciferous and Trenton limestones, possibly just between the Black Biver and Trenton sub-epochs. At Johnson's, on the river, the deposit has been very well explored, and found to give a thickness there of over fifty feet in different seams. A few hundred yards up the river from this point the New Biver Bailroad Company, with the diamond drill, has ascertained its continuity beyond conjecture, finding nearly 100 feet of ore in a little over 350 feet, some of the seams attaining a thick- ness of 18 feet. But the strata in which this ore is contained show very distinctly near Newport, at Payne's, twelve miles away from GUJES CO.— IBON OEES. 141 * Jolinsoii's and Chapman's, at Moser's, and at the mouth of Big Stony Creek ; then on the west side of the river, besides Pack's, at Dill's, Jordan's near Dill's, "Wood's, Eaton's, near Wabash Camp Ground. All these latter places occupy a position in the rim of a great basin, having its greatest de- pression near Johnson's or Chapman's Ferry. Again this same stratification shows along the south side of Wolf Creek, on the lower slopes of Wolf Creek Mountain, and around the northern base of Angel's Eest Mountain, under which moun- tain the whole stratification lies in its original strength. It is a peculiar vein. Among its more noticeable peculiar- ities is its being cut out, now and then, by slaty material sometimes highly charged with iron; that is, it is really replaced in the walls by slates, and sometimes by chert. The ore is usually of slaty structure, of tabular form some- times, generally though lozenge or rhombus shaped. It may be submitted that, in the hearts of the hills and below water, the ore has not been replaced by any other material, and may there be regarded as much more regular and reli- able, as has been proven by the drill. It is true that this vein sometimes shows red and brown ores accompanying the more magnetic ; but this is only due, very probably, to local causes. The general stratification in which it occurs is marked above by felspathic chert 10 feet thick, which oc- cupies a position about 75 feet above. Below it occasional lumps of baryta are found. This remarkable stratification dips under Angel's Eest, Pearis's and Wolf Creek Mountains } on the other side of the river it disappears under Butte and Salt Pond Mountains, while toward the south side of the county it goes under Buckeye and Spruce Eun Mountains. It may not be uninteresting to state that at Johnson's, below Chapman's Ferry, the exposures made show a section of the vein's area 220 feet by 170 feet by an average thick- 142 GILES CO. — ^FOSSIL BED lEON OKE. ness of eleven feet. Taking tlie ore to weigh- 280 pounds to the cubic foot, we have here, practically in sight, of this famous ore about 51,500 tons. The surface outcroppings, as described above, lead to the conclusion that there are many repetitions of the section showing at Johnson's, though at that point the trough of the basin is below water level. An analysis by Dr. F. A. Genth is as follows : Moisture 0.12 per cent. Silicic acid 1.83 Titanic " none. Phosphoric acid none. Sulphuric " 0.05 per cent. Magnetic oxide of iron 71.36 " Ferric oxide 26.52 Alumina trace. Magnesia 0.07 per cent. Lime .• 0.05 « 100.00 Metallic iron 70.238 per cent. (Signed) F. A. Genth. Fossil Bed Iron Ore. The OUnton or Dyestone series in which this ore is con- tained, together with the Medina, measures about 200 feet ; but the fine ore is never, in this county, over three feet thick. Pearis's Mountain, Wcilf Creek Mountain, Flat Top, Sugar Eun, East Eiver, Buckhorn, and Buckeye Mountains, west of New Eiver, and Peter's, Little, Butte, Salt Pond, Spruce Eun, and John's Creek Mountains, east of New Eiver, are its localities. It may be said to possess the same general char- acter all over the county where it is found. It has a fine development both in Flat Top, Buckhorn, and East Eiver GILES CO. — FOSSH BED IRON ORE. 143 Mountains, in its walls of red sandstone, standing at right angles, and generally from 800 to 1,000 feet above water level at its outcrop. Its quantity, estimating tlie average thick- ness of the best ore at 18 inches, woulH be greater than that of all other ores combined in the county, from its great regularity and continuity. Some fragments of this ore found in the great mountain area west of the Angel's Eest are very beautiful as cabinet specimens ; frequently a perfect shell will be found petrified in specular ore of -the brightest silvery luster. Generally the fossils are small, flattened, and lenticular shaped, mingled with small rounded pebbles. Two analyses, as rendered from fossil ores taken in East Eiiver and Flat Top Mountains, are as follows : East Biver Mountain Ore. Metallic iron , 50.36 (Signed) Prof. Pesqxjit. Flat Top Mountain Ore. (Fossil Bed.) Sesquioxide of iron 58.12 Oxide of manganese 0.06 Alumina 4.66 Lime , 0.20 Magnesia 0.41 Potassa and soda 0.40 Silica 32.74 Sulphuric acid ^ 0.00 Phosphoric acid 0.75 "Water, hygroscopic 0.60 Water, combined 0.96 Organic matter. 0.84 (Signed) H. DidaNSON, Norwood, Mass. 144 GILES CO. — BEOWN lEON ORES. Brovm Iron Ores. The quantity of Brown Iron Ore abore water level in Gilea County would be very,difficult to approximate. That it is ex- ceedingly abundant no one would doubt who could see the great Chestnut Flat Deposits, the ore banks from which the John's Mountain Furnace, near Newport, derives its ores, as well as many other notable places in the county. The most conspicuous and valuable beds are found in the Oriskany rocks in Wolf Creek Mountain, East Eiver, Buckhorn, Pe- ter's, Flat Top, Sugar Eun, Buckeye, Butte, Salt Pond, John's Creek, and Spruce Run Mountains, and their second- ary or derivative deposits on such creeks as Big Stony, etc. This ore constitutes about ten per cent, of the rocks com- posing the Oriskany measures, which are generally from thirty to sixty feet thick throughout the localities above named. The Chestnut Flat ore is really red when crushed. It is al- tered from a brown ore. This is amply proven by following the same measures a short distance either way, when the ore is found to resume its character as a brown ore. Chestnut Flat, with its fine showing of ore on the crest of Wolf Creek Mountain, about three and a half miles, air line, southwest from the narrows of New Eiver, is one of the most remarkable places in Virginia. This singularly fine ore is thrown up over a distance of about three hundred yards in an almost solid body, but extends less conspicuously many hun- dreds of feet further. It will probably yield 300,000 tons, just at this point, of an ore which analyzes as follows : Sesquioxide of iron 89.65 = Metallic iron, 63.755. Oxide of manganese 0.20 Silica 2.58 Alumina 1.11 Lime 0.20 GILES CO. — BBOWN IBON OEES. 145" Magnesia 0.15 Sulphuric acid 0.37 Phosphoric acid 0.30 Water, hygroscopic 1.25 Water, combined 4.10 (Signed) H. Dickiis'SON', Norwood, Mass. Following this same lead westwardly about one and a half miles, along the south face of Wolf Creek Mountain, looking down upon No Business Creek, another very extensive deposit is encountered, nearly if not quite as great in quantity as that at Chestnut Flat. This ore is a brown ore, giving the following analysis bj the same chemist : Sesquioxide of iron 86.17 = Met. iron, 60.669. Oxide of manganese 07 Alumina 69 Lime 14 Magnesia 06 Silica 3,10 Sulphuric acid 33 Phosphoric acid 46 Water, combined 8. 01 Water, hygroscopic 1.10 (Signed) H. DiCKiNSOK. Again, about three miles almost directly south of this, ores of the Oriskany show in the south face of Flat Top Mountain, overlooking Dismal Creek, being the same from which the Walker's Creek Forge once obtained its supplies of ores. This ore assays as follows : Sesquioxide of iron 80.17 = 56.119, Met iron. Protoxide of iron 57 10 146 GILES CO. — BBOWN IRON OEES. Silica 5.13 Alumina 2.04 Lime 47 Magnesia 14 Oxide of manganese 90 Sulphuric acid 02 Phosphoric acid 84 Water, hygroscopic 1. 60 Water, combined 7.94 (Signed) H. DiCKiiifsosr. Several other places on Dismal Creek give this ore in vast quantities, particularly toward the head of the creek, where the material has not been so abraded and carried away through the action of the elements. No doubt the most con- vincing argument respecting its quantity would be for the curious or the doubting to visit these beds. Exact measures are superfluous where nature has been so lavish. Another prominent locality of this Oriskany ore is in the end of the south flank of Peter's Mountain, looking down upon the Narrows of New Eiver. It is supposed by some experts that there are here about 100,000 tons of the ore practically in sight. Its analysis shows it high in metallic iron, and low in phosphorus. In Spruce Bun Mountain, west of Newport, and in Buckeye Mountain, the solid ore is six feet thick, running for great dis- tances, that is, almost continuously. Occasionally the ore is eight feet thick between walls of sandstone. At Dowdy's, Mill's, Keffer's, etc., you find the eastern pro- longation of the Spruce Bun veins. These ores may be seen at the furnace, above Newport, on Sinking Creek. Again, brown ores show us probably the result of decom- posed pyrites in the edge of Wolf Creek, near Shumate's house and mill — vein perhaps five feet thick between ledges GILES CO. — MANGANESE. 147 of limestone — at Bolton's, up Big Stony Creek, at points on Guinea Mountain, and numerous other places in Giles County, to whicli the above enumerated may be considered as merely introductory. MANGANESE. Manganese ores seem to be confined almost exclusively to the Oriskany measures. In fact, the iron ore of those rocks frequently gives way almost entirely to oxide of manganese. At one point in these rocks on Flat Top Mountain, near the line between Giles and Bland counties, the ore was found in great purity, giving the following measures, etc.: Trend north 70° east, dip 60° north 20° west, containing valuable quanti- ties of manganese disseminated heavily through sandstone, five hundred yards in length, gradually becoming impregnated with iron as you approach the eastern end. The apparent width of the ore strata is here extraordinary, and may be owing to a duplication of strata from end pressure, or flexure, or a mere fold. It is 240 feet through. Elevation of outcrop above water level in Kimberling Creek is 1,200 feet ; vein would no doubt strip well. Analysis of manganese ore as follows : Analysis of Manganese Ore. Eed oxide of manganese 84.34 Oxygen 3.73 Protoxide of cobalt 68 Alumina 1.80 Lime 32 Silica 21 Baryta 7.21 Water 1.71 (Signed) H. Dickinson. 148 GILES CO. — ^LEAD AKD ZINC. (This analysis being made out by Mr. Dickinson in close technical form, gives 59.215 p. c. of metallic manganese, 23.53 p. c. of combined oxygen, and 8.73 of oxygen recognized as otherwise disposed in the ore.) Some of these ores resemble closely the chalcophanite, so admirably investigated by E. S. Dana and by Dr. BKOTra of Liberty Street, New York. Again, manganese ore shows in beautiful crystals of pyro- lusite up Big Stony Creek, as common oxide in Buckeye and Spruce Eun Mountains, and at the ore beds above the furnace on Sinking Creek. It is not yet fully determined whether these ores will pay as shipping ores, either for quality or quantity. In the Salt Pond Mountain considerable masses and deposits have been found, that is, in the flanking ridges to the south. It is probable that the bright silvery luster sometimes characteristic of the ore has deceived some people into mining and shipping it, under the impression that they had good silver ore. Such is presumed to be the case with reference to ores shipped from near Salt Pond Mountain. COPPER. Copper has been detected in the pyrites of the Hamilton Black Slates, but in small quantities. LEAD AND ZINC. Both lead and zinc are occasionally met with in this county. The rocks of the Lower Helderberg group some- times give them in small quantities. These Helderberg rocks are usually in the form of very pure limestones, rarely ever more than 50 feet thick. Dismal Creek shows these rocks with lead in them. They may also be found at a few places on East Eiver and Buckhorn Mountains, Big Stony Creek, and now and then in the Butte and Salt Pond Mountains. GILES CO. — LIMESTONE, 149 SILVEB. A trace of silver may now and then be found in the lead ores just described, but as to any paying quantity ever being discovered it is quite doubtful. LIMESTONE. Limestones abound in nearly all parts of the county, except in the higher mountains. They belong usually to the Lower Silurian or Cambrian Series. Only those few ledges above mentioned as containing the lead, which belong about the division between the Upper Silurian and Devonian Series, are out of the usual locality occupied by the great mass of limestones in the county. Along New Biver, aU the way through, except in the moun- tain canons, the limestone forms many towering and beautiful cliffs. An analysis of some of the Helderberg limestone, taken from Dismal Creek by Prof. Dickinson, is as follows : Lime 49.42 Magnesia 2.04 Protoxide of iron 1.53 Oxide of manganese 15 Alumina 48 Silica , 2.94 Sulphuric acid 02 Phosphoric acid 04 ' Carbonic acid 42.00 "Water. 60 Organic matter 78 There are a great many ledges of pure limestone in the county, making an excellent lime, while occasionally hydrau- lic limestone is met with. The first weathers blue, the latter light drab or earthy white. 150 GILES CO. — TIMBEB. MAEBLE. There is a ledge of very compact limestone, about 30 feet thick apparently, at the junction of the Trenton and Hudson Kocks, Tery full of the remains of comminuted shells, etc., which may very well be considered a fine marble. In many places it resembles the Tennessee marble in appearance and texture. Its best development is probably in Rye Hollow on the south side. This locality is toward the south side of the county, west of the river. It shows also on the east side of the river, in the north of Spruce Eun Mountain, low down, and at other places, including the north and south of Angel's Eest Mountain, Butte and Salt Pond Mountains. TUCBEE. Timber is very plentiful in Giles County. Much of its area would yield largely for years to come in charcoal. There is white oak, chestnut oak, chestnut, black oak, hickory, sugar maple, locust, black pine, white pine, hem- lock or spruce pine, poplar, linn, buckeye, black walnut, dogwood and cedar, in the order of their respective quan- tities. Much of this timber is very fine for cabinet and ornamental purposes. Large areas of the mountain sides yield immensely in chestnut oak, from which tan bark could be obtained in such quantities as to make a paying industry, once the ques- tion of transportation is solved. In the valleys and among the strictly grass lands, nearly all the trees except the white and black pines, chestnut oak, hemlock, etc., abound. Some of the walnuts and sugar trees attain remarkable size and beauty. Many of these noble trees, which would bring a high price in the seaboard cities, have been burnt ia log heaps, or have been used in making worm-fences. GILES 00. — AGBICXJLTTJRB. 151 AGBICULTUEE. It is difficult to do this subject Justice in a few words, as far as it relates to this county. The sections of the county which are most faTorable for farming are those which are also the best grass producing sections. While this is true of nearly the whole of Southwestern Virginia, in the limestone counties, it seems to be particularly so with regard to Giles. The great central basin on either side of New River, ten or twelve miles in average width, Upper Sinking Creek, "Walker's Creek, Sugar Eun, Wolf Creek, Stony Creek, Eye Hollow, etc., are dotted over with farms, even high up on the mountain sides. Many of these graze considerable herds of cattle, be- sides being in part devoted to cereal crops. Some of them are tobacco producing. The average capacity of corn land is 30 bushels to the acre, while a crop here and there will go to 60 bushels per acre. Wheat rarely exceeds an average of 20 bushels per acre, though it often goes to 30 bushels and sometimes higher. Eye is one of the important crops of the county. Oats do well, rarely ever failing in any season to make a good crop. Plaster or gypsum is the fertilizer most commonly used, and is reported to increase the yield on nearly all the lands of the county, especially where there are rocks contain- ing potash, soda, or lime. The sulphuric acid contained in the gypsum, when set free, seems to be an easy solvent for a great many of the rocks showing on the surface in Giles County. A good deal of this surface has the white flint, which contains potash and soda felspars derived from a vein of it about ten feet thick, which lies about 75 feet above the celebrated vein of iron ore. The dip of the rocks, as you approach the great basin of the county from any direction, is so gentle, that these rocks when found on the surface continue in sight for considerable dis- 152 GILES CO. — MINERAL SPRINGS AJSTD WATERmG-PLACES. tances. Gypsum when sown where even a small percentage of this rock is on the surface, increases the yield of the lands surprisingly. This may be owing also, somewhat, to small percentages of phosphates set free by the action of different reagents resulting from the decomposition of the gypsum. It is a good thing that, not only here but in many other locali- ties, this cheap fertilizer, which abounds so plentifully in some of the counties of Southwest Virginia, should be so valuable and efficient. FRUITS. The apple seems to be the most successful and reliable of the fruit crops. It is an exception, rarely ever repeated twice in a century, that the apple crop fails. There are many im- proved kinds of apples in the county, the tree seeming to be long-lived and very fruitful. Peaches are very precarious. The trees seem to thrive well, but do not produce regularly. The pear and quince hit oftener. The cherry is a native, apparently, judging from its reliability and plentiful crop. GRAPES. This county has few but the native varieties, and they generally do very well annually. Not much attention, how- ever, is paid to their culture. BEE CXILTUEE is slowly gaining ground in the county, and when readier means of transportation are supplied much honey will no doubt be raised for market. MINEEAL SPRINGS AND WATERING-PLACES. The mineral springs of this county are not so numerous as those of Montgomery ; but at the New Eiver White Sulphur, the water is said to be a highly medicinal and curative agent. GILES CO. — SCENERY. 153 These springs are located on tlie east bank of New Eiyer, toward the south side of the county, about eleven or twelve miles north of the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Eailroad (New Eiver Station). They will be right on the line of the New Eiver Eailroad when that road is completed, and will then enjoy that popularity to which their fine location and the curative power of the water entitles them. Just here New Eiver flows with a sweeping curve under one of its towering limestone cliffs, and, altogether, the sur- roundings go to make up one of those pictures of delightful mountain scenery which have as much influence in restoring the wasted energies of the human frame as any other cause. Mountain Lake is a celebrated watering-place on the top of Salt Pond Mountain. Its success as one of the most re- nowned and frequented places of the kind, depends only upon facilities to get there. Its chief attraction, besides the pure mountain air and water, is the mountain lake — a sheet of water about three-fourths of a mile in length by a less width. It has not been in existence much more than a century. Perhaps the early settlers in salting their stock in its basin caused such a trampling of cattle over the small vents in the bottom of the basin that they were closed, and the lake thus began to form. Not many years since the forest which grew over this ground was visible below the water. Some of the old trunks are said to be still in view, as the water is very clear. One of the features of that mountain after this, also, is to be the rearing of the Angora goat. A great many of them wiU soon be placed on these mountain sides, from which ample returns are expected in the wool they will produce. SCENERY. If some patent right could be secured by which all classes of fine scenery could be adequately described in a few words. 154 GILES CO.— SCENEET. no doubt any writer on Giles would eagerly avail himself of it : for no one can do justice to tlie subject here. Angel's Eest, seemingly the guardian of the beautiful wide- spread emerald plain below it, is fitly named. Its beauty, as it towers nearly 2,000 feet above the river below, and the fine air which pours fresh down from its beautiful sides, would seem to have the power to inspire any population living near it with noble and elevated thoughts and feelings. Some miles away, to the east, the Salt Pond and Butte Mountains seem like great counterparts of Angel's Eest, and lend an additional charm to the great scene in which New Biver forms a distinct feature as it winds its way between them. Often repeated along this river are high cliffs, such as those at the White Sulphur Springs, Clyburn's Ferry, Humphrey's or French's Cliff, and numerous others. Eising sometimes from 300 to 500 feet precipitously from the water, stained in many colors of drab and red, brown and black, they present a pleasing and attractive picture. There are pillars and towers and columns, frequently suggesting the idea of design. Nature has sculptured and decorated them in designs of more than mortal conception of the beautiful. Again, in the deep gorges of the high mountains, streams like Mill Creek have poured their never-failing crystal waters, unnoticed through time, over the high falls and cascades almost concealed in the wealth of luxuriant vegetation of the rich hollows. Mountain Lake needs no eulogy ! No description of it could be rose-colored, viewed in sunshine or in storm. The simple truth as to its history and natural beauty makes it appear the creation of the highest fancy. Left alone it must finally commend itself to any enlightened and appreciative people. PALLS AND CASCADES OF MILL CREEK, GILES CO., VA. (P. 154.) GILES CO. — ^MANTIFACTUEES. 155 TEADE. Tlie trade of Giles is chiefly in cattle, horses and mules, sheep, wool, wheat, corn, and tobacco. Of the former, there are about 3,500 annually shipped — much too small a number for so good a grass county. Of this number, perhaps one third goes to the English markets. Of sheep, there are probably not more than 1,800 shipped, owing to the de- struction occasioned by want of watchfulness on the part of owners. Of wool, there are about 10,000 pounds shipped annually ; a small proportion of the wool grown is carded and spun at home. Of wheat, there are 35,000 bushels now shipped. No doubt this quantity would be greatly increased with proper lines of transportation through the county. Of corn, there is but a small surplus shipped. Tobacco is getting to be quite a staple in the county. Its product last year amounted to nearly 350,000 pounds. The average price received was from seven to eight dollars per hundred pounds, the lands rarely averaging more than 750 to 800 pounds per acre. Wolf Creek, and some points on lower Walker's Creek and New Eiver, east of Pearisburg, seem to be the more prominent tobacco localities. Any railroad line built through the county would soon cause an increase in the production of all staples. There is but little now to stimulate the population to raise more than will supply their wants and pay taxes. MANUEACTTJIIES. There are no manufactures worthy of notice, beyond a few carding machines, though there is ample water-power on nearly all the streams to warrant extensive establishments.* * Under this head maj be described " The Sinking Creek Furnace," two miles east of Newport, on Sinking Creek. This furnace dates back to '73. It has had the usual experience of furnaces located eighteen or twenty miles 156 GILES CO. — TOWNS, ETC. SCHOOLS. There are two or more select schools in the comity not connected with the public school system. The public schools have not given satisfaction in the last few years, but there seems now to be a chance that a better state of things will prevail in the future. FISH CULTUEE. The attempts which have been made to stock New Kiver with improved fish will no doubt show favorably in that stream and tributaries in the next few years. The black bass, which are becoming so numerous in the county of Pulaski, in New Eiver, will soon fill the streams of Giles County. TOWNS, ETC. Pearisburg, containing the court-house, is situated in the shadow almost of the beautiful Angel's Eest. It contains churches of difi'erent denominations, schools, hotels, stores, cabinet-making establishments, smiths' shops, etc., etc. Newport, toward the southeast side of the county, is a village pleasantly situated near the northern base of Gap Mountain. It has also schools, stores, and shops of different kinds. A town is springing up at the Narrows of New Eiver^ on the north side of the county, destined to be a great manufacturing place in iron and steel when all the railroads are built which are now contemplated to pass through it. Staffordsville, Poplar Hill, and White Gate, on Walker's Creek, are notable places in the county. from railway transportation. This furnace, witb proper care observed in selecting its fluxes, will have a good future before it. It can select its ores from semi-magnetic or brown ores, as it chooses, and ought to make eight tons daily of prime charcoal pig. It is now in blast, being run by Mr. Brown, the banker, of Baltimore. GILES CO. — ^TEiNSPOETATlON LINES. 157. TRANSPORTATION LINES. New River is contemplated to be made navigable at some day by the United States Government, surveys having been made to ascertain practicability, cost, etc. Some appropri- ations have been made and work done on the river, but none in this county. The New River Railroad Company, under charters from the States of Virginia and "West Yirginia, is now constructing a narrow-gauge railroad along the banks of New River, in Giles — a road which will connect Hinton on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad with New River Station on the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad. This road will be completed in two years, and will add much to the wealth of the county by the developments it will make of the vast iron deposits, the facilities it will afford, etc. The line of the Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio Railroad passes through the southern part of the county — a road which may be built in the next few years. The line of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad extension also passes through Giles, following the line of Big Stony and Wolf Creeks. The line of the Richmond and Southwestern Railroad passes also through the county from east to west, a narrow-gauge double -track road, leading from Richmond, Virginia, to Pound Gap in Kentucky, and on to the Mississippi River. The line of the extension of the Richmond and Alleghany Railroad, now being constructed up James River, if built, would pass through this county from east to west. The Pittsburgh Southern Railroad, now being built from Pittsburgh, Pa., southwardly, will, if extended into this region, pass through the county from north to south, following nearly the line of New River ; possibly passing out southwestwardly . 158 BLAND CO. — HOW WATEEED. througli Shannon's Gap, and up Little Walter's Creek, in the direction of the great Cranberry magnetic ore beds of North Carolina. BLAND COUNTY. This is essentially a mountain county in every sense, more than one half being mountainous. Though comparatively new, it has many points of interest, besides holding within its irregular surface many of the most valuable mineral deposits in this section. It is not without fine grass lands, fine streams, and splendid scenery. Its timber areas are highly valuable, and its mineral waters rank among the most effect- ive curative agents in the country. Its population is more than usually industrious and enterprising, and with the encouragement which increased facilities of transportation would give, its citizens would be among the most active in developing the fine resources of the county. And, what is not generally known, Bland holds at the south base of Brushy Mountain, a very respectable coal-field of its own. HOW BOUNDED. Bland has for its northern boundary line, the crest of East Eiver Mountain ; for a short distance is a border county, touching the county of Mercer, one of the most southern counties of West Virginia. It is bounded south by Wythe County and a part of Pulaski, east by Giles County, and west by Tazewell and Smyth Counties. The marked feature on its southern line is Walker's Mountain ; on its western and north- western, Garden and Bound Mountains. HOW WATERED. Bland is finely watered by never-failing mountain streams of pure water, several of the prominent streams of the sec- BIAND CO. — GEOLOaT. 159 tion taking their souroa ia tlie county. Walker's Creek, wMcli flows east into New Eiver through Giles, rises in Bland and unites at Kimberling Church with Kimberling Creek, which has its source principally in Bland. The North Fork of Holston River rises near Sharon Springs and flows westwardly into Smyth County ; and "Wolf Creek, which flows out of Burk's Garden — ^receiving one of its affluents. Hunting Camp Creek, wholly a Bland County stream, at the end of Bound Mountain — ^flows through Rocky Gap, where it unites the waters of Clear Fork and Laurel, on the northern side of the county, and enters New Eiver near the Narrows in Giles County. GEOLOGY. The cross sections show Bland to differ somewhat from its neighbors in geological structure. Giles County would be very similar but for the coal measures of Bland, before alluded to. It has very much the same geology as Taze- well, except there is an apparent difference in the struc- ture of the coal measures, as well as in the number of faults creating mountain ranges. In the short space of ten miles across the trend. Bland his no less than six, and a part of the way, seven of the most considerable mountain ranges in the State. It is in the very heart of the line of the Alleghany range prolonged southwestwardly, and as to the whole Appalachian system, including the Blue Ridge, Alle- ghany, and Cumberland mountains, occupies a central position. Bland also occupies an elevated position, giving rise to the waters of the Holston, which flow westwardly toward Ten- nessee, and the tributaries of New Eiver flowing in the oppo- site direction. The general elevation of the valleys is from 2,500 to 2,800 feet above sea level, while some of its mountains attain a height of 4,400 feet above the ocean. 160 BLAm» CO. — GEOLOGY. A part of the soutliern border of the county OTerlapping Walker's Mountain and taking in a portion of Little Walker's Mountain's northern slope, it would be proper to say that the southern end of the cross section begins about the Catskill sandstone, which generally is about the central ledge of Lit- tle Walker's Mountain. Thence going north you pass over the upturned edges of the underlying Chemung, or Old Eed Sandstone series, dipping 40° southwardly ; then the Hamil- ton slates and sandstone, generally thin bedded; then the Marcellus black slates with occasional crystals of lead and copper, and sometimes so highly bituminous as to yield nearly two inches of impure coal ; then still to the north, with about the same dip (40°) we reach the rocks in the southern slopes of Walker's Mountain : first the Upper Hel- derberg about 40 feet of a flint ledge, sometimes giving a silicious iron ore, and again lead and zinc sulphide in small quantities ; then the Oriskany sandstone, sometimes 60 feet thick, with 15 feet of its lower part so heavily charged with iron and manganese, as to be a valuable ore bearing series ; then the Lower Helderberg, which is sometimes so thin as not to be noticed, while occasionally it assumes a thickness of 8 or 10 feet of limestone, more or less charged with lead sul- phide. Then next to this north is a band of undetermined gray sandstones of about 350 feet ; then the Clinton with 16 inches of fossil ore ; then the Medina with its mottled sandstone and heavy ledges of ironstone, perhaps 50 feet thick ; then about the heart of Walker's Mountain outcropping at its crest, is the Oneida sandstone not more than 40 feet thick ; then, as you descend the northern slope, the calcareous sand- stones and limes at the upper part of the Hudson Eiver group ; then the main body of the Hudson Eiver 650 feet thick ; then near the northern base, the Trenton limestones, not more than 300 feet thick along here, with their base marked by the felspathic flint measure, which seems to divide BLAND CO. — GEOLOGY. 161 it from the Upper Calciferous limestones ; then tlie Upper Calciferous, with some ledges not more than 50 feet below the flint measures, marked by very flattering quantities of lead and zinc sulphides ; then the next limes of the Calciferous ; but a short distance leads us to a fault which brings us suddenly against the rocks of the Proto-carboniferous, holding several veins of coal, in the south spur of Brushy Mountain — one of the veins measuring 8 feet, with varying dips between nearly flat and nearly perpendicular, having a trend, like all these rocks, about north 70" east. Then after this, going north over 400 or 500 feet of thin slates and sandstones, some of which are conglomerate, we are again at the Oatskill sandstones, occupying the heart of Brushy Mountain ; thence down ita northern slope, through Chemung and Hamilton to the Mar- cellus, in the eastern prolongation of Poor Valley. Again here, at the foot of Eound Mountain, on the south side, which is a continuation east of Garden Mountain, are signs of lead in the slate ; then passing up on to Eound Mountain, over the Upper Helderberg flints, we are again soon in the Oris- kany sandstone, which yields occasionally, along this moun- tain, a splendid deposit of iron ore of the character of that at Chestnut Flat in Giles County, and sometimes a fine oxide of manganese ; next to this are the Lower Helderberg limes, sometimes 75 feet thick, as in Garden Mountain, Eound Mountain, and Plat Top Mountain ; -then, in a few hundred feet more, up Eound Mountain, we again encounter the fossil red ore about two feet thick, and then on the broad crest of the mountain, the Oneida sandstone, assuming a rather anti- clinal dip ; then, as we descend on the northern side, a partial repetition of the rocks on the southern side, dipping north- wardly instead of southwardly as before. Eound Mountain has a trend northeast, but as you approach Eocky Gap, it subsides and rises again in the Plat Top Mountain in the eastern side of the county, next to Giles— the intervening 11 162 BLAOT) CO. — IRON ORES. space being mostly marked by DeTonian rocks characteristic of Brushy Mountain. Then, pursuing the cross section line still north, we en- counter an irregular synclinal fold at Wolf Creek, with the Marcellus slates, etc., very visible ; going up Rich Mountain side, on the south, we have a repetition of the south side of Eound Mountain ; thence down its north side to Clear Fork, where we meet with a fault bringing the Trenton limestones into contact with Upper Silurian rocks, composing Buckhorn Mountain ; thence we pass on into East River Mountain, showing a repetition of the south of Eound Mountain again. lEON GEES. The brown ores which Bland County would yield under the stimulus of cheap transportation, would be enormous in quantity, and many of them of a highly superior quality. The Oriskany measures on the south of Big "Walker's Mountain, Occasionally along its length in Bland, yield good brown ores in beds not over ten feet thick ; but the greater and more available masses of brown ores, toward the' southern limit of :tshe county, are in the Walker's Creek valley, about New- berry's and the line of the north side of Walker's Creek. These ores are due to the decomposition of pyritous veins near the felspathic flint, belonging about the junction of the Calciferous and Trenton limestones. It would be difficult to tell the number and thickness of these veins, as there are yet no developments of any consequence. Judging from the quantities on the surface in different places, they must be of good size, though no doubt variable in thickness. This se- ries gives often, in different parts of the county, a semi-mag- netic red ore, as well as true specular, together with the brown ore, being in the same zone identically with the great Giles County basin. Brown ores occur in the coal rocks, but not in very large BLAND CO. — lEON OEES. 103 quantities. The next great deposits of brown ores of any consequence are those in, and resulting from, the decompo- sition of the Oriskany measures in Garden Mountain, Round Mountain, Rich Mountain, Flat Top, and East River, and Buckhorn mountains. It has already been said that Round Mountain has an ore, on its south side, similar to that of Chestnut Flat in Giles. It may be as well to add that this particular ore bed in Round Mountain is near Kidd's Hunt- ing Camp, 550 feet above water level, and is only second in size and importance to that of Chestnut Flat itself. It has about the following composition : Sesquioxide of iron 90.000 = 63 p. c. metallic iron. Silica 2.500 Sulphuric acid 0.350 Phosphoric acid 0.280 This ore is regarded by experts as one of the best ores in Virginia. While it is classed with the brown ores, since it is found in the Oriskany measures, it really gives a blood- red when crushed, and has more the appearance of specular, than the Chestnut Flat ore. Brown ores are found in the Upper Helderberg series, mixed with a red ore in a vein about five feet thick, in Gar- den Mountain, Round, Rich, East River, and Flat Top moun- tains. The measure, though distinct at many points, is how- ever obscure at others. Brown ores again occur on Clear Fork, principally on the Buckhorn Mountain side of the stream, in flattering quanti- ties, and of a quality superior for its easUy fusible qualities, and general freedom from impurities. Bed Ores. The two red ores of greatest quantity are the fossil red — ■ in the larger mountains — and the fine specular which shows - iM BLAND CO. — MANGAITESE. now and then in the felspathic flint measures above men- tioned, as in tlie hills toward Tillson's Mill, in the west end of the county, and other points along that range, north bank of Walker's Creek. The fossil red is generally in one vein on the southern ex- posures, from sixteen inches to two feet thick, and would yield for the whole county an unlimited tonnage. Walker's Mountain, Bound, Garden, Flat Top, Wolf Creek, Eich, and East Kiver mountains show the ore very distinctly, and it is generally continuous. Some good judges, such as Pbofessoe Lesley, think it rather silicious, but it may be submitted that as an ore to mix with the other abundant ores of the county, it will serve a fine purpose. The specular, or semi-magnetic red, of -the Giles County basin prolonged, is found near the felspathic flint in quanti- ties, now and then, to be of great value; its great purity and high percentage of metallic iron make it a very valuable adjunct to the other ore deposits of the county. Chromic ore has been reported from this county, but it is questionable whether a ton of it will ever be found. MANGAJSfESE. Ores of manganese are very abundant in this county. Eound Mountain — in the Oriskany measures— Mat Top, Gar- den, East Eiver, and Eich mountains show veins of it some- times over ten feet thick. Very frequently it is a very pure binoxide. A little further exploration and development must show it in such quantity as to make it quite an item of trans- portation. It is scarcely necessary to give its analysis here. The mass of it is not binoxide, but there is a great deal of it in pure crystalline form, and would give the standard analysis for pure ore whenever assayed. ELAOT) CO. — LEAD AKD ZINC. 163 COAL. The coal of Bland, of any value, is in one vein, lying at the south foot of Brushy Mountain, and extending from the west end of the county to a point a few miles east of Seddon, where the coal measures have been uplifted and denuded. This vein, owing to the disturbance of the whole formation, is occasionally ten feet thick — as near Sharon, for instance- but its general measure is 6 feet for the greater part of the distance, and sometimes not over 3^ feet. It yields, for parts of its length, a very firm bituminous coal ; again, it gives a crushed article ; but much of it is really valuable, though the dip is variable, between nearly vertical and horizontal. It may be said to measure from the outcrop down to the line of fault, or where it is cut off by limestone, over a half mile. LEAD AND ZINC. Lead and zinc are found in the most flattering quantities at several points, in a measure which underlies the felspathic flint lead ; occurring all the way from Smyth County to the Giles County line ; but on the turnpike 5 miles east of Sharon it shows more conspicuously than anywhere. The dolomite here dipping, first gently, then steeply to the south, has good lead and zinc sulphides shot through it in masses which sometimes weigh ten or twelve pounds ; but as to whether it is there in a large and compact vein can only be determined by further development. It has a very flattering appearance on the outside ; and some of the ores, both of lead and decom- posed zinc, are of a very high percentage of purity. Again, in the Water Lime groups of the Lower Helderberg rocks, in Garden Mountain, as well as Flat Top Mountain on Dismal Creek, lead and zinc occur as very interesting constituents of the rocks. 166 BliAND CO. — MESTEEAX SPEINGS. BAEYTES. Barytes is now and then found near the felspathic flint lead also. Copper is found in the Marcellus shales on either side of Bound Mountain, but scarcely sufficient to pay for working. Salt should naturally exist in the rocks of X. and XII., so abundant in Brushy Mountain. Petroleum. — Though the petroleum rocks of Bland may be barren of oil, they are quite easily distinguished at the north base of Brushy Mountain. In the Kimberling district, about and below Kimberling Springs, there is a very large basin of converging dips, where the rocks ought naturally to form a reservoir for the oil drainage. This section is underlaid with the oil series at only a few hundred feet depth ; and is really the only apparent oil basin outside of the coal measures, belonging strictly to the great Kanawha coal basin in this section. BUILDING STONES. The principal building stones are found among the lime- stones; also in the flags in large measures of thin-bedded sandstones of the Devonian rocks, underlying and north of the coal veins., MINEEAL SPEINGS. Sharon Alum and Chalybeate Springs are situated on the turnpike leading from Wytheville to Tazewell, about 18 miles from the former, toward the western portion of the county. These springs, being arranged for the accommodation of nu- merous visitors, are justly regarded as among the most pleasant watering-places in the mountains. The elevation here is about 2,800 feet above the sea, and the fine water, combined with the pure air and healthy diet, make it an agreeable place to every one who visits these springs. BLAND CO. — WATEE POWEB. 167 Kimberling Springs, in tlie central portion of tlie county, are noted for tlie wild and picturesque scenery surrounding them, the highly curative power of the sulphur water, and the invigorating influence of the fine air. These springs boast four different springs, one of which is an Alum Chaly- beate. They are situated 28 miles north from Wytheville, Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad. TIMBER. All of the timber enumerated for the other counties of South- western Virginia are represented in Bland County, except the balsam fir tree. There are large quantities of white pine in the Brushy Mountain, Hunting Camp Creek and Kimber- ling, toward the heads of its tributaries. White oak is abun- dant in nearly all sections of the county; large bodies of chestnut oak and chestnut. Walnut is common in the Walker's Creek and Holston Valleys and the Clear Fork Valley. Poplar is not now so plentiful as formerly; but deficiencies in other woods are made up by the quantity of white oak stave timber remaining in the Hunting Camp, Lick Creek, Kimberling County and other districts, and the great quantity of chestnut oak good for tan bark. There is also a great deal of hickory and the white woods, such as white walaut, cucumber, linn, buckeye, wahoo, and some ash, locust, and spruce pine. WATER POWEEa Numerous water powers are easily obtainable on Walker's Creek, Holston Eiver, Wolf Creek, Clear Fork, Hunting Camp and Kimberling. These streams fall generally about 25 feet per mile, and will give powers requiring any measurement from 80 cubic feet per second down to 10 feet per second. 168 BLAUD CO. — SCENEET. MANUPACTUEES. The people of this eounty with fairer opportunities would be decidedly a manufacturing population. To the extent of their ability, they are now very much disposed to combine for the purpose of erecting woolen mills and other factories. There is now a good carding machine and woolen mill in the vicinity of Mechanicsburg, and others perhaps contem- plated in the county. There are numerous good saw and grist mills in the county. AGEICULTDEE. The grass fields of Walker's Creek and Holston Valley graze a great many cattle, sheep, etc., annually, and farming is carried on all over the county as extensively as the mountainous nature of the country will permit. Clear Fork, Wolf Creek, Hunting Camp, and Kimberling, also have good farming areas ; and there are many good farms still in the forest uncleared. Sheep raising would be very profitable on a large scale in Bland ; and for the Angora goat, no doubt it would be excellent. SCENERY. The scenery in Bland is in some parts imposing, on account of the greater field of view being taken up by moun- tains; but there are many choice views in the county. Frequently, a most lovely and romantic view will break upon the tourist or traveler in riding along the roads, which now and then lead through the mountain gorges, usually flanked on one side by a stream pouring over waterfalls and cascades, both road and stream fringed with rhododendrons, azaleas, and flowering shrubs, towering above which are apt to be thick spruce pines with their thick and dark foliage. All the fruits of this latitude are apparently at home in Bland, the peach only being somewhat irregular in bearing. BLAND CO. — TOWNS AND YHiAGES. 169 Grapes are recognized as being peculiarly adapted to Bland ; and on Wolf Creek, on the north, side of Round Mountain, a good deal of wine is made annually from the hatiye Tarietiea, The White Muscadine is one of the varieties native to Bland, and is said to be a well-flavored grape. Bees do well in Bland, where there are so many flowering shrubs arid trees. TBADE IN CATTLE, SHEEP, WOOL, WHEAT, AND COEN. Bland annually sends off: Cattle 3,8501 " Sheep 4,000 " " Wool 11,000 pounds. " Wheat 2,800 bushels. Corn. No attempt is made to raise corn for market, though a few hundred bushels are sometimes sold out of the county. LINES OF TEANSPOETATION. The lines of railway bidding fairest to be built at an early day through Bland, are the Bichmond and Southwestern Railway and the Yirginia, Kentucky, and Ohio Railway. Either of these roads would very fully develop the fine resources of the county. TOWNS AND VILLAGES. Seddon, the county site, is a place of 300 inhabitants, near- ly at the middle of the county, east and west ; having besides the court house and the public records, good hotels, stores, churches, cabinet and smith shops, and an enterprising and progressive newspaper, called " The South and West." Mechanicshurg is somewhat smaller, in the southeastern part of the county, near Walker's Creek and Kimberling Church, with stores, etc. Bocky Gap will one day be a manufacturing place, with its 170 TAZE'WELL COtTNTY. fine water power, besides the gateway of great lines of rail- way. Sharon lias been mentioned in connection with Sharon Springs. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The public schools of Bland are now, like the other public schools of this section, improving. TAZEWELL COUNTY. Of all the counties in Virginia, which may have justly merited the praise bestowed upon them, none could receive all the adulation which the utmost ingenuity could devise, and still merit more, unless it were Tazewell County. It looks as though some special attempt was being made to give a rose coloring to all the subjects treated in this volume, judging from the descriptions as they read ; but let the reader once investigate for himself, and he will then see that the powers of description and illustration are tame by the side of the subjects treated. Tazewell County, if in Europe, would be an empire within itself. Its territory is considerable, being forty miles in length by eighteen miles in width ; and, within that area, holds a wealth of blue grass lands which are the admiration of aU who see them, both for their fertility and wide extent; splendid coal veins, lying well for mining ; iron ore deposits, rich and extensive ; matchless mineral waters, and forests of timber rarely, if ever, surpassed anywhere. Some attempt will be made to describe its scenery further on ; but to do so will be an ignominious failure ; for what pen could possibly describe Burk's Garden and surroundings ; or, the view from Dial Eock ; or, for the matter of that, the Cove and the grand country about Liberty and Maiden Spring ; or, the mouth of TAZEWELL CO. — HOW WATEEED. 171 Indian, the river country, Bluestone and Wright's Valley ? The day will surely come, when an appreciative traveling public will throng this county! Its citizens, who have been reared in the county and have become used to its every feature, are its enthusiastic admirers. They would not leave it hardly for any other spot on earth, so fully are they imbued with its loveliness, its fine water, pure air, and a noble future, heavy with the promise of a fine destiny soon to be fulfilled. HOW BOUNDED. Tazewell is one of the border counties, being bounded on the north by the county of McDowell in the State of West Virginia ; east by the county of Mercer, West Virginia ; southeast by Bland County, Virginia ; south by Smyth County, Virginia, and west by Russell County. The northern boundary line follows generally the crest of Sandy Eidge, which, toward the northeast, takes the name of Great Flat Top Mountain ; south, the great Clinch Eange marks the boun- dary until you reach the east side of Burk's Garden, when it deflects to the northeast, crossing the Kich Mountain, and strikes East Eiver Mountain near Nye's Cove ; whence the line continues on the crest of the last-named mountain, east- wardly, to the State line. HOW WATERED. The greater part of the county is watered by Clinch Eiver and its tributaries flowing southwestwardly. Bluestone Eiver, East Eiver, and Wolf Creek, with some of its tributaries, rise in the eastern portion of the county and flow eastwardly into New Eiver. By this it is understood that Clinch Eiver and some of the tributaries of New Eiver have their source in this county, at a general elevation of about 2,900 feet above sea 172 TAZEWELL CO. — IBON OEES, level. The whole county is well watered. Many of the springs send forth such a large supply of water as to be capable of running a grist-miU within a few hundred yards of their source. GEOLOGT. The geology, like that of Eussell, is comprised between the rocks of the Lower Silurian and Carboniferous periods, including some of the Caloiferous limestones below and a great part of the coal measures above. Beginning on the south, in Clinch Mountain, Garden Mountain, Eich Mountain, and East Kiver Mountain, you encounter the series holding the dyestone group, the Oris- kany, etc., dipping southwardly, at angles rarely ever ex- ceeding thirty-two degrees. Thence, going north, you see next, on the north of these mountains, the variously colored limes of the Hudson epoch ; after which on the surface, still generally dipping south, the Trenton limestones ; and then, near the line of Clinch River, the Calciferous limestones, a short distance north of which is the great fault that brings these lower rocks up into contact with the coal measures ; thence, northwardly, for an average width of three miles, on the north side of the county, the coal and associated sand- rocks, slates, etc., form the chief feature. The accompany- ing cross section will present more graphically than it can be written the order of position of the different strata, and will serve, with but little variation, for almost any part of the county east or west. In the description of the different ores, etc., this cross section wUl be more fuUy explained. lEON GEES. To use an old comparison, it would be very much like the play of Hamlet with Hamlet left out, to attempt a description TAZEWELL COUNTY. 173 4 SimS'irTH^a Clinch Bivei Kent s R Deskins MtUi Patnt liei "%%■ IFT Mtn, Si Eieh iO JUnclcV, iBeac^Teimi SJnienJlf l-<;^5S 7 ,4J 7^' %\Great. Flattop -B >a stony Ttiage ^ s Valley Taylor! s & Whitely'i Judge >V V-' East Slvar (,,1^ Mountain !'.s Cove Sx BueSiorn Its « Mmiiala " / 174 TAZEWELL CO. — lEON OEES. of Tazewell with tte iron ores left out. The county will always be famous for its incomparable grass lands ; but, when any line, of transportation shall have been constructed com- petent to bring the ores and coal of Tazewell into communi- cation with each other and with the other vast beds of ore in the country, it will then be seen that the iron ores are quite capable of performing the great task of bringing as much money into the county as the grass lands now do ; and more, of helping other mining enterprises to stimulate farming and grazing to a much higher level of productiveness and profit to individuals and the county at large. It would be difficult to estimate the quantity of brown ores capable of being mined in the line of Kent's Eidge, Baptist Valley Eidge, Whitely's Eidge, and Taylor's Eidge, to say nothing of the admirable ores of Nye's Cove, Clear Fork, and other places. But to begin on the south side of the county, taking the various lines of deposits of brown ores, seriatim, through to the north side, will, perhaps, make the matter clearer. The first brown ores on the south side of consequence are those accompanied with manganese, which the Oriskany measures yield, on the south side of Clinch Mountain, bordering Poor Valley on the north, and lying in this county along where the four foot road to Marion crosses ; thence east toward Bear Town. These measures will yield disconnected measures of a brown iron ore of high grade in masses sometimes fifteen feet thick by variable lengths, rarely ever exceeding 300 yards at one point ; in this, following the habit of the Oriskany measures throughout this region. Then again, in the Upper Helderberg group, next overlying the Oriskany, a brown and red hematite, somewhat silicious, is found in a rather regular measure, about five feet thick, and continuous for consider- ■ able distances. This ore is usually very compact and hard, and is quite a new feature in the reading of the geology of this section, being the first time it has ever been brought TAZEWELL CO. — ^lEON ORES. 175 before the public tliat this particular line of rocks is an iron- bearing formation. It is unfortunate that these ores are cut off from direct communication with the other ore beds of Tazewell by the Clinch and Garden Mountains intervening. Both these lines of ores show their outcrops at an eleva- tion generally of about 150 feet above the level of water in the small creeks near by. In the south of Eich Mountain brown ores must show again in respectable bodies, derived from the same system of rocks. Near the junction of Cove Creek with Clear Fork, at the southeastern corner of the county, there are very fine, easily reducible brown ores in deposits resulting from the decomposition of the Oriskany iron stone in Buckhorn Moun- tain. Then up this Cove Creek, in Nye's Cove, very large boulders of this soft brown ore are scattered over the sur- face, to the left of the mouth of the cove as you enter. In this cove, to the right of its mouth, is Iron Eidge, an eleva- tion of about 350 feet average, so named from the large quantity of brown ore showing on it. Then again on the spurs of Buckhorn and East Eiver, in this cove, are other large bodies of brown ore. It may be submitted that fully 100,000 tons could be easily and cheaply obtained here at small cost for niining, without going to any appreciable depth after it. At other points along Buckhorn and East Eiver Mountains, west of Nye's Cove, the Oriskany and Helderberg series are the parent iron stores from which are derived bodies of ex- cellent ore. The south spurs of Paint Lick Mountain like- wise show deposits of brown ore, but generally mixed with red ore, due to the decomposition of the dyestone series, which occupies a great part of the crest of the mountain. The next line of brown ore of consequence is found in the well-marked felspathic flint lead which outcrops in a line generally parallel with, and close to, Clinch Eiver, known as 176 TAZEWELL CO. — BED IKON OEES. tHe ores of Kent's Eidge, "Whitely's Eidge, Taylor's Eidge, and Wright's Valley Eidge. All of tliese ridges are in a gen- eral line toward the north side of the county, a mile or so south of the great fault on the border of the coal measures ; Kent's Eidge lying westwardly, and Whitely's and Taylor's Eidges being toward the eastern end of the county. Eleva- tion about 300 feet. This series of rocks lies about the junction of the Black Eiyer and Trenton limes, and, in all probability, marks the closing of one epoch and the beginning of the other. The ore vein is composed of brown iron ore with oxide of man- ganese, in the proportion of about three of the former to two of the latter. At a few points here and there, both in Taze- well and Eussell Counties, the ores of these ridges have been used with satisfaction in several forges now out of blast. After this, going north, near the Mouth of Indian, and at other points along the margin of the coal fields, there are brown ores showing in considerable quantities, which may be ascribed to the decomposition of carbonates. It is to be re- gi-etted that so few developments of all these ore deposits should have been made ; sufficient evidence is given by the quantities exposed on the surface to prove that the vast amount of material which has decomposed in past ages has left behind immense beds of ore, besides what still remains in the original veins below the zone of decomposition. Bed Iron Ores. As before stated there is red ore in the Upper Helderberg flint groups on the south of Clinch Mountain. Higher up on this mountain, on the south, is the band in dyestone red iron ore in the Clinton group, about eighteen inches or two feet thick, generally a silicious ore, but valuable as a mixing TAZEWELL CO. — lEON PTBITES. 177 ore. This vein is generally continuous in this part of the mountain, and is about 800 feet above water at its outcrop. Further east, in Eich Mountain, in Buckhorn and East Eiver Mountains, particularly about Nye's Cove, the dyestone group shows in large sections and fragments. In Paint Lick Mountain, about its crest, it constitutes the covering of the great cliff-like wall of Oneida sandstone, which runs for seven or eight miles along near the top of this mountain, separated from it by sixty feet of intervening Medina sandstone and a few ledges of Clinton Red sand- stone. The vein here is sixteen inches thick, and is only the lower of the dyestone veins. Its value will be chiefly as am ore to mix with other ores. Its quantity may be taken at an average width of 200 feet by about five miles, as it does not form a continuous belt, but is sometimes entirely denuded. It may be regarded as the parent of much of the ore appear- ing in the deposits in the valleys below. North of this line there are no appreciable quantities of red ore in the county, except that occasionally the ores in the felspathic flint, above-mentioned, sometimes assume the form of a fine specular ore. Iron Pyrites. It is not yet determined that the source of the brown ores in the Oriskany Eocks is pyrites, but it may be assumed that such is the case with ore in the Upper Helderberg rocks. In the line of the ores in the felspathic flint — mentioned as being about the division between the Calciferous and Trenton limestones, there are, no doubt, below water level, very con- siderable quantities of pyrites. In the coal measures there are occasional pieces found, not generally of large size. In the eastern part of the county, near the Mercer bound- ary line, there are ores reported of a slaty structure. 13 178 TAZEWELL CO. — COAL. MANGANESE. Manganese is very generally distributed througli the county. There are some beautiful fragments of binoxide occasionally found, as in Whitely's Eidge, Taylor's Eidge, Kent's Eidge, Clinch Mountain, Nye's Cove, Buckhorn, Yosts, etc. ; but no developments of it have as yet been made to an extent sufficient to give a very fair idea of quantity. Judging from surface indications there must be a great deal of it COAL. The examinations made of the coal veins of Tazewell, on Middle Creek, Horse Pen Cove, and Abb's Valley, very fully and amply sustain all the declarations made by Peof. J. P. Lesley and others as to the size of the veins, the quantity they will yield, and general commercial importance. In fact, it may safely be insisted upon that these veins are' among the most valuable of their kind in the great basin to which they belong; not only on account of the thickness of some of them, but the cheapness with which they can be mined and utilized, once the question of transportation is settled. Beginning with Middle Creek, an affluent of Clinch Eiver, just below the mouth of Indian Creek, it is there that some of the most reliable readings can be obtained, both as to that broad fragment of the measures inclining at an angle of 39° southwardly, and the area close at hand, to the north, giving the almost horizontal measures ; the last continuiag, with no great observable interruption, to the Ohio Eiver. Going from the mouth of the creek up about one and three quarter miles, over a fragment of Devonian rocks brought up by the thrust of Oalciferous limestones against that side of the great fault, and over the limestones upon which this fragment rides, you encounter the sandstones and slates of what are presumably the Sub-Carboniferous measures, holding eight or TAZEWEIi CO. — COAL. 179 nine veins of coal of different dimensions, generally dipping 39° south 20° east. The first seven encountered have not yet been opened ; but the eighth, being a large vein of good bituminous coal, very suitable for use in smith shops, has been mined. This vein lies between head and foot- walls of slate, with 50 inches of good coal next head-wall, then 12 inches of slate with 9 inches of coal next foot- wall ; under this 15 feet of slate ; then 54 inches of coal, of same dip, underlaid with slate ; then, at about two and a half miles in an air line from the mouth of the creek, the horizontal measures set in which continue on for many miles. These veins, to which the one measured belongs, may be said to continue for a great many miles in either direction. In this immediate viciaity they will give an average breast- ing, at a dip of 39'', of about 380 feet on the incline above the creeks, which cut through them about every two and a half miles. It is so easy for any one to calculate from this data the probable yield of this one vein above water, that it is needless to give it here. In the horizontal measures, this part of the county shows one vein about 80 feet below the crest of Sandy Ridge, which measures 4 feet clear coal, and without doubt contains a half-dozen other good workable veins, although there are no developments as yet. Horse Pen Cove, situated about eight mUes northwardly from Jeffersonville, the county site, is reported to contain not only an 8-feet vein of good bituminous coal, but cannel coal, as well as at Middle Creek. The cannel coal, though good, has not been found in a vein over 3 feet thick. Abb's Yalley presents no inclined dips of any consequence in the coal measures. They are almost without exception nearly flat. Near Smith's Store 4 feet veins are found close to the limestone of the valley. At the lower end of the val- ley, near the boundary line of the county on the northeast 180 TAZEWELL CO. — ^LEAD AND ZINC. side, a remarkable vein of good bituminous coal, 11 feet thick, with a parting of slate, 1 foot, is easilj accessible. This vein seems to lie at the base of the series just here, and is supposed to be the same one which shows near water level on Dump's Creek, ia Eussell County, there recorded 9 feet 4 inches. Enough has been said to show that great quantities of coal and iron exist ia Tazewell. Forty miles length of each, by variable thicknesses and widths, will present to the mind of the reader an idea of vastness, without the necessity to go into minute calculations to prove the assertion that the county will one day be as much noted for its mining and manufacturing, as it is now for its incomparable grass fields. LEAD AND ZINC. Small pieces of lead and zinc ores are occasionally found in the Kent's Bidge line of iron and manganese measures, and near the end of Taylor's Ridge, in the eastern end of the county, about twelve or thirteen miles from Je£fersonville, and two miles east of Springville. This lead ore really comes from a stratum of dolomite, lying apparently about 200 feet below the felspathio flint lead, which marks the iron and manganese above mentioned. In Nye's Cove, and occasion- ally at other places, the Lower Helderberg limes show in thicknesses varying between 6 or 8 feet and 75 feet. These rocks hold small quantities of lead and zinc ores, but are not supposed to exist in sufficient quantities to pay for working. Also ia the Marcellus black shales and slates small crystals of lead ore now and then show. These measures are observ- able in only a few places in Tazewell County — Nye's Cove, and a part of the south of Clinch Mountain, west of Burk's Garden. TAZEWELL CO. — BUILDING STONES. 181 BAEYTES. Baryta seems to exist in the county in sufficient quantities to satisfy all tlie demands of trade in that article. A fifteen feet vein runs on the north side of Clinch Eiver through the Cavitt's Creek country, and down through the Baptist Valley ridges all the way into Eussell County, where it shows on the north side of Clinch Eiver. This measure is between walls of flint on one side and dolomitic limestone on the other, in places; but it varies in thickness and quality very much. Where it is easily observable — as at a point in the main road leading from Jeffersonville toward Baptist Valley, on the north side of Clinch Eiver— it shows well for thickness and quality. It appears to occupy a position about five hundred feet above the felspathic flint lead above men- tioned. • COPPEE. Copper ore is sometimes found in traces in the felspathic flint, which it may be as well to repeat, is the stratum which lies near the division between the Oalciferous and Trenton limes — carrying the iron and manganese ores. SALT. Falling Waters, toward the northwestern border of the county, seems to offer a true salt basin. The salt-bearing series underlies this part of the valley, and would no doubt yield brine if properly hunted after. A few mUes lower down the Clinch Eiver not only salt but petroleum seems to have been discovered oozing from the surface, but as yet nothing has been done of a satisfactory nature toward the develop- ment of the field. BUILDING STONES. Numerous ledges of both lime and sandstone exist in vari- ous parts of the county very well suited to buildiag purposes.. 182 TAZEWELL CO. — MINEEAL SPEINGS. Some of the limes are even ornamental, as tliose lying in such masses ia the hills north of and about the court-house ; no doubt the same gray masses which are near the division be- tween the Trenton and Hudson epochs. The sandstones, fit for building purposes, are those abounding in the coal measures, many masses of which are soft when quarried, but become very hard on exposure. SOAPSTONE Is found in ledges quite frequently as highly magnesiaii limestone, but no true steatite is found. Occasionally near the coal veins impure silicate of magnesia shows itself in thin beds. MARBLE. The large beds of variegated and gray limes, which have such a character as fine marble in Russell and Scott counties farther west, seem to have lost their distinctive character as such in Tazewell, and are not in such masses. In this it is not asserted that there is no marble in the county, for the strata about the base of the Hudson epoch, near the northern bases of the larger mountains, must show occasional beds. MINEEAL SPEINGS. The TazeweU Springs, a sulphur spring situated five miles northwest from Jeffersonville near the Sandy turnpike, is a white sulphur water, containing such constituents as to render it diaphoretic in its effects. It is a good spring of its kind, and was at one time, before the era of railroads, a place of resort. Now that a railroad is likely soon to be con- structed near it, will command attention again. At Mouth of Indian, or Cedar Bluffs, there is a fine white sulphur spring on the bank of Clinch Eiver, in a lovely and TAZEWELL CO. — TIMBEB. 183 romantic situation. The water is charged with sulphate of magnesia and other Taluable constituents, and flows from a series of magnesian rocks not far from the line of fissure sepa- ' rating the limestones from the coal measures. This spring has been provided with a neat basin hollowed out of a single stone ; and its fine curative powers, combined with its very convenient location, will make it a place of resort when a railway is built near it, and is even now much visited. At Mustard's, in the eastern middle portion of the county near some of the head springs of Clinch Eiver, are eight fine mineral springs very close together. Two of these come up on two sides of one thin l«dge of limestone, one apparently is an arsenical spring, the other a blue sulphur, while the charac- ter of the others has not been determined. These springs are regarded as highly curative by those who have tried them ; they yield a fine supply of water. In many other places in the county mineral springs break out, but the above men- tioned are those which command the confidence of those who have tried them as curative agents. TIMBEB. This subject is difficult to treat with justice in a few words. The widespread fertility of the soil in Tazewell gave the county at one time a very large proportion of walnut, maple, poplar, linn, cucumber, etc. It is true that immense quanti- ties of these valuable trees have been destroyed in clearing the lands, but that very large quantities still remain is equally true. Every tree that this latitude is capable of producing seems to grow to its utmost limit of size and beauty in Taze- well County, among which may be mentioned, white and black walnut, poplar, cherry, linn, cucumber, wahoo, hickory, ash, white oak, chestnut oak, red oak, black oak, pin oak, and other varieties of oak, maple sugar tree, or large maple, 184: TAZEWELL CO. — WATEE POWEB. buckeye, mountain maliogany, bircli, beecli, dogwood, locust, elm, sycamore, yellow pine, black pine, white pine, cedar, hemlock, or spruce pine, and upon some of the higher points, such as Bear Town, extensive forests of balsam fir. Among the shrubs and flowering plants there are many of the most beautiful. In the spring the wide-spreading woodlands are resonant with the songs of birds of varied plumage, not yet invaded by that murderous nuisance the English sparrow. To attempt to fix a commercial value upon the woods of Tazewell, would be idle. That can only be determined by the facilities which any line of railway running through the county may present. The walnut is in suificient quantity to be the source of a splendid revenue. Such is the case with many other trees. Sugar tree, mountain mahogany, and other ornamental woods, besides white oak, will supply a large demand. In many localities, such as Nye's Cove, the chest- nut oak will yield immensely in tan-bark. From this last source the county will derive a very considerable revenue. WATER POWER. The average fall of the larger streams of the county being rather over than under twenty-five feet per mile, it may safely be assumed that there is abundance of water power in the county. Clinch Eiver discharges near the Mouth of Indian about 185 cubic feet per second, and has sufficient fall there to give three very good powers Vithin two miles. Thence all the way up this stream to near its source on the main branch and tributaries, it is used to run grist and saw-mills, carding machines, woolen factories, etc. Maiden Spring Fork, scarcely inferior in size to the Clinch Eiver, offers many mill sites, its fall being steeper. Blue Stone Eiver, in the eastern section of the county, and the Clear Fork of Wolf Creek, are somewhat smaller than Clinch TAZEWELL CO. — AGEICULTUEE. 185' Eiver at Mouth of Indian, but they supply numerous water powers, only about one half of which are in use. Cove Creek, the stream which comes out of Nye's Cove, offers very good water power. Many small streams offer limited powers which would be useful for grinding. The never-failing character of these streams is one of their chief recommendations. A power calculated upon their ordinary discharge may be relied upon. manhpactuees. Hitherto manufactures have not been very carefully fostered in this community, but of recent years some very successful efforts have been made in that direction. The woolen mill, two and a half miles east of Jeffersonville on that branch of Clinch Eiver, annually cards and spins a great deal of the wool of that vicinity and neighboring counties, and turns out a very creditable line of goods from its looms. Efforts are being made to increase the capacity of the woolen mills just above the Mouth of Indian, which have so long been in operation there. The locality is one that invites enterprise and capital. At this place is situated a tobacco factory having a capacity of about 150,000 pounds of manufactured tobacco. Both it and the fine furniture factory, located at the same place, will be greatly stimulated by the building of. a railroad through that section. AGEICULTUEE. In speaking of this subject it is difficult to avoid the use of effusive language. With the exception of a part of the coal belt, perhaps three fourths of its area is capable of producing fine grass, notwithstanding the county is traversed in its greatest length by more than one of the highest mountains in the Appalachian Chain. Even upon the very summits of some of these lofty ridges there are extensive grass fields, upon 186 TAZEWELL CO. — ^AGEICTJLTUBE. whicli a large mimber of cattle, sheep, horses, etc., graze annually. Nature may hare endowed other portions of the country equally with Tazewell in the distribution of her choice gifts ; but it is doubtful if any other locality unites so many adyan- tages adapted to grazing purposes as may be found here. Not only is the grass a natural product, and of a highly nutri- tious kind, but the fields are nearly all without exception well watered, and the small insects, flies, mosquitoes, etc., which annoy cattle so much at other places, are either absent, or have so short a season in which to ply their vocation that they are not injurious. "With the least economy and care these truly magnificent grass fields would sustain a fine population in greater independence, ease, and even luxury than any other section except the nearly similar districts of neighboring counties. Throughout nearly all the valleys and far up, even to the crests on some of the mountains, the highly fossil-bear- ing limes of the Trenton and Hudson epochs are adding annually a new supply of fertilizing material to the soil, decomposing to some extent with every rain in summer, and more with each freeze and thaw of winter. The fossil shells of these rocks are easily detected in nearly every ledge ; and, being charged to some extent with phosphate of lime, it is easy to understand how their decomposition will affect the soil beneficially. It is hardly necessary to cite localities in which these results are prominently brought out. To use a common expression, they are all over. The Cove, Burk's Garden, about Liberty, Maiden Spring, the river two miles east of Jeffersonville, Wright's Valley, Abb's Valley, Blue Stone, Clear Fork, localities about Baptist Valley, the river, the slopes of the mountains — and where not ? Not only is the land productive of the fine grasses, such as blue grass — which is natural — ^with Eandal grass, clover, timothy, orchard grass, herd's grass and the like ; but corn. TAZEWELL CO. — SCENEEY. 187 wheat, rye, oats, barley, buckwheat, and all vegetables yield largely in tlie rich soil. It is not too much to say that Tazewell stands almost alone in Yirginia for unaided natural capacity as an agricultural county. SCENEKY. If attractive scenery can lend anything to the interest which might be induced by the other valuable features of the county, Tazewell could easily supply all that would be needed for the purpose, though the ability to paint or describe it might be wanting. Burt's Garden is an emerald sea in the spring time, with waving trees and noble pastures. 3,200 feet is its eleva- tion above the ocean, with its border encircled by the Clinch Kange of mountains, some peaks of which — as Bear Town^ — attain an elevation of 4,700 feet. Burk's Garden, though often described, it may be repeated, is about eight miles long from northeast to southwest, and about four and a half miles wide. It looks as though it had once been a mountain lake, the waters of which had burst their way through the northern es- carpment that helped to hold it, leaving the beautiful trout stream that now pours through the gorge to mark its course. Geologically it rests in the center of one of the only great anticlinals in this section of the country. The great moun- tain, containing the Upper and Lower Silurian rocks, having been partially folded by a great pressure from the southeast, seems to have been parted along the crest of the anticlinal fold by a pressure subsequently exerted from the opposite direction, causing it to spread apart, leaving the limestones toward the base interjected between each other, so as to form the great plain now known as the great grass-producing Burk's Garden. Ther.e is no telling how much of it has been denuded and washed away in the course of time. Surround- ing mountains and all must at one time have occupied a much higher position than they now do. 188 TAZEWELL CO. — SCENEKY. Thompson's and Ward's Coves form tlie wings of a great opening in tlie great mountain belt, somewhat similar in character to Burk's Garden, and offer, together with the country about Maiden Spring, Liberty, and Paint Lick Moun- tain, with its high, wall-like cliffs painted by the Indians, a piece of landscape scenery of marvelous beauty. From Dial Eock, which is near the western terminus of East Eiver Mountain, all that vast plain, with its grassy fields and wooded hills, about Jeffersonville, and the country east and north, look like the realization of Eden. From this point, the mountains seem to be marshaled rank after rank, as far as the eye can see. In some lights, the beholder is almost persuaded the great silent scene will take motion and march away. Space forbids further attempt to eulogize in tame language a subject so perfect from the hand of nature. To see it only can it be realized. The game and fish of the county are interesting subjects. A few bears still roam in the high woods and thick laurel of Bear Town Mountain, and the bass in the streams furnish fine sport. The Fruits of the county are all those which this latitude produces so abundantly, and Tazewell fares like the rest in being very certain of a good apple crop annually, with the peaches only somewhat doubtful. Grape culture has been very carefully attended to by several prominent gentlemen at the court-house and two or three miles east of there. In fact, these gentlemen have clearly demonstrated the high perfection to which the native varieties can be brought by proper training and attention. Bee culture is engaging the attention of the people more and more every year, and with the proper stimulus in the way of transportation, would eventually become a paying industry. TAZEWELL CO. — TOWNS AND TILLAGES. 189 TRADE IN CATTLE, SHEEP, WOOL, WHEAT, CORN, AND TOBACCO. Cattle annually sold from the county. . . . 11,500 head (Of this number a proportion, which increases annually, goes to Europe.) Sbeep 10,000 head Wool, which is more than half used at ^ome 30,000 pounds Wheat 65,000 bushels Corn 8,000 " Tobacco 10,000 pounds There being no transportation now to distant markets, very little more wheat and corn are raised than will supply the home demand. The trade in horses and mules is not very considerable, hardly enough to merit a notice. There is a decided spirit of improvement gaining ground in the minds of the people with reference to all classes of stock TOWNS AND VILLAGES. JeffersonviUe, the county site, is the chief place. It con- tains good schools, churches of different denominations, stores well supplied with everything generally sold in the better districts of country, hotels, and shops of various kinds for the repair of wagons, plows, smithing, etc. Liberty is a village nine miles southwest from Jeffersonville, supplied with a hotel, stores, etc. Mouth of Indian, or Cedar Bluff, at the junction of Indian Creek with Clinch River, is sixteen miles west of the court- house, a thrivfng place, having a hotel, stores, furniture and tobacco factories, saw and grist-mills, and will become a manufacturing center, being within a mile or two of the 190 ETJSSELL CO. — HOW BOUNDED. great coal deposits on one side and the iron ore on the other. SpringviMe and Fall's Mills are in the eastern part of the county, and they, with several other places of that size, form good trading places for their respective neighborhoods. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Tazewell has always been careful to keep up its public schools. The appearance of the school-houses attests this fact, and now her schools seem to be more prosperous than they were some years back. EUSSELL COUNTY. This large county is noted for its fine grass lands, its coal, timber, and marble. It is not without large and valuable iron ore deposits ; but its high character for extensive areas of fine blue-grass lands, thick coal veins, and heavily timbered forests composed of valuable woods, give it a name for both beauty and fertility, as an agricultural, mineral, and timbered county, shared by only a few of the other counties in the State. Could any landscape exceed in beauty Eosedale and Elk Garden? They are only equaled by a few places in Southwestern Virginia. In Eussell, they may find almost a counterpart in Cassel's Woods, some parts of the county toward Hansonville and Dickinsonville, and occasional spots about New Garden, including the river scenery afforded by the different branches of Clinch Eiver. It is singular that so much natural wealth should have lain so long among so progressive a people without fuller development. HOW BOUflDED. » Eussell is about 34 miles long from east to west, and 18 miles wide from north to south. The broad dividing ridge ETJSSEIi CO. — GEOLOGY OP EUSSEIi. 191 which separates the waters of Clinch Eiver from those of Sandy Eiver marks its northern boundary liae, the next county north being Buchanan County. South, Eussell is divided from "Washington County by Clinch Mountain, a great barrier which runs a course about north 70° east for many miles through this section of Virginia. West it is bounded by Scott County, and east by Tazewell. HOW WATEEED. The county is well watered, mainly by Clinch Eiver and its tributaries occupying the northern half of the county. Its southwest section has a considerable length of Moccasin Creek, a tributary of Holston Eiver. GEOLOGY OP EUSSELL. Eussell, on the south, shows the rocks of the Upper Silu- rian age dipping southwardly. As you proceed north you pass over the edges of the next lower strata, through the Hudson Eiver and part of the Trenton limestones, etc., until you reach the great fault, north of the line of Clinch Eiver, which marks the southern limit of the great Kanawha Coal Basin. Then for about five miles you are in the coal rocks, carrying you to the northern boundary line. Nearly all the strata of rocks pass through the county from northeast to southwest, in a direction parallel with the course of the mountain ranges ; and hence a description of a*^ section taken at nearly any north and south line will have its mate- rial points very muclj the same. The Clinch Mountain Eange, having been subjected to some cross flexures and end compressions, is duplicated more than once in Eussell ; hence the iron ores, which are common to the rocks of which it is composed, are brought out in con- siderable quantities. Thus, the southern border of the 192 EUSSELL CO. — GEOLOGY OF EUSSELL. county is marked by the dyestone and Oriskany series — mainly on the mountain crests — giving valuable deposits at intervals along the south boundary of the dyestone or fossil red ore of very high grade, and of the brown ores of the Oriskany. In the latter may also be found respectable quan- tities of manganese. Yery frequently the Hudson Eiver limestones form the crests of these southern hills and moun- tains — as in the case of Bich Mountain — which, by the decomposition of their highly fossiliferous strata, make a rich and enduring soil, well adapted to grass, which is of spontaneous growth. Passing north a few hundred yards to the northern foot of the Clinch Eange, you meet with the thick ledges of variegated stone about the division between the Trenton and Hudson series, looking now and then as if it would make a fine marble. Close under this, outcropping to the north, is a thick band of gray and pink marble, having a fine texture, and admitting of a high polish. Passing north- wardly, over Trenton limestones dipping in various direc- tions, you reach Copper Eidge, which is a continuation southwestwardly of Paint Lick and House and Barn Moun- tains, with the iron ore formation of No. 4 generally denuded. The lower rocks of the Trenton in this ridge, holding the ledges of felspathic material, seem to be brought up to the surface, occasionally showing good deposits of iron ores and fine crystals of manganese. In a short distance northwardly you reach Clinch Eiver, close to which, on the north side, is the great" fault, which brings an upthrow of Lower Silurian limestone in contact with the coal rocks. Between the river and this fault is a range of flint measures extending north- east and southwest through the county, which, for the greater part, yields about 15 feet thickness of fine barytes, occasion- ally showing fine crystals of lead and a tpace of carbonate of copper. The rocks along here generally dip southwardly. The EUSSEIiL 00. — GEOLOGY OF EUSSELL. 193 ■StmSy JiidgB RidS9 BamMaaiiaia LB BEARiTQWN ^inch 2!au7gafn i S? I 13 194 EUSSELL CO. — IRON ORES. fault alluded to is frequently a double one ; that is, between the limestones and the horizontal coal rocks there is a great fragment of the coal strata dipping southwardly at a high angle, separated from the more regular measures on the north by a distinct line. After this, until you reach the northern boundary line, mainly on the crest of Sandy Bidge, you are in regular meas- ures of nearly horizontal lying strata of coal rocks. lEON ORES. It would be very difficult to form an estimate of the prob- able quantities of different ores in the county of Kussell. The fossil red, of a very high grade, is about two feet thick, in several small veins, in discontinuous measures, in Clinch Mountain. Brown iron ores of the Oriskany, in the same mountain, are subject to the same conditions as the fossil ores, and so are the manganese ores. The brown oo-es in Kent's Bidge and the river hills, along down the line of the Clinch, are due to the decomposition of a vein of sulphuret, which is found throughout this tier of counties, about the junction of the Black Biver and Trenton limestones ; also on Cedar Creek, two and a half miles east of Lebanon, near an old forge site. This line of ores will prove to be an interest- ing adjunct to any railway line located near Clinch Biver. The thickness may be placed at six feet. The House and Barn Mountain, on the east side of the county, has unfortu- nately been long denuded of the masses of dyestone ore which once crowned it ; and it now only shows a deposit here and there, sufficient to delude the unwary into the belief that there are still large quantities of ore about the mountain. It is possible that the ores now and then showing in Cop- per Bidge are the same in character and origin as those in Kent's Bidge and the river hills. BUSSELL CO. — ^IBON. 195 COAL. There is nothing left to conjecture concerning the coal in this county, except, perhaps, its exact geological age. Where the veins are known to be so continuous, with good measures and occupying such an area, their position in proper geologi- cal succession is not of so much consequence. It may safely be assumed that a great part of the Lower Measures is here represented. The area in this county is about 100 square miles. The veins are thick and some of them are of cannel coal. Up the Hurricane Fork of Dumps Creek, the lowest vein in sight — at the bed of the creek, near Grisell's — measured nine feet four inches, pitch one in twenty, south 80° east, with head-wall of slate fifteen feet thick, overlaid with thin bedded sandstones ; foot-wall eight inches of clay slate, underlaid by heavy sandstones of rather irregular formation. This coal is of the flaming bituminous variety. One hundred and fifty feet above this is a vein of very much the same kind of coal, nearly five feet thick, cropping out at Basnicks. One hundred feet above this is another vein of good coal, not yet measured at that point for want of proper openings. Fifty feet over this is a vein of cannel coal eleven inches thick, underlaid by quartzose, blackish sandstone, underlaid again by a heavy band of sandstone ; the roof is three and a half feet of slate, overlaid by about 100 feet of sandstone. Over this is a series of sandstones and slates, with veins of coal, running up to an elevation above the creek of about 1,000 feet. It was impossible to get at the exact number and thickness of the veins in the series here. No developments of the veins outcropping any distance above the creeks have been made ; but, that the coal exists in good veins, at intervals, all the way to the tops of the hiUs is a fact revealed here and there by land-slides in the steeper hollows and wet places. 196 EUSSEIi CO. — LIMESTONE. I The reading obtained on Dumps Creek, -with some varia- tions in tlie measures, will give a fair idea of the whole. Mill Creek, Sword's Creek, the upper end of Lewis Creek, Thompson's Creek, Weaver's Creek, and Lick Creek, as well as Dumps Creek, rise in the coal measures and cut deep sec- tions as they pass through the coal rocks on their way to Clinch Eiver. TiEAT) AND ZINC. There is an outcropping of baryta-bearing rocks on the north side of Clinch Eiver, not far below the junction of Maiden Spring Fork, which also shows some lead sulphuret ; but it is not probable that any workable veins will be discov- ered. Zinc is not found in any quantity. BABYTES. Barytes, in a vein about fifteen feet thick, is found in the series of rocks about the upper part of the Calciferous rocks, marked by beds of felspathic flint. The quantity of barytes in the county, along the line of hills bordering Clinch Eiver on the north, must be enormous. So far as observed it must afford an immense tonnage to any railway line that might be built near it. COPPEE OEE. Small particles of carbonate of copper are found in the same rocks. SALT. The salt-bearing series of Nos. 10 and 12 underlie the coal measures in this county, at accessible depths. LIMESTONE. The limestones of Eussell are chiefly of the Trenton and Hudson Eiver series. They are generally very fossiliferous, BUSSEIi CO. — TIMBEE. 197 many ledges affording excellent lime. About Clincli Eiver the upper measures of Calciferous limestones show occasion- ally ; weathering sometimes very light drab as if they were highly magnesian. BUILDING STONES. The coal measures afford a sandstone easily worked in the quarry, which, upon exposure, becomes very hard. Many ledges of limestone are suitable for building purposes. MAEBLE. Perhaps no other mention of the marble may be consid- ered necessary, further than to say that its great quantity to- ward the south side of the county is such as to render it an item of consequence to any railway line passing through the county. MINEEAL SPRINGS. While there are many mineral springs of value in the county, no doubt, there are none as yet improved. TIMBEE. It would astonish any one from the great timber and lum- ber markets, where everything of the kind has its value, to see the quantities of fine trees destroyed annually in clearing lands. Very frequently the log heaps are composed of wal- nut, hickory, white oak, and poplar, ready for the torch. It is the only way the people have of getting the timber that they do not want for fencing purposes out of the way. This county is supplied with vast quantities of fine timber — about the river the black walnut and the sycamore. In fact, there are few localities in the county where the walnut is not found. Occasionally, as at Little Bear Town, on a loup of the Clinch Mountain Eange, the balsam fir tree is found ia 198 EUSSELL CO. — ^AGEICIILTUEE. considerable quantities. White oak abounds everywhere. Poplar, cherry, locust, chestnut, chestnut oak, and other varieties of oak, linn, sugar, buckeye, and several varieties of smaller growth. In the hills of the coal measures nearly all these trees, including the hemlock, abound in their primitive size and beauty, and in quantities seemingly suf- ficient to defy extermination. WATEB POWEE. Clinch Eiver, after the junction of the two principal branches in the east end of the county, discharges about 220 cubic feet per second, and constantly increases its volume as it descends. Its fall is sufficiently great to afford numerous valuable powers. Cedar Creek, one of its principal trib- utaries flowing near Lebanon, the court-house, having a rather high average fall per mile, offers a good many mill sites. Moccasin Creek gives good power. Lick Creek, In- dian Creek, Lewis Creek, and the other creeks on the north side of Clinch Eiver, afford good powers of limited amount. These streams are reliable throughout the year. In cases of extreme drought some of those heading in the coal rocks may get low ; but the others rarely, if ever, get down too low for use. MANUEAOTUEES. There are no manufactures of any consequence in the county. A few carding machines, to card the wool for home use, besides the mills, are about all. AGEICULTUEE. The principal feature in agriculture is the great grass- producing area that covers nearly two thirds of the county. These lands are kept perennially fertile by the decomposition of fossil limestones, and of occasional thin ledges of felspar. ETJSSELL CO. — SCENERY. 199 Where the lands haye been in cultivation for many years, without proper rotation of crops, they show signs of exhaus- tion ; but plaster and clover seem to restore them rapidly. Outside of the care shown by those who are trying to keep up good grazing farms, there is little effort to improve the style of farming. There are thousands of acres of land which, under a proper system of cultivation, would be capable of enriching a population of twenty times the number now living in the county. Sheep husbandry, if carefully looted after, would be highly remunerative. In the small flocks now common, and without much attention, the sheep fall an easy prey to all kinds of enemies. "Wheat, corn, oats, hay, rye, flax, buckwheat, potatoes, etc., are the chief staples, and are mostly consumed at home. There is no tobacco of any consequence raised in Russell County. Upon the great grass farms are raised much of the fine stock which supplies the English markets. A great many fine sheep are being raised by a few individ- uals ; horses and mules are not now the paying industries they were a few years ago. SCENEET. It would be useless to attempt to describe the many fine landscapes presented to the eye on every hand in Eussell County. It is made up of picture after picture of the finest views which ever came from the hand of the great artist. Nature. The beautiful grass lands, limited by the high mountains, threaded by the constant streams, which everywhere flow from bold springs, not only fill up the measure of the beauti- ful, but carry the conviction of the great wealth and utility of. the fine lands and streams. Fruits do well in the county. Perhaps peaches are more 200 EUSSELL CO. — LINES OP TRANSPOETATION. certain than in the counties farther east. Chapes are com- mon. Bees do well ; and fish, such as black bass, the red- eye, etc., are the natural inhabitants of the Clinch and Hol- ston rivers and their tributaries. They need protection and care, however, or they will begin to disappear. TEADE IN CATTLE, SHEEP, WHEAT, AND COEN. The number of cattle annually sold from Eussell is about 10,500 head. Of this number perhaps 2,000 find their way to European markets, either in first or second hands. Of sheep there are about 9,500. Of wheat about 45,000 bushels, and but little corn. Of all other products, the home con- sumption now meets the production, except that about 450 horses and mules, in good Season, find their way to eastern markets. LINES OP TEANSPOETATION. There are now chartered three principal lines of railway, that have some probability of being built, which wiU give to Eussell nearly all the facilities it will require. The Eichmond and Southwestern Eailway will run for thirty miles, through the Clinch Eiver section of the county. The Saltville and Coal Mine Eailroad, if built, wUl run diagonally across the center of the county, from the south- east to the northwest, and would be of great value to the county, crossing the iron, marble, coal, and timber belts in succession. The Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio Eailroad has a branch road provided for in its charter, which might pursue the line of Clinch Eiver on its way to Pound Gap. This road would afford a valuable outlet to coal and timber, toward Norfolk, without much risk of coming into competition with other coals. SCOTT COUHTY. 201 TOWNS AOT) VILLAGES. Lebanon, the county site, is a village near tKe center of the county, a short distance from Cedar Creek ; with churches of different denominations, schools, hotels, good stores, smith shops, etc. It is healthfully located. HansonviHe, in the southwest side of the county on Moccasin, is a handsome little place, with a mill, stores, etc. HonakersviUe, on Lewis Creek, north side of the county, is a busy place, with a mill, stores, church, etc. DicJcinsonviUe and other places in the county, such as Bosedale and Elk Garden, are convenient places of trade for the surrounding country. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The public schools, according to the last report of the State Superintendent, Dr. Euffner, are on a better footing than formerly, and will in the future be more carefully attended to. SCOTT COUNTY. The county of Scott differs very much in its physical ap- pearance from the neighboring counties even of the same geo- logical age. Its hilly character will, it is thought, finally cause it to be used principally in the culture of grapes and sheep. Along Clinch Biver, which flows through it from northeast to southwest, there are, however, very nice bottom lands, making many fine farms. Along the Holston River, in the southern part of the county, this condition is also ob- servable. But Scott is important in area and in undeveloped resources. Its mineral springs are highly valuable ; and its marble, ores, and coal,' with its endless water power, will cause -it to assume a high position under favorable conditions of transportation. 202 SCOTT CO.— GEOLOGICAL. HOW BOUNDED. The county is bounded north by the Powell's Mountain Range, separating it from Wise and Lee counties ; on the east by Eussell and Washington counties, and south by Sullivan and Hancock counties of the State of Tennessee. HOW WATEEED. Scott is well watered by Clinch and Holston rivers and some of their principal tributaries, the great body of the county being traversed its greatest length by Clinch Eiver, which has two considerable affluents in the county — the North Fork of Clinch Eiver and Copper Creek. Holston Eiver re- ceives Moccasin Creek, which breaks through Clinch Moun- tain at Big Moccasin Gap, after traversing a large portion of the eastern part of the county. There are, of course, many minor tributaries of both rivers. Of the Clinch Eiver some of the most noted are Stock Creek, upon which is situated the famous natural tunnel; Cove Creek, Stony Creek, and Stanton Creek, upon which are situated Hagan's Mineral Springs. GEOLOGICAL. The geology of Scott is nearly similar to that of Eussell County, with the exception of that part lying west of Wild- cat Creek. But a close examination of the rocks near to and south of the coal area, in the northern part of the county, shows the existence of a long fragment of the dyestone ore strata and accompanying rocks ; a condition which is not true of Eussell County, except as to a small section known as the Big Ax Mountain. To give a thoroughly correct idea of the geology in different parts of the county it would really be necessary to present two cross sections extending from northwest to southeast SCOTT CO. — GEOLOGICAL. 203 i-'HigMCmb qUUU ^ ABOVI :]tHClU4 204 SCOTT CO.— lEON OEES. across tlie eastern and western ends of the county respect- ively. The eastern section could be made twenty-five miles in length, that being the width of the county at that end ; while the western one would be about ten and a half miles long, that being the best average width west of Spear's Ferry. COAL. The coal area of Scott County, of any value, lies in the northern extremity of the county next to the county of Wise. It is quite accessible from the Wise County or western side on the head-waters of Powell's Eiver, aa well as from the southern side, where the head-waters of Stony Creek break through the ridge forming the southern bifurcation of Pow- ell's Mountain. This is a much more valuable coal area than is generally believed. The veins are in better condition and lie more regularly, with much less disturbance and faults than there is apparent room for supposing. But such is the case. Seem- ingly this area is merely an unbroken continuation of the great coal area of Wise County under very much the same conditions. The accompanying special section will give a very good general idea of not only the regularity of the veins, but of their relationship with the neighboring strata lying south of the coal area. This coal area in Scott is about five miles broad, at its broadest, by about eighteen miles in length ; and, together with the iron and manganese ores and the marble, helps to make Scott one of the most important mineral counties in the State. IRON OEES. Fossil or Bed Ore. The fossil ores of Scott occur in Powell's Mountain west of Flat Lick, in a low and somewhat broken ridge just south SCOTT CO. — ^BBOWN GEES. 205 of the coal area, and in tlie south face of Clinch Mountain, the ores in Powell's Mountain and the ridge just mentioned being regarded as superior to the ores of Clinch Mountain. It has been often contended that Copper Eidge, in the central portion of the county, contains fossil ore also, but it has escaped notice in all the more recent examinations. Big Eidge may contain some of it, as a fragment thrown off from the main deposits, but this is extremely doubtful. It is hardly necessary to give the measures of these fossil ore veins, as they are nearly identical in all respects with the same ores in Wise and Lee counties. Thus it may safely be said that these veins aggregate sometimes a thickness of seven feet, by a length, in the county, of nearly fifty miles. Brown Ores. The brown ores of Scott County are almost wholly to be as- signed to the Helderberg and Oristany rocks in the south face of Powell's Mountain and Clinch Mountain ; but Copper Eidge shows here and there a brown ore graduating into a red hem- atite, sometimes ^accompanied with manganese, which is no doubt in the same geological horizon with the ores of Kent's Eidge in Eussell and Tazewell, and with similar ores in Eich Valley in Smyth County. Brown ores of excellent quality are also found along the length of Moccasin Eidge and Big Bidge, all of which are easily accessible, and will yield a ton- nage, above water level, far beyond the power of the writer to estimate. The brown ores graduating into a red, spoken of as being found in Copper Eidge, no doubt sometimes assume the ap- pearance of a red ore with bright particles, leading the un- initiated to believe them to be fossil red ores. From this it may be inferred that the mistake about fossil red ores in Copper Eidge has arisen. This ore when pure is really 206 SCOTT CO. — SALT. more valuable than the fossil ore, because it usually carries so high a percentage of metallic iron ; and it may be taken for granted, with a degree of certainty, that in many places in Copper Eidge, though now covered so with debris as not to be discernible, there are bodies of this ore equally as great in magnitude as those of the same horizon in Smyth, Giles, and Tazewell counties. This horizon is about at the division between the Trenton and Black Eiver series, and it may be well for the reader to remember that the same formations follow the same ridges nearly uniformly throughout their length in the county. MANGANESE. Manganese in fine crystals is found here and there throughout the length of Copper Eidge and Big Eidge in the county. LEAD. There are occasional pieces of lead ore— such as that found near Boatwright's, on Stony Creek, four miles from Fort Blackamore, which may lead to interesting results if prop- erly prosecuted. Some of the pieces of galenite, picked up where the creek, after a great freshet, had torn them from their original position, look like the fine silver-bearing lead ore of the West. But it would be premature to declare, that there are large quantities of the ore present in the locality named, for much exploration and development are necessary to prove this interesting point. SALT. The existence of salt may be regarded as certain in the coal area, not more than five hundred feet below the surface ; but whether any basins will be found presenting all the con- ditions favorable for obtaining an unlimited supply of brine, is not yet determined. I I SCOTT GO. — WATEE POWEK. 207 MAEBLE. The existence of several varieties of fine variegated marble has long been conceded to Scott County. Passing through Estillville, the county site, from southwest to northeast along the northern base of Clinch Mountain, is the line of the out- crop of large masses of both gray and purplish marble in thick ledges. The gray is tinted throughout with flesh- colored spots that render it very handsome, while the more purple is rendered remarkable from the number of large fos- sils with which it abounds so thickly in places, some of the remains of corals being very distinct. The quantity of fine marble in large blocks which could be supplied from these ledges in the county, particularly near Estillville, is practically beyond the power of exhaustion, should a critical market be pleased with its coloring and style. BAETTES. This mineral is found occasionally in ,Copper Eidge and Big Eidge, but no developments of any consequence have yet been made. FIRE CLAY. Fire clay is found beneath some of the coal veins, but whether it wiU answer for the purpose of making the best kind of fire brick is not yet known. WATEE POWEE. Clinch Eiver, before it finally passes into Tennessee on the southwest, discharges about 350 cubic feet per second ; the North Fork of Holston Eiver, about two thirds this quantity. The Clinch, having about 20 feet fall per mile throughout its length in the county, affords many admirable water powers. Holston Eiver is not quite so favorable. Copper Creek and 208 SCOTT CO. — MINEEAX SPRINGS. Big Moccasin, and tlie several minor tributaries of botli the larger streams; afford water powers of any desirable grade. It may be said that tlie water power of Scott County is of a fine character, the streams being generally constant through- out the year. TIMBEE. All that has been said of the best of the neighboring counties with regard to timber may be said with equal truth of Scott County. In the coal area, the poplar, or tulip tree, is abundant and very fine. The chestnut oak, the bark of which is so good for tanning purposes, is very abundant in the county ; while, through the body of the county, black and white walnut, hickory, maple, white oak, and other valuable trees are abundant. AGEICTJIiTUEE. The agriculture of the county is not in a very advanced condition as yet ; but that would no doubt be much improved under the encouragement given by cheap lines of transpor- tation, allowing the use of more profitable fertilizers. The cultivation of the beet for sugar making seems to be now one of the enterprises of the county. MINEEAI, SPEINGS. The mineral springs of known efficacy and reputation are the Holston Springs, two miles below Big Moccasin Gap, on Holston Eiver, and Hagan's Springs, on Stanton Creek, in the northern part of the county. Holston Springs, not now open to visitors, has a fine brick hotel and a row of cabins, situated pleasantly on the north bank of Holston Eiver. There are three or four springs issuing at one place. The largest is a spring of about 61^° Fah., slightly impregnated with iron, yielding fifteen i 00 i SCOTT CO. — SCENEET. 209 gallons per mimite, Near this is a limestone spring giving about eight gallons per minute, and within six feet is a sul- phur spring, apparently blue sulphur. The purely chalybe- ate spring is not a strong one in its flow, but the water is efficacious. Hagan's Springs are situated in a romantic spot between the mountains, having Powell's Mountain on the north. These springs are rendered attractive, not more by the ex- cellence of the two fine springs of white sulphur and chaly- beate, than the elegant house of noble dimensions and fine architecture, recently built by Mr. Hagan, the proprietor. SCENEET. Among the fine scenery of the State might be described several lovely views in Scott County, but one of the most attractive is the great natural tunnel or bridge in Stock Creek. Here, at an elevation of about 1,400 feet above sea level, is this remarkable natural phenomenon. There can be no scenery more grand and imposing than that afforded by the approach to the tunnel on the lower side. An immense wall of limestone rock, of the Lower Silu- rian age, forms a high, beetling cliff for several hundred yards below, making a most graceful curve from south to west, then north and northeast, then curving around to south again, after passing the mouth of the tunnel, describing the curve of a gracefully turned horseshoe. The walls of this towering cliff have been colored, in the course of time, in beautiful tints of red and sepia and brown, by the waters carrying down its face different solutions of lime, iron, and magnesia. Occasionally in some of the smaller clefts of this wonderfully beautiful cliff, cedars and overhanging pendent tufts of grass have taken hold, the ce- dars apparently dwarfed by the hard fight for a precarious 14 210 SCOTT CO. — MAmiFACTTIBES, FUENACES, AJSD FOEGES. existence. The whole forms one of the most imposing pieces of scenery to be found in this part of the country. At the same time it would delight the eye, it would baffle the skill of any artist to portray it in all its /features. Perhaps at no place within so small a compass can such a combination of varied and interesting scenery be found ; an incomparable picture from the pencil of the greatest of all artists, nature. Could it be opened to the tourist, health and pleasure seeker, and the weary toiler of the cities, it would be thronged every season for months, for it is really perfectly beautiful and enchanting. A view was attempted to be taken of the lower approach from below a giant sycamore, which seemed to rear its gaunt arms as if in the vain endeavor to reach the top of the lofty cliff. MAmrPACTUBES, FUENACES, AOT) FOEGES. With the exception of six wool-carding machines there are no manufactures worthy of the name in the county. It might be interesting to an antiquarian, who might be delving in the past history of iron making, to look up several small furnaces and forges long since out of blast, the traces of which are almost gone ; but it would scarcely be a matter of interest to state them here, for they were built and operated nearly a hundred years ago, some of them ; and the condi- tions which surrounded that remote period in our history have entirely changed. They gave way and went down under the advancing tide of Eastern supremacy in all branches of manufacture. Now the same ground is likely soon to be occupied by the successors of these manufacturers, who will be drawn to locate in a region where ores are abundant, and fuel and labor are so cheap as to make the products success- ful in any close competition with all the rest of the world. NATURAL TUNNEL, SCOTT CO., TA. Lower Approach. (P. 210). SCOTT CO. — CATTLE, SHEEP, BOESES, MULES, AND WHEAT. 211 LINES OP TEANSPOETATION. While both the Holston and Clinch rivers have been f occasionally utilized to ship wheat, corn, etc., toward Chatta- nooga, the hope of the people for reliable transportation seems to be centered now in what is known as the Bristol Coal and Iron Narrow-gauge Eailroad. This road has its route from Bristol on the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Eailroad, through Big Moccasin Gap, via EstUlville, Spear's Ferry, the Natural Tunnel, and Flat Lick, to Big Stone Gap or Imboden City in Wise County, with a view of continuing on toward the Ohio Eiver, through Harlan and other counties in Kentucky. The work on this road is being vigorously pushed forward, and the railroad company, with the assist- ance of the Tinsalia Coal and Iron Company, oj Big Stone Gap, in Wise County, will soon complete the road, thus open- ing up to commerce the immense beds and deposits of coal and iron ore, the vast forests of timber, and the fine marble we have attempted to describe. Fish culture, bee culture, and grape culture are alike be- ginning to attract the attention of enterprising men. There can be no doubt that grape culture is suitable to Scott County in an eminent degree, and it must sooner or later command earnest attention. AlWUAL SUEPLUS OF CATTLE, SHEEP, HOESES, MULES, AND WHEAT. Cattle. — 300 stock cattle annually. 1,800 fat cattle annually. 2,000 of inferior cattle, calves, etc. Sheep.— 5,000 head. Horses and mules.— 500 head annually sold. 35,000 bushels of wheat annually shipped down the river to Chattanooga, 212 LEE COUNTY. PEINCIPAIi TOWNS, ETC. EstiUville is the county site, and the principal place of business in the county. NichollsviUe, Spear's Ferry, Fort Blackamore, Fattonville, and Osborn's Ford are likewise places of business. EDUCATION. The question of education is becoming one of great im- portance in the county, and will assume a very healthy tone after the completion of the railroad. LEE COUNTY. This county has so many advantages, both mineral and agricultural, that when even so small a proportion of them as is presented here is considered it must excite surprise that no more strenuous efforts have been made heretofore to open them up to commerce. The contemplation of these and the other vast undeveloped resources of iSouthwestern Virginia, to say nothing of other sections of the State, kindles a feel- ing of deep disdain for that system of statesmanship which can content itself with the consideration of a line of policy looking to mere personal aggrandizement, through . the use of all the arts of low demagoguery, while a noble State, made up in great part of such counties as Lee, is com- pelled to linger on from year to year in the agonies of financial dissolution; not only compromising the fair fame she has won in the past, in every department in life, but practically yielding the commonwealth, her vast resources, and a once noble heritage of an illustrious and honorable name to utter strangers. While it is not the intention of this book to go outside of the discussion of its legitimate objects, there can be no impropriety in calling the earnest LEE COUNTY. 213 attention of the citizens of Virginia to the great loss they are sustaining by failing to properly appreciate the crisis the State is now in. Without an earnest endeavor on their part to combine for the utilization of the immense resources of the State, both for the advancement of private as well as public interests, political and financial bankruptcy is certain without the intervention of foreign capital, which may be employed as a mere channel to convey away the rich fruits of Virginia's mining and general industrial resources to distant places, only partially relieving her distress at last. Lee County can be cited as an illustration of general con- ditions with quite as much propriety as any other ; for in its boundary lines alone are the elements of an empire's redemp- tion from even worse conditions than those which encompass unhappy Virginia. Its fine and extensive grass and grain areas are not the least of its valuable features. In the iron ores and splendid areas of almost unparalleled coal veins, with matchless timber, there are possibilities far beyond the actual necessities of Virginia. Only one condition has been wanting for years — simply accessibility to markets ; and this has seem- ingly been denied, as if every effort since the war had been directed to prevent rather than facilitate that most desirable end. To the almost unlimited extent of fossil red iron ores are^ added valuable extensive deposits of brown ores. On a map of small scale, the coloring which shows respectively the location of ore and coal is spread over almost the same ground, and that which designates the locality of the limestone is intermingled with the iron ore and sometimes penetrates the coal areas. Nature has left nothing undone to stamp the area covered by the county as one of its most favored localities. Could it now have the number of furnaces, and mining and timbering stations to which it is so richly entitled, it would without other manufacturing establishments greatly alleviate by its tax- 214 LEE CO. — COAIa paying power the burden of the State ; besides making for itself a name in iron industries which other sections might envy, but vainly strive to emulate. The county is over fifty miles in length by a breadth of seventeen — air line. HOW BOUNDED. Lee is separated on the north from Harlan and Josh Bell counties of Kentucky by the main Cumberland Mountain ; on the northeast it is bounded by Wise County ; on the south- east by Scott County, and immediately south by Clairborne and Hancock counties of Tennessee. Lee is in the extreme southwest corner of Virginia, having the State of Tennessee on the south, and the State of Kentucky on its north and west, and is marked, at its extreme western limit by the widely-known Cumberland Gap. HOW WATEEED. Lee is well watered by Powell's Eiver and its tributaries. In its southeastern and eastern corners Blackwater and Wild- cat creeks flow through small sections of the county, which are tributaries of the main Clinch Eiver. Powell's Eiver, being fed by numerous limestone springs, is a very constant stream, and toward its lower end (in the county) is navigable through the winter months for batteaux. It furnishes sufficient transportation to ship large quantities of wheat and corn annually toward Chattanooga, and if a little assistance from the general government was afforded, the navigation of this river could be made reliable. Of this more wiU be said under the head of Transportation. COAL. It would be difficult indeed to place a proper estimate upon the coal area of Lee County. From the examinations made LEE CO. — COAL. 215 by the author, as well as those of Me. Lesley and others, it is certaia that Lee holds about 75 square miles of the coals which are classed as the most reliable for quantity and most excellent for quality in the great coal field to which it be- longs. The examinations of Me. Lesley and Me. Shalee, alluded to just now, it is true were made not so strictly in this area, but in the exact geological continuation of the same veins and de- posits on the opposite side of the Black Mountain, in a short distance. From all the evidence, these veins lie so nearly horizontal, without fault or displacement of a serious nature, on both sides of Black Mountain, that the reading for one side with but slight modifications is the reading for the other ; and this view of the case is borne out by the investigations of careful men. Thus, Lee County, in common with Josh Bell and Harlan counties of Kentucky, contains some of the finest known veins of bituminous, splint, and cannel coals. Out of the eight or nine workable seams above water level the coal in two are known to be of that variety which will smelt ores raw, while the quantity of the ordinary flaming bituminous coal is without limit. From all these examinations we are to conclude that there are from fifteen to eighteen coal seams in all, comprised with- in the lower, middle, and upper coal measures. The lower measures have the reputation of giving veins which are rarely over three feet thick, some of which yield about one half can- nel coal. This I doubt from my explorations, as, from a very careful inspection of these lower lying beds, some of them exceed four feet in thickness — much of the coal being capable of smelting ores raw. The middle measures present beds seven feet thick and over, and in these measures the thickest cannel coal veins may be looked for. l^o analysis of these coals yet inspected shows more than four per cent, of ash, and the trials made of them recently, by 216 LEE 00. — IRON OEES. expert practical men in Pennsylvania, give them a higher reputation in every respect, for coking and general purposes, than any other known coals. The North Fork of Powell's Eiver, which derives all its waters from this section of Lee County, flows out into the main Powell's Yalley through North Fork, or Pennington's Gap ; and it is through this gap that this fine coal area is ren- dered accessible throughout its extent by easy grades descend-, ing to a common point, at the above-mentioned gap. lEON ORES. Fossil Red Ores. At Pennington's Forge, Pennington's Gap, these ores have been practically proven to be of high grade. The iron made from them has frequently been bent double while cold, with- out showing fracture. The localities of these ores are in Poor Yalley Ridge, Waldin's Eidge, and a section of Powell's Mountain, which that part of the south side of the county overlaps in taking in a portion of Blackwater Creek. Through a great part of the county. Poor Valley Kidge, which lies next to the Cumberland Mountain on the north side of the county, is about eight and a quarter miles from Waldin's Ridge, which flanks Powell's Mountain on its north side ; the latter marking for about twenty miles the south- eastern boundary of the county. These ridges. Poor Valley Eidge and Waldin's Ridge, so well known as fossil red iron ore-bearing localities, while maintaining the above-mentioned average distance from each other through the middle part of the county, converge toward each other as you approach the Wise County line, so that when nearly at the northeastern limit of the county there begins that great grouping of iron ores, coal measures, and liEE CO. — BBOWN IRON OEES. 217 limestones clxaracteristio of the neigliborliood of Big Stone Gap. The appended sections will show the ores in Poor Valley Bidge near Pennington's Gap; while those in Waldin's Eidge and Powell's Moun- tain have the same general thick- ness, but dip at an angle of about thirty degrees almost invariably to the southeast or south-south- east. Again, near Boone's Path Post Office in Poor Valley Eidge, as well as in the ridges near Cumberland Gap, these ores show in measures similar to those in the section taken southwest of North Fork Gap. The ores from this place have been extensively used at Bales' or Bowling Green Forge, in connection with the brown ores mined at the forge, and have given very great satisfaction. It would be idle to attempt to estimate the quantity of red ore in these veins. In Poor Valley Eidge the outcrop is placed at about 180 feet elevation above the water in the neighboring creeks. In Wal- din's Eidge and Powell's Moun- tain this elevation is about 400 feet — sometimes as much as 600 feet — above watet level in the creeks. It may then be safely assumed that large quantities i «S5 o 1^ 218 LEE CO. — ^LIMESTONE. of ore will be stripped aboye water level. In fact, so great will be this quantity that many years must elapse, after regular mining operations are commenced, before it becomes necessary to mine below water level. Brown Iron Ore. Brown hematite shows more conspicuously at Bales' or Bowling Green Forge than at any other point so far as devel- oped. Here it shows a width of twenty feet by an unknown depth. In the ridges to the south and east of "White Shoals in Powell's Eiver there are considerable surface quantities of manganiferous brown ores. The ores at Bales' or Bowling Green Forge are in the Lower Silurian limestones, and may be indicative of those sulphureted strata below which yield such quantities of zinc blende farther down Powell's Eiver in Tennessee. An examination of the south face of Waldin's Ridge and Powell's Mountain reveals the presence of brown ores belong- ing to the Oriskany sub-epoch; but their quantity has not been ascertained with any degree of accuracy. LEAD AOT) znsro. The measures containing the associated strata of lead and jjinc ores do not anywhere come to the surface in Lee County. It is probable they are as near emergence at Bales' as at any other point. Should these strata preserve a uniform character along Powell's Valley, the day will come when zinc blende will be mined several hundred feet below the surface, in the line of limestone strata passing Bales'. LIMESTONE. Limestone abounds in Lee County. There is very little showing below the McLurea strata. The most of it is the tEE CO. — TIMBEB. 219 Hudson Eiver, and in the line near the coal measures, the Sub-Carboniferous limestone. The latter is usually a fine gray, compact, and sometimes highly carbonaceous rock, well adapted to any purpose for which limestone is used, whether it be for fluxing in furnaces, for burning into lime, or for building purposes. There are occasional bands of stone near the lower part of the Hudson Eiver series, of such variegated colors as to have the appearance of marble. It has not been fully tested. BABTTES. There are occasional beds of baryles in the county. KAOLIN, or rather fire-clay, is found in large quantities in the coal veins. Some of it has a high character for refractory pur- poses. Its great quantity is an important item, should the quality prove sufficiently good for making fire-brick. TIMBEB. The timber of Lee will form one of its most important re- sources in the event of transportation being supplied. There are large quantities of walnut, maple, cedar, etc., throughout Powell's Valley. On the waters of the North Fork of Powell's Eiver there are large boundaries of fine cherry, poplar, chestnut oak, white oak, hickory, ash, and other trees common to this latitude. The seemingly bound- less forests stretch for miles unbroken. Their gigantic size, no less than their wonderful beauty and luxuriance, are calcu- lated to impress the beholder unused to such scenes. The cedars of the lower portion of the county are wonderful for their size and number. 220 LEE CO. — SCENEEY. WATEB POWEE. Powell's Eiver and tributaries afford an immense number of fine water powers. To attempt to -enumerate them would only end in showing that about every three miles of the river, and much less on such creeks as Waldin's Creek, Graybill, Indian, Blackwater, and North Fork, there are good mill sites which can employ the use of discharges varying be- tween sixty and two hundred and fifty cubic feet per second for the river, and about twenty to fifty feet per second for the tributaries ; the lesser measure for the river being up near the northeastern limit of the county. AGEICULTUEE. ' The system of agriculture employed in Lee County is that which is now common throughout this section of Yirginia. Many of the farms in Powell's Yalley are well adapted to grass, and, consequently, are principally devoted to cattle raising. There is much of the soil in which an important constituent is a felspathic flint, perhaps a lime and soda felspar. All such soils have been found to be peculiarly susceptible to improvement by the use of plaster as a fer- tilizer. In growing wheat these lands have a reputation. Lee County makes a large average yield of corn per acre throughout the county, while the wheat made is a fine firm grain, of the kind much sought after by the mills which ship their flour to southern ports. The system of agriculture pursued, like tliat in use in neighboring counties, will eventually change for the better under the stimulus of increased means of cheap and abun- dant transportation. SCENEEY. The scenery of Lee is picturesque, but usually softer than that of many of its neighbors. It is not wanting in such fine LEE CO. — MANTJFACTUEES. 221 pictures as are presented at Pennington's Gap, Cumberland Gap, and numerous lovely stretches of woodland and moun- tain scenery to whicli tlie river lends an additional charm. Some of the caves in the great limestone belt of Powell's Valley are among the most marvelous in the world for their great extent and wonderful beauty. One, a few miles from Jonesville, the county site, is said to rival the Mammoth Cave in extent, aiid to far exceed the Luray in gorgeous splendor of decoration. ABCas;OLOGY. The archaeology of the section of Lee County about Eobert Ely's — between "Walnut Hill and Eose Hill — is highly inter- esting. The Mound Builders once lived here, and have left some conspicuous marks of their existence. One of the mounds excavated a few years since by Peof. Caee, of the Peabody Museum of Boston, gave several interesting speci- mens of the remains, entire, of adults and children, together with ornaments of different kinds. In making these exca- vations, both Peof. Caeb and his able assistant, Mr. Charles Johnson, of that vicinity, nearly lost their lives by the sides of the excavation falling in upon them. Over this mound these gentlem'en found the remains of a walnut tree, of larger than medium size, known to have been living within the memory of citizens now residing in the neighborhood. It is probable the walnut tree exceeded three hundred years in age. Should the remains of this tree be found over other such mounds it may be assumed that they were planted intentionally by these people. In that case, these Mound Builders would not have been extinct more than three hun- dred years. MAOTTFACTUEES. One furnace, capable of making six tons of pig metal, was built at Cumberland Gap previous to 1861, and was rebuilt 222 LEE 00. — KLINES OF TBANSPOETATION. in 1865 by a Cincinnati company, but is not now in blast. This furnace used the fossil red ores of Poor Valley Eidge mainly, which then yielded sixty per cent, of metal, some- times drawing from a measure of brown ores, seemingly local, lying between Poor Valley Eidge and Cumberland Moun- tain. Bales', or Bowling Green Forge, in the western section of the county on Martin's Creek, has been in blast for many years, using ores from a large deposit of brown ores close by, as well as from the fossil or dyestone ores in Poor Valley Eidge, near Boone's Path P. O. This forge runs, generally, only in the winter months,, making about three hundred pounds' per day. PENNINGTON'S FOEGE, Actively in operation during the winter months since 1865, makes bar iron from the fossil red iron ores in Poor Valley Eidge adjacent. This forge is situated on the North Fork of Powell's Eiver, in North Fork Gap, and has the reputation of making a bar that will bend flat double when cold without showing a flaw. Outside of the furnaces and forges, the manufactories are confined to a few carding machines and a few good tanneries, one of which, located near Jonesville, makes so fine an article of leather as to find a ready market among the best brands in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York. There are grist and saw-mills in the county sufficient for present needs. LINES OP TBANSPOETATION. There are now no railways in Lee County. The Eichmond and Southwestern Eailway proposes to extend an arm of its great road through the county its greatest length, from "Wise USE CO. — CATTLE, SHEEP, WHEAT, ETC. 223 County down Powell's Kiver, via Jonesville, toward Cumber- land Gap. This road coming, as it will, from tlie deep water on the seaboard, and having such fine connections with the western system of railroads, will supply remarkable facilities to the county in the development of every species of indus- try, manufactures, mines, and improved agriculture. The Bristol Coal and Iron Railroad Company proposes to extend its line of road down the Powell's Valley also. This road is in course of construction, and will be pushed forward more rapidly to completion. It proposes to unite the coal and iron ores of "Wise, Lee, and Scott counties with the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Eailroad at Bristol, and to continue its line on to the great iron deposits at Elizabethton in Carter County, Tennessee. These lines, when completed, will in a few years place Lee County in the front rank of advanced communities. HSH CULTURE. Fish culture has not yet attracted the attention in Lee that is noticeable in the counties further east. The fish native to these waters are black perch, redeye, catfish, the chub, white sucker, and homy head, with some other varieties of perch, perhaps. In a few years it will be necessary to restock the streams, as no care is being taken to keep up the supply. Bee culture and grape culture are likewise neglected, there being now no great incentive to perfect either branch of industry. ANmJAL STTEPLUS OP CATTLE, SHEEP, WHEAT, ETC. 5,000 cattle, the greater proportion being stock cattle. 6,000 sheep. 50,000 bushels of wheat shipped down Powell's Eiver in batteaux in the winter season. 224 -WISE COUNTY. The tobacco shipped annually now may scarcely be reck- oned in the list of important items. In a few years, however, if the spirit favoring the culture of that plant continues, the trade in tobacco will be very large. EDUCATION. This subject has engaged the attention of leading private citizens as well as the authorities, with good effect. Not only are the public schools kept up in very good order, but there are now good private schools, of which nothing more need be said than that they answer all the purposes of the com- munity, and would, under the stimulus of the prosperity re- sulting from increased facilities of communication and trans- portation, become important and of wide celebrity. WISE COUNTY. After exhausting a vocabulary of praise in trying to speak of the just merits of the more strictly grass counties of this section, it would seem that there is nothing left but to pass over all introduction for Wise County, and begin the bare description of its resources. Should this be done, with full reference to those resources, there would be but little need for any other introduction of an adulatory nature. To many who have examined the coal veins of Wise, and others who know something of all its resources, it would require an exceedingly strong description to meet the full measure of their information. No ; the difficulty will be that only par- tial justice will be done to the county, and an apology must here be offered for the meager account presented of its coal and timber and other valuable features. Wise is in the plateau of the Cumberland Mountain, having WISE CO. — HOW WATEEED. 225 on its nortliern and nortliwestern sides the northern bifurca- tion of the heavier range, and on its southern side the south- ern bifurcation of the same high and broad Sandstone Moun- tain. It is the county which holds the widely known place in the Cumberland Mountain called Pound Gap — a mere depres- sion in the crest of the mountain, whose lowest point is nearly 2,300 feet above sea level. All railroads projected through this part of Virginia, leading into Kentucky, generally have Pound Grap as an objective point, thus rendering Wise County almost always certain to be traversed either through the middle, or near it, by the proposed routes. HOW BOUNDED. As just now remarked, Wise has one part of the great Cumberland Ridge on its northern or northwestern side, and another on its south side. The northern one separates it from Kentucky, and the southern, in part, from the counties of Russell and Scott in Virginia, while a part of the county extends over and down to Clinch River in the southeastern section, and down to and across Powell's River in the south- western portion. On the east is the new county of Dick- enson, and west, is the county of Lee. HOW WATBBED. Wise County gives rise to the head-waters of Powell's River, Gess's River, Pound River, and other forks of Russell's Fork of Sandy Jliver ; the elevated plateau, a few miles northwardly from Gladeville, the county site, being the divide between the waters of Russell's Fork and those of Gess's River; while Powell's River is separated from Gess's River by a long, high, thin ridge, running from the High Knob in the border of Scott, northwardly to the Cumberland Mountaia. 15 226 WISE CO. — IBON OEES. The county is well watered ; and those parts which, partake naore particularly of the limestone character — as Powell's Eiver — enjoy never-failing streams, generally good all the year round for milling purposes ; but in the strictly sand- stone districts this condition is greatly modified. mON ORES. The county, extending, as it does, far enough to the south- west to take in a part of Waldin's Eidge, is able to enumerate among its iron ores large quantities of fossil red ore. Per- haps the quantity of fossil ore is more than equal to that of all other iron ores known to be accessible in the county. While it is true that there are considerable quantities of brown iron ore, of that variety which is supposed to result from the decomposition of iron carbonate, or black band ore, there have not been sufficient developments as yet to set- tle either the question of the actual derivation of this brown ore or its approximate quantity. Near the tops of the ridges, throughout almost the whole extent of the county, handsome fragments of brown ore may be picked up ; but to positively assert that they are derived from the decomposi- tion of carbonate more than from sulphuret, would be taking too much for granted ; and, unfortunately, there have been no well-directed efforts at showing either the number, thickness, or true character of the veins from which these surface ores are derived. That they will, finally, be found of the gen- eral character of the iron ores of the same coal measures at other known points can scarcely be doubted. But it is in the neighborhood of Big Stone Gap, toward the southwestern corner of the county, where the most favorable conditions exist for the development of iron industries. At that point, a large proportion of such brown ores as that section of the coal field wUl yield may be brought down to a common point, WISE COUNTY. 227 LEVELS ABOVE! T|D"E ° pooQoioSooo o o Co (5) o O I ^ValdiM 'Rldgt 228 WISE CO. — COAL. toward whicli both the fossil red iron ore of Waldin's Eidge and the coal will all naturally gravitate, their position in the ground being within a few miles of each other. An examination of the map accompanying this book will readily show these conditions more clearly than any descrip- tion can ; and it is much to be regretted that the brown iron ores of that end of Powell's Valley — not in the coal measures — should have been so little developed so far as to leave the question of their quantity still in doubt. Should this ques- tion once be settled satisfactorily, it may readily be inferred that the large quantity of fossil ore would find a most con- venient and effectual counter-check for its possible impuri- ties in an abundance of pure limonite. In fact, it is grati- fying to know that a company of experienced Pennsylvania iron men are now engaged in settling this question in a most practicable manner. The accompanying section is submitted more to give an idea of relative positions than as a thoroughly accurate read- ing of the geology of that immediate locality. In it may also be gathered some idea of the truly fine exposures of the coal.* COAL. As may be seen from some of the measures recorded be- low in the foot-notes, "Wise County is justly celebrated for its * In the immediate vicinity of Big Stone Gap, on Pigeon Creek and Looney's Creek, mentioned in the cross section, the field notes read as follows ; At 3,075 above sea level, barometer 83° Fahrenheit, on a branch flowing south into Pigeon Creek, at a point 1^ miles from Big Stone Gap, on lands claimed by Mathias Kelly, now owned and soon to be operated by the Tinsalia Com- pany, found coal about 11 feet thick on a floor of slate, roof of slate 4 feet, overlaid with sandstone. The vein beginning at the floor measures nearly 4 feet of bituminous coal, then 4 inches of slate, then nearly 4 feet of coal (bituminous), then 4 inches of slate, then nearly 4 feet of coal, mainly splint, up to the roof. WISE CO.— COAl. 229 coal veins. Not only on the headwaters of Powell's Eiver, but on Gess's Eiver and tributaries, Pound Eiver, and on the streams flowing into Eussell's Fork of Sandy Eiver, a series of rich veins of bituminous, splint, and cannel coals are found lying in nearly horizontal beds, and outcropping in such a manner, in many places, as to plainly show their character and thickness, with but little labor on the part of the prospector. Gess's Eiver being regarded usually as the line which most projected through railways are likely to take, it may be of interest to look closely at the facts elicited from the exam- inations which have been made up and down that stream. It is commonly supposed that the 4 to 6 feet vein, which shows about water level in the river near Gess's Station, is the lowest of that series. It may not be improper to suggest that this is really the second vein of consequence, number- ing from below, in the lower measures, the first vein — of about 11 feet thickness — being under it less than 80 feet, while above this No. 2 vein of 4 to feet are three other principal veins, respectively (as you ascend) 4 feet and 5 feet of bituminous At the Looney's Creek opening, three miles north from Big Stone Gap, barometer 1,940 feet, weather damp, thermometer 74° Fahrenheit, found 68 inches of coal with a parting of 5 inches of slate near the top. Of this coal 10 inches was splint coal, floor of slate, roof of slate, 8J feet thick up to sand- stone. At other points further toward the head of Powell's River, readings of the coal veins were obtained. On Black Creek, a tributary of the right-hand Fork of Powell's Eiver, seven miles west-southwest from GladeviUe, saw a coal vein 6 feet thick, floor of clay and slate. On Eocky Fork of Eoaring Pork, 2,040 feet, barometer 85° Fahrenheit, found a coal vein 7 feet 3 inches thick, having thin seams of splint coal, with two partings of slate 4 inches each ; roof of black slate 15 feet thick overlaid with sandstone ; floor of slate full of fossils, leading down 20 feet to another vein of coal 18 inches, which is bedded on sandstone. This is 8J miles west of GladeviUe. Also here found a deposit of red iron ore of unknown extent, of peculiar structure, honeycombed, red, Ught, but some of it a close purplish gray, and heavy, very likely a decomposition of carbonate of iron. 230 WISE CO. — COAL. coal, witlx the upper vein 4 feet of pure cannel, about 750 feet above the level of No. 2. There is scarcely any need to go into a more particular description of these veins. They extend with but little intermission over nearly all the county, except that they are eroded by the streams, and the cannel coal, being nearer the crests of the higher ridges, does not occupy more than half the area that the other veins do. The reading of these measures is fully sustained, not only by the careful examinations made by the author, but Maetin CoBYEii, Esq., an experienced and reliable mining engineer, gives very much the same readings, to say nothing of the results of earlier examinations made by Me. J. P. Lesley and others. The industrial value of the coals of Wise County can scarcely be overestimated. The day must surely come when they will be so largely employed in industries carried on in Virginia that their great quantity, purity, and excellence must make them perform a great part of that giant task of relieving Virginia from her pecuniary embarrassments. Could a large proportion of the Virginia capital, which is now being sent outside of the State annually for fuel, be in- vested in "Wise and the neighboring coal counties, it would be but a short time that, from this source alone, the tax-pay- ing power of those communities wquld be so increased as to materially alleviate the financial distress of the State, if not go very far toward its entire extinguishment. It may be as well to say, before dismissing this important subject, that all analyses which have been made of the coals of Wise County show a low percentage of ash, and a high percentage of combustible matter. And it would be well also to say, that the coals along the Pound Eiver and the tributaries of Eussell's Fork of Sandy Biver, are of the same general character, thickness, etc., as those already described. We quote the following extract from the report of Pbop. WISE CO. — COAIi. 231 Jno. J. Stevenson, professor of geology in the UniTersity of the City of New York : " The coal area is well opened up by the several branches of Pigeon Fork as well as by Looney Creek, Calahan's Creek, Canepatch Fork, and other tributaries to Soaring Fork. At the immediate base of Stone Mountain the dip is very abrupt, but it quickly diminishes, so that on the oppo- site side of Eoaring and Pigeon Forks it is but two degrees- The decrease is rapid, and within a mile the ihclination of the beds is little more than sufficient for convenient drainage. " Though the streams have cut deep channel-ways so as to bring the coals above water level in a great part of the area, yet the general section was obtained with some difficulty, as there has been little development and the whole surface is covered by dense undergrowth. The intervals in the section may require some modification as they were measured with an aneroid barometer. " The succession as obtained is as follows : 1. Not examined in detail 300' 2. Coalled 0' 4" 3. Interval 30' 4. Splint coed bed 1' 5" 5. Interval 115' 6. Coalhed '0'6" 7. Interval 70' 8. Coalhed 2' 9. Interval 14' 10. Splint coed bed 1' 11. Interval 90' 12. Coal bed 0' 4" 13. Interval 30' 14 Coalhed 0' 10" 15. Interval 65' 232 ' WISE eo. — coai,. 16. Codled 7' 3" 17. Interval 35' 18. Splint coal bed 8' 6" 19. Interval 60' 20. Splint coal bed 1' 6" 21. Interval 120' 22. Coal bed Blossom. 23. Interval 70' 24. Coal bed 1' 2" to 2" 25. Interval 28' to 20' 26. Coalbed 15' to 2" 27. Interval 50' to 45' 28. Coal, bed 8' 5" to 6' 9" 29. Interval 206' 30. Coalbed 2' 31. Interval 50' 32. Coalbed 2' 33. Interval 100' ? 34. Coalbed 5' 35. Interval to conglomerate 80' ? Total 1,548' " Tlie exposures are most satisfactory on the tributaries of Calalian's Creek, a tributary to Hearing Fork. The higher coals are of no importance. " Coal bed, No. 16, is well shown on Preacher's Eun at about two miles above where it enters Calahan's Creek, where it shows Cannel 2' Alternations of coal and shale 1' 10" Coal 3' 5 " " The cannel is compact and of by no means inferior quality, though it may contain as much as 12 per cent, of ash. The WISE CO. — COAL. 233 hituminous coal at the base of the bed is good and seems to be quite free from sulphur. The same bed was seen near the head of Calahan's Creek, where it is worthless, being in three benches, respectively 5, 14, and 5 inches thick, separated by 10 and 7 feet of shale. " Goal bed. No. 18, was seen on Preacher's Eun and near the head of Calahan's Creek. At the former locality, near two miles above the mouth of the Eun, it is 3' 6" thick, and is splint coal of superior excellence. The roof is a hard sand- stone. On Calahan's Creek it is but 18 inches thick and is worthless. Fragments of the coal from this bed were seen on Looney Creek, but the bed itself is concealed. " No. 20 was seen on Preacher's Eun and Looney Creek, but its place is concealed at all other localities examined. On Looney Creek it is 4' 6" thick, and is well exposed in the bank of the stream at about three miles above its mouth. The coal is clean and evidently an excellent splint. The same bed is shown at the forks of Preacher's Eun, two miles above its mouth, where it is from 3 feet to 3 feet 6 inches thick and is a good splint coal, though the quality seems to be hardly equal to that of the coal on Looney Creek. The blossom of this bed was seen near the crest of the hill overlooking the mouth of Looney Creek. At all localities the bed haS an ex- cellent roof and it can be worked very easily. "Coal bed, No. 26, is persistent but exceedingly variable. It has been opened on Pigeon Fork at probably two thirds of a mile above the mouth of the stream, where the structure is Coal. 6-10" Shale O'lO" Coal 2' 5" Shale 0' 2" to 5" Coal 4' 6" Total U'lO" 234 WISE CO. — COAL. A similar structure is shown on the first branch of Pigeon Fork. At both exposures the upper division is slaty and in- ferior ; the middle division is prismatic and cokes well ; the lower division is a good splint coal, though toward the base it becomes somewhat slaty. On Looney Creek, only the middle and lower divisions are present, the upper one having been removed by a horseback; the coal of those divisions shows the same features as on Pigeon Creek, though the middle division is better, and is packed in sacks to a distance of several miles for the use of blacksmiths. On Kelly's Eun and Church House Kiin, branches of Oalahan's Creek, the bed is thin, probably not more than two feet, while on Preacher's Eun it is but two inches. It is 10" inches thick on Calahan and the coal is poor. An imperfect exposure was found on a branch of Eoaring Fork, at, say, a mile above the mouth of Calahan, where the bed seems to be very thick. " Coal bed, No. 28, is the most important and least variable of the whole series. It was seen on Pigeon Fork and one of ittj branches, on Church House, Kelly's and Preacher's Euns, as well as on Lewis's Branch of Eoaring Fork at about three miles above the head of Big Stone Gap. No exposure was found on Looney Creek or on Calahan, the bed being con- cealed at the level of those creeks. On Church House Eun an opening shows Coal 3' 10" Shale 0' 5" Coal 3' 6" 7' 9" The top of the bed for 11 inches is a hard slaty splint, but the remainder of the upper bench is very soft and some of it has a prismatic structure. The lower bench is less soft. An exposure near the mouth of Preacher's Eun shows : ■WISE CO. — THE IRON ORES. 235 CoaL 2' 8" Parting. CoaL r Shale 0' 3" Coal. : 3' 6' 11" At a mile further up the creek the bed shows the same struc- ture, but is only 6 feet 9 inches thick. A small rick of coke made here proves that the coal will burn into a compact sil- very coke of great strength. On Kelly's Fork the bed is some- what larger, the benches being 4 feet 5 inches and 3 feet 9 inches respectively, separated by three inches of shale. The bed is nearly 8 feet thick on Lewis's Branch of Boaring Fork. " The lower coals of the series are unimportant. The lowest coal was seen only in the bed of Pigeon Fork very near the base of the Stone Mountain, where the dip is nearly 60 de- grees. " The intervals between the coal beds are occupied almost wholly by sandstone, most of which is compact. Limestone is almost wholly wanting. "THE lEON OEES. "Three beds of ilne fossiliferous ore were found in the Poor Valley, between Poor Valley Eidge and Stone Mountain- The highest one is exposed in the bank of Powell's Eiver at about 200 yards above the ford leading to the Big Stone Gap, where it is from 5 to 8 inches thick. This bed was not traced, but it clearly follows the bottom for a long distance, and lies east from the river below the ford leading to Cedar Gap Church. The dip is north-northwest at 56 degrees. "The second bed was seen on Mr. Horton's property at 236 WISE CO. — THE IRON OEES. about a mile and a half from the Big Stone Gap. There it shows Hard ore 3' Medium ore 0' 8" Hard ore 1' Soft ore 2' 6' 7' 2" The strike here is not far from north 40° east Mag., and the dip is 45 degrees toward the northwest. The exposure is con- tinuous for a long distance, and the soft ore at the bottom is Tery good. Doubtless the whole of the ore from this bed, ex- cepting the very hard ore from the top, could be utilized in a furnace. " A third bed was seen near the Cedar Gap Church, but the exposure is somewhat indefinite, and the soft ore seems to be present in comparatively small quantity. " The lower two beds are present on the north side of Wal- din's Eidge, but the ore was not found in place. Large frag- ments of it occur plentifully on the side of the mountain, and the beds could be discovered without serious difficulty. " The fossiliferous ore is present on the south of Waldin's Eidge. A bed was found on the Preston tract at less than four miles from Big Stone Gap, which is 25 inches thick and dips eastward at but 10 degrees. Its outcrop can be followed round and on both sides of a low ridge separating two hol- lows, and the ore can be mined with equal ease on the side of a similar ridge lying immediately west. It is not too much to assume that there are 500 acres of good ore land on this tract. The most of this lies under thin cover, and much of the ore can be obtained by stripping. Drifting, however, can be performed easily, as the ore can be opened so that the mines wUl drain themselves. WISE 00. — THE IRON OEES. 237 " At a little way further soutliwestward along tiie face of tlie ridge another and possibly a lower bed of the ore was seen, which shows Soft ore 2' Hard ore 2' 2" 4' 2" overlying one foot of ferruginous shale. This rests on a flag- gy sandstone, and the roof of the ore is a clay shale which can be removed easily. The soft ore is double, the upper part for somewhat more than one foot being extremely soft, so that it could be removed with a spade, while the lower part is made up of the ordinary ore. The hard ore is very hard and shows few fossils. This bed is hardly so favorably situated as the other, for the dip is directly away from the exposure. StUl a drift could be so arranged that an enormous quantity of the ore could be won without resort to artificial drainage. The hollow is a long one, and the ore can be stripped to a dis- tance of fifteen feet from the outcrop without much trouble. " The fossil ores occur also on the south face of Powell's Mountain south from the Ward's Mill or Slemp's Gap. This area is known as the Kane survey, and, by the proposed rail- road, is about fourteen miles from the Big Stone Gap. Three beds were seen there. The top one is thin, very silicious, and of little value. The second bed has been opened so as to show its structure, which is Ore. 2' Shale.. r Limestone and ore 0' 5" Shale 0'4" Ore 0'5" Shale 0'4" Ore 1' 238 WISE CO. — LIMESTONE. The ore is good and would doubtless repay the cost of drift- ing ; but it is leaner than the ores of Waldin's Eidge and Poor Valley, which have been described already. The third bed is at about 50 feet below this and shows Very soft ore 1' 3" Hard ore 1' 6" The ore is evidently lean, but it can be mined very cheaply as the face of Powell's Mountaiti is cut by many deep and long ravines, which expose the beds. "The Lower Helderberg rocks along the valley between Waldin's Eidge and Powell's Mountain, as well as the valley between Stone Mountain and Powell's Mountain, yield some brown hematite. Two horizons of this ore were seen, but no estiinate respecting the quantity can be made until after sys- tematic exploration of the property. The ore is very good at some localities, and much of it was mined on the Collier tract, now belonging to the company, which was reduced in a furnace below Ward's Mill. " LIMESTOKE. " The lower Carboniferous limestone is shown in sharply dipping cliffs on both sides of Big Stone Gap, and extends along the south face of Stone Mountain, from the Little Stone Gap westward to beyond Pennington's Gap, near the Tennes- see line. It is shown as a cliff on the north side of Powell's Mountain from the Little Stone Gap to the Ward's Mill Gap, where the North Fork of Clinch Eiver breaks through the mountain. " The Helderberg limestones, which are well shown in the Poor Valley at but a little way above the Cedar Gap Church, and in a line of low hills almost directly opposite the Big Stone Gap, are for the most part silicious ; but near the top WISE CO. — QENEEAIi SUMMAEY OP THE EESOUBCES. 239 of the lower division of the limestone a thin bed was seen which is of good quality. " The Trenton limestone is not reached within the area con- trolled by the company, but is well exposed for miles along the north side of "Waldin's Eidge west from the Cedar Gap. "GENERAL SUMMABT OP THE EESOUBCES. " The available coal seams are four — the two spliini beds, the 15 foot and the 8 foot bed. Eventually the cannd bed may become valuable, but at present it may be omitted. " The splint coals lie well up in the series, and the extent of area which they underlie cannot be determined by a hasty ex- amination ; but it can hardly be less than 5,000 acres, within the area drained by Calahan's Creek, and lying between that stream and Looney Creek. These beds yield a coal of very superior quality, as appears from the following analysis by Me. a. S. McCeeath, chemist to the Geological Survey of Pennsylvania. The sample was taken from the upper bed. Water 0.880 VolatUe matter 37.580 Fixed carbon 58.059 Sulphur 0.406 Ash 3.075 " This coal is sufficiently pure to be used raw in the fur- nace, the percentage of ash and sulphur being unusually low. " These two beds will yield not far from 8,000 tons per acre. Estimating the area of easily mined coal at 5,000 acres, the yield will not be far from 40,000,000 tons. " A specimen was taken from the middle division of the 14 foot bed, which yielded the following upon analysis by Me. McCeeath : 240 WISE CO. — GENERAL SUMMAEY OF THE EESOUBCES. Water 1.610 Volatile matter 38.850 Fixed carbon 57.879 Sulphur 0.771 Ash 0.890 " As a gas coal this can hardly be excelled. It cokes read- ily, and the coke, if compact enough, should be of excellent quality. No analysis of the lower division was made ; it is a splint coal which will be well worth working. This bed is uncertain in its occurrence, and seems to attain its chief im- portance west of the line of Preacher's Run, having been found of large size only on Looney Creek and on the waters of Pigeon Fork. " The 8 foot seam being the most persistent and least vari- able of the whole series, and being likely to prove the most valuable, as its coal yields an admirable coke, I took sam- ples from all the benches and directed that they be analyzed as one. The result, as obtained by Me. McCeeath, is as follows : Water 1.380 Volatile matter 35.920 Fixed carbon 60.591 Sulphur 0.594 Ash 1.515 " In reference to these coals Me. McCeeath says : " ' The above analyses speak for themselves, and indicate coals of remarkable purity.' " This 8 foot seam will yield a coke with considerably less than 3 per cent, of ash, and with hut little more than five tenths of a per cent, of sulphur. Such would be a marvelously rich coke, the percentage of fixed carbon being somewhat more than 96. The Connellsville coke has somewhat less than 90 per cent WISE CO. — GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE BESOUECES. 241 of fixed carbon, the asli is between 9 and 10 per cent., -while the ayerage of sulphur is about eight tenths of a per cent. The coke from this bed is better than that from the Oxmoor Works, in the Cahawba basin of Alabama, which shows Fixed carbon 93.253 Sulphur 0.601 Ash 5.380 " A small rick of coke was made from the 8 foot seam on Preacher's Bun. Though carelessly made in disobedience of the instructions, the coke proved to be of great strength. 8,000 acres are underlain with this bed between Looney Creek and Eoaring Creek, which will yield 64,000,000 of tons without resort to artificial drainage. "The iron ores of widest distribution are the/oss*7 ores. No effort had been made previous to the time of my examination to secure a good exposure of these ores, and the beds were traced by their outcrop. Some difficulty was encountered in obtaining specimens which had not been exposed for a long period to the weather, and collections were made only on the south side of Waldin's Ridge. These were sent to Me. McCeeath, who gives the following as the results of the analysis : No. 1. No. 8. Metallic iron 27.960 52.600 Sulphur 0.024 0.018 Phosphorus 0.064 0.116 Insoluble residue 55.015 18.140 " No. 2 is from the company's property on the Preston tract, and is precisely like the ore which the company has secured on the Hor|on tract in the Poor Valley. It is an excellent ore, and is present in enormous quantity. It will give an iron with but .22 per cent, of phosphorus. The analysis, 16 242 WISE CO. — GENEEAl SUMMARY OP THE KESOUECES. No. 1, is from a tract not far from Big Stone Gap. The sample is not a fair specimen of the ore, as it contains many rounded quartz pebbles; but no other specimen could be obtained from the outcrop. " A sample of the brown hematite, found also near Big Stone Gap, Me. McCbeath finds to be as follows : Metallic iron 52.550 Sulphur. 0.037 Phosphorus 0.051 Insoluble residue 7.840 " This is an excellent ore, and is well adapted to the manu- facture of Bessemer pig. " No analyses were made of the limestone at the mouth of Big Stone Gap. It is an excellent rock, burning into fine white lime, and seems to be almost free from silica.. " All these materials are in close proximity to each other, and there are few localities more favorably situated for the manufacture of iron. Coke can be brought from the pits, barely two miles away, on a down grade; the fossil ore is but little more than one mile away, while some of the ore is dis- tant but three miles, and is directly on the line of the rail- road now in course of construction. The splint coal can be mined cheaply, and it can be used with the coke in the fur- nace. The purity of the coke and of the splint coal would aid in making an iron of exceptional excellence. The cost of making iron here may be estimated as foUows : 2.25 tons of ore at $1.40 per ton $3.15 2 tons of coke 2.00 1.5 tons of limestone 0.60 Labor at furnace 1.50 Repairs and incidentals 1.00 "Making a total cost of $8.25 per ton, which may prove WISE CO. — BUrLDING STONES. * 243 somewliat in excess of tliB absolute cost of material and labor. "A charcoal furnace could be managed to good advantage in connection with the larger coke furnace. The fossil ores have long been used in the manufacture of cold-blast char- coal iron, and under that treatment in the Poor Valley- they produce a pig with but .17 per cent, of phosphorus. An enormous quantity of excellent coaling timber is found on these lands, and the charcoal could be obtained at not more than three dollars per hundred bushels. A small furnace of this kind, though not affording much direct profit, would be of advantage indirectly, since in the manufacture of the charcoal a large part of the land could be cleared and fitted for occupation by farmers. The region is admirably adapted to stock raising, while much of it lies in such a position that vineyards could not fail to be profitable." LEAD. Lead is sometimes found in small quantities in a stratum of limestone belonging in the coal measures, but not in suffi- cient quantities to attract the attention of miners. SILVEE. Silver is now and then observed in the quartz pebbles com- posing the conglomerates, and may be found at some points in respectable quantities. It is hardly to be expected that any reliable data will ever be gathered upon which extensive mining operations will be based, looking to silver mining as a profitable source of investment. BmiiDING STONES. The sandstone ledges in a great many parts of Wise re- semble those of Buchanan County in the cheapness with 244 -WISE CO.— AGEIOIJXTTJEE. ■wMcli they can be quarried and made ready for use in any desired shape or size. Much of this stone is so soft in the quarry as to readily admit of being cut with a knife, but upon sufficient exposure, becoming quite hard and durable. TQEBEE. Upon thig subject too much cannot be said of the variety and beauty of fine woods in the county. Cherry is very common in the Big Black Mountain, toward the northeastern side of the county. Its abundance is one of its great features. Of all other trees known to the lati- tude — prominent among which is poplar, or the great Ameri- can tulip tree — there is such great abundance as to appear totally beyond the possibility of extermination. The girth and length of trunk of the trees in these vast and almost boundless forests are surprising. Oftentimes the poplars are found 6 and 8 feet in diameter and sometimes larger, with long straight trunks 75 or 80 feet without a limb. The cherry trees are also surprisingly large and beautiful. AGEICULTUEE. Agriculture in connection with sheep raising would yield a more certain return on a large scale than any other branch of farming. ■ That section of the county on Powell's Eiver below Big Stone Gap, mostly limestone, is well adapted to any description of farming, being similar in this respect to that part of the county in Clinch Biver near Wheeler's Ford ; but the greater part is composed of sandstone ridges and plateaus, which seem to sustain sheep better than cattle ; besides from their steepness in many places presenting poorer facilities for all kinds of farming than the more level lands on the river do. Notwithstanding this fact, these lands pro- ■WISE CO. — SCHOOLS. 245 duoe corn well, appearing to be very fertile. Sweet and Irish potatoes do weU. MAiniPACTURES. It may well be inferred, that without railway or other im- proved modes of transportation, there has been but little encouragement to engage in manufacturing enterprises. At Big Stone Gap a company has recently secured -large areas of coal,' timber, and iron ore lands, with a view of erecting furnaces for the production of metal on a large scale ; but it is not supposed that the works will be put actively into operation until the Bristol Coal and Iron EaUroad, and the Eichmond and Southern Eailway are built. At Three Forks of Powell's Eiver, just below Big Stone Gap, there is one of the very few pottery establishments in Virginia. It is true it is not on a large scale, but if kept up until the contemplated railway lines are built, there is no reason why it could not largely increase its working capacity. Me. "Wolf, the proprietor, deserves much credit for the excel- lent drain pipes his factory makes, besides pottery of various patterns. It is very probable that the carboniferous strata close by furnish the day used. Drain pipes are sold there at 15 cents per foot. The streams, except Powell's Eiver, being rather incon- stant during much of the year, there are few other manufac- turing enterprises worthy of note, except grist and saw-mills. SCHOOLS. Wise County depends mainly upon her public schools for instruction, and the population as yet being sparse, the suc- cess which attends the system in other parts of the State is not so marked in Wise. This, however, is a small matter ; for as soon as the mining facilities of the county are once 246 DICKENSON COUNTY. utilized to any extent, the consequent increase in population and revenues will enable the Superintendent of Education to place the county upon an admirable footing. The same may be said of the other counties contiguous. TRADE IN CATTLE, ETC. Wise County sells annually about 2,000 head of stock cattle and 3,300 head of sheep. There is still a considerable trade in ginseng, herbs of dif- ferent kinds, and wool. It will not be forgotten by the reader that there are no deyelopments yet of the coal and iron of this county, hence the trade of every kind is very small. The culture of the grape and of bees is a question of much inter- est in certain parts of the county. DICKENSON COUNTY. Dickenson is a new county lying between the counties of Buchanan and Wise, and was formed by Act of Legislature, session 1879-80, from the two counties named. It is a small county, as may be seen by referring to the map ; but it has a wealth of fine bituminous, splint, and can- nel coals, unsurpassed by the same area anywhere. The timber is truly magnificent, and stretches in an almost un- broken forest all over the county. The poplar trees are fine and very numerous. There is also a great deal of walnut, white oak, and other valuable woods. The county produces corn and sweet potatoes well, and ranges a good many cattle and sheep. The scenery of the county is very imposing here and there, especially that in the deep canon about the breaks of the Cumberland Mountain, in the lower or northern end of the county, onEussell's Fork of Sandy Eiver, by which stream the county is chiefly watered. ■\ s 12! I] o O B H n i BUCHANAN 00. — HOW WATERED. 247 BUCHANAN COUNTY. The description of this county will be mostly confined to an account of its coal and timber. Its land is almost with- out exception sandy. In many parts the loamy character of the soil renders it very fertile ; but greater care has to be taken to keep it up to its original strength than the limestone soils. The salt of Buchanan would prove an important item if developed. The rocks appear to dip in such a way as to form several basins, fully capable of holding sufficient of the drainage from the salt-bearing series of rocks for all purposes of salt-making on a large scale. The scenery of this county here and there is grand and beautiful in the extreme. At the breaks of the Cumberland Mountain on Eussell's Fork of Sandy Eiver, this is the case in an eminent degree, pre- senting a piece of scenery rarely met with this side of the Bocky Mountains. HOW BOUKDED. " Buchanan is one of the extreme border counties of the State, in the great plateau of the Cumberland Mountains, hav- ing Kentucky on the north and northwest, West Virginia on the east, Tazewell and Bussell counties, Ya., on the south, and Wise County, Va., on the west. The main Cumberland Bidge is its northern and northwestern boundary line ; its southern the Sandy Bidge or southern bifurcation of the Cumberland Mountain ; its eastern line is on a great dividing ridge between the waters of the Louisa and Dry Forks of Sandy Eiver, and its western line is an irregular one, soon to be dis- turbed by the laying off of the new county of Dickenson. HOW WATERED. The southern boundary line of the county, in following the general crest of the Sandy Eidge, divides the waters of Sandy 248 BUCHANAN CO. — GEOLOGY. Eiver from those of Clinch Eiver, Sandy Eiver having two of its branches — the Louisa Fork and Kussell's Fork — to take their source in the southern part of the county, and flow northwardly into Kentucky ; the former watering the eastern part of the county, and the latter the western portion. These two streams are constant the year round, but are too low in summer, except at their lower ends, to be relied upon to run machinery. There are some grist-inills on them and their tributaries, however, which seem to run with some regular- ity, except in very dry weather. GEOLOGY. As to the geology of Buchanan, the rocks, as they now show on the surface, indicate the Sub-Carboniferous as the true period ; yet it is singular, that at the bottom of the series here there should be a vein of coal 10 feet thick. Not more singular than that Eussell County, near by, should show one 9 feet 4 inches thick at the base of the series there. There are so few disturbances or faults worthy of notice in the rock formation in this county, that a description of the series of rocks, veins, etc., at one point may be taken as a fair reading of nearly the whole. There are variations in the strata, it is true, but for Sub-Carboniferous measures they run with surprising regularity for miles. The fossil remains of plants and trees are quite common here and there, such as ferns, rushes, grasses, lepidodendra, sigil- larise, etc. The dip of the rocks, except in the extreme northwestern part of the county, is but gently inclined from the horizontal. The rocks are almost wholly sandstone, shales, and slates, interstratified with veins of coal and occa- sional thin bands of iron ore, either as sulphuret or carbon- ate. Now and then you meet with limestone, as on the divide between the head-waters of Big Prater Creek and the BUCHANAN CO. COAl. 249 waters of Russell's Fork, and at Countz's on Lick Creek. This limestone sometimes shows lead ore, but it is doubtful whether that will ever be found in sufficient quantities to justify working. lEON GEES. The iron ores of Buchanan County, as they appear on the surface, are mainly brown ores, very often alluded to as hy- drated peroxides. They result from the decomposition of carbonates and sulphurets, and may be found near the crests of nearly all the ridges in the county. Toward the western side of the county there seems to be the greatest quantity. It does not appear from the amount showing on the sur- face that the undecomposed veins are very thick ; perhaps in some instances eighteen inches or two feet ; and so few are the developments that it is now impossible to tell their true character. There are no other ores of iron observable in the county, except here and there a piece of undecomposed sul- phuret. No manganese worthy of notice has been shown by actual development ; but this is not saying there are no manganese ores in the county. COAL. Besides timber, coal is the principal feature in the county. The heavier workable measures seem to lie near the tops of the hills, except on Connoway Creek, near the northern line of the county, where the accompanying section was taken. There the same veins, that show at somewhat higher levels farther south, are nearer the creek. The coal is almost with- out exception flaming bituminous in all the veins. Toward the western boundary of the county it assumes the appear- ance of that variety which is used for smelting iron ores raw. This series of veins lying nearly flat throughout the 250 BUOHANAJSr CO. — COAL. Vertical Seetion-ConwajGreek wr FEET 1400 1375 1300 1230 1175 1100 Strata ■ BBI Kinds & Thiclmess of Rock & Coal Top of Bidge Sandstone Slate' Coal 9 .in. Slates ^'Sandstones Sandston'd Coal 4 Ft. Slate(Blue) Slates & Sandstones Slate Coal 31 in. Slate Slate & Sandstones Coal 4 rt.3 in. OoaJ S in. Coaisrt. lOin. Slate & Sandstone B C D Slate Coal 22 }i in. Slate Sandstone — E "Water Level Coal 10 Ft. Louisa Biver Shales & Sandstone Conglomerate TMn Coal Sandstones' Conglomerate Sandstones & Shales Mountain Limestone From the mountain limestone 1100 feet approximately down to the Coal Oil Book THE'MO&S ENQRAVINQ CO.N-Vl Buchanan County. greater part of the county, and the rock material being uniform in character, the county is marked by a to- pography which is also uni- form in its character. The elements in the course of time have imprinted the same features over the whole area, leaving deep hollows at intervals rarely ever ex- ceeding two miles, in every- one of which may be found more or less water, whole- some and pure. These hol- lows have sufficiently slop- ing sides to permit of the adoption of lines of roadway by side cutting of any grade desirable, or the location of shutes. The tops of the hills generally range from 800 to 1,000 feet above the main longitudinal section of the streams. Eeferring to the cross section, the coal veins there lettered will yield ap- proximately as follows : Coal vein A, like the others, a bituminous coking coal, with such a small percent- BUCHANAN CO. — SALT. 251 age of sulplnir as not to be noticed. Ash not over 4 per cent., and fixed carbon over 70 per cent. ; will yield per acre 6,780 tons of 2,240 pounds per ton. Coal vein B, 4,330 tons per acre. " C, about 7,200 tons per acre. D, " 6,500 " Aggregating nearly 25,000 tons per acre. Veins E and F are hardly necessary to calculate, one being thin, and the other, though thick, is below water level. In the southern part of the county the veins measuring 4 feet thick are near the crests of the ridges. On Beech Branch, a small tributary of Lick Creek, and near Noah Countz's, at an elevation of 1,765 feet above sea level, one of the veins has the following dimensions, accompanying rocks, etc. : 58 inches thick, with 4 inches of slate parting near the middle ; floor of slate ; roof of slate 5 feet thick ; then above this 4 inches of slaty coal ; then 8 inches of coal ; then 18 inches of slate ; then 13 inches of sandy iron ore overlaid with sandstone. Such readings could be repeated with but slight variations in many parts of the county. The dip is usually gentle in any direction, SALT. The salt-bearing series may be regarded as one of the valu- able features, and the brine is likely to be reached in less than 500 feet below the level of Louisa or Bussell's Fork, wherever any basin may be found in which the rocks dip toward a common center. Such a basin exists at Sand Lick, near the junction of Lick Creek with Russell's Fork of Sandy Biver. In fact much salt has been made there by boiling the water caught at one of the brine seeps in sunken barrels and hogsheads. 252 BUCHANAN CO. — ^WATEE POWEE. BUILDING STONES. The building stones of Buclianan are in endless quantity, confined to a variety of sandstone found all over the county in several ledges. It is a well-known fact among the citizens of the county, that they can open a quarry a few hundred yards from their homes in almost any of the hills, in which they can obtain stones of great size, so soft when first ex- posed as to admit of being hewn into any desirable shape, even with a common axe. TIMBER. Buchanan has all the different varieties of timber known to this latitude, not only in great quantity, but the growth is usually of the best character. The girth of poplar trees frequently measures from 13 to 18 feet; ash trees, 7 feet, and all others proportionately large. To say that the trunks of the poplars are frequently 60 feet without a limb would be very likely under the mark than above it. This tree seems to be in its most congenial latitude here, and not only attains a fine size, but is more plentiful than any other except the beech and white oak, There is a great deal of walnut, linn, buckeye, and sugar tree ; and the growth is so uniform over the county that one locality can scarcely claim any superiority over another. Along and near to the larger water-courses a good deal of poplar timber has been cut and rafted down to the Ohio Eiver ; but, as compared to the whole, it is really a small per- centage. There are yet remaining immense areas of virgin forest where nothing has been cut. In many places the wal- nut trees are very thick. WATER POWER. As has been remarked before, the streams are not constant through the summer; consequently reliable water powers BUCHANAN CO. — SCENEET. 253 are scarce. Eussell's Fork near " The Breaks " would give a good and constant power, but nowhere else in the county could a large volume of water be had, in dry weather. The streams, though they get very low, seem never to go dry ; and in the deep pools you find along their courses there are yet quantities of fine fish — ^black bass, redeye, pike, etc. AGRICDLTUEE. Though the county is essentially a mountain plateau, cut and seamed in every direction by the canons in which flow the streams, the steep land is usually fertile, very much so indeed for sandy land. It produces corn and oats well. Wheat and rye have a fair average yield, and sweet potatoes seem to be in their native clime. There are good-sized herds of cattle turned out annually to range in the woods, where they do well. The whole area of the county would suit admirably for sheep-growing or for the Angora goat. SCENEET. Occasionally the scenery is very fine. A sketch of what is familiarly known as " The Towers," on Eussell's Fork of Sandy Eiver, has been attempted; but no one could give eveji a fair idea on paper of the beautiful scene presented by these high cliffs and rocks as they rear their lofty crests nearly 600 feet above the stream below. It is a wild place, still inhabited by an occasional wolf, perhaps the last of his race in that quarter. The fruits of Buchanan are generally more certain annu- ally than in some of her sister counties. The peach tree thrives well, and is a crop of great importance in the county. Ginseng, though one of the herbs, has been in the past a source of considerable revenue to the people of the county. 254 BUCHANAN CO. — PUBLIC SCHOOLS. It is howeTer disappearing under the conststnt drain which has been stimulated by the high price paid for it. Orapes do very well in Buchanan ; 6ees are quite a success, audi fish are there in good quantity and of choice varieties. TRADE IN CATTLE AND SHEEP. Cattle 1,200 head of stock cattle annually. Sheep 2,500 " LINES OF TBANSPOETATION. The proposed line of the Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio Railroad, which is to connect with the Big Sandy Bailroad, passes down Louisa Fork, and will thus pass nearly through the center of the county from south to north. A branch of the Richmond and Southwestern Railway may pass through the county at some day. TOWNS AND VILLAGES. There are only few trading posts of note in the county except Grundy, the county site — Needmore, Shacks's MiUs, Rock Lick, Knox Creek, Sand Lick, Grassy Creek, Dismal, and a few other places ; but . there are no towns in the county. Grundy, the county site, has, besides the court-house, hotels, stores, and a weekly newspaper, which takes great interest in the advancement of the material welfare of the county. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The public schools are being more carefully looked after by the authorities, and will, with a more dense population to sustain them, become an important factor in the welfare of the county. ^ I * ft •■ c -^i^ ■• i % ^ i o HOYD COUNTY. 255 FLOYD COUNTY, This county, thougii comparatiTely new, is not far, if at all, behind its sisters in the importance of its resources. Any railway located with due regard to the position of its mineral veins and deposits must cause Floyd County to assume a position that would not only give it a high rank among the best counties of the State, but the character of the resources which would be thus developed would secure for Floyd a fame as deserving as it would be universal. Like many other counties of this section, volumes could be written upon any of them before a satisfactory description would be reached ; and it is a matter of deep regret that no more space can now be spared in the description of Floyd than this book is able to devote to it. Sufficient, it may be hoped, though, to show such prominent features of interest as will indicate its fine character. This county lies between Montgomery and Pulaski on the north, and the counties of Patrick and Franklin on the south and southeast, almost touching Eoanoke County on the east, and bounded by the rich mineral county of Carroll on the west. Its northern line is marked in great part by a short section of Little Biver, and by Laurel Bidge and Bent Mountain. Its entire southern and eastern boundary is supposed to fol- low the crest of the southern bifurcation of the Blue Bidge, and its western limit has no very marked feature near it ex- cept " The Buffalo," a bold and beautiful peak rising many feet higher than the neighboring chains of mountains. This county is watered by the head-waters of Boanoke Eiver, by Little Biver, and some of the streams which flow west into Big Beed Island Creek. The Geology of Floyd County may be described as lying be- tween the Lower Laurentian Bocks, on the south, and the 256 FLOrO COUNTT. f Pilot WormMn - Laurel Bidgei "^ Jaeksonville The Buffalo EUXET Toneray _ me Riclge t « ^s'"" .TioH. "^"^ /AaaEsxaa R5 O FLOYD COUNTY. 257 Middle and Upper Huronian on tlie north, as may be more clearly comprehended by referring to the cross section on the opposite page, fifteen miles in length. The whole series of strata has a trend between northeast and east-northeast. Beginning in the Bine Eidge, on the south, there is a measure of pure asbestos eight inches or more in thickness, as at Barton's, between walls of steatite, which extend for many miles through the country. Next, northward, are Taluable ledges of steatite ; and about two miles farther north is the stratification which holds the valuable bedded veins of copper ore and magnetite, showing at the Toncray Mine (near the old Shelor Furnace), at the Bear Beds, at WeddeU's, and other places. This valuable copper vein, containing much arsenic also, of which it would be appropriate to speak just here, shows outcroppings at intervals for about fourteen miles in the county of Moyd. At the Toncray Mine it has been better developed' than at any other point ; and, judging from the more abundant show of rich gossan on the surface, it may be regarded as one of the best localities likely to be found on the whole length. De. Eichaed O. Cubet, A.M., M.D., examined Toncray Mine just at the time when all the excavations were freshly made. In his very clear general description, he says he found the gossan (or Iron Cap) to be 30 feet deep from the surface, before the undecomposed sulphurets set in. This iron ore, says the Doctor, was used very extensively, and with great satisfaction, by the Shelor Furnace. No doubt the high character attributed to the metal then made by that furnace was owing to the use of the pure hematites and, magnetites of this vein. De. Cukry, continuing his account, says : " There are two tunnels driven in upon the vein, situated upon thfe declivity 17 258 FLOYD COUNTY. of the ridge. The lower tunnel is driven in from the north side, south 40° east, so as to cross the lead, -which has a course north 54° east. This tunnel reaches 245 feet, through a hard gneiss rock with quartz veins. Through the crevices of the quartz there are found small clusters of native copper. The main object had in view in excavating this tunnel was to obtain a drift for the upper gallery, expecting too that it would intersect the vein at a lower depth. " The upper tunnel is situated about 70 feet above the lower, and has been driven in through gossan and vein rock to a depth of 300 feet. "When this upper tunnel was first opened, it was injudiciously driven in too far to the left of the vein ; but in carrying in a cross-cut to the right, about 40 feet from the entrance, the vein was reached at a distance of only 20 feet. It was then followed for 250 feet through a soft talco-mica slate, several cross-cuts being run off to the right and left, so as to test the width of the vein. Through- out this whole length the vein is traced without any inter- mission — increasing in richness and width as the depth de- scends. The cross-cuts and the tunnels, driven in parallel to the main drift, expose the vein in a most beautiful manner — the intervening partitions, which have never yet been stoped out, consisting of solid banks of ore, in all its varieties, but mostly the oxides and black sulphuret. As only 32 tons of ore have been shipped from this mine since it was first opened, and as the ores exist in such rich abundance aU, along its walls and roofs, it may be readily inferred that the company had but one object in view — to open their mine to its fullest extent before raising their ores. Consequently, they have been content to drive a tunnel of 6 feet width through a 30-foot vein, only bringing out such ore as they had necessarily to excavate in driving forward the tunnel. Thus they had exposed sometimes the center of the vein; then by a cross-cut they have run to its northern side ; then, FLOYD OOTINTT. 259 by another, to the southern ; and from each of these branches carrying along tunnels parallel with the main trunk. They have thus exposed this vein for 300 feet, proving it to be one of great depth, with a width of 30 feet, the dip being to the southeast, at an angle of 45 degrees. The average per cent, of the ores raised is found to be 16. As soon as the lower tunnel is completed, and has effectually drained the upper, there will be no limit to the ores which may be excavated from its tunnels and chambers. In many of the mines these chambers are already formed by the continual raising of ores ; here, however, the intervening partitions between the tunnels yet remain, and will afford, by stoping, an incalcula- ble supply of rich ore." At the Bear Beds, on this same lead, the magnetite occupies a position in the northern wall of the vein about four feet in width. It may not extend lower than the depth of the de- composed ores. Below that it may confidently be expected that iron and copper sulphurets form the whole of the vein. The dip of 45° ascribed to this vein at the Tancray Mine is, in all probability, local, and confined to a short distance be- low the surface. The general dip of all the rocks of that vicinity, is much steeper. This vein is also exposed at some old openings at the Hylton Mine, Nowlin's, Howell's, and at other places, presenting the same general characteristics, and yielding a very large ton- nage of iron oxides, or gossan, on the surface. It has been contended by some authorities that this iron ore (the gossan) contains too much copper to make a good welding metal. This is no argument against its availability as a mixing ore, in a section containing so many varieties, which, with proper railway facilities, can be brought together in a less number of miles than can be done in any other part of the country. Next, north of the great copper vein, of value is a measure 260 mXfTD COTJHTT. of soapstone. From this extensive band many citizens of the neighboring country obtain supplies of building stone, which they can saw into shape, not only to be used as backing for fireplaces, but much other masonry is built of it besides, owing to the ease with which it can be shaped into the sizes desired. This band seems to be but a repetition of another lying only a mile or so north of it, and might be taken for a repeti- tion of the same stratum, caused by a fold. But, if this view of the case be correct, there ought also to be another exhibit of the copper vein. There is nothing, however, to suggest the probability of such a version, but a line of magnetic ores on the surface, showing at such places as at Whitelow's, Hogan's, about one and a half miles south of Jacksonville. This line of magnetic ores, running northeast and south- west, has the reputation of showing in valuable quantities to- ward the eastern end of the county. Should the ore be found in sufficient quantities to be available, there is no evi- dence as yet to suggest the idea that they contain that objec- tionable constituent, titanic acid. The manganese ore, outcropping here and there, in Floyd County, is not sufficiently developed yet to show its probable quantity and quality. The next great mineral-bearing lead, encountered going north, is the galena-bearing quartz and the accompanying hydro-mica slates, etc., holding pyrites and decomposed ores in the shape of gossan. This band is over 200 feet wide, and shows quite conspicuously at Luster McAlexander's, on Little Eiver. It is no doubt the northeastern prolongation of the Peach Bottom copper vein, which shows at several points farther southwest in Carroll, Grayson, Alleghany, and Ashe Counties. In the county of Floyd this lead can be traced for many miles. From its outcroppings, west of Abraham Bur- net's, near "Williams, through, northeastwardly, across Little HLOTO CO. — GOLD. 261 River and into the Beaverdam section, it can be found ; but ■what commercial value can now be properly attached to it, it would be difficult to say. At several points the quantity of galenite found in the quartz suggests the flattering hope of a sufficient percentage of silver to pay; but as yet it would only mislead public opinion to declare such a result attainable from present de- velopments. Still, it is one of those vast depositories of mineral matter, which may at any moment reveal a great mass of highly valuable ore. It had more the appearance, a few months ago, of being valuable than the line of rocks from which the Brush Creek gold is supposed to be derived ; and it would not be astonishing to hear of its being made the basis of very successful mining operations on an extensive scale. At a point near "Winter's, on Terry's Creek, there are interesting masses of gneiss interstratified with talcose slate and some chlorite, containing pyrites of copper and iron and some galenite, disseminated in the rock. . In the immediate vicinity, about 1,000 feet north of the last- named vein, below Mc Alexander's, on Little Eiver, there are plumbaginous and talcose slates. In these slates, in their eastern continuation toward the Locust Grove section, it may be that the plumbago is found which is, now and then, re- ported as occurring — near King's, on Bent Mountain Turn- pike, and on Mills's lands, four miles from Copper Hill, for instance. Passing thence northward, across great quartz veins, hydro- mica slates, etc., there is next encountered a series of kindred rocks containing the gold now being sought after on the east side of Little River, on Brush Creek, in Montgomery County. GOJJD. On the Floyd County side of the river there is no stream ans-v*;eriag in position to that of Brush Creek. Consequently 262 FLOYD CO. — GOLD. the same formation, though containing, no doubt, the same percentage of free gold, is not so concentrated as to be notice- able in the same manner as it is where a stream, of the size of Brush Orqek, has worn away so much of the rock material, leaving the gold in the sands and detritus along it. It would be Tery interesting to know every feature of this important series of rocks ; but it is plain that to attempt more than call attention to the facb of the existence of gold in con- siderable quantities in these rocks, would be to enter upon an undertaking, which, to be properly done, would consume every page of the book. It seems, however, that what gold there is, is, generally, very uniformly distributed through the great mass ; but there is no reason to doubt that it is concentrated here and there in easily defined veins. These Huronian rocks are known to have such character- istics in other places. Besides the gold, there is galena, and, now and then, copper pyrites with a still greater proportion of iron pyrites. This gold-bearing series is then bounded on the north by about 3,000 feet of felspathic and quartzose rock interstrati- fied with impure steatite, hydro-mica slates, and sometimes talcose and chloritic schists, with hornblende almost totally absent. These rocks seldom assume the proportions of true granite. There are sometimes protogine, but much of the rock is an albite and orthoclose petrosilex. This, then, is the last series of the cross section on the north, in the county of Ployd. In the northeastern part of the county, nearly in the con- tinuation, that way, of the gold-bearing series, on the North Fork of Eoanoke Eiver, there is a vein of magnetic pyrites near the house of Mr. Light, 12 feet thick, course north 45° east, dip 45° southeast. This ore contains a great deal of copper pyrites dissemin- FLOYD CO. — ^AGBICULTUEAL FEATUEES. 263 ated throTigli it, the iron pyrites being distinctly magnetic, and having the appearance of containing nickd. It is somewhat singular that this vein should lie within twelve miles of the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio EaUroad so long, with no up-grade intervening, without receiving more notice than it has. Also, at Purgatory, two and a half miles south of the north boundary line, Peof. Fontaine's analysis of arsenical pyrites, found in a 5 to 7 foot vein, shows 18 ounces of silver to the ton. It would be idle to deny the great value of Floyd as a mineral county. In nearly every part of it the surface indi- cates the presence of the ores described above. C. M. Stigel- MAN, M.D., a gentleman of fine attainments in scientific pur- suits, now residing at Jacksonville, enumerates some of the minerals and their localities as follows : Magnetic iron ore, at Whitelow's, Hogan's, Bishop's, Deskin's, Link's, and O'Connor's.; micaceous iron ore, Eunnet Bag Gap, right of Patrick Eoad, Blue Eidge ; specular ore, eastern slope of Blue Eidge, Shooting Creek ; argentiferous lead. Little Eiver ; arsenical pyrites, great copper vein ; limestone, north of Courb-House on Montgomery Turnpike ; manganese, at White- low's and Columbus Eick's, Shooting Creek ; asbestos, in the Blue Eidge, at Signer's and other places ; pickeringite, three miles north of Court-House. AGEICULTUEAIi FEATUEES. The proportion of lands in this county available for tobacco culture is, perhaps, greater than for any other purpose. In the west end, on the waters of Burnet's and Greasy Creeks, are the largest areas of grass lands ; and upon these very considerable herds of cattle are grazed and wintered an- nually. Throughout the county good farming lands are found, 2S4 FLoro CO. — shipments ovee home consumption. though in many places very steep. Occasionally a band of talco-mica slates and schists, impregnated to a certain ex- tent with manganese, will afford poor land where they form the subsoil ; but such areas constitute but a small proportion of the whole. Little Eiver and its tributaries have many fine farming tracts. On Burk's Fork, though the land is gen- erally steep, it yields a safe return to the farmers. In fact, much of it is really fine land, susceptible of a high state of cultivation. The rock here is frequently diorite, which, de- composing, has left a strong and permanent subsoil composed of deep red clay. Throughout the Blue Ridge the decomposition of much gneissoid-rock material has left a soil which, though not always of the first quality, is susceptible of improvement at small outlay. In the eastern end of the county, richer and poorer lands alternate with each other, as the substratum is more or less felspathic. Much of it, judged by the growth on it, is exceedingly fertile. Down in the deep gorges made by the North Fork of Boanoke Eiver the lands are seldom available for cultivation. AJSTNUAL SHIPMBNTS OVEE AND ABOVE HOME CONSUMPTION OF SEVERAL PEODUCTS. Tobacco 185,000 pounds, mostly good wrap- pers, bringing $50 or $60 per hundred pounds. Wheat 11,000 bushels. Corn 800 " Cattle 1,050 head @ $20 per head. " 500 " " 8 " " Fine cattle 100 " " 25 " " Sheep 1,000 " " 2 " " FLOYD CO. — ^FISH CULTUEE. 265 TIMBEE. Many sections of tlie- county are still covered with a fine virgin forest. The Buffalo Eidge and Laurel Creek County is one unbroken forest for miles in extent. The spurs of the Blue Bidge, while rich enough to be farmed in many places to the top, are still heavily timbered with fine bodies of chestnut, chestnut-oak, white oak, etc. These trees constitute the main body of the timber in the more mountainous portions. There are valuable bodies of timbered lands, now and then showing a large quantity of white pine. This is mainly used in making shingles. Furnaces for making iron would not be at a loss, anywhere in the county, for a supply of cheap charcoal for some years to come. WATEE POWEE. Little Eiver affords fine water. The Southwest Fork, near Jacksonville, is utilized to run one of the finest flouring mills in Virginia. In every part of the county, at intervals of a few miles, there are water powers, either in use as saw-mills, grist- mills, carding-machines, or only await the time when the in- crease of population in the county will require their use. EBUIT. Apples form one of the native fruits of the county, and rarely miss making a full crop annually. Peaches are not much cultivated. Grapes, plums, and pears do welL FISH CULTUEE. The streams are all well adapted to the culture of the finest varieties of game fish, but no attempt is being made as yet to stock any of them with improved varieties, except such work as has been done by the State Fish Commission, Col. Thomas 266 ELOYD CO. — ^PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Lewis, of Salem, and Mr. Sumter, of Montgomery, in stocking New Eiver and the Eoanoke — some distance away from the county — ^the streams of Floyd being mainly tributaries of these riyers. BEE CULTUBE. Many of the citizens pay a good deal of attention to the im- provement of their bees, but none engage in producing honey for more than their home use. In this, no part of the country could be better adapted than Floyd. The number of flower- ing trees, shrubs, and plants, together with the numerous suck- ing places in the damp hollows, give the bee peculiar advan- tages. It seems that the bee is not only able to obtain from these marshy places the moisture it requires, but, in seasons when blossoms are scarce, must also derive some of the ma- terial used in making its honey. TOWNS AND. VnJAGES. Jacksonville, where the court-house is situated, is the prin- cipal place in the county. It has churches of various de- nominations, hotels, and stores in which every variety of goods for country use may be had ; a good and progressive newspaper, Tlw Floyd Reporter, devoted to the advancement of the best interests of the community. It has good schools ; and has such shops for repairs of wagons, tinware, harness, etc., as are usual in such towns. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. To judge from the tenor of the Eeport of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the public schools have been neglected in the last few years, but there now seems to be a decided im- provement in this particular. The schools will, no doubt, be more regularly sustained in the future. BEATRICE PALLS, FLOYD CO., VA. (P. 387.) FLOYD CO. — PUNCHEON BUN FALLS. 267 SCENEET. This county presents romantic scenery, of a kind beautiful and attractive, just in proportion, inversely, as it is unknown outside of its immediate neighborhood. The falls of the Roan- oke, which are designated the Beatrice Falls, after the daugh- ter of Queen Victoria — ^named more in honor of the fine per- sonal character of those illustrious women than the positions they adorn — would compare with any piece of mere scenic beauty in the purity and harmony of all its surroundings. This fall of 90 feet, almost perpendicular, over a hard quartzose and felspathic rock, is terminated below by a pool, into which empties a smaller stream with an almost perpendicular fall of about 200 feet. This latter is called the Prince Imperial. These two together form a rare picture, equaled, perhaps, by some of the scenery in California ; and only excelled in point of magnitude by a few places, but not in beauty by any. PUNCHEON ETJN FALLS. Only a few miles from the above-named falls, nearly on the line of Floyd and Montgomery, is another place of singular and attractive beauty. For about 350 feet, the water of a small creek, the Puncheon Run, dashes over the face of a great sheet of rock, with its sides fringed and hemmed in by every species of mountain vegetation. In the early summer it has a setting of red and pink and white, formed of the lux- uriant blossoms of both the Rhododendrons, Catawbiense, and R. Maximum, the laurel, and the mountain ivy. The place is wild and rugged, and, when better means of access can be secured, will form one of the most attractive features of this country. All these falls are accessible from the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad, or the mineral springs of Montgoniery County, in less than a day's drive. 268 CAEBOIi COUNTY. CAEEOLL COUNTY. This county scarcely needs any other introduction than an allusion to its character as the great copper county of South- western Virginia ; a character which has been established, really, for years ; but, until recently, through the publicity given to the facts, by the author of this work, in various lec- tures in the Eastern cities, and by the publication in Hotch- kiss' able periodical {The Virginias), these vast deposits have remained comparatively unknown. It is true they may have been alluded to both by Pbofessob Rogebs and Pbofessob LESiiEY; but at that early day there were so few developments as to afford only the most meager data upon which to base statements. Carroll, being rich in other resources — in iron ores, tim- ber, fine streams, mineral springs, etc. — must be regarded, each succeeding year that her unquestionably important re- sources are developed, as one of the most valuable of the brilliant gems that go to make up the remarkable series of mineral counties known as Southwestern Virginia. In fact, so great is the body of sulphureted ores alone in the county, that they, with plentiful means of transportation, must form the basis of industries on a large scale, the extent of which it would be difficult, now, even to approximate. Thus, when the great West shall have exhausted the virgin strength of its soil, and becomes a much larger purchaser than now of good fertilizers, these heavily sulphureted ores will have been brought into easy communication with other valuable constituents — both those oi South Carolina and of Carroll's sister counties — and will become, in the time of the country's greatest demand, one of the heaviest manufacturers of cheap and efficient fertilizers, perhaps, in the world. It would be curious and interesting to show how such industries CAEEOIi CO. — HOW BOUNDED. 269 could be establislied ; what ingredients, such, as potasli, etc., could be brought together, and how they could be made into excellent and cheap fertilizers ; but the fact that the lines of transportation are still wanting, as well as space, admonishes us to leave the subject for future consideration. In that time, no doubt, some cheap means will have been found by which those felspars of Grayson and Carroll, holding fourteen per cent, of potash, can be used in connection with the sulphur of the abundant Carroll County ores. It is true, this is some- what generalizing ; but it will be only the uncandid mind which will be slow to admit the almost certainty of the above reflections, not to speak of the gigantic operations in the re- duction of copper even now seriously contemplated by some of the most experienced and capable men in that line of busi- ness in the country. That Carroll County, with adequate means of transportation, will develop mines of lasting and permanent value, there can be no doubt ; and that this county will form one of the most considerable factors in the solution of the problem of the State's future prosperity, is beyond a question. It is able, by means of its vast hidden wealth, to bring lines of railway through the county, and will inevitably increase the tax-paying power of its own and surrounding communities to so great a degree as to render it a fit com- parison to say, that that capacity will have improved a thou- sand fold. HOW BOUNDED. Carroll is separated from Wythe and Pulaski on the north by the Iron Mountain range, locally termed here the Poplar Camp Mountains ; northeast by Floyd County ; southeast and southward it is divided from the county of Patrick by the main Blue Eidge ; and touches the North Carolina line. Westerly it is bounded by Grayson County. 270 CAEEOLL COUHTZ. 2 I f I .^ North irn or Copper Lode Bottom Copper ToSe I -on or Fc^lar Camp Xtn. Copper. ZdS0 Soum rn Copper ladB CAEEOLL CO. — GEOLOGICAL. 271 HOW WATEEED. Carroll is watered by New River and some of its considera- ble tributaries, Big and Little Eeed Island Creeks and their head-waters, Poplar Camp Creek, Crooked Creek, Chestnut Creek, and some minor streams. All of these being bold and regular in their flow throughout the year, give to the county a name for being well watered. GEOLOGICAL. The geological features of the county are nearly identical with those of Floyd and Grayson, except that Grayson has such an immense quantity of granite, which neither Carroll nor Floyd seem to have. The geology may, then, be said to be comprised between the Laurentian gneissoid series, near the heart of the Blue Eidge, and the Huronian, inclusive. The dip of the rocks has that general appearance of being monoclinal southwardly, or rather southeastwardly, common to most of the rocks of this region ; but in places there were once great folds or anticlinals, the crests of which have been denuded and swept away in the lapse of time since they were so folded, leaving both sides of the fold with the same general average inclination. Beginning in the Blue Eidge, we have generally a gneissoid formation ; but, about the main crest, talco-mica, hornblende, and chlorite slates and schists and soapstone alternating with each other. In all these strata there are occasional heavy bands of quartz. The gneissoid formation prevails until you pass the general location of the Southern Copper Lode, as represented on the cross section. Then, in about half a mile north of this southern lode, you cross a broad band of horn- blendic slates, schists, etc.; then soapstone ; then slate, schists, and quartz veins ; then, when within three miles of Hillsville, '272 CAEBOLL CO. — GEOLOGICAL. on the soiitla, you touclt u'poii tlie trappean rocks in which is situated the native copper lode ; then, within a mile of Hills- ville, alternations of hornblendic with mica slates and schists ; then about Hillsville, the conti];iuation of the strata which hold the northeastern extension of the Peach Bottom Copper Lode, here mostly gneissoid ; then, for more than a mile, horn- blende ; then, for three miles, going northwardly across the great Northern Copper Lode and its branch vein the Dalton, through talco-mica slates, chlorite slates, and sometimes slightly hornblendic slates ; then across several miles of a repetition of hydro-mica slates, etc., to the foot of Poplar Camp or Iron Mountain ; then through the heavy quartzose and slightly felspathic bands composing the mountain on the south side, ending the section at the county line on the crest of the mountain. Following the plan adopted for the other counties, an at- tempt will be made to describe the iron ores first, although the importance of the copper ores, comparatively, would rather suggest the propriety of their being treated first. The Iron Ores of Carroll, it may be submitted, cannot be regarded as the least important of its resources. Not only do they exist in very great quantity, but they are generally pure, ex- cept where they retain a little too much copper. It will be understood that the greater part of these ores are derived from the decomposition of iron and copper pyrites ; even the magnetites and semi-magnetites may be thus derived ; hence it is not to be wondered at that copper will be found in the iron ores. Of the Brown Ores there are vast beds and deposits exist- ing as gossan along the outcrops of the different pyritous veins, or lodes, of copper and iron. It would be difficult to estimate the quantity which occurs on the southern or Ore Knob Toncray Lode, as its greater distance from railway transportation has caused it to be less explored than the CAHROLL CO. — GEOLOGICAl. 273 more northern veins. A description of the location of this lode just here would rob it of that interest which would at- tach to it in its character of a copper lode ; but it is not deemed to have that character for copper in Carroll County which it possesses either at Ore Knob Mine on the southwest, or at the Toncray Mine in Floyd County on the northeast. It is, so far as known in Carroll County, of more value in its character as an iron vein. This may be applied both to its massive exhibits of gossan, or brown and red oxide, here and there, and to the masses of undecomposed sulphurets existing, below. >This is observable where this lode crosses Snake Creek. The vein here exposed had not been so fully opened! as to give a satisfactory showing of its true character when visited by De. Cueet in 1859, since which time no work of consequence has been done in the way of development on the lode ; but enough has been done, and the outcroppings are sufficiently abundant throughout, to make evident the vast quantity of both gossan and sulphuret it is capable of yielding. It is nearly twenty-seven miles long in Carroll, with a vari- able thickness between twelve and twenty feet thick, lying in the gneissoid system, just north of the Blue Eidge, dipping southwardly, generally at high angles. It has the interesting feature of uniting with the Native Copper Lode somewhere near the head of Laurel Creek, in the boundary line between CarroU and Floyd. Of this fact, however, the writer is not positively aware, as it was out of his power to follow up the Native Lode to the supposed junction; and it is a matter of regret, also, that he was not able to give the Southern Lode as thorough an inspection in Carroll as he gave it in Floyd and in Ashe, or that he has given to the Great Northern Lode, the Peach Bottom, and the Native Lodes. The next great bodies of Brown Iron Ores are found on the Great Northern Lode and its branch veins in the northern 18 274 CAEEOLL CO. — GEOLOGICAL, central portion of the county. The vast gossan outcrops of this lode, which passes, near Cranberry Plains, from south- west to northeast through the county, have been mentioned by De. F. a. Genth in his report to the " Wistar Copper Mining Company " in 1876 ; by De. Dickeson in his report to " The Dalton Mining Company " in 1857 ; by De. Cueey in his " Visit to the Virginia Copper Eegion " in 1859, recently quoted by Hotchkiss's " Virginias, " and were described by the author in several lectures delivered before meetings of " The American Institute of Mining Engineers. " Beginning at the southwest end, bodies of this gossan, or hydrated per- oxide of iron, are noticeable as the lode, after crossing New Biver for the last time, passes into the county from Grayson, about three miles north of Old Town. Here, near the Leon- ard Mine, in the Clifton Copper and Silver Mine, the lode be- gins to show those surface brown ores of iron which assume such vast proportions a mile or two northeast at the Great Outburst. It is possible that at the Great Outburst, and on the Chestnut Creek property of Wistar Copper Mining Com- pany, the ore is more than 150 feet thick by an average of 80 to 35 feet. De. Genth, in speaking of the 6,800 feet length of the lode, which he examined in 1876, says : " Taking the average width at 45 feet, and the depth of the limonite (gos- san) workable as a valuable iron ore at 30 feet, and the weight of one cubic foot of this limonite at 150, pounds, the Chestnut Creek property contains at least a body of 586,000 tons of available iron ore, yielding about 50 per cent, of pig metal. " Again, from Copperas Hill, on Crooked Creek, where the great lode appears to divide into two great veins, going northeastwardly, through all the old workings — on the lands of the Wythe Lead and Zinc Mines (which also own copper property), Vaughan, Ann Phipps, Wild Cat, Cranberry, Dal- ton mines, Ann Eliza, and Betty Baker mines — you find a ton- CAEEOUi CO.— MAGNETITE. 275 nage of brown iron ores in the shape of gossan wMcli will go up into the millions of tons. These ores — as at the Betty Baker mines^often present the appearance of highly valuable ochreous deposits. And the Talue of the whole is now only a question of cheap transpor- tation. SPECULAE GEES. The pure ores of this variety are not as yet found in very large quantities in Carroll, though five veins are strongly sus- pected in this series of rocks. Near Thompson's Mill, on a hill north of a small creek which runs into Little Eeed Island Creek, there is specular ore combined with magnetite in a vein not yet fully developed, but supposed to be six feet thick. MAGNETITE. Magnetic iron ore is found in many localities in Carroll ; it is found to follow a line just north of the Southern Lode ; and again another series of outcroppings is observable both north and south of the strike of the Great Northern Lode, as well as in many other localities. Unfortunately a want of transpor- tation has prevented the citizens from taking sufficient in- terest in these ores to have them developed. The magnetite as showing in surface pieces is usually very good ; and there isn't enough titanium — as rutile — showing on the surface to warrant the belief that it is heavUy impreg- nated with that impurity. As has just now been said, mag- netite exists with specular ore in a vein which crosses a hill not far north of Thompson's Mill. Should this vein be six feet thick, as suspected, the quantity of ore it will yield throughout its length above water level would be very great,, the hills being usually 180 feet at their crests above water 276 CAEEOLL CO. — COPPER OEE. in the creeks. Nearer the Great Northern Copper Lode, on the northern side, as well as on the southern side, the ores picked up are a purer magnetite ; but no satisfactory data have been collected yet as to the thickness of the deposits. lEON PYRITES. To speak of the iron pyrites fully, again anticipates the de- scription of the great metalliferous lodes carrying copper, which would seem more properly to belong to the chapter on copper. Iron pyrites in Carroll is found in many of the rock strata. Nearly every quartz lead has more or less of it. It is the great basic material of the Southern Copper Lode. It forms the greater mass of the Northern and Dalton Lodes, besides minor ones it would be tedious to mention. To form even the most distant idea of its quantity, it is only necessary to imagine a length of 54 miles, by a thickness of 30 feet, of an unknown but very great depth. Much of this, strictly, is pyrrhotite or polarized pyrites. A proportion of it is also arsenical : the quantity of arsenic may assume, at points, large proportions. In all probability, the quantity of arsenic in the Southern Lode is much greater than in any other, judging from the constituents it shows in Floyd County. The iron pyrites, under favorable conditions of cheap trans- portation, would become an important basis for large chemi- cal works, including the manufacture of fertilizers on a large scale. Much of it being above water level, it could be mined with great facility. COPPEE GEE. It is not taking too much for granted to say that the copper ores of Carroll County have become already very widely known. CAEEOLL CO. — ^NATIVE COPPEB. 277 Besides the humble efforts of the author, Lieut. Mauey, Db. T. S. Hunt, De. F. A. Genth, and other gentlemen emi- nent in scientific pursuits have had something to say about these Teins. To these may also be added the efforts of Dr. CuEET and of De. Dickeson. To De. Cueey may be ascribed the first effort to map out these veins, and illustrate them and the general geology of the country with proper cross sections ; and the errors which he may have committed, here and there, are more than compensated by the mass of really reliable in- formation which he gave at so early a day as 1859. Taking the Southern or Ore Knob Toncray Lode into con- sideration first, it derives more of its importance as a copper lode from the splendid showings at Ore Knob, on its south- west extension, and the Toncray Mine, on its northeast exten- sion, than from anything known of it in Carroll County ; but it may be assumed that it must, at greater or less depths, at many places in Carroll, contain rich ores of copper. It is a matter of regret that its greater distance, along here, from railway transportation, has prevented it from being more thoroughly developed. NATIVE COPPEB. Next, going northwardly, is encountered the remarkable lode of native copper, which is known to run for eighteen miles in a direction which cuts diagonally across the general strike of the other veins. It was stated in the author's paper recently read before the New York meeting of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, that this lode had a direction from northwest to southeast. This was putting it strongly, to show the difference between its course and that of the Great Northern Lode, which is from southwest to northeast. The true course of the Native Lode is more east and west. It is apparently perpendicular in attitude — 6 feet of close, hard 278 CAEEOLL CO. — ^THB PEACH BOTTOM LODE. schistose material, holding native copper, having walls of tre- molitic and hornblendic trap, in some places yielding beryl. Its location, as determined by actual survey, is shown on the large map accompanying this book. It will be seen from that, that it intersects the Peach Bottom Lode near Wood- lawn, and traverses the formation in the direction of a point where the Southern Lode crosses the boundary line between Carroll and Floyd. It may be submitted that there, on the head-waters of Laurel Creek, valuable discoveries may be an- ticipated. No estimate has as yet been given of the percentage of cop- per in this vein above eight per cent. The vein can be seen exposed at James Early's, south of Hillsville, and at the point where it crosses Eeed Island Creek, besides other places. THE PEACH BOTTOM LODE. This lode can be clearly traced from the southwest side of the county, very distinctly, as far as Hillsville. It passes close on the south of Woodlawn, and there on lands of that vicinity it shows plainly in nearly perpendicular ledges of micaceous schists interlaminated with quartz. These rocks are gneissoid in structure as you approach Hillsville ; and there they are in such workable ledges that some of the stones containing copper pyrites are now in the foundation of the court-house. It will be as well to repeat here what is said in the description of the Peach Bottom Copper Mine, that the ore of this vein, everywhere it has been examined, is cop- per pyrites, with some carbonate of copper near the surface, resulting from decomposition of pyrites, and, for the greater length of the vein, silver-bearing galenite. It is almost im- possible to give a correct idea of its thickness or value in Carroll. So little has its presence been suspected by the mining world that sufficient developments have not as yet been made by which to judge correctly. CAEEOLL CO. — ^NOETHEEN LODE. 279 A quartz lode containing pyrites of iron and copper, in dis- tinct crystals, of large size, is next found between the Peach Bottom Lode and the Northern Lode, lying nearer the latter than the former. It is not probable that it will prove of value, as the quartz forms too large a percentage of the measure. Next north of this is the Great Northern Lode of copper and iron pyrites. NOETHEEN LODE. It may be an error to call all of these metalliferous veins by the technical term lode. As to this one, it has the appear- ance just west of Chestnut Creek of occupying a perpendicu- lar fissure in a dipping stratification ; while at a point near Early's, at Cranberry Plains, it dips 45° about, in a direction southeastwardly. At the latter it would be regarded as dis- tinctly a bedded vein ; at the former, a fissure vein or lode. This great vein or lode, coming from the direction of Duck- town, makes its appearance in Carroll County about three miles north of Old Town on the Carroll-Grayson line, and extends, without intermission, twenty-five miles, northeast- wardly, to the Carroll-Floyd line. Its first southwestern opening of any consequence is at the Leonard opening, sometimes called " The Clifton Copper and Silver Mine," so named because of a flattering analysis re- turned by an Indianapolis chemist, in which he ascribed to this part of the vein the remarkable quality of holding (be- sides sulphur, iron, and copper), nickel, silver, and arsenic- A great many persons do not credit this analysis, which was made for Me. Edwaed Shelley, of "Wytheville ; but when the chemist was applied to, he persisted in saying that the ores sent him gave the results reported. It is somewhat singular that De. Genth did not find silver or nickel in the ores about Chestnut Creek, two and a half miles farther northeast. Me. 280 CABBOLL CO. — NOBTHEEN LODE. Dean, of Indianapolis, reported one mass of the ore sent him to contain over $450 to the ton in silver ; but as the matter is entirely too important to be left to any degree of conjecture, no fuller report will here be given of the analysis, the hope being entertained that selected samples of the ores may be forwarded to different competent chemists for thorough assay. Next to the Clifton Mine is the Great Outburst — a name ap- plied to an immense surface exhibition of gossan — on the west- em boundary of the tract of the Wistar Copper Mining Co. ; then going east less than a mile you are on the main mining ground of this company, of which De. F. A. Genth made a very close and exhaustive examination of 6,800 feet of the lode near Chestnut Creek, in 1876, at which examination the author was present. Although De. Genth says the vein is " between 30 and over 60 feet," it is believed to be, at one place, over 150 feet thick. De. Genth says : " The geological formation on these lands is that of gneissic rocks, more especially consisting of mica slates and schists, graduating into chloritis and talcose. Their average dip is about 45° southeast, with a strike between north 30° east and north 45° east. " A very large mineral deposit between 45 and 65 feet in width coincides in its course with the strike of the inclosing rocks ; from the developments made by Shaft No. 1, the ore deposit seems to intersect the rock-strata, and to be nearly perpendicular, corresponding in this respect with similar de- posits in the same range of mountains, for instance, with that at Ore Knob, Ashe County, N. C. " The ore deposit has been developed by numerous shafts and several tunnels, many of which have been made long ago, and are at present inaccessible. " About 3,400 feet from the southwest boundary line of the property. Shaft No. 1, or the Pyrites Shaft, has been sunk to a depth of 105 feet altogether in the vein. At the bottom of it CAEEOLL 00. — NOETHEEN LODE. 281 a tunnel lias been started toward the southeast wall, which, however, was not reached. " This shaft was started in the decomposed part of the vein, the so-called ' gossan,' a hydrous ferric oxide or limonite. At the depth of ten feet this was occasionally stained with green carbonate of copper or malachite, which sometimes oc- curred even in larger masses. " At a depth of between 20 and 25 feet the limonite was penetrated, and a bed of black copper ore of about three feet in thickness was reached. This consisted chiefly of black oxide of copper, copper glance, and small quantities of copper pyrites. The analysis of samples of this ore yielded 21.08 and 28.90 per cent, of metallic copper. " At a depth of 25 feet the oxidized ores had completely disappeared, and were replaced by the undecomposed sul- phurets, mostly pyrrhotite or magnetic pyrites, with some iron pyrites and small quantities of copper pyrites. " These developments show that the vein was divided by interlaminated talc into three seams ; that near the hanging wall and foot wall containing a far smaller percentage of cop- per pyrites than the central seam, which latter is about 10 feet in thickness, the total thickness of the vein being here about 30 feet. "Although not free from copper pyrites, the ores in the other seams consist mostly of pyrrhotite. The central seam, with a considerable admixture of copper pyrites, was struck by the shaft between 40 and 50 feet depth, and was again cut by the tunnel at 105 feet, showing the same character, but with a decided increase of copper pyrites at the lowest depth reached, from which it is safe to presume that this most valuable and reliable copper ore will, in greater depth, replace the leaner sulphurets of iron. " As in the developments made by this shaft the ores had not been kept separate, I have selected with great care, from 282 CAEBOLL CO. — ^NOETHEEN LODE. the ores on the surface, a sample representing the lowest yield of the same. It was found to contain 1.70 per cent, of copper ; ores from the central seam and the southeast tunnel yielded 9.36 per cent, of copper. It would have been easy, if this had been desirable, to select ores yielding from 30 to 35 per cent, of copper. " Near this shaft, on the west side of the vein, a tunnel was started, by which developments, however, no additional information could be gained. " Ascending the hill toward northeast, the Shaft No. 2, or Whim Shaft, is reached at a distance of 1,5G0 feet. This shaft was inaccessible, being full of water. Ores which had been raised from it, and which were lying on the surface, showed the character of the deposit. "After the penetration of the gossan or limonite, rich black ores were found at a depth of about 40 feet, in a layer of about 14 inches in thickness, accompanied by about 2| feet of leaner ores, consisting of pyrrhotite, copper pyrites, a little black oxide of copper associated with talc and actiono- lite, and yielding about 10 per cent, of copper. A sample of the black ore from this shaft yielded by analysis 51.53 per cent, of copper. " This shaft has not been sunken deep enough to reach to undecomposed sulphurets. " Here the vein has been stripped across for 45 feet, but had not reached the walls. " At a distance of 414 feet from Shaft No. 2 is another one, and 24 feet further on a fourth, and 96 feet northeast from this a fifth, the latter of a depth of 80 feet. They are all inaccessible, and in part caved in. " There are several other shafts and tunnels on the 1,350 feet of vein between the last-named shaft and the northeast boundary line, neither of which could be examined on ac- count of their inaccessibility. CAEBOLL CO. — ^NOETHEEN LODE. 283 " By these deTelopments tlie character of the ore deposit has been shown to be the same throughout ; large quantities of rich black copper ores have been remoyed by these work- ings. " There is another point of importance to which I wish to caU your attention, namely, to another copper deposit, which lies southeast of the main ore deposit at a distance of about 80 feet. " It has been proved by a shaft and tunnel. No. 3, not to be connected with the main vein. I could see in the tunnel only a small part of that which was left from previous workr ings, which was a body of black ore about 18 inches thiclc and 15 feet in length. A sample, apparently representing a fair average of the ore, yielded by assay 10.24 per cent. of copper. " It is not improbable that this deposit originates from the reprecipitation of the copper, leached out, when the upper part of the main vein'was decomposed and converted into limonite, and it may extend the whole distance of the main vein and parallel with it. " I consider it of great importance to make developments to ascertain the value of this suggestion, as the ores from this deposit can be easily mined. " Summing up the observations which have been made on the main vein, we find the following data : "The length of the vein through the Chestnut Creek property is proved for a distance of over 6,800 feet. The vein can be traced over the whole property by a very bold outcrop of limonite or so-called gossan. The thickness of the vein is between 30 and over 60 feet. "According to the elevation, the oxidized ores, mainly limonite, free from sulphurets and with traces only of copper ores, form the upper part of the vein to a depth of from 20 to 40 feet. 284 CAEEOLL CO. — ^NOETHEKN LODE. " Below the limonite is invariably found a rich layer of copper ores from one to three feet in thickness, and yielding from ten to over fifty per cent, of copper. " Below this occur the undecomposed sulphurets, princi- pally pyrrhotite or magnetic pyrites, intermixed with small quantities of copper pyrites, the latter increasing as a greater depth is reached, from which fact it is reasonable to suppose that this ore may soon be found in paying quantities. '•Based upon the above data, the following will be seen to be a low estimate of the valuable ores at present existing in the main ore deposit of the Chestnut Creek property, leaving out of consideration the sulphureted ores. " Taking the black ores only at one foot in thickness, there are over 300,000 cubic feet of copper ore, representing about 20,000 tons of ore, yielding not less than 4,000 tons of fine copper. "From these data, and the fact that the undecomposed sulphurets show a decided increase in the yield of copper pyrites in depth, the great value of your property is self- evident." Then, passing on northeastwardly through numerous good properties along the lode, such as the old Limeberry, Cop- peras Hill, Wythe, Lead and Zinc Company's copper lands, Vaughan's, and others, we come to the old J. Eaely property, now owned by the Baltimore firm of Clayton & Williams, as well as being owners of about nine miles' length on the lode either way from this property. When De. Cuekt visited this property in 1859, the shafts and tunnels were then in better condition for exploring the vein than they have ever been since. In fact, little or no work has been done since then of a reliable nature ; that is to say, very intelligently directed. De. Cuee¥ says : " The property, extending one half mile on the lead, was opened in 1854, and the work pushed to a greater extent than on any other property. This property is CAEKOLL CO. — ^NOETHEEN LODE. 235 composed of an elevated ridge, whioli rises like a crest over- looking tlie Wytheville Turnpike, and well adapted to the tunneling to wMch it has been subjected. The total drivage of levels amounts to 800 feet, opening upon a mineral vein about 60 feet below the surface, and running north 54° east, with a dip of 60° to southeast. The entire vein, in all its length through the property, is estimated at not less than 10 feet thick and 25 feet wide. There are about nine shafts sunk on the lead, for ventilating mainly^ their total depth be- ing 250 feet, though the deepest only reaches 45 feet. Neither the depth nor the width of the mineral vein has been fully ascertained. Cross-cuts have been made from the main tun- nels, and parallel levels driven, but still along the mineral lode. The works on this property exhibit very markedly the order of superposition of the various ores of these mines. After penetrating through the gossan crust, which here is strongly deposited, the carbonates and oxides are found oc- cupying the upper portions of the veins. To these succeed, in the second galleries, the decomposed bisulphurets or black ores ; and, in the lower gallery, the gray and blue bisulphurets, beneath which lies the mundic rock. These galleries are sepa- rated by thin floors of rock, or of plank, and beautifully illus- trate the system of mining (1850) in following the vein down- ward. A deep shaft has been also sunk in the valley at the base of the ridge, and near the turnpike, which, after passing through a hard, quartzose slate, opened "upon a vein of the yellow sulphuret. This shaft, in our opinion, would have yielded handsome results, had it been located a few paces farther to the south. It also establishes the fact, that below the mundic comes the yellow sulphuret in the vein rock, which would grow richer as the depth increased. " There have been 700 tons of ore shipped from this mine, consisting of the usual varieties of carbonates, oxides, and sulphurets, and averaging 15 per cent." 286 CABEOLL CO. — NOETHEBN LODE. Going, then, nortlieastwardly, over several valuable open- ings on the lode, the Betty Baker Mine is reached, of vrhich De. Cueey says: "Entering the levels opposite the Anna Mary Mines, we pass in for 40 feet at right angles to the lode, where it is reached. It is then followed 300 feet, with some two or three cross-cuts and parallel drifts, exposing, through- out its entire length, a splendid view of the vein, from which the red and black oxides are mined, yielding 22 per cent. Since the 1st of May last, 130 tons of 20 per cent, ore have been taken out and shipped to Baltimore. Here, as in the Cran- berry Mines, the richer ores occupy the upper vein, while the poorer lie upon the mundic rock, beneath which no ex- plorations have been made (1859)." Since that time (1859), however, very extensive explorations have been made by Mk. James E. Clayton, of Ore Knob, and the yellow sulphuret found below, as is usually anticipated in veins which show such a quantity of decomposed ores nearer the surface. It may be remembered, in speaking of iron pyrites, it was stated that this Northern Lode seemed, in going northeast- wardly, to divide at Copperas Hill, and to present from there two veins. The southern of these two is called the Dalton vein. In fact, during the time when copper was commanding a high figure ia market, previous to 1861, the excitement here was so high that everything containing the slightest trace of cop- per was magnified into a vein or lOde ; hence, we are informed, by some of the old reports still in existence, that in the vicinity of Cranberry Plains there were three distinct veins, known as the Early, Dalton, and Dickeson leads. De. Dioke- SON, then of Philadelphia (1857), in reporting to the " Dalton Mining Company," says : " The geology of this mining property belongs to a some- what complicated series of rocks. The lodes are contained between walls of talco-micaceous slate, belonging to the Silu- CAEEOLL CO. — NOETHEEN LODE. 287 rian epoch or period, but the metamorphic influence they have been subjected to has greatly modified its character. The summits of the hills we find composed of primordial rocks, consisting of imperfect granite, mica slates, talcose slates, and immense quartz rocks. On the western descent we meet with a series of shaley sandstones and slates, all of a metamorphic character. Descending into the valley and ravines, the rocks partake of the graywacke and conglomerate series, with alter- nating layers, varying in composition and color from an ashy gray to a pale blue tint. " On the southwestern slope the gossan outcrop is very re- markable for its bright red color, and the disintegration, caused by atmospheric action, produces a beautiful and permanent pigment, that might be applied to many useful purposes. Two large quartz veins occur on the property, and in places large masses are scattered about in great confusion, com- pletely intermixed with the gossans. Three well-defined met" alliferous leads coursing north 24° east, and nearly parallel to each other, may be traced upon the surface by the gossan outcrop ; and, by the depression of the exposed strata, the angular dip was ascertained to be 35°. "Along the sides of the ravines numerous prospecting openings have been made, and each, as far as the character of the lode is concerned, shows the same deposit of copper ore. There are two large veins of quartz on the Dalton property, which I have found to be identical with the matrix or gangue stone of the yellow sulphurets exposed in other workings upon this lead. This rock, by comparison with that of the east side of these leads, differs in not being liable to the same decomposition by exposure. This gangue I have traced for several miles above ground, and it seems to lie contiguous to the iron lead (Great Northern Lode), which follows nearly the course of the mountainous ridge. "The average width of the quartz veins is about five feet, 288 CABBOIIi CO. — NOETHEBN LODE. and, if we should include the numerous ramifying branches that set off from innumerable points, it might be stated much wider. Farther on, we find a coalescence of all these ramifi- cations ; and, if we are to take the mining rule for granted, there must exi^t, at no great distance, a heavy deposit of ore. " The Dalton Mine is situated upon the lead of the same name, and consists of seven regular shafts, sunk about 35 feet in depth, cutting the lode of smut ore, which enveloped con- siderable bodies of black, gray, and red oxides of copper. From these shafts there have been driven four horizontal gal- leries or levels of variable lengths, from 40 to 150 feet, the lode in these dipping at an angle of 45° from the horizon. " There are four shafts, which have lately been sunk under the direction of Heotiy Anseeote, who now has charge of the workings. The southern shaft was sunk 42 feet, through a bed of light gossan, and at this depth it coppered over the entire shaft ; north, from the .above-named shaft, at the depth of 36 feet, a fine body of copper ore was cut. They sank on the north wall, drove, east, and exposed an immense lead of copper ore. Four hundred yards north a prospecting shaft was sunk 25 feet through gossan, and at that depth struck the lode ; this shaft was 40 feet off the lead ; beyond this, some 250 yards northeast, they cut through 25 feet of gos- san and struck copper ore ; but here the water came upon them and drove them out. " A shaft has also been sunk on the large quartz vein to the depth of 40 feet, where numerous nests and bunches of the yellow sulphuret of copper were found, in every respect resembling that of the Fentres and M'CuUoch Mines, Gilford County, N. 0. From the observed course of this pyriteous vein, I found it to be that of north 24° east, with a dip that seemed strongly tending to verticality. It is very desirable that these veins should have a vertical dip, as all mining operations are much more simple on erect than flat veins, for there is CABEOLL CO. — GOLD AND SILVEE. 289 less cross-cutting required, and fewer winzes have to be sunk in the levels. Seams of white quartz, interlaid with seams of chloritic green-stone, occur very often along the vein, form- ing small feeders, and invariably indicate a greater deposit of ore where they unite. This vein does not exactly conform to the gossan outcrop lying north of it, nor does it entirely agree with the other quartz veins in the vicinity ; and, from the ap- pearance of the gangue in the 40-feet shaft, I should judge the' sulphuret to be not far off. "a table OE analysis upon samples OE OEE OBTAnSnED PEOM THE DIFFEKENT SHAFTS AND OPENINGS UPON THE PEOPEETY OF THIS COMPANY. Mines. Dalton . . . . Copper Ores. .... Eed oxide Percentage. 63.04 11 .... Black oxide , 54.02 14,318 11,611 Smyth 12,159 8,898 "Washington 25,203 16,816 Giles 8,794 5,900 Bland 5,004 4,100 Tazewell 12,861 10,791 Eussell 13,906 11,103 Scott 17,233 13,036 Lee 15,116 14,100 "Wise 7,772 4,785 Buchanan. 5,694 3,775 Floyd 13,256 12,000 Carroll 13,323 9,147 Grayson 13,068 9,597 14* 1 1 « ^ ^ t^ 1 =^ s -^ S^ § a^ •S PC? ± ^ 't- ;i fcn B '^ ■^ s ^ 4 -^ ■f (ft E. >* % 1 =* 1 R, r^ 1 1 « « » , TRANSITION AND PRIMITIVE ■a ^ ^ E I 0^ otO'Carboniferous and Siil^-Carboniferoiis M jExplaMcBitti©]]]! XauivntianS-HiironiMn- Schists, Slates Src \ \ Lower Silnriari/Jjimsstones&c, 11 &• III !; J (Cmss SecttoTVJ Maigamferous liwi^ji DevoTUMii/, inclndin'g tlie oil i)earing series ^^^ ' : Carhontt'eroiis &:Proto-C(al7oniferous ^ Ilenuitiie,F0ssil^Specul'a/\ Lead & zinc PlaMer &■ Salt Ma^netMeS^SeriuMigndUe^ L1jrwnitef[}r(LratedPercaydy_ CopperVeins ' Proposed RaMmads v/h^ich are most likely to he l?nilt are tn elotted liries. Forbes Co. 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