tfRCES OK WEST VIRGINIA, M. F. MAURY, FELLOW OF THE CEoLOGU AL SOCIETY OF LONDOXJ ME.MBE1* OF Til AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING EXGiXEEKS; ASSOCIATE ( THE ROYAL SCHOOL OF .MINERS, EXULAM). A N D WM. M. FONTAINE, A. M PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE STATE BOARD OF CENTEUHIAL MANA&ERS. WHEELING THE KEOISTEB COMPANY 1876. ^>->rs i*t****r**#** ******** RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA, BY M. F. MAURV, FELLOW or THF ( ; F.ol,o(, ic.M. SorlF.TY OF l.OXDOV; MKHMKK OF A NU. Kit AX IXSTITFTK OF MIKlXli F.X(il N KKKS; AMSO( fATE OF i ui: UOVAL SCHOOL <F MINFKS, K.N(;LAND. AND WM. M. FONTAINE, A. M., PKoFEiSSOR OF NATLKAI, HISToHV &C.. AT TIIK I MVERSITY OF WEST V1RGIXJ A , PREPARED UNDER THE DTRECTION OF THE STATE BOARD OF CENTENNIAL MANAGERS. WHEELING THE HKGISTKK COMPANV 1876. STATE BOARD OF CENTENNIAL MANA GERS OF WEST VIRGINIA. HON. A. J. SWEENEY, Chairman, . . . . Wheeling. HON. A. R. BOTELER, Shepherdstown. O. C. DEWEY, Secretary, Wheeling. fl. W. FRANZHEIM Wheeling. C. H. BEALL, Brooke County . THOMAS MASLIN, Moorefield. Oh 1 . J. P. HALE, Charleston. Entered according to act ol ( ongross, on 1 h> 201 >i day ol April, ] in t In- orlicc ol the I, ihi-arian of Congress, at Washington. J5v A. .1. SWKKNKY, < ha i I ll i a 1 1 nl 1 In- Stale Moan I ol ( Vn I en nial Managers of the State of West Virginia. To f/l/. Hoiivr iMr Mi mlin-x of tin Senafr mid lion* of JMiytitw, <uul to 7// /..rirll -iH-f/ ,/. ./. Jncuh, dart-nun- of fin State of }] cxt Virt/inhi : GENTLEMEN : The act appropriating $20,000 for the purpose of exhibit ing, at the Centennial International Exhibition, of 1876, in Philadelphia, the resources of West Virginia, and confirming the appointment, by the Governor, of the State Board of Centennial Managers previously made, and then in active service, passed both Houses on the 10th of December, and was approved by the Governor on the 14th of December, and by resolution took effect from its passage. The time lei t for the collection, preparation, and arrangement of the various subjects of exhibition, was so very short, the field so extensive, usual information so entirely want ing, and the people so apathetic, and so unappreciative of the real im portance and value of the undertaking, that the Board found it necessary to use extraordinary exertions, and incur many expenses in prosecuting the work, and in endeavoring to realize their hope of a creditable and re munerative 1 display of the Minerals, Timber, etc., really possessed by the State, and as yet almost entirely unknown and undeveloped. Local Boards were appointed in every county in the State, circulars were prepared and distributed, urgent personal letters were written to citi/ens, and com petent and active young men were engaged, and at once employed in the several departments of the work. Prof. M. F. Maury, of Charleston, Kanawha county, was entrusted with the classification and arrangement of all exhibits, and assisted by Prof. Wni. M. Fontaine, of the Cni verity of West Virginia, instructed to prepare for publication, all the informa tion collected by the Board, relating to the objects contemplated by the. law. The result of their labors is herewith submitted. Mr. A. R, Guer- ard, of South Carolina, and Messrs. J. W. C. Davis, St. Geo. Bryan, and Major If. .1. Kchols, of Virginia, were sent Mr. Guerard to the East, Mr. Davis to the Southwest, Mr. Bryan to the West, or Ohio River Division, and Major Echols to the Kanawha Valley. Each of these gentlemen dis charged the duties confided to him, with the utmost diligence, and to the entire satisfaction of the -Board. It was diiiicult to have her citizens anticipate the value of the material results expected to be hereafter real ised from exhibiting to the capitalists and people of the world, the w.on derful natural wealth lying, and yet undeveloped, within the borders of M3755SO IV PREFACE. West Virginia, and, while from this cause, the efforts of our agents were sometimes fruitless in obtaining satisfactory specimens and information in many of the counties, yet, in others they were greatly assisted by the active aid and co-operation of citizens, sufficiently alive to the importance of the occasion, to whom the Board desires generally to tender its hearty thanks. It was deemed necessary by the Board, after due consideration, to erect for West Virginia an exhibition building, attached to the "Head quarters," previously determined upon, in order that she might present her collection as a whole, rather than to have it in so many separate places and buildings, as it would have been, under the arrangements made by the United States Commissioners. Accordingly, a site was selected, drawings and plans prepared by C. C. Kemble, Esq., architect, of Wheeling, and after due advertisement, contracts made with H. S. White, of Belton, for the completion of the buildings on the grounds. The " Headquarters " are built entirely of the woods of the State, finished in their natural colors. Profs. Maury and Fontaine have been untiring and devoted in the dis charge of their duties, and have manifested a /eal and energy which, the Board fully appreciates. The Board regrets that (while not half has been told) the accompanying book has grown to nearly three times the size originally intended, but accepts the statement of its compilers and authors, that it is terse and concise, and that nothing can be eliminated from it, without injury to some important interest. The Board will present to the Legislature (at its next meeting), as required by law, a full report of its proceedings and expenditures. No one can now certainly determine whether the $20,000, so generously ap propriated by the Legislature, will be a dead loss and a useless invest ment, or whether it will pay back to the State, millions, by inducing capital and immigration, and so developing the valuable minerals and the natural wealth, with which she is so lavishly endowed by nature. Let us hope that the latter may be the result. Very respectfully, A..J.SWKKNKY, Chun-limn siatr /><<*/ / of Centennial O. C. DEWEY, Hon, A. J. Suvmey, Chairman of the State Board of Centennial Managers for West Virginia : SIR: I herewith submit the Report on the Resources of West Vir ginia, the preparation of which was made one of my duties as Director in Charge of the Centennial collection of West Virginia. As soon as the appropriation was made by the Legislature for the purpose of having our resources represented at the International Exhibi tion, of 1876, 1 at once began to take active steps to collect information from all portions of the State for the compilation of this work. To this end I prepared a set of fifty-one questions, on the agricultural, stock- raising, timber, mineral, and industrial interests, leaving blanks for the answers. These, to the amount of four thousand copies, were distributed in every county, but I am sorry to say that our people generally took so little interest in, and seemed to have so slight an appreciation of, the importance of the work undertaken by the Board, that out of that num ber only two hundred and fifteen were filled up and returned, and very many of those had the questions answered so carelessly as to be of no value. In the initiatory steps in setting the Centennial " ball in motion, : the duties connected with my position, that claimed immediate attention, w r ere so many and so varied, that it \vas not until the 26th of January, 1876, that I was able to begin writing this report, although it had to be completed by the 1st of April. But it could not have been finished then, or, in fact, for several months afterward, had it not been for the untiring energy and invaluable assistance of Prof. Wm. M. Fontaine, of the University of West Virginia, who \vas specially detailed, on the 1st of February, by the Board of Regents of that Institution, to the service of your Board. The many admirable chapters that appear under his name give most ample evidence of the value of his services, whilst his accurate knowledge concerning the State, contributes largely to whatever effect iveness this volume may possess. The resources of West Virginia are so many and so varied that it is impossible, in _a work of this size, or in the time that was at my dis posal, to make anything more than a mere outline sketch of what we possess. It was my aim to give every industry a fair and impartial exhibition. To this end, not only were the circulars of questions sent out broadcast, but letters were written to representatives in each indus- VI PREFACE. try, asking for certain specified points of information that were of importance. I am sorry to say that a large majority of these elicited hut very few of the facts that \vere wanted. s<> that if any district of the State, or any hrancli of natural wealth has not received its due consid eration, it must l>e ascribe* I to those persons and corporations that were too apathetic to their sectional interests to furnish the necessary points. To this, and to the shortness of the time in which the book had to be completed, 1 hope yon will ascribe all the imperfections that may appear in it. Besides to Prof. Fontaine, I beg to tender my especial thanks to the other gentlemen, whose names appear as the authors of various chap ters, for the kind assistance they have rendered. I have also to acknowl edge a great deal of help derived from the Hand Book of West Virginia, by J. II. hiss Debar. Hitherto, the people of one section of \Vest Virginia knew but little of what was in the Others, and had no fair conception of what our bor ders contained. For they, themselves, to bo schooled in this, is as important as for the world at large to have authentic information con cerning onr young State, and I consider that the wise step that the Board took in disbursing a portion of the Centennial appropriation in this way, will be of more solid, permanent, and substantial benefit than any other that could have been devised, and if this report is productive of a more careful and complete investigation of, and a livelier interest in, the innumerable advantages that "West Virginia presents to the success ful prosecution <>f all kinds of industries, I shall be glad to have been able to render any aid toward developing my adopted State and a former portion of my native <nc. Very respectfully, M. F. MA TRY. Director in Charge of ///<" Centennictl CoUeclwn. I*/ AprU, 1870. T A B L E O F C Ts T T E J\ T T 8. CHAPTER I. TOPOGRAPHY. Topography of sections across the State. Canon Features. Topograph ical influence of the Coal Measures. Topographical division of the State. Character of the Mountain Region and the effects of erosion therein. Effects of Erosion in and Structure of the Central and Southern Portions of the Stale. Plateau Region. Altitudes of differ- ent -points. Table of Magnetic Declinations, pp. 1-22. CHAPTER II. CLIMATOLOGY. Causes influencing our Climate. Temperature. Prevailing Winds. Rainfall and melted Snow. Fanning Calendar. Climatic records for Marietta, discussed hy the Smithsonian Institution, pp, 2:5-47. CHAPTER III. AGRICULTURAL GEOLOGY. Character of the different Soils. Character of the different Hocks. Posi tion, character and soils of the different Geological Formations, pp. 48-61. CHAPTER IV. FARM PRODUCTS. Condition of Agriculture. The different drains. Potatoes, Sorghum. Maple Sugar, Tohacco. Miscellaneous Crops. Butter, Honey, Fruits, Garden Products. Grape Culture. Statistics of Farm Product-, pp. 62^89. CHAPTER V. CATTLE AND GRASSES. Causes promoting Grass Culture and Cattle Raising. Management of Cattle. Formation of Mountain Graxing Farms. Improved Cattle. Grasses : Clover, Red and White, Timothy, Orchard Grass. Statistics of Live Stock, etc. pp. 90-99. Vlll TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER VI. SHEEP AND WOOL. Origin of the Merino. Suitableness of soil, etc., for Sheep. Compara tive cost of wintering Stock. Length of feeding period for Sheep in different States. Facilities for exporting Wool. Facilities for manu- fact uring Woolen Goods, pp. 100-110. CHAPTER VII. FOREST TREES, SHRUBS AND MEDICINAL PLANTS. The different Forest Trees, with the character of their Timber and the uses for it-. Shrubs, character of, etc. Alphabetical enumeration of Medicinal Plants, pp. 111-141. CHAPTER VIII. TIMBER ITS DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION. Amount of Timber Land. Character of the Timber. Distribution of Hard Wood and Coniferous Timber. Development of Timber in the Eastern Central and Western part of the State. Development of Tim ber along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad; on the Ohio; on the Little Kanawha ; on the Big Sandy, etc. and on the Groat Ranawha. pp. 142-101. CHAPTER IX. THE COAL FIELD. Appalachian Coal Field. General sketch of the West Virginia Coal Field. Potomac Basin. Preston Basin. Monongahela- Basin. Coal Measures West of Tucker County and Rich Mountain. Geological Formation of the New and Kanawha Rivers Coal Basins. Coal Meas ures on New River. Coal Measures on Great Kanawha River. Coals of the Upper Coal Measures in West Virginia, treated by Counties. Vespertine Coals. Anthracite in Berkeley, pp. 1G2--M4. CHAPTER X. THE QUALITY AND VARIETY OF COAL AND THE MINING ADVANTAGES. Advantages for mining coal in West Virginia. Bituminous Coal: char acteristics, special uses, and analyses. Splint Coal area: character istics, special uses, analyses, rank, and locomotive tests. Cannel Coal area: characteristics, uses, analyses, etc. Cannel Shale. Mar kets for Coal. Importance of West Virginia Iron Ores. Market Quo tations of West Virginia Coal. pp. 215-L ) 4t>. CHAPTER XI. [RON, Iron Ores found in the Coal Measures. Localities, irregularities and analyses of Black Band Ores. Carbonates and Oxides of Iron in the TABLE OF CONTENTS. IX Coal Measures, in various counties, and analyses. Ked Haematites in the Coal Measures. Iron Ores in various counties on Eastern Bor der of the State, and. analyses. ]>)>. 247 -273. CHAPTER XII. SALT AND PETROLEUM. Principal localities of Salt Works. Salt Works of Mason County, their discovery, development, depth, present production, and general sta tistics. Discovery of the Kanawha Salt " Licks " and history of their development from that time to the present date. Oil and Gas in Kanawha Salt Wells. Manufacture of Bromine from Bitterns. Con sumption of coal in Salt making. Cost of producing Salt. Cost of Well Boring. Consumption of Salt in United States. Advantages of West Virginia for Alkali Manufacture. Characteristics and rank in market <>f Kanawha Salt. Wells and their productive capacity in Ka- nawha. Chronological Table connected with Kanawha Salt interests. Petroleum in West Virginia. Future Oil Field of West Virginia. Regions producing "Light" and "Heavy" Oils. Amount of Oil pro duced, pp. 274-30P. CHAPTER XIII. MISCE LL ANEOUS M IN ERA I ,S. Common Limestone and analyses. Tufas: their applicability to Agri culture. Hydraulic Limestone and analyses. Marbles. Building Stones. Fire Clays and analyses. Potters Clay and Potteries. Glass Sand. Ochre.] Barytes. Manganese. Saltpetre. Lead. Zinc. Copper. Gold and Silver, pp. 310-322. CHAPTER XIV. MINERAL WATERS. The "Springs" Region of West Virginia. Varieties of Mineral Waters. Thermal A\ r aters. Description of the most noted Mineral Springs, and their Medicinal Properties. Analyses, pp. 323-334. CHAPTER XV. TRANSPORTATION. Why Railroads have not been built in West Virginia, and the draw backs and advantages thereof. Railroads in operation. Railroads chartered. Rivers improved. Contemplated improvements of Rivers, pp. 335-340. CHAPTER XVI. EDUCATION A L IN TKREHTS. Free Schools and Laws relating thereto. Law relating to Normal Schools. Normal Schools of the State. West Virginia University. Colored Schools. Catholic Schools. Private Schools. Kdncatiomil Publications, pp. 347-3^ . X TABLE OF CONTENIS. CHAPTER VIL DESCRIPTION OF INDIVIDUAL Showing the Soils, Crop Yields, Value of Lands, I > riucij>;il Industries, and Exports, Manufactories, Lines of Transportation, Population, Wealth, and School and Church Facilities of Each County in the State. pp. 34-4i > :{. INDEX... 425 IsTOTICim. Owing to the shortness of time-in which this volume had to be published, the following errors unfortunately appear in the text, and the reader is requested to kindly correct them before reading : Page 78, line 3, for add to this read add to 10,800,000 pounds, the production N. of the Little Kanau ha. Page 78, line 5, for 18,000,500 read 13,500,000. 114, " 28, for Fag us fern iginea read Fay UK Ferruyinea. " 163, " 4, for 12,049,505 read 13,049,505. " 163, " 7, tor 5 per cent read 4.66 per cent. " 164, " 17, lor series rock* ivad x( ries of rocks. 171, " 22, for fi rst of read first scam of. " 178, " 10, for protoxide read peroxide. 181, " 3, for does pay read does not pay. " 199, table, for Black Flint JR dge read Black Flint Ledge. " 200, table, for 54 ft. 3 in. read 56 ft. 3 in. 209, line 14, for one read on. " 225, analyses, for Ash 18.73 read Ash 1.873. " 226, analyses for Quinnimont No. 1, ^Is/j, 6.15 lead ,-ls/i 5.8-5. " 226, " for Quin nmont No. 2, Ash 5.57 read ^4.v7t 5.0f>. " 237, line 14, for J. J/. #. JoTm read 1. M. St. John. " 252, " 26, for cacarcous rea^d calcareous. " 260, " 20, for iron ore read iron ore in workable quantities. 11 264, " 29, for Nov. 25 read No. 25. " 267, " 9, for mined read tni.< cd. 41 294, 1, for 1.200 read 1200. t; 318, " 7, for frequently read apparently. " 318, " last for is read re. " 32^3, " 16, for Acidulous read Acidulous. " 343, " 14, for Marae read Marea. " 343, <; 30, for connecting read collecting. " 351, " 1, for thereafter read thereof. " 372, " 8, for in read ////o. " 373, " 33, for 12 months read 10 months. * 383, <; 36, for Hhephcrdstouin read Charlf.^ncn. " 385, " 33, for exports read markets. " 389, " 15 and li, for YY/i read /< T Ve. " 389, " 24, for^ne read >Y/-e. " :{90, " 20, for SIOCO to J15WJ read 1*250 to $300. " 392, " 2, lor/, ir. C. />am- ro:ul .7. H r . C. Dtu-is. " 394, " 39, for it read CHAPTER I. TOPOGRA PHY. BY WM. M. FONTAINE. In dealing with the topography of West Virginia, we can give little more than general statements. Few moasuroments of altitudes are in existence, and the limited time allowed for the preparation of this hand-book, will not permit even these to he procured and digested. It will, perhaps, give a better general idea of the topography of the country, if we select for examination one of the streams which rise on the eastern edge of the State, near the Allegheny mountains, and flow westward into the Ohio. Such a stream, when followed from its m outh to its source, will take u.- : across the entire width of all the various surface features to be seen in that region. For it mast 1)3 note:!, that areas with similar topographical features, have their greatest dimensions along lines running N. E. and S. W., here as elsewhere in the Appalachian region. In this connection we must call attention to the fact, that north of the Little Kanawha no considerable stream flows directly into the Ohio, after taking its rise in, or near, the Alleghanies. In this part of the State, the streams rising near the mountains flow X.W..N., and N E., and go into the Monongahela and Potomac.. South of the Little Kanawhn. all the streams go more or less directly west, into the Ohio, ^passing entirely across the State. If we draw a N. \V. line from Pocahontas to Tyler county, on the Ohio, this would nearly separate the streams flowing RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. westward from those flowing northward. Along this line an important change in the geological structure takes place. This is more fully noted elsewhere. It is sufficient to say here, that south of this line we may consider the country as tilted towards the northwest, while north of it the surface is thrown into folds, lyin-jj closer together on the east, and open ing out on the west, when at the same time a general north ward slope is determined. This causes the important change scon, in the direction of the rivers. \Ve may now describe the changes of surface to he seen along one of the east and west flowing rivers. For our pres ent purpose, no stream is better suitable than the Kanawha, and its continuation in the Xew and Greenbrier rivers. The features s^eh along this line are to be found on any of the streams which pursue a similar course. Such are the Big Sandy, Guyandotte, Gauley, Elk, and Little Kanawha. Commencing then, on the Ohio, and proceeding eastward, we note the following facts: In the vicinity of the Ohio, as we enter the Kanawha, we are accompanied by hills of moderate height (200 300 feet), with gentle slopes, and placed more or less widely apart, hav ing extensive bottoms along the river, and other indications of a surface composed of soft and easily worn-down material. These features accompany us for a long distance, until we approach Charleston. As we near this point, the lulls become higher and higher, with more precipitous slopes and nar rower valleys. At the same time they close down on the river nearer and nearer. .hissing Charleston, the same features continue, the hills gaining in height along the river until they reach, in the vicinity of Coaisburg, the altitude ofXOOfect above the stream. They continue to rise gradually, until near the Falls they at tain the height of 1,10!) jet. At the Falls the river passes into that part of its course marked by canon features, and from this point takes the name of Xew river. A little back Ironi the immediate banks, the hills rise into quite lofly moun tains, attaining in (Jan ley mountain the height of 1,800 to I . .)()() feel, above the river. The canon features at (end Xe\v river to beyond < v >uinni- mont. a dislance of more than 10 mile-. The^e are caused by RESOCKCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. the rise, above the water level, of the massive sandstones of the conglomerate series, which will be more fully described in another connection. Wherever the rivers arc flowing through, and over, this series, especially its upper portion, they pre sent much the same character. In such cases they are walled in by high hills, or precipitous cliffs, which rise almost im mediately from the water s edge, leaving no bottoms or low grounds. The beds of the streams are rugged, and choked with great masses of stone, fallen from the cliffs above, while continual rapids and falls combine to give them still more of the character of mountain torrents. Such a conformation has given to New river its well-known reputation for wildness and ruggedncss. But in these features it is even surpassed by its southern neighbors, the Guyandotte and l>ig Sandy. While such wild and rugged scenery is presented along the immediate banks of the streams in this area occupied by the conglomerate, the case is very different when we ascend the the inclosing hills. It is thus seen that the rivers are really flowing in deep trenches, far below the general plane of the country. This general plane is determined by the upper surface of the conglomerate series, which continues to rise^to the east, at an average rate of 50 feet to the mile. As a conse quence of this state of things, the conglomerate rising faster than the rivers fall, the dills which border them become higher and higher, and the general surface more elevated, as we pro ceed east, until the upper surface of the conglomerate series is carried so high in the air, that it has been broken down and removed by the action of the elements. This plane, determined by the upper surface of the conglom erate, is dotted over with hills, which do not, in their general aspects, differ from those seen elsewhere over most of the State. Many of them rise to a considerable height, owing to special agencies, which have acted to preserve them. Where their conglomerate base has risen to a considerable height, they at tain above tide an elevation which would by no means be sus pected by an inspection of their altitude above their bases. Such elevations are those of Bier Scwell, Cherry Pond, and Guyandotte mountains, &c. The conglomerate base continues to rise as above described, until it makes its last appearance on the east in the Great Flat UKSOTKL ES OF WKST VIRGINIA. Top, tuid White Oak mountains. Here it has attained the elevation of 2,S(K) to ^.WO feet. Passing beyond the lino of these mountains, near Hint-on, and following the Grcenhrier river eastward, we find the general plane of the country greatly lowered, the canon features lost, and the surface presenting general features like thoso seen below Charleston. This continues until we approach the White Sulphur, on the eastern, border of Greenbrier, when we meet for the first time the long parallel folds of the Alleghany moun tains. If now we take a similar course from west to east in the northern part of the State, we will find a different topography. There is no rise of the general plane of the country to t l ieeast in this quarter, for the conglomerate is too deeply buried, and its thickness has become too much diminished. Commenc ing on the Ohio in the northern part of Wetzel, and pro ceeding east across Monongalia, to the west border of Preston, we find no essential difference. On the Ohio, the hills are higher here than at the mouth of the Kanawha, since they reach the height of 500 and GOO feet above the river. In Wetzel they rise still higher above their valleys, but in Monon galia they again show the same altitude as on the Onio. On the west border of Preston, we meet in Laurel Hill, the most we.sterly of the parallel fold.- of the Alleghany system, and thence these are continued, growing closer and higher, as we proceed eastward. A bird s-eye view of the Ohio river, would show it, throuuh- out much of its course, flowing between high, sharp-backed hills. These are higher in the north, lower in the middle, and higher again in the southern part of its course. In order to understand the topography of a country, we must know its geology. For the rocks which underlie the soil, form the materials out of which the surface features have been carved, and their varying hardness, and proneness to disintegration, will determine the shapes finally assumed. We will then, in this connection, briefly describe some of the more important geological formations, solely in their topographical relations. The formations which have had by their presence, the most influence on the topography of our State are the following, beginning with the highest and latest formed. 1. The Upper RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Barren Measures, and Productive Coals. 2. The Lower Barren Measures, and Productive Coals. 3. The Conglomerate Series. 4. The I mbral Shales and Lim:;4one. -5. The Vespertine 1 , Shales. \Ve may omit, in this connection, the consideration of the other formations, reserving their description for another topic, since they compose a comparatively small portion of our area. The Upper Barren Measures, and Pro luctive Coals, are every where in the state, m linly soft crumbling rocks, such as shales, and shaly sandstones, which are eauly worn down and removed by rains and running streams Tiny are greatly thickened in the northern part of the State, but in passing South, become comparatively unimportant. Whenever they are present, ow ing to the readiness with which they are worn away, they produce high, conical, or rounded hills, \\ith deep, narrow valleys, forming an irregular net- work of streams. These streams rarely have much bottom land, but it is not uncommon to find the hills with broad, flat summits. The Lower Barren Measures, and Productive Coals, in the northern part of the State, are comparatively thin, and do not differ materially in their structure and topography from the overlying series first described. But in the south, there is a very material change. The series becomes greatly thickened, and there is a much larger proportion of firm, massive sand stones in it, especially towards the lower portion. As the top ographical effects of these sandstones are in general, the same with those of the conglomerate series, we need not consider them separately. It will be sufficient to say that the change in the topography, described above, as seen in approaching Charleston from the Ohio river, is due to the rise of these rocks above water level. The conglomerate series, in the northern portion of the State, is comparatively quite thin, and is so deeply buried under the productive coal measures, that it has no effect on the topography. It is first seen in Laurel Hill rising above the surface, and from that point eastward, it has an important influence on the surface contours, entering mainly into the mountain ridges. It is here principally massive sand stone. In the south, on the contrary, we iind it greatly thickened, and elevated to the surface over broad areas. Along New river, RESOURCES OF WLiST VlICdINIA. and southward, it has a threefold structure, being massivesand- stone lit bottom, more shaly and easily eroded strata in tlic center, and on top, again massive sandstone of great thickness. Throughout the series massive sandstones predominate. The influence of this series combined with that of the more massive portions of the Lower Productive Coals, has had an exceedingly important e licet on the topography of the central and eastern portions of the State. This is in large part due to the highly siliceous character of many of these sandstones, which lias enabled them to resist in a remarkable manner, degradation and removal by running streams. Such sandstones are inde structible, except by undermining and throwing down the ledges, and this process of undermining, is what has tilled the streams [lowing in this formation, with the huge masses of stone which we see. Especially is this true of the uppermost ledge, which is usually over 150 feet thick. ("nderlving the conglomerate series, we have the umbral shales and sandstones, followed below by the umbra,! limestone. These shales and sandstones are generally soft and easily cut away, while much of the limestone beneath is more resistent. Hence the country having these rocks on the surface, is usually much lower than that occupied by the conglomerate, they hav ing been cut away much more rapidly. We find these strata over much of the country lying to the east of the conglomerate, which as stated above, makes its last appearance in White Oak, Klk Knob, and Flat Top mountains. The last formation to be mentioned here, is the upper mem ber of the Vespertine, which is formed of crumbling red shales, and these even more readily than the shales of the umbral, are broken down and removed. These form the only other rock composing the surface of Mercer, Monroe, and (hvcnbrier, besides t lie above named. For the purpose of top ^graphical description, we may divide the State into two Regions, in which the surface features pre sent important differences, and are due to the action of essen tially different causes. Our dividing line must be somewhat, arbitrarily selected. It may be taken as follows : T.egi lining in the north, it commences in Laurel Hill, on the west border of Preston, and is thence continued south, in the mountain of that name, on the western border of Barbour: RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. thence in Rich mountain in Randolph; Gaulcy and Greenbrier mountains in Pocahontas; the Main Alleghany near the White Sulphur; and lastly Peter s mountain in the southern part of the State. The country between this line and the Ohio river may be styled The Hi j h/ R- fjiin, and that lying to the oust nf it, The Mountain Region. It must be borne in mind that this division is not founded on altitude, alone, but also on considerations which will be presently given. Indeed, contrary to what the titles might suggest, the elevation of much of the hilly region, is above that of a portion of the mountain region. In that section which we have styled the Hi ly E"ifin., and which comprises much the larger part of the State, arc to be found those peculiar topographical features, which have given our State considerable celebrity. Leaving out of view, for the present, the special features which mark the canon portions of the streams in the south, and the country wherever the con glomerate has attained a considerable height alv>ve the rivers, we may briefly describe them as follows: First, we note a vast multitude of hills, sometimes closely placed, and rising imme diately from the V shaped depressions, in which the streams (low; again, sloping more gently, with considerable bottoms at their base, spreading out into flat-topped, gently undulating plains on their summits; or again, expanding into elevations attaining the dignity of mountains. Locking across such a region, it often presents nothing but a succession of such hills and valleys. As a rule, these succeed each other in no partic ular order, but occur just as the streams, turning hither and thither, to avoid some harder rock, carved them out. Occa sionally the out-crop of some more indestructible stratum, has determined the direction of a line of elevations, or a remnant of a harder overlying mass, has along certain-determinate linos. preserved the underlying softer material from erosion, and so left more or less connected ridges and mountains. These are the general features presented by the elevations in the softer strata of the productive coals, and in the similar rocks under lying the conglomerate series. The special modifications pro duced by this latter series, will be noted further on. Again, as might be inferred, the streams in the above described districts, are marked by the great irregularity of their courses. S RESOI-RCES 01- WEST VIRGINIA. They (low to every quarter of the compass, but all finally make their way westward, or northwestward into the Ohio. These, as well as all the streams in the State, are remarkable for the grout depth to which they have cut their channels. Here, however, although the valleys are deep, and narrow, they have none of the canon features, but the bordering hills may be cultivated to their tops, though often too steep, and with a soil too light, to render frequent ploughing advisable. In all this hilly region, the surface features arc entirely the work of erosion. The rains and running streams have cut- lofty hills and veritable imuntains oat of the gently sloping, and often almost horizontal strata, having removed a truly astounding m:iss of in it "rial by their slow, ever-wearing flow. Indeed, when one thinks over the vast amount of wear that the surface of our state exhibits, he is tempted to speculate about a period when the rains were far heavier, and the streams more powerful, than at present ; a pariocl when the land, new ly raised from the carboniferous seas, was exposed as a lofty barrier to the sweep of westerly winds, laden with moisture from extensive seas penetrating into the land, far boyond the present Gulf of Mexico. THE MOUNTAIN REGION. We. will now turn to the inspection of the topography of the mountain region. Omitting the counties of Berkeley (in part) and Jefferson ; this region includes all east of the line described as the eastern boundary of the hilly region. Here, also, we find stupendous monuments of the levelling powers of the atmospheric agencies, but these have not been the only forces at work in this district in modelling the hills and val leys, as was the case in the hilly region. The surface of this part of the State, when first upheaved and exposed to denuding forces, was thrown into long paral lel elevations and depressions, running in a X. E. and S. W. direction. These folds, on the the e ist border of the State, are comparatively close together and narrow. Going west, they widen out, and become more distant, until before reaching the Ohio they become imperceptible. As will bu noted under the head of Agricultural Geology, the strata which compose these folds, are alternations of soft yielding rocks mid massive sand- RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. stones, among which latter, the conglomerate series above de scribed, plays no unimportant part. In the easternmost, and more sharply folded flexures, the stiff, unyielding sandstones, were along the crest lines of the ridges, where the strain was greatest, hurst asunder, and bro ken to fragments, exposing the next succeeding soft strata below. When now these elevated ridges, or anticlinals, were ex posed to the wearing action of rains and torrents, these stripped off all softer material from the summits,, and left bare the arches of massive standstone, with their fractured crowns. The surface waters working their way along these fractures, soon reached the softer material below. Here their progress was more rapid, and by cutting down, and undermin ing the walls on either side, they have finally excavated chan nels of greater or less width. Such has been the history of the formation of many of the narrow parallel valleys in the northeastern counties of the State, and more particularly in Randolph, and Pendleton. Where the process above described, has been carried on, on an extensive scale, we see the river now flowing in a narrow val ley between two mountain walls. This is the case with Ty- gurt s Valley river in Randolph. Where less complete, we find the stream flowing on the top of a mountain, and still cut ting its way down in the massive standstone, as in the case of the some of the Forks of Cheat. Again, in the originally depressed portions, or synclinal valleys, which being less elevated have suffered less from ero- sion, we find streams flowing in like manner, between moun tain chains, and it is easy to see how the waters would have gathered in such valleys. Synclinal valleys may be distin guished by the fact that the rocks dip from both sides to wards them, while in the case of valleys of the former class, or anticlinal valleys, they dip away from them on both sides. It often happens in the mountain region which we are de scribing, that that the arches and folds are too broad to be crack ed along their crest lines. Then they often afford on their summits, flat, or gently undulating surfaces, which are called Glades by the inhabitants, but which are simply tablelands of 10 RKSOrRCES OF \VKST VIIJCTNIA. greater or less extent. This feature is more common when the huge unyielding masses of the conglomerate series enter into the structure of the country. Wo also find the anticlinal valleys, with their canon-like features, more commonly where the conglomerate is present. This rock is extensively ex posed in the mountain region/ Such are the general features presented in the two regions into which we have divided the State, and such were some of the special circumstances which modified erosions in the mountain district, and which had to be first described, before any general view could be taken of the effects of erosion over the State elsewhere. We are now prepared to take such a view. In order to do this, let us, in imagination, travel back to that remote period at the close of the carboniferous age, when the land which now forms our State, was first elevated above the waters. The ele vating force was a lateral one, acting from the S. E. It seems to have, in the county north of Pocahontas, thrown the strata into ridges and depressions, as above described. While the mountain ranges in the east, no doubt, rose to great heights, there is no reason to suppo.-e that the country westward par took of a corresponding elevation. The disturbing force M lMns to have exhausted itself in producing the folds. South of Pocahontas, the case was different. Here the en tire country from the east border of the State to the Ohio river, seems to have been elevated in one mass, pivoting on that river, as a hinge-line, and causing a surface sloping to the N. W. towards that stream. This mass of elevated country was composed in the main of the strata Ave have previously described. \Vhile now the rocks in the folded mountain region, were undergoing the change described above, let us see what would take place in the coun- Iry to the W. and S. of this section. In the northern part of the State, as we have seen, we have a thick mass of crumbling shales, and argillaceous sandstones, of the Upper Barrens, and Productive Coals. These being but comparatively little eleva ted, remain still in groat force, not having been so extensively exposed to the denuding effects of the elements. In these strata the streams aio still flowing, and in their great thickness RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. M and comparative softness, we find the origin of the topograph ical features seen in this part of the country. In the description of the topography along the New River, we have seen that the conglomerate series rose as we passed eastward, at the average rate of 50 feet to the mile. We are now able to see why this is so. This, with the over and un derlying series, were all carried up, and given a slope X. W. in the central and southern portions of the State. Hence all these rocks, followed from west to east, rise in suc cession above water level. Tn our description of the several scries, the fact was noted that the lower portions of the Lower Barren measures, and Lojvet Coals, contained much massive sandstone, and that these pro duced much the same topographical effects as the conglomer ate. These rise above the level of the streams near Charleston. Drawing a X. E. and S. AY. line through this point, all the country between that and the Ohio river, is formed out of strata, which, in their topographical effects, resemble those in the north of the State, and hence along the Ohio river, wo have a pretty wide belt, occupied by high hills and narrow valleys, which have lost comparatively little of their original height. , The case is different as we go east of Charleston. We have seen how the topography changes as the massive sandstones of the lower coals and conglomerate occupy the country. Let us now see how these rocks have^ modified the topography in this portion of the State. When first raised above the waters, the central and southern portions of the State, formed a great plane sloping from the east to the northwest. This was covered with the comparatively incoherent strata ot the higher members of the carboniferous system, supported on the massive plates of sandstone, forming the lower portions. In the east this complex system was lifted high in the air, and exposed to the full effects of the ele ments. In these higher, and more easterly portions, the softer- overlying portions were soon stripped off, the harder conglom erate, was reached and this, too, was broken down and re moved. Xow the work of erosion going on in the soft under lying umbrul strata, was carried on with comparative rapidity. 12 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. * This was the extreme stage reached, and up to this, we have all the graduations of degradation. Thus, in some parts of our eastern border, the country has been worn down through the umbral sandstones and shales until the more resistent umbral limestone has been reached. This has caused the exposure of this limestone over parts of Greenbrier and Monroe. Again, the red umbral rocks have not been removed in other parts, and we find them alongside the limestone, overspreading much of the two counties named above, as well as of Summers and Mercer. Scattered here and there in these counties, portions of the conglomerate have escaped destruction, and by their presence, have preserved from removal the umbral strata which lay under them. Hence we find these remnants standing out as mountains, capped by sandstone, in a region of limestone and red shales. Of this character are many of the mountains in the counties above named, such as Elk Knob, Muddy Creek, Meadow, Yew Moun tains, &G. These usually contain in their summits only the lowest strata of the conglomerate, the middle coal bearing por tions having been carried off. The degree of erosion described above as h aving taken place in this region, accounts for the comparatively small altitude of the district, which does not exceed 2,000 feet. In some parts, along the we^t bor.br of this region, the ero sion has been less complete. Tiie base of the conglomerate, and even the central coal bearing portions, remains. Incon sequence of this state of things, we find along the. Blue Stone River, and in the east face of Flat Top Mountain, on the west border of Mercer, workable beds of coal. From this point, looking westward, we are confronted by the eastern outcrop of the conglomerate series, which is here all present, and rises in an unbroken wall, forming the level topped mountains which bear in our state the names of White Oak, and Flat Top, anil in Tennessee that of the Cumberland. The tops of these mountains are formed by the massive plates of the highest strata of the conglomerate, and from this point westward, these continue unbroken, inclining towards the Ohio as before stated, with the average dip of 50 feet per mile. In the crests of these mountains, which rise to the height of 2,800 to 3,000 feet, all the softer overlying strata have been RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 13 . removed, and the basal conglomerate is exposed ; but as this sinks towards the Ohio, we find a thicker and thicker cover ing of productive coal strata, until at last the conglomerate series sinks below the water level a short distance east of the Falls of the Kanawha. Throughout this area the presence of this massive system, in the hills, has exerted a predominant influence on the topography. We have seen that so long as the rivers are flowing in this series, they possess canon fea tures. We have described these features, and noted the pecu liar relations which the channels bear to the general level of the country. The region of country now underlaid by the conglomerate, when first exposed to the elements, lost rapidly its upper softer strata, and this loss was in direct ratio to the elevation of the strata. Accordingly, as stated above, along the eastern out crops we find them more or less removed, and a greater amount remaining in the lower western portions. The descending waters in cutting down through the produc tive coal strata, produced in this region, as everywhere else, where these rocks are present, that system of hills and valleys, already described, and hence wherever these coal measures re main on the conglomerate, they give the surface that undula ting character mentioned as found in the country along the canon portions of the rivers. But when once the upper surface of the conglomerate was reached, the general degradation of the surface ceased, since the eroding power of the rains, and smaller streams, was too feeble to effect it. As a consequence, the upper massive beds of this series, determine the general plane of the country. The larger streams when once they had cut their channels into these beds, deep enough to confine their waters, had their eroding power immensely increased. En closed by walls of massive rock, their entire force was exerted in scouring out their bottoms. Thus they cut their narrow channels deeper, and deeper, while the general level of the country remained unaltered. While this was going on, the sur face drainage from either side, over the enclosing walls, unlike what occurs in ordinary streams, could not plane down the hard sandstones which compose them, and hence they usually stand up in cliffs close to the channel. The usual methods by which these sandstones were thrown down, seems to have been by 14 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. undermining them. The streams that enter the rivers, almost always do so at the water level, and almost never by cascades. But if we follow them a short distance up their gorge-like pas sage ways, we soon find them passing into rapids and cascades. The low level of their mouths seems due to the undermining action of the river, aiding the erosion of the tributary. It is somewhat singular to find that the larger streams, as a rule, have exerted but little action in wiiening their channels, even when they reached the softer central portions of the con glomerate. They have generally cut their way straight down. This, however, is not always the ca:<e. In some cases the streams, on reaching their central portions, which are occu pied largely by shaly rocks, have ceased almost entirely their downward action, but have cut laterally on each side, throwing down the massive ledges, and forming wide and beautiful valleys in which the fall of the stream is almost im perceptible. Of this character are the so-called marshes of Coal river, in the southern part of Raleigh county. This is a deep valley, 10 to 12 miles wide, excavated in the central por tion of the conglomerate scries, and lying between the Guyan- dotte mountains and the Raleigh plateau. Here the water is almost stagnant, having no very perceptible flow. Of a simi lar character are the Flats along the Meadow river, to which the name of this stream is due. These remarkable flats lie in the western edge of Greenbrier county, near Big Sewell moim- x tain. They are more than 2500 feet above tide, or more than two hundred feet higher than the summit of the Alleghany near the White sulphur Springs in Greenbrier county. Major Chas. Ellett says of these meadows, "Within the space enclos- " ed by several mountains, such as Big Sewell, Little Sewell, "Laurel mountain, Mea.low mountain, Keeney s Knob, etc.; are found the "Meadows 5 of Meadow river, one of the prin- " cipal tributaries of the Gauley. These meadows are exten- "sive "Glades," throng]) which flow the waters of numerous " streams which descend from the neighboring mountains and " which, passing through portions of the meadows, one by one, "unite to form the Meadov river, which name, however, is "borne by one of these smaller streams. Those extensive "flats present the appearance of the bottom of an exhausted "lake. They are as level as a graded lawn, so level, indeed, RESOURCES OF WEST VIKHTNIA. 15 k> that it is found difficult to drain them. The width of these "glades is extremely irregular, sometimes not over 500 yards, " and again opening out to two miles. 1 " In this region, Major Ellett proposed putting his reservoir lake, to supply the Kanawha and Ohio rivers with water in their low stages. The surveys made here in connection with that scheme, showed the great elevation above tide of these flats, viz: 2,543 feet. Such are the features occasionally presented, caused by the action of erosion on the middle members of the conglomerate. They are, however, exceptions. From what has been said above, concerning the effectual resistance opposed by the upper surface of the conglomerate, to the wearing down of the general plane of the country, it is easy to see that wherever this has attained a considerable alti tude above tide, it will give to the country the character of an elevated plateau. The eastern border of this elevated plateau is in the White Oak and Flat Top mountains, and in aline drawn in their prolongation in a N. E. direction. Here, the level has risen to the altitude of 2,800 to 8,000 feet, and more. To the east, the country falls off into the lower plateau of Greenbrier and Monroe, which has the height of 2,000 to 2,200 feet, owing to causes above explained. On the western side, we may assume as the limit, a N. E. and S. W. line, drawn through the Hawk s Nest on New river. Here the upper surface of the conglomerate is 521 feet above the river, or 1,272 feet above tide. All the country between these lines, i. e. the eastern parts of McDowell, Wyoming, Raleigh, Fayette, Nicholas, and Webster, may be styled the Plateau Region. Much of it is flat or gently undulating, giv ing rise to the so-called Glades. Along the principal rivers, the general level falls off by precipitous slopes, until their beds are reached. This high belt of country is studded over by hills and mountains, which, owing to the great height of the plane from which they rije, attain an altitude above the .sea, which, as we have before stated, one would by no means sus pect. As an illustration of this fact, w& may mention here the heights of a few points in this region, and for comparison the height of the Alleghany, in the vicinity of the White Sul phur. This latter, is, according to Ellett, 2,325 feet above tide. 10 RESOtTRCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. The surface of the conglomerate, which, as we have before stated, determines the plane of the country, is at Quinnimont on Xew river, in the vicinity of Big Sewell, according to Mr. S. F. Morris, 2,610 feet above tid. Big Sewell, according to Mr. S. C. McCorkle, of the coast survey, is 3,500 feet above tide. No reliable measurements have been made of the lofty Cherry Pond, and Guyandotte mountains, between Raleigh and Wyom ing, but estimates on Avhich some reliance may be placed, make them fully 4,000 feet high, and shows them to be among the very highest. There is a remarkable elevated region near the junction of Randolph, Pocahontas, Pendleton, and Highland counties, which merits a particular description. Unfortunately, meas urements of the altitudes in this quarter are rare. An inspection of the map will show that in this compara tively limited area, nearly all the important rivers of the State take their rise, as ;vell as the James and Potomac, of Vir ginia. These rivers flow to every quarter of the compass, ex cept directly east. Owing to this fact, it might be suppposed, without measurements, that here we should find some of the highest land west of the Alleghanies. This supposition is confirmed by such measurements as we have, which give in Panther Knob, Pendleton county, the highest point in the State, which has been actually measured. For this, Mr. Mc Corkle gives 4,000 feet. This, as will be noticed, does not surpass the estimated height of Cherry Pond, or Pond moun tain, in Raleigh. The height of the stream beds in this sec tion is put at 2400 to 2600 feet. If we we.re to pass planes tii rough the level of the headwaters of these streams, and con tinue them at water level, until they issue from the State, they would cut out the greater part of the circumference of a cone, whose apex would be 2500 feet above tide, and its base from 500 to 600 feet. Having given the above general description of the sur face features of our State, with the explanation of some of the causes producing them, we may now turn our attention to the altitudes of diil orent points so far as these have been measured. The farthest pninfs south, for which we have measurements, are situated on the line of the Kanawha river, and the Ches. & 0. R. R., these follow below. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 1? The level of the Ohio river, at the mouth of the Kanawha, according to the latest and most reliable nleasurenlents, ob tained by combining the measurements of the U. S. Engineer Dep ? t, for the height of the Kanawha at Charlesto ri, with the known fall of the river to its mouth, is 509 feet above mean tide. The Kanawha, at Charleston, according to the the U. S. Kng. Corps measurements, is 556 feet high. Vineyard hill, 6 miles above Charleston, is 1236 feet. The river at the mouth of Paint creek, 570 feet. Hills at that point, 1550 feet. River at Hawk s Nest, 751 feet. Hawk s Nest Cliff, 1272 feet. Gau- ley mountain near Hawk s Nest, 2600 feet. New river at Quin- niinont 1165 feet. Cliffs at that point, 2610 feet. New river at Hinton, 1364 feet. White Oak mountain near that point, 2800 to 3,000 feet, (estimated.) Big Sewell, according to McCor- kle 3500 feet. Meadow mountain 2719, (Ellett,) Grconbrier river, at Greenbrier bridge, 1584. Plateau of Meadow river, according to Ellett, 2548. White Sulphur Springs 2,000 feet. Alleghany mountains, between Crow s and White Sulphur, 2320 feet. For the elevations in the northern part of the State, along the line of the Wash. & 0. R. R., see list furnished by Mr. McKenzie, Pres t of that road; for those along the line of the Bait. & 0. R. R., see list furnished by Mr. Randolph. Chief Eng r of that road. Measurements on the line of the W. & <). R. R. were only given as far as Cheat river, in the list fur nished. On the western border of the State,- along the Ohio fiver, we may note the following. The height of the river at Wheel ing is 645.4 feet. In the vicinity of Wheeling, and for a con siderable distance down, the hills are high, being 500 and GOO feet above the river, and 1200 to 130 ) feet above tide. They decline in altitude as we approach Parkersburg, and from that point to Point Pleasant, where they are not more than 100 to 200 feet above the river, and 600 to 700 feet above tide. In the south, where the river leaves the State, its elevation is less than 500 feet, as it is, at the mouth of the Kanawha, only 50!) feet. The hills here are higher, being formed out of the more massive strata of the lower coals. They are 200 to 300 feet above the river, and 700 to 800 feet above tide. 18 KESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. The approximate elevation of different parts of the State, may be given as follows : A N.E. and S.W. line parallel to the general course of the Ohio river, and drawn through a point about G miles east of Charleston, would pass over a region having an elevation of 1200 to 1300 feet above tide. A second line, having a similar direction to the first, and drawn through the western part of Fayette, would pass over a region having a general altitude of 1000 to 1700 feet. A third line, having the same general direction, and drawn through the eastern part of Raleigh, would pass over a district having the elevation of 2000 to 2700 feet. A fourth line, passing through the plateau of Monroe and Greenbrier, and thence through the longitudinal valleys, in the eastern part of Randolph, would have an altitude of 2,000 to 2,200 feet. The following are the heights on the line of the Washing ton and Ohio Railroad as far west as the Forks of Cheat : ELEVATIONS ON THE LINE OF THE! W. & O. E. R. Winchester 7l > (> feet Locklmrt s Gap 890 feet Capon Springs Divide !,: >-"> fwt Lost River 1,240 feet Baker s Hun Divide T,9. JS 1 eet South Branch .Mountain -J4S feet Moorlield 800 feet N. Fork of the Potomac 1,000 fe- t Summit of the Alle^rhanies :>,27 feet Pry Fork of Cheat 2,100 feet The following elevations were determined on the Paddy s ( sip line of survey for this road. This line lies considerably south of the line on which the measurements above given were determined : Paddy s Divide, the dividing riduv between Frederick and Hardy L\00 ,) feet Ore I Junk 1,780 feet Rocky Rid-e ; 1,S40 feet Thorn Bottom * 1,470 feet Sandy Rid-v 2,i\:\i\ f -t Lost River 1,400 feet South Brunch .Mountain :U 14 feet Mooriield... SOU feet RP:SOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 19 The following is the list of elevations along the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, in W. Virginia JEltmtions. Slat inn*, <<< . A. M. T. Mill s ("reek Viaduct, at Cumberland. Md 039.0 Rowling s Station 098.0 Black Oak Bottom Station 735.!) Crossing of Potomac <2 spans of 150 feet each).. 780. West abutment of New Creek Bridge, sit Key- scr 797.71 TMedniont 919.39 Crossing Potomac (3 spans of 50 feet each 999. Opposite Ch urch , at Bloom ington 1, 037.05 Frankville Station 1.099.22 S wanton AVater Station.... 2,282.21 Altamont 2,(520. Deer Park 2,441.8 Little Youghioghenv Riv er Bridge . 2,397.07 Oakland 2,372. ( assidy s Summit 1,855.27 E. portal Kingwood Tun nel, (length, 4,132 ft.)-.- 1,819. W. portal Kingwood Tun nel 1,778.7 E. portal Murray s Tun nel *. 1,554. Xewburg 1.215.3 Hook s Run 1,104. Road to Morgantown at Independence 1,157.9 Helvitia Station 1,109.7 Bridge over Raccoon Cr k (5 spans. 25 ft.) 1.105.4 Thornton Station 1,037.9 Water Station, No. 5<), at Thorn s Run 1,032.4 Three Fork Creek bridge, (2 spans of 50. and 1 of 25ft.) 1,020.2 987.2 9S4.2 978.2 Grafton Fctterman Plum Run Bridge A T alley River Falls Station (water station 01) Xuzum s Mill Station <>30.2 Texas Station 8S3.i> Benton s Ferry 883.2 Monongahela Bridge - S 77. 2 Fairmont 877.2 Water Station, No. 03, at Barnesville 871.2 Bridge over Buffalo Cr k.. 890.9 Barracks ville .... 901 . Elevatiohs, Sftifions, ttv. A. M. T. Little Youghioo-heiiy Riv er Bridge . 2,370.8 < irral Yonghiogheny Riv er Bridge.../. . 2.371.00 Summit above Chisholm s 2,480.0 Mutton s Switch 2,477. Marysville Station 2,428. Bridge across N. Fork of Snowy Creek 2,409.2 Cranberry Summit Station 2,548.7 Cranberry .Summit 2,550.087 E. Portal of McGuire s Tunnel.. 2,382.4 Rod smer s Tunnel 2,083.:; Bridge over Salt Lick Creek at Amblersburg.. 1,019.1 Cheat River Bridge 1 .392,4 Rowlesburg 1,392.4 Buckeye Run Viaduct 1.515.5 Trav Run Viaduct 1.572. 1,720.4 910.5 022.5 jBuckhorn Run ifDavis Run Dunkard s Mill Run Farmington 927.2 i Wood s Run <>5<u;7 Mannington 9(i(i.! Glover s Gap Station 1,047.2 Burton s Station 1,000.37 E. portal of upper Eaton s Tunnel 993.2 E. portal of Lower Eaton s Tunnel 902. Littleton Station 930. AV. portal of Board Tree Tunnel 1,077. Belton Station 88(5.5 E. portal of AVelling Tun nel 1,201.8 AV. portal of AVelling Tun nel Opposite engine house at Cameron Station E. portal of Shepard s Tunnel Rosby s Rock Station Opposite Rosby s Rock.... Moundsville Opposite Kate s Rock McMicken s Run Opposite station house at Ben wood 048.5 WheelihgCreek at Wheel ing.....". 045.4 Fourth and John s Sts.... 050.2 1,193. 1,049.2 838.5 773.2 786.7 040.00 664.3 664.8 20 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. The above are the elevations along the line from Cumber land, Maryland, to Wheeling, West Virginia. The following are those on the line from Harper s Ferry to Cumberland : ELEVATIONS FROM HARPER S FERRY TO CUMBERLAND, MARYLAND. Elevation*, Skit him, cCr. .1. 3/. T. >er s Ferrv 11 . Snyder s Summit oOO.<) Opecquan River 40:>.75 Tnscarora Creek Bridge... &) >. Martinsburg 425. Tabb s Summit 547.5 "Fabler s Suinniit 540. Cherry Run :>})S.J> Sleepy Creek Bridge 410.5 Warren Spring Run oppi- site Hancock 42S.5 Sir John s Run 4:>4.5 Elevation*, Station*, cCr. A ..)f. T. Cacapon .. 440.5 Doe Gully Tunnel 5 is. Little Cacapon 5:> I . South Branch 550. Green Spring Run 54X.S Dan s Run Bridge 5(i.">. Patterson s Creek 5(>x. Potomac River <i04.5 Evitt s Creek UI5.7 \Yest side of . Baltimore Street at Cumberland, Md... <>: , .). The following extracts from a rep-jrt addressed to the Super intendent of the Coast Survey, by S. C. McCorkle, assistant on the Coast Survey, were kindly furnished, and are here pre sented. They will explain themselves. " Fi-mu-ARY 1-lth, 1S70. " C. P. Patterson, Superintendent I n itcd Nates Good Survey . "SIR: * * * Beginning with Pendleton county in West Virginia, " near the headwaters of the North Fork of the Potomac, is Panther Knob, " said to be the highest point in the vicinity. In about the same latitude "on the Alleghany range, is .Paddy s Knob, in the corner of Bath and "Highland counties, Virginia, and Pocahontas, West Virginia. From "here the mountain falls gradually to the south and west, some thirty " milt s, rising again at the Salt Pond Mt., in Giles county. Hay Stack u Knob, near the line of Pocahontas and Randolph counties, on the south " end of the Cheat Mountain Range, and near its junction with the(ireat " < rreenbrier mountains, is said to be the higliest point west of the Alle- " ghanies, and north of the Greenbrier river. South and west of this " we luive the (Jreat Greenbrier, the Yew, Big and Little Scwell monn- " tains, including Cold Knob, and Job s Knob, and ending with Kecncy s "Knob, which is about two miles north of the Greenbrier river, in Snm- " i ncrs and Greenbrier counties. From these mountains north of the river, there is a gradual decline " from 3,500 feet above tide to 700 feet on the < )hio river. " Powell s mountain, in the northern part of Nicholas county, falls oil "to the Elk river, and from t hence to the Ohio, in a succession of hills " and plains, the average height of the hills being 1,1 OM to 1,500 feet. "The higliest elevations (in this vicinity, autlur,) will be found in " Jack s Bend oi the Elk river, and between the Forks of the Big .Sandy " creek. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 21 "South of the Kanawha river, in the counties of Fayette, Raleigh, " Wyoming, Boone, and Logan, are some very high mountains, the prin- " eipal of which is called the Great Flat Top mountains, near the head "waters of the Coal river, and 1 believe, in the Guyandotte range, (this "is wrong, they meet at right angles Author), hut i have not explored " south of Coal river. "In the vicinity of the headwaters of Loup and Paint creeks, the Hr- " vatioii is near 2,700 feet ahove tide. West of this will he found a suc- " cession of sharp peaks, varying but little in height, the highest being " 1,700 feet, and the lowest on the Ohio GOO to 700 feet. " I append some elevations obtained with compesaating aneroid barom- " eter, and give them for what they are worth. Good enough for reeon- " naisance, but not entirely reliable. "Signed, Si KxcKit C. MtCoiiKLK." APPROXIMATE ELEVATIONS ABOVE SEA LEVEL, IN WEST VIRGINIA, OBTAINED WITH CONPENSATING ANEROID BAROMETER, IN 1874-1875. Pendleton County, Panther Knol > 4,000 feet Bath and Highland, Ya., and Pocahontas, W. Va., Paddy s Knob :>,:>00 " Randolph and Pocahontas, Hay Stack Knol > 3,800 " Pocahontas and Greenbrier, Briery Knob 3,<iOO " Summers and Greenbrier, Keeney s Knob l>,700 " Fayette, Big Sewell ;>,.~>00 " Greenbrier, Lewisburg 2,200 " Fayette, Payne s Mountain 2,700 " Nicholas, Summersville Mountain 2,000 " Kanawha (south), Table Rock Mountain 1,700 " Kanawha (north), Gibson s 1,200 " Lincoln, Mud Creek Mountain 1,700 " Cabell, back of Huntington 700 " The county of Morgan, and the western part of Berkley, belong to the mountain region, but the eastern part of Berk ley, and all of Jefferson, can be included in neither of the grand divisions which we have made in the State. They partake of the character of the Great Valley, extending S. W. into Vir ginia, and have a rolling, or gently undulating surface, with an altitude of 700 to SOOfeet above tide. The following heights, given by Mr. McKenzie, may be added here. Wilson s Gap, on the Blue Ridge, between Jclicrsoii and Lou- doun ],44."> feet Keyes Gap, in the same range ,)(>() " For the convenience of surveyors and civil engineers in dif ferent parts of the State, the following table of Magnetic Decli nations, is appended. 22 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Magnetic Declinations for different points in the State, deter mined in 1864, by Assistant Mosman, of the Coast Survey : .Lat. Ijong. DfcTn. Clarksburg, AV. Va 39 16 .9 80 20 .4 30 .:? in J. Wheeling. 40 O4 .l 80 43 . 2 00 . 5 u Parkersburg 39 Ki .O 81 34 2. 1 17 .6 " Mt. Pleasant 38 50 .5 82 OS .S 1 34 x .n " South Point, Ohio 38 2.V.2 82 3r/.4 1 o2 x .O in F. (irafton, W. Va 39 20 X .(> 80 Ol x .7 --1 52 X 4. in J. Charleston, AV. Ya 38 21/.3 81 38 x .O 37 .3 in M. Cumberland, ^Id 39 3iK2 78 45 .4 --1 31 X .9 " Cameron, \V. A a 30 41.X.8 80 34 X .4 24 x .O in J. The sign , denotes East; the sign - -, denotes West; J., F. and M., denote January, February and March, 18(i4. The annual change is 3 / .5, increasing AVest and diminishing East* CHAPTER II. CLIMATOLOGY. BY WM. M. FOiNTAINE. In considering the climate of the State, we may divide it into three belts, running in a northeast and southwest direction. The first belt comprises the countias along the Ohio river and may be taken to coincide with our first topographical belt. This comprises the lowest land in the State. The sec ond climatic belt may be taken to include all the rest of the State, except the mountain region. The third half includes the mountain district. It will be convenient to designate the first belt, as the "Ohio counties; " the second belt, as the " pla teau district;" and the third, as the "mountain district;" inasmuch as these names suggest the position, and altitude of the areas which they designate. For all of these, there is a great lack of data connected with the climate; but in the Ohio counties, records have been kept for a much longer time than elsewhere. For the plateau dis trict, we have a few details, and for the mountain district none at all. The Ohio River Valley is often spoken* of, as possessing features of climate, distinct from those shown in other parts of the State. This, taken without qualification, would lead to erroneous ideas of the topography of the stream. The valley proper, is a narrbw trench, cut out in high hills for most of the way. It attains at most, the width of only a mile or two, and can not exert any important influence on the climate of the coun try in general. In summer it may influence to some extent the formation and course of showers, or it may facilitate the 24 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. passage of bodies of warm, moist air from the southwest. Apart from minor and local influence, it is to be considered merely as one of the factors influencing the climate of the belt of country along its banks. If, however, we apply the term "Ohio Valley, 1 to the belt of comparatively low country along the west border of our State, then, no doubt, climatic features somewhat different from those of the rest of the State, do exist here. Leaving out of consideration the influence of altitude, the most important general causes controling our climate, are the character of the exposure of the surface, the direction as sumed by the principal elevations, and the prevailing winds. The State forms a sloping surface, inclining in a northwesterly direction, from the highest ridges of the Alleghany, to the hills along the Ohio river. The principal elevations, even in the hilly region, run in a northeast and southwest direction. When now we take into consideration the winds which pre vail along the Appalachian belt of the United States, we can easily see that these topographical features, assume great im portance. In our latitude, even east of the Blue Ridge, easterly winds are not the predominant ones. But in Virginia, es pecially in winter, they often blow for a considerable space of time, bringing with them, when from the northeast, the long est spells of wet weather. Owing to our protection by the Blue Ridge and Alleghanies, such winds do not reach us, and hence in West Virginia, winds with an easterly element are extreme ly rare. If they do reach us, they are usually drying and clearing winds, having been deprived of their moisture by passing over the mountain tops. Our winds are almost exclusively those with a westerly ele ment, such as S.W., "W., and N.W. When these enter our State, the X.E and S.W r . direction of our elevations, exert such a guiding influence on them, that instead of passing directly across the State, they aro forced to traverse it longitudinally. The consequence is, that we feel the full effects of such winds, whatever they ma} 7 * be. S.\V. winds enter freely, and are guided unchecked in their original direction. Hence such winds the year round, predominate, at l^ast in influence. Westerly, and north westlerly winds, are partly deflected, so as to preserve a S.E. or N.E. direction. The inclination of the face ot the country also, exerts an important influence. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Such winds enter the State on its lowest side, and in work ing their way over it, they rise higher and higher. The con sequence is, that they become cooled, and their moisture is condensed, if they be moist, warm winds. Thus an abundant rain fall is secured. The country never suffers from the pro longed dry spells, which sometimes occur east of the Allegha- nies. A mere inspection of the map of this region will show, by the enormous number of perennial streams possessed by it, that this precipitation is not only abundant, but that it is uniformly distributed throughout the year. Our State con tributes no small proportion of the volume of water carried by the Ohio into the Mississippi. It is well known that this surpasses that of any other tributary of that great stream. After these general considerations, we may turn to the exami nation of the individual factors which constitute the climate of a country. TEMPERATURE. Temperature is influenced both by latitude and elevation. The main body of the State of West Virginia lies between the parallel of ?>7 deg. and 40 deg. For points at the same eleva tion, this would give a difference of about 3 deg., in the mean annual temperature of the southern, and northern portions rf the State. According to Dodge, the State is embraced between the isothermals of 50 deg. and 54 deg. The isothermal of 52 deg. passes nearly through the centre of it. The general ele vation of the surface, renders the mean temperature somewhat lower than that of points on the same parallel of latitude, in the States further west. Within the State itself, the greater altitude of the plateau, and mountainous portions, renders the mean temperature of these belts, lower than that of the Ohio counties. This difference of altitude, may be taken on an average, to be about 1500 feet, causing a lowering of the mean annual temperature of about 4J deg., on the same parallel of latitude. Hence such elevated counties as Fayette. Nicholas, Raleigh, tv.c.; do not possess that higher mean temperature, which they should have, in consequence of their more south erly position. The isothermals passing through the moun tain, and plateau districts, bend strongly up northward. .The mean annual temperature of the State may be taken as 52 dvg. The following means of temperature, are taken from Dr. E. 26 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA, A. Hildretlvs reports, based on records kept at Wheeling lor 18 years, ending 1867. Wheeling may be taken as represent ing in climate, the northern half of the Ohio belt of counties. For these then we have : January 28 .97 February 33 .05 March 38 .43 April 49 .75 May (50 .00 Juno 1C 09 .77 July 73 .91 August 73 .41 September Go .50 October 50 .95 November 41 .90 December... .. 34 .01 Annual mean : 51 .04 The same author gives for Wheeling, the following means for the seasons, based on observations for twenty-three years and seven months : Spring 51. 00 Slimmer 71 .54 Autumn 52 .72 Winter < 32 .08 Year 52 .08 Highest temperature, 104 (July, 1854. Lowest temperature, 15 (January, 1856. Extreme range, 119. For the southern part of the the State, in the Ohio belt, we have no records south of Kanawha county. At Kanawha Sa lines, records were kept for 4 years and 4 month*, from June, 1856, to January, 18G1, for the Smithsonian Institution, with the following results : January 34.92 February 38 .98 March ...- -.-. 44 .28 April 52 .88 May 04.15 June 70 .35 July 75 .70 August 72 .70 September 05 .82 (Mubcr .., 55 .05 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 27 November 43 .75 December 37 .97 Spring 53 -77 Summer 72 .94 Autumn 54 .87 Winter 37.29 Year " 54.72 Records have been kept for the Smithsonian Institution at Lewisburg, for 7 years and 1 month, from January, 1854 to March 1861. The climate of the eastern part of Grcenbrier and Monroe is remarkably mild. The Lewisburg records can not be taken to represent the climate of the plateau districts, which they might be supposed to do, from the position of that town. Two causes render the climate of the Greenbrier valley milder than that of the eastern portion of the plateau district. First, This region (see topography) is much lower than the belt of country to the W., N. W. and S. W. of it. In the sec ond place. It is sheltered by the high country from the cold N. W. and W. winds of winter. The following is the record referred to above : January 30.64 February 34 .] 2 March 40 .79 April 51 .59 May 62 .98 June 69 .:>5 July 74.05 August 71 .95 September 64.03 October 52 .01 November 41 .68 December... ...33.49 Spring 51 .79 Summer 71 .78 Autumn... 52 .57 Winter 32 .75 Year X. 52 .22 The table given on page 34, represents the mean tempera ture and other climatic features, at Morgantown, and may be taken to represent the north central part of the State. The other tables are taken from Dr. Hildreth s report. As no rec ords exist for the mountainous portions of [the State, we can bay nothing of their climate with any definiteness. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. PREVAILING WITSTD3. Concerning these, it has already been stated that they con tain almost always a westerly element. The southwesterly and southerly winds prevail during the summer months, and influence the climate largely in the other seasons also. The northwesterly, westerly and northerly winds are more frequent in winter, hut cannot even then he said to he the prevailing ones. Owing to its latitude, our State is the battle ground of the S. W. and N. W. winds. The S. and S. W. winds come to us from the Gulf of Mexico, creeping around the southern toot, and along the western slopes of the Appalachian belt. Hence they are warm and moist. Passing over the elevated surface of our State, they part with much of their heat and moisture. As has been shown, the topography of our section of country specially favors the free passage of these winds. The westerly and northwesterly winds come to us from cooler regions, being deflected from the ranges of the Rocky Mountains. Hence their effect is cooling and drying. The effects of these classes of winds on our climate is best illus trated by our winter weather. Their influence in other sea sons is essentially the same, but this is modified by the vary ing dry ness and heat of the areas over which they pass. In winter the S. W. winds, which may be taken as the normal ones outside of the mountain district, so long as they blow, bring a higher temperature, cloudiness and gentle rains. These are soon met by N. W. and N. winds, and in the strug gle of these for- the mastery, we have the cause of our heaviest rains, wind storms, and snow storms. Should the N. W. winds prevail, a season of clearing up and cold weather occurs, and continues so long as such winds predominate. This is usually not long. The S. W. winds again push back the cold air and prevail, causing a rapid melting of the snow, a rise of temper ature, and a fall of rain, or a cloudiness of the atmosphere. Such is essentially the course of events in winter. Extreme weather at at any season, whether stormy, hot, or cold, rarely lasts more than three days, in consequence of this alternate swing of the winds. Accordingly our climate, especially in winter, is marked by great variability. The extreme ranges, however, are not correspondingly great. Our considerable RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 29 altitude causes us never to have the extreme summer heats felt on the Atlantic slope. The prevalence of the S. W. winds, besides giving us a uniform abundant rainfall at all seasons, acts as a shield to protect us against the.se extreme and sudden falls of temperature which are felt to the X. and N. E. of us. Those waves of cold, which in winter, are generated in the Rocky Mountains, move east, and invade the Middle and East ern States, generally expend much of their severity in over coming and cooling the S. W. winds. It is true that when they are of extraordinary violence, and move in more .southerly tracts, they press upon us with sufficient force to cause, at long intervals, the extreme range of 10 cleg, to iodeg. As an illustration of this fact, Dr. Hildreth, from observations during 23 years and 7 months at Wheeling, gives 15 deg. as the low est temperature reached. The annexed table, gives the prev alent winds at Morgantown: STATION MORGAXTOWN, \V. VA. Records Kept by United States Signal Service from Jan. 27, 1873, to Dec. 31, 1875 Monthly Means for the Entire Period. ;_; 99 MONTH. g i* 5 inches w ^ u miles. - (H January . 3016 33. 1 s \v 3 14 71 4 38 18 Februarv 3007 31.5 3 44 OS 14 March 3000 40.1 W 4 >; 9 04 7 48 16 \pril \ i *>9 97 47 9 S.Wto 4 07 1 S J ~ J Jt Alav : 2993 6. 7 X. \V. S \Y 35 60 9 4S 13 .June 9 98 71.4 s w 4 7S 69 9 24 13 Julv ) 9<)7 73. 1 s \v 7 08 75 15 August ; 29.99 Septeml>er 30.03 69.8 63.7 X. W. s. \v 4.11 4 50 75.9 74 6 30 12 ( >ctober 30 05 51 :>s S \Y 3 19 (>9 5 37 Q November ... 30 00 41 S.Wti 411 69 4 51 14 Dei-ember 30.09 39.3 X. \V. s. w. 4.10 72 4 40 18 Annual Mean for period 30.02 52.7 s. \v. 49.22 698 m In the above results deduced, from observations for thirty- 30 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. five months, the wind prevailed from the S. W. during twenty- one months, from the West five months, from the South three months, from the X. W. four months, from the North two months. The rain fall in July, 1875, was exceptionally great. The maximum velocity of the wind is given in miles per hour. This record is, no doubt, representative of the northern central belt of counties in the State. Morgantown is about 800 feet above tide, and the hills around it about 1,300 feet. For Wheeling, according to the observations of Dr. E. A. Hil- dreth, continued for 16 }?ears and 7 months, in 15,173 cases of winds, the distribution according to the quarters of the com pass, is as follows : South, 438 days; North, 2,093 ; 11^,1,022; EaM, 61 ; South west, 5,306; Northeast, 15; Northwest, 3,571; Southeast, 292. From this list, the great predominance of S. W. winds, so far north as Wheeling, can be seen. This predominance in creases in the more southern districts ; but how much, there are no observations to sho\v. KAINFALLAND MEJLTED SNOW. From what has been already said, a pretty good idea of the precipitation over the state may be gained. The following statistics, though scanty in amount, are offered. fFor Wheeling observations for 17 years ending 1871, made by Dr. E. A. Hil- dreth.give us the following : Spring 10. 9 inches Summer ....12.93 " Autumn 9.57 " Winter 9..>(> " Year 41.95 " By the same observer at the same place, the following an nual average of rainy, snowy, <tc., days are given, during a period of 27 years. For each year Rainy and snowy days 1 19.81 Clear and fair... 170. Hi .". Cloudy 7<>.L > S He also deduces the mean annual rainfall for the state from observations amounting in the aggregate to 103 years to be 39.89 inches. While the above estimates for Wheeling may represent fairly the precipitation along^the Ohio in the north, it cannot be doubted that for the plateau and mountain sec- RESOURCES OF WEST VlRGlJStA. 3l tions, the precipitation is Beater, but Utifortunately details from these elevated parts of the state are mostly wanting. The rainfall deduced from the records at Morgan town a point more inland, and near the foot of Laurel Hill, show an un usual average of 49.22 inches. As the year 1874 was noted for the heavy summer rains no doubt this is too high, and a mean an nual precipitation of 45 inches may be taken as near the mark, for the more elevated districts. The following record from Kanawha Salines, was taken for 3 years and 3 months, from April 1^57 to February 1861. Spring 12.92 inches | Autumn 10.18 inches Summer 12 ();> " | -Winter 14.71 * Year " 35.75, indies This without donbt is above the average, but it would seem that the Kanawha river valley, has usually, an exception ally high rainfall, For Lewisburg records kept during 6 years, for the Smith sonian Institution, show the following results. Spring- 7.;5U inches | Autumn 9 00 indies Summer U.21 " | Winter U.55 " Year ;>,.-> 7;, inches Records kept at the White Sulpher Springs, for 5 years and months, shows a mean annual rainfall of 37.54 inches. Both of these results are below the average of places of the height of Lewisburg and the White Sulphur, which are each about 2,000 feet above tide. This is due to the position of these localities. They are situated between the Allegheny mountains on the east, and the high country of the eastern part of Fayette and Raleigh, on the southwest. These latter highlands lie in the direct path of the S. W. winds which bring moisture into the country, and in passing over them, these winds are deprived of much of their temperature and vapor. But beside records from weather observations, we may get an excellent idea of the climate of a country from the usual times of seeding and harvesting crops &c. The following calendar is taken, with considerable alterations, from the former Handbook of this state, compiled by J. H. Diss Debar. It applies especially to the Ohio belt. FARMING CALENDAR. February 28th Break up soil. March 1st Plant early pota toes; sow Timothy, Blue Grass and Clover; sow early garden ")2 RESOURCES OF WEST VlR(UNtA. vegetables. Manufacture Maple Sugar, ^^L^eh loth Turn out cattle on Blue Grass. April I*/ So.v oarlv oats. April loth Sow main crop of garden vegetables. April 20/// Cher ry, Plum, Apple and Peach trees are in bloom: Poplar and Maple are leafing. Turn Cattle on Timothy and Clover. April 2oth Sow late Oats and Flax. Plant late Potatoes. May 1st Set out Fruit trees. Plant early corn. Turnout cattle in the woods to range. Timbar g 311 orally begins to leaf out. Plant Sorghum. Light white frosts may be still looked for in the 1st week. May 7th Plant Beans and Cucumbers ttc. May lOth "20th Plant and sow all late garden vegetables, Sweet Potatoes, and Watermelons. Dogwoods in bloom. Plant main crop of Corn, also Pumpkins and late Beans. Amy 31* Corn and Potatoes planted on fresh cleared land. Grapes are in bloom. June 1st Shear sheep. June 8th Plant Tobacco, Corn may still be planted on fresh cleared land ( lover is in bloom. June loth Harvest Clover, plant late Cucumbers, Beans, Melons and even Potatoes. Send early grass-fed cattle to market. July l$t 4th Plough corn for the last time. Early Potatoes are ripe. July lOt/i Harvest Wheat and Rye. July loth Commence cutting Timothy, Sow Bucx wheat. July 2otJ> Harvest Oats. Early Apples are ripe. August 10th September 1st Sow turnips. August lotJi Finish hay har vest. Plough for wheat and rye. August 2oth September 10th Peaches and Melons ripening. Isabella, Hartford, Prolific, and Concord grapes ripening. September 10th 20th Cut Tobacco, sow Wheat, Timothy, and Rye. Catawba, and Norton s Vir ginia seedling grapes, are maturing. Sept 2oth Oct \*t Cut corn, harvest Buck wheat. Oct. 1st loth First white frosts occur. Cut late corn. Sow Wheat and Rye on corn ground. Cut Sorghum and make Syrup. Oft. 2oth Dig late Potatoes. Leaves fall fast. Send late fat stock to market. Aor l*t loth Gather Turnips and other root crops. Commence husking corn. Commence winter feeding of young stock, and milch cows. Xoc. 31s Winter feeding in general. Dates for the higher plateaus and mountains are 10 1.5 days later in spring and earlier in Autumn. While within the State itself records of long periods are lacking, we are fortunate in being able to avail ourselves of a series of observations, made for a considerable term of years, at Marietta, Ohio. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 3 Marietta is situated on the Ohio river, opposite the center of the State. From its position, it is better fitted than any other single point, to furnish data from which conclusions can be drawn concerning the general climate of our State. The records, of which we speak, were kept from 1817 to 1823, inclusive, by Mr. Wood, and from 1826 to 1859, both inclu sive, by S. P. Hildreth. These were presented to the Smith sonian Institution, where they were given in charge to Mr. Schott, and by him were discussed on the general plan adopted by the Institution for other observations of the same kind. The results of this discussion were published in the "Smith sonian Contributions to Knowledge, No. 120. Extracts from this valuable publication, are here given. The annexed table A. page 34, will explain itself. In this, the observed monthly means, are referred to the mean, resulting from hourly observations. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA, TABLE A. Resulting Mean Monthly Temperature Observed at Marietta Between 1818 and 1859, Inclusive. Year. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Julyl Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. 1818 72.6v 72 .53 72 .18 74 .05 74 .22 77^.19 74 .50 76 .72 72 .17 75 .36 74. 56 75 ,95 72 .86 74 .50 74 .12 64 ^.02 63 .4ii 66 .87 67 .50 65 .69 51. 42 49 .98 48 .21 52 .46 51 .96 46.2fl 46 .23 38 .36 38 .55 47 .03 32.54 }3 .28 32 .29 28 .31 31 .22 1819 40.28 27 .10 _ 4 .S3 28 .69 32 .50 38.ll 42 .14 37 .00 32 .02 25 .38 38 .58 40 .44 36 .84 45 .89 42 .37 52.82 57 .96 48 .84 53 -70 63.19 61 .75 64 .27 69 .17 1820 . J821.... 1822 . 1823 1826 30 .51 26 .54 41 .68 32 .95 31 .21 25 .80 29 .07 35 .76 2i .99 33 .8-1 31 .01 27 79 36 .93 41 !68 43 .88 26 .09 34 .37 29 .14 37 .77 35 .10 43 .03 24 .37 26 .87 34 .15 20 .65 35 .6( 40 ,80 31 .79 37 .05 26 .35 35 .25 38 .15 31 19 35 .42 35 .49 29 .66 34 .36 40 .42 34 .95 34 .76 37 .76 25 .67 25 .32 42 .53 27 .71 36 .86 48 .53 46 .29 48 .69 37 .44 47 .00 45 .28 43 .45 39 .73 43 .73 40 .51 36 .03 41 .46 45 .41 42 .37 46 .48 42 .16 51 .87 28 .15 42 .79 43 .15 43 .40 39 .57 39 .46 44 .65 39 .15 45 .06 44 .31 40 -69 45 .3b 38 .42 32 .2* 37. 86 39 .77 48 .63 51 .00 56 .09 50 A? 50 .64 58 .68 54 .Oh ,54 .78 56 .58 .55 .97 49 .94 55 .30 46 .56 48 .59 57 .5* 56 .58 |49 .66 56 .21 51 .14 61 .31 57 .18 56 .75 53 .90 52 .31 50 .64 48 .17 51 .30 48 .78 53 .05 50 .94 55 .44 54 .35 42 .56 53 .62 50 .85 67 ,32 60 .28 63 .09 65 .57 61 .07 60 .50 61 .00 68 .02 60 .82 63 .54 65 .69 60 .64 55 .43 64 .5: 1 , (i2 .34 60 .05 59 .10 60 .47 164 .00 58 .s: C4 .85 61 .70 63 .76 61 .56 55 .92 61 .67 62 .76 61 .53 62 .77 62 .81 61 .31 57 .63 60 .64 66 .14 72 .38 65 .24 73 .69 71 .25 (i8 .35 70 .47 68 .6- 66 .33 69 .57 68 .64 68 54 72 .31 74 .95 71 .07 71 .69 75 .03 71 .40 70 .97 72 .60 76 .23 69 .84 71 .89 71 .56 77 .10 72 .25 71 .41 71 .90 70 .40 72 .80 74 .12 71 .68 72 .12 70 .92 70 .51 71 .31 76 .32 72 .66 73 .24 72 .3! 76 .39 75 .35 76 .67 72 .7( 75 .09 74 .01 71 J21 74 .49 73 .22 71 .68 73 .73 69 .81 69 .64 69 -SO 72 .49 68 .35 68 .94 70 .04 75 .58 6S .04 71 .55 70 .59 67 .30 70 .80 69 ,92 72 .44 74 .41 68 .18 70 .47 69 .85 71 .93 70 .34 69 .08 71 .65 73 .84 73 .51 69 .79 72 .40 72 .26 70 .90 66 .52 66 .9C 62 .32 G2 .81 64 .30 62 .67 (53 .36 65 .95 63 .So 57 .18 68 .29 02 .80 64 .11 59 .93 59 .82 66 .5!) 64 .16 68 ,77 63 .27 63 .88 70 .01 63 .34 59 .68 62 .59 63 .56 66 .47 64 .36 64 .48 70 .19 70 .28 63 .95 66 .75 64 .53 64 .15 15 .88 54 .38 52 .17 54 .88 57 .37 53 .99 54 .07 49 .r4 49 .97 54 .93 45 53 33 .46 48 .20 "^8 .21 32 .81 48 .53 50 .34 47 .78 48 .85 50 .69 51 .64 50 .99 51 .81 51 .93 51 .56 52 .27 57 .96 49 .36 56 .06 50 .:W 53 .89 r>2 .03 .56 .:>: 49 .15 42 .75 42 .59 45 .32 39 .27 49 .54 40 .03 43 .41 40 .56 43 .34 44 .55 36 .73 45 .29 38 .23 37 .50 40 .22 42 .47 36 .11 39 .62 42 .20 39 ,86 46 ,2k 44 .12 37 .67 47 .08 44 .41 39 .03 41 .65 45 .89 41 .17 47 .25 40 .92 40 .05 38 .44 44 .20 33 .06 41 .58 J9 .03 43 .72 35 .45 20 .49 35 .72 36 .51 35 .32 30 .81 30 .28 34 .64 LI .90 31 .79 32 .18 35 .76 33 .13 34 .64 34 .29 24 .71 37 .66 34 .65 42 .56 31 .20 34 .38 27 .70 39 .08 30 .80 31 .95 33 .24 28 90 38 .64 4ti .28 30 .06 1827.. 1828 1829. 1830 1831.. 1832 ... 1833 .. 1834 1835 1836 1837 67 .07 70 .97 66 .09 68 .74 73 .19 66 .87 67 .49 68 .34 OX .8! 67 .05 66 .38 67 .78 71 .38 69 .18 66 .81 66 .36 74 .08 1838 34 .65 35 .10 24 .32 32 .04 36 .15 36 .53 29 .79 36 .41 33 .05 31 .29 35 .77 30 .33 35 .37 34 .14 24 .84 815 .55 30 .72 34 .96 18 .61 18 .75 40 .11 32 .86 1839 .. 1840 1841 1842 1843. . 1844 1845 1846 1847 . 1848 1849. 1850..... 1851 1852 18.53 18-54..,. 70 .41 66 .8. 72 .51 68 .21 i72 .36 67 .41 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 Mean 31.41 34.0042 .14lo3.04 62.25|69.58 73.25 71. 54 64.5( 52.08 12.H|:!:; .68 MEAN ANNUAL TEMPERATURE. Taking the annual means, of the monthly values, given in table A, after substituting the respective monthly means of the whole series, for those months in 1818, and 1823, in which the series is defective, we find the annual mean temperature, for 40 years as follows : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1810 53.45 54.07 1820 53 07 51.61 54.09 51. 86 54.07 54 25 55 .38 52 .33 1830 1840 1850 54.67 62 .27 52 .07 50 .36 52.05 62 .33 52 .(>() 52 .39 62.20 63 .04 50 .38 62 .61 53.39 52.84 53 .96 50.54 62 .16 52.84 50 .43 54 03 49 .71 51 .28 51 62 50.84 50 .57 52 .28 53 .44 52 .42 51 .85 52 .93 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 35 Mean annual temperatnre from 40 years observation, 52. 46, Fahr. Warmest year, 1828, 55,38; Coldest year, 1856, 49.71, difference in the mean temperature for these years, 5, 67; which is comparitively small range of variations. If we compare the mean of the first 20 years, with the mean for the 40 years, we find it 0.20 higher. If we compare that of the last 20 years, with the same standard, we find it nearly 0.10 lower, so that no change in the climate is indicated in the 40 years observations. To as certain whether the summer and winter temperatures have also remained unchanged, the following comparison is added : MEAN MONTHLY TEMPERATURE. 1818 TO 1840 December 33.38 January 31 .38 February ... .. 33 .01 1840* TO 1859 33. 79 31 .43 34 .08 Mean 32 96 The differences 0.14 33. 10 1818 1840 TO TO 1840 1859 June 70.14 6902 July f 73 -40 73 .10 August 72 .03 71 .06 Mean... .. 71.* 71. 86 71.06 in winter, and 0.80 in summer, are too small, and fully covered by their probable un certainty, to draw any other inference, than that of un changed temperature of the seasons. The mean deviation of the monthly values for the term of years was found to be as follows : IRREGULAR FLUCTUATIONS AS EXHIBITED IN THE MONTHLY MEANS, July -l-2.32 August 2.32 September 2 .76 October.. 2.95 January -|-5.04 February 6 .02 March 4 .49 April 3 .87 2 .87 2.90 April May June November 3 .66 December 4 .48 The irregular fluctuations of the temperatures are there fore greatest in February, and least in July and August. The ratio is nearly 2.6 to 1. Comparing the lowest and high est means, we find them to be as follows : lowest. .January LS.61. February 20 .65 March ^ 28.15 April 42.56 May 55 .43 Juiie 65 .23 4168 43 88 July -YuTist Lowest* 69.84 67 30 Highest. 77.19 75 95 51 87 Sept ember 57 ig 70 l> 8 61 31 ( )({( ber ... . . 45 53 58 21 69 .17 November. . 3fi .11 49 54 74 .22 .. 20.49 43 .72 36 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. The irregularity in the mean daily temperature, is illus trated by the following table of observed extremes for each month during 31 years. The numbers are corrected for diur nal fluctuations : Lowest. Hi<jlirxt. January 6.6 60.8 February 4.3 61.8 .March -|- 9 .5 74.0 April -| -25 .6 76 .6 May H-42 A 82 .3 June -j-L5.y 88.7 July .................. -|-55.5 August ............... -S-53 9 September ......... -|-42 2 October ............. -j-28 .8 November ......... -[-16 .4 December .......... -i- o .4 Highest 86.2 84 80.9 75 .4 66 .7 (54 .4 The extreme lowest temperature observed was 23 deg. min. at 7 A. M., January 20, 1852, and the extreme highest tem perature was 102 deg. min., at 3 r. M., July 14, 1859. Extreme range observed, 125 deg. of Fahrenheit s scale. The monthly means at the bottom of the table A, require a small correction to refer them from calendar to average months. Thus corrected they stand : l.39 - July. 73.19 January February 34 .16 March 42 .56 April 53 .60 May 62.50 June 69 .86 August 71 .48 September 64 .44 October. 51 .85 November.. 42 .06 December 33 .48 Autumn. Winter.... 52. 78 33 .01 Mean 52.55. The temperature for the Meteorological Seasons is as follows: Spring 52.P8 Summer 7L .51 Adding 1.54, we find the annual mean reduced to the level of the sea- 54.09, Fahr. MEAN RANGE OF THE DIURNAL FLUCTUATIONS FOR EACH MONTH. After applying required corrections to the observed ranges, we find the following to be the mean range of Diurnal Fluctu ations for each month : January 12 February 14 .3 .March 18 .7 April 22.8 Mav 22 .5 June 19.2 July 18.4 August 17 .7 .September 18 .7 October 18 .6. November 15.5 December 11 .2 The diurnal range attains its greatest value in April, and its least value in December; there is also indication of a secondary minimum in August, and a secondary maximum in RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 37 September or October. In April, the range is more than double that in December. DIRECTION OF THE WIND. Dr. Hildreth s record is tolerably complete over the years from 1820 to 1850, inclusive, and less so for 1852 -3-4, and 1858-9. Table B contains 9,467 results of observations, and shows the relative frequency of each of the eight directions of the wind, on record for each year. TABLE B. YEAR. s. N. W- E. S.W. X.E. x.w. S,E. 18-><> 51 79 51 705 16 5 49 26 39 5 > 5 12.5 95 15 5 39 265 1831 38 5 58 5 07 65 117 12 43 18.5 is:-) 32 68 5 63 o 1 2 5 106 14.5 32 36 is;-)/; 13 70 5 45 16 5 1 13 26.5 42 35.5 1834 14 84 62.5 11 87 19.5 30 54 1835 31 54 64.5 8 111 19.5 39.^ 34.5 1836 58 84 51 >> 2.5 16 18.5 33 36 1837 62 86 5 57 17 5 74 13 29 - r 15.5 1838 495 87 41.5 17 5 68 30 35 32.5 183 ( ) : 71 5 61 5 26 545 22 35 3 J 5 1840 45.5 55 5 68 13.5 91 17.5 25.5 41.5 1841 103 5 45 11 5 79 14 305 25 1842 ( >4 5 72 30 20 89 5 7 39 32 1843 81 74 5 46 7 5 79 255 255 25 1844 83 5 8**. 5 28 155 91 13 27 24.5 1845 50 59 5 45 5 130 5 10 42 22 1846 1847 1848 50 91 5 113,5 78 93 110.5 36.5 29.5 30 27 22 14 5 99 60.5 45 12 8.5 9.5 19.5 11 10 42 37 .9 1849 91 97.5 45.5 12 5 42 10 19 46.5 1850 85 5 92 35 5 135 585 75 175 32 1852 81 06 38 5 18 57 8 16 35 5 1853 (54 91 5 19 5 17 325 4 20 Z( ) 5 1854 63.5 29.5 42.5 23 17.5 5.5 51 14 1858 64 605 69 5 51 5 665 6 45 11 1859 94 74 55 48 5 28.5 25 23.5 6 5 Sum Prop, in 1 ,000 ... 1,038.^ 173 2,048 217 1,287 135 491 52 2,019 213 368 39 818 87 797.5 84 These proportional numbers exhibit the relative frequency of the wind throughout the year. The north and southwest winds, are the prevailing ones during the year, and the north east and east winds are the least frequent. In the following table C, the results of the observations are arranged according 38 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. to months and seasons, showing the annual variation of the relative frequency : TABLE C. MONTH AND SEASON, S. N. W. E. S.W. N.E. N.W. S.E. 121 5 157 5 137 36 5 181 5 26 5 74 54 88 153 5 120 31 171 27 5 1075 56 March .". 107 184 121 36 168 5 32 104 585 \pril 110 200 98 43 160 5 37 69 71 Mav 109 181 85 32 157 28 74 76 176 150 955 31 205 26 47 49 J U ly 145 187 755 48 5 206 27 47 68 175 2105 595 39 141 40 335 1085 173 178 80 5 52 125 43 46 75 October 155 199 96 5 47 151 30 58 685 100 114 155 5 41 201 30 72 595 119 1335 163 54 151 5 21 86 53.5 386 565 304 111 486 97 247 2055 496 547 5 305 118 5 552 93 127 5 2255 428 49] 3325 140 477 103 176 203 "Winter 3285 444 5 420 121 5 504 75 267.5 163.5 Year 1 638 5 2 048 1 287 491 2 019 368 8180 797 5 The results in Table C, show comparatively small changes in the seasons; the W. and N. W. winds blow more frequently in winter, and the S. wind more frequently in summer. The proportional numbers for each season, are as follows : SEASON. S. N. W. E S.W. N.E. N. W SE, 8t>rinc r 161 35 197 46 202 40 103 86 * i fllll fe ...... 208 230 96 49 231 39 53 94" 182 209 142 59 204 43 75 86 Winter ... ... 141 192 181 52 217 32 115 70 The prevailing winds in each season, are as follows : In Spring, N.; in Summer, N. or S. W.; in Autumn, N. or S. W.; in Winter, S. W. Avincls. The N. E. wind is least frequent in all seasons. RELATION OF THE DIRECTION OF THE WIND TO TEMPER ATURE. To find the deviation of the temperature of each wind from the normal temperature, a table of mean temperatures for every day in the year was computed ; to these means was applied, RESOURCES 0$ WEST VIRGINIA. With its sign reversed, the correction to the mean of three observations, to the mean of twenty-four observations in a day, in order to make the tabular numbers directly comparable with the observed daily means (uncorrected). As the deviation from the normal temperature is different in the summer and winter seasons, the year was divided into two equal parts (with regard to temperature), taking the epochs of the mean annual temperature, or April 15th and October 15th, as the limiting epochs. The observations also indicate that unless a certain wind has been blowing for some time, it will not indicate its peculiar temperature. An interval of half a day, or a day, however, after a change of wind is sufficient, and the temperature difference (from the tabulated values) of each of the eight winds has been set down whenever the record of the direction shows no change for two days or more. For the directions E. and N. E., single days, on which these winds blew, had to be included in the comparison. The total num ber of days of comparison of temperature, and direction of wind, is 2,340, with the following results. These show that on the average, during the year, the elevating effect of the south wind is nearly equal to the depressing effect of the northwest wind. The southeast, south, and southwest winds, are the Warm winds. All others are cold. The temperature effect in winter, is far more marked than in summer, as shown by the extreme range of effect, which is 15.3 in winter, and 8.5 in summer. EFFECT OF THE DIRECTION OF THE "WIND ON THE TEM PERATURE. DTttVfTTOX HALF YEAR, INCLUDING SUMMER. WINTER. x 4.5 40 403 N E 4 4 5 1 \ " E- 2 5 1 2 3 o 8 E 1 3 1-3 3 1 1 H g V .0 1 2 7 8 8 1 L 1 4- Q S \V 1 2 2 | 9 3 I 9 9 w . . .. 1 9 3 5 - - z Q N w 5 8 6 5 fi *> -|- Elevation above the normal. Depression below the normal. 40 RESOURCES 0$ WEST VIRGINIA. RELATIVE DIRECTION OF WIND TO RAIN. To ascertain the relative amount of rain observed, or to be expected, for each direction of the wind, the latter was tabu lated for all the rainy days during 22 years, from 1829 to 1850. Dividing the year into two equal parts, one including summer (April 15th to October 15th), and the other, winter, (October 15th to April 15th), we have in the first 1,018 days, and in the second 803 days on which rain fell, and the corresponding relative frequency, of each direction of the winds, for the two seasons, is given in column 2, of Table D. As each wind does not occur the same number of times, in any given period, the above numbers, to reduce them to a common measure, must be divided by the relative frequency of each wind (made out from the proper table). These numbers are given in column 3, and the ratios, in column 4. The relative frequency of rain and wind, is expressed in percentage. TABLE D. SUMMER, WINTER, DIRECTION p 1 | o OF WIND. 3 ft* JJ " Ratio, cr 1 i i r c Ratio, s*s g.| .s > ! PH I 3 5-. +-( p^ g 22 81 20 21 1.1 1.5 14 19 14 22 1.0 0.8 s w \\ r 18 10 1.8 18 17 1.0 N \V 6 7 0.9 11 11 1.0 X 12 24 0.5 17 20 0.8 N E 8 4 0.8 8 4 0.7 K 4 5 0.8 7 5 1,4 S.E 9 1,0 11 7 1.5 During the summer, therefore, the directions from which most rain comes are S., S. TV., and W., the S. TV. wind^ bringing relatively the maximum amount. In winter, these directions are, E., S. E,, and S., the S. E. winds bringing rela tively the maximum amount. Rain rarely comes from the northward, in summer or winter. RESOURCES OP WEST VIRGINIA. 41 RELATIVE DIRECTION OF THE "WIND TO FAIR WEATHER. The same process of investigation being pursued a* above, the result of a tabulation of the winds on fair days, during summer and winter, for the years 1829 to 1833, and 1846 to 1850 (ten years, comprising a total of 1,931 entries), is given in table E., expressed in per cantage : TABLE E. DIRECTION OF WIKD. Summer, April loth to Oc tober 15th. Winter, October lOlli to : Ajtl il lolll. f| jL "8 Ratio. Z ^ ; II PH | 1" c ^ Ratio. I 3 i IS 21 19 9 5 29 4 5 8 20 21 10 7 24 4 5 9 1.0 0.9 9 0.7 1.2 1.0 1.0 0.9 12 24 17 11 24 3 3 6 14 0.9 22 l.l 17 1.0 11 1.0 20 1.2 4 0.8 5 0.6 7 0.9 s w \v K" \\ r NE E S.E Fair weather is accompanied most frequently by N. winds both in summer and .winter. In the half year including summer, easterly winds (except S. E.) and in the half year including winter, westerly winds favor fair weather. 42 RESOURCES OP WEST VIRGINIA. ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATION. Table F. Gives the amounts, and frequency of rain (or snow), at Marietta, by Jos. Woods: TABLE F. AMOUNT IN INCHES. FREQUENCY, NO. OF DAYS. 1817 1818 1819 18^0 1.46 5.79 2.95 3,93 3.50 3,80 4.73 1.53 0.20 4.73 2.66 3.83 89.11 1821 1.35 4-94 3.70 4.24 3.01 3.68 4.52 6.50 6.05 1.41 260 1.32 43.32 1822 Til 1-65 2.18 5.11 2.35 4.09 4.80 2.15 4.45 4.31 8.59 2.39 43.38 1823 4.42 1.28 6.21 2.86 5.08 8.07 691 3.20 2.03 1817 1818 1819 1820 1821 ~2~ 5 4 6 4 3 5 5 5 2 2 1 44 1822 ~~2~ 1 2 5 5 7 7 4 6 7 6 4 ~56~ 1828 ~3~ 1 6 January February March 2.50 3.00 3.70 2.30 5.90 2.45 8.87 5.30 7.10 3.70 2.10 400 3.20 3.30 5.57 1.48 4.54 2.20 3.26 6.31 1.10 2.25 0.70 2.39 3630 7 8 7 4 9 5 10 5 5 5 2 4 71 4 7 4 6 6 4 7 6 1 8 4 4 "eT ...!.. April. May June. . 6 13 9 5 7 3 3 July August. September October November "4.45 1.00 December - _ Yearly Sum... 50.92 The following tables, G. and H., give the amount in inches of. rain (or melted snow, and the number of days of rain (or snow), observed at Marietta, by Dr. S. P. Hildreth. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 43 TABLE G. Snow Orved a 3 |3^5g2 S \ ~ < t-; rt OO 1C LO OO : e<* i I-H C5 ^ < 22 cq co 7q co Tii t> c o co -4 co co 7-1 3 j oq co -n; co co co J55 JH.CO oc K co I So , < co r4 co 1.0 co * co co~co -H co o 22 O CO OO i I iO * i tO 1^- iO O CM ^ O * cc o st cv c^ c^j ^ c<j o J- c: 35 i 1 Tji Tli O ^ CO > i-I SO t-i* Tfl D-" IO -^i * 141 CO CO CO Mr-i!MCOO . CO, , - | ^ ... j..s~ S iri cq r-i* i-J -H o ic r-I as co co cq I -^ cc o r- i.o as .7-1 oo LO >.T CO&J OCOClSI^t^ i o rJ c^ co cq co" i>" ccj c4 co .-- g_ SggSS.SSgSSfeS "8" So i - 5 s iseassssg^s^ j 2 UN5d^idNJ a jocifl | aBSSI^Soas^oSco^S : = 5^ < ?<?? c ? < ?*r < ? < ? < f < ?9? SSa fi<^ o t V, - <Ncoc4co-*-*T(5^eo"Mioco ^ l^o^S-o^ >-. \ 06 so i> i i-c*rH !<* esietus co (g^SS^SS^Sc^SS <N i-1 7-i cq uo" o o co 06 r-i co co iO T7 O 70 7f ;C~T O tC MCI O" -.! -v r-j -iti i i o o o ^ ;c T-i o 1 o ic co o o 7To^ o^^b~"-^^T^ro -^7^0 i > r5 <N TII LO ^j 04 co T); Si cs uo TT o c :-.-^-i ! i <M JO 7q o i s ^5:4 i- c o c^ ~f o I ^ >O 7q O C/) O T* CO coioc^ocooooco si *f oi co r-5 in 44 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. S * II o eq *!< rfi co < <M 10 cs co t- CD ^oo^d^ooc^oo fl ^C5t^-O-* l C<lCOCO<MOO fiiO CO 1 CDLOcot-COCSGo t^CDCOCDCD s 1 s>t>OC N 3COC v ITFOO5lO ^t * 1 iOCO <a5I^OOOC5 <yi<MC5"<J< 1 1 GOlOOOt-iO^COiOCDCOCD ; 1 :C5-*r^ast-oooiocDi>.o 1 sO * < oopHt-.i>obosiOioooC> & I O50oioost-oo5oocoeoio : 1 CDTJiCOCOOOi tb-OO^t^^OS 8 1 tOTnO-^^SS 001000 1 ^ 1 CO Tftiom i ^t-oocoi-<t-oci>cr g CO oo OOt>CDOSCDi lOSOSiOrpiOOS 8 i LOiOOt-^Ot-lOCOiOCD"* 8 00 t* ITS i> ^ i (OoocotooocoN s i loaoiooiocs o oo os i i os ^O SB a ^i>no5Oso5^-ct<^Hcoeoi>io in 00 oo ooT>i05^i>ososcoooi>ooos i i os 1 OOI>I>l>OOOOI>COCOCDl> oo oo So 8 TJI u-j OO iO O CO ^ ^ 00 1 05 1 COCOOOO5COi-Ht^OSTTiCDOCO 5 i cot^iocDiooocsMTfioor^io 1> 1 ococDioc icoooc^ooiOi^^o fe 1 ^ ^ ^ rH M rl o ,_, OS^lOOCOCMi-IOOr-IOi-HiO 00 co i - | 00 CO . 05 ^ CO . s O5 Cv s M : : # J 5 : : : : : : : rj i-iji t-$ * % *ji4 \\> .i S^^^-Sss 1 W Jl WffcSXSl-j^^wOfclH 1 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 45 The average amount of rain (and melted snow), from 38 years of observation, is 42.56 inches. The least quantity ob served in any one year, is 32.46 inches (in 1856), and greatest quantity, 6L84 (in 1858). The next to the last column of Table G. gives the monthly means for 38 years (that of October for 37 years), and the dif ferences from the average amount, 3.55 inches, is shown in the last column. The plus sign in the months of May, June, July and August, indicates more than the average amount. The sign minus, with the remaining months, less than the average. Table F. Contains the number of days of precipita tion, or the frequency of rain (and snow). The column of monthly means is deduced from 32 years (on the average), and plainly indicates an annual fluctuation, which is better shown in the last column, headed difference from the annual mean (7.1 days). In February, rain or snow, falls on one day te, and in June, rain falls on two days more, than on the av erage in any one month. The average number of rainy days in any one year, is 86, nearly, varying between 44 and 113. If we divide the monthly mean amount, by the average monthly frequency, we obtain the average quantity in any one day. AVERAGE QUANTITY IN ANYONE DAY OF RAIN (OB SNOW,) Incfics. 1 1 ic hex. January 0,44 February 0.51 March 0.44 April 0.44 May 0.50 June , 0.51 July 0.53 August 53 September 0.52 October 0.48 November 0-52 December ! 0.55 The copiousness of precipitation is nearly the same through out the year. In summer, the rains are slightly heavier than in winter. On the average, a fall of rain on any one day, amounts to 0.50 inches. The three heaviest falls of rain re corded on any one day, was October 22d, 1858, 3.1 inches ; De cember 10th, 1847, 3.5 inches; and July 3d, 1844, 4.25 inches. Heavy falls of rain may, therefore, occur in mid- winter as well as in mid-summer. SNOW. Snow is recorded to have fallen as late as May 13th (in 1829), and as early as October 4th (in 1836). The heaviest falls of snow occurred February 1st, 1830, when 7 inches fell ; 46 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. April 18th, 1854, 8 inches; January 14th, 1831, and again December 14th, 1833, 15 inches. Even as late as April 29th (in 1854) as much as four inches fell. FROST. Frost is recorded in every month of the warmer half of the year, and quite frequently in the first of June. In 1848 there were 4 mornings of frost between June 1st and 13th. In 1843, June 2d, ice formed inch thick. Frost occurred June 22d, and 23d, in 1846; July 1st; 1835 ; August 1st and 2d, 1842 ; August 23d, 1835 ; August 25th, 1832 ; August 29th, 1859. STATE OF THE WEATHER. The number of fair and of cloudy days in each month, were published by Dr. Hildreth, in Silliman s Journal for a num ber of years. To these were added the fair days recorded by Mr. Wood, making in all, between 1818 and 1859, 37 results for each month, excepting. April, May, and December, for which the number of years is but 36. AVERAGE NUMBER OF FAIR DAYS, DURING THE PERIOD FROM 1818 TO 1859. January 13.8 February 13.9 March..: 16.7 April . 17.7 Mav 19-4 June 20.3 July 21.9 August 21.7 September .... 20.3 October 18.9 November 14.5 December .. 12.7 The numbers show a regular progression during the year. In December, the number of fair days is least ; they increase each month, and reach their maximum in July, after which month, they again gradually diminish. The greatest number 1 of fair days recorded in any one month is 30 (in July and August), arid the least number 3 (in November). The average aggregate number of fair days in any one year is 211f ; and of cloudy days, consequently, 153J, varying between 170 (in 1858,) and 262 (in 1830). It is, therefore, rare that the number of fair and cloudy days in any one year, is equal. Summing up the number of fair days in each year, we have the following results: RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA, TABLE I. 47 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1810 19, 1820 181 174 iiso 949 ?08 1830 9P,9 905 916 222 955 991 919 994 248 99R 1840 ^04 905 915 193 909 938 901 198 911 99fi 1850 933 929 903 991 931 * 228 200 170 190 CHAPTER III. AGRICULTURAL GEOLOGY. BY WM. M. FONTAINE. Under this head, we will give a brief description of the several geological formations found in the State, dealing with them, in their agricultural relations mainly. As, how ever, topography is so intimately connected with agriculture, we may in this connection, note those special features, not elsewhere, noticed. But before taking up the Geological Formations, it will con duce to clearness if we first grve some account of the charac ter of the different soils, and of the rocks which form them. THE DIFFEKENT SOILS, The following are the principal soils existing in the State : Clay Soils. These contain 75 per cent., and over, of clay. The remaining 25 per cent., is composed of sand, calcareous, ferruginous, vegetable, and other matters. In their physical character, when moist, they are stiff and tenacious. They dry with difficulty, and are rather slowly warmed by the sun s rays. When dry, they become baked to a more or less hard mass, and are also, in freezing and thawing, more apt to injure the roots of plants, than other soils. With these disadvantages, however, they combine many advantages, and when properly managed, make the best lands for certain crops. Stiff Clays. Such as those just described, do not make a large proportion of our soils. They are chiefly to be found in the eastern and southern parts of the State. RESOURCES OF WEST~VIRGINIA. 49 Sandy Soils, Contain 75 per cent., and over, of sand. The remaining components are clay, and the other constituents, except sand, mentioned as occuring in clay soils. In their physical characters, they are the opposite of clay soils, and are much inferior to them. They are loose, thirsty in nature, and do not hold manures well. Hence, a mixture of sand and clay in land is beneficial, the one correcting the defects of the other. Such strictly sandy lands, are comparatively rare, and are mainly found in the N. E. mountain counties, and in the outcrops of the sandstones of the conglomerate series. Loams. These are composed of clay and sand, mixed in about equal proportions. They contain also various other substances like those found in the two above-mentioned soils, making 20 to 25 per cent, of the whole. When clay predom inates they are called clay loams ; when sand, sandy loams ; when lime forms a large proportion, calcareous loams, or marls. These make usually the most fertile lands known, since they contain all the elements needed by the plant, com bined with the best physical condition, uniting as they do, the good qualities of sandy and clay soils, so far as these arise from the texture and condition of the land. Every farmer knows that the presence of elements of fertility is not all that is needed. Good condition is " half the battle. 1 Among the good physical qualities of loams, we may men tion the following. They are neither excessively stiff nor light, are permeable to water, but do not parch, are quickly warmed by the heat of the sun, permit easy cultivation, and readily respond to the action of manures, while retaining them for some time. Our State is fortunate in having a large proportion of such lands. Indeed, they may be said to be the characteristic soils of the country, and to form the larger part of our surface. The strata of the coal measures above the conglomerate, which cover so f large a portion of our area, are peculiarly fitted to produce the best class of these, since thay consist of shales, argillaceous sandstones, and layers of limestone, or calcareous strata, intimately mixed. These readily break down under the action of the elements, and give a deep, light earth. It will not be necessary to specify localities, Even where the 50 JtESOimCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. rocks under the coal strata furnish the material, they are usually so compounded of sandstones and shales, as by their disintegration, to produce such soils. Calcareous Soils. These are soils in which lime forms a large constituent, mixed with clay, sand, and other matters. Such soils are, from their chemical composition, among the best that are known. In their physical character, they resemble more nearly the loams, and are especially suited for the production of grass. Of these our State has a large proportion. As localities where the} 7 occur, we may mention, Jefferson and a part of Berkeley, which contain the lower silurian limestone of the u Great Valley," with Pocahontas, Greenbrier, Mercer, and Monroe, containing the subcarboniferous limestone, and shales. The northern counties on the Ohio, with the limestone of the upper coal measures, belong here also- Alluviums The alluviums may be divided into two classes, according as they are produced by deposits from turbid streams, or by slow surface action. We may call the first stream alluviitm, and the second upland alluvium. Stream alluvium, as is well known, is produced by deposits from streams in seasons of flood. Such soils are generally mixtures of all the kinds of matters found along the water courses which deposit them. If such deposits are subject to occasional overflow, they re ceive by this means a renewal of their fertilizing components, and will then last indefinitely. If not overflowed, such soils must, under continued cultivation, eventually be exhausted, provided no return by means of manures, be made to them. Magnificent soils of this class are found in the State. The "Bottom Lands," along our principal rivers, are widely cele brated for their productiveness, and for the great length of time during which, they have been cultivated. Some of these, have continued without intermission, for more than 100 years, to make heavy yields of that most exhausting of all crops, Indian corn. Upland Alluvium. This is produced by the slow action of the surface waters on the hill slopes. Such action tends to ac cumulate in the valleys, much of the fertilizing constituents of the hills, and to carry down to the lower levels, much of RESOURCES OP WEST VIRGINIA. 51 the vegetation which year after year, falls and decays on the higher grounds. This has gone on for ages, and has finally produced in the bottoms a soil of from one to to ten feet, and more, in depth, which combines, in the highest degree, all the elements of fertility. Were our hillsides formed of slowly decomposing rocks, this process would soon leave them bare. In fact, how ever, the rapidity with which they break down, and renew the earth, prevents this denudation, while not checking the accumulation of deep soils in the valleys. Upland alluvium, is generally more productive than even stream alluvium, since it retains nearly all the fertilizing matters which have been slowly accumulating. On the other hand, stream alluvium, being a deposit from water, has lost most of its soluble enriching matters, from the greater or less length of time, during which, it has been suspended in water. In consequence of this, these have been dissolved, and carried off. This superior fertility of the upland alluvium, explains the great size of the timber which grows on them. The large amount of vegetable matter, which they contain, is one of the most important enriching agents. The humus of the hill-slopes, gradually works its way down, in the first place, into the bottoms ; and then, in the second place, the conditions of moisture, &c., found in such places, specially fa voring luxurient vegetation, cause large additions from growth on the spot. This in the dense shade, moulders away with extreme slowness. From the immense number of hills in our State, the amount of bottom land of this kind is very large, that of the streams and uplands together, being put by some at 30 per cent of the entire area. THE DIFFERENT HOCKS. We may now take into consideration the individual rocks, and the part which they play in the production of soil. Shales. These rocks are composed essentially of silica com bined with alumina. On breaking down into soil they furnish the.se matters principally in the form of clay. This material by itself is useful to the plant only, in giving body to the soil, and thus acting as a support for the roots, and imparting to 52 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. the land certain physical properties, which were noted under the head of Clay. Little silica, or alumina, is used by the plant as food, hence a pure shale would form a barren soil. Shales are however never without other substances, and these, which in one sense, we might call impurities, furnish most of the solid food of the plants. The most common mat ters mixed with the essential components mentioned above, are as follows. Sand, which when present in large amounts, produces sandy sliales. Iron, which gives a red color. Car bon, especially in the coal measures, which imparts a dark col or. Lime when present in notable amounts, produces calcar eous shales. Besides these, we have in smaller amounts, Potash, Soda, Phosphoric acid &c. The five last named, are the prin cipal supplies of food to vegeation. Shales when largely present, excercise an important influ ence on topography, as was shown under another head. Their presence is always marked by irregular, rounded, or conical hills. Sandstones. They furnish essentially sand, or silica com bined. Like clay, sand yields almost no food to vegetation, but acts physically, in giving bulk, and in imparting the prop erties described as possessed by sandy soils. Sandstones also are never pure, but contain the same admixtures as are found in shales, ^excpt that clay takes the place of sand, among the non- essential ingredients. Sandstones in their topographical effects, are of even more importance than shales, this was fully shown under the head of topography. It will suffice to say here, that the purer they are, the less prone they are to break doAvn. Sandstones, with out impurities, are the most indestructible rocks known. These rocks cause shallow and poor soils of the sandy class. The sandstones of the coal measure, are always more or less argillaceous, and are broken down with comparative ease, yet it is mainly due to them that our hills maintain their pres ent height. It is remarkabe what preservative influence, a massive plate of sandstone exerts. We of ten find in the tops of our highest hills, a ledge of this rock, covering the summit, which by its presence alone has preserved the crest from being . washed away. When situated lower down, it always betrays itself by the formation of a bench. RETOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 53 When the dip of sandstones is gentle, they tend to form flat- backed hills, and table-lands, when they stand at a high angle, mountain ridges and chains, are produced. A mere glance at the country, will often from the topography, give in formation as to whether shales, or sandstones predominate in a given section. The high mount fins in our north-eastern counties, with their noted scenic effects, are due to the pres ence, and preservative influence, of sandstones. Limestones. Limestone contains, essentially, carbonate of lime, and by its disintegration forms calcareous soils. Lime it itself food for plants. This stone is always mixed here with other rocks, either shales or sandstones, which determine the texture, and other physical properties of the earth, produced by their disintegration. Limestones themselves are often impure, and contain large amounts of magnesia, when they are called magnesian lime stone, or dolomite. Silica, and almina are often present in considerable amounts, when the rock is fitted for the produc tion of hydraulic cement. Iron and other foreign substances also occur in smaller amounts. Impure limestones are the most common kind in the coal measures,?and are better soil producers than pure ones, since they disintegrate far more readily, and furnish a greater variety of materials. The disin tegration of all, is much aided by the presence of decaying vegetable matter, which forms carbonic acid, and changes the insoluble carbonate into soluble bicarbonate. In this latter form, it is taken up by plants, or removed by the percolating waters. Limestones, owing to the evenness with which they wear down, usually give to the country in which they are found, a pleasing undulating surface. These rocks have given to much of Jefferson, Berkeley, Greenbrier, Monroe, &c., the surface features which distinguish them. It does not follow that all soils, underlaid by limestones, have a large amount of lime in their composition. It often happens that they are mainly produced by the shales which accompany the limestones, owing to their greater proneness to break down. In many cases, as experience has shown, ap plications of lime, to lands having a substratum of massive limestone, have proved beneficial. 54 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. The above named kinds of rocks are the principal soil pro ducers in West Virginia- It must not be inferred that we will find our lands sharply divided into classes, such as we have made above, for the sake of description. The three kinds of rocks described, occur so intimately blended, and in their decomposition mingle so their products, that no sharp dividing line can he drawn. It is the good fortune of the State, that no one kind of rock, usurps exclusive possession of any great extent of territory. THE GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS. We will take these up in the order in which they occur in passing from east to west, over the State, which is also the order of their age, commencing with the oldest. We may omit the metamorphic, and primordial strata, as they occur only in the eastern edge of Jefferson, and have no important influence on the soil of the State. The oldest im portant formation is the lower Silurian limestone, which with the overlying Hudson River shales, make up the greater part of Jefferson and Berkeley. These groups consist of a great thickness of limestone, of every hue and texture, much of which is magnesian, succeeded by soft, easily decomposing shales, and calcareous bands. From this mass of strata have been produced the splendid calcareous soils of the counties above named, giving some of the finest land in this or any other State. Farther west, and across the Great Valley, we meet with the first of those long lines of mountains which characterize the Alleghany belt. These continue in parallel folds as we go west, and occupy the northeastern portion of the State as far as Randolph, and Pocahontas. These are composed of silu- rian and devonian serata. The lower silurian limestone, is not brought up in them, but appears, according to Rogers, in the beautiful valley of Crab Orchard, in Pendleton, and gives to it, its fertility and pleasing topography. Following the Hudson river shales, we have the Medina sandstone, a rock which enters largely into the structure of the mountains of this part of the State, This is a massive sandstone, lying in thick plates, and from its highly siliceous character, it is specially fitted to withstand the destructive action of the elements, and to serve as a protection for the RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 55 softer strata associated with it. It is essentially a mountain- making rock, and is often seen in huge arches, and high cliffs. It is the principal agent in producing the grandest scenic effects of this section. It is extensively exposed in the mountain sides of Pendleton and along the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac. From its composition it can produce, where it forrm the only surface rock, nothing but a thin sandy soil. As it is very unsuited for soil production, or the growth. of vegetation, it is fortunate that, within the bounds of our State, it is brought up only along narrow bands, with a steep dip, and is consequently soon buried beneath the softer rocks whigh overlie it. From its great permanency, and the elevation to which it has been thrust up, it gives to the county of Pendleton, and the adjacent county, its predominance in altitude. It is conspicuous in Peter s mountain, on the southern border of the State, which, in that quarter, is its most westerly position. CLINTON AND ONONDAGA GROUPS. These are mainly soft* slates and shaly sandstones, with occasional calcareous bands. All are of reddish hue, and readily decompose, with the production of a fertile soil. These rocks are extensively developed in Hampshire and Hardy counties, and exert an important influence on r ,their soil a nd topography, from the ease with which they* disin tegrate. Hence, the mountains which they compose, usually have softly rounded or undulating contours, while the abun dant soil which they yield, serves as a covering for the bare ledges of the Medina Sand Stone. LOWER HELDERBURG LIMESTONE. Overlying these, we have the strata of the Lower Helder- berg limestone, forming an important element in the agricul tural resources of the region. This formation has at thejbot- tom, many alternations of shale, with limestone beds, but it is mainly composed of a rather massive limestone. Toward the top, it assumes a siliceous character, producing a peculiar sandy looking rock on weathering, and causing a decided im provement in the physical character of the soil formed from it. This limestone is of the more importance, since, as Rogers 56 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. says, it is the only one exposed over wide districts of the mountain region, and since it often spreads out along the tops, or on the flanks of the hroader ridges. In Hampshire, Hardy, Pendleton, etc., numerous available quarries may be found, furnishing good lime for building or agricultural pur poses. This point is of special importance, for/as Rogers has with truth stated, the soils furnished by the Hamilton and Portage groups are spread over an extensive area in this sec tion, and these are of a character to be specially benefited by applications of lime. THE ORISKANY SANDSTONE. This follows next in the order ascending, and is another mountain-making rock. It is an open-grained sandstone of massive texture, occuring usually in massive beds, dipping steeply along the mountain, and quite bare of vegetation. This rock has the same effect as the Medina sandstone, on the topography. A noble specimen of it may be seen in the " Hanging Rocks," near Romney, in Hampshire, where the strata are thrown into three stupendous arches. Nearly all the mountains of Hampshire, Hardy. Pendleton, Pocahontas, etc., exhibit exposures of this formation. As a soil producer, it acts in general like the Medina, but, as it is more prone to disintegrate, forming a white sand, it is not so persistent as that rock. HAMILTON AND PORTAGE GROUPS, These are of great importance, for several reasons, as will appear from our description of them. The Hamilton strata are almost entirely composed of shales, and argillaceous rocks, of a slaty nature, while the Portage^consist of a mass of alter nating thin- bedded shales and sandstones. Both are of great thickness, and are very easily broken down into a loamy soil, which is deficient in calcareous ( matter, and more or less charged with copperas and other mineral salts. These rocks overspread a considerable extent of surface, usually forming the hilly broken country, found in the foot hills along the main mountain ranges, and the gentler slopes " of the mountains themselves. From their likeness to the strata of the coal measures, in their physical character, they produce a topography closely resembling that usually seen in the Hilly Region, RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 57 In the vicinity of the White Sulphur Springs, the main Alleghany is entirely composed of them, as well as much of the country between that range and the Greenbrier river. To the softness of these strata, is due the lowness of this range in this section, viz.: 2,320 feet. Perhaps their greatest importance is due to the fact, that they furnish material to a great number of noted mineral springs, among which, it will suffice to mention, the widely known Greenbrier White Sulp hur. They are especially fitted for the production of medicinal springs, from the large amount of iron pyrites, carbonaceous, and other matters which they contain, and from their highly contorted and broken condition. The pyrites decomposes with great readiness, and the reac tions between the products formed, and other components of the shales especially of the Hamilton group, give rise to various sulphates, hydrogen sulphide, &c., which impart to the waters in which they are dissolved, various medicinal properties. Among the localities in which these strata occur, we may mention the following : They form a large portion of the main Alleghany on the east border of Pocahontas. Along the sides of the anticlinal ridges, of Capon, Sandy, Patterson s Creek, South Branch, Knobbly, and North Fork mountians, they are extensively exposed, as well as in the intervening valleys. The soils which the strata in question furnish, though in physical properties good, yet are apt to be charged with an excess of acid from the abundance of pyrites, and the defi ciency of lime. Artificial applications of lime would be especially beneficial to such soils, since they would correct the acidity, and at the same time produce gypsum, which is a valuable fertilizing salt. CHEMUWG AND CATSKILL. These groups have never been separated in West Virginia, and indeed we cannot as yet say whether any distinct Catskill group exists at all here. This point, however, for our present purpose, is of little importance, as both groups have the same general character, so far as their relations to agriculture are concerned. They consist of a great thickness of sandstones, generally argillaceous, and shales usually of some shade of 58 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. red. Some of the shales of these formations are of a very soft and crumbling nature, and readily fall to a stiff red clay soil. The sandstones furnish a loam, and from their predominance, cause the soil formed, to have a much more open texture than it would possess if formed from the shales alone. The pro ducts of decomposition have a large amount of peroxide of iron, from the presence of decomposing pyrites. Though not void of lime, applications of this material would be highly benefi cial. Thus treated, the soils produced by these strata, would form some of the most productive lands in the State. These rocks do not occupy so extensive an area, as the pre ceding Hamilton and Portage. They ferm a considerable belt, between the Alleghany mountains, in the vicinity of the White Sulphur, and the Greenbrier river, and in the X. E. part of the State, some of the Alleghany ranges themselves are composed of them. They are shown between Hunters- ville and the Greenbrier river, also in Town Hill, Big and Lit tle Timber Ridges, and in the Shenandoah mountain, forming the most elevated part of the range, VESPERTINE STRATA. This is a threefold group, composed at the base, of coarse sandstone and conglomerates; in the middle, of gray, flaggy sandstones, with some little coal ; and on the top. of red crumbling shales, like those of the preceding group. The lower, and middle portions, form very little of our surface, but the upper red shaleb are rather more important, as they over spread some extent of country in Pocahontas, Greenbrier, Monroe and Mercer, lying east of, and immediately adjacent to the limestone soils of the umbral. From the resemblance of these shales to those of the umbral series, overlving the limestone, they have been usually confounded with the latter. The physical character of the soils furnished by these vesper- tive rocks, is the same with that described above, as belonging to the Chemung and Catskill shale products. In this case, however, the chemical character is much bet ter, for the vespertine red shales have more or less lime, some times enough to render them worthy of the name calcareous, and in all cases they are impregnated with a sufficiency to to produce a fertile soil. These strata are sometimes to be seen within the area occupied by the productive coal measures, RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 59 appearing as far west as Laurel Hill, in the northern part of the State, also in the western part of Randolph, and in other localities. When thus seen, .they usually appear along eroded anticlinal lines of uplift. THE UMBRAL. This, the next succeeding series, is, as a soil producer, the most important of all the formations preceding the product ive coals, This importance is given it, both by the considera ble area which it occupies, and the fertility of much of the land which it produces. This again is a complex series, being at bottom limestone, followed by a great mass of argillaceous sandstones and shales, most of which are of a deep red color. The limestone is of very various character. The purer kinds are dark bluish in color, and burn to a good lime. The impure varieties, are sandy and shaly, disintegrating readily, and producing a tenacious clayey soil, of a light yellow color, and great fertility. The rocks of this class have given to the counties in which they occur, the productive character for which they are noted. The ease with which most of the sandstones and shales, which overlie the limestone have been broken down and removed, has given to the country that smoothness of surface which we see, and ac counts for the fact that the plateau of Greenbrier, as else where noted, is 600 to 800 feet lower than than the conglom erate plateau lying to the west of it. The limestone occupies much of the surface, because the work of denudation has re moved the overlying softer, and less resistent shales, and sand stones. Beginning in the north, the area occupied by this series is less extensive, both because it is thinner there, and the dip which affects it is steeper. Coming south, the group thickens rapidly, and the dip flattens out, so that the rocks in question overspread a wide area, in Greenbrier, Pocahontas, Summers, Mercer and Monroe. The red shales of the umbral, are es pecially remarkable for their deep and brilliant colors, and the the readiness with which they fall to a tenacious clayey soil. Our strongest clays are found among these lands. 60 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. THE CARBONIFEROUS FORMATION. This overspreads by far the largest area in the State. We have already, under other heads, amply explained the charac ter of the soil, produced by this formation, especially that portion producing coals generally workable, as well as the peculiar topography produced. Of the conglomerate number, we may say in addition, that the highly siliceous character of its upper member, unfits it for the production of either a deep, or fertile soil. It is fortunate then, that gener ally there is a sufficient remnant left over it, of the softer pro ductive coals, to cover it with a good depth of earth. Of the productive coals themselves, we may repeat in this connection, that they consist of an intimate interstratifica- tion of sandstones, shales, and calcereous bands, all fall ing readily to earth, and producing a light grey loam, of the best physical character, and with abundant elements of fer tility. Calcareous matter is alwas present, whether visible as limestone or not, and this accounts for the great adaptation of these lands for grass. Strangers note the fact with surprise, that the grass grows green and luxuriant throughout the summer, on the hillsides, up to their tops. This is due to the fact, as suggested by Diss Debar, that these strata are practically horizontal, and the percolating waters, following their upper surfaces, find exit all along up the slope, giving a supply of moisture even in the drye&t seasons. On the other hand, when strata are highly inclined, they conduct away the waters into the bowels of the earth. The uppermost members of the carbonifierous formation, where shown on the Ohio river, in the north of the State, contain important limestones, and these, with their associated calcareous shales, overspread a considerable area in the Pan handle counties, giving in that quarter a soil which, in pro ductiveness, rivals the best Ohio river bottoms. The stranger, in passing through our State, along the main lines of travel, would be apt to draw conclusions concerning our soil and topography, which would be erroneous when applied to the larger part of our area. The principal rail roads, such as the Baltimore and Ohio, and the Chesapeake and Ohio, pass in their search for smaller grades, through the RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 61 bottoms of gorges, and follow the streams closely in their deeply sunken channels. From what we have said concern ing the character of the tops of the hills and plateaus, which adjoin these canon-like stream beds, it will be seen that the inspection of the one can give no idea of the character of the other. CHAPTER IV. FARM PRODUCTS. BY WM. M. FONTAINE. GENERAL REMARKS. The present conditions, and the prospects of agricul ture in West Virginia, cannot be understood without some explanation. Any present exhibit of her productions from the soil would not give a fair idea of her capabilities. It will be readily seen that the capacity of no new country, can be fairly judged by her productions at any given given time. Census reports, and statistics, may afford us data to determine the resources of old, and well populated regions, where all the branches of industry have adjusted themselves into har monious working order, and each pursuit is maintained by a sufficient body of laborers, trained for their special calling. This is far from being the case in West Virginia. Almost every condition requisite for the present full development of her abundant resources is wanting. Her population is sparse, much of her land is still in the primeval forests, and bier people have not confined their attention to special fields of labor and striven to perfect them. There has also been a great deficiency of labor and capital. Last, but not least, rail ways and roads, until of late, have been rare within her bor ders. With respect to this last feature, much has recently been done, and very much more is projected, so that we may soon hope to see generally introduced into our State, that great stimulus to active farming, a ready and cheap transpor tation to market. For the general and thorough working of our lands, we greatly need an immigration of industrious settlers. Thou- RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 63 sands pass yearly through our State to the far west, not know ing that here they can find an abundance of untouched virgin land, at nominal prices, and with a fertility not surpassed by any which they can hope to gain in the remote west. But suppose that lands were higher, and poorer here, our climate and proximity to the great markets, must ever give us a great advantage over farmers who, when they make a good crop, find it destroyed at one blow, by the ravages of insects, by tornadoes, or floods of rain ; and who, if successful in escap ing their numerous enemies, find all profits swallowed up in charges for transportation to markets which lie at our doors. But these are not the only, or chief causes which have les sened the amount of farm products with us. The way in which the State was settled, and the consequent habits of her inhabitants, have been unfavorable to the existence of exten sive or skilled farming, and have directed the industry of the people into almost every other channel. The original settlers were to a large extent men without means, who, on entering this country, then cut off from all exit to market, were con tent to clear small patches of ground, whose generous response to even poor cultivation, yielded returns sufficient to supply their limited wants. His little " clearing," selected in the most convenient spot, was cultivated by the pioneer year after year, in corn, and vegetables, which served to support his family along with a hog or two, and possibly a horse and a cow, with fowls, and the abundant game in the forests around, there was abundance of meat and bread. Even now, in many parts of the State, this is the mode of life. When the original clearing was exhausted by long tillage? an addition was made by felling more timber. Thus the cleared lands gradually grew around the cabins, until ex tensive openings were made, but still without causing attempts at establishing communication with the outside world. This independent mode of life impressed upon the people habits of thought and action, which, though Calculated to foster industry, frugality, and hardiness, were not most favorable for the promotion of undertakings which require communication with, and dependence upon, other countries. We see at the present day the influence of this training. Until of late West Virginians have paid but small attention 64 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. to the raising of agricultural products for exportation. They are usually content with the production of a sufficiency for home consumption. But rarely is an improved system of farming employed, and the cultivation is of the rudest kind. The ten dency is to look to other sources than the farm for products of exchange. As an example, this spirit has led our people along all the streams which can float a raft, to denude the forests of the magnificent timber which the} afford, often sacrificing it in the most prodigal manner. So, too, they turn their atten tion, when the liner timber lias been removed, to the getting of tan-bark, hoop-poles, c., etc., which business occupies a very important position among our industries. All of these causes have led to a neglect of agriculture,*and stock farming, industries for which, especially the latter, our State is pecu liarly fitted. Of course, there are important exceptions, especially along the Ohio, and in the older counties, as in Greenbrier, in the South Branch district, &c. Besides, we are speaking rather of what has been, of late years there has been a marked improvement, and we are being forced into those industrial channels which nature intended that we should follow. The opening of important lines of railroad has brought capital to develop our coals and iron, and the established value of these, bids fair to bring other lines within our limits. The increased amount of cleared land, has given greater impetus to stock rasing, which has been still farther increased by the dictates of a sounder system of agriculture. This has taught us to keep our hillsides, with their easily washed soils, as much in grass as possible, and the ready money returns which our sheep, wool, and the cattle pur chased in the fields, bring us, tend strongly in the same direc tion. Again, our people are no longer satisfied with the mis erable roads, which have been no small obstacle in the way of farming. More attention, also, is paid to systematic farm ing, although! much yet remains to be done in that direction Our State at present pays more attention to corn, than an}^ other crop. To the production of this, the soil and climate are well adapted. When the lands produce grass, and espe cially on the calcareous soils, the following rotation has been found advantageous. First corn, one or two years, then oats, then wheat, then grass; clover, timothy, or both mixed. The RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 65 land, if productive enough, may be grazed during the whole time it is in grass. When the Blue Grass grows spontane ously, as it does over most of the State, it tends to overrun meadows, and hence foreign grasses, such as clover and tim othy,, cannot be maintained for any great length of time. The farmers on the calcareous soils of the Panhandle, say that their hills grow grass almost as well as the bottom lands, but on neither can they keep timothy longer than five years as the predominant grass. After this period, Blue Grass takes the ground, and this, being indigenous, maintains possession indefinitely, forming excellent pastures. It is claimed that the land improves so long as it is in either grass. The Blue Grass pasture is again broken up and the same routine takes place. The same rotation essentially is followed in other grass lands with beneficial results. Rye and barley may be substi tuted as small grain crops. In the uplands of the South Branch district, of the N. E. counties, which is a fine grazing region, and produces fine grain and hay in the bottoms, the rotation of crops is, corn, wheat, clover, and occasionally rye or buckwheat. This rota tion may perhaps be taken to represent a good succession for any highland grain district. The census reports, never absolutely accurate for even old and thickly settled States, are peculiarly liable to error in our State, from the sparseness of the population, the difficulty of procuring data, etc., etc. Thus, among other things, the pro portion of woodland, to cleared, and improved land, as given in them, is far too small. Many parts of the State, especially "the S. and S. W., are almost in their original condition of forests, and almost the entire acreage should have been given as woodland. In some counties an absurdly small amount of woodland is given. In another important point we are grossly misrepresented. This is in the amount of our forest products. The money value of the forest products of the whole State is put at $368,668. The city of Wheeling alone pays more than that amount. This we mention merely to call attention to the fact that no adequate exhibit of the products of the State, is made in any accessible statistics. As to the character of the crops, fruits, etc., that may be raised within the State, it will be easily seen that it must be 9 66 RESOU&CES OF WEST VIRGINIA. very varied. No State has a greater variety of soil within certain limits, and few have a greater range of elevation, vary ing as ours does, from 500 feet to 4,000 feet. Between the sum mits of the mountains in the northeast, and the valley of the Ohio, in the southwest, we have a climatal difference of at least 14. INDIAN CORN. Two circumstances have combined to make Indian corn by far the most important crop in the State. The first is, that the soil and climate are more generally adapted to the produc tion of corn, than of any other grain. The most common soil is a loam, with more or less sand and calcareous matter. As a rule the alluvial bottoms along streams, have more sand than the hills. This soil is usually light, quick, easily penetrated by the heat of the sun, and whether in bottoms, or on fresh uplands, has and abundance of vegetable matter. In such lands, corn produces abundantly, with the very poorest culti vation. The astonishing yields ot corn on bottoms formed of such soils, may be best seen by some examples. Some of the Ivanawha bottoms have been cultivated in corn eighty consec utive years without diminution of yield. Blenerhasset Island, in the Ohio, in Wood county, has produced, in some parts, for more than fifty-seven } 7 ears, crops of corn of an average of eighty bushels (sometimes 110), without fertilizers. Some of the lands in the South Branch district, in Hamp shire and Hardy, have been cultivated in corn for one hundred years, with continued high yields (eighty to ninety bushels per acre), though unaided by manures. The Ohio bottoms are not inferior in productiveness. These examples may serve to illustrate, not only the amaz ing productiveness of these alluvial loams, but also to show the vicious system of cultivation practiced by too many of our farmers, in continuing the same crop so long. While the hills do not, of course, usually have a sufficient depth of soil to permit such long continued cultivation,. with remunerative returns, yet when freshly cleared and full of veg etable matter, or when properly managed, though not fresh, they are hardly inferior to the lowlands. As an example, many of the hills along the Ohio river, when farmed systemat ically, not uncommonly produce crops of eighty to one hundred bushels per acre. RESOURCES OP WEST VIRGINIA. 67 We may find the second cause which gives corn the predom inance, in the greater usefulness of this grain as a food for both man and beast, and also, to a certain extent, in inherited tendencies. We have seen, in speaking of the pioneer settler, how far this grain alone supplied his wants. With his descend ants it plays a no less important part. In the newer counties, settled in the manner above described, corn meal almost ex cludes flour in the production of bread. Nearly all of the crop is consumed within the State, either as food for the family, or in fattening stock. From the increasing attention paid to stock raising, the amount consumed in the last mentioned way is steadily on the increase. An additional advantage in this mode of disposing of corn, is found in the fact, that from the droppings of the cattle, the material removed is restored to the land. Whatever corn is not thus consumed, finds ready market in the small towns, or among new settlers. Corn by these means has maintained, especially in the interior, a pretty constant price, almost never falling below 50 cents per bushel. As might be inferred from what has been said about our soils and climate, it is a sure crop. No total failure has occur red since its first cultivation. Notwithstanding the fact that corn is our principal crop, we may repeat concerning it, what was said above of our productions generally. The present production is by no means a measure of what may be done. Most of the crop raised, is produced on freshly cleared land, in the midst of stumps and roots, with very imperfect tillage. As illustrating the effect of habit in inducing preference for the cultivation of certain crops, we may take the cultivation of corn in this State. In those counties which were settled by hunters and trap pers, and cleared in small patches, however large a body of cleared land they may now possess, or however thickly they may be settled, we find corn and oats to be by far the most important crop. This is not due entirely to the greater fitness of the land for the cultivation of these grains. On the con trary, the soil of many of these counties, is well adapted for the growth of wheat and tobacco. The exclusive cultivation of corn is due in part to that spirit of imitation, and tendency 68 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. to travel in well-worn ruts, which, perhaps, are shown more strikingly in the farming profession than in any other call ing. On the other hand, we find nearly till the wheat of the State to be produced in the older counties, which were settled by men of some means from the Atlantic slope. Other causes operated to produce this result in the cultivation of wheat. Of these, we we will speak when we come to consider the cul tivation of that grain. Unfortunately, the descendants of the pioneers did not inherit from them only their preference for corn raising, but acquired from that source an almost incurable taste for slovenly agriculture, one of the fruits of which, we see in the disposi tion, so prevalent, to continue the cultivation of the same grain on a piece of land just as long as it will bring anything. We have unfortunately no data for the determination of what kinds of corn have been found to succeed best on the different soils, and under the various climatal conditions found in the State. Many varieties, both of white and yellow corn are used. In many parts of the State the yellow varie ties are preferred, as it is stated, they give a better ilavored and more nutritious meal. What has been found true of Tennessee will apply to the cultivation of corn in a large portion of our State. The gourd seed, a large cob variety, is preferred in that State for river and creek lands, and the yellow corn fur their rolling uplands. Varieties that mature more quickly would be better for the higher plateau and mountain districts. The total yield of corn in the State, as given in the census of 1770, is 8,198,865 bushels. The average yield may betaken to be 35 bushels per acre. WHEAT- We have already adverted to the fact that nearly all the wheat raised in the State, is produced in the older and more thickly settled counties, and intimated that this state of things is not entirely due to the greater fitness of these couii- tiek for wheat raising. Here, too, we trace the influence of inherited tendencies. As evidence of this, we may call atten tion to the fact that in said counties attempts to cultivate wheat are persisted in under the most discouraging circum stances, where other grain crops would pay far better. An- RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 69 other and more important cause which has operated to confine wheat growing mainly to the older counties, is the fact that in such districts, the condition of the land is more favorable for successful cultivation of the grain. Here we find large bodies of open lands which have been long cleared and kept under thorough cultivation. Preparation can be made in time for early seeding, and harvesting, threshing, &e., economically managed. Besides, the inducements are greater. More wheat is consumed at home, and the access to market is often easier. In some of the more highly cultivated counties, such as Harrison, Marshall, c., crops of 30 bushels are frequently obtained. The case is different in the newer sections. Cleared bind has been less abundant, the foul condition of the new grounds has permitted no thorough ploughing, and caused great waste in harvesting and threshing. The greater taste of the people for corn meal, the limited demand for wheat as an article of food for man alone, and the inacccessible position of many of these counties, have all tended to lower the pro duction of this grain in such sections. We may state here that this condition of things is rapidly changing with the increased amounts of cleared land, and the greater atten tion paid to improved farming. The above mentioned causes arc independent of the condi tions of soil and climate. These will ever operate to keep the production of wheat in the State, below that of corn. The kind of soil and climate suited for the successful raising of wheat, is not found in our State so generally as that suited for corn and oats. A well-drained clay, or clay loam with calcareous mat ter, suits it best. An equable winter climate, dry w r eather about ripening time, and a freedom from heavy rains when the bloom is on, are all required for the heaviest yields. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that the amount Of wheat raised by us, can, and Avill be largely increased. Many of the counties do not raise enough for home consumption, but im port flour. A sound system of economy will not. per mit this state of things to continue in those counties where, as is the case in many, all the conditions are favorable for the raising 01" this grain. Again, much of the present crop in the new counties, as stated above, is raised after corn, on new, im- 70 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. perfectly cleared land. This does not permit the seeding to be done early enough for our climate. The body of cleared land is already large enough in many sections to permit a proper rotation of crops, the good effects of which are shown in no crop, sooner than in wheat. As the roots and stumps decay, cleaner cultivation will be permitted. Thus without an increase of acreage, we may look for increased yields. Spring wheat is not cultivated to any extent, since it has not proved so successful as winter wheat. Most of the known varieties of winter wheat have been tried with more or less suceess. The Mediterranean is, perhaps, the most approved in the Ohio counties. In general, the white flinty smooth, and early bearded varieties are the most reliable. The total amount of wheat raised according to the census of 1870, is 2,480,148 bushels, making it the second crop in amount. The average may be taken as 10 bushels per acre. This, when compared with that of corn, seems very low. It must be remembered, however, that corn is cultivated on the best lands in the least exhausted portions of the State, generally bottoms, while wheat is mainly raised on the older and more exhausted lands. Besides, it fails much oftener than corn. These aver ages, and all others, given for the different crops, are for culti vation without fertilizers A moderate use of them would largely increase these yields. OATS. Oats rank third in the grain production of West Virginia. Their productiveness, adaptiveness to various soils and climates, and the ease with which they are raised, render the crop a favorite one, more especially in the new counties. The crops are limited only by the demand for the grain. In many of the back counties, only enough is raised for feeding at home. When access can be had to market, the largest crops are made. In the mountain and high plateau lands, the con ditions of climate cause oats to supercede in large measure other grains. The total amount raised, is for 1870, 2,513,749 bushels. The average may be taken as 30 bushels per acre. BARLEY. Owing to the lack of a good market, Barley has received but little attention. It is not consumed as food for man or beast, like wheat, and oats, or corn, among our people, hence as there RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 71 is no home consumption, there is little inducement to raise it. Some attention was at one time paid to the raising of it, in the counties in the north of the State on the Ohio, for the sup plying of the Wheeling breweries. It was found, however, that this grain could be bought elsewhere cheaper than it could be raised in the vicinity. Like oats, this grain flour ishes well in almost any soil that is not too heavy and wet. The total amount for 1870 was 50,363 bushels. The amount per acre may be put at 15 bushels. RYE.- Rye is not much cultivated in the State. It is well adapt ed, as it would seem, to the higher and colder parts of the country, and it is in such regions that it is mainly raised. The counties of RHchie, Preston and Hampshire, are the lar gest producers. It will grow well on almost any of our soils, and is a hardy grain. Since it requires the same season as wheat, and the same cultivation, without being so useful as food, it can never attain any great magnitude as a crop where wheat can be raised. When sown on fertile land in Septem ber, it would form a good pasture in winter and spring. This is the chief use of it made in Tennessee, and it mignt be thus employed more largely in our own State. Total yield in 1870, 277,746 bushels. Average yield about 18 bushels per acre. BUCKWHEAT. This grain, according to Diss Debar, thrives with little or no care in every part of the State, and is cultivated most exten sively in the upper Ohio river and mountain counties. Pres ton county, according to the same authority, alone produces 95,857 bushels. According to the census of 1870, if correct, there must have been a fearful falling off in this crop, as it gives for the whole State, only 82,916 bushels. But this is only another instance of the glaring incorrectness in the cen sus reports of our productions. Buckwheat seems particularly fitted for the glades, and table lands of the more elevated, and colder portions of the State. On them it is largely raised, and forms an important article of food in such districts. Here, in the form of cakes, in connection with maple syrup, and moun tain honey, it is used in considerable amounts. The yield is very variable in different coils, the largest being in good dry loam. In rich alluvial land, it is inclined to go to straw. In ?Z RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. the mountains it is sown earlier than elsewhere, in order to escape the fall frosts, which are fatal to it. In the lower coun ties, the middle of July is early enough for it, and two crops may be obtained from the same field, provided the first be sown early in April. To the new settler, this rapid growth is very useful, as it enables him to get a crop from late cleared land, and extirpates weeds, &c. The census for 1870 gives as the total production, 82,916 bushels. The average yield may be put at 20 bushels per acre. THE SWEET POTATO. This root, though forming a palatable and wholesome food, and easily cultivated, is much neglected, being supplanted by the Irish potato. In the predominating clay loams of our State, it grows well and obtains a good size, but is rather lack ing in sweetness and keeping qualities. This is especially true of the northern and higher parts of the State. To attain perfection, it requires a sandy, friable soil, of moderate fertility, and a hot sun during the period of growth. In many parts of the State, especially in the southern counties, these conditions are supplied, and there the sweet potato ought to obtain high excellence. Indeed, Tennessee is noted for the size and flavor of her sweet potatoes. Perhaps the greatest trouble in the at tempts of our people to raise it, is that they select too rich a soil, which makes too great a growth of vine, and gives the root a sappy, insipid character. In the eastern States, from New Jersey to North Carolina, this crop is raised in the great est perfection. Poor, sandy loams, are there preferred. They are aided with non-stimulating vegetable matter, such as half rotted straw, &c., where these sandy soils are totally void of vegetable matter. Our soils all have an abundance of this, and would not need such additions. The good prices that the crop brings, $1 to $1,50, per bushel, certainly would seem to make this crop worthy of more attention. The number of bushels report-ed for the State is 40,984, which is no doubt too small an amount. The average yield is about 100 bushels. THE IRISH POTATO. This is a favorite crop with our people, and is grown in com paratively large quantities. The Irish potato grows in great perfection all over the State. In size, mealiness, and delicacy of flavor, our Irish potatoes are unsurpassed. Our deep, light RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 73 loams, charged with vegetable matter, and our cool, moist sum - mers, furnish just the conditions needed to bring this vegetable in perfection. In the high table lands and glades, or upland prairies as they may be called, they excel in all points of excel lence. It must be remembered that the original home of the potato, is in the high, cool, and well watered districts of South America, a region not unlike some parts of West Virginia. The rot has never prevailed in this State. The Colorado bug has been with us three years. Owing to the fierce war waged against him, he has not caused so much damage with us as has been done elsewhere. This insect may now be considered to have done his worst. Irish potatoes in the interior coun ties, readily command from seventy-five cents to one dollar per bushel. Many varieties are cultivated with success, of which perhaps the Peach Blow is most deserving of mention. Here again we may trace the influence of inherited prejudices, when we compare the amounts of the two vegetables raised. The Irish potato is the mainstay of the laboring class of both Europe and America, while the Sweet potato is confined to comparatively limited districts. It is not to be wondered at then that, in a State settled as ours has been, the Sweet potato should be almost entirely neglected, even where every condi tion is more favorable for it than for the Irish potato. The total yield of Irish potatoes in the State is put by the census of 1870 at 1,053,507 bushels. The average crop per acre may be put at 120 bushels. THE TURNIP. This is another valuable production, well suited to our soil and climate, which is greatly neglected. It would be especi ally valuable to the recent settler, since it can be raised with much ease, on imperfectly cleared land. It does finely on virgin soils fall of vegetable matter and ashes, and requires a mere scratching of the surface. It furnishes food for both man and beast, being especially fitted for milch cows. The white, sweet turnip, is almost exclusively cultivated, thp Rutabaga being almost unknown. We have no data to determine the total yield in the State. This is small, though increasing. Returns of average yields, indicate 120 bushels per acre, as the general average for all soils. 10 74 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. SOEGHUM. The Chinese sugar cane is cultivated to a considerable extent in the State. Its main production is in the Ohio helt of coun ties. It is used entirely for the manufacture of molasses, for home consumption. It is not grown so extensively in the inland counties, especially where the lands are wooded, and the maple is abundant. Most persons prefer the syrup pre pared from the maple, to the molasses from sorghum. This latter has. too commonly from imperfect ripening, an acid taste. The cane is mainly raised in the counties which have been more or less denuded of their maple trees. The cane suc ceeds well, and in good soil, when well matured, yields from 200 to 300 gallons per acre. The total production for the State is given as 780,829 gallons, Jackson county leading, with a yield of 57,041 gallons. MAPLE SUGAR. This is quite an important production in the better wooded portions of the State, and like most of our forest products, is greatly underestimated in all published statistics. There are two varieties of maple, which, in West Virginia, furnish sugar. These are the Sugar, or Rock Maple, and the Black Maple (accr nigrum). The former is the more common tree, and }delds more juice than the latter. Both trees grow all over the State, at all elevations, provided the soil be good, and the exposure favorable. Even were the published statistics correct, in, the amount of sugar and syrup which they give, in this case also, the present production is no measure of the capabilities of the State. The largest present production, is in some of the -old well cleared counties, such as Greenbrier, Monroe, Monongalia, etc., where the trees are fewest. There are millions of acres, according to Diss Debar, where not a tree has been tapped, and thousands of productive trees in the sugar orchards of old and improved farms, are neglected from want of time and labor to save the crop. The tree in its favorite positions, grows in groups and groves. These are seen in all their perfection in the mountain counties, and here sugar making forms an important and profitable branch of industry. The period of sap runnir.g is longer in such regions. The maple sugar production for 1850 is put at RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 75 607,178 pounds, while that for 1870 is put at 490,606 pounds. This is far less than the amount reported for I860, also. Diss Debar was of the opinion that the amount reported for 1860, was much too small. He states, as confirming this opinion, that in Doddrige country, his residence at that time, only 1,623 pounds were given as the entire yield, while to his personal knowledge, the amount sold to the stores, exceeded 2,500 pounds, and no doubt an equal amount was retained for home con sumption. According to the census returns, there must from 1860 to 1870, have been a great falling off in the production (about J-), but as is well known, the production is steadily increasing. In the more thinly settled counties, such as Randolph, Web ster, Nicholas, &c., thousands of acres have nearly half their timber of the sugar maples. Here the price of land is so low that the price of one crop from a tract, would, pay for the whole. The yield per tree varies from 6 to 10 gallons a day, in favorable weather, giving f to 1J pounds of hard sugar, besides a quantity of excellent syrup. This result may be obtained from the same trees upon an average for 25 to 50 days in a season (Diss Debar). Good maple sugar always brings at the country stores, the price of brown New Orleans sugar. This is always a sure crop, giving a large value in small bulk, easy of transportation, and always meeting with a ready market. This source of revenue is as yet practically untouched ; it cannot fail to become an important and perma nent member of our forest productions. TOBACCO. The cultivation of tobacco in the State, for no good reason, as it would seem, is confined to a very limited area. Some of tha Ohio belt of counties, and of those on the New and Kana- wha rivers, .raise nearly the entire crop. The following re marks on the culture of this staple are based on information kindly furnished by the Hon. D. D. Johnson, of Tyler, alarge and successful raiser of tobacco. Tobacco has only recently become an important article of production in the State. For a num ber of years small crops have been raised in the vicinity of the Great Kanawha. Some 25 or 30 years ago, it was also produced in the more northern counties, but in all the section 76 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. north of the Little Kanawha, the cultivation of tobacco had almost entirely ceased prior to 1860. During the war, its cultivation was somewhat revived on the borders of the Ohio river. The crop thus raised was sold to packers in Ohio, and by them shipped to the eastern mar kets, as Ohio tobacco. Hence the absence of quotations of West Virginia tobacco in these markets. In the county of Tyler, the increase in the production of tobacco, has been more rapid than in any other county in the State. It is estimated for this county, that the production of any one year, for a period of 20 years, prior to 1867, would not exceed 50,000 pounds. Since that time, through the untiring energy of T. J. Staley, Esq., its production has rap idly increased, until in 1873, the crop was estimated at 1,500,000 pounds. The crop of 1874 was a failure, owing to general causes, which affected all the tobacco growing States. In 1875, a larger area was planted in Tyler county than ever before. Owing to the continuous and heavy rains in July, a period of unprecedented rain storms, the crop was lessened materially. The principal varieties given in Tyler county are the "Ma ryland Thickset," and the "White Burley. " The latter is a recent introduction, and is peculiarly adapted to " old ground." The mode of cultivation is as follows : During the month of February or March, a "brush- heap" is prepared in some favorable locality, generally in newly cleared ground, and burned. This is for the purpose of destroying all noxious seeds, that might germinate into weeds injurious to the young tobacco plants. The top soil, is then dug up. and thoroughly pulverized, and the tobacco seed sown in the "bed " thus pre pared. The young plants appear and grow in this position during the month of May. In June and July, they are pulled up and transplanted in the ground in which they are des : tined to grow. Of course this must be done when the ground is sufficiently moist to enable the young plant to take root sin its new position. It is almost the universal custom in Tyler county, to select as the growing ground, newly cleared land. From the time of transplanting, until about the middle of August, the growing plant must be kept clear of weeds and worms, and of shoots, RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 77 or " suckers," which are apt to grow between the leaves arid the main stem. The leaves next to the ground mature first, those in the middle next, and the top leaves last. When all are fully ma tured, the leaves are stripped from the stalk, and hung up in the tobacco warehouse for "curing." Flues are made by loose stone, and run for about two -thirds the length of the house. In these are placed wood fires, the heat and smoke of which pass up through the tobacco as it hangs in the house. When sufficiently cured, the tobacco is taken down and put in u bulks," while the house is refilled with green tobacco. When the whole crop is thus partially cured, it is again hung up to be thoroughly cured. It is then taken from the stick, and " rolled," and sold to the packers. The average yield per acre, is under ordinary circumstances about 1,000 pounds. The price per pound was, in the roll, during 1873, from 3 to 3J- cents; and in 1874, from 4 to 8 cents ; in 1875, from 4-o- to 5J cents. Tobacco grown in the Great Kanawha region, is cured almost entirely by "air drying," and commands a much higher price than cured by " firing," as above described. The smoke in passing through the tobacco very materially injures it. In the northern part of the State, the time between the maturing of the plant, and the early frosts of win ter, is too short to permit this method of curing. Air drying also requires a great amount of house-room, which requires too much capital for the limited means of the ordinary tobacco grower. Col. Johnson suggests that both of these difficulties may be overcome by using air, heated by a stove or furnace, for the purpose of curing the plant, while the smoke is caused to pass to the outside of the house, through a flue or pipe. This would very materially enhance the price of fire-cured tobacco. The soil and climate of West Virginia, and the large amount of fresh land posesessed by her, offer many advantages in the culture of tobacco, and with proper cultivation, and correct modes of curing, the highest prices ought to be ob tained. The production of tobacco for 1873 in that part of the State which lies north of the Little Kanawha, was estimated at 78 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 10,800,000 pounds. The number of pounds of West Virginia tobacco inspected in Baltimore, during that year was reported at 7,200,000 pounds. Add to this 2,700,000 pounds, the amount estimated by Col. Johnson, as raised in the Kanawha region, we have an aggregate for the State of 13,000,500 pounds raised in 1873. Col. Johnson estimates the price of the tobacco, raised north of the Little Kanawha, as averaging 3 cents per pound, and that of the Great Kanawha district, as averaging 6 cents per pound, giving a total money value of the crop in the State of $378,000. Two crops of tobacco are usually raised on the same land, which leaves the ground in splendid condi tion for wheat, since the culture of new ground in tobacco is more effectual than any mode of preparation in getting rid of weeds. The above account of tobacco cultivation in Tyler county may be taken to represent the entire State. It may be proper to state- here, that it is not exactly similar to the method used in Virginia. In that State the tobacco is, immediately after cutting, hung for some days closely together on " scaf folds," in order to give it a bright yellow color, before hanging in the house. The leaves, also, are not stripped from the stalk, but the stalk is split partly down, and hung astride on the sticks. The Virginia farmers attach much importance to the number of leaves left to grow on the stalk. They always break off the lowest leaves, as the plant is growing, since these usually become filled with dirt. If they wish to make heavy shipping tobacco, i. <?., tobacco for the European mar ket, they break off the terminal bud low enough down to.^ leave 8 to 10 leaves on the stalk. If thin tobacco, suited for home manufacture, is desired, a greater number is left, and thinner new land selected for planting. They raise their heavy tobacco on old highly manured lands. Attention may be here called to the great underestimation of the West Virginia tobacco crop in the census report for 1870, where it is put at only 2,040,452 pounds, not much more s than the crop of Tyler county in 1873. MISCELLANEOUS CHOPS. Cotton. Two bales arc reported from Randolph. Cotton, perhaps, might be raised with success for home consumption, RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 79 in the low valleys of the Southern Ohio counties. It is a very successful and important crop in Tennessee. Hemp Succeeds well here, hut the demand for it is limited, and where the amount of available lahor is small, as it is in our State, attention is turned to more indispensible crops, such as those which furnish some variety of food. The amount returned is 37 tons. flax. Flax is more largely raised, since it supplies in large measure, the material for textile fabrics of home manufacture, taking the place of cotton. It succeeds well in every part of the State, and the production is limited only by the small demand for it. Amount reported, 82,276 pounds, of which Jackson county raises the largest quantity, viz.: 7 286 pounds. Hops. These are cultivated only for domestic use. This plant thrives well in all parts of the State. The amount given for 1870 is 1,031 pounds, Preston county producing the largest amount, viz.: 200 pounds. BUTTER AND CHEESE. From what has "been said about the topography, soil cli mate, adapted nes for grass of the State, it will bo easily understood that with proper inducements arising from ready transportation, and sufficient markets, these products should be a source of large revenue to our people. In a State like West Virginia, where, in consequence of imperfect access to market, the capacity for grain production is far greater than the amount now raised, it is a matter of great importance to discover methods for the conversion of grain. Among the substances into which our grains can be changed with profit, butter, and especially cheese, should rank high. It requires too much space to properly point out the advan tages which West Virginia possesses for dairy farming. As one pound of cheese is worth 12 to 18 pounds of corn, and one of butter much more, it is plain that largo amounts of the corn could be exported in this form with a great sav ing in the cost of transportion. More attention is being paid to the number of cattle raised, and to the ,- improvement of the breed so far, only for the purpose of beef production. This must react on dairy farming and lead to improvements in milch cows. Indeed, lack of labor and quick transporta tion, are the only causes preventing a great development of 80 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. our dairy products. Among the many advantages which we 1 possess for dairy farming we may mention the following : First, The length of our growing season. It is true our farmers feed from 5 to 6 months in some parts of the State, but this is due in great part to the their having failed to put down a due proportion of their land in grass. In the shel tered valleys in many parts of the State, grass will grow 8 and 9 months in the year. Second, The absence of parching droughts, and the luxuriance and succulence of the grass throughout the summer. Third, The uniform cool weather of summer, and the abundance of cool springs and excellent water, fourth, The peculiar adaptation of the State for grass. Fifth, One proximity to the large cities. Sixth, The cheapness of land for pasture. West Virginia butter, especially that produced in the mountains, and on the plateaus, commands a higher price in the Baltimore market than that of any other State. We have seen that a considerable portion of the State has these topo graphical features. During seasons favorable for the ship ment of butter, the country stores seldom pay less than 20 or 30 cents per pound. Near the small towns, from September to May, butter commands from 40 to 60 cents. It must be remembered that this is put up in small parcels, and usually poorly prepared. In 1870 the number of pounds of butter made is put at 5,044,475 ; the number of pounds of cheese, 32,429, and the number of gallons of milk sold, 144,895. The production of cheese is by no means equal to the home consumption. HONEY. Although bees thrive almost without care in this State, honey raising has not formed in any quarter, one of the industrial pursuits. On most farms where bees are kept, they receive little attention, and are provided only with the rudest hives. The principal stock comes from t^ie wild swarms, and the young swarms frequently return to the woods. From the abundance of wild flowers, and the mild ness of the climate, it ifi plain that bee culture can be made a profitable calling in West Virginia. The red maple, with its myriad flowers, in February, affords an early supply of pollen. The Plurn, Peach, Spice wood, Dogwood, Sassafras, RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 81 Pear, Cherry, Redbud, Raspberry, and Apple, blooming during March and April, afford both food and abundant pollen for cell making. The Willow, in early April, abounding on all the streams, gives splendid pasturage, and is the first source of honey supply. In Tennessee, bees in strong colonies, have been known to store 29 pounds, during the last week in April, per hive. With us the Willow is somewhat later in bloom ing. Wild Cherry, Dewberry and White Clover bloom in April and May, and being quite abundant, furnish large supplies of food and honey for storage. From this time onward, a constant succession of wild flowers follow. Bone- set, the Astors, and Golden Rod give late supplies of abund ant and excellent honey. The price of honey in the cornb varies from 20 to 25 cents, and the supply everywhere small. The total amount given for the State in 1870, is 376,997 pounds. Harrison county leading with 28,937 pounds. FRUIT CULTURE, The nature of the soil and the climate of West Virginia permit the cultivation of any fruit which can be grown in the cooler parts of the temperate zone. A failure of any of these fruits must depend upon special or local causes, or on conditions other than those of climate. The principal trouble experienced in fruit growing in our State, arises from the early stimulation of the flower buds by warm spells of weather occurring in February, and the first part of March. This trouble is experienced in all the States lying in the same latitude with UP. As we are liable to have killing frosts until the middle of April, the fruit crop is, of course, in danger until after this period. This danger can, to a greater or h j .ss extent,, be avoided, by select ing such exposures as will retard as much as possible the blooming of the trees, or by exposing the roots, &c., &c. Over the State in general, no great amount of fruit is raised for sale, on account of the lack of cheap and ready transportation. What sin plus is di.spo.sed of, is mainly in the dried condition. But while the lack of maikets pre vents exportation, no people raise a greater abundance, or make a freer use of fruit in their household economy than West Virginians. 11 82 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. In all the multitudinous modes of preserving and utiliz ing fruit, they excel. Every housewife lays up abundant stores of pickles, preserves, jams, fruit butters, besides dry ing, canning, and storing in bulk. In this respect they stand in strong contrast with the people of the Atlantic slope. A failure of the fruit crop is a misfortune to the West Virginian, but little less grave than that of the grain crop. While the people themselves, owing to the impress of Penn sylvania German tastes, make such large use of fruit, they are alive to the great benefits derived from a liberal feeding of it to stock. As a consequence, an orchard is everywhere an appendage of a well ordered farm. The Apple. The apple is by far the most important of the different fruits raised in tins State. Owing to the great variety of soil, exposure and elevation, almost every known kind can find conditions well suited to its growth. Speak ing for the whole State, the combination of soil and climate is such, that the apple attains with us a perfection of size and flavor, rarely found elsewhere. It is a very sure crop, the bloom not coining out, usually, until the severe frosts are past. Owing to the unprecedentedly cold spell which occur red late in the spring of last year, the apple crop for the year (1S75) was almost entirely cut short. We thus are able to compare our native fruit with that grown elsewhere, for our fruit dealers are getting stock from Michigan and elsewhere. None of the kinds thus obtained, equal in flavor those of native growth. The apple being a pretty sure crop, is cultivated every where, and when the farmer confines his attention to one sort of fruit, it is always the apple that he selects. Besides the use made of it for eating in the raw state, drying, pre serving and stock feeding, for all of which purposes it forms the chief material, it is largely used for cider and vinegar. Considerable attention has been paid to securing improved varieties. Along all the lines of public conveyance apples are exported in considerable quantities. Large amounts are shipped from the Ohio belt of counties. In spring the demand always exceeds the supply. Considerable amounts are distilled. Some of the most popular and successful vari eties are the following : RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 83 Fall and Winter Rambo, Newtown Pippin, Rhode Island Greening, Baldwin, Yellow Bellflower, Grindstone Pippin, Winesap, Yellow Harvest, Red Harvest. June Eating, Sum mer Sweet, etc., &c. (Diss Debar). Peaches 1 he peach was formerly cultivated more widely over the State than it is now. At present, it is principally produced south of the Little Kanawha. In the northern part of the State, it has been mainly supplanted by the apple, owing to the increasing uncertainty of the crop, due to the danger from early frosts. Many parts of the northern districts used to raise large crops, where now hardly a peach tree can be seen. The counties of Wirt, Calhoun, Gilmer, <tc., are very successful, and large amounts are dried and cured for sale. The bloom of this fruit is peculiarly liable to be started for ward too soon by the warm spells of February and March. The varieties most approved are : Morris White, Heath s Cling, Grosse Migiionne, Early Scarlet, Crawford s Late, etc., &c. (Diss Debar). Pears. Pears are not cultivated to anv extent, and appear to thrive best in old improved improved localities. Bart- teFs, and Sickel appear to give general satisfaction. (Diss Debar). Quinces appear to do remarkably well. The fruit is larger and freer from blemishes than that grown on the Atlan tic slope in the same latitude. All the varieties of cherries and plums thrive well. The small Damson plum is almost everywhere a profuse bearer, and is used largely in preserv- .ing, &c. The State has not a sufficient number of nurseries to sup ply the people, and this is a serious drawback to extended cultivation. The census for 1870 gives the value of the orchard pro ducts of the State at $848,773. Harrison stands at the head of the counties, Avith a production valued at $50,826. SMALL FRUITS. Most of the small fruits cultivated in the temperate zone do well in our State. But little attention however is paid to their proper cultivation. Where attention to such cultiva tion is not promoted by the demand created by the presence of large cities, such fruits are usually cultivated only by per- 84 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. sons of means and leisure. Such qualifications are not gen erally found in our State. Again, the profusion in which the Wild Cherry, Strawberry, Blackberry, Raspberry and Whortle berry grow in all parts of the State, gives a supply of small fruits sufficient to meet the wants of the people. The Straw berry and Raspberry may be cultivated with great success, Currants require almost no attention, and Gooseberries do well generally. Cranberries grow wild in some of the bogs of the mountain glades, but are not cultivated at all, notwith standing the fact that considerable amounts are used for table purposes, which must be imported. Along the Bait, and 0. R. R. access can be had within 18 hours to the Baltimore and Cincinnati markets. Fowls of all kinds, turkeys, eggs, cvc., meet with a ready sale among the people themselves, and are equal to cash. Fat turkeys bring 16 to 17 cents, chickens 10 to 12 cents per pound. Eggs, in summer, 15 to 20 cents, in winter, 25 to 30 cents per do sen. GARDEN PKOCDUCTS. Market gardening has received but little attention, as the State is thinly settled and has no populous cities. In Wheel ing and Parkersburg the markets are often as high as those of New York and Philadelphia, while the supply is irregular and uncertain. The amount of income from this source re- tnrned for 1870 is $69,974, a sum considerably below the truth. Of this Marshall raised the largest amount, viz : 115,416. The following garden vegetables named in alphabetical order attain perfection in the open air in every part of the State : Artichoke, Asparagus, Beans, Beets, Borecole, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Cress, Cucumber, Egg Plant, Endive, Gourd, Horseradish, Jerusalem Artichoke, Lettuce, Mangel Wurzel, Melons oj all kinds, Mustard, Okra, Onion, Pars- lei/, Parsnip, Peas, Pepper (red,) Pumpkin, Radixh, Rhubarb, tial- *\fy or Oyster Plant, Spinach, Stjuash, Tomato, Turnips of all kmd*. Of culinary and medicinal garden plants, we have Aniseed, ( araicay, Chamomilc, Chervil, Chive, Coriander, Dandelion, Dill, Eslragon, Garlic, Hysop, Lavender, Leek, Marjoram, Mint, Rose mary, Rue, Sage, Paragon, Thyme, and a number of others of less moment, (Diss Debar.) RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 85 GRAPE CULTURE, In the chapter on climatology it was shown that the whole of West Virginia is within the themometric zone in which the grape matures, and the summer suns are amply sufficient to secure superior strength and quality to the wine : " On asurface so diversified as that of our State, it would be difficult to survey off a one hundred acre tract anywhere " without including at least one suitable exposure for a vine- u yard of from five to twenty acres, either in the valleys, or on " slopes of from five to twenty-five, degrees. German wine u growers, whoprefer steeper grades, will find the rock neces- " sary for walling upa few feet below tne surface everywhere. " While every character of West Virginia soil, whether * limestone, clay loam, cacareous, sandy and gravelly loam, " vegetable mould or alluvial, appear to be almost equally " w r ell adapted to the grape, it must be borne in mind that " neither will much avail if resting on a sub-soil of stiff clay, " retentive of water. So soon as this kind of foundation is " reached by the roots of the vine, mould and decay set in, and " fruit and plant are doomed to certain destruction." (Hand- Book of W. Va. J. H. Diss Debar.) The number of acres planted in regular vineyards does not exceed 900 in the whole State. Seven hundred of these are claimed for the county of Ohio. Wood county has about 150 acres, and the remainder is divided between the counties of Ritchie, Doddridge, Marshall, Lewis, Berkley, Greenbrier, Mineral, and Randolph. In none of these last eight, except ing Ritchie, is the production sent to markets outside of the county. For Ohio county the following information was kindly fur nished by G. W. Franzheim, a large wine dealer of Wheeling. Tho 700 acres of vineyards of this county are all within six miles of Wheeling. The principal grape grown for wine is the Catawba, while the Concord, Isabella and Delaware are raided for both wine and table use. The Ives and Virginia Seedling are cultivated for wine, though not much attention has been paid to the former. Besides these, numerous other kinds have been experimented with, though they give very satisfactory results, yet the tests have not extended over a sufficient number of years to give statistics concerning them. 86 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. The wine produced ranks high in market, and is much liked in both the eastern and western cities, going into New York and Boston in the one direction, and as far as Omaha in the other. As regards the yield of wine per acre, it, of course, varies very much with the season, but in seme instances the Isabella has yielded as much as 1,000 gallons. For table use the Concords are the first to come into market usually about the middle of September. This is followed by the other varie ties up to about November. Large quantities are shipped every year to Pittsburgh and other centres, where they sell at an excellent profit. The retail price in Wheeling is from 6 to 10 cents per pound, according to the abundance or scar city of the fruit. The grape crop of 1874 was excellent, in both quality and quantity. The average Wheeling wholesale price was 4| cts. per pound, which gave about $100,000 for the value of the crop in that year. About one-half of this was manufactured into wine, and the rest was consumed as fruit. As the acreage in vineyards shows, more attention is paid to the grape in this county than in any other. This is a mat ter of some surprise, as the crop is an exceedingly profitable one, and requires, for the returns yielded, but a small amount of labor, as one man can work 10 acres, except in weeding time in midsummer, when two hands can do all the necessary work in a week. In Wood county the Messrs. Munch meyer Brothers, a,t Washington s Bottom, nine miles below Parkersburg, seem to have taken the most interest- in this fruit. Their vine yard extends from the foot of the first bench, or second bot tom, almost to the river, on a slope of not over 4 or 5 degrees, inclined to the west. They report but little rot in the Con cord, and none in the Seedling, which latter ripens to great perfection. In the same vineyard, in 1870, were rows of Ives Seedling, Herbemont, Delaware, Ion a, and Muscadine, all producing perfect fruit. The latter variety is almost identi- x cal, in flavor and appearance, with the Muscat grape of Bur gundy, and is decidedly a very superior table grape. It is highly remunerative. In Ritchie and Doddridge the Ives and Norton s Virginia Seedling appear to be the favorites. From the former county RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 87 the wine, both Catawbaand Seedling, is much superior to that of Wood, owing to a difference in soil and mode of cultivation. It is exported principally to Pittsburgh, where it is much esteemed. In Doddridge and Levris the wine is made in a natural and proper way, but in the other counties it is often mixed with sugar and alcohol to make it conform to tbe taste of the na tives, not familiar with the genuine article. In the other counties, the Concord seems to be the most popular grape, and, upon tbe whole, that and Seedlings have proved tbe most hardy and thrifty vines in the State, tbe Ca- tawba being more or less uncertain every where. Tbe vine yards existing in Kanawba, in 1870, were principally Catawba, but proved so unreliable that the owners have since uprooted them, and are now planting Concord and Seedling, and so lit tle is now done in grapes in that county, that the Charleston market is supplied from tbe neighboring States of Virginia and Ohio. In Randolph county, vineyards are beginning to be planted at Mie bead of the Buckbannon river, by a Swiss colony, at Helvetia. " As to tbe benefit." says Mr. Debar, " which the State "derives from vine culture, it may be regarded as two-fold : "First, In aiding the cause of true temperance, by subatitu- " ting a mild and healthful beverage, for adulterated and " intoxicating spirits ; and Second, by retaining in the State, " the money that would be sent abroad for that obnoxious " article, at least so far as the present rate of production can "do this. When the culture of the grape shall be so extended "as to admit of exporting wine in large quantities toother " States, the benefits of this production of the soil will " become still more apparent, It may be remarked here that " it can bo extended considerably without materially "encroaching upon the other productions of the State, "as it requires but little surface, and that of a kind not " very valuable for other crops." The following tables of tbe more important agricultural and domestic products for 1870, are here appended. We must again call attention to their inaccuracy, and warn the reader not to consider them as anything more than approxi mations, which may serve to give the relative amounts by the several counties: 88 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. TABLE A. Statement of the Principal Items of Farm Produce According to the Census, 1870. = i ~ ACRES OF LAND. .- E --r UNIMPROVED. <^5 $. C ~ I- 1 t5 e = 5sl *j COUNTIES. c ~l !^Z ~ > .<$> j f . X dj ^ < ~~ l C -^ O GJ ^ . M ii x *-* S !- 1j (- r* tt P +2 O s o" & P3 o O & Xo. No. No. Dolls. Bu. Ba. Bu. Bu. Bvi. Total I 2,580,2544.364.405 ,583,735 23.379.692 2,480,148 277.741 8.197.865 ".413 749 8 916 Barbour 95,668 120 441) 110 664,062 42,008 3.935 ! 173,195! 43367 1 ,637 Berkeley .. 111,857 40,004 2,931 1,120,041 296,975 6,265 297,639 187,588 463 Booue 14,762 116,689 168,449 2,585 1,398 129,630 13,667 ]21 Braxton 32,240! 133.479 20,824 247,372 20,019 2,883 130,690 J9,68 \-*.\ Brooke 54,856 360 604 582,583 45,549 1,145 lSi,r,76 Sl,l:!5 35 Cabell 26,866! 60.802 24,131 297,673 42 592i 2,675 167,600^ 31.586 35 Calhoun 11,315! 67,: 09 132,11, 5,354 849 52,202 8.357 379 Clay 7,798 627 55,181 121,524 . l,955j (57 39,093 11,497 97 Poddridge. 37,752 112,040 116 4C9.541 15,879 4.I9H 113064 18.723 910 Fayette 36,410 o 658 202,375 393,195 13,304 3,003 123220 41,991 1,566 Gilmer 20,721 93.586 3 567 190,092 9,765 2,1(12 106,0361 17,592 543 Grant 63,145 113.393 59 477,725 31,566, x,2f>. -):>,."() lo.5<i;; Green brier Hampshire 95099! 170,748 77,873 163.050 29,740 15,221 690,154 524,221 50.214 76,832 7,734 181,381 92,295 21,8851 hO,325 4C.769 1,511 5,599 Hancock .. 30,!I47, 16,941 2,605 317,05o 34,270 11,749; 83,180: 68,494 2 167 Hardy 43,675| 127.180 8,521 400,1:8 33.4H2 8,939 114,567 13283 " (f>0 Harrison... 147,488 134,608 1,687 1,302,51- 83,462 4,551 i 327,261 56,183 693 Jackson.... 4!) 903 100.298 100 510,781 59,8 5 :H,587| 272.044! 48,521 * 1 463 Jefferson... 92,2-15- 17,89S 524 1 134 16t)| 4(;,s s. ii; 7,020 3-S6, 2->7 44 . 77 Kanawha. 59,459: ]64,598 7,298 774,582 -15,5X7 7/8 406,826 96,268 144 Lewis 73,878; 110,197 118,692 619,527 41,174 3,956 191, u56! 31,776 652 Lincoln 15,613; 84,099 136,403 ii Ji, 1 ! 1,606 104,961 12,054 75 Logan 14,149 66f 169,147 143,462 1 784 426 125,273 4,142 22 Marion 37,410 25.4SI 134,811 26,528 1,109 63,643 : 9 819 Marshall .. 78,852 68 992 601 857,a~>4 131,509 7,363 364,743 a 1 1,662 1,944 Mason 67,010 86,4-26 054.570 115,2dO 598 456,99( 43,46:1 50 McDowell. 4,59-2 358 04,-_8f ."1,1 2." 675 -160 31,586 3,6l5 156 Mercer 47,313 7,762 <:37,t9< ::o::,.v < 25,756 : 5,591 114,746 43,184 ^2,444 Mineral 59,119! I6j42( 92834 445,144 50,91f 13,257 71.895 29,331 2,7f5 Monongalia.. Monroe 112,045; 80,51! 104,760 ir, 1.031 143 3,429 1,141. ill l| 111 751 51.0,143 52 817 5,130 ll,32(. 301,328 170,721 148,1.72 59,0ti2 l,b7o 2.054 Morgan Nicholas .. 32,728 24-455 63.301 122.12( 1,270 36,146 266,436 27,697 315,8541 10.211 9,217 1,331 58.142 104,301 19,835 38,365 ^402 Ohio 46,059 54,041 14,55; 109 89: 300 687,37H 41.4* 326 65(i 37 9S 3,975 10,594 225,465 59,228 97,37^ 14,53f- 3,527 Pendleton Plea sail ts Pocahontas.. 17,01)8 48,829 44 545 6.9 J4 1,874 286,761 14l,247| J 5,283 l,21 224,6971 14,901 6,:J 66 5H i u,.)! Hi 10 46,512 22,343 3,004 Preston .... 102.062 I00.07J 15 975 730,462! 33390 20,f81 145,004: 189,071 27,346 Putnam.... Raleigh. 36,041 - | ( ;<i; 20,909 I. is Jl- 4,644 ;j-23,132; 39.9801 !,"!< 147,910, 7.t09i 1,001 .32.426! 49,87i 73,657: 16,27fc 210 1,603 Randolph Ritchie Roane 50,036 46,219 34 9J 188.858 112,115 130,289 62 991 24.881 85,441 270 656! 8,969 j 2,19: 511,910, 25,503 35,63 317,)50 ! 24,( S7 2,17! 59,758 33,~:37 146,235 40,033 160.912 28,489 1,504 1,384 260 Summers... No sra tistics Tavlor 53,815 40,557 502,070! 1 8 65t ) 2,07." 95,439 45,16d 483 Tucker ]; () y v 53.U7 !)5,403 1,40* f 1.2941 27.S13 11,721! 1.843 Tyler 45,01!) 72 Mil 382.653 41,26; 2,3.6 157,302 42,48ol 682 V pshur 5981: 95.366 (2 5lO,3:i7 -! .!U. < - 6,055 R(8,-J9J 2i,4.". yus Wayne Webster.... Wetzel .39,554 6,945 84,202 115,548 62 708 77^18 453,45." 53 07! 457,561 23.19T2 402 291,863 Z*,^i 1.196 8t6 21,075 4,8t 37,164} 4,48 Ji 193,111. 06,12: 240 2,245 240 Wirt ... 20 061 75,77. 574 237,30 15,5;32| 1 025 128.s: 1 ,(i S7,9sfe 07:: Wood Wyoming. 63:8l| 94,428 9.8U5 3J.870 20 715,861 I06,6u 68,190 5,!r^, 327, ;0f 2,150 973 57,89i i 80,83! 11,07; 1,575 403 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 89 TABLE B. Statements of the Principal Items of Farm Produce According to the Census of 1870. COUNTIES. Total d & o 1 g Lbs. 2,046,462 POTATOES. H E Maple Sugar. Maple Molasses. Sorghum. tA Oi w Lbs. 1 BuT~ 1, 053,507 14,5-26 17,738 Sweet. Bu. Lbs. Lbs. 490,6(6 28,575 40 3,284 1,360 1,060 515 2.824 1,736 3,896 6,043 0,305 39,445 55,740 44 500 13,175 11,920 4J082 Gals. Gals. 46,984 82,276 20,209 780 ,829 376 ,997 Bai bour 4,776 1,502 2,368 1,790 27,890 164 6,806 20.LN1 3,795 3 2,d04 10,240 4,703 28,9% 17,844 21,151 823 1,562 3,583 1605 180 42.558 57,041 9.883 5,218 22,547 100 6.76:J 2,61 i5 2,172 5,35 5,457 J2,12! 2,825 V34 7,9" 4,956 2.165 2,270 28,937 3,718 9.382 Berkeley Boono 6,213 12,013 9,028 45.850 17,39* 6.160 2.411 11,167 11,359 7,138 7,536 13,928 18,800 34,57^ 7,069 26,028 0,397 24,305 44,300 16,071 2,676 641 855 1,189 f<32 243 907 3,059 579 2,443 2,677 """480 1,981 1,868 1.013 5,056 2,490 ""475 Bmx on Brooke . Cabell 135,410 2,181 3,175 17.568 188.165 15,9:? 1 51!) 3,176 285 (Jalhoun Clay Doddridge Fayette. tJilrner ""680 6,222 Grant. Green brier 78 fiO 22^ 84 229 357 7,905 444 185 1,411 Hampshire Hancock 177 688 73 Hardy 473 743 7,286 Harrison 17,098 90,265 140 412,4 9 51.470 56,083 3,912 Jackson Jefferson Kaiuiwha 533 15 C 3,177 110 50 50 "i loo 5,313 459 9,282 880 897 529 445 200 188 19,917 3,722 24,274 42,744 50 52 125 45,:- 67 30.455 11,285 5,954 3,574 24.25P 23,722 ,004 10,802 679 36,531 11,427 196 12.589 3,406 2,107 3,3! 9 515 8,521 19,511 7,163 8. 603 29,257 28,836 14.3C5 9,337 3,499 16,447 701 8,54 J 270 6,211 8,538 9,400 10,710 14,938 2,176 1,000 6,92:. 5,444 775 10,:M7 13,932 3,77! 6,397 1 0,433 4,344 8,512 Lewis.... Lincoln Logan 7,957 2,4 93 54,781 81,534 2, UO 10,867 8,891 23,772 12,164 10,915 6,247 46,748 8,692 15,920 8,623 24,063 26.918 6,7 , L0.00 19,538 15,V(M). No 10,305: 2,083 21,159 11. 4 IS 21,759 2,340 19,209 17,809 138,239 5.962 3,523 45 604 48 1,019 15 " Ib Marion Marshall 20 58,600 3,000 117,429 Mason.... ""467 173 733 2,829 20 McDowell Mercer Mineral Monongalia 2,73^ 123,321 1,068 840 436 443 41 540 3,361 635 Monroe . Morgan Nicholas... . Ohio 1,4.54 12 "3,291 695 55,391 300 52,448 6,171 626 1,745 41,434 4.207 3,511 209 221 "i ,372 6.6 72 Pendleton Pleasants 11.910 ! 2,966 f 1 673 47 ,785 5,769 2,13H 9,91)7; 16,885! Pocabontas 1,518 2,222 2.481 2,7!M *1 1,701 6,922 cs. 205 480 303 4,411 2.51S 595 2,208 1,012 1,207 1,834 Preston i . 91 1,172 262 115 850 917 Statist] 1,256 3 228 971 3,281 26 11 1,300 2,982 2,269 Putnam Ralfiuh Randolph 154 118 2,113 Ritchie Roane Surnmeis Taylor 2,259 7,983 7,197 1,815 12,639 368 r.,286 2,svO 787 ""552 482 117 ""l24 ...... 60 ... 10,368 1,213 22,768 18,164 33.776 2,591 18,210 22, -2!)!) 41,720 3,772 10,f>15 4,408 4,278 8,647 4,601 5,325 7,308 2,924 2,690 9,287 Tucker Tyler 47,969 11,190 58, ?30; 2,508 Up-hur .... Wayne.. Webster Wetzel .. 47,0")0i s,712 21,890 8S9j Wiit Wood Wyoming 12 CHAPTER V. CATTLE AND GRASSES. BY WM. M. FONTAINE. The history of stock raising in our State presents an in stance of a people gradually forced by natural causes, out of the channels of industry, in which their prejudices and habits of life impelled them, into others totally differ ent. If we recall for a moment the manner in which much of the State was settled, and the people who first occupied it, we shall easily see that all the conditions then existing, ivere unfavorable ior the promotion of stock raising. When, however, larger bodies of land had been opened, and experience had taught the farmer the disadvantages of a frequent ploughing of his fields, then, indeed, a change be gan to take place. The farmer began to seek some means of deriving from his grasses, a more speedy money return than could be obtained from the mere improvement of the soil. He had not far to seek. The successful experience of the thrifty Pennsylvania graziers, was before his eyes. With a similar climate and soil, naturally, similar success was to be expected here. Many causes operate in West Virginia to induce an exten sive cultivation of grasses, and a fostering of stock raising. Some of them may be named here : When our new grounds have been cultivated for several years, and the small roots which serve to bind the soil together, have been removed, owing to the steepness of our hillsides, and the lightness of the soil which composes RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 91 them, they suffer much from washing after every ploughing. The most effectual way to prevent such washing is to leave the land in grass. In most of our lands, even after merely removing the tim ber, a heavy coating of Blue Grass (poa syloestris) puts up spon taneously, and maintains possession, without any cultivation. This affords a nutritive food for stock, throughout a large part of the year. From the peculiarity of the structure of the hills noted in another connection, grass does not suffer from dry weather on their slopes, but grows green and luxuriant to their summits. Where there is any lime in the soil, as is the case with most of our lands, decaying vegetable matter, is eminently favorable for the improvement of the land, since, as explained elsewhere, the carbonic acid formed, brings the lime into a condition, in which, it may be used by the plant. Again, grass, while growing, by the action of its roots, breaks down, and brings into an available form, plant food from other rocks besides limestones Hence the most effectual way to rest land of any kind, is to allow it to grow grass. Many of our shales which show no lime to the eye, contain enough of it to derive a great benefit in the soils which they form, from a course in grass, and it is not necessary to have, in such cases, ledges of limestone among the rocks, in order to have a calcareous soil produced. But whether there be calca reous matter present in the soil or not, a sound system of agriculture teaches the farmer to discontinue at certain inter vals, the cultivation of grains on his land, and to allow it to rest in grass. For even if the grass does not produce a posi tive benefit, it acts beneficially in not taking from the soil, the same materials that grain crops do, and in thus allowing natural processes to accumulate a store of these for further cultivation. All of these reasons fostering the production of grass, the question arises how to secure the most speedy returns from it. Our want of transportation, and the bulkiness of the ma terial, forbids its export in the form of hay. The obvious solu tion is, to turn the grass into flesh, for thus we attain the greatest diminution of bulk, and the greatest concentration of value. 92 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Another strong inducement for the raising of cattle, lies in the fact that they, by their consumption of grain in the latter stages of their fattening, afford a profitable means of consum ing, without the cost of transport, a good deal of our surplus corn. Indian corn is our principal grain, and is produced so abundantly, on most of our soils, that the only limit is that imposed by the lack of some profitable way of disposing of it. Here, also, in changing it into flesh, we gain greatly in the cost of carriage, since corn is bulky and difficult of transpor tation. These causes have been gradually operating to force upon our farmers a greater attention to cattle raising, until now, in some counties, it forms the leading source of revenue. It must be admitted, however, that nowhere has so great an advance, as is desirable, been made in either improving the breeds of cattle or in adopting a systematic course of grass production. Over most of the State the cattle are of the so-called native breeds, a mixture descended from the original stock of the first settlers. These are hardy, small in size, angular in outline, and do not take on fat well. They are generally left to graze on the native grasses so long as they can pick up enough suste nance in the fields. This is usually until November or De cember. When feeding begins, shelters are hardly ever made, and when they are used, they are simply a rude covering, affording hardly any protection against the winds. The usual practice is to leave the cattle in pasture, or to put them in enclosures of smaller size, according to the character of the winter, for when this is somewhat open, cattle can get -more or less grain all the time. The feeding is managed in the worst manner, the corn stalks or fodder being thrown into the field, generally in the same place, and in this way there is no distribution of the material, or of the droppings of the cattle, over the field. The failure to provide shelter causes the cattle to consume much more food, to maintain their vital heat, and it is almost irrt- possible for them not to lose flesh. The time of feeding varies in different parts of the State, being in the north, 5 months, and in the south, 3 to 4 months. This length could be reduced by paying more attention to keeping a portion of the land in sod. It not seldom happens RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 93 that no feeding is done in the more southern counties. Diss Debar mentions meeting a herd of two-year old steers, brows ing in the wilds of Logan, about the middle of January, look ing but little the worse in flesh. In many case*?, when towards spring, fodder has become scarce, the cattle are driven into the woods, and the beech a ad linden trees are cut down for them to browse on the young branches and swelling buds. This is the usual treatment of cattle, except in a few coun ties, where a better system is maintained. Diss Debar says of cattle raising in West Virginia : " Cows are not, as a rule, " kept for breeding purposes exclusively, and hence the sup- " ply of native stock is not sufficient for the wants of the " graziers, who make up deficiencies by purchases in neigh- " boring States, principally Ohio. Stock cattle ot all grades " and ages are bought up and grazed in W. Va. until ready " for market. Some dealers, who cut large crops of hay, win- " ter extensive herds of mixed ages, others confine themselves " to grazing more particularly three year-old steers up to mar- " ket order, and winter but little, beginning to ship in June, " and ending in November. Grain feeding, for later use, is " principally confined to the Ohio river and Potomac coun- " ties. In sections* where pasture, especially Blue Grass, has " been economized in, the fattening steers are turned out on " grass as early as March, and mature in June or July. This " mode of operation, while requiring the least labor, unques- " tionably yields the largest profit in proportion to the period u of investment ; i. e., 50 per cent on the cost of the animal in " the spring. But to pursue it on a large scale requires an " abundance of first class sod, conveniently portioned off to " afford a change of pasture. "Within the last fifteen to twenty years, the native stock " has been materially improved, by crossing with shorthorns, "Devons, and grades of these. On lowland farms, with good " winter accommodations, and an abundance of feed all times, "the Durham matures with profit to its owner; but the neat, u compact, and nimble Devon, is the animal for our hills. " Crosses of Devon and common stock are fast being introduced " into every section of the State, and West Virginia beef cat- u tie are successfully competing with the product of other " States in the Baltimore market, where, requiring but a few 94 KESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. "hours transportation, they arrive in good condition. The " cost of grazing stock is materially reduced, when the cattle "are summered in the woods, during the second and third " years, with no other trouble and expense, except an occasional * looking-up and salting. When the pea-vine and other succu- " lent herbage abounds, as it does in the greater portion of the " State, the results in growth and flesh, compare favorably " with those of field pasturing, though less tallow may be " formed. "Many farmers, in the older counties, are in the habit of "sending their stock to be summered in the woods in distant, " and less improved sections, under care of some settler of the " locality. Others use for that purpose, the so-called moun- " tain farms, on the table lands of Randolph, Pocahontas, " Webster, Nicholas, <fcc., under the supervision of the work- " hands engaged in clearing and fencing them. These moun- " tain farms, which generally produce the finest beef and "mutton in the State, are generally improved at trifling cost. " The land freldom costs more than $1.50 per acre. After con- " structing a worm fence, at the cost of $2.00 per acre, or less, " according to the area inclosed, the largest timber is girdled "or deadened, at the expense of fifty cents, or SI. 00 per acre, " making the cost of the improvement, say $4.50, land in- " eluded. The girdled timber dies during the first year, letting u in light and heat sufficient for vegetation. When neither " oak nor hickory grow, no undergrowth is to be found, either u before or after clearing, and the first thing that comes up " after the deadening, is a thick growth of blackberry briers " which will die out in two years, or sooner, if cattle are turned " in to keep them down. By that time, the native spontan- " eous Blue Grass, jhas taken possession, and the farm is ready " to yield a perennial pasture, worth at least $4.00 per acre, " In the course of a few years, the girdled timber has dried " enough to burn in the log, so soon as cut down, requiring no tk piling up in heaps. The cost of the final operation, varies " with the size of the timber, from $2.00 to $2.50 per acre. "In the remainder of the State, where undergrowth pre- " yails, more or less repeated grubbing is needed, to make a " clear field." Several other methods are adopted in preparing pasture RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 95 lands, which we need not notice here. It will be noted that a vast amount of timber is wasted in these clearings, all of it sooner or later, being consumed. In this rough way, the oldest and most extensive grazing farms were originally cleared, and gradually enriched their owners. Says Diss Debar : For tunes of $50,000 to $150,000, were accumulated in the live stock business, by men who started in life as common farm hands, and began their independent career with a brace of calves." The principal grazing counties in the State are Barbour, Harrison, Hampshire, Greenbrier, Monroe, Hardy, Jefferson, Marion, Monongalia, and Preston, to which may be added Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Mason, Mercer, Pocahontas, Ohio, and Taylor. The entire product, and that of the several counties, may be seen in table C. It is to be noted that the return for Marion is plainly wrong. It has been found very difficult to get details of the stock management in different sections of the State. We append some extracts from reports : Mr. Lot Bo wen, a large dealer in cattle in Harrison county, says : " Every breed of cattle of which an introduction has u been attempted, thrives w r ell (in the State), but owing to u the superior natural advantages possessed by the short- " horns and grades, they will maintain the precedence. The " management of our cattle embodies the smallest compara- " tive expenditure of labor. They are wintered without shel- 4 ter, and are grazed 8 to 9 months in the year. By proper " management, they require attention only 3 months, with " dry feed. Shelter is seldom given, and grain is not fed in " abundance, yet the results are always flattering and prof- " itable. My observation justifies the assertion, that with " parallel advantages, our stock growers may positively look " for results more than equal to those obtained in the neigh- " boring States. " Not possibly over one-twentieth of our cattle find a home "consumption. Our markets are of speedy access, in Mary land, Pennsylvania, and New York, principally in the city sale yards. Quite a respectable percentage goes to stock the "farms of interior Pennsylvania, and ultimately find their " way to the eastern markets. 96 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. " Our cattle in the markets have a flattening average, " returning to our farmers an average of $9 per hundred, net " weight, during 1875. The State ships annually, not less "than $5,000,000 worth of cattle. As a single instance illus trative of her capacity, I will state that during the shipping " season of 1875. along the line of the Baltimore and Ohio "Railroad, reaching from Pennsboro to Patterson s Creek, I " shipped over 9,000 cattle, returning to the farmers therefor " more than $700,000. "From many years expeiience in the live stock interest, " and varied opportunities for observation, I am led to look " upon our State, as being but in the infancy of a most envi- " able career, as a stock growing country. While her hills "are not adapted to the plough, they are capable, with less " toil., of returning more than parallel results to the grazier. " The cattle produce of the State is largely on the increase, "and with proper efforts and favorable legislation in mone- " tary interests, s^oon West Virginia will outrank any of her " area on the continent in this department/ 1 Mr. R. K. Cautley says of the stock in Greenbrier : " It is " nearly all Durham and grades, with an increasing tendency " to pure blood. On the indigenous Blue Grass of the county, " if kept for wintering them, cattle will do well all the win- " ter, and except in the rare case of the land getting ice- " caked, need no feeding." Orchard Grass, Timothy, and English Blue Grass, and Red Clover, all do well. The usual rotation of crops in this county is Corn, Oats, Wheat, and three years in Grass, of which, two years are mowed, and one grazed. T\vo careful cow-keepers reported to Mr, Cautley that the best milch cows are the grades, and scrub cows, bred with common Durham bulls. A well fed co\v will average four gallons of milk per diem. Two cows made 1,000 pounds of butter in one year, and produced four fine calves. As long as cows are pastured on Blue Grass, at any time of the year, the butter remains yellow. They begin feeding (Pumpkins) September 15th to 3Uth, and put out on to grass fields May 1st. The counties along the Ohio river, in the north, pay a good deal of attention to stock raising, and also to the production of grass, for which the hills, as well as the bottoms, are emi- RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 97 nently adapted. We have already under the head of rotation of crop?, in the general remarks on agriculture, adverted to the method pursued here. It is sufficient to say in this place, that Red Clover and Timothy, are preferred to all others in the production of hay, preference being given to Timothy. Sod and grazing lands are almost entirely formed of Blue Grass (the native), this being indigenous, lasts indefinitely, and takes the land from any other kind of grass. Whether in meadow or pasture, the land improves so long as it is in grass, and they depend upon this treatment, without manure, to enrich their soils. It must be borne in mind that this land is generally highly calcareous, and of a character to derive the highest benefit from a course of grass. Mr. St. Geo. Bryan, assistant to the State Board of Centen nial Managers, says of the counties of Richie, Wirt, &c.: " Timothy is the grass most usually seeded, on account of its u superior hay making properties. It runs out in about four " to six years. Herds Grass produces finely in this belt. "Orchard Grass is also grown. None of them grow to any u extent during the winter. Red Clover grows finely, but like " Timothy, soon runs out. Blue Grass is everywhere the main " sod producer, for which it is eminently fitted, and through put this section, fertilizes the soil, so long as it remains in " it." Mr. Bryan states that it is still within the memory of some of the older inhabitants of West Virginia, when not a blade of Blue Grass was known in the best Blue Grass region of the State. One of its most valuable properties, is that of -growing during the winter. It does not grow very well, when exposed to great heat in summer. The soil of the counties in question, though showing no limestone, has a considerable amount of lime diffused through the shales. From the South Branch district, which is one of the finest cattle regions in the State, if not the very finest, we have few data. The best grass lands here are the splendid valleys, which, long and narrow, run parallel to each other in a N. E. and S. W. direction. Cattle are grazed in summer on the mountains or uplands, and are fed corn in winter. According to Mr. Thos. Maslin, the district probably sends to market every year, 20,- 000 head, averaging 1,250 pounds. Of these, the lightest find 13 98 RESOURCES OP WEST VIRGINIA. a market in Baltimore and Philadelphia, and the heaviest in New York. The home price is 5J cents per pound gross, giv ing a return of $1,375,000. With respect to the grasses cultivated in Harrison and other counties, Mr. Bowen says : "Our grasses are principally limited "to the native or Blue Grass, the White and Red Clovers, and "Timothy. The first being indigenious, is all that can be " required for our soil and temperature, while it is unrivalled " as a pasturage, at all seasons, for any kind of stock, and espe- " cially for beef making and dairy purposes. The finest butter " we have ever seen, may be produced with requisite facilities, " from our Blue Grass pastures. " White Clover. This favorite lawn grass of the Apirian, " may be considered a natural product of our soils. It is exten- " sively grown, and much valued, for summer and fall grazing. " Pure Timothy Is principally the grass of our best meadows. " Seed sown in August and September is ready to winter safely, "and be mown the following summer. To continue in success ful growth, it should not be cut until the seed is fully " ripened. It grows luxuriantly, yet is less capable of with- " standing the extremes of heat and cold, than the foregoing " varieties. A summer pasturage of the three grasses men- " tioned, grown together, cannot be equalled. It is from her " hillsides, thus richly carpeted, that our noble young State " sends to the consumer a beef, which, for unquestioned health- " fulness, and rich and delicate flavor, cannot be rivalled ori the "continent. " Red Clover Is somewhat grown, and esteemed for summer " grazing; also, for hay. Its remarkable qualities as a fertili- " zer, if left uncut, or turned under for that purpose, commend " it to all. " Orchard Grass Is being introduced with the very best " results. It adapts itself to all varieties of temperature ancl " soil, though it thrives most luxuriantly on a rich loose loam. " It is an excellent grower, producing fine sod, and resisting " close grazing only second to Blue Grass. If cut early, it cures " into an excellent hay." RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. TABLE 0. Statement of Live Stock, &c , According to the Census of 1870. 99 . 1 !H 3 O SB"" 1 !i. Ill I 05 4H 0*3 i :h Cows. k Oxen. Other Cattle. 1 33 i Butter. oi w rons. >24,164 10,803 8,5.9 191 1,951 7,570 680 985 274 4,649 1,649 1,636 4,787 7,444 4,587 4,351 2,651 16,901. 2,934 5,753 2,84u 8,620 293 178 3,78l) 5,750 8 2,517 5,104 12,030 5.3HK 1.996 3,029 8389 5,079 592 4,797 11,961 1,446 951 7,298 4,732 3,013 6,710 1,498 4,365 7,233 1,039 504 2,947 1,527 5,578 294 <** . > J i Dolls. Dolls. No. No. No. No. P unds P unds r Total 4,914,792 17,175.420 104,434 18,937 421 24; 44H 375 70 685 18S 129 362 436 271 44 496 21 72 146 706 61 8 91 1,078 482 78,309 552,327 ! ! 1,593,541 1,044,475 ^ Barbour Berkeley ; 192,667 154.774 5-8.2 1 5 43,890 92,099 37,123 17,?74i 15.306! 80,264 64 5J4 27,621 173 71 ( > 658,275 496,532: 129,213 218,990] 265,944 146,412 81,350 63,096 300,951) ; 225,085 162,509! 363,399 553,856 381454 218,840 288,204 1,267,287 370,^71 581,038! 413 450 1 564,196 86,626 116,372 247 090 580,7130 544,554 39,500 297,648 277,600 871,260 567,053 142,792 1*5,532 418 466 328,164 98,257 ) 358,229 613,369 3 251,019 1 119,184 3 369, 15* 3 29d,19 3 241,58e \ tistics. 1 390,93* 9 112.5& 1 330,77 8 383,501 3 259,32 1 49,60 I 255,59 J 143,16, 5 392,72 5 80,42 3,622 3,050 1,356 2,i49 1,H60 833 666 722 1.987 2,267 1,^95 1,739 3,201 2.673 86y 1,370 4,916 2.289 2,489 3,400 2,962 950 1,361 1,110 3,071 2,331 54 2,722 1,531 4.606 3,00t 111S 1,601 1,58; 2,27( 63* 2,441 45;< 1 1,^6 1,54 1,97 2,07 1,85 } 1,79 5 63 1,56 ) 2,35 1,82 1 64 " 1,64 i 95 ) 2,7fc ) 1,0 7,647| 3,991 2,001 1J30 ! 1.439 1,660 716 552 2,420 2,600 1,426 4,686 6,703 3.863 929 4,528 15,149 3,036 3,222 4,011 7,654 1,158 1,636 2,204 3,36t 4,350 619 2,90 3,62 7,713 6,888 L.42G 3,821 1,29? 5,10* 1,101 J 5,47f J\ 6,23( 5 2J225 I 1,53* > 6,25( 3 2,885 1 2,97 1) 4,551 5 1,00 8 3,30 7 4,30 7 2,50 7 64 1,82 1 1,00 7 2,94 5 1,41 11,738 9,213 3,955 9,923 46,581 4025 3,232 2,667 7,183 8,709 6,100 7,551 13,880 8,317 26,353 4,176 15,812 13,610 6,521 9,879 10,921 3,874 4,50o 4,92 37,508 9.88 1,300 8,29 6,42 1 17,37 11,51 2,68 8,17 47,20 9,94 2,91 > 10,82- > 22,33 I 6,29 5 5,46 J 8,52 i 11,60 ) 12,97 5 6,00 J 2,60 7 12,11 4 8,00 7 9,72 2 2,01 3 9,54 8 418 3 10,41 7 2,82 31,973 41,147 9,699! 18,507! 185,105 8,676 6,555 5,731 17,441 16,331 12,736 20,689 34,051 i 6,658 128.642 13,566 45,662 29,85i 28,699 20,457 26,955 7,151 6,296 12,780 119,579 22,853 2,404 18,713 23,406 55,8ot 26,694 7,564 18,838 175,12^ 26,275 6,441 24,13 58,38* 14,995 11,33* 17,70< 26,82* 24,17 17,2a 6,09 5 26,70 21,85 3 1702 8 4,59 5 23,39 3 9.51 9 24,83 7 5,63 157,317 239.493 55,784 34, 733 ; 110,307 28,674 24,640 30,o95: 113,649; 72,188! 44,929 67,587 174,865 114.948 70,588 39,057 276,955 87,052 120,374 163,142 113,259 48,271 29,182 22,927 j 204,480 5,002 15,597 109,355 52 078 345,573 163,540 41,183 164,990 120,135 56.876 11C !65,74C i 193.239 63,061 * 41,63f ) 90,841 i 116,094 3 100,371 3 97,22.- 3 26,761 4 108,08( 7 127,15* 2 68,96" B 14.56, 2 119,39 5 44,00 215,57 32,32 Braxton Brooke Tabell Calhoun . Clay , Doddridge. ; Fayette i Gilmer j Green brier | Hampshire ! Hancock ; Hardy 187,175 115,575 47,996 179 809 403,235 84,771 157,110 124 047 154,966 32,474 23,429 *J .353 128561 164,483 10,143 50,056 155,084 304,0* < 158,461 36, lit 46,56"; i 100,4!f 108,801 12,69- 39,231 118.20 70,63, 24.88 4l|45 106,01 69,33 . Nosti 135,14 17,71 50 1 2 Harrison Tack so ii-. Jefferson Kanawha.. Lewis Lincoln. 448 9u3 173 515 83; 8< 28 1 76 28. 32 > 20 12 ) 26< 3 Iff > 81, i 27- J 24, 9 38 S 50 1 17 7 7 6 30 4 25 7 1,83 3 12 1 40 4 25 3 49 2 16 Logan -Marion Marshall Mason . McDowell Mercer Mineral Monongalia.... Monroe Morgan Nicholas Ohio Pendleton Pleasants Pocahontas.. .. Preston Putnam Raleigh Randolph Ritchie Roane Summers Tavlor . Tucker Tyler. Upshur Wayne Webster Wetzel. . 131,94 . 90,77 8,31 82 31 Wirt Wood 42,451 132,05 Wyoming 17,63 :;: The value of slaughtered animals put for Marion is plainly wrong. CHAPTER VI. SHEEP AND WOOL. BY C. H. BEALL, OF BROOKE COUNTY, Prof. M. F. Maury, DEAR SIR : In complianoe with your request of last Decem ber, I send you the following facts concerning the wool and sheep interests of West Virginia : Among the attractions offered to the immigrant by our young and flourishing State, none stand out more prominent ly, or offer more inducements, than the raising of Merino sheep and the production of Merino wool. It seems to be impossible to give an intelligent account of our present subject without giving an outline sketch of the origin and history of the present fine wooled sheep of the United States. This we will make as brief as possible. The original source of the Spanish Merino is unknown. " It is generally conceded, however, that at least as early as the commencement of the Christian era there existed in Spain a breed of fine wooled sheep. From this arose several varieties in the different provinces of that country, and importations from these have, from time to time, been made into several countries of Europe, and also into America. These importations have generally retained the name "Me rino," which they bore in Spain, while receiving, as an ad junct, the name of the country into which they were taken. Thus we have the "Saxon Merino," the "German Merino," the "French Merino," and the "American Merino," some times improperly called, also, the " Spanish Merino." RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 101 Thus, it will be seen that the three present great branches of the Merino came originally from Spain. These are the French, the German, and the American. Each of these has been repeatedly tried in West Virginia, and the general con clusion is, that the American Merino, improved in its stamina and form, enlarged in its carcass, and having the weight of its fleece almost doubled by a long course of patient and care ful breeding, is, for all purposes, the most valuable decendant and representative of the original Spanish Merino which can be obtained. Having said this much by way of introduction, we will now proceed to deal more specially with the subject of sheep raising in our State. The raising of sheep, and the production of wool, has, so far, been mainly confined to the "Panhandle," i.e. the four counties of Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, and Marshall. What will be said of these, in this connection, may, with some modifica tion, be applied to the entire State. Soil of the State. Much of the soil of our State is of that kind called "limestone," or " calcareous." While it has enough calcareous matter usually to ensure fertility, it is of such a nature as to retain no water on its surface. It is generally friable and easily broken up, and is cultivated without diffi culty, while it contains no element injurious to the feet and fleece of the sheep. Always covered with a dense coating of fresh, green grass, it is perfectly clean and. free from the dust and sand that are so troublesome in some sections. Such is the freedom of our soil from every thing that can destroy the whiteness, pliableness, and silken character of the fleece, that after washing our sheep in spring, preparatory to shearing, we turn them out in our pasture fields with their coats still saturated with water, without the slightest injury to the wool. When our sheep are shorn, the wool comes from their bodies as soft, white, and pliable, as nature, under the most favorable circumstances, can make it. In our water we are peculiarly fortunate. There is, per haps, no where a section more bountifully supplied with this material. The whole State is broken up into hills and val leys, and watered with never-failing streams and copious springs, so that its entire area might be divided into ten or 102 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. twenty acre lots, each of which would have either a perennial stream or a never freezing fountain. This water is of the very best character; cold, pure, and invigorating, it meets every requirement of the shepherd. Another great advantage enjoyed by West Virginia in the breeding of sheep, and growing of wool, is the natural fertility of her soil. This, taken in connection with her genial cli mate, should make the State permanently the home of the shepherd and his flocks. .Even with our present defective system of cultivation the natural outgrown of the fertility of our soil we can raise a greater variety and quantity of agricultural products than almost all other sections that rank as sheep-breeding and wool- raising districts. This is true, both of our pasture and winter feed. Of the former we have as the principal varieties, Red Clover, Timothy, and Blue Grass. These grow with great luxuriance and are of superior quality. Of the latter, the chief varieties are the grains : Corn and Oats, and as rack-feed Corn-Fodder, Timothy and Clover hay. Such is the excellence and abundance of these products that the cost of wintering sheep, horses, and cattle the principal farm animals is much less in our State than in most of the sheep-breeding sec tions of the country. Asa proof of this, we here present a tabular statement of the comparative cost of wintering these animals in the States named. The table was compiled from statistics that appeared in the Monthly Report of the Department of Agriculture, for the months of February and March, 1875. The States men tioned have been selected, and are the principal sheep-breed ing and wool-growing ones of the Union. The costs are as follows : RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. COST OF WINTERING STOCK. 103 STATES. 1C s-i o3 02 r- ~s *>ls d> o> Maine S37.00 37.00 38.00 37.00 48.00! 36.00 43.00! 34.00 22.00 25.00 18.00 $29,00) 38.001 25.0(| 24.00 29.00 23.00 20.00! 20-00! ll.OOi IG.OOj 12.00| $3.00 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.00 2.00 2.75 2.75 1.50 1.75 121 New Hampshire Vermont New York New Jersey Maryland Virginia .. . Ohio West Virginia By an examination of the above tables, it will be seen that the cost of wintering a horse in New Jersey, is nearly three times as much as in West Virginia, while there is a gain of $4.00 per head over Virginia, the next lewest State. It will also be seen that, while there is a loss of $1.00 per head, on milch cows, as compared with that State, there is an import ant gain over all the others. Our State, in the cost of sheep, is 29 cents per head, cheaper than all others. These gains are partly due to the fact that our feeding period is shorter than that of some of the States, whose names appear in the list, but chiefly to the superior productiveness of our soil. In proof of this, we may point to the fact that according to the agricultural report above referred to, the feeding period of Virginia is only four months, while in West Virginia, it is four and three-fourth months, with two months partial feed ing, and yet it costs 29 cents more to winter a sheep in Vir ginia than in West Virginia. But whether these difference depend on soil or climate, or both, they are nevertheless gains, and the foregoing table pre sents proof not to be overcome, that West Virginia deserves to be placed in the front rank of the sheep-raising and wool- growing States of the Union. Climate. Our climate, though much milder than that of the New England and Middle States, is yet sufficiently severe to cause the consumption of food enough to produce an extremely 104 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. heavy fleece. The fleeces of thoroughbred American Merino ewes, properly summered and wintered, and cared for gener ally, range from 10 to 18 pounds, while buck-fleeces weigh from 15 to 25 pounds. With the extra amount of feed and atten tion given in the Eastern States, these weights could, without doubt, be considerably increased. Our winter weather usually begins in the last week of November, and continues until about the first of April. [For the temperature during this period see Climatology. Authors.]* The winter temperature is quite variable. In our present winter, 1875. the mercury has not reached the zero point. The coldest weather has been 5 to 6 above zero Fahr. This, however, is by no means common, for the present winter has been exceptionally mild. This comparative mildness of the weather, as might be supposed, renders our feeding period shorter. For the purpose of showing the relative lengths of the feeding periods in the principal wool-growing States, we append the following tabular statement, for which we are indebted to the agricultural report before referred to. While our climate is thus shown to be comparatively mild, it is very salubrious, and highly favorable for the maintain- ance of the general health of the flocks. No such thing as scab and the other malarial diseases, so common and destructive in other States, are known to the sheep breeders of AVest Virginia. LENGTH OF THE FEEDING PERIOD FOB SHEEP. STATES. Number of months of full feeding. Number of months of partial feeding. * Maine 6 New Hampshire 6 Vermont ** (> Xew York o. 1 , New Jersey 6. , Pennsylvania 5 Delaware 4J Maryland 5-5- Virginia 4 Ohio 4 A West Virginia 4 ; 1] 2 2 2 2 2 2 Surface of the Country. The character of the general surface of the country, is another advantage, not to be overlooked, in RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 105 reckoning the facilities of our State for sheep raising. The disposition of the sheep to climb to the top of the highest hills, points plainly to the fact that their nature requires a a high and rolling country. An elevated table-land would render the climate too cold, and the winters too long. This difficulty is obviated by having the surface diversified by hills and valleys, and such we find to be pre-eminently the character of West Virginia. (See topography. Authors). In our deep valleys, watered by cool, pure, never-failing streams, in the smooth slopes of the hills, covered with luxuriant and succulent grass, and in the lofty rounded crests, or table-lands that crown the summits, the shepherd has an assemblage of all the good things that nature can provide for him. The peculiar topography of our State, furnishes in the the warm months of the year, a high and dry range for the flocks, and enables the shepherd to find in the same pastures, sheltered valleys and nooks which afford an abundance of pure water, while they are protected from the violence of storms and winds. So ample, indeed, is the protection pro vided by nature, that many do not think it necessary to house their sheep at all. It is no uncommon thing to see sheep fed out in the open field, the entire winter, and though the practice is not to be recommended, yet those who have adopted it, appear in most cases to have realized a fair profit upon their, flocks. The hilly and diversified character of the surface, prevents the occurrence of tornadoes, and such things as " sand storms/ elsewhere so injurious to the wool, are unknown. FACILITIES FOK EXPORTING WOOL. Having shown that our State is so well adapted to the rais ing of sheep, and the production < f wool, the question nat urally arises, what are the markets for these products, and what are our facilities for transportation? The demand for our sheep is principally from the south, and west. Those who live north and east of us, generally go to the New England States for their stock, and this confines our market for stock sheep, principally to the Southern and Western States, and the Western Territories. We say stock sheep, for the demand for mutton sheep is in the east, chiefly Baltimore, New York, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. 14 106 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. For the transportation of stock sheep to the south and west, we have availahle, the Ohio river and several railroads, which furnish all the facilities necessary, to render such transportation both cheap and convenient. The demand for West Virginia wool, however, lies in another direction. The great manufacturing section of the United States is in the east, mainly in the New England States. It is to this market, that our wool in the form of raw material must be sent. As we have already stated the market for our mutton is also in the east. The means of transportation in the northern part of the State, is ample on the two great competing lines of railroad, the Baltimore and Ohio, and the Pennsylvania Central. In the central and southern parts, we have the Baltimore and Ohio with its branches, and the Chesapeake and Ohio. The competition existing between these great routes, bring the the charges down to the lowest figures, while the appliances and facilities of the companies, owning and operating them, afford ample conveniences to the citizens of every section. In addition to these, another great thoroughfare is now under course of construction. This is under the management of the " People s Cheap Transportation Company, 1 of New York City. It is to extend from New York to Washington, Pa., and thence to the Ohio river, crossing it at Wellsburg r the county seat of Brooke. From this point it is to extend to St. Louis, Mo., and will there form connection with the roads running westward to the Pacific. This road, when completed, will give us more direct communication, both with the East and West. FACILITIES FOR MANUFACTURING WOOLEN GOODS. The discussion of the facilities for transporting our wool to the points where it can be manufactured, naturally suggests the question whether it could not be worked up to advantage at home, and thus enable us to save the cost of the trans port of the raw material, and the manufactured woolen goons, which we now import from the East. The only essentials required for the establishment of man ufactories, are a sufficient supply of raw material, water, and coal. The question of a supply of skilled labor does not enter RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 107 into the problem, for whenever there is a demand for it, there is an ample supply. Manufacturing has been found to pay in New England, and there are many reasons why it should be still more remunerative with us. Our fertile soil produces such an abundance and variety of the necessaries of life, that we can live much more cheaply than the people of the East, and can in consequence of this, pay higher prices to our workmen. Since the laborers could also live more cheaply, the advantage would be twofold. There could then be no doubt about our ability to secure a sufficient number of skilled workmen, to enable us to compete with eastern manufac turers. The water and fuel which enables us to work our numerous rolling mills, furnaces, and nail factories, would be amply suf ficient for the wants of woolen manufactories. We have quite a number of establishments for the prepara tion and manufacture of iron scattered along the Ohio river. These have proven themselves both profitable to their owners, and efficient in the work in which they are engaged. Again, the manufacturer here can procure his raw material in the immediate vicinity of the factory, without the payment of a cent for transportion. This would enable him to pay his workmen higher wages, and at the same time deliver his goods directly, and several per cent cheaper to the consumer than they could be obtained from the factories of eastern States. In addition to this, we would have the same facilities for the transport of our manufactured goods that we now enjoy for the transport of raw material and stock. Taking all these things into consideration, we may assert with confidence, that in the manufacture of woolen goods we need have no fear of entering into competition with eastern factories. Cheapness of Labor. The cultivation of crops, the building and repairing of fences, and the care of sheep, particularly during the winter months, require more labor than the farmer and sheep-raiser can himself perform, and more time than he can bestow. This renders the question of hired labor one of unusual importance to those who contemplate engaging in sheep breeding and wool-raising. 108 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. No person, however, need hesitate to engage in such employ ments in West Virginia through fear of failure to secure all the assistance that he may need. There are here in our State many persons, both married and unmarried, who rely entire ly upon iV. v tn labor for their employment. This, from the competition ,; >mled, and the original cheapness of labor, enables the farmer to secure assistance at prices that are ex tremely favorable for his calling. The services of good fnrm hands can be secured for prices ranging from $12 to $16 -^ T month. Farm hands that have families generally expect, in addition to their monthly pay. to be boarded while they are actually employed, and to bo furnished with a house, garden, and pas ture for a cow, free of charges for rent. Those who have no families expect to be boarded only, and both classes expect pay only for the time they are actually at work. These terms ap ply only to those hands that are employed for a year or longer. Many can be employed to feed stock during the winter months at much lower rates and upon much more favorable terms. With respect to farm labor also, then, the cost is much less than in many sections where sheep raising and wool produc tion have proved very profitable. During almost the entire period since the first introduction of Merino sheep into the United States, by Jarvis, Humphrey, Atwood, and others, the citizens of West Virginia have been to a greater or less extent, employed in breeding Merino sheep and raising merino wool. The experience of these breeders extends through a period of more than half a century. The business has employed the talents and energy of some of the first men of their day. The result has been to render this one of the leading sheep-breeding sections of the Union. The business continues to expand, and is continually taking in new territory and employing new men. As the breeders increase in number, and become more careful in the treatment of their flocks, new evidence is presented of the fact, that a a successful sheep-raising and wool-producing State, West Vir ginia cannot be surpassed. We may regard the matter as thoroughly tested. The grade of our flocks, the quantity and quality of their wool, have of late years greatly improved. Our breeders are RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 109 beginning to realize the fact that if sheep are profitable at all, those are most so that yield the greatest number of pounds of wnol of the required degree of fineness. This has induced sheep breeders to exercise more care in the selection of stock rams, and to breed with special reference both to quantity and quality. The more wealthy and enterprising stock owners are, for this purpose, led to get their stock rams directly from Vermont. Here, by a long course of careful and systematic breeding, and by the continued crossing of sheep of the pure Spanish blood, the Merino has been brought to a state of per fection, higher than any where else in the world. Some of our leading breeders have recently, also, imported considerable flocks of pure bred Merino ewes from Vermont. The result of the increased care in breeding, is that the character of the sheep generally in the State, has been eleva ted with a decided improvement in the quality, and increase in the quantity, of their wool. Besides, we have to day flocks of pure Merino ewes, which, in their forms and fleeces, rival the finest products of Vermont. We have thus far spoken only of the American Merino. The French and German varieties, are to be found in our State, but the demand for them is comparatively small, and they appear to be gradually giving way to the American Merino, which is considered to be a hardier and more profitable animal. In addition to the several classes named above, we have several varieties of the English mutton sheep, such as the Southdowns, the Cottswold, the Leicesters, and others These appear to do well here, but the demand for them, though increasing, is yet small. The long period during which our breeders have been engaged in raising fine sheep and wool, the great care which they have exercised, and the steady improvement that has resulted, have all combined to give us an established reputation in the business. Not only do the inhabitants of the adjoining States get a considerable per centage of their stock sheep from our flocks, but there is a brisk, and increasing demand, from the South ern and Western States, and the Territories. So important has this demand become, that of late, many of our farmers find it to be a very profitable employment, to breed for the special purpose of supplying it. The demand for West 110 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Virginia wool is not less active. The South and West have always been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and hence can not be consumers, but are rather producers of wool. Those countries that have a poor soil, but an abundance of water power and fuel, naturally turn their attention to manufactur ing; to these the surplus products of producing States must go first, to be worked up. When, however, capacity for pro duction, and all the requisites for manufacturing, are com bined in the same State, the manufactories must prove to the producing centers. At present then, we must find the markets for our wools, only in the East, but in the near future, we may, with confidence, expect to find in our own mills and factories, purchasers of our products. As to the standing of West Virginia wool, we may, with truth, state that, in freedom from dirt, length of staple, fine ness, firmness, and strength of fibre, and in its felting proper ties, our wool is unsurpassed. None meets with readier sale, or commands higher prices than that furnished by our flocks. Yours truly, March 1876. C. H. BEALL. CHAPTER VII. FOREST TREES, SHRUBS, AND MEDICINAL PLANTS. BY WM. M. FONTAINE. Ash (Fraxinus). The genus Fraxinus, or Ash, is composed of deciduous trees, which are natives of Europe, Northern Africa, a part of Asia, and of North America. They are raised from seeds, or by grafting on the Fraxinus excelsior (European Ash.) These trees have a great tendency to sport, or run into varieties, which closely resemble each other. Hence many, or few species, may be made, according to the value attached to these variations. The most important representative of this genus in America, is the White Ash (F. Americana). 1. The White Ash (F. Americana). This tree is quite com mon in our forests. In usefulness in the arts, it is surpassed by no tree except the oak. From the rapidity of its growth, the beauty of its foliage, and the valuable qualities of its tim ber, it is one of the most interesting of American trees. In favorable situations, it sometimes attains the height of eighty feet, with a trunk three feet in diameter, and is often undivided for more than half its length. It grows best in rich or moist ground, near the edge of streams or swamps, where the soil is deep, fertile, and intermingled with fragments of rocks. It is a native of North America, from Labrador to the Caiolinas, and is particularly abundant when the climate is cool and moist. It is but little subject to accidents and the attacks of insects. The wood of the White Ash, in young, thrifty trees, is very white from the bark to the center, but in large, old 112 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. trees, the heart wood is of a reddish tinge, and the sap wood white. When the annual layers are thick and coarse, it is exceedingly tough and elastic, and may be applied to a great variety of purposes. It is used by coach and wagon makers for the felloes of wheels, for shafts, and for the frames of carriage bodies, and for those of light wagons. It is used very generally for agri cultural implements and domestic wares, especially for the handles of spades, hoes, scythes, &c. In Canada, and the northern part of the United States, it is largely used for hoops and staves. The latter are esteemed best for casks containing salted provisions and flour. For the blocks of pullies, pins for belaying cordage on ships, it is the best material. It is in universal use for oars in all navies. This wood is largely exported to Europe in the form of planks. The inner bark of the tree imparts a very permanent yellow to skins, and may be used in dyeing wool. The wood is not liable to shrink and swell, when once it has been thoroughly seasoned. It, hence, makes the most beauti ful floors of all our timber. Ash lumber always commands a ready sale at high prices. 2. Ash, Black, Water, or Hoop (F. Sambucifolia). This tree, in favorable locations, frequently attains the height of seventy or eighty feet, and a diameter of two, to two and a half feet. The leaves, when bruised, smell like those of the elder. This tree is among the last to put forth its leaves in spring, and the first to lose them in autumn. The leaves are killed by the first hard frost, and in the North of the United States, are fre.-. quently all off by the 20th of September. It is generally found in a moist soil, or one exposed to inundations. In the Middle States, this tree associates with the Red Ash, a tree rare west of the Alleglianies, and with the Red Maple. The wood is tougher, and more elastic, than that of the White Ash, but is less durable when exposed to changes from moisture to dryness, and vice versa. Hence, it is less used. Like the Euro pean Ash, its timber is more valuable when grown rapidly, and the wood of young trees is more esteemed than that of old ones. The sap wood of this variety is very white, tough, and compact. It is sometimes made into posts, which rank next to the cedar in durability. In Nova Scotia and the Northern RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 113 States, it is preferred to the White Ash for hoops. The annual layers, by repeated blows, tends to separate into long strips, and hence the wood is not used for oars, handspikes, c. This property, however, fits it for the manufacture of baskets, chair bottoms. &c. The ashes of this species, like those of most ash, are very rich in potash. 3. Ash, Blue, (F. quadrangulata). This variety, in favor able situations, attains often the height of sixty or seventy feet, with a diameter of fifteen or twenty inches. The shoots are quadrangular, and have four membranes placed opposite each other. The Blue Ash is mainly found in Tennessee, Kentucky, and the Southern part of Ohio, where the climate is mild, and the soil fertile in an extreme degree. This fer tility seems to serve as a substitute for that degree of mois ture, which in the Atlantic States, seems necessary for the growth of the Ash. Hence it may grow well in dry woods, provided they be rich enough. The wood of this tree posesses the characteristic properties of the genus, and in the Western States is extensively employed, and highly valued. Beside the other uses, the wood is selected for the flooring of houses, and for their exterior covering. Where the Tulip tree does not abound, it sometimes serves for shingles. (Browne). It is said that a blue color may be extracted from the bark of this tree, which circumstance may have caused its com mon name. 4. Ash, Green, (F. viridis). This tree, sometimes called the Walnut-leaved Ash, in its natural habitat, usually attains a height of 25 to 30 feet, with a trunk 4 or 5 inches in diame ter. It is easily recognized by the brilliant green, color of its young leaves, which are nearly of the same color on both surfaces. This variety is native of wet, shady woods, from Canada to the Carolinas, but is more common in the western part of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and in West Virginia, than in any other sections of the United States. It is found in abundance on the banks of the Monongahela and Ohio. Its wood has the same character with the other species of genus, and is applied to the same purposes. As, however, the White Ash is more common where it grows, and is of superior size, the Green Ash is only incidentally employed. 15 114 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 5. A#h, Mountain-- (Pyrus Americana). This tree, though by its common name, placed among the Ash trees, is really found in a quite different genus. It belongs to the same family with the Pear, Apple, &c. It has an erect stem, and sometimes grows to the height of 20 or 30 feet, with a diameter of a foot or more. The varieties are several in number, of which the P. A. Microcarpa, or small fruited Mountain Ash is indige nous, especially in the whole range ol the Alleghanies. It may be propagated from seeds, or by grafting. The Mountain Ash will grow in any soil, and in the most exposed situations, whether on the seashore, or 011 mountain tops. It attains its largest size in a free soil, with a moist climate, and in an open dry situation. Few trees suffer more than this from ex treme heat and dry weather. The wood of this tree, when dry, weighs 51 pounds to the cubic foot. It is fine grained, hard, homogeneous, and capable of taking a high polish. In Europe it is much used in the small manufactures, such as the handles of knives, &c., and in various articles of turnery. When large enough, it is also used for axle-trees, naves, felloes, &e. In some parts of Europe the berries are also used as a fruit, and even ground into flour. This tree is well adapted as an ornamental tree. 6. Aspen, or Poplar, (Populus tremuloides). This tree is common in our woods. It attains the height of 20 to 50 feet. As it has no particular value as a timber tree, we need not dwell upon it. 7. The Beech, (Fagus fermginea). This tree is quite com mon, and attains the diameter of from 2 to 3 feet. It is found commonly along streams, or on the hill sides near streams. It makes a handsome tree with wide-spread, compact foliage, and a trunk which dissolves into very numerous branches. When seasoned, the wood is extremely hard and solid. It is used for plane stocks, shoe-lasts, and the handles of tools. "But little of it is converted into lumber, and it is mainly used for fuel, 8. Beech, Water, (Carpinus Americana). This tree is not uncommon along streams and in moist places. Though belong ing to a different family from the Beech, from its straight veined leaves, and smooth grey bark, it lias a considerable RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 115 resemblance to that tree and hence the common name. It forms a shrub or tree from 15 to 30 feet high. Its wood is very hard, and from this property the tree in some sections is called " Ironwood," The wood is speckled, or somewhat curled, and would seem fitted for some kinds of furniture. 9. Birch, Black, (Betula lenta). This is rather a large tree, growing along the Alleghany region. It prefers moist places, and has on the trunk a dark brown, close bark, with a sweet aromatic odor. The timber is rose colored, fine grained, and valuable for cabinet work. 10. Birch, Red, (Betula nigra). This is rather a large tree, growing on low river banks, rather abundantly in some locali ties. Its wood is light colored, and is not much appreciated for timber. 11. Buckeye, Sweet, (Aesculus ilava). -This tree, which must not be confounded with the Ae glabra. or Fetid Buckeye, un like the latter, grows in rich woods, and in mountains and knobby districts, where it attains the height of 50 or 60Jfeet, and is 2 or 3 feet in diameter. The wood is light, soft, and porous, not inclined to split or crack in drying. It is valu able for making troughs, bread-trays, wooden bowls, shuttles. &c. 12. Buckeye, Fetid, (Aesculus glabra). This is the most common species of Buckeye found in the State. It grows only in the vicinity of streams, and forms a large tree occasionally. Itjhas no particular value. 13. Cedar, (Juniperus Virginiana). This valuable plant, which in the east grows only to a small size, in West Vir ginia attain the height of 60 to 90 feet, and a diameter of 2 or 3 feet. It endures in its growth, a considerable variation of soil and situation. It is found both on high hills and along streams. This tree is considered to furnish one of the most valuable of all woods. The wood is compact, fine grained, light, and exceedingly durable. The heart, which furnishes the timber, has a strong red color, and is peculiar for its strong pleasant odor. This is so greatly disliked by moths, that chests made of it are proof against them. It is capable of a high polish, and is more highly esteemed than any other wood in the manufacture of hollow wooden-ware. Great quantities of this timber is manufactured annually into buck- 116 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. ets, tubs, &c., <fec. For fence posts, &c., it is peculiarly fitted from its great durability, lasting, as does, for generations. The timber meets with a ready sale at remunerative prices. 14. Cherry, Wild, (Primus Serotina). This is one of our most valuable timber trees. In the Eastern States it is very com mon as a shrub, or small tree. With us, it often attains the height of sixty to seventy feet, before dividing into limbs, and often measures three and a half to four feet across the stump. It permits a considerable range of situation, growing botli on streams and hills, but delights in a rich, well drained soil. The wood is light red, compact, and fine grained, and takes a polish as fine as that of mahogany or rosewood. With age and proper treatment, it will compare in polish and beauty, with any wood. The wood is almost entirely used for cabinet work. There are large quantities of this valuable timber in the State, The tree grows everywhere, but the largest num. ber, and the finest for timber, are perhaps to be found near the headwaters of the Elk, Gauley, Greenbrier, and Cheat rivers, in the counties of Randolph, Pocahontas, Braxton, and Web ster. It grows usually scattered through the other timber. Many large and fine trees, four feet in diameter, are found on Cherry and Williams rivers, in the above mentioned district. Trees here may be found long enough for three arid four, six teen feet cuts. 15. Chestnut, (Castania Vesca). This is one of our largest trees, attaining a diameter of seven feet. It grows in dry, elevated ground, in every part of the State, and is more abundant in and near the mountains. It has a rapid growth, and may be renewed from the seed or sprout, in fifteen or twenty years, "to a size sufficient to form posts and rails. The wood resembles the Red Oak in color, being a shade lighter. It is a very valuable timber on account of its dura bility. In the form of shingles, or rails, it will last until washed away by the rains. Chestnut rails have been known to last over fifty years. When put in the ground, it is not so durable as Cedar or Locust. The wood has a beautifully lami nated structure, and when polished or varnished, makes hand some furniture. It furnishes a very valuable edible nut, which is sold in large amounts, and affords a fine mast for hogs. A tree thirty-three feet in circumference has been measured in Kanawha county, RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 117 16. Coffee Tree, Kentucky, (Gymnocladus Canadensis). The Kentucky Coffee Tree grows to a considerable height some times 50 to 60 feet with a straight trunk, having a diameter of 12 inches to 2 feet, and is often destitute of branches for more than 30 feet. In its natural habitat, it always grows in the richest soils, and thrives best in sheltered situations. It is generally prop agated by seeds, but may be raised from cuttings of the roots. The wood is of a rose hue, and is very hard, compact, tough, and strong. These properties render it very suitable for cabi net work, and for building. It has but little sap wood, and hence nearly all the trunk can be used. The pods, preserved like those of the Tamarind, are said to be wholesome, and slightly aperient. The seeds were used by the early settlers of Kentucky and Tennessee, as a substitute for coffee, hence the name. 17. Cotton Wood, (Populus Heterophylla). This tree is not very abundant with us. It attains a large size in Tennessee, and on the Mississippi is used for fire wood. It prefers moist ground and swamps, attaining the height of 40 to 60 feet. The wood is white, soft, and easy to cut and split. 18. Cucumber Tree, (Magnolia Acuminata). This tree is not uncommon in the State. Its trunk is straight, of uniform size, and often destitute of branches for two-thirds of its length. It attains the height of 60 to 80 feet, with a diameter of three or four feet. It may be propagated from the seeds, or by layers. The situations best adapted for it, are the slopes of mountains, narrow valleys, or the banks of torrents, where the air is always moist, and the soil deep and fertile. The wood of this species is soft and light, weighing when dry, only 26 pounds to the cubic foot. The timber may be employed in joining, for the interior of houses, and for cabinet making. From its size and lightness, it is well adapted for hollowing out into canoes. The half ripe cores, steeped in whisky, renders it extremely bitter, and it is then, when taken in the morning, considered as a preventative of autumnal fevers. 19. Dogwood, (Cornus Florida). This tree, or rather shrub, js found everywhere in the State. In its natural habitat, under favorable circumstances, it forms a tree 30 to 35 feet high, and 9 to 10 inches thick, but is usually only half this size. 1.18 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. The Dogwood thrives best in a gravelly soil, rich in vegetable matter and moisture. It may be propagated by seeds or cuttings- The wood of this plant is hard, compact, and heavy. Its fine grain renders it capable of a high polish, arid hence it may be used for many of the purposes for which Logwood is employed. It is also used for the construction of the handles of light tools, mallets, etc.: as well as for the names of horse collars, runners of sleds, &c. Being liable to split, it should not be used until perfectly seasoned. The wood as a fuel makes a very hot fire, and gives an abundant pure white ash. The inner bark of the tree is extremely bitter, and forms an excellent substitute for Peruvian bark. It is even claimed by some physicians that the Dogwood equals Peruvian bark. The bark may also be substituted for galls in the manufac ture of ink. From the bark of the more fibrous roots the In dians get a good scarlet dye. A Dogwood 18 inches in diame ter is reported from Braxton county. 20. Elder, Box, (Negundoaceroides [Mornch]). This plant, though bearing the name of Box Elder, has no affinity with the true Elders. Farther south, the tree attains a larger size than with us. In Tennessee it attains a height of 40 to 50 feet, and a diame ter of 15 to 20 inches. It is most abundant in the bottoms which skirt the river, where the soil is deep, fertile, and con stantly moist. With us it is not confined to river banks, but grows in the woods with the Locust, Wild Cherry, and Coffee tree. It may be raised from the seeds, and is not a long-lived tree. The wood has a fine even grain, and is saffron colored*, slightly mixed with violet. Except in very old trees, the proportion of sap to heart-wood is very large. In America the wood is used only for fuel, but in Europe it is used in cabinet making, especially for in inlaying. For this, the heart wood of old trees, variagated with bluish and rose-colored veins, affords handsome material. 21. Kim, Red, or Slippery, (Vlmus fulva). This is a widely diffused, but not very abundant tree. In the Atlantic slope, in our latitude, it is usually a shrub, but with us it attains the dimentions of a large tree. It often attains the height of 50 or 60 feet, and a diameter of 18 to 24 inches. It grows on RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 119 the richest lands of an uneven surface, and does well in ele vated open situations. The heart wood is coarse grained, and of a dull red tinge, whence the name. It is less compact, but more durable than that of the White Elm. It is said to.be the best of American woods for making the blocks employed in the rigging of ves sels. It makes excellent rails, which last long, and the wood is easily split. The bark is very mucilaginous, and contains sugar, gallic acid, and supertartrate of potash. Medically, it is said to be alterative, tonic, and diuretic, and is employed for the cure of herpeti;: and leprous eruptions. The leaves have been employed as food for the larviu of the silk moth. The bark, small branches and leaves, macerated in water, give an abundant mucilage, used as a drink in coughs and rheums. This mucilage may be used instead of the roots of the Marsh Mallow in making emollient suppurative cata plasms. 22. Elm, White, or Rock, (Ulmus Americana). This is our most abundant Elm. Where it grows surrounded by other trees it has a lofty trunk, very clear of branches, attaining the height of 80 to 100 feet, and a diameter of from 4 to 6 feet. It is more often found on river banks, and in more or less open ground. Here it splits up into a great profusion of branches close to the ground. The tree may be propagated by suckers, by layers and by grafting. It delights in low and humid situations, such as the rich bottoms along streams, where the soil is deep and fertile. It will grow, however, in any soil that is not too dry and barren. The foliage of this tree is the food of several kinds of insects, and its bark is pierced by others. The wood of the White Elm is of a, dark brown color, and liable to decay when exposed to the alternations of dryness and moisture. It may be used for piles, foundations for mills, and canal locks, and other structures which are always under water. When cut transversely, or obliquely to the fibers, it shows many fine undulations. It weighs, when perfectly dry, only 33 Ibs. to the cubic foot. The bark, which is easily de tached from the tree during 8 months of the year, is used for making bast mats, ropes, and the bottoms of chairs. The 120 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. wood when burned affords a largo amount of ash, which is rich in potash. 23. Elm, Wahoo, or Witch, (Ulmus alata). This is a small tree, not commonly exceeding 80 feet in height, and 9 or 10 inches in diameter. It is generally found on the banks of rivers. The wood of this variety is fine grained, heavier, more com pact, and stronger, than that of the White Elm. The wood is of a dull chocolate color, and is always in large proportion to the sap wood, In some parts of the country the wood is used for the naves of coach wheels, as it is tougher and heavier than that of either of the other species. 24. Fir, or Spruee, Black, (Abies Nigra). This tree has a variety of common names, being called in different sections, Black Fir, Black Spruce, and Yew Pine. It is a Fir. The tree is quite common in the higher and colder part of the State, growing on the banks of streams, and on cold mountain sides. It forms a handsome tree, some 60 to 70 feet high, and 2 to 3 feet in diameter. Since it grows mainly in the more inaccessible parts of the State, not much use has, as yet, been made of the timber. Great numbers of this tree are to be found in suitable loca tions all through the Alleghanies, the foots of hills near them, and the deep, well shaded hollows of the higher plateau regions- In the region of country around the headwaters of the Gauley, Elk, and Cheat, vast numbers of this tree are to be found. For this reason the district in question is called by the natives the " Yew Pine Region," as they call the tree by this name... According to Mr. Cecil Clay, President of the St. Lawrence Boom and Manufacturing Company, this tree will often cut 20,000 feet per acre, in this part of the country. Dense masses of it cover the mountains here, the trees growing clear and tall, with trunks several feet in diameter. The country is yet in the original forest, and millions of feet of fine fir timber can be obtained. 25. Fir, Southern Balsam, (Abeis Fraseri). This tree grows mainly on the highest points of the Alleghanies, and is more abundant to the south of us in Tennessee. From its inacces- sible position, it is not used for timber. It is chiefly remark able for the balsam which gathers in blisters under the bark. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 121 and is used for medicinal purposes. It is found in the high mountains in northern Pocahontas, and in Pendleton and eastern Randolph. 26. Gum, Black, or Sour, (Nyssa Mulf iflora). This tree, called variously Black Gum, Yellow Gum, or Sour Gum, seldom rises above 40 or 50 feet, with a trunk 15 or 20 inches in diameter. It permits a somewhat wide range of situation, growing in some parts of the country on dry soil, and in others in wet places. In West Virginia the tree grows in both situations; in Tennessee it grows usually on rich, moist soils. It may be propagated by seeds and by cutting or layers. The wood holds a middle rank between hard and soft woods. In trees exceeding 15 inches in diameter, frequently more than half the trunk is hollow. The fibres of most trees are closely united, and usually ascend in a perpendicular direction. The Gum is peculiar in this respect, the fibres being united in bundles, and interwoven like a braided cord. This gives it its peculiar toughness. Where it abounds, it is used for the naves of wheels employed for carrying heavy burdens. It is also used for the shaft heads of windmills, and for wooden bowls. As fuel, the wood burns with great slowness. 27. Gum, Sweet, ( Liquid ambar Styraciflua). This finds its most congenial home in wet, marshy places. It forms a handsome and large tree. The leaves, when bruised, have a pleasant aromatic odor. The wood is fine grained, but decays rather rapidly. It is difficult to split, and resists fire longer than any of our tim bers. It is occasionally used for the same purposes as the Black Gum, and sawed into plank, is mainly employed in coarse work. It is compact, and is said to admit of a bright polish. It is sometimes used in cabinet work, and makes a passable article of furniture. 28. Hemlock, Spruce, (Abies Canadensis). This tree is much more common farther North than with us. It grows on rich mountains and table lands. It forms a large tree, but the tim ber is comparatively coarse grained and poor. The bark is useiul for tanning. Dense strips of large Hemlock grow on the headwaters of the Gauley, etc., rivers. 29. Hickory, (Carya) -Three species of this valuable tree grow abundantly with us. There are : 1st, the Scaly Bark Hickory, 16 122 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. carya alba; 2d, the White Hickory, carya tomentosa; and 3rd, the Red Hickory or Pignut, carya porcina. The common White Hickory (C. tornentosa), grows well on all soils of medium quality. It rarely attains a greater diameter than 18 inches, and grows by preference in dry woods. The wood of this tree is white to the core, hence the name. It is tough, and some times stringy, very elastic, hard, and of great weight. When small, the shrub is used for barrel and hogshead hoops, and for casings, and for wythes for various purposes. It is exceedingly tough, and strong, but easy to split. The bark is useful for tying up grapevines, as it may be easily stripped off in spring, and kept supple under water. The tree is worked up into axles for wagons, spokes and felloes for carriages, and for axe handles. When seasoned, it makes the best carpenters mallets, and the most useful han dles for chisels. However, when exposed to moisture, it is peculiarly liable to decay, and is also very subject to attacks from worms. Large quanties of the timber are worked up into chairs, &c. The Scaly Bark Hickory, C. alba, is a much larger tree, and splits more readily. It grows 80 to 100 feet high, and 2^ to 3 feet thick. The Red Hickory, or Pignut, like the last, prefers a rich soil on hillsides or river bottoms. The Bitter Nut, C. amara, sometimes called Pignut, also, is a common tree. The wood is less valued than that of the others. Both the Scaly Bark Hickory, and the Red Hickory, above mentioned, are not rare, and have timber resembling that of the Common White Hickory. They are used for the same purposes. Hickory makes the finest of all fuels. It burns rapidly, and gives out an intense heat. It is preferred for curing tobacco and bacon, not giving so strong a taste of creo sote. The ashes of the Hickory are the richest of all in potash. . 30. Holly, (Ilex Opaca). i his is a beautiful evergreen tree, growing mainly on mountain streams in gravelly or sandy soil. Its ordinary height in favorable situations, is under 30 feet, with a diaintsr of 14 to 15 inches, and less. The wool is wliifce, cjmpict, of fine grain, and capable of a brilliant &ESOTJ&CES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 123 polish. It is quite heavy, weighing, when dry, about 47 pounds to the cubic foot. Its principal use is for inlaying mahogany furniture, for turning into small boxes for drug gists, and for small screws. When perfectly seasoned, it is very hard and unyielding, which makes it fitted for the pulleys used in ships. It takes dye of various colors well, and is used in imitating foreign woods. The bark, medici nally, is emetic and cathartic. Fifteen or twenty berries will induce vomiting, and act as a purgative. 3 1 . Hackberry, (Celtis Occidentalis). The Hackberry, or Celtis Occidentalis, var. crassifolia, is a common tree west of the Alleghanies. It sometimes attains a height of 80 feet, with a trunk of the very disproportionate diameter of 18 or 20 inches. It prefers a cool, shady situation, and a deep, fertile soil, or along the borders of rivers and among other trees. Its wood is of little value, from its weakness and liability to decay, when exposed to alternations of wet and dry conditions. It is compact, and fine grained, however, though not heavy. Sawed in a direction parallel, or oblique to its fibres, it shows the fine undulations seen in the Locust and Elm. In some parts of the country, the timber is employed in roofs for the covering which supports shingles. As it is elastic, and may be easily divided, farmers use it sometimes for the bottoms of chairs, and Indians use it for making baskets. Being straight grained, free from knots, and wrought with the greatest ease, it is sometimes used in fencing. 32. Ironwood, (Ostrya Virginica). This tree is also called Hop Hornbeam, or Lever Wood. It may be distinguished by the hop-like appendages, containing small nuts, which the tree possesses. It forms a small tree, with brownish fur rowed bark, and leaves like those of the Birch. It is common in rich woods. The wood is extremely hard and tough, which properties render it unequalled for handspikes, and other purposes requiring these properties in a high degree. 33. Locust, Common, (Robinia Pseudacacia). The Common Locust, in favorable situations, attains the height of 80 or 90 feet, and sometimes exceed four feet in diameter. Ordinarily the tree does not exceed half these dimensions. It abounds 124 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. in West Virginia. The soil in which it grows best is a rather rich sandy loam, and to attain any considerable size, it must have considerable room, &nd an airy but sheltered position, free from the fury of the winds. It will thrive for a few years, even on poor shallow soils, but soon decays at the heart, and does not attain any size. This is due to the rapid extraction from the soil, of all its nutriment by the large roots, which run near the surface. The only trees that will make timber on such thin soils, are those of the Pine family. The simplest and best mode of propogating it, is by the seeds. The wood of the Locust is of a greer.ish yellow color, marked with brown veins. It is v^ry hard, o,nd compact, and is capable of a very high polish. It has great strength, with but little elasticity, its most valuable property being the resistance to decay which it exhibits, this being greater than that of almost any other wood. When newly cut it weighs 63 pounds 3 ounces per cubic foot ; half dry, 56| pounds, or, according to others, only 46. M. Hartig, the German den- droiogist, places its value for fuel, when compared with the Beech (Fagus sylvatica), as 12 to 15. For duration, he places it next below the Oak (Quercus robur). There are at least three popular varieties of the Common Locust, distinguished by the color of the heart wood. These are : 1. Red Locust. With the heart red, and esteemed as by far the most beautiful and valuable timber. Posts of this variety, perfectly seasoned before,; they are put in the ground, are estimated to last 40 years, or twice as long as those of the White Locust. 2. Green or Yellow Locust. This is the most common variety, being known by its greenish yellow heart, and it is held to be next to the red Locust. 3. White Locust. This has a white heart, and is considered the least valuable. All the above mentioned variations, are supposed to be caused by differences of soil and situation. In naval archi tecture, the Locust is much esteemed by American ship wrights. It enters into the upper and lower parts of the frames of vessels. In civil architecture in this, country, RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 125 owing to its scarcity, it is not much used. It is more partic ularly applied to the support of sills. It has been exten sively used in cabinet making, ancrmany small wares. The roots of the Locust are very sweet, and afford an extract which may be substituted for licorice. The flowers have been employed medicinally as an anti-spasmodic. 34. Locust. Honey, (Gleditschia triacanthos). This in favor able situations, attains a height of 70 or 80 feet, with a trunk 3 or 4 feet in diameter. The tree generally grows in associa tion with the Black Walnut, Red Elm, Common Locust, etc. It is never found except where the soil is good, and its pres ence is a sign of fertility. The wood, when dry, weighs 52 pounds to the cubic foot. It is very hard, and splits with great difficulty. Its grain is coarse, and its pores more open, than those of the Common Locust. It is of very little u^e for timber, and can be only considered as an ornamental tree. 35. Linden, or Linn, (Tilia Americana). This tree bears various names, being called, the American Lime Tree, Linden, or Basswood. In size it is one of the finest forest trees. It often rises more than 80 feet in height, and is frequently more than 4 feet in diameter, with a straight, uniform body. It prefers a rich, loose, dark soil, on the borders of lakes and rivers, and in moist bottoms, which are little subject to inun dation. It may be propogated from seeds, by cuttings, and by grafting. The wood, when dry, weighs only 35 pounds per cubic foot. . When seasoned, it is of a light brown hue. It is soft, easily worked, and is often sawed into boards, which do not warp. In some places it is used for the panels of carriage doors, and the seats of chair--. It is frequently turned into various utensihs, and carved into ornamental work. The cellular integument, maybe separated irom the epidermis, and formed into ropes. The greatest value which it has, is for making firkin staves. It is extremely easy to decay, and hence can not be used in building. It may be reduced to a pulp, and made into paper. The young shoots and twigs are very glu tinous, and afford considerable nutriment, and are used in some sections, as food for cattle in winter when forage is scarce. 36. Maple, Sugar, ( Acer saccharimum). The Sugar,or Rock 126 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Maple, as it is sometimes called, is one of our most valuable trees. In our new State the vast numbers of the trees of this species affords large amounts of sugar, which yields a consid erable revenue to the inhabitants. In favorable situations the trees sometimes grow to the height of 70 or 80 feet, and attain the diameter of 2 to 4 feet. The trunk is generally straight, though often studded with wens or excrescences. There is a variety of this tree which in some respects differs from the common Sugar tree. This is called the Black Sugar Maple (or A. S. Var. nigum). The Ieave3 of this tree are of a darker green, thicker texture, and have blunter lobes than the Rock or Sugar Maple. Both trees grow together, and are alike in all other respects. The natural habitat of the Sugar Maple is the steep and shady banks of rivers which rise in mountanous regions, and in all elevated regions where the soil is cold and humid, free, deep, and fertile, and not too moist. The wood of the Sugar Maple, when it has been exposed to the light for some time, takes on a rosy tinge. Its grain is fine and close, and when polished its lustre is silky. It is very strong and heavy, but is not durable when exposed to- alternations of moisture and dryness. The northern wood weighs, when dry, 46 Ibs. per cubic foot, and is heavier than that grown south. It makes, when dry, a fuel equal to the oak. The timber requires two or three years to become per fectly seasoned. It may then be used for axletrees, spokes, mill-cogs, chairs and cabinet work. The wood of this tree ex hibits several accidental forms in the arrangement of its fibre, which are utilized in making beautiful articles of cabinet work, and furniture, such as bedsteads, writing desks, inlay ing mahogany and black- walnut in bureaus, piano-fortes, and for veneering-slabs, &c. The first of these is Curled, Maple. The undulations, or medullary rays of this variety, like those of the Red-flowered Maple, are lustrous, and in one light ap- appear darker, and in another, lighter than the rest of i)he wood. Sometimes the zig-zag lines are crossed by beautiful veins, but unfortunately the lustre of these shades disappears by long exposure to the light and air- The second is Bird s-Eye Maple. This variety exhibits small, whitish spots, or eyes, not over one-tenth of an inch in diame- RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 127 ter, sometimes occurring a little way apart, and sometimes close together. The more numerous these spots the more val uable the wood. They are seen only in old trees, which are still sound ; and seem to come from a bending of the fibres across the grain. To get the finest effect, the wood should be sawed as near as possible parallel with the concentric circles. In addition to the above named varieties, two other kinds occur in the Wens. The most valuable variety is called Varie gated Maple Knot. It presents an assemblage of shades, agree ably disposed, sometimes like Arabic letters, which make the wood well fitted for fancy work, and from its scarcity it com mands high prices. The other variety is called Silver-White Maple Knot. This shows a silvery lustre by the arrangement of its fibres, and though more common than the other, is highly prized and used for the same purposes. The ashes of the Sugar Maple are rich in alkalies, and it has been said that they furnish four-fifths of the potash ex ported from the United States to Europe. In the Torges of Maine, New Hampshire, &c where this tree grows, its charcoal is preferred to that of any other wood. The ripening of the leaves in fall causes them to take on the most beautiful colors. In the mountain counties of the State there are enormous num bers of this tree, and in some districts it forms half the timber. 37. Maple, Silver, (Acer dasycarpum). The White, or Silver Maple, in good situations, attains the height of 30 to 50 feet, with a trunk 2 to 4 feet in diameter, but sometimes has a diameter as 8 to 9 feet. It is found in a sandy loam on the banks of such rivers as have limpid waters, with a gravelly bed, and is rare in miry, black soils. The wood of this tree is white and of a fine texture, but is softer and lighter than that of any other Maple in the United States, and from its want of strength and durability, it is but little used. When dry it weighs 38 Ibs. to the cubic foot. It is sometimes used in cabinet making, instead of the Holly, for inlaying furniture of mahogany, cherry, etc., but soon changes color on exposure to light. It may be used, for want of a bet ter, in making wooden bowls. Its charcoal affords a more uniform heat, and of longer duration than any other. The inner bark is sometimes used for domestic dying, to produce a black with copperas. 128 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 38. Maple, Red (Acer rubrum). This does not attain the size of the Sugar Maple. The ordinary height does not exceed 50 or 60 feet, but in the " Maple Swamps" of New Jersey, it attains the height of 70 or 80 feet", with a trunk 3 or 4 feet in diame ter. This tree flourishes in grounds which are sometimes over flowed. In the East, where it attains its greatest size, it is found only on streams and in miry swamps. Singular to say, west of the Alleghanies, it is seen growing on high ground ;vith the Oaks and Walnuts, but here it does not grow so large as in the eastern swamps. The wood of this tree, when dry, weighs 44 pounds to the cubic foot, and when green, is soft and full of watery matter. This tree, like others which grow in wet places, has a large proportion of sap wood, and in this case, the heart wood sends rays into the sap wood. The wood has but little strength, is liable to decay when exposed to alternations of moisture and dryness, is apt to ferment, and is exposed to attacks of insects. Yet it is solid and close grained, and for many purposes pre ferred by workmen to other kinds of wood. It is principally used for the manufacture of chairs, saddle-trees, shoe lasts, broom handles and many other domestic articles. It is easily wrought in the lathe, and acquires, by polishing, a glossy and silky surface. It sometimes happens that in very old trees, the grain of the wood, instead of following a perpen dicular direction, is undulated, and this variety bears the name of Curled Maple. This singular arrangement is ne-ver found in young trees, and it is less conspicuous in the centre of the tree than near the bark. But trees with this feature are rare. The serpentine direction of tbe fibres produces, when polished, a most beautiful effect of light and shade. These efiects are made more striking, if, after smoothing the wood, we rub it with a little sulphuric acid, and after wards with linseed oil. Bedsteads are made of this wood, which exceed in richness of lustre those of the finest imported woods. One of the most constant uses to which the curled maple is applied is the making of gunstocks. For this it is unsurpassed, since it unites elegance and lightness, with toughness and strength. The cellular matter of the inner bark, boiled with copperas, gives an intense blue black color; with alum, it is used in dyeing black. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 129 39. Mulberry, Red,(Morus rubra). The Red Mulberry some times attains the height of 60 or 70 feet, with a trunk hav ing a diameter of 2 feet, when growing in the forests, but in open situations its statue is low, and the thickness is pro portionally increased. This tree has a great tendency to sport. It may be propagated by seeds, by cuttings, graft ing, &c. It will grow in a great variety of soils, and situations, but succeeds best in a rich, deep soil, in sheltered valleys. The wood is of a yellow hue, approaching lemon yellow. It is fine grained, compact and light. It possesses strength and solidity, and when properly seasoned, is almost as durable as the L ocnst. In the dock-yards of Baltimore, Philadelphia, etc., it is employed in the construction of both the upper and lower frames of vessels, for knees, floor timbers, &c. It is preferred to every other kind of wood except the Locust, for trenails. Oak, (Quercus). The number of species of Oak in the State is very great. Ail the Oaks growing in the Appa lachian belt, are to be found here, and many of them attain here their greatest size ai-id perfection as timber trees. The Oaks grow all over the State, reaching, perhaps, their great est development in the central and southern parts. They form the bulk of our timber, and certainly the most valuable portion of it: In speaking of them it will not be necessary to dwell on each species, as they ail resemble more or less, the most valuable of the genus, viz.: the White Oak. 40. White Oak, (Quercus Alba). This valuable tree is one of the most abundant and the largest trees in the State. It attains the height of 100 feet, and more than 6 feet in diam eter. In the counties on the Little Kanawha river, and to the South of the Great Kanawha, in Boone, Logan, &c., it attains magnificent proportion?, and is found in great num bers. In dense woods it grows to J and -J of its height clear of limbs. It grows in a great variety of soil and in very dif ferent exposures. It does best in deep, rich alluvial bottoms. The wood is the most valuable of all the Oaks. The tim ber is better than that of trees grown farther north. It is strong, compact, hard, durable, elastic, combining most of the valuable properties found in limber. 17 130 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. It is extensively used in making all the parts of wagons, except the axles. For plough handles and beams it is indis pensable. It is the only timber east of the Mississippi which will make staves suitable for vessels containing wine and spirituous liquors, not only on account of the tightness of the casks, but because it gives no disagreeable taste to the liquor. (Resources of Tenn., p. 83). Owing to this fact, on all the navigable streams and rail roads, a heavy business is done in staves for casks, pipes, &c. Large quanties are shipped to the eastern markets, to Europe, the West Indies, and France. The young trees of the White Oak n,ay be rived into thin splits, which are very tough and elastic, enabling them to be used in basket making, ifcc. They may also be used for some kinds of hoops, as for tobacco hogsheads. For building purposes and fencing, it makes admirable timber. For floors it is only surpassed by the Ash. 41. Post Oak, (Quercus obtusiloba). This tree, also called Rough, or Box White Oak, belongs to the White Oak section of the genus. It grows on dry, thin, and gravelly soil, form ing a small tree, with timber not so elastic as the White Oak, but more durable. Being solid, tough, close-grained, and hard to split, it is for some purposes more valuable than even the White Oak, especially for -railroad ties, (fee. 42. Bur Oak, (Quercus macrocarpa). This forms a hand some middle sized tree, belonging to the White Oak section. It grows in rich soil, and has timber of the same general character with the White Oak. 43. Chestnut Oak, (Quercus Prinus L). This tree may be taken as a type of another section of Oaks, which is called the Chestnut Oak section. It is marked by the want of lobing in the leaves, which causes them to resemble more or less those of the Chestnut. This tree does well on good soil, but delights in thin rock^, or gravelly ridges and benches. It grows from 60 to 80 feet high. The wood is tough and durable, being equal to White Oak for many purposes. Its greatest value, perhaps, is for tanning purposes, yielding a large supply of bark, which is richer in Tannin than any other tree. The leather made RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 131 by it commands the highest prices, as it is the most solid and durable known. A variety of this tree growing in rich soil, and quite com mon, is called Yellow Chestnut Oak. It has leaves more like the Chestnut than any other. 44. The Swamp White Oak, (Quercus bicolor). This is another of the Oaks belonging to the Chestnut Oak section. It forms a tall tree, common in low grounds. 45. Willow Oak, (Quercus phellos). This tree is remark able for its willow-like leaves. It forms a tree from 30 to 80 feet high, growing on low, sandy ground. It is found in small amounts, but furnishes a valuable timber. 46. Laurel or Shingle Oak, (Quercus imbriearia). This tree grows to the height of 30 to 50 feet, being found on barrens and in open woodlands. It is used mainly for shingles, whence the name. Found only in small amounts. 47. Black Jack Oak, (Quercus nigra). This tree grows in poor and thin soil by preference, but will flourish in good soil also. It never grows over 30 to 40 feet high. It has a toueh, thick bark, and possesses but little durability, decaying in a few years. It furnishes an ash ver) T rich in potash. Otherwise than as a fuel it has no value. 48. Spanish Oak, (Quercus falcata). This tree is not very abundant. It grows in dry, sandy*soil, and attains the height of 60 to SO feet. The wood is tough and valuable, making good staves for some purposes. Its chief value is in the bark, which is excel lent for tanning. 49. Scarlet Oak, (Quercus coccinea). This species is com mon, growing on moist soil. Its timber is about equal in value to the Red Oak, and is used for the same purposes. 50. Red Oak, (Quercus rubra). The Red Oak does not grow quite so large as the White Oak. It is found both in rich and poor soil, and is quite common. The timber is rather course and is not so durable or useful as that of the White Oak. Its rigidity and comparative freedom from warping, give it value for sills and house logs. It makes fine slabs for roofing, and is the chief material for the staves of tobacco hogsheads, and flour barrels. The is valuable for tanning. 132 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 51. Mack Oal\ (Quercus tinctoria.) The Black Oak grows from 40 to 80 feet high. It grows both in rich and poor soil. This is thought to be one of the most valuable in the forest for making boards. Its bark also is highly esteemed by the dyers and tanners. It rives easily, and the boards made from it. when^nailed on a roof, are not inclined to warp. Great qlian- ties are used for hogshead staves and flour barrels, it is more durable than any of the Oak-, except the White Oak and Post Oak. (Resources of Tenn., page 85.) 52. Pin Ort/ i , (Quercus palustris). This forms a medium sized tree, growing in low grounds, and is rather common. The wood is hard and heavy, though rather coarse. From the great thickness of its medullary plates, it shows beautiful graining when cut across, or obliquely to the fibres, The wood is considered better than that of the Red Oak. Besides the above named Oaks, others of smaller size, and of less importance, arc to be found, which need not be named here. 53. Pine, Yellow, (Pinus mitis). The Yellow Pine grows on high ground principally, abounding on poor sandstone soils of the ridges and mountains. It will grow with rapidity on soil too poor to produce other vegetation. It grows to the height of 60 to 90 feet, with a diameter of 2 to 4 feet. The timber is valuable for many purposes, especially domes tic ones. As it is fine gfained, durable, and strong, it has few superiors. This tree, so abundant in the Eastern States, "and forming so important a source of revenue there, is with us of far less importance, .since it does not grow in such abundance as to constitute an important timber tree. It is found in the largest amounts in the sand} and rocky ridges of the plateau districts, considerable quantities growing in Raleigh and the adjoining counties, as well as in Wayne, Logan, and Lincoln. More or less of it is scattered all over the State. 54. Pine, White, (Pinus strobus). This tree grows in the State on elevated grounds, at 2,000 feet, and over. It attains the height of 120 feet and more, with a diameter of several feet. Some idea of the fine development which this tree attains in the eastern part of the State, may be gained from the statements concerning it made by Mr. Cecil Clay, Presi dent of the St. Lawrence Boom and Manufacturing Company RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 133 of Roncerverte, Greenbrier county. Mr. Clay is engaged in developing the White Pine district along the Greenbrier river, on its upper waters, which is the only region of the State producing any large quantity of this pine. He says: " The "ordinary run of cuts this winter (1876,) is from four to seven 16 feet cuts per tree, averaging five cuts to the 1,000 feet- "There are several hundred million feet of good White Pine lumber in this district. The White Pine growing, as it does "here, at the altitude of 2,000 to 2,500 feet, has a climate "about like that of lower Pennsylvania, and has much like- " ness to the Susquelianna pine. Where the White Pine grows, " it takes the ground to itself, and but little of other timber is found with it. It grows in several localities through the " valley (Greenbrier.) On Deer and Sitlington s creeks are " 100,000.000 feet. On Knapp s creek and branches, another " 100,000,000; and Spice, Laurel, and Davy s Runs, with An thony s creek, and some outlying patches, would yield a "third 100,000,000. This pine timber is perhaps a little " heavier than the Pennsylvania pine, but is soft and smooth " to work. It is generally a sound, red-knot timber, with " remarkably thin sapwood. This often does not average over " half an inch in a lot of 1,000 logs. As much as 40,000 feet "can sometimes be cut on an acre." This wood, as is well known, possesses great value on account of its great lightness, softness, and freedom from resinous matter. For the manufacture of goods boxes, mantles, shut ters, window sash, and for ceiling, it is mnch used. 55. Pine, Black, (Pinus sigida). This tree, also called Pitch Pine, is found in the same localities in the east with the Yel low Pines. It does not grow so tall or large as the latter, and prefers thin, sandy ridges. It is a tall and slender tree, from 30 to 70 feet high, and from 18 to 2 feet in diamter. The bark is very rough and dark, hence the name. The wood is hard and very rich in turpentine. 56. The Poplo.r, (Liriodendron tulipifera). ;This is by far the finest tree in oar forests. Nowhere does the Poplar attain greater dimensions than in West Virginia. It often reaches the height of 120 to 140 feet, and the diameter of 7 to 8. and 9 feet, with a distance of 80 feet to the first limb. Several trees are reported as 10 and 11 feet in diameter in this State. It 134 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. delights in deep loamy and extremely fertile soils, such as are found in rich bottoms and on rivers or swamps. It will grow, however, on soil of different kinds, but has its timber affected accordingly. A deep sandy loam seems best for it. To attain the greatest size, it must be sheltered from the high winds, and at the same time have light and air enough to ripen its wood. It is generally propagated by the seeds. The timber, though classed among the light woods, is yet much heavier than the true Poplar, for this tree is properly called Tulip tree, and not Poplar. Its grain is fine, rather compact, polishes well and is easily wrought. When dry, a cubic foot weighs 25 Ibs. It affords excellent charcoal, yielding .22 per cent. The heart wood, perfectly seasoned, long resists the action of the weather, and is rarely attacked by insects. When not perfectly seasoned, however, it is apt to warp under alternations of dryness and moisture. The nature of the soil on which it grows has a striking effect on the color and qual ity of the wood. Mechanics distinguish three kinds, "White," "Blue," and Yellow. - No external marks will distinguish them positively. In general, the White Poplar grows on dry, gravelly, elevated ground, and has a branchy summit, with a small amount of heart wood. The grain is coarser and harder, and the wood decays more rapidly. The Blue has the same general character. The Yellow Poplar is by far the finest kind, and has all the qualities required for a great variety of uses. It would take too much space merely to enumerate all of these. It is used extensively in the interior of houses, for shingles and for weather-boarding. Large quantities are used in ma king trunks covered with cloth or skins; for tables, bed steads, seats of chairs, etc.; for the supports of veneers, inner work of bureaus, &c. ; in winnowing machines, for bowls, broom handles, rails, and planking for fences, for the backing of picture frames, looking glasses, &c., it is employed. The bark of the tree is considered by some hardly inferior as an antiseptic and tonic to the Cinchona. The aromatic prin ciple resides in a resinous matter in the bark, and when used stimulates the intestinal canal and acts as a gentle cathartic. In many instances the stomach cannot support it unlese ac companied w r ith a few drops of laudanum. The bark mixed RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 135 with an equal amount of Dogtvood, and steeped in whisky, forms a tincture used as a remedy for intermittent fever. The bark reduced to powder and given to horses, is a pretty sure remedy for worms, The Poplar is one of the most generally diffused and abun dant trees in the State. Great quantities of the finest trees are to be found in the central and southern counties. Perhaps some of the largest timber is to be found on the affluents of the New and Ka- nawha rivers, and the Big Sandy. 57. Red Bud, (Cercis Canaclensis). This tree, though small, is quite common, and deserves mention for the great beauty of its wood. It does not often surpass the height of 20 feet, or diameter of 12 inches. It grows along the banks of streams, in a deep, free, sandy soil, rather rich than poor. The wood is very hard and beautifully veined, or rather blotched and waved, with black, green, and yellow spots, on a greyish ground. When seasoned it takes a beautiful polish, and weighs nearly 50 Ibs. to the cubic foot. It would serve well to saw into veneers- The baik and young branches are used to dye wool of a nankin color. The flowers are used by the French Canadians in salads and pickles, and might be fried with butter cr fritters. 58. Sassafras, (Sassafras officinale). The Sassafras, west of the Alleghanies, is often a large tree, attaining in West Vir ginia the height of 70 or 80 feet, and a diameter of more than 3 feet. The tree will grow in any free soil, rather moist than dry, "and is generally propagated from seed. The wood of the large Sassafras tree is of a reddish cast, and has a somewhat corn- pact grain, but is quite weak, breaking easily. Stripped of its bark, it resists decay well, and may be used for the posts and rails of rural fences. It has almost no odor after drying thoroughly. It is not a good fuel, as it snaps too much. The wood imparts to wool a very durable orange color. Medici nally, the wood, roots, and bark of the Sassasfras, are consid ered to be an excellent stimulant and sudorific. A decoction of Sassafras chips, sold by druggists, is w r ell known as a remedy for scorbutic affections. The bark and pith of the young twigs, abound in a mucilage very pure, and like that of Okra. This 136 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. mucilage is peculiarly mild and lubricatory, and has been used with much benefit in dysentery and catarrh, and especi ally as a lotion in the inflammatory stages of ophthalmia. The flowers are considered as stomachic, and purifying to the blood, as is the root, when formed into an infusiou, and drunk as tea. 59. Sour Wood, (Oxydendendrum arboreum). This is a tree, growing from 15 to 40 feet high, and attaining occasion ally a diameter of 2 to 2i- feot. It has a large proportion of sap wood, which is white and rather soft. The heart wood is of a pale, pinkish color. It is not abundant enough to make timber of any importance. It grows mainly along the Alle- ghanies, in rich woods. 60. Sycamore, (Platanus occidentalis). This is one of the largest forest trees, attaining the height of 120 feet, and occa sionally the diameter of 7 or 8 feet, although 3 and 4 feet is the usual size. This tree grows along streams, or in the vicin ity of them, since it is a moisture loving tree, and delights in an alluvial soil. It takes a good polish, and sometimes the grain is wavy and strikingly beautiful. It speedily decays when exposed to the weather, and will n-ot split. The old trees are apt to become hollow, and then attain great diameter, even a-; much as 11 and 12 feet. 61. Walnut, Black, ( Juglans nigra). This fine tree is one of the more important sources of revenue in our forest products. It is generally diffused in rich soils all over the State. It some times attains the height of 80 to 90 feet, and the great diameter of 9 feet (this has baen actually measured), but is quite com monly 50 to 80 feet high, and 3 to 6 feet in diameter. It grows in the richest soils, perferring deep calcareous loams, full of vegetable matter. It will grow at any elevation, but is espe cially abundant in the plateau region, where the trees grow 50 and 60 feet without limbs, and 5 to 6 feet in diameter. The exquisite rich, dark brown color of the wood, its hardness, strength, and the high polish which it can take, will always give it value for making the finer kinds of furniture. Among other use*, it is extensively employed in making counters, railings, and finishing work on the interior of houses ; also, for gun stocks, picture frames, coffins, &c. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 137 Stumps and knots, when worked up into veneering slabs, have great beauty and value, on account of the ornamental curling of the grain. The bark is used in dying brown. In the amount and value of her walnut timber, our State is rivalled only by Tennessee among the Appalachian States. 62. Walnut, White (Juglans cinerea). This tree grows on the margins of streams, and is sometimes found on rich northern slopes. It is not so large a tree as the Black Walnut, and in West Virginia is not nearly so abundant. The wood is much lighter in color, having a reddish tinge. It is durable, but not strong, and is used in some ornamental work. The bark is used in some cases, in dyeing a brown, and a laxative extract is gathered from the inner part of it. 63. Willow, White, (Salix alba). This is a quite common tree, growing to the height of 60 to 80 feet. No use is made of the wood. The above are the more important of the timber and other trees, found in the State. The enumeration does not pretend to be a complete list of our forest trees, and might be extended considerably by including in it, those trees and shrubs which, though generally diffused, are of no importance, on account of their small size, or inferior wood. The following partial list of small trees and shrubs is given to illustrate the character of our smaller growths : The Alder Both the Mountain Alder, (Alnus viridisj and the Smooth Alder, {A. serrulata), form shrubs, and grow along streams, the former, as its name implies, being confined to the mountains. The Crab Apple, (Pyrus coronaria), forms a small tree, sometimes 20 feet high. The Chinquapin, (Casta- nea purnila), sometimes forms a tree 20 feet high. The Elder, (Sambucus Canadensis), bears a berry from which a palatable wine is made. It is a small shrub. The Grape (vitis), of several species is found. The fox Grape, (V. vulpinaj, grows close to the banks of streams, and produces, a large, highly odorous, and pleasant tasting berry. The Summer Grape, (V . aestivalis), and the Winter Grape, (V. cordifolia), are very common. The Grape merits here a more particular mention, since the size, and mode of growth shown in the wild kinds, is some indication of the degree of success, with which the cultivated 18 OF WES VIRGINIA. kinds maybe raised in our soil and climate. So far as the abundance and size of the kinds growing spontaneously with us indicate anything, the conditions for grape culture are very favorable. Vines are not uncommon which attain a diameter of 6 and 7 inches. Some 10 inches in diameter are known. One well authenticated case is reported of a vine which grew on the banks of Elk river, in Braxton county, and which attained the great diameter of 21 inches. . The Han; Black, (Viburnum prunifolium), and the Scarlet fruited Haw, (Crataegus coccinea), are quite common. The Mountain Laurel, (Kalmia latifolia), and the Great Laurel, or Rhododendron, (Rhododendron maximum), are exceedingly abundant in the rocky hills and on the mountain sides. The close-grained, heavy, easily worked wood of the Rhodo dendron, is largely used in the manufacture of small wares, considerable amounts are shipped north from the counties on the Gauley and New River, and the wood is regularly quoted in the Baltimore market. The Magnolia, or Umbrella Tree, (Magnolia Umbrella >, is not rare, and attains the size of a small tree. Ltathv-irood, (Dirca palustris), also is found. This has a very brittle soft wood, with an exceedingly tough bark, which is used for thongs. It is a small shrub. Popaw, (Asi- mina triloba), is very common on rich alluvial soils. It grows to the height of 10 to 20 feet, and bas an edible pleas ant fruit. Persimmon (Diospyra Virginiana), with a hard dark wood, and edible fruit grows to the height of 20 to 60 feet Scrn cfi, or Mind Bv*h (Amelanchier Canadensis), is a very varia ble shrub or small tree. Spice Wood, (Lindera Benzoin}, is found with highly aromatic wood, Sumach, Staghorn, (Rhus typhina), sometimes grows to the size of a small tree, with hand some wood. Sumach, Common, (R. glabra), is very widely dif fused, and valuable in tanning and dyeing. Willon\ Black (Salif mV/m), is a small tree with beautiful yellow variegated heart wood. This attains the height of lo to 25 feet along streams. Yelloir Wi.ll.oir, (Sails 17wuwa//A useful tor basket making, is not rare, also the Common Willow (S. longifolia . MEDICINAL PLANTS. The following list of Medicinal Plants growing in West Vir ginia, was taken from the transactions of the Med. Soc y. of RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 139 W. Va., for 1867 and 1871. These plants were reported on by a committee, of which Dr. A. S. Todd, of Wheeling, was chairman. To him we are indebted for it. The botanical terms used are those employed by Gray, while the common names are those used in West Virginia : 1. Achillea millefolium ( Milfoil ]. 2. Acorus Calamus (Sweet Flag). 3. Aletris farinosa \Unicorn, or CholicRoot}. 4. Alnus serrulata (Smooth Alder). 5. Apocynum andro- saemifolium (Dogsbane). 6. Archangelica atropurpurea (Mas ter Root). 7. Artemisia Absinthium (Common Wormwood). 8. Aralia hispida (Dwarf Elder). 9. Arisaema triphyllum (Indian Turnip}. 10. Aristolochia serpentaria (Virginia Snake Root). 11. Asarum Canadense (Wild Ginger}. 12. As clepias cornuti (Common Milk > veed). 13. Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed}. 14. Asclepias tuberosa (Pleurisy Root). 15. Baptisia tinctoria (Wild Indigo}. 16. Cassia Marylandica (Wild Senna\. 17. Ceanothus Americanus (Xen- Jersey Tea). 18. Chimaphila Umbellafa (Pipsissewa). 19. Chenopodium Botrys (Jerusalem Oak). 20. Comptonia asplenifolium (Sweet Fern). 21. Cornus florida (Dogwood). 22. Corydalis forraosa (Turkey Corn). 23. Cypripedium parviflorum (Small Yellow Ladies Slipper). 24. Cypripedium pubescens (Large Yd- low Ladles Slipper). 25. Datura Stramonum (Jaiiiexto/cn Weed}. 26. Daucus Carota i Wild Carrot.) . 27. Epigaea re- pens ( Trailing Arbutus). 28. Eupatorium perfoliatum Bonc- xet).). 29. Galium aparine (Goose Gms$). 30. Gaultheria pro- cumbus (Creeping Winter Green). 31. Gentiana puberula (Gentian Blue). 32. Geranium maculatum i Spotted Crane s Jbitt). 33. Hepatica triloba (liverwort). 34. Hydrastis Cana- densis (Yellow Root). 35. Hamamelis Virginica (Witch Ha zel). 36. Juniperus Sabina (Savin). 37. Inula Helenium (Elecampane}. 38. Symplocarpus foetidus (Skunk Cabbage^). 39. Juglaus cinerea (Butternut). 40. Lap pa Ofticinalis (Bur dock). 41. Liatris ^picata (Button Snake Root). 42. Lirio- dendron tulipifera (Tulip Tree, or Poplar). 43. Lobelia iiifla- ta (Indian Tobacco). 44. Lindera Benzoin (Spicetrood). 45. Marrubium Vulgare (Horehound). 46. Mentha viridis (Spear mint). 47. Monarda punctata (Ilorsemint). 48. Nepeta Glechoma (Ground Ivy). 49. Nyrnphaea odorata (White Wa ter Lily). 50. Conopholis Americana (Beech Drops). 51. 140 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Aralia quinquefolia (Ginseng}. 52. Pinus strobus (White Pinie). 53. Phytolaccha decandra (Poke weed}. 54. Poly gal a Senega (Seneca Snake Root). 55. Podopbyllum peltatum (May Apple). 56. Primus Serotina (Wild Cherry). 57. Ptelea trifoliata (Trefoil). 58. Polygonatum biflorum (Small Solo mon s Seal). 59. Ranunculus bulboses (Crowfoot). 60. Rumex crispus and R. conglomerates (Culled Dock, and Narrow Leaved Dock). 61. Rubin villosus (Blackberry). 62. Salix alba (White Willow). 63. Sabbatia angularis (American Oen- taury). 64. Sassafras offioinale (Sassafras). 65. Solatium dulcamera (Bitter-Sweet). 66. Sambucus Canadensis (Eider.) 67. Sanguinaria Canadensis (Blood Root). 68. Taraxicum Dens Leonis (Dandelion). 70. Viburnum opulus (Hinh Cran berry}. 71. Verbascum thapsus (Mul ein). 72. Veratrum viride ( White Hellebore). 73. Veronica Virginica ( Culver s Root-). 74. Zanthoxylum Americanum (Prickly Ash). 75. Cimicifuga racemosa (Black Snake Root). 76. Lycopus Vir- ginicus (Bugle Weed). The large amount of woodland, the great variety of soil and exposures in the State, would lead one to expect to find here a great number of the plants which delight in a virgin soil. As many of the medicinal plants of the cooler portions of the temperate zone are of this character, perhaps no State of equal size can present a greater variety or larger amounts of these. In many parts of this section, where farming is carried on on a small scale, and there is a great deal of " wild lands," the people suppliment the products of their small patches of till able land by gathering the medicinal plants for sale. .Of course only those plants are thus collected which meet with a sure sale. These are such as employed on a large scale in the manufacture of medicines, or are exported. A good deal of Blood Root, and of the different varieties of Snake Root, is gathered in the State, especially in the north ern part. In the southern counties a great deal of Ginseng (Aralia), is collected. With many of the people of the back counties, the collecting of this plant forms an important busi ness. In Lincoln, Logan, &c., entire families in summer leave their homes and camp out during the whole season. They, with their dogs and guns, make long jounrneys in search of the plant, going even into the mountains of remote RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 141 eastern counties, such as Pocahontas, c. Many tons of this material are thus gathered, whose ultimate destination is China. When green, it sells for 50 cents per pound ; washed and dried in the sun it commands from $1,00 to $1,25 and $1,50, according to the demands for it. CHAPTER VIII. TIMBER ITS DISTRIBUTION AXI) DEVEL OPMENT. BY \VM. \V. FONTAIN-E. In West Virginia, as in most thinly and newly settled States, which possess fine forest lands, the first source of income which becomes available, is the timber. Many causes conspire to induce the new settler to turn first to forest pro ducts, among the most important of which is the necessity of removing the wood from the soil, in order to prepare for the plough. He is especially tempted to fell his forests, when, as with us, much of the timber is of good quality, and of the kind most used in the large manufacturing cities of the adjoining States. ( Indeed, the only cause which has prevented the almost total demolition of our woodlands, has been the impossibility of getting much of the lumber to market. West Virginia has had much to complain of in her lack of means of transpor tation, but it is a question, whether in the near future, she will not be more than repaid for any previous lack of reve nue from her timbers, by having been compelled to retain them, until from the rapid consumption of the forests in the adjoining States, she will obtain something like an adequate return for them. Indeed, it is not too much to say that ere long, it will pay to build short lines of narrow-gauge rail roads to develop the timber alone, of favored districts. That this time is not far oft is shown by the greatly decreased RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 14. > exportation of the principal timber producing sections. Of late years, we have feen the lumbermen of Michigan and Maine, investing in the pine forests of Florida and Alabama, and the vast amount of lumber shipped from Pensacola and other Southern ports, points to the speedy exhaustion of this field also. The timber men of Pennsylvania have already secured the greater part of our White Pine forests. -But we give this merely by way of illustration, for Pine can never be with us a principal export. It is in our Poplar, hard and ornamental woods, &c., that we look for the greatest develop ment. Of the 16,640,000 acres of land in the State, between 9,000,- 000 and 10,000,000 are in the original forest. The older set tled counties, such as Jefferson, Berkeley, Harrison, Monon- galia, Greenbrier, Monroe, <X:c., have the smallest pro portion of timbered land. In the other part. of the State, the main body of the cleared land lies immediately along the principal streams, and their more important tributaries. The first settlements were naturally made where the land was richest and most level, I e., along tbe water courses, and later, the streams afford advantages for sending the timber to mar ket, which caused their banks to be more closely cleared. The rest of the country is covered quite uniformly, with those varieties of trees which permit a pretty wide range of soil and exposure. The tiees, of course, vary in size, abund ance, and the quality of their wood, according to the adap tion of the locality to supply their special requirements, but are never entirely absent. These aro mainly deciduous and hard- wood species. Other varieties of trees, which require particular condi tions for their growth, are found confined to limited areas in particular districts. Such trees are the Evergreens, as the Pines, Firs. c^cc. DISTRIBUTION OF TIMBEK. It will be found convenient to retain, in considering this part of our subject, the subdivision of the State, made under the head of Topography. It will be rernembsred that there, two principal divisions were made, viz.: The Mountain Re gion and the Hill vTlegion. It was also stated that the Pla- teau portion of the Hilly Region, differed in many points 144 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. from the rest. In speaking then of the distribution of the timber over the State, we will recognize three sections, the Mountain Region, the Plateau Region, and the Hilly Region (proper). This latter, it will be remembered, includes the great body of the central and western portions of the State. For much valuable information concerning the general distribution of timber over the State, we are indebted to Col.. B. W. Byrne, State Superintendent of Schools, whose exten sive acquaintance with the country, makes this particularly reliable. There is great similarity in the timber over most of the State. It is composed mainly of White, Chestnut, Black and Red Oaks, Chestnut, Hickory, Poplar, Ash, Sugar Maple, Hemlock, Beech, Locust, and Black Walnut. These are almost universally present, and form, in the Hilly Region, almost the entire timber. Some Yellow Pine is found grow ing in a dispersed manner, almost everywhere in the State, mainly confined to the ridges. This and the Hemlock Spruce (Abies Canadensis), of the Evergreens, seem to permit the widest range of growth. They are both most at home in the Plateau and Mountain Regions. It is said that there was once once a considerable belt of Yellow Pine, growing in the counties near the Ohio river, and some distance back, as in Ritchie county. This has almost disappeared, although scattered trees are to be found even on the ridges along the Ohio itself. There are indications that this tree was once much more abundant, for Pine knots are found in numbers, where the trees do not now grow. Tiie Hemlock Spruce seems to have crept down from the eastern highlands along the streams, heading up in them, and to have maintained its position along them, for a con siderable distance within the deciduous timber of the Hilly Region. Thus we find considerable bodies of this tree far down the Big Sandy and Guyandotte, towards the Ohio, in Wyoming, Logan, &c. Of the hard woods, the White Oak is by far the most abundant. It forms one-third, and perhaps one-half, of all the timber in the State, and is one of the most generally dif fused trees. In the Hilly Region of the northern part of the State, between the head waters of the Cheat and the Ohio, RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 145 according to Diss Debar, " It grows on heavy rich clay loams, " and in closeness of grain and firmness, is unsurpassed. In " the whole basin drained by Fishing creek, Middle Island l creek, Little Kanawha and branches, Sand creek, Great " Kanawha, and those of its branches emptying into it below " the Falls, and the Guyandotte and Big Sandy rivers, the "Oaks, Poplar or Tulip tree, Walnut, Cherry, Sycamore, Ash, " Chestnut, and Locust, attain a size not surpassed on the " North American continent, east of the Rocky Mountains." To this, we may add that the Oak, Poplar, and Chestnut, seem to increase in size south of the Great Kanawha. Gigantic Pop lars are reported reliably from that district, 10 and 11 feet in diameter, and Oaks 6 and 7 feet. A White Oak from Taylor county, is reported as 8 feet 6 inches in diameter. We mention these merely as instances of extreme size. This belt of country is emphatically the home of the deciduous trees. Only scattered groves of White and Yellow Pine are occasionally found. The Big Sandy and Guyandotte, with their tributaries, and the country between these rivers and the Great Kanawha, are very heavily timbered, and almost untouched. Along with the hard-woods, and Hemlocks of this district, some Yellow Pine occurs. In many parts of the State throughout this region, we find Chestnut Oak on the ridges, large Chestnuts on the hillsides, and Beech rather closely confined to the vicinity of the streams. Besides the principal trees above named, we find other varieties distributed all over the Hilly Region. Among them we may name the Black Gum, the Sweet Gum, Buckeye, White Maple, White Walnut, Linden, Cucumber Tree, sev eral species of Maple, Elm, and Ash, the latter quite abund ant, &c., &c. Eastward of this belt of fine deciduous timber, as we ascend the Plateau, the size of the deciduous trees diminishes, and the timber is, in some kinds of trees, poorer, except along the streams and in their vicinity, although still valuable. The Evergreens increase in frequency in this direction, until we pass into certain sections when the timber changes considera bly, mainly by the diminution of the Oak, Poplar and Hick- 146 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. ory, and the increase of the Walnut. Cherry, Chestnut, Maple, and coniferous trees. Mr. R. K. Cautley, who has traveled over a good deal of the State, and is an excellent observer, says of this region, in " The Lumberman," that the streams flow in deep gorges, which, however, are not precipitous, and have usually a rich soil. Their benches carry heavy timber, while even the tops of the ridges have good Chestnut Oak. On the great upland plateaus, especially near the heads of the streams, i. e., the New River, there are large tracts of heavy timber, with large lots of Black Walnut, and Figured Maple. He measured on six upland acres, on an average of land, 4 White Oaks to the acre, with a girth 8 feet, 5 feet from the ground. And again, he says that he finds here a larger proportion of the timber below marketable size, although, as the whole face of the country is timbered, a good deal could be picked out. As an illustration, he mentions that on one tract, some 70 miles up the Gauley rive 1 , one-fourth of it was excellently timbered, while a good deal of the remainder was possessed chiefly by enormous Red Oak, Chestnut, and Chestnut Oak, with quantities of Su gar Maple. Each of the numerous water courses, were lined by Hemlock forests, however, such as he had never seen in this section. In two or three other districts, he rode through a great deal of White Oak and Poplar, but the size was too small to justify the title of a finely timbered country, and yet the next valley to such a one would be splendidly clothed with many kinds of valuable trees. He gives the opinion of the head of one of the largest stave houses in New York, on the White Oak of this district. This is: That in size, it is con-iderably inferior to the Michigan timber, but in every other respect superior to it, and equal, if not superior, to any in the United States, i. <?., in strength, grain, absence, of streaks, and worm holes. Pennsylvania experts also, place it above their own White Oak. He thinks that the run of the trunks in this section will not give an average diameter in the best trees, of more than 20 inches, at breast high. The larger Oak lies in patches. It will be observed that in this account, Mr. C. is speaking of the timber in demand for exportation, and of the average of that. As an illustration of what may be fre quently obtained, even in this belt, by selection, we may add RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 147 the following account by the same person. After speaking of his riding through a good deal of small timber, he says, we entered a big promontory of 800 acres or more, of rich, smooth land, timbered with huge trees, Poplar, Hickory, Ash, Walnut, &c. The Hickory was both shell and close-bark the largest he ever saw; the Poplar both numerous and large; the Ash very nice, and the White Oak the finest he had yet seen in this country. It grew along the ridges, and dozens of trees were seen, 30 to 40 inches in diameter, at breast height. One was 54 inches, and rose 60 inches, clear of limbs. All the timber was straight, and held its size high towards the limbs. These examples may suffice to give a fair idea of the two zones of timber to be found in the Hilly Region and on the lower parts of the Plateau district. We will now turn our attention to the higher Plateau dis trict and the eastern parts of the State : Here we will find considerable change in the forests. Com mencing in the southern part of this belt we find the Plateau terminating on the east in the broad and lofty ranges of the Great Flat-Top and White Oak mountains. The eastern edge of this elevated table-land, after crossing New river into the western part of Greenbrier, no longer presents an unbroken out-crop, but is cut down into irregular, more or less isolated, spurs and knobs, while northward, in the north-western part of Pocahontas, and in Randolph, it passes into the anticlinal and synclinal folds of the Alleghany system ; thence the belt of uplands is continued north east to the Potomac, along the west face of the east Front Ridge of the Alleghany. The height of this varies from about 3,000 feet in the south, to 3,200 and 2,500 in the north. All along this belt, and spreading east and west from it, we have the largest amount of coniferous timber to be found in the State. In the southern portion, on the Flat-Top and White Oak mountain, vast forests, consisting mainly of White Oak are to be found, and this has given the name to the moun tains last mentioned. This White Oak timber spreads over the east face of these mountains in Mercer, and covers the Black Oak mountains in that county. Hemlock Spruce grows here also, as elsewhere, in the Icwer levels, occupying the notches in the mountains and the hollows along streams, 148 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. along with the Beech, while the Chesnut Oak is found on th ridges, its usual place. There is considerable body of White Pine on Blue Stone river, near the borders of Summers and Mercer counties, form ing the southern extremity of a somewhat important belt of this timber, which extends towards New river on the east side of Rale ; gh county, along Glade and Piney creeks. The tree here, from its more southerly position, does not attain the size found further north. The timber, besides, is not so good, the wood being heavier and harder. This, so far as we know, is the most southerly position in which any body of White Pine is found. We find mixed with the White Pine of this belt some Yellow Pine, and Black or Pitch Pine. Passing northward along the Plateau region, in the vicin ity of Big Sewell, and in the western part of Greenbrier, the Sugar Maple is very abundant, and more to the north, on the flat tops of the mountains, the White Birch and White Ma ple, with scattering Oak and Chestnut, predominate until we reach the " Yew Pine district," as the natives call it. This extends from the north end of Greenbrier along the boundary line between Pocahontas and Webster, and some distance into Randolph along the head waters of the Elk and Gauley. Mr. Cecil Clay, of the St, Lawrence B, and Mfg. Co., says, of this country : " As you go west from the valley of the Greenbrier river " towards the mountains, the timber, instead of running out " towards their tops, frequently grows larger and better than " lower down. Sugar Maple, Birch, Ash, and Cherry flourish, "and, in places, fine Tulip trees. On the mountain tope " dense forests of Black Spruce (Abies nigra), are found. This " tree, called by the natives "Yew Pine," would cut often over " 20,000 feet to the acre. [The size of the trees has been des cribed under the head of this tree. Author. ] " Along the main Gauley river, Williams river, Cranberry " river, and farther south, Cherry river, is a tract of country " 30 miles long and 25 miles wide, which is a perfect wil- " derness. The streams are exceedingly rough, and the " mountains high, and almost no cleared land exists, The " land, however, often produces good grass when cleared of the " timber (as does most of our forest land). The principal RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 149 "timber is Beach, Sugar, Maple, Cherry, Ash, Poplar, and " farther South, Oak. Sometimes dense strips of large Hem- " locks, grow along the streams and millions of feet of Black " Spruce are found higher up on the hillsides and mountain " tops. Col. Byrne, speaking of this region, says the Oak hardly ever appears here, and we may say the same in this higher region of the Poplar and Hickory. On Cherry river, a branch of the Gauley, the Cherry tree abounds as you ascend the Yew mountains. This tree is also found in considerable quantity on Cranberry and Williams rivers, and the headwaters of the Elk. This association of the Cherry with the coniferous trees of the plateau and mountain regions, is also found farther north, in the Canaan district of Tucker and Grant. The greater portion of the Cherry timber of the State, is found in the belt we are now describing. Southeast and south of the u Yew Pine District," on the Greenbrier and its tributaries in Pocahontas, and Greenbrier counties, we have the largest body of White Pine and the finest timber of this kind in the Sta^te. A detailed descrip tion of the character of this timber in this section, has been given nnder the head of the " White Pine," among the trees. Mixed with this White Pine, is some Yellow and Scrub Pine, also some Hemlock, while large Chestnut Oaks cover the sunny mountain sides. About Droop mountain we find Wal nut and some Poplai. Still farther north, the branches of Cheat river, in the East ern part of Tucker, especially the Black Fork of Cheat, are covered by dense forests of Hemlock Spruce and Black Spruce, the leaves of which have given the Black Fork the dark color, to which it owes its name. The belt of country from South ern Randolph to Grant, adjacent to, and on the west side of the Alleghany Front Ridge, is a vast forest with the Hemlock and Black Spruces predominating, but with large amounts of valuable species of deciduous trees. Diss Debar says of this belt : " The finest specimens of Hem lock abound in the Cheat and Greenbrier mountains, and u on the table-lands of Tucker, Randolph, Pendletun, Poca- " hontas, Nicholas and Webster. Here, also, neither Oak, " Poplar nor Hickory are to be found, but in their room thrive 150 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. " noble specimens of Sugar Maple, Ash, Beech, Birch, Wild " Cherry, and Black Walnut. Some of the two latter, meas- " uring 4 and 5 feet, and exceptionally even 6 and 7 feet " in diameter. From the Staunton and Parkersburg turn- " pike, near the head of the Greenbrier river, toward the "north, south, and east stretch upwards of 150,000 acres of " the finest forests in the State, scarcely broken by less than "50 scattered mountain farms." Mr. Guerard, Assistant to the State Board of Centennial Managers, says of the Hemlock of this district, that many of the trees are 130 feet high, and 4 feet in diameter, and of the other woods, that they are not surpassed in the State. In the higher parts of the lofty country in Pocahontas, and the adjoining counties, the Southern Balsam Fir, (Abies Fra- seri), occurs mixed with the Black Spruce. It is stated that a considerable body of it, is found in the high region, between Randolph and Pocahontas, at the source of the East Fork of Greenbrier river. In Pendleton, some White Pine occurs, and on the South Branch mountain, in Hardy county, a good deal of excellent White Oak and some good White Pine is found. The parallel mountain ridges, abutting on the Potomac in Mineral, Hampshire and Morgan, are clothed with a mixture of a great variety of trees, among which, besides the usual hard-wood trees, there is a good deal of coniferous wood, com posed of Hemlock Spruce, Black Spruce, Yellow Pine, Pitch Pine, and some White Pine, the Evergreens predominating in the higher and colder parts. On the Greenbrier river, on the eastern side especially, we find hard wood again predominating on account of the com parative lowness of the country (1,800 to 2,000 feet). In the hills and ridges, between the Alleghany mountains, and the river, we find a good deal of Oak, especially Chestnut Oak, which exists in quantities sufficient to furnish a large amount of tan-bark. There is a good deal of good White Oak all along the east side of the river. It is interesting to note the effect of altitude, and the conse quent temperature, on the character of the timber. The decid uous trees attain their maximum developments in numbers, size, and quality, in the lower portions of the State, where RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 151 they almost exclude the evergreens or conifers. As we as cend the plateau, the former gradually diminish with the the increasing height in numbers, and size, while the latter begin to come in greater force. It must be borne in mind, however, that in our latitude the altitude above tide, is nowhere great enough, entirely to exclude deciduous timber. In the southern part of the State, in spite of the increased altitude, we find the oaks and other hardwood trees maintain ing their supremacy over the lofty slopes of the Great Flat Top, and other mountains, owing to the more southerly lati tude. As we advance north, it is only in the lofty ranges along the west side of Pocahontas, where the general level is the highest west of the Alleghany. that we find any great body of conifers. DEVELOPMENT. The following are the timbers which have received the most attention : White Oak, Poplar, Walnut, White Pine, Cherry, Ash, Locust, Chestnut Oak, Chestnut, Sycamore. The form in which the timber is sent out depends largely on the kind of transportation available. On the railroads and small streams? the weight and bulk are reduced as much as possible, by par tial or complete manufacture, while on the larger streams and those which in floods give water enough, the timber is mainly cut into logs, and made up into rafts, which are floated down on the high waters, either to markets in other States, or to points within our own borders, which are favorably situated for cutting them up into forms suited for more distant trans portation, or for manufacture on the spot. As almost none of the streams have received any improve ment, the amount of development in the State at large, is ex ceedingly small. A vast deal of fine timber, remote from the railroads and streams, and much that is within striking dis tance of them, is annually wasted by being girdled and left to decay standing, or by being burnt in logheaps. In some sec tions u worm fences " are made out of the most valuable Wal nut and Cherry trees, the sole question being, to get a timber easy to split. On the eastern boarder of the State, the only development taking place, is in the White Pine along the Greenbrier river, and this is carried on by a single company. The St. Lawrence 152 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Boom and Manufacturing Company, controlled by Pennsylva nia capitalists, of which Mr. Cecil Clay is President, has a charter for operating the river, and is engaged in improving its navigation. The spring floods now, give them water enough to run rafts of 100 to 150 feet in length. Logging can be done very cheaply in this country, for the surface is smooth, and supplies for men and forage for teams, are abundant around the camps. This timber region can readily be reached from the Chesa peake and Ohio Railroad, from Milboro, Covington, or Ronce- verte. This latter place has, according to Mr. Clay, fine nat ural advantages for the concentration of the lumber business of the Greenbrier Valley. Timber can be had in the river suited for the manufacture of cars, wagons, agricultural imple ments, furniture, woodenware, pump stocks, and for planing purposes. Lumber can be delivered in Cincinnati so as to compete with the Michigan pine, and in Philadelphia so as to cost less than the Pennsylvania timber. A large market can be had both ways. The St. Lawrence Boom and Manufacturing Company, has a paid up capital of $60,000, which is increased as needed, and owns and controls 100,000,000 feet of White Pine timber in Greenbrier and Pocahontas counties. It has a boom of several millions of feet capacity, and uses splash dams and tramways in its logging. In times of ordinary prosperity, a good busi ness might be done in square timber, Oak, etc. Mr. Clay thinks that there are several million dollars worth of timber standing, on the Greenbrier river. He says that they are now offered 842.00 per M, Michigan inspection, for timber delivered in Philadelphia. On the headwaters of the Elk and Gauley nothing has been or is being done to develop that heavily timbered section. Webster county has sent some logs from her western borders down Elk. No timber comes out of the splendid forests on the upper waters of the Cheat. This magnificent timber has never been touched. In the counties along the Potomac, the timber is mainly cut by saw mills within the district. Some Yellow and Pitch Pine is sawed and sent East. The most attention is paid to the hard woods for the smaller manufactures, for RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 153 cooperage stuff, straps, tanbark, railroad ties, etc., etc. Of the the latter, the Balltimore and Ohio Railroad consumes a great many. Of the general development of the timber in the central and western parts of the State. Diss Debar speaks in 1870, as follows : " The lumber trade in West Virginia has been among the " earliest vocations of the pioneers, who settled on navigable " or raftable streams. In the absence of anything like a reli- " able record of the business, some idea of its extent may be " found from the fact that streams like the Little Kanawha, 11 Guyandotte, or Big Sandy rivers, respectively, bring down, " logs in rafts to the aggregate value of from 840,000 to $50,000 " at a single rise. Up to this date rafting and floating have been " confined to the larger streams and tributaries. Yet the floating a of single logs, and small rafts, is practicable from five to six " miles below the source of almost any stream west of a line " of rapids, extending from the Valley Falls in Taylor county, " to the Kentucky line, and crossing Elk river eight or ten " miles above the mouth of Holly, the Little Kanawha at " Bulltown, and the Great Kanawha, at the Great Falls in the " county of Fayette. East of that line, the rapidity and tor- u tuousness of the streams, and the protruding rocks and " boulders in their beds, interfere more or less with the safety " of rafts, though single logs are floated down without much " trouble, and then caught and rafted in the stiller waters below. . " Not only timber in the log, but staves and sawed lumber, u green and seasoned, are floated down the principal streams " in good sized boats. From counties as far inland as. Lewis, " Gilmer, Braxton, Calhoun, Roane, Nicholas, Fayette, " Raleigh, Wyoming, and McDowell, and the counties below " (west of) them, boats with gunwales hewed out from a " single Poplar, over 100 feet in length, are brought down in u ordinary freshets without difficulty. Smaller sized boats " descend Fishing creek, Middle Island, and Sand creek, from " points within 10 miles of their uppermost source. " As late as 10 years ago, seven-eights of the lumber con- " sumed in the State and exported, were manufactured by " water power but since then, portable and stationary steam " saw mills have rapidly increased. Along both branches of 20 154 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. < l the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, from 20 to 30 first-class " mills are cutting on an average 8,000 feet per day. This pro- " duct consists of flooring, scantling, furniture stuff, ship and a railroad timber, for eastern and western markets, the Rail- " road Company itself being an important customer. Many " of these mills possess a capacity of 10,000 feet per day, " which maximum is seldom reached, for want of adequate " force to supply logs and take care of the t lumber. Large " mills are also in operation on the Ohio and its principal " West Virginia tributaries. " A company of enterprising Pennsylvanians, with a capi- " tal of $300,000, are now engaged in developing 80,000 acres " of land in Braxton and Webster counties, with saw mills, " planing mills, and business headquarters at Charleston, on u the Great Kanawha. One of the first operations of " this company, was the shipping by river to Park- " ersburg, and thence by rail to Baltimore, 10,000 feet of " Black Walnut plank, which, notwithstanding expensive ; freight over a distance of 050 miles, yielded a handsome " profit. Immense quantities of dressed and seasoned staves " are shipped along the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail- u road, for coopering in Baltimore, and as far north as Massa- 11 chusetts, while several factories along the line of the road : are turning out from 150 to 200 barrels per day. " Staves are being made almost at the very source of the " streams flowing towards the railroad and the Ohio river-, "floated down loosely in times of freshets, and caught by 11 booms at convenient points. " The development of ship timber is receiving much atten- " tion just now, along the line of the railroad, and late orders u from abroad have disclosed the fact that not only Oak, but " other kinds of West Virginia timber were in demand for " that purpose, as for instance : " White Oak, for keels, planking, beams, knees, floors and 11 ceilings. " Ash, for blocks, oars, etc. " Hickory, for capstan bars and handspikes. u Sugar Maple, for keels, or bottom plank. " Beech, Red preferred, for frames, planking, &c. " Poplar, for cabinet work. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 155 u White Oak knees bring higher prices in proportion to ki to post, than any other class of ship timber, and will amply u repay hauling on country roads to the station, over 15 or 20 " miles. Thousands of limbs and tops, admirably shaped for " knees, are thoughtlessly destroyed in our clearings every " year. Hoop-poles are among the primitive commodities exported " from West Virginia, and being speedily renewed from the u root or stump, the supply is almost inexhaustible, so long " as the grubbing-hoe is kept out of the woods. " Wagon and carriage stuff is beginning to be manufac- " tured for exportation, at various points on the railroad. " The prejudice heretofore prevailing in favor of Connecticut u Hickory, is rapidly waning, to judge from the large orders u now being received for West Virginia spokes, &c. An occa- " sional survey of the Railroad Depot at Parkersburg, when " filled with tons of wagons, carriages, plough-beams, furni- " ture, and twenty other articles of wooden-ware, manufac- ik tured from West Virginia timber, outside of the State, and westward bound, give a faint idea of what is continally lost through our lack of manufacturing enterprise." After this general statement, we may give some facts illus trating the present and prospective development of particular points in the central and western parts of the State. In the northern part of the State, almost the entire devel opment is by means of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. All along the main stem, and the Parkersburg branch of this road, are numerous mills and manufactories, whose business is almost entirely in cooperage stuff and sawed lumber, and whose aggregate sales cannot be less than $2,500,000 annually. We will first mention some of the more important points along the line of this road, where lumber is received and shipped. Cranberry Summit is the center of a consider lumber busi ness, consisting in its collection and preparation for ship ment. At Rowlesburg, where the railroad crosses Cheat river, is another center. As we have stated, Cheat is entirely unde veloped at present. Diss Debar says that main Cheat, for some 20 to 25 miles above the railroad, and the Black Fork of 156 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Cheat, have been to some extent developed, 15 years ago, for ship timber, for the English market, bv a company whose mill-works were located at Rowlesburg. It would certainly seem that at no distant day the vast amount of timber, trib utary to this-stream, would induce capitalists to open it up by tram railroads, booms and splash dams. Cheat would, in tan- bark and coniferous timber, furnish supplies equal to any demand. At Graf ton, we find a lumber center which is just in the first stages of development. All the timber brought by Ty- gart s Valley river to this point, must of necessity be put in shape at this point, to allow transportation on the railroad. At this point there is a boom erected, and Mr. Whitescarver says of it. " In last June (1875), there were 12,000,000 feet of " lumber in, consisting of Popular, Oak, Ash, Chestnut, Wal- " Spruce Pine (Hemlock Spruce), and Cherry, but mainly Poplar and Oak. The boom is supplied from Taylor, Barbour, Pres- " ton, Randolph, andUpshur. In Taylor and Barbour, Poplar, " Oak, Ash, and Walnut; in Randolph and Upshur, Poplar, " Oak, Cherry, Walnut, Ash. and Pine, are the principal tim- " bers. Hickory is plentiful in all the counties. The area of " country that supplies the boom at Grafton, is about 100 u miles in length by 50 in width, all of which is accessible to u streams that empty into the Valley river. The present capac- " ity for manufacturing the timber into lumber in and about " Grafton, is estimated at about 60,000 feet per day. " The Poplar is principally used in the Eastern markets " for carriages, beds, coffins, pumps, and furniture. Oak is " used for shook s, for railroad, and agricultural implements. " Cherry, Walnut, and Chestnut is employed for furniture and c * the inside finish of houses. " From Philippi up, the Valley river, and all of its tribu- " taries, pass through an almost unbroken forest." At Valley Falls, in Marion county, a considerable business is done in sawed lumber and cooperage stuff. At Manning- ton, Belton, and other points on the main stem, a considera- able trade is done, and the manufactories in Wheeling consume a large amount. On the^Parkersburg branch, between West Union and Park- ersburg, a heavy business is done in timber shipment. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 157 Large amounts of sawed lumber, ship timber, barrel stuff, etc., are shipped from various points along the line of this rail road. Dealers in lumber here, estimate that for from five to ten years back, there have been Lent out from Doddridge county, each year, more than 3,000,000 feet of hard, and 2,000,000 feet of soft lumber, to Baltimore and the East, and 1,000,000 feet, westward down the Ohio river. Also, above 5,000,000 Oak staves of medium size, and 5,000,000 hoop poles, to Eastern markets; mainly to England. Harrison county has shipped nearly an equal quantity, while the exports from Ritchie surpass the above amounts. More attention has been paid here to the development of the country along the railroad by means of short branch roads. The railroad from Pennsboro to Harrisville opens up a good deal of timber. Mr. Bryan, Assistant to the State Board, says of Ritchie, and the adjoining counties : ll The amount of tim- " her, barrel staves, and headings, principally of White " Oak and Poplar, taken out of Ritchie county, is enormous- " The North and South Forks of Hughes river, and the Penns- " boro and Harrisville railroad, make the timber very accessi- " ble. White Oak of the finest quality abounds. Messrs. Kim- " ball and Shaffer, of Pennsboro, have had in operation a stave " and heading factory, for the supply of their Baltimore barrel " factory. Mr. K. says that in 1875, he shipped from Penns- " boro to Baltimore, 8800,000 worth of stuff for barrels." Again, of Calhotin, Mr. Bryan says: " The timber of this county is splendid. The Little Kana- " wha, West Fork, Steer creek, and minor streams, have " enabled the people to take out in rafts, a large amount of the u finest logs, but the timber is hardly missed a mile or two " from the streams. The traffic in staves, as in Ritchie and " Wirt, is enormous. Few hoop poles are now gotten out here, " but vast numbers are taken from Ritchie and Wirt. The " Oak timber is gotten for barrel and tierce staves, and head- " ings. As this timber does not float well, Poplar and Walnut " are the principal trees put in logs and rafts. Staves, head- " ings, and all manner of sawed stuff are run out on high " water in flat boats. These same remarks apply to all the " counties between the railroad and the Big Kanawha. Ritchie " has the most White Oak. 158 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. " In Wirt county, one Ohio firm got out, in 1875, 10,000,- " 000 staves. Trees are often sold on the stump for $1. or " belted and allowed to die. " A good deal ol Poplar from Braxton, is cut at Elizabeth, " Wirt county, and at Burnsville, in Braxton county, the " Messrs. Burns & Co., have a fifty-horse power engine, and " one of the largest saw mills in the State. They do a large " business, mainly in hard wood, Walnut, &c., and cut " immense amounts of Poplar, &c., and run it out on floods in " flat boats, on the Little Kanawha. " The branches of the Little Kanawha, afford development " for the timber of Gilmer. Here logs under 2J feet are rarely u cut or hauled, except for staves." A good deal of the White Oak, tight-work staves, pipe, hogshead, and claret staves go to Europe from this region, and a great many Red Oak staves are used for the West India trade. Schooners are chartered "to N. side or S. side of Cuba ki and return," at so much, and are then loaded with shooks and hoops, and bring back sugar and molasses. (Clay). Mr. R. T. Lowndes, of Clarksburg, says of the timber of Doddridge, <fcc.: " We-have a tram road 20 miles long, run- ning through the S. E. portion of Doddridge county, for " the purpose of bringing the timber to market. It drains vt that section of Doddridge, and a part of Harrison, Lewis, " and Gilmer. Our woods consist nearly altogether of Oak t% and Poplar, for commercial purposes. We have some Wal- nut and Locust, and a large amount of Beech, Hickory, Syc- amore, Sugar, and several varieties of Pine. The Oak is " generally shipped in coopers stuff, railroad lumber and u ship timber ; the roots and crotches for ship-knees and " names. The Red and Chestnut Oak is used for bark, shook " staves, ties, &c. Our Poplar is generally shipped in lum- " ber, as chair plank, panel boards, &c., sometimes in the log. Our Yellow Poplar is much sought after by the furniture u manufacturers, and when prime and well seasoned, com-- mands good prices. a But the White Oak is our princpal timber, and is very " fine. There is a steady demand from Europe for it, but the " cost of handling is so great that prices are not remunera- u tive." RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 159 Down the Ohio, from Wetzel county to the Little Kaiia- wha, no large E. and W. flowing river empties into the Ohio, but several considerable creeks, such as Middle Island and Fishing creeks, which bring in a considerable amount of logs from some distance inland. Something is done in squared timber for bridge building, but the main business along the river is in sawed or cooperage stuff, of which a great deal is handled. Some attention is also paid to ship timber, both for river boats and foreign markets. As an illustration of the excellence of the Ohio river tim ber for this latter purpose, we may mention the fact, stated by Mr. C. T. Beall, of Mason, that the brig Somers, distinguished in the Mexican war, was built at the mouth of the Kanawha, by the Gilmores, of Ma?on county lumber. When this vessel was docked some 8 years ago, her timbers were found tj be sound. While the bottoms along tho Ohio are cleared, yet much of the upland, a little back of the river, it still heavily tim bered. In passing down the Ohio, the Little Kanawha is the first stream reaching back a considerable distance towards the Alleghanies. From this river southward, the E. and W. flowing tributaries of the Ohio, are all extensive, and eerve to develop considerable tracts of country. The little Kanawha develops a good deal of the country- described above by Mr. Bryan, and brings a vast amount of railroad ties, sawed stuff, cooperage material, square timber, and logs, to Parkersburg and points on the Ohio river. Mr. L. B. Dellicker, General Superintendent of the Little Kanawha Navigation Company, gives the following as the shipments of timber out of the Little Kanawha, from Janu ary 1, 1875, to January 1, 1876: Four hundred and twenty log rafts, containing about 504,000 cubic feet, 1,816,000 feet of manufactured lumber, mainly inch boards. Three million five hundred and fifty-two thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven oil barrel staves. Seventy thousand one hundred and eighty-four railroad cross-ties. Seventeen thousand hoop-poles. One hundred and seventy-seven cords of keg wood. 160 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Col. Byrne estimates the product of this stream as follows : The Burns Brothers, at Burnsvillc, cut and send to the Pitts burgh market, probably $50,000 worth of boards. Other saw mills, between that point and Parkersburg, probably manu facture as much more in boards, and perhaps $10,000 worth of White Oak in ship timber, with $50,000 worth of staves, or per haps much more. Besides these items, there are $50,000 worth of cross-ties, and $100,000 worth of logs, mainly manufac tured at Parkersburg. In all, $310,000 worth of timber, and perhaps much more. The business along the Ohio from Wheeling south to this stream, may be as much, say $350,000. Omitting for the moment the business on the Great Kana- wha and the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, we may pass to the region south of the last named stream. The Big Sandy, the Guyandotte, and Twelve Pole, are the present means of developing the timber of the southern coun ties, and drain an extensive area of heavily wooded country. We have no details of the business done, but it is known that they all do a heavy business in logs, mainly for Ohio river markets. White Oak is largely manufactured into staves. Large numbers of hoop poles are cut, and a considerable amount of tanbark is sent out. Besides the hard woods, some Hemlock and Yellow Pine is sent West. It would not be an overesti mate perhaps to put the trade done in these three streams at $300,000. On the Kanawha river, the principal development of tim ber is from the mouth of Elk downwards. Col. Byrne says of" the business on the Kanawha and its tributaries : u Elk river " sends out $100,000 worth of logs, cut by mills at and near " Charleston, either for use there or for shipment down the " river. The White and Black Oak, are chiefly manufactured " into salt barrel staves, for use in the vicinity of Charleston. " The mills there have a capacity for producing 1,000 barrels " per day. The Poplar, Ash, Chestnut, Walnut, and other kinds, are chiefly manufactured into boards, plank, and " scantling at Charleston for the Cincinnati and other mar- " kets on the river, after supplying the h/)me market. Besides u the logs, Elk sends out a large number of coal boats, ($20,000 " worth), for use in shipping coal and salt from the Kanawha " river. The manufactured value of Elk river timber, i. e. u boards, staves, hoop poles, etc., is at least $150,000. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 161 " The Great Kanawha, from the falls down, must produce as " much lumber in the shape of logs, staves, hoop poles, boards, " and ship timber, as the Elk, or $150,000." Pocatalico and Coal rivers contribute largely to this pro duce of the Lower Kanawha, Pocatalico sending probably 20,000 worth. Coal river sends out some fine Walnut, which goes to Europe. The Lower Kanawha sends oat some fine Oak timber for ship building, and a good deal of pine. At and near the falls of the Great Kanawha, and on Laurel creek, a considerable business is done in cooperage stuff and sawed lumber, perhaps $100,000 worth. Westward to Hinton, hardly anything is done. At Hinton, a good deal is done. Some staves* are, according to Mr. Clay, floated down from up New river, caught at Hin ton and shipped by rail. Mr. J. S Thompsen says of the tim ber trade of Hinton: u Quite a large trade is carried on here " in the lumber business. Large quantities of pipe staves of 11 Oak, are shipped by rail to the East, and several thousand " Walnut logs have been shipped both to the Eastern markets " and to Europe, from the county within the last 18 months. " There is a large saw mill at this point, owned by New York " men, who ship pine (of a fine quality) lumber; also shingles, " laths, etc. They deal extensively also in Poplar lumber and " and furnish the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, with rail- " road ties." Besides the above localities, the Mononghela river in Manon- galia county, and the West Fork from Harrison, carry out some forty to fifty thousand dollars worth of White Oak for ship timber, and other timber in logs. Taking everything into consideration, we may, without exaggeration, state that the revenue to be derived for many years to come, from the timber of West Virginia must equal that to be obtained from any other of her resources. Putting her acreage in timber at 9,000,000, and estimating 8,000 feet of boards to the acre, at $1.00 per M., a very moderate esti mate, we have $72,000,000. It is certain that this State has a larger amount of surplus hard wood timber, (and that of the most marketable kinds), than any other State in the Union, and that the excellence of the material is attracting constantly more and more attention. 21 CHAPTER IX. THE COAL FIELD. BY M. F. MAURY. Tlie most important coal region in America, is the Appalach ian Coal Field, which is, says Rogers, "almost the largest ex- " panse of continuous coal measures in the world. It possesses 4i a length of 875 miles, and a maximum breadth, between its " eastern outcrop in southern Pennsylvania and its western u in northern Ohio, of about 180 miles/ It extends from northern Pennsylvania to middle Alabama, parallel to the Appalachian chain to the east of it. Its coals are better than those of any other field in America, and, save anthracite, are of every kind necessary to the arts andinanufactur -s. Its area is made up as follows : West Virginia 10,000 sqr. miles. Pennsylvania 12,700 " " Ohio 10,000 " Eastern Kentucky 8,<)00 " " Alabama " 5,000 " Tennessee 5,100 " " Man-land... 550 " Total 58,550 sqr. miles. Of these the amounts for Pennsylvania and eastern Ken tucky are the results of careful surveys, while the others are estimates taken from the best and latest sources : By the U. 8. census of 1870, these States mined the t following tonnage : Alabama 11,000 tons Kentucky 150,000 " Maryland 1,819,824 " Ohio... 2,527,285 " RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 163 Pennsylvania 7,798,.MS tons. Tennessee 133,41 K " West Virginia. 008,878 Totnl 12,045),5()otons. These tables, therefore, show that while West Virginia em braces (in round numbers) nearly 28 per cent of the coal area, it produces only 5 per cent of the coal mined therein. In the absence of an exact and definite location, the eastern boundary of the West Virginia Coal Field may be described as follows : Beginning at the south on the mountain just east Blue Stone river, and proceeding thence to Little Sewell, on the top of which the lowest seam of the lower measures may be seen : thence, but by not a very clearly denned line, with the common boundary of Nicholas and Greenbrier, and Webster and Pocahontas, to Rich mountain in Randolph; following this last named ridge to Laurel mountain, the dividing line be tween Upshur on the west and Randolph and Barbour on the east; and thence with the Briery mountain into Preston count} and on the Pennsylvania line. To the east of this boundary there are small outlying patches of coal, (mention ed at the end of this chapter), as in Greenbrier in Meadow mountain, and possibly in Pocahontas and in some of the synclinal valleys of Tucker, but they are unimportant as compared with the vast area to the west, and in but few in stances will yield fuel of any value except for local use. This remark will not, however, apply to the valuable, though small, trough in Mineral and Grant, which is entirely seperated by sub-carboniferous strata from the main West Virginia Coal Field. In every county west of the general boundary to the Ohio river valuable coal will be found, if not in the hills, then below the surface and accessible by shafting, so that out of 54 counties in the State, only Monroe, Pendlcton, Hardy, Hamp shire, Morgan, and Jefferson, lack it in toto. Before going into a detailed account of the field, it will be well to give a general sketch thereof, which cannot be better done than in the following condensed description of Prof. W. B. Rogers, State Geologist of Virginia from 1836 to 1840, who says, concerning it : 164 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. From the eastern margin of the coal field the strata have a general inclination to the northwest, so that as we leave the Alleghany mountains the rocks belonging to the formations below the coal disappear, and the coal measures themselves in their turn become buried as we approach the Ohio river in the region of Point Pleasant, Parkersburg, fcc., where we find on the surface the Upper Barren Measures the highest mem ber of the coal formation consisting of shales, slates and sand stone, either destitute of coal, or contaning it in variable and unimportant beds as compared to the richer portions of the field. These gently sloping strata, thus gradually depressed, again rise to the surface as we proceed still further west, thus bringing into view over a wide and affluent belt of country in Ohio the counterparts of the lost coal seams and their associ ated strata, in the reverse order in which they had been seen to disappear in West Virginia some distance east of the Ohio. As necessary to the general picture of this wide-spread series rocks, it may be added that beyond this belt of productive coal measures in Ohio, as we ascend to the valley of the Scioto, we come into view of a group of underlying, easterly-dipping sandstones, slates and limestones, corresponding to the sub- carboniferous formations ot the Alleghanies, so that, leaving out all the undulations on the eastern side of the tract, we are presented with the imposing scene of a vast synclinal trough or basin, spreading from the eastern escarpment of the coal rocks in West Virginia entirely across the largest portion of that State and the eastern half of Ohio, and terminating there in a similar escarpment, in which the rocks are seen inclining to the east, to meet their counterparts dipping in the opposite direction in West Virginia. It is a little west of the center line of this basin that the Ohio river pursues its course for most of the distance, for which it forms the western boundary of our State. But another feature has yet be introduced to complete the general outline of this interesting region. The eastern and western margins of this basin, though nearly parallel about midway of its length, gradually approach each other as they extend towards the north, and thus bending around, the for mer in Pennsylvania and the latter in Ohio, at length actually coalesce and form the head or northern termination of the RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 166 trough. As a result of this configuration, the various coal seams of the whole area may be looked upon as a basin made up of a series of oblong, shallow bowls, whose longer diamters run N. E. and S. W., fitting one within the other and inter- stratified with shales, sandstones, &c. From the various por tions of the margins thieve would therefore dip towards a com mon axis, so that along the northern edge of the basin the coals would have an inclination south, and as we follow the rim through West Virginia to Kentucky, first a S. S. W., then S. W., W. S. W, W., W. N. W., X. W.. &c., dip would obtain. Fortunately for the resources of the valuable, though small tract, between Pennsylvania and Ohio, in which are the coun- tie^ of Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, and Marshall, known as the "Panhandle," this northern termination of the trough takes place at no great distance from where our State begins; so that the Ohio, in its western course along the margin of that tract, intersects the southerly dipping strata in a direction highly favorable for the developement of their rich mineral contents. Bearing this illustration in mind, it will at once be seen that a river that runs through this basin will first pass over one edge, will then flow through its center, and finally cut the opposite edge, and if, as is the ca^e with the Ohio, it enters near one end and flows nearly along the central axis, it will first cut the edges of the lowest bowl^, and then higher and higher ones, till finally all will be exposed by it. Fur ther, if in the course of this passage, it deviates from a straight line, so as to run W. or N. W., it will go into lower strata, or outer bowls, and if it then deflects back to its orig inal position, near the axis, it will come into higher strata, or inner bowls. This cutting of the successive strata is very well shown along the whole river front of the State, for beginning at the northern extremity, near the mouth of Little Beaver, the Ohio flows in the lower part of the Lower Coal Measures, the outcrop of which is further towards the north. Thence, descending the river, the inclination of the rocks being towards the south, these lower coals pass below the bed of the stream, and at the tops of the hills at Steuben- ville, the lowest coal seam of the Upper Coal Measures^ makes its first appearance. The southerly dip still continuing, this 166 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. seam, as we proceed down the river, comes nearer and nearer the water, till a short distance helow Wheeling, it also disap pears, and the superior strata come lower and lower in the hills, till Fishing creek, in the southwest corner of Wetzel county, is reached. The river is here a little west of the axis, or center, of the basin, and is therefore in the innermost howl, or highest strata, all, or nearly all, the coals lying beneath it. Below this point, assuming a direction more toward the west, it flows a little west of, and parallel to, the axis, still exposing only the upper strata, but bending toward the northwest. As it approaches Marietta it displays lower formations, and thence, pursuing a direction nearly parallel to the course from Fishing creek, it passes Parkersburg sev eral miles west of the axis, still continuing to display nearly the same rocks as are met with at Marietta. It now, by various flexures, gradually works back nearer to the axis, and therefore into higher strata, till it reaches the bend below Mill creek, in Jackson county, when, by a sudden turn to the N. W., it penetrates some distance into the western side of the basin, and, the rocks having a dip towards the axis, that is to wards the S E., the strata, which, during its previous course, were buried below its bed, are now seen successively emerg ing to the surface, and bringing into light, above water level, the seam worked at Pomeroy. and which has not been seen since we left it at a little below Wheeling. Here, resuming its ireneral southwesterly course, and, though having numer ous flexures, preserving its general direction as far as Guyan- dotte, in Cabell county, it continues to expose nearly the same strata appertaining to the western side of the basin throughout the whole distance. Then bending away to the west, it enters the lower coal group (which we have not seen since we left Brooke county, in the northern part of the State), about three miles above the mouth of the Big Sandy? after which, taking a northwesterly course, it emerges from the, basin near Porsmouth. This passage of the Ohio through the length of this basin, presents a line of observation of great inter- erest and value to the geologist, for it shows nearly all of the strata of the coal measures. The coal measures rest upon a well-marked series of rocks, known as the Great Conglomerate, and the following descrip- RESOURCP:S OF WEST VIRGINIA. 167 tion of them, condensed from Prof. Roger?, is here given, as it may often serve to prevent fruitless exploration for coal in the strata underneath. This formation contrasts strongly in general aspect and composition, with the one immediately below it. It consists of whitish, or light gray sandstones, generally of coarse texture, and comprising heavy beds of conglomerate, usually conspicuous for the white round peb bles of which it is mainly composed. As the rock disinte grates, these latter are set free, and are often profusely strewn over the surface, becoming a useful landmark when the rock itself is hid from view. At all points, however, this formation does not display the same conspicuous conglomeratic structure, for it passes from a mere mass of large rounded pebbles to a conglomerate of shot like gravel, and thence to a coarse, and in some instances, a fine grained sandstone of even and compact texture, and varies in thickness from 100 feet, and less, DO 1,000 feet, and perhaps more. Xor in all cases doe^ it maintain its character of a purely siliceous rock, for it sometimes contains beds of shale and coal. Yet with all these variations the general characters of the group as above described, are sufficiently definite to enable the practiced observer to recognise it at a, glance. It is the boundary between the Coal Measures, and the Appalachian formations below, and therefore, as a general rule, explorations for coal should bedirected to the strata lying geologically above it. The remarkable expansion and diversified character assumed by this formation for some distance, within the margin of our great coal field west of the Greenbrier river and on New river, has caused it to spread over a wide area, and to include seams of coal of sufficient magnitude to be worthy of exploration. As, for instance, at Quinnimont, on the latter stream. Having thus hastily sketched the general geology of the coal field, let us now examine the number of coal seams con tained therein. To do this so as to be the more fully understood, the coal strata can be divided into four great geological divisions, viz : TJie Lower Coal Measures, resting upon the Great Conglomer ate, just described so fully, containing very many important IBS RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. and valuable coal seams, and having a thick bed of sandstone, called the " Mahoning/ as its upper limit. The Lower Barren Measures, composed of reddish and bluish shales and slates, sandstones and limestones the latter in some parts of the State very important usually destitute of workable coals, and terminating at the base of a valuable and persistent coal seam known as the "Pittsburgh." The Upper Coal Measures, containing several important coal seams, of which the "Pittsburgh " is the lowest. The Upper Barren Measures, composed of- sandstones and shales, nearly destitute of coal. There are also geographical divisions in the field that should be noticed, for, in several cases, ridges, parallel to the eastern margin of the basin, make their appearance, and are composed of sab-carboniferous strata, which separate one coal basin from another, and form well marked boundaries thereto. These anti-din als, or upheavals, are more marked in the northern than in the southern portion of the State. In the former, as we proceed west, they become more and more gentle iu their slopes, and, as they are traced south, become wider and flatter, until they are more or less lost, and allow the coal measures to coalesce in one grand expanse, or gently undulat ing plane, that sweeps from Rich and Sewell mountains entirely, across the State, with scarcely a single interruption, save the small and narrow one of the "Oil Break," near the Ohio river. In fact, in considering this question, the State may be divided by a line running in a northwest direction, from the common eastern corner of Greenbrier and Pocahontas, to the northern end of Pleasants county, on the Ohio. North of this, we find our anti-clinal axes and the rock beds folded, while to the south the upheavals are so gentle, that while they may flat ten the strata, we have no positive assurance that they reverse the northwest dip anywhere in the whole territory. Let us now proceed to show what seams are contained in these several geographical divisions, t he first one taken has been alluded to as lying in Mineral and Grant counties, and may be called EESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 169 THE POTOMAC BASIN. This is bounded on the east by the Front Ridge of the Alle- ghany, and on the west, by the Backbone of the Alleghany- In the intervening space are two anti-clinal axes or undula. tions, which divide this area into three sub-fields. As we trace these ridges to the southwest, they more or less coalesce, form ing the high land between Tucker and Grant counties, cutting off all continuity of the coal strata between this basin, and the main one of the State. Continued to the northeast, these two -intermediate axes flatten down and die out, so that what in West Virginia, are three basins; in Maryland, is the single one, so well known as the "Cumberland Coal Field." THE EASTERN TROUGH, Of the Potomac Basin, is bounded by the Front Ridge of the Alleghany and the anti-clinal ridge, which is the watershed between Abrams creek and Stony river. On the east side the strata dip northwest, and on west they incline southeast. By reason of the proximity to the Appalachian upheaval, the rocks are here inclined at a comparatively steep angle, and by this means the bottom of the trough was rendered suffici ently low to permit the whole of the Lower Coal and Lower Barren Measures, and a little of the Upper Coal Measures, to escape the destructive torrents which have eroded and washed away so much of the coal-bearing formation of this section. The seams found in this basin all furnish a semi-bituminous coal. The following section was kindly supplied by the Hon. H. G. Davis, and is the result of actual measurements, taken some ten years ago by Wm. Brace, Esq., of Cumberland, at some point near the Baltimore and Hampshire Company s mine, in Mineral county . Ft. In. 1. "Millstone Grit" 2. Coal 3 3. Slate 120 4. Coal 6 5. Slate and Sandstone 130 6. Coed 3 7. Slate 1 6 8. Coal 3 6 22 170 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Ft. In. <). Sandstone, Slate, and Shale, etc loO 10. <W 4 11. Sandstone and Limestone 120 12. Cnnl 2 (5 ]. . Shale and Sandstone <)() 14. Fire Clay :\ l.\ C< t( ,1"\tig Vein" 14 1(>. Slate :50 17. Black Band Ore 15. Shale and Slate ; -}."> 19. Coal 7 By comparing this section with one made on the Maryland side of the river by Prof. Tyson it will be seen that Mr.. Brace has mistaken the heavy bed of sandstone under No. 2 of the section for the Great Conglomerate, whereas he should have gone some 39 feet lower. Had he done so, he would have found another coal seam, which is to be setn in the bed of the Potomac, a short distance belo\v the mouth of Sivage river, and at Brantzburg, showing itself 2 feet 11 inches thick, 20 feet above the water, where it any- alyzes : Carbon 72.4 Volatile Matter l!).72 Ash 7.88 100.00 Beginning now to discuss the section as it stands, Prof. Rogers makes Coal, No. 2, only 20 inches at the mouth of Savage, but as measured by Prof. Win. S. Kowson, of- New Jersey, on the head waters of Abrarns creek, in Grant county, on the 886 acres of J. Hutton & Co., it shows Coal, 4 inches ; Slate 2 inches; Coal, 1 foot; Slate 4 inches; Coal, 2 feet G inches. Total 4 feet 4 inches. Coal No. 4, is well exposed above the mouth of Savage, and from its quality, thickness, accessibility, and the large area over w r hich it may .be wrought, is to be looked on as a very valuable deposit. I have no analysis of it at this place^ but samples from up Abram s creek, from the land of Mr. Vando- yer and Mr. McDonald, show respectively: RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 171 Carbon <>1.4i 74.00 Volatile matter 14/28 18.60 Ash... .. 24.28 7.40 100.00 100.00 At the head of this creek, on the land of Hutton Co., Prof. Row-son measured it 6 feet 9 inches, but this shows many partings of slate, the bottom, 2 feet 5 inches, being the thickest bench in the whole height. Coals, Nos. 6 and 8, show some line exposures in this, and the next basin on Stony river, to the west, the intervening slate getting thinner, so that at Whistler s opening on Stony, Prof, Rowson found a thickness of S feet 3 inches, the slate being represented by a band only 3 inches thick, 5 feet from the floor. Coal, Xo. 10, was measured by the same gentleman, on the 100-acre tract of J. W. Shillingburg. Here, including the top shales and coals, it was 5 feet 10 inches, but only the lower 4 feet is solid coal. Coal, Xo. 12, in the same locality as the last, shows 3 feet 2 inches, but is worthless, being so much cut by partings that the thickest bench of coal is only 1 foot 3 inches. Coal, Xo. 15, some 850 or 900 feet above the river, is the first of the Upper Coal Measures, the fame that is so exten sively wi ought in the Frostburg Region of Maryland. From its great elevation in the hills, it is not only more difficult of access than the lower coals, but is spread over a comparatively limited area, and is, in many cases, likely to be injured by the the insufficient protection of the superincumbent strata. A bet ter idea of its high position may be obtained from the fact that out of 1,933 acres owned by the Hampshire and Baltimore Coal Company, about a mile above Piedmont, a careful survey showed that only 21 63- acres were underlaid by this seam.* The mines of this company, and the Virginia Coal Com pany, are the only ones now in operation in this field, and both are working this great bed, the coal from wlrch is very free from impurities. In the Virginia mine, it is 14 feet thick, with only one parting, I. 1 ,, inches thick, 4 feet from the Report on the Coal Properties ol the: Cumberland Coal Basiii, by James T. Hodge, Mining Geologist, 18(59, 172 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. floor. The whole is very tender and soft, the bottom, 4 feet, particularly so, and from this cause, amongst others, only about 60 pr cent of the contents of this magnificent bed goes to market. (For analysis see next chapter). Coal, JVo. 10, " is called the eight-foot bed, and affords 6 feet " of good workable coal. It is in rectangular blocks, harder u and firmer than the coal of the great bed, and is said to be i more gaseous in character. Its area appears to be full half " of that of the large b:>d, and is possibly more than this." -(Hodge). It has been mentioned that the boundaries of this sub-basin coalesce to the southwest, ami the coals disappear, so that as we go from the Potomac towards the head of Abram s creek, in Grant county, first the top seams vanish, then the ones below, and so on to the lowest. Proceeding west, and crossing the dividing ridge between Abram s creek and Stony river, we enter upon the Second, or Middle Trough, of the Potomac basin, which has for a western boundary, the anticlinal ridge between Stony river and Diffi cult creek, and its southwest termination at the head of the former stream. As this upheaval is less sudden and abrupt than the ones to the east, we would expect that the inclina tion of the strata would be more gentle, and such proves to be the case. Hence, the coal beds were not so well protected from erosion by ancient currents, and as a consequence, we find that all of the Upper Coal Measures have been washed away, and only the Lower Coal Measures are left. On the lower part of Stony river, in Mineral county, no explorations have been made to show what coals are present, but in Grant county, they were examined in March, 1876, by Mr. A. R. Guerard, of the Royal School of Mines, London, and the following distinct seams were observed : On Rinker s land, 4 miles below the Falls of the river, is an 8-foot seam, containing a good deal of slate. Lower down the river, and j of a mile from this, is the " Harnes" bed, which is also 8 feet, containing more slate than the last. It is very probable that it is the same as the "Rinker," but this could not be certainly determined, as Mr. Guerard was able to spend but a verv short time in the district, RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 173 Above the Rinker 8-foot coal, comes in a 3-foot bed, and above this a 4-foot one, near the falls of the river. In connection with these two, it should be said that as the distance between them is some four miles, and there are no intermediate expo sures, Mr. Guerard thinks that possibly these may be one and the same stratum, which has undergone an alteration in thickness. Above these, also, at the falls of Stony, is an 8- foot seam the Whistler seam, with very little slate and above this Mr. T. W. Evan?, a mining engineer, of Pennsyl vania, who examined this field iri November, 1875, reports a 6-foot seam of good coal. From Stony river, we now cross over the anti-clinal ridge, between that stream and Difficult creek, and come into the Western Trough, which, like the last, has more gently sloping strata than the eastern, and the coals belong to the Lower Measures. Tn Grant county, on Difficult creek, up the stream from the crossing of the pike, and about 1| miles from Lees, are 7 feet of very good coal the only important parting being 3 inches thick. It is semi-bituminous as, in fact, all in the Potomac Basin seem to be, with some slate in it. Higher in the hills than this, at the bend in the Northwestern Pike, Mr. Evans reports a 4-foot seam, of very fine coal. On Difficult creek, at the crossing of the Northwestern Pike, and apparently below the 7-foot seam, is one that is made up of 3 feet of good coal 1 foot ot slate and 2 feet of bad coal on top. By compar ing these thicknesses with those mentioned in the section on page 169, it will be noticed that the last named bed corresponds to -A T o. 4 Coal, 6 feet, except that a parting is developed here. The 7-foot seams correspond to Nos. 6, 7 and 8, though having suffered a slight diminution in thickness, while the 4-foot seams corresponds to No. 10 Coal, 4 feet. Separating the Potomac Basin from the one next to the west, is a wide region of lofty and broken hills, traversed by the Cheat river, and bounded on the east and w r est by the Backbone and Briery mountains, respectively, between which the formations which lie below the coal are at, or very near, the surface. This shallow basin expands and deepens in a northwesterly direction, through Maryland, and when traced into Pennsylvania, becomes of great value, as it is the coal 174 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. field between the axes of the Alleghany and Negro mountains. There are no observations to determine what it does in its prolon gations to the south, but as in West Virginia, it is too shallow to contain any valuable coal, we may at once pass on to the consideration of THE PRESTON COUNTY BASIN, Which is boiinded-on the east by the Briery mountains, on the west by Laurel ridge, and is the southerly continuation of the Ligonier Valley, or second basin of the Pennsylvania sur vey, which, in West Virginia, is divided into two troughs by a gentle anti-clinal axis, lying just west of Kingwood. As this has not been w r ell traced out, both troughs will just now be considered as one. In it are all the Lower Coal and Lower Barren Measures, and in the southern end, in the tops of the highest hills, the first, or PiifeHmrflh, seam of the Upper Coal Measures. There is positive information only as to live seams in this field, but it is fair to presume that a careful search will find others which properly belong to this geological horizon, though as they have never yet been discovered, it is just to suppose that they are small and unimportant. The first Scam, or lowest, is said to be in view, at very low water, in the bed of (/heat river half a mile below Kingwood Ferry, resting", according to Prof. Rogers, upon a limstone. Ju.-t below this place, the shales, which overlie this seam-, con tain five bands of rich iron ore within a vertical space of four or live feet, the lowest band occasionally four or five inches thick, and the upper ones generally about two inches. The Second Seam, varies from 2 to 4 feet, in different parts of the field. Though valuable for fuel, it is often (mite sulphur ous, and is nowhere worked except for local use. Between seams Nos. 1 and 2, appears a limestone, often 4 to 5 feet thick, which, from its purity and frequent exposure, is to be esteemed a valuable resource in connection with the agri cultural improvement of this region, as well as for other uses to which it may be put. Though often impregnated with iron, it is never so much so as to unfit ii for masonry, to which it has been frequently applied with satisfactory results. (For analysis, see table in chapter 13 on Miscellaneous Minerals,) RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 175 Tlic Third Seam varies generally from 2 to 4 feet, in some cases swelling to 7 and 8 feet, and contains a very good article of fuel. Three miles south of the mouth of Big Buffalo creek it measures 4 feet, including from 8 to 10 inches of impure slaty coal, and is very compact, breaking with difficulty. Two miles S S. W. of the same point it is 5 feet, with a part ing of 6 to 8 inches. At the head of Deep Run hallow it has dwindled to 18 or 20 inches, while opposite King wood it is 7 to 8 feet including the partings, and yields about 5 feet of coal, of which o feet are in one bed. Corresponding to this increase in thickness, there is also an improvement in the quality, but, unfortunately, the expansion here described is quite local. Two analysis fiom this place give : Carbon 07.28 08.82 Volatile Matter 29.08 . 20.48 Ash , .>.04 5.20 100.00 100.00 As far as the scant data on this region go, it would appear that the 8 or 9-foot seam worked at Austin, on the Bait, ct Ohio R. R., and to the S. W. of Kingwood, must be another ex pansion of this stratum. Just as has been mentioned of it elsewhere, it is here divided by partings, having 4 feet of solid coal at the bottom yielding an excellent article. This is the only part of it worked at present, though if mined on an ex tensive scale the whole thickness can be utilized. It is here at Austin a very valuable bed, for, according to a report on it by Prof. J. P. Lesley, " it makes a clear, even, sil- " very coke, sufficiently hard to bear the heaviest burden of the blast furnace. 1 Above it is sometime-; a shale, which, in some localities, as at Fairfax s, south of Kingwood ferry, abounds in nodules of very rich Iron ore of a delicate gray color, while in others the ore is replaced by nodules of impure limestone. At Austin a seam of ore 1-6 to 20 inches thick, and the same as worked at the Martin Iron Works, is seen 30 feet below it. In geological nomenclature, this coal is known as the Up per Freeport." It is near the top of the Lower Coal Measures, though, according to Prof. Lesley s report, before alluded to, it- would be very close to, if not at, the bottom of them, as he 1?6 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. locates it 400 feet below the Mahoning sandstone, which is the upper number of the series. There is a coarse sandstone in the Barren Measures at this distance above the Upper Freeport, which, I think, he has mistaken for the Mahoning, for the Lower Coal Series in the Preston basin are not as thick as 400 feet. Between seams Nos. 2 and 3 is a limestone band, sometimes in nodules and again some 4 or 5 feet thick, often very rich in lime, and associated with a white argillaceous clay and shales of a very peculiar character. It varies very much in its posi tion, between the two coal seams, being at some localities 50 or 60 feet above No. 2, while, in others, it is only 4 or 5 feet ; on Sypole Run being 8 or 10 feet. This, and the band men tioned as lying between seams Nos. 1 and 2, are so much alike it would be difficult, by aspect or composition, to tell them apart. It is a fine grained, bluish-gray stone, and like many of the limestones of the coal measures, slightly ferruginous sometimes so much so as to burn with difficulty, slacking slowly, but nevertheless making a valuable lime for agricul ture. It has been quarried on Sandy Ridge. Near King wood it is a dull, bluish gray, tinged with yellow, compact, fine grained, conchoidal, with specks of iron pyrites and calc spar, very hydraulic, sets promptly, and becomes very hard. (For analysis, see table in chapter on Micellaneous Minerals. The fourth Scam, 300 feet above No. 3, is in the Lower Bar ren Measures. It contains 3 feet of an excellent quality of coal. The Fifth Scam, 150 feet above the last, is the lowest member of the Upper Coal Group, and is the same as that worked in Mineral county, near Piedmont, by the Virginia Coal Co. It occupies the centre of the basin in the tops of the hills at New- burg, where it yields an excellent gas coal, and is 10 to 12 feet thick, though only 9 to 9J feet are worked, the top being left to .support the slate roof. In Prof. Rogers report on the Preston field it is not men tioned at all, for the reason, I presume, that his explorations seem to have been in the northern-half of the county, where the hills are too low to catch it. As to whether this will prove to be the case, also, as we go south from Newburg, "nothing real ly deffinite can now be stated, on account of the paucity of data concerning the region, but it may safely be asserted that, if RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 177 it does exist, it will be in small isolated patches as at the place where it is now worked. THE LOWER GOAL AND BARREN MEASURES IN THE MONON- GAHELA BASIN. The broad elevated tract extending from Pennsylvania into West Virginia, nearly coinciding with the boundary between Preston and Monongalia counties, and which, on the West Virginia map, is called Laurel Hill, contains the last important axis met with in this part part of the State. As followed in a southwest direction, the dips of the rocks, on both sides of the ridge, are seen to be rapidly becoming more gentle, and. the axis, thus flattened out, soon buries from view the Appalachian rocks previously exposed, while the ridge itself subsides to a less and less elevation, until, at the Falls of the Tygart s Valley river, in the southern part of Mar ion county, about 30 miles from the Pennsylvania line, it becomes so insignificant that the Mahoning sandstone, the top of the Lower Coal Measures, parses over it unbroken. Proceeding northwest from that portion of this axis, which is sufficiently marked by an anticlinal to bring to view the sub carboniferous rocks, and so completely separate the Pres ton from the Monongalia basin, we soon enter upon the Lower Coal Measures. These rapidly dip below the water level, giv ing place to the Lower Barrens, which, in turn, disappear and are supplanted by the Upper Coal Measures, whose lowest seam, the Pittsburgh, is seen high in the hills, a few miles east of Morgantown, but comes to the water level some 2 miles up Scott s Run, a west branch of the Monongahela river. The northwest dip still continuing, the upper coals sink below the surface as this run is ascended, leaving the surface of the country composed of the shales, &c., of the Upper Barrens. As these upper coals will form a chapter to themselves, I will at present treat only of the measures below them, for the following, description of which, I am indebted to a paper read before the American Philosophical Society, on 16 Feb., 1872, by Prof. J. J. Stevenson, and to the Geology of Virginia, 1839, by Prof. Wm. B. Rogers, In making the section the line of observation was, in both cases, along Decker s creek to the river, thence down the same to Scott s run, and on up the 23 178 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. stream. The following measurements* are those given by the former gentleman, but in the reversed order to that in which they were published. I give them in this way so as to keep up the line of march heretore observed, viz.: from east to west. SECTION OF THE LOWER COAL MEASURES. 1. Shale 10 feet 2. Coal 1 " 3. Sandstone 4 " 4. Coal 1| " 5- Shale 25 * b . Sandstone 25 to 30 " 7. Shale 15 to 20 " 8. Coal 2 to 3 " 9. Sandstone and Shale 20 to 30 * 10. Coul JJA (?) " 11. Shale 30 " 12. Limestone "Ferriferous" . 4 to 5 " 13. Shale 10 " 14. Sandstone 5 " 15. Conl 1 " Hn Shale 10 " 17. Coal 4 to 5 " 18. Inhales 1 to 25 " 19. Coal U " 20. Shale 12 " 21. Sandstone, "Mahonin^" 75 " This would therefore make the Lower Coal Measures in this part of West Virginia from 260 to 300 feet thick. Shale (No. 1). Near the bottom of this is an irregular band of a coarse gray or grayish dun carbonate of iron, covered with layers of hydrated protoxide the result of decomposition* The band has an estimated thickness of one foot, though it sometimes occurs in nodular masses, varying from 2 to 12 inches in diameter. It is generally of inferior quality, though -Iu the section, as given by Prof. Rogers, Coals Nos. 2 and 4 are not men tioned, while between Sands one Xo. 14, and Coal Xo. 15, he places 6 to 8 feet of dark blue, argellaceous shale, in the lower part of which is a layer of nodules of Carbonate of Iron, coated with Brown Oxide of Iron, and was the material chielly used at the old furnace on Decker s creek. It was mined on the side of Laurel Hill, in a southeast direction from, the furnace. The average thickness of the band is from 6 to 10 inches, 1 h rough* the nodules are sometimes a foot in diameter. (For analysis see Chapter on Iron). This is mentioned to call atten tion to the matter, so that future exploration may reconcile the slight differ ences in the sections. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 179 in bygone days it was used in the Decker s creek furnaces, and for this purpose was mined at various points, in isolated patches, along the west base of Laurel Hill. Coals (Nos. 2 and 4), as exposed on Decker s creek, are of no importance. No. 4 shows a thickness of 21 inches, in which are 3 partings. A very hard refractory sandstone, containing some imperfect specimens of vegetable fossils, mostly of the genus Lepidodendron, lies between these coals. It is a good fire stone, and was so used in the old furnace near by. No. 2 is one foot thick, and of good quality. On Decker s creek these may be seen near the bridge, below Hagadore s mill. On Booth s creek, only one of them was seen. At Nuzum s mill, it is as irregular as the Brier Hill coal of Ohio. Along the railroad cutting for some distance, it shows itself about 3 feet thick, but as it approaches the station, the underlying fire clay increases in thickness, while the coal diminishes, until at length the latter entirely disappears. At this locality (? . t. where 3 feet thick), it has been worked to a slight extent, yielding a coal of excellent quality. The fire-clay seems to be equal to that of Dover, Ohio, which it greatly resembles. Sandstone (No. 6) varies from moderately coarse comglomer- ate to fine grained sandstone. Compact and flaggy layers alternate on Decker s creek. On Booth s creek it is mostly compact. At Nuzum s mill it is uneven in texture, and has weathered so as to have huge chambers. The compact layers are very refractory, some of them having been employed for furnace hearths. On Decker s creek, 3 or 4 inches of coal have been found in this rock, Coal (No. 8) has been opened at several points along Decker s creek and its tributaries, and is in high repute for domestic use. It is friable, free from pyrites, and has been locally termed the " Blacksmith s Vein." Near the furnace, it is of the peacock variety. It was formerly worked near Clinton Furnace, but after the discovery of the larger seam above, the workings were abandoned, and have caved in. So far as known it has not been worked at Nuzunrs mill. Coal (No. 10) was worked many years ago on Decker s creek, a little below the old furnace, but in 1872 it was so closed up by slides that Prof. Stevenson was not able to see it. Old miners said it was 3^ and 4 feet thick, and resembled cannel. 180 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. The shales above it are laminated and highly bituminous, burn readily and have been mistaken for cannel. The ferriferous Limestone (No. 23) is frequently double with an intervening shale, sometimes several feet thick. For a few inches near its upper surface, it is yellow and so highly ferruginous as in some places to constitute a calcareous iron ore, for which it has been worked in bygone days, in one or two places. It is quite persistent for twenty miles south of the Pennsylvania line, but does not appear in the sections at Nuzum s mill. It was lued as a flux at the old furnace on Decker s creek, and at the Clinton Furnace on Booth s creek. It affords a good lime for agricultural and rough work, though but little use has been made of it, notwithstanding that it shows in almost every hill, and lime commands 15 cents per bushel at the kiln. Shale (No. 13) contains nodular masses of carbonate of iron, which, though of good quality, is in too small quantity to be of value. Coal (No. 17). In some places parts of it are rendered quite impure by pyrites, but towards the center it is remarkably free from that mineral. This is the important and most per sistent seam of the group. It appears on Cheat river near Ice s Ferry, where it is worked on Tibbs Run, a tributary of Decker s creek, and in some of the various openings near it. In these localities it is 4 feet thick, divided near the bottom by a thin clay parting. The shale above is very bituminous," has a conchoidal fracture, and is a cannel coal of inferior qual ity, which in some places has been worked with the coal below. The coal in this seam is very friable, breaking into rhombic pieces. Traced southwesterly it crosses Aaron s creek, near the King wood road, about four miles from Morgan town, and is worked by Mr. Bell. It also appears at several points along Coburn s creek. On the Evansville road, about seven miles from Morgantown, it is opened by Mr. Howell. Here it lies directly under the Mahoning sandstone, and gives the fol- lowing section : RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 181 Feet. Inches Coal 3 1 Clay Shale. - 2 to 4 Coed 1 3 Shale 2 Coal 3 4 11 Evidently the whole bed is not worked here, for on the other side of the hill appears to be a foot or more of coal above, but it does pay to work more than the lower 4 feet. Coal, (local). Ten to fifteen feet below this coal, in a branch of Decker s creek, there is is a seam about one foot thick, which appears to be a very local, as it is Lot found on the main stream, or to the south. Coal (No. 19). On Decker s creek, this is about 15 inches thick, was worked some years ago near the Point House, on that stream, and is said to be of excellent quality. This seam does not appear on Booth s creek, nor did Prof. Stevenson see it on White Day. A coal bed occupying the same position has been slightly worked at Nuzum s Mill, and is there 3 feet thick. Shale (No. 20). On Decker s creek, this is of dark color, and near the middle contains a band of fossiliferous nodular iron ore. It seems to be present on White Day creek, 12 miles south of Morgantown, but is not persistent in Pennsylvania. Mahoning Sandstone (No. 21), is for the most part a massive rock, with alternating fine and coarse layers, the latter being sometimes a conglomerate. In some places it is flaggy, while in others it is compact and very suitable for building pur poses, as blocks 6 to 8 feet thick can be quarried without diffi culty. The lower part descends to the bed of Decker s creek, near the site of the old forge, but, owing to the diminished dip in going west, together with the rapid descent of the creek in the same direction, about 40 feet of it are seen at the mouth. About 2 miles below Morgantown, near Granville, it sinks below the river. To the south, it rises quite rapidly, and at Booth s creek, 4 miles above Morgantown, it is about 40 feet above the river, where it shows in a blufit of about 75 feet, in some portions weatbered in large rounded cavities, and in others, showing a strangely honey-combed surface. 182 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. THE LOWER BARREN MEASURES. In this part of the State these are about 400 feet thick. I do not consider it necessary, in a treatise of this kind, to give a detailed section of them, as they contain only one coal seam, out of about live, that is thick enough to be of any importance, and even that appears to be compara tively local. According to Prof. Rogers section, it is about 180 feet above the Mahoning sandstone. On Decker s creek it has been wrought at several places as high up as the Old Forge, where it runs out on the top of the hills. It sinks below the bed of the Monongahela river, above the mouth of Scott s run, about 2] miles below Morgantown. Some 30 years ago it was opened in the hill opposite the University, near the village, while 5 or 6 years ago it was worked in a ravine, east of the town, to supply local use, but the mine was abandoned, owing to the thinness of the bed, which made the cost of extraction too great to admit of competition with the openings into the Pittsburgh seam, which is 7 to 8 feet thick in this immediate vicinity. In 1872, it, was opened by Mr. Miller and Mr. Fordyce, to supply their own fire-places, and at the opening by the former gentleman, it showed : Bituminous shale, 6 to 8 inches, Coal, 3 to 3J feet. The gen eral structure of the coal is slaty, and contains a considerable a considerable amount of sulphur, which is unfortunate, as otherwise its large proportion of fixed carbon would render it \ery valuable for manufacturing purposes, for in burn ing it gives off an intense heat, lasts long on the fire, and makes but little soot. The bed is frequently cut up by " horse-backs " and " mud-seams." According to the section of Prof. Rogers, the Lower Barrens in this part of West Virginia contain 11 bands of limestone, of an aggregate thickness of 24 feet. Most of these are ferrugenous, and otherwise impure, but are still generally capable of yielding a lime well suited to agriculture and building, as well as some domestic uses where the color is unimportant. THE LOWER COAL MEASURES WEST OF TUCKER COUNTY AND RICH MOUNTAIN". On page 177 et- *ey. it was noted that Laurel Hill formed a dis tinct boundary between the coals of the Preston and Mononga- RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 183 hela basins, but that as it was traced to the southwest it be came broader and flatter, until, at Valley Falls, in Marion county, the Mahoning sandstone and its underlying seams passed over it unbroken. ^lence, it will be understood that somewhere between this point and Decker s creek, the lower coals will be seen lapping over this anticlinal and joining the the two basins, so that what in the north were two separate troughs coalesce at some place about the northern edge of Tay lor county and gradually form one continuous area, which stretches uninterruptedly across the State from Rich moun tain in Randolph, which range, as mentioned in the early part of this paper, is practically the eastern boundary of the coal formation in this part of West Virginia/ Unfortunately but little reliable information concerning this region is be had, for accurate observations thereon are few and far between, and even these very cursory. It is impossible to give any de tailed section of the strata, for none has ever been made, and beyond the fact that the Lower Coal Measures have increased from 250 feet in Monongalia, to a considerably greater thick ness in Randolph, but little can be said. Whether the num ber of the included seams has also increased, as is the case further south, or what changes the^ have undergone, or what their total combined thickness is, is entirely unknown. Care ful examinations may show that other beds, besides those to be presently mentioned, which in the north were small and worthless, are here thick and important ; and there is no doubt that valuable seams, now hidden by the soil and loose rock that cover the hills, and of which, at this time, we know nothing, will be found, for it should be borne in mind that western Randolph, the largest part of Barbour, Upshur, and Webster, and parts of Braxton and Lewis, have the Lower Coal Measures and their included seams above water level, while the western portion of Barbour and Upshur, and much of the area of Braxton and Lewis, have also the coals of the Upper Coal Measures. The following partial section, beginning with the Mahon ing sandstone is said to have been obtained in a salt well bored on the Buckhannon river : * * The detailed measurements given in this and the next few pages were ob tained from Notes on the Geology of West Virginia," by Prof. J, J. Stevenson, a paper read before the Am. Phil. Soc,, 5th Feb., 1875. 184 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 1. Rock 60 feet. 2. Coal 15 " 3. Shale . 32 " 4. Sandstone . 40 " 5. Coal 4 " 6. Rock 160 " 7. Coal 4 " 8. Sandstone 40 " 9. Coal 3 " 10. Sandstone... ...120 " 478 feet. There is no evidence in this to show that the boring leached the base of the lower coals. No. 2. Coal, 15 feet, is the Upper Freeport, or the same seam that on Decker s creek, in the Monongalia basin, shows 4 to 5 feet, (page ISO), and at Austin, in the Preston basin, 7 to 9 feet, (page 175). As traced south it seems very much to aug ment in thickness, in some places showing 21|- feet, but its partings so increase that, as a rule, whenever it gets over 12 ft. thick, it is so much cut up that the amount of workable coal in it bears no just ratio to the total size. As an example : In Up-hur county, on Sand Run. several miles south of the Beverly road, it measures : 1. r.iiuminous Shale 5 feet. inches 2. COAI - " 7 " 3. CANNEL, poor 2 " " 4. Shale, slightly carbonaceous 4 " 5. COAL, slaty 1 " 10 6. Shale, slightly carbonaceous 1 " 3 7. CoaL partly cannel 2 " 2 8. Clay, drab. - " 8 " - <). Coal, bony - " 6 " 10. Clay .* - " 8 " 11. Coal, slaty 1 " 1 " 12. Clay, with streaks of coal 1 " Total 21 6 " * On Grassy Run, another tributary of Buckhannon river, as well as on the river itself, 10 or 11 miles below Buckhannon "This section is given in detail to especially correct an erroneous impression that seems to be generally prevalent concerning its value, as it is often as im portant to the interests of a community to know what they have not got, as to know what they have, for accurate knowledge and statements concerning the resources of a, district will often save both its credit and Its money. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 185 town, it is seen in its great thickness, but very much inter- stratified with slate. In fact, at the former place, out of a thickness of 18 feet 1J inches there are only two benches that could be worked. The top one is 5 feet 11 inches and tho lower 3 feet 8 laches, 3 feet 4J inches of partings and thin worthless coals being between. On Roaring creek, in Randolph county, however, we find that out of a thickness of 13 feet 10 inches there are 8 feet 11 inches of good coal, (though quite sulphur ous when examined under a magnifying glass), with partings so thin on the outcrop that they may all save one of 4 inches practically disappear on driving in,* and consequently it is a very valuable seam. On Tygart s Valley river it is seen in many places in Barbour and Taylor, to within a few miles of Grafton, in the latter, but at some of these, though it presents a very handsome appearance to the eye, yet, under a glass, a good deal of sulphur can be distinguished. At Nuzuin s Mills, Marion county, it shows: Cannel, 1 foot ; Bituminous Coal, 4. to 5 feet, and is a good, strong fuel. Near Weston, in Lewis county, this coal-bed is said to occur in the bed of the West Fork river. On Roaring creek and Sand run, Randolph and Upshur counties, we find below this seam, and corresponding to No. 5 of section given on page 184, a persistent coal bed, quite reg ular in thickness, and varying but little from 4 feet. The coal is irised, exceeding rich in bituminous matter, and burns and cokes well. Still lower than this, and quite near the bottom of the Coal Measures, is the seam from which the town of Beverly draws its supply of fuel. As opened by Mr. S. B. Hart, near the pike, the bed is made up of: Coal, sulphurous .......................................................... 4- Black Clay .................... ................ . ............................. 1 Coal ............................................................................ 3 (i Clay ........................................................................... 1 Coal ............................................................................ 1 7 Total... o 7 * Between this point and Beverly, 7 miles from the former, and 9 miles from the latter, on the Stauiiton & Parkershurg Pike, Mr. J. R. Bestor, one of the assist ants to the State Board of Centennial Managers, measured this seam at " Hilla ry bank," where it is partially worked, and gives, in the ascending order: Coal 21 inches ; Hlate 2; Coal, 4 feet; Slate, 2> inches; Coal, 2 feet: total 8 feet 1^ in ches. No solid roof had been reachwd, and coal was found under the floor, which was 8 inches of Slate. 24 186 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. The bottom coal is very inferior, and contains a notable proportion of sulphur. In February of 1876, Mr. Bestor made an examination of a portion ot Barbour county, near the Tygart s Valley river, and reports the following beds. It is to be regretted that the examinations were not sufficiently in detail to identify the various seams, one with the other in the different localities. On B. Woodford s land, 5-J- miles north of Philippi, on the Parkers burg and Webster pike, a 5-J-foot seam of bituminous coal is worked. The bed is, in reality, some 8 feet thick, but the top and bottom are so mixed with slate as to be worth less. This is reported to be very generally found in this part of the country, and is used at nearly every farm house in the neighborhood. The abutments of the bridge at Philippi are on a 5-foot coal seam, which is accessible in low water. The total thickness has not yet been discovered. This, or another seam, is found 3 miles below Philippi, in the riverbed. Thick ness 5 feet, as far as seen, the bottom never having been reached. About 40 feet up the hill, on the east side of the river, at Philippi, is a bed made up of: Coal, 2J- feet; Slate, 2 feet 2 inches ; Coal, 2 feet; total, 6 feet 8 inches. On the west side of the stream it is 5J feet thick, and is worked at various places along the Philippi and Beverly pike. On Geo. Pitman s land, 4 miles south of Philippi, isoj feet bituminous coal, 40 feet above which is 2J feet of carbonate of iron, and- 10 feet higher, a 10-foot coal bank, the upper part being can- nel. This latter is seen again on J. H. Strickland s land 4-J- miles southwest of Philippi, on the east side of the river, and 40 feet over it is 5 to %\ feet of bituminous coal. Near C. T. Fisher s mill, (Ji miles south of Philippi, is a 3-foot 10-inch seam, and near Burlington, 11^ miles south of the same radi ating point, a 3-foot s-eam, both the last bituminous. Before leaving the northern half of the State, mention should be made of THE LOWER COAL MEASURES OF HANCOCK AND BROOKE COUNTIES. These appear in Hancock county, at its northern end, and as they dip to the south they disappear below water level before they reach Brooke county, so that they have to be reached by shafting. Two seams have been proven in the RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 1*7 northern end of Brooke, being 180 and 210 feet, respectively, below high water mark, and each averaging about 4 feet 2 inches thick. No shafting for these has been done in West Virginia, but at Steubenville, on the Ohio side of the river, there are 9 shafts in operation, raising large quantities of coal considered superior for iron making. One of these col lieries has driven their entries under the river to the West Virginia side. These two seams give a value to the land in this neighbor hood of $100 per acre for the " mineral privileges" alone. THE NEW AND KANAWHA RIVEB COAL BASINS. We now come to that district of the State, which, by reason of the variety of its coals, and number of its seams, is to be considered one of the most valuable portions of the Appa lachian coal field, and has helped, in no little degree, to give West Virginia the reputation it enjoys of being one of the richest of any State in the Union in this great element of civ ilization, wealth and prosperity. For this reason it has a peculiar interest to the capitalist, while from a geological point of view, the great development of the coal measures is very important. Going back to a pre-carbonaceous period, it would seem that this section was a deep basin, constantly settling down, and being filled up, while the northern portion of the State was n.early stationary. As an indication of this, it may be noted, that the Vespertine formation at Westernport, on the Poto mac, is, according to Prof. Rogers, 200 feet thick, while in Greenbrier, it is 800 feet. In this latter measurement, he seems to have taken no notice of some 300 feet of rock, that justly belongs to its upper portion. In the north, at the same place, the Umbral (or Sub-carboniferous) limestone is 80 feet, while in the Greenbrier mountain, in Pocahontas, he gives it as 822 feet. On the Potomac the Umbral shales are 838 feet ver sus 1,260 feet in the above mentioned locality in Pocahontas, and the indications are that all three of these still increase in thickness as we come south toward New River, so that at Hinton they may be taken as aggregating 3,500 feet versus 1,128 feet in the north. Continuing on up in the geological column, the Conglomerate is 150 feet thick on the Potomac, and on New river, according to Prof. Wm. M. Fontaine, 1,350 188 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. feet, including the Passage Rocks, while 400 feet takes in the Lower Coal Measures in the one case, and 1,340 feet about embraces them on the Kanawha. Finally, in the north, the Lower Barrens are 400 feet, against 700 feet in the south. By an addition of these figures, and dealing in round num bers, we see that while 2,000 feet of strata were forming on the Potomac, or northern West Virginia, some 6,840 feet were being deposited in the New River and Kanawha region ; or, in other words, durinsr this period, the latter sank about 4,840 feet more than did the former. It is to this that we must look for an explanation of the presence of the various anti-clinal axis in the north, and their absence in the south. As this depression took place, the strain, or tension, of the rock-beds on the eastern border of the basin increased in a direct ratio with the amount of the subsidence ; so that the less the latter the less was the former, and it is a self-evident proposi tion that the less the tension the greater would be the force necessary to break the rocks asunder. Therefore, when the great thrust, or press, on the strata from the east came into effect, it found the strength of the beds on the eastern border of this southern basin so much impaired, that it crushed up the formations adjacent thereto, breaking them into a number of faults of great magnitude, which extend along the southern border of West Virginia, and are nearly coextensive with this depression, and its prolongation, southward, while in the north, the rocks, not being in this very tense state, were not broken, but the Alleghanies and the country to the west were thrown into a series of folds, which became less and less abrupt, as they would -naturally do, the further and further we get from the primary force. The gradation of faults to folds, is well seen in the most westerly of the former, which passes just west of Peters mountain, in the southern part of the State, and is seen near Caldwell Station, in Greenbrier county, at the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad trestle, over Monroe branch. In the former place it brings the Silurian rocks agaist the Vespertine, while in the latter it becomes so small that only the highest members of the Devonian abut against the Vespertine. From this we can see, that, as the strata were elevated along RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 189 this most western fault, their flank would raise the country to the west as a whole, and give it a gradual slope at right angles to the line of elevation, and as the latter was northeast and southwest, so the former would he northwest. This is really the case, for, from this range on the eastern edge of Greenbrier to the Ohio river the formations have one continual northwest downgrade, save here and there where they become nearly horizontal, and there is no good evidence after we get away from the immediate vicinity of the fault, that a single reversal of dip comes in during the whole distance. In the eastern portion of this vast extent of territory, denudation and erosion have carried oft the upper strata, and east of Little Sewell, all of the Lower Coal Measures have disappeared. Going west, the rocks dip faster than the plane of erosion, and thus we get successively into higher and higher strata, so that Gauley mountain .is sufficiently high to catch nearly all of the lower coals. Below the Kanawha Falls the dip still continuing the conglomerate passes out of view ; a short distance west of Charleston, the Lower Measures in their turn sink below water level, and near Pocatalico some 14 miles further on, the highest member of the Lower Barrens is lost to sight, as it goes beneath the bed of the Kanawha. Between these extremes, of gently inclined formations in the south, and folded strata, in the north, must be an inter mediate area where the one passes into the other. As the depression of the southern basin became less and less as it went northerly, the tension, and therefore the cause for the faults diminished, so that somewhere about opposite Hun- tersville, in Pocahontas, this system begins to cease, and north of a line drawn from the northeast corner of Greenbrier to the northern part of Pleasants, the strata commence to appear in folds, and as we proceed towards the Pennsylvania line and away from the modifying influence of the faulted country, so these anti-clinals become more and more marked. NKSV RIVER COALS;. In Mercer county, in the valley of the Blue Stone river, are extensive beds of bituminous co-el, which would seem to belong to the sub-Conglomerate Measures, and are here devel oped to a greater thickness than in any other portion of the State. The examinations in this county have not been sum- 190 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. ciently in detail to enable us to state the number of tbe seams but it may be mentioned that the thickest one reported is 11 feet, although nothing is said as to the amount of clay partings in it, In Summers county, in the hills on the opposite side of New river from Hinton, a 6-foot seam of coal has been opened some 800 feet above the stream, and indications would seem to point out that it is the same as the seam presently to be spo ken of as worked at Quinnimont. A carefully observed section of the strata on New river was made by Prof. Wm. M. Fontaine, at Quinnimont, and on Piney river two miles below. The observations were begun at the former place at the base of the hill, for the sake of obtaining as much as possible of the Umbral shales. As the strata dip westerly, Nos. 1 and 2 of these are carried below water level, so that at Piney, the foot of tbe hill shows only the bottom of No. 3. The measurements marked not seen" were obtained from observations elsewhere, or were given by Mr. S. F. Morris, the engineer at Quinnimont : CM BRAL SHALES. 1. Rod shales, thinly laminated, visible. 2. < iray calcareous sandstone- 0. Variegated shales, with nodnles of carbonate of lime near the top 70 Total for umbral 1 10 TRANSITION STRATA OR PASSAGE ROCKS, FROM THE UMBRAL TO THE CONGLOMERATE SERIES. Feet. 1. Thinly laminated grey tUigrs and calcareous shales, with impure Coal near the top ^0 2. Black fissile slates and sandstones 20 Total for transition "0 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 191 CONGLOMERATE SERIES OX PINKY. Fret. 1. Lower conglomerate 80 2. Black slate with U loot Coal bed (not seen) 11 3. Olive colored murlytes passing into olive and reddish sandstones 100 4. (Wand slate. 1 ft. in. ] Sandstone. 8 " 8 " | G)7, " 8 " 1- 13 Slate, 2 " H " I Coal, " 8 " j 5. Bright red shales and marlytes 30 G. Variegated marlytes 40 7. Ferruginous limestone 8. Sandstones 75 9. Coal system with hiterst ratifications of thin Coal and slate at base, and on. top, sandstones, shales, and nags SO 10 Fine grey flags and sandstones 90 11. Coal, not fully seen 2i 12. Firm grey sandstones 50 i:;. Olive marlytes 40 14. Coal system, at bottom interst ratifications of slate and coal, one seam 1 foot ; on top, Hags passing into firm sands-tones SO 15 Fire clay, and 1-foot Coal seam imperfectly exposed, given as 2 to 4.} -feet of impure splint coal - to 4 lt>. A thick mass of strata not fully exposed at every point, may be divided as follows : (1.0a) sandstone, 50 feet ; (Itib) Coal seam, not seen, given as 2 feet ; (Hie) bluish sandy slates, 60 feet; tHkl) Coal, not seen, given as 20 inches; (Hie) olive grey shaly sandstones, 40 feet. Total.. 150 17. Quinnimont Coal series, which is made up of splint Coal, at bottom, 1 foot 2 inches ; fire clay 2A feet ; semi-bitu minous Coal, 4 feet. Total 7jj 18. Dark blue slate and sandstones 80 to 100 19. Olive grey sandstones and shales 100 20. Black slate, with some thin Coal 10 21. Upper, or Great Conglomerate 150 to 200 Total for Conglomerate Series 1,195 The Coal in No. 20, as seen at Quinnimont, is only 6 inches on the outcrop. In Feb., 1875, it was opened, and the first 8 feet down increased to 3 feet, and was still improving when this thickness was measured. It cokes well, and when heated in a pipe in a smith s forge, gave a clear, white, bright light in such quantities as to suggest a good gas coal. 192 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. The 4-foot seam of Nc. 17 is the most important of this sec tion, being the one where the Quinnimont Furnace draws its yupply of fuel. It is 1,085 feet above New river. The coal is a semi-bituminous, very soft and friable and makes a most superior coke, not being excelled by even the celebrated Con- nelsville coke of Pennsylvania. It is, also, a most excellent steam and domestic article, making a very hot, red fire. It will be spoken of more fully in these respects, in the the chap- devoted to the quality of West Virginia coals. The Great Conglomerate usually forms the tops of the mountains facing New river. As we go back into the country, on each side a second range of hills very soon appears, and in these will be found more coals, which, though usually accredi ted to the Conglomerate Seiies, in reality belong to the Lower Measures. In the vicinity of Raleigh court-house, southwest of Quinnimont, on Buddy s Mill tract, is seen one of the lower beds of this latter, which measures 6 feet 2 inches of soft and very pure bituminous coal, with shale overhead. It is seen again on Loup creek, 15 miles from the court-house, on the Fayetteville road, at McCoy s bank, where it measures 4 feet 10 inches in the breast, and 6 feet on the outcrop. In neither place are there any partings, and it is a most valuable seam, for the most part underlying the whole of the Raleigh plateau. Some distance above this, and about 200 feet below the tops of the hills, at the head of one of the hollows of Big White Stick, occurs a 4j-foot seam, with no parting save about 1 inches of coal dirt and sulphur one or two inches from the roof, which is shale. Continuing in a southwest course from here, the .. Raleigh plateau gives out, and we descend into the valley of the Marshes of Coal, which, cutting far down into the Con glomerate Series, are marked by an absence of any workable seams till we cross over to the Guyandotte and Cherry Pond mountains, on the borders of Wyoming and Boone, in the upper portions of which the Lower Coal Measures and their . included seams again make their appearance; and on Gravel Hollow of Peach Tree creek, near the juncture of the two ranges, four seams belonging to this series have been seen, and measure: . No. 1, 3 feet ; No. 2, 2 feet 8 inches ; No. 3, 3 feet 3-J inches ; No. 4, 4 feet ; all free from partings and containing an exceed- RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 193 ing pure, though friable, article. The distance between Nos. 1 and 2, and Nos. 3 and 5, are each about 50 feet, that between Nos. 2 and 3, was not ascertained. Several hundred feet above No. 4 and the gaps in the mountains, first a 12-foot, and above that a 4-foot seam have been reported. The deep valley position of the head-waters of Coal river is not fully appreciated until the observer stands on the moun tains last mentioned, where, being Home 2,000 feet above the streams below, he has the whole country spread at his feet, and sees that the plateau of Raleigh court-house forms a high eastern rim of the Marsh Fork basin, and is far above its level, while, looking across this, he can note the country rising into White Oak and Flat-Top mountains, over which, so great is the elevation of the observer, can be distinguished the blue out-line of Peter s mountain in Virginia. Passing Irom this point in a west-southwest direction into Wyoming and McDowell, the hills become lower than the Guyandotte mountains, though still high enough to contain not only the Conglomerate Series but a portion of those above. This country is accredited with seams as thick as 12 feet, but there are no reliable observations to justify more than a mere mention of this fact. Returning now to Quinnimont, and proceeding towards the tier of hills back from the river, the same seams observed in the Raleigh plateau ought to be found. However, as they have never been examined, their thickness is a matter of con jecture, but as Big Sewell mountain has a far greater height than the region immediately to the southwest of the river, it will contain a good deal more of the Lower Coal Measures, and hence more seams may be expected. Continuing northeast into the western part of Nicholas, and into W r ebster, the gen eral elevation of the country is below Sewell, consequently the hills contain only lower strata, and the hill tops west of the Forks of Cherry river are made up of the conglomerate, all the upper coals having been denuded off, and on Hominy, Cherry, Cranberry, Williams, and the heads of Gauley and Elk rivers, are to be found only the conglomerate coals, very thin and very unimportant.* The largest seam that we know of in the this region is 3 feet 7 inches. It i* seen on Panther run. of Gauley rivor, near the bridle-path from Kentucky to the Promised Land, 25 194 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Resuming the northwest line of examination, the New river basin becomes more shallow, and the strata begin to feel the effects of the dying out of the faults, and the beginning of the folds on the eastern border of the State, and we notice that they hrctme more tilted, so that when we reach Rich mountain, in Randolph, they are very much steeper than when seen on New River. This line of observation from Wyoming to Randolph has been chosen because it is about the eastern edge of the Lower Coal Measures, while that of the conglomerate series may be said to be a line joining Rich mountain and Flat-Top, as explained in the beginning of this chapter. Returning row to Quinnirnont, the course of observation leads us down New River. To better appreciate the dip of the strata, a---, we go west, I will, whenever possible, refer to the one horizontal line of tide water, so that it will be plainly seen how any individual stratum becomes lower and lower. In some cases these figures will not be exact, but very close approximations, not varying more than 15 or 20 feet from reality. About 16 miles, by railroad, below Quinnimont, in the hill opp site Dimmock station, two seams have been exposed. By aneroid measurement, they are 437 and 703 feet respectively above New river, and both in the conglomerate series. The first, by the side of the path going up the hill, is 4-J feet thick, with no partings, and a very pure and fine bituminous coal, much harder than the average of the New river coals. The second one is a few feet above the level of Rush creek, which mouths at Dimmock, measures o feet of clear coal, and was worked by Gary Bibbs. Twenty miles from Quinnimont, by the railroad, at the mouth of Ephraim s creek, the following seams were opened by J. A. McGuffin, Esq., Superintendent of the Longdale Coal and Iron Company: RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 195 Estimated Heights Above Tidewater. Heights above New River. Thickness of Seams. 1,020 1 555 535 New River Level No 1 Seam 2 feet, inches 1 655 635 2 1 " " 1 695 675 3 > 6 " 1 707 687 4 ) " 8 " 1 807 787 5 > " 6 " 1 907 887 6 [ " " 2,135 2 185 1,115 1 165 About the top of tht Great Conglomerate- No. 7 Seam 4 " 10 2,375 1,355 8 " 4 " 6 " No. 5 of the table is the seam worked at Quinnimont, but here dwindled to 2ij feet. At that place it is 2,250 feet above tide, while here it is only 1,807 feet a dip of 443 feet in a straight line of 10 miles, or 44 feet to the mile. No. 7, the first seam of the Lower Coal Measures, is the only one worked at this place. The mine is about a mile further down the river, and a quarter of a mile above Sewell depot, and shows at that place an average thickness of 3J feet, yi eld ing a very soft and tender coal that makes a most excellent coke, which is used by the Longdale Coal & Iron Co. in their furnace at Longdale, Alleghany county, Va. The first open ing on the seam was at the place noted in the section, but a nipping down of roof caused an abandonment of the work. Ten miles below Sewell, at Hawk s Nest, on the land of the Gauley Kanawha Coal Co., the following partial section has been made : i !i "&! s > r& ~" 03 t> ^ &C| Sfc l "~ l Thickness of Seams. 751 928 177 Level of New River. No 1 Seam, about 2 feet inches 1,351 1,729 600 978 Top of Conglomerate on East side of Mill Creek. No. 2 Seam Bituminous 11 " " 1,929 1,178 3 Splint (?) 3 ^o 4 feet 2,079 1,328 4 . 4 feet 8 inches 2,163 2,220 1,412 1,469 5 Splint and Cannel 6 10 " " 3 " 6 " 2,353 1,602 7 Splint 9 " " 2,363 1,612 Black Flint Ledge. 196 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. In comparing this with the section at Sewell, the top of the Conglomerate falls from 2,135 feet to 1,351 feet, or, as the straight line, measured on the dip, is between 8 and 9 miles, so the dip will be between 97 and 85 feet per mile. This has brought the Conglomerate so low that Gauley mountain, as it rises above, catches 1,000 feet of the Lower Coal Measures. Seam No. 1, seen on the railroad, going up Mill creek, is the Quinnimont that has dipped, from an elevation of 2,250 feet, at the place whence it derives its name, to 928 feet at the pre sent point of observation. Seam No. 2 is the one now operated by the Gauley Kanawha Coal Co., at the head of West Lakes Branch, a fork of Mill creek. It produces a very fine and pure, hard, bituminous coal, and has four partings in it, measuring 10, 3, 3, and 5, in ches, respective]}^. These vary in different parts of the mine, some of them getting thinner as the work is carried to the northwest, till, on the other side of the mountain, the com pany s engineer reports that the seam shows 9 feet of clear coal in one bench. Nos. 3, 4, and 6, have not been worked at all. No. 5 was opened for the sake of its Cannel, which is of a very poor quality. Beginning at the floor this seam shows : Coal, 2 feet; Slate, 2 inches; Coal, 2 feet ; Slate, 2 inches ; Coal, 10 inches ; Slate, 2 feet 10 inches ; Coal, 2 feet. No. 7. The opening on this shows magnificent splint, having in it 17 inches of bony or bad coal. The. Black flint Ledge, which is nearly at the mountain top, has usually been taken by myself and others as the top of the Lower Coal Measures, which would therefore have a thick ness of about 1,000 feet. To do this, however, is wrong, for on the Kanawha, in the vicinity of Paint creek, at least 200 feet of strata that contain valuable workable beds come above it, arid above these appears the Mahoning sandstone, which, six miles above Charleston, at Maiden, * is 140 feet thick, accord- * At this place the Mahoning rests on the Flint, showing that as we come west, the intermediate strata give out. AVhether the reverse of this is true, as we go east towards the Hawk s Nest, is not known, as there are no data from which we can reason, for the Mahoning is every where above the tops of the hills. In fact the sections in the vicinity of Paint creek are not sufficiently in detail to enable us to say if it is found even there, and future observations may show that the strata between it and the Flint are even thicker than have been given. RESOURCES OP WEST VIRGINIA. 197 ing to Prof. W. B. Rogers, so that to the measurement at Hawk s Nest could be added some 340 feet before the Lower Barrens would be reached, making the Lower Coal Measures of this country 1,340 feet thick. In the section given for Hawk s Nest, not all of the coals of the Lower Coal Measures are shown, but only those which have been exposed and measured by the company working the property , and the=e show no less than 6 workable seams, with an aggregate thickness of 30i- feet of solid coal, exclusive of partings. Continuing our observations down New river and into the Kanawha valley, we see the Conglomerate sinking lower and lower, till at Kanawha Falls it is but a short distance above the stream, leaving all the mountains rising above made up wholly of the Lower Coal Measures, and a short distance be low Loup creek it sinks below the water level to rise no more until the north-western margin of the Alleghany basin is reached in the State of Ohio. THE KANAWHA COALS. The main body or principal thickness of the Lower Coals may be said to have their practical eastern margin in Gauley mountain, for beyond this the strata rapidly rise above the hills, and are lost in the air, leaving only the lower seams as found in the Raleigh plateau and the adjacent country. A line drawn from the mouth of Elk river, in a northwest direction, passing near the mouth of Big Otter, in Clay county, is the general western boundary, for the Mahoning sandstone comes down to water level on or about this course. Throughout the whole of the distance across this area are to be found various seams of the very finest qualities of splint, cannel, and bituminous coals. The steep hillsides readily expose them ; the country is cut, and counter-cut in all direc tions by numerous streams, up which narrow-gauge railroads can be run with the most favorable grades ; there are no faults to seriously interfere with the operations of the coal miner, and the merchant and manufacturer can find every class of fuel, save anthracite that they may need lor the use and com fort of mankind. In no other part of the Appalachian coal field are the Lower Coal Measures developed to such an extent. 198 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. contain a greater number of workable seams, or more varie ties of coals, or better or purer fuel. After leaving Hawk s Nest, the next important disclosure has been made by the Cannelton Coal Company, 9 miles below the Kanawha Falls. A partial section of the hill shows 7 seams above water level. Beginning at the river : Sfam No. 1, bituminous coal, is 4 feet thick, but not worked. Seam No. 2, .some 100 feet above the river, is about 7 Teet thick on the average, has two slight partings, and produces a gas coal of so high a grade as to make it rank one of the most valuable beams of the Kanawha Valley. This same bed is worked just across the river by the Coal Valley Coal Com pany. A half mile below Cannelton it is opened again, but not worked, and shows 6 feet 3^ inches, with 3 inches of shale 2 feet from the floor. Seams Nos. 3 and 4, are seen on the path leading from the old opening on No. 2 to the " Stockton Seam," No. 6. They measure 3J and 4 feet on the outcrop, and have never been worked. Seam No. 5, is splint coal, 5 feet thick, and not worked. Seam No. 6, is 8 or 9 feet above No. 5, 750 feet above the river, and 1,350 feet above tide. On an average it is 7 feet thick in the mine, and is made up of cannel coal at the bot tom, which averages about 3 feet 6 inches, and is very vari able, and a splinty bituminous coal, known in market as " Cannelton Splint," on top. The whole seam is now worked, though for a long time only the cannel was shipped. This and Peytona cannel quote higher in the eastern markets than any other American cannel. The Black Flint Ledge is 12 to 14 feet above No. 6, or 767 feet above the river, and 1,367 feet above tide. Seam No. 7, shows 8 feet thick near the mouth of the open ing ; with 14 inches of slate 10 inches from the floor, leav ing 6 feet of clear coal above. This last is a mixture of hard bituminous and splint, yielding a first class article for steam, domestic wants, and use in the raw state in the blast fur nace, RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 199 A recapitulation of these seams shows that there is here, above water level, No. 1 4 feet 3i 4 b . / 7 8 , 38* feet. Including the partings, which are small. Paint creek empties into the Kanawha from the south side, 5 miles below Cannelton. In the hill at the mouth of the Left-Hand Fork, about 4 miles from the river, the following section was made in lS73. The height above tide is obtained by allowing Paint creek a fall of 20 feet per mile, and adding the result for 4 miles to the elevation of the mouth of the creek, which is 570 feet above tide. Height above Tidewater. Height above the Creek. Thickness of Seams. 650 690 702 713 742 763 778 857 892 950 959 997 1,020 1,037 1,080 1,113 1,166 1,208 1,274 1,285 1,295 1,317 1,341 1,624 40 52 63 92 113 128 207 242 300 309 347 370 377 420 . 453 506 548 614 625 635 657 691 974 Le\ tl I: Sea Bla Sea Toi el oi le m ^and m, > ckF in,]S < )0f Paint Creek at outh of the Left Fork, o. 1 2 feet, 6 inch 3 2 3 6 < 2 2 Out Crop i 2 feet, 6 inch Out Crop 6 feet, inch 3 6 11 4 4 4 3 6 2 Out Crop 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 . 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 lint Ridge. r o. 19 20 . 21 Hill. Total thickness, inclucl- ing partings 51 feet, 10 inch 200 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. There are, in this, 8 seams 3 feet thick and over, measuring 38 feet 10 inches, including the partings that may be present. The next section is made 5 miles below the mouth of Paint creek, on the land of Col. Wm. Dickinson, opposite Coalburg. It is complete, showing every seam in the hill. _0 v^ j bOO) c CH ~ ^~ .? 563 589 (508 \ 626 J 655 685 1 7331 819 884 Qtt 26 45.V 63 92 122} 170| 256 321 2Q9 Le < vel of im, Is Kanawlia Iviver. o. 1 > 4... f> 6.. . s < Thickness of Seams. ,046-1 ,085 .131 ^2181 1^393 I 4731 4831 522" 568 582J 055 i 830 A 10 11 12 13 Black Fl nt Ledge. Seam, ISTo. 14 " 15 .., Top of Hill. 4 feet 6 in dies I) (j 7 6 (J 6 Total thickness of seams ...|54 feet, 3 inches . The top seam. No. 15, shows 4^ feet of coal at the bottom, then 2 feet of slate, 4J feet of coal, 2 feet of slate, and 2 feet of coal. In mining, the upper 2 feet of slate would mo?t probably be left as the. roof, so that this would leave 9 feet of workable coal out of the 15 feet. This, together with the other eight seams, 3 feet thick and ovej, and including what partings may be present therein, gives an aggregate thickness of 41 feet 3 inches. At Cannelton, seam No. 2, (7 feet thick) is about 667 feet below the Black Flint ledge, and belo\v No. 2 is a 4-foot seam (No. 1). Assuming that this well marked stratum of flint has this same relative position to the seams below it in the last two sections (the Dickinson and Paint .creek) in the Paint creek measurement, the 7-foot seam should be 42 feet RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 201 below, and in the Dickinson section, 85 feet below water level. The 4-foot seam is of course still lower, but whether these thicknesess continue from Cannelton to the other points, only an actual sinking to them can determine. SYNOPSIS OF THE SECTIONS OF THE LOWER COAL MEAS URES ON THE KANAWHA AND NEW RIVERS. Locality. a .a * i 1 j,^3 o | Aggregate Thickness of Nature of the Sections. +a C Seams, including part- : "o_S ^ 1 ^ : 3,5 * I | i Hawk s Nest Partial g 41 ft. 2 in., to 4 J ft. 2 in. 38 " (> " 38 " 10 " 141 u 3 " Cannelton Paint Creek.... Oppoisite Coal burg Partial above Water Level Complete above Water Level s Complete above Water Level 9 Other sections could be given, but these are deemed suffi cient to show, better than could any words, the great richness of the Lower Coal Measures in this region, and I would call especial attention to the uniformity that exists in the aggre gate thickness of workable seams.* In tbis connection it is well to state that as we recede from the Kanawha river to wards the heads of the many creeks which flow into it from each side, the seams become thicker. I have personally no ticed this up Paint and Campbell s creek, and on Gauley river, 8 or 9 miles from its mouth. But more openings and extended observations will have to be made to enable me to say posi tively whether this, as a general thing, is so, or whether the increase may not be confined to individual localities. To elucidate such important points as this, is one great argu ment in favor of the necessity of a careful State geological survey. "Taking the specific gravity of coal at 1.3, 40 feet would give 48,000 tons pet- acre, from which, if even one-third is deducted for partings and waste in min ing, there would still Be left 32,000 tons per acre, which, at 12% cents royalty, the common oue iu the district, would givean income of $4,000 to the OWIHT. 202 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. From Hawk s Nest to Cannelton, (20 miles by river and 10 miles on the dip), the Black Flint Ledge falls 1,000 feet, or about 100 feet per mile. Continuing down the Kaiiawha it becomes very much flatter, and in some cases horizontal, until Burning Springs, 21 miles further down the river, is reached, and from that point to where it disappears below the water, (8 miles by road and some 6 miles on the dip), it once more resumes its slope of 100 feet per mile to the mouth of Elk river, at Charleston. Between these extremes of Gauley mountain on the east, and Charleston on the west, these Lower Coals have an average width of about thirty miles, and a point a little below the mouth of Paint creek is about the centre of the belt. Drawing a line North 60 degs. East and South 60 degs. West, receding from each side of the Kanawha into Nicholas, Cla} r , Braxton, and Webster, on the one hand, and Boone, Lin coln, Logan, and Wayne, on the other, these vast amounts of coals still continue to be found, and in every direction abun dant evidence of them is discovered ; sometimes they form the bed of a stream, or crop out to view in the cliffs and steep mountain sides ; in other places they are exposed by slides on the hills, and are everywhere indicated by the presence of lumps of coal lying, smooth and water worn, in the beds of the creeks. Going North 30 degs. West, or South 30 degs. East, from this axis, the Measures rise in the latter case till they pass into the air above the hills, while in the former, they gradually dip below the water level, and are lost to sight, though shafting will still reach them in many counties where at present they lie untouched. The Lower Barren Measures on the Kanawha. Of these very* little can be said beyond the fact that they have been estima ted at 700 feet thick, and probably contain one workable seam of 5 or 6 feet, as seen at the head of Two Mile creek, of the Kanawha, some 3J miles from the river. On Elk river, above Clay court house, in Clay and Braxton, they become of great importance, from the fact they bear several beds of valu- r able Iron Ore, which are now worked by the Elk River Iron and Coal Company. Mention will be made of those in the chapter on Iron. THE UPPER COAL STRATA OF WEST yillGINIA. / Having now perhaps at the risk of prolixity described RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 203 those portions of West Virginia which have to look to the Lower Coal Measures for their fuels, we would draw attention to those sections where the Upper Coal Measures form the im portant series. On reaching the upper limit of the Lower Barrens, the cir cumstances which gave rise to the enormous development of the Lower and Conglomerate Measures seem to have ceased, and in the south the formation of new strata was slow, but in the north very fast, so that, while in the former case there were only about 400 feet of Upper Coals and Upper Barrens form ing ; in the north, as in Monongalia county, about 600 feet of the former, and some 1,200 feet of the latter were deposited. There is also another marked difference between the two sec tions, viz.: on the Kanawha the Upper Measures contain prin cipally shales, no limestone of any great consequence, and only one workable coal seam* the Pittsburgh which, at Raymond City, measures 6J feet ; while in the north as in Monongalia they contain heavy ledges of sandstone, some 8 or 9 strata of limestone, aggregating 50 or 60 feet, and often yielding most excellent limes, both hydraulic and agricul tural; and five workable coal seams, having an aggregate thickness of 28 to 33 feet, and containing, as a rule, fewer partings than exist in the larger seams of the Lower Coals on the Kanawha. In the Upper Barrens there is no evidence that any coal seams exist in the south, but in the north there are several, though none are workable. As might be expected from what has been said, all the mines, save only the Austin in Preston county, in the north ern portion of the State, are on the seams of the Upper Meas ures ; while in the south, with the exception of the Raymond Coal Company, and the Oak Ridge Coal Company, in Putnam county, and the Hartford City, &c., mines, in Mason county, all working the " Pittsburgh," the present mines look to the Lower Coal and Conglomerate Measures for their supply. In preparing the following account of the Upper Coal Measures, we are largely indebted, especially in the general description of the beds, to Prof. J. J. Stevenson, Professor of Geology in the University of New York, and of the Geologi- *Tliere may be one or two more, but on this nothing definite can be said till the country is more thoroughly explored. 204 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. cal Survey of Pennsylvania, who has paid more attention to them, as developed in this State, than any one else. The Upper Coal Region embraces all that portion of West Virginia, in which the exposed rocks overlie the Pittsburgh coal bed. The eastern and southern limits are marked by the outcrop line of that coal, which passes through Monongalia, Marion, Taylor, Barbour, Upshur, Braxton, Clay, Kanawha, Putnam, and Cabell counties, and crosses the Ohio river in the vicinity of Guyandotte. Westward this area extends into Ohio, and northward into Pennsylvania. Its northern line crosses the Ohio river near Steubenville. No close survey of this region has ever been made. Its eastern limit was studied out, and several reconnoissance lines were run across it by the State Surveyors during the survey under Prof. W. B. Rogers, but only scanty references to the work N ere made in the annual reports. Almost the only material respecting this region now accessible, is to be found in the brief memoirs published by Prof. Stevenson, in 1872-3-5, and these refer exclusively to the northern portion. Within this region, a small area, embracing the greater part of Ritchie, Wirt, Wood, and PJeasants counties, has been deprived of the coals by the oil break. The effects of this dis turbance extended westward to the Ohio river, from a line pass ing almost N. and S. through Ellenboro, on the Parkersburg Branch of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. How far this line extends north and south from that place has not been determined. Aside from this limited space, the whole region is underlaid by the coals of the upper group : but as the thick ness of the rocks in this series is not far from 1,800 feet, where fully exposed, the more important beds are so deeply buried in some counties that many years must pass before they can be made available. All the coals attain their greatest thickness between the Pennsylvania border, near the Monongahela river and the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and diminish somewhat rapidly southward, so that before reaching the Parkersburg and Staunton pike, in Lewis and Gilmer, they, with the exception of the Pittsburgh, have become compara- tively worthless. The principal coals of the upper series are known as the Pittsburgh, Redstone, Sewicklcy, Waynesbury and Washington, RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 205 having received these names from localities in Pennsylvania. Besides these, several other beds occur, but as they barely cross the line from Pennsylvania into West Virginia, and never become of any value in that State or this, it is unnecessary to make farther reference to them here. Of all these, the Pittsburgh alone maintains its importance throughout, as far as the examinations go. The availa ble area of this bed, therefore, is of economical interest, and we give its limits in detail, as observed by Prof. Stevenson in 1874 : The eastern limit of the. Pittsburgh bed, and therefore of the Upper Coal Measures, aside from small outlying areas, is marked by a line beginning on Cheat river, near the Pennsyl vania border, in Monongalia ccunty, and extending west of south to Fairmont, in Marion county, crossing the Tygart s Valley river a little distance above that town ; thence irregu larly to Pruntytowii, in Taylor county, where it turns east by south to Flemitigton. From this point it follows a south of southeast course almost to Tygart s Valley river, thence south ward, crossing the Buckhannon river near the Upshur county line. There it again turns east by south, and so continues almost to the Middle Fork of that river, where it is changed to southwest, which is maintained to the line between Upshur and Lewis counties. From this point to where it crosses Pocotalico -river, near the Great Kanawha, in Putnam county, it has not been followed. The extreme eastern exposure occurs in Upshur county, on the Staunton pike, about five miles east from Buckhannon. The western limit, or the line along which the coal passes below the surface, cannot be given accurately without entering into great detail, as it is farther east or west, as the case may be, according to the depth to which the streams have eroded their channel-ways. The extreme limit may be regarded as marked by a line which begins at the Pennsylvania line, about four miles west from the Monongahela river, and crosses that river about a mile below Fairmont. It lies a little west from the West Fork River, and crosses Harrison county from Shinnston to Wolfe s Summit, on the railroad ; thence it passes southwestward through Lewis county, reaching Gilmer, near Troy, on the Staunton pike, and the Little Kanawha, just below Glenville, 206 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Owing to the abruptness of the Laurel Hill anticlinal, the area is very narrow at the north, hardly more than six or seven miles wide, but southward this fold becomes gentler and the area rapidly widens, until, along 4 the Staunton pike, the coal is available for a distance of nearly 40 miles. The coal has its greatest thickness, ten feet, at the Pennsylvania line, and diminishes south and southeast, becoming only five feet at Glenville, and barely four feet at Buckhannon. In the Ohio Pan-Handle the same coal is available. There it is known as the Wheeling coal. Openings in it are numer ous from Moundsville to a little way above Steubenville. MONONGALIA COUNTY. The Pittsburgh Bed is worked on both sides of the Mono nga- hela river, and varies in thickness from eight to somewhat more than ten feet, in this estimate is included only the workable portion, for above that, and separated from it by clay is a roof-division, which is from zero to four feet thick. The coal in this county is quite variable in quality, but for the most part is an excellent fuel. It is hardly equal to that ob tained from the same bed at Connellsville, in Pennsylvania. The Redstone Coal is exceedingly variable. In this county it is exposed on both sides of the Monongahela river, near the Pennsylvania line, where it is from three to four feet thick. In some localities it is a little better than a richly bituminous shale, while in others, not far distant, it is one of the hand somest coals in the whole trough west of the Alleghanies. No" sulphur is usually apparent to physical examination, but chemical analysis shows that it is present to the extent of from 1.75 to 2.8 per cent. The coke is hard and bright, but sometimes shows as much as 2.85 per cent, of sulphur, which, however, seems to be present in combination with lime and magnesia, and not as sulphide of iron, and consequently will not be so injurious for iron making. The Sewickley Coal is from 70 to 100 feet above the Pittsburgh, and is quite as variable as the Redstone. It is very thin where exposed east from the Monongahela river, but west from that stream, it is a very valuable bed. On Robinson r s, Dent s and Scott s runs, it is found varying from 4 to 6 feet. A parting of cannel occurs at irregular distances from the base. The coal is comparatively free burning, would bear shipping well, and RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 207 contains from 1.5 to 3 per cent, of sulphur, which exists mostly as sulphate of lime and magnesia, and not as iron pyrites, and is not, therefore, as deleterious as the percentage would seem to indicate. It is a very handsome coal, and in many places, says Prof. Stevenson, is well fitted for gas making. The Waynesburg Coal is a very persistent seam, but is marked by a constant diminution southward, so that like the last two beds, it becomes of no economical value whatever. It is found from 190 to nearly 400 feet above the Pittsburgh, the interval being greatest near the Pennsylvania line. It attains its greatest thickness in West Virginia, in this county, where it is a double bed, occasionally triple. The total thickness, including the clay partings, varies from 6 feet 8 inches to nearly 10 feet. The clay sometimes thins out so as to be barely perceptible, while at others, it thickens up and forms a "horseback," which is grievously annoying to the miners. MARION COUNTY. Tlie Pittsburgh Coal has been mined very extensively, and shipped for use iu the manufacture of gas, for which purpose it ranks very high. The bed in this county varies from 7 to 10 feet thick, and averages 8 feet, and shows no roof division. The percentage of sulphur is much larger than in the Yough- iogheny coal, but compensation for this drawback is found in the fact that it yields a much greater amount of gas per ton. Experiments have been made to ascertain the value of this as a coking coal, but they have not proved altogether satisfactory. The coke is very compact and handsome, in these respects ex celling the Connellsville, but the percentage of sulphur is so great as to render it utterly unfit for use in smelting iron, even when mixed with Connellsville in the proportion of two to one. It is a very excellent steam coal, but the distance from the eastern cities prevents it going on those markets as such. The Redstone Coal, about 80 feet above the last, is from 3 to 6 feet thick, and, as far as one may judge from the outcrop, it is a good article. The SewicJdey Coal is from 100 to 150 feet above the last, and verages 3 feet thick. Tlie Waynesburg Coal, as seen in the eastern portion of the county, is high up in the hills, and only 3 to 4 feet thick. 208 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Further northwest along the railroad, it is mined for local use. It is]extremely variable in character, showing from 2 to 4 bench es of coal, of which the bottom one varies from 3 to 4 feet. TAYLOR COUNTY. The Pittsburgh Coal. In the southwestern portion of this county, this underlies some 10,000 acres, of which 5,000 acres are now owned by foreign capital, and the rest by the farmers whose land it underlies. It is found high up in the rolling or hill lands, and is about 9 feet thick, yielding an article of high reputation for gas, and producing an excellent coke. It is now worked by the Tyrconnel and the Flemington Mines. This seam appears, Irom the reports on it, to be so high, that the hills do not catch the other seams that lie above the Pittsburgh, though below it we find three coal beds, measuring 5, 4 and 3^ feet, respectively. At the mouth of Lost run, on the Tygart s Valley river, there is also reported a 7-foot seam of cannel and bituminous, the former being 2 feet thick (and of very inferior quality), 18 inches from the roof. The infor mation concerning all these is not suHicient.to enable .them to be identified. HARRISON COUNTY. The Pittsurcjh Coal in this county is mined extensively at Clarksburg, Wilsonburg, and Coketon for shipment. Here it shows the same defects and excellencies as at Fairmont. The percentage of sulphur is considerable, but the amount of vola tile combustible matter is very great. At Clarksburg the bed is 8 feet 10 inches ; at Wilsonburg, from 7 feet 6 inches to 8 feet 4 inches, and at Coketon, from 5 feet to 7 feet. This is a solid mass, broken about midway by a thin parting of clay. Above this the coal is hard, but below, it is soft. The base for about one foot, is usually poor and not marketable. This feature, however, is characteristic of the bed throughout its whole extent. We have been unable to learn that any careful attempts have been made to test the value of this as a coking coal. Pyrites is largely present, but it occurs mostly as lumps which are easily separated. The larger portions can easily be removed as the coal is taken out, and washing would take out the rest. The coke is so handsome that the experiment is well worth trying. The Pittsburgh disappears at Wolf s Summit, on the railroad, where it is six feet thick. From this point RESOURCES OF WEST VIEGI^IA. 209 to within one eighth of a mile of Ellenboro, it is at no place more. than 400 feet below the surface, and from Long Run to West Union, it can be reached at less than 200 feet. The Redstone Coal may be seen at several localities along the railroad, but varies so in thickness as to be utterly useless. At Wilsonburg it is one foot thick and twenty-five feet above the Pittsburgh; while at Coketon it is four feet thick and twenty feet above that coal ; and at Wolfe s Summit it is only three inches thick. On the Staunton pike it could not be found. Seicickly Coal. The " blossom of this has not been obser ved north of the railroad. At Clarksburg it is found 70 feet above the Pittsburgh, and 2J feet thick, but no attempt has been made to ascertain its character. At Wolfe s Summit, 8 miles west of Clarksburg, it is only 2 inches thick, and one the Staunton pike it has not been found. Waynesburg Coal. Of this we have no information. MARSHALL, OHIO, AND BROOKE COUNTIES. In Marshall, the Pittsburgh Coal is worked as far south as Moundsville, though at that place it is a little below water level. As we go south it could easily be reached by shafting. As we come north it rises above the level of the Ohio river, and is extensively mined in the vicinity of Wheeling for steam and puddling uses. The working portion of it here averages about 5 feet. Above this comes in a slate parting from J to 26 inches thick, and then the roof coals, which are from 24 to 20 inches, divided in the middle by a thin slate parting, which often swells to 6 or 8 inches. It is available as far north as Steubenville, being within easy reach in many localities in Brooke county. The Redstone and SewicUy seams in this district are usually almost worthless. The latter is separated into two beds, of which the upper is occasionally 2 or 3 feet thick. This is mined near Triadelphia, in Ohio county, but is of only local importance. The Waynesburg is very thin in this portion of the State, seldom more than 2 feet thick and always of poor quality. The following section of Chapline hill, at Wheeling, made by Messrs. Hubbard and Gilchrist, may be interesting as showing the seams of coal that have been discovered in this locality : 27 210 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Character of Seam. Thickness. I I . J 07 88 90 202 249 No. 1. Pittsburgh Seam, the lower 5 feet workable,! and the rest of slates and roof coals not worked...!? to 9 ft. Ab. 2. Divided near the middle by a slate parting, the portion below being but little better than a bituminous shale. At Jim s Run, 5 miles south,! this seam is 4 feet 9 inches, making a fair fuel for! domestic use j:} ft. No. 3. In two layers, separated by a 4 inch parting. I The lower layer is 14 inches. The #eam is not worked in this vicinity ;2 ft. 4 in. No. 4. Coal ! |i ft. Ab. 5. Coal J8 in. No. 0. One foot of the lower part is an impure can- nel, while the upper portion is a block coal, and isj good for domestic uses , |3 ; ft. No. 7. Slate parting in th e mid die 1 1 1 f t . No. 8. Mas a 5-inch parting near the middle. Lo-j cally used for domestic purposes, but is not a de- , sirable coal [5 ft. \No. 9. Coal ._ | 9 in. LEWIS COUNTY. The Pittsburgh Coal is accessible along the Staunton Pike all across the couuty. It varies from 4J feet to nearly 8 feet, the thickness increasing northward, though at one open ing on the Pike it approaches the maximum. It is worked only to supply local Demands. Of the Redstone, Sewickley, and Waynesburg Coals in this county, we have no information, though they no doubt exist. GILMEB COUNTY. The Pittsburgh Coal in this county is from 5 to 5J feet. The quality is good, but it seems to have rather more sulphur in it than at Clarksburg, though no analysis has been made to. definitely settle this point. As is the case in Lewis county, it is worked only to supply the local demands. Of the Re stone and Sewickly, we have no information beyond the fact that they exist, but of the thickness nothing is said. The Waynesburg Coal is rarely more than 2 feet thick in this county. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 211 UPSHUR COUNTY. In this county the openings on the Pittsburgh ar quite numerous in the vicinity of Buckhannon, where the thickness varies from 3 feet 9 inches to 4 feet. Farther north, near the Barbour county line, it is 5 fe:-t 6 inches. The quality is superior, and no doubt the coal would prove well \vorlh work ing for market, notwithstanding its thinness. Of the other seams of the Upper Coal Measures we can state nothing, except the fact that they exist, but of the thickness and quality there are no reports. DODDRIDGE COUNTY. Here the Pittsburgh, Redstone, and Sewicldy Coals seem to be below water level, and would have to be reached by shafting. The Waynesburg Coal.-^-A.n opening is seen near the Bait. & Ohio R. R., just west from Wolfe s Summit, where the coal is 4 feet thick and divided mid-way by a parting of clay. At a little beyond this it goes under, but is s?-en again near the mouth of Long Run, and is available thence to West Union, there being numerous openings along the railroad, It is mined at W< st Union, where it is in three benches, and has a total thickness, including the clays, of 4 feet. The middle bench is 31 inches thick. BRAXTON, CLAY, CALHOUN, KOANE, AND KANAWHA COUN TIES. In portions of Braxton, Clay, and Kanawha, that lie north west of Elk river, and in southern Calhoun and Roane, the seams of the Upper Coal Measures exist above water level, but it is impossible to speak of their quality or thickness, as no explorations have ever been made in these districts. PUTNAM COUNTY. The Pittsburgh Coal, is worked at Raymond City and Oak Ridge, containing in the former case an average of 6 feet 2 inches of workable coal in the lower bench, and in the latter about 4 feet. Of the other coals but little is known. CABEL.L AND MASON COUNTIES. Here the Pittsburgh is seen cropping out along the Ohio. At the Hartford Coal Company Mines it is from 5 to 6 feet thick, but in the main portions of the counties it, as well as the others, are below water level, and would be reached by shaft- 212 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. ing. At West Columbia, in Mason, it is 100 feet above the river, and has a seam about 2 feet thick, 70 feet above and 30 feet below it. THE OTHER COUNTIES ALONG THE OHIO. In these and Wirt, and the main portions of Roane, Cal- houn, and Ritchie, all the coals would have to be reached by shafting. In Wetzel, on Fishing Creek, we find a seam reported 10 feet thick, and in Tyler, some of the Upper Coals may be above water level, and in Cabell the Pittsburgh out crops, but beyond these facts, we know, at this time, nothing definite concerning their values. Above the four seams that have been described as occurring in the Upper Coal Measures, is found a fifth one, called The Washington Coal, which seems to be confined to the northern half of the State. It is often 3 feet thick, and is found at from 300 feet to nearly 600 feet above the Pittsburgh, the smallest interval being" along the Parkercburg Branch of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. It is referred to here simply because it is of local importance as a source of supply, where all the other coals, already described, are so deeply buried as to be unavailable, except at great expense. It occurs in Monongalia, Marion, Wetzel, Doddridge and eastern Ritchie, as well, no doubt, as in Tyler. Xo examination of the latter county has been made, so that a definite statement respecting the availability of the coal in it is impossible. The coal from this bed is poor, very slaty, and contains much sul phur. At the same time, as it is frequently quite thick, it is a source of fuel not to be despised, especially when the Pitts burgh is several hundred feet under the surface. In this Upper Coal Series we find in the northern tier of counties a great mass of limestone, which grows thinner and poorer southward. It is represented by a few thin and earthy beds on the Parkersburg Branch of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, but has almost completely disappeared in the south ern portion of the Upper Coal Region. This limestone is finely exposed along the Ohio river in the vicinity of Wheel ing, where it has been quarried for use as a flux in iron smelt ing. Some of the layers are well adapted to this purpose, and others, which are injurious as flux, yield a very fair hydrau lic cement if carefully prepared, RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 213 COAL IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE. On page 163, the general eastern boundary of the coal field was given, but it was mentioned that small, though unim portant, patches of coal are found still more easterly. We see these in Greenbrier and Pocahontas counties, in the valley of the Greenbrier river, but the coal -5 occur in the geological formation next below the true Coal Measures, and are called the " Vespertine Coals," because they are found in the geological horizon of that name. There are several seams, but all thin, and worthless, though one them has a local expansion of 3 feet on the land of D. C. B. Caldwell, near Ronceverte Depot, in Greenbrier county. A short distance from this place, at the railroad bridge over the river, it has split up into a num ber of strings, and is of not the slightest value. ,Near the White Sulphur Springs are several exposures of these seams, but they are of no account because of their thinness. In Pocahontas, west of the Cranberry, Black and Elk mountains, the seams that may be present belong to the true Coal Measures, though it is extremely problematical, whether they are here of any value, for to the west, on Williams river and the east side of Gauley, they are thin and unimportant. In Randolph county, between the Alleghanies and Cheat Mountain, and in .Tucker county, between its eastern bound ary and the Backbone mountain, "there are vague reports of an abundance of coal which, in all probability, will prove to be those of the Vespertine formation, and especially may this be said of the latter county, for in the geological reports of Virginia, made in 1839, a series of observations was made on Cheat river and the Black Fork thereof, and in not a single instance was a workable bed reported. %,-In Berkeley county these same coals are seen again, though here converted into anthracite of a very pure quality*, and in sufficient quantity to answer some slight local demands, ^and have, given rise to many bright visions concerning their importance in the mineral resources of this county. In March 1876, they were jvisited by Mr. A. R. Guerard, of the Royal School of Mines, London, for the State Board of Cen tennial Managers, and that gentleman reports, that " between " Sleepy Creekland Third Hilljmoun tains, at an opening on u the Meadow Branch, by Embry & Cushwa, a shaft 45 feet 214 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. " deep has passed through three reams from 1 to 3 feet thick, u and a tunnel from the hillside strikes a 4-foot seam below. t; The coal appears to be of fair average quality, but some- " what broken up and intermixed with slate. There was " nothing in this opening to lead me to the conclusion that u the problem which has been on hand for the last 40 or 50 " years, as to the coal being here in paying quantities, was at u last sitisfactorilv solved/ CHAPTER X. THE QUALITY AND VARIETY OF COAL, AND THE MIXING ADVANTAGES. BY M. F. MA TRY. The coal mining advantages of West Virginia arise from the great number of seams found accessible above water level, and from the fact that they contain coals of various composi tions adapted to all the requirements of trade and manufac ture. The fat coking, gassy bituminous, the hard and valuable splint, and the rich and oily cannel in this highly favored region/are found in great purity, and made easily accessible to the miner, through the agency of running water, which has exposed the seams in thousands upon thousands of places, and in consequence of this, and their size, coal, as a general rule, can be mined cheaper, and with more economy, under the same rates of labor, than in any other part of the Allegbany coal field. In fact, when the northern portion of the State was wrinkled into folds, and the southern tilted gently from its original horizontal position, water, with its vast planing and eroding pow r er, washed off the superincumbent strata, and cut and counter-cut the country by deep and narrow valleys, thus preparing this field with numerous objective points for safe and economical working, for it left vast areas of the coal measures above water, accessible at many points by simply removing from the outcrops of the 3eams the alluvium that has formed there by the decaying work of ages. This will more clearly appear by a comparison of the posi tion of the coals here and in Great Britain in this respect. 216 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. There the coal is deep below water level, and to reach it requires years of lahor and vast sums of money. In its great northern coal field, the shafts are rarely less than 150 feet deep, and many have the great depth of 1,800 feet, sunk at an expense, in some cases, of $240,000,* while the Dukinfield colliery was taken down 2,600 feet, at a cost of 8500,000, mainly to reach the " Black Mine C?oal," a seam 4 feet 8J- inches thick. Here mighty natural forces have sunk pits which need neither repair or renewal. The inclination of the .strata, coupled with the laws of gravity, have provided the most costless, perfect and permanent pumping machinery, and the perfect ventilation of the mines is but a matter of the most simple and ordinary eare, as, except in one or two instances in. the northern portion of the State, there are none of those noxious gases to be dealt with which oftentimes render coal mining so dangerous. There are, however, many districts where the seams are below the surface, though easily reached by shafting, but when we consider the number that are over 3 feet thick, and that such an one is workable and yields about 4,800 tons per acre, it will be seen that we need not treat of the deeper ones, for v\e have no need to sink shafts at all, as it will be a long time before the cost of winning coals from day levels will be so far raised as to necessitate other styles of working, and AVest Virginia can justly be proud of the numerous advanta ges it holds in this respect. The coals may be divided into three great classes, viz.: Bituminous, Splint, and Cannel. . BITUMINOUS COAL Is the most abundant, occurs in all portions of the field, and some of it is found in nearly every seam of the other two classes. It is the only class worked in the northern half of the State, and with but few exceptions, is the only one of value of that region, so far as present explorations show. The Redstone, Sewickly, Waynesburg, and Washington seams were shown in the last chapter to be of great impor tance in the north, but dwindle down and are little value, H L 0:1 Uoj.1 to the New York J^e^islaLure, 18b5. Pagu 11 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 217 or are not even found, as the case may be, in the southern part of the State. Owing to the general prevalence of the more important and valuable Pittsburgh seam, none of them are worked except to supply local demands, though the coal produced is often a most excellent and superior article, though varying in this respect in different counties and localities, as we would naturally expect it should. The following are analyses of the first three from Monon- galia county, near Morgan town : and of the Redstone, as seen 5 miles north of Fairmont, in Marion county, on the land of R. S. Radcliff, where it is 6 feet 4 inches thick.* a si ^ c ,d ;_ 3 -30 ^0 SEAM. 5 rtj Ash. ! ts*z! != i "^ "^ r^ ! "5 n (x! f ^ ^ ^ I r-* "^ M -*. s O _2 ^ ^ O r ~ Redstone, Monongalia 54.36 37. SS 0.37 7.391 2.87 2.85 Redstone IVIarion 5033i 4097 1.01 4 ^7 286 Sewickley . Monongalia 54.31 35.78 0.44 9,47; 3.10! 2.78 Waynesbijrg, Monongalia 56.36 35.8H 0.74 7.5o! 0.70, 0.55 - On these analyses Mr. Dwight makes the following remark : " The color of the ash from the Redstone is dark gray, and the sulphur in the coal seems to be in combination with lime or magnesia, and not as sulphide of iron; consequently it will not be injurious for iron making. The coke is hard and bright. The ash from the Sewickley is gray, and the sulphur seems to be in the same form as in the last. The coke is medium hard. From the Waynesburg the ash is light buff, and the coke moderately hard." The Pittsburgh seam is the present source of the shipping coals of the northern half of the State. Except from the Po tomac basin, its fuel goes on the market as "West Virginia Gas Coal, and for that purpose ranks among the highest of the United States, being extensively used in the large cities of the Atlantic seaboard. But where mined on the Potomac, in Mineral county, it has lost this quality, though it is very valuable and highly prized for steam, foundrys, rolling-mills, smiths work, &c. "These, and all other analyses given in this chapter, are by C. E. Dwight, ot Wheeling, unless some other chemist is mentioned. 28 218 [RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Where wrought by the Newburg Orrel Coal Co., in Preston county, this seam is from 10 to 11 feet thick, but only 9 to 9J are worked, the rest being left to support the roof. The coal is shipped to the eastern markets for gas purposes, yield ing, by the tests of the Manhattan Gas Light Co., of New York, over 10,000 cubic feet j-er ton of 15 J candle power. In Monongalia county it produces a most excellent fuel, which is extensively used in Morgantown and various other portions of the county. It of ten contains as much as 2 per cent- of sul phur, which unfits it for the manufacture of iron and coke, and renders its value for gas somewhat doubtful, though at the same time it should be said that analyses of coal exten sively used for this purpose in New York, show that the Monongalia coal is not much inferior. But apart from any value it may have for this, its other excellent qualities will command a ready market for it when the completion of the locks and damson the Monongahela river give it a, ready and cheap exit to consuming centres. The Flemington and Tyrconnel mines, in Taylor county, do their mining on the same bed, the product of which, as tested from the latter, shows itself, according to the report to the company, by C. M. Cresson, of Philadelphia, to be much supe rior for gas making purposes to the celebrated Penn coal of Pennsylvania. From the mines at Fairmont, in. Marion county, it goes on the eastern and western markets, but, par ticularly on the former, with an exceedingly high reputa tion for gas, and it is also a good steam generator, but at pres ent prices the mines are too far from the seaboard to enable it to bear the expense of transportation, for it would have, to come into competition with the cheaper and less distant fuel of the Cumberland Coal Field of Maryland. To show its rank in this respect, with other coals from other States, the following table is given. The Fairmont coal spoken of in it, was from the West Fairmont mines : RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. OFFICIAL TESTS OF COAL, At Chicago Water Works. 219 | 187U j State. * . ! i 5 1 (Quantity, . i i i o sa, 3 \ 3 0> ^ Gallons of Wat per Ib. Coal. > cS CJ 6 too-o ; 103-4 07-3 113-7 114-0 1114-9 115-7 li7-4 117-6 117-7 ! 120-5 155-7 Name of Coal. 4 i f I ! I Vfay 3 to "51 Triplet HsM 71-45 71-10 50-40 35-05 52-55 54-SO 54-50 5*5-50 1 48-00 i - 60-25 192-0( 4240 Ts ILhs. 51 360 75 521 272 47| 420 "5111,950 51 H,860 511 140 5311,510 49 1 ,1 50 352! 260 54 1 1,590 ,285 l,9i)0 i 44 1,470 55,563 1 37.110,743 83,97- 56,241.28 60,876 i 40..W.071 49,376 38,896. 79" 63,74Pj 42,581,673 63,fl52 42,957.960 68,907: 42,559962 <J7.::53 |rU V7.SHS 49.4 16j 42.2uS.30* 347.667J3 >o.4.6.8fl6 69J706 46 80ft,855 240,083206.293,815 56,658 47,251,650 362-f 374 -J 389- 4 "2-1 412-4 413-( 416-t 1419-5 425-C I2fi-* 427-0 437-1 528-1 Apr ..25 to 28i Willow Bant... " 122 to 23 Briar Hill I f-Henco t Ohio". .! Ohio... May , 5 to 7 Peal Apr 23. to 251 Fort Pitt " ii8 to 21 S Pittsburgh Penna " 28 to 80 Walnnt Hill.... Ohio ... Oct...jl8 to 19iLackawana iPenna Sept.! 9 to 20 1 Hock ing Valley lOhio .. . May.. 1 to SiCherry Mines...! Sept. I to 9! HockingVallev Ohio.. " |21 to ?2! Fairmont .. W. \* In Harrison county, at the Despard and Murphy s Run col lieries it (the Pittsburgh seam) is again extensively mined and sent on eastern markets for the same use as mentioned above and is also excellent for steam, but the same reasons that oper ate against the Fairmont coals do not allow these to be burnt under the boilers of the eastern cities. Compared with the Penn and Westmoreland coals, of Westmoreland county, Pa., (which have no superior in that State), the gas from the Harrison county coal is superior in illuminating power, but not quite equal to them in purity, requiring more lime in purification, but this slight additional cost, say 10 cents per ton, is more than compensated for by the higher illuminating power, coupled with the larger yield. At and near Wheeling, in Ohio county, this coal is exten sively used in the puddling furnaces, but contains too much sulphur for. gas. As worked on the Kanawha river, at the Raymond Mines, in Putnam, it produces a domestic fuel of the highest grade, and as such goes on the western markets. It is also excellent for steam but does not seem to be in de mand for gas, as there is an abundant supply of other more noted coals for that purpose. In Mason county, and on the opposite side of the river in the State of Ohio, it is largely worked, both for consumption at the salt furnaces, and for exportation down the Ohio river. 220 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. In 1875, in Mason, there were 9 nine mines in operation, produc ing 301,000 tons, of which 101,000 were used at the salt furna ces and the rest was shipped to market. Its quality, however, seems to have deteriorated very much, for in the Cincinnati market we find it, as shipped from Pom- ery, quoting about 2 cents per bushel lower than the coal from Raymond City. The following table shows the analyses of the coal of this seam from the different localities just mentioned : RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 221 222 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. In connection with these results, it should be mentioned that the analysis of the American Mine is from the practical workings on two cargoes ; that of the Despard from the prac tical workings of six months, and of the Murphy s Run coal, for three days. The others are laboratory tests. As showing the results of locomotive use of the fuel from this seam, the following letter is very useful : BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD, OFFICE OF CHIEF ENGINEER, MARTINSBURG, W. VA., 6 April, 1876. M. F. Maury, Esq.: DEAR SIR : I give you results of observations on the con sumption of fuel in Locomotives on this road: first Division Baltimore to Martinsburg, 100 miles : Weight of Engine 72,900 pounds. " " train 834,000 Maximum grade (per mile) t 80 feet. Minimum radius of curvature 600 Ascent westward 1,282 " eastward 913 " Consumption of coal per mile run 60 pounds. Coal was from large vein near Piedmont (in Mineral county). Third Division, trip from Keyser to Grafton and return, 157J miles : Weight of engine 95,300 pounds. "train 831,000 Maximum grade (per mile) 117 feet. Minimum radius of curvature 600 Ascent westward .*. 2,518 eastward 2,334 Consumption of fuel per mile run 134 pounds. Coal was from large vein near Piedmont (in Mineral county). Fourth Division, Grafton to Benwood, 95J- miles : Weight of engine 73,400 pounds. " train 795,000 tf ^ Maximum grade (per mile) 80 feet. Minimum radius of curvature 600 Ascent westward 825 " eastward 1,167 Consumption of fuel per mile run 90 pounds. Coal was from the mines at Fairmont, (in Marion county). RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 223 Parkersburg Branch, Parkersburg to Grafton, 104 miles : Weight of engine 73,400 pounds. " " train 600,000 " Maximum grade (per mile) 52.8 feet. Minimum radius of curvature.... 600 Ascent westward 1,644 " eastward . 2,088 Consumption of fuel per mile run. 85 pounds. Coal was from the mines at Clarksburg, (in Harrison county). Respectfully, JAMES L. RANDOLPH,* Chief Engineer. Returning now to the general discussion of the quality of the bituminous coal in West Virginia, the only seam of it in the Lower Coal Measures, in the northern half of the State, that is largely worked, is the Upper Freeport, at Austin, in Preston county. It is here 8 or 9 feet thick, though only the lower bench, say, 4 feet, affords in all places a first-rate quality of coal, though if mined on an extensive scale the whole bed can be utilized. It makes a clear, even, silvery coke, suffi ciently hard to bear the heaviest burden of the blast furnace. (J. P. Lesley). An analysis is shown in the next table. In .Upshur, Randolph, Barbour, Taylor, Monongalia, and Marion counties, this seam has been examined at various placesf by Prof. Stevenson, and while it is often of great thick ness, and yields a good strong fuel for domestic use, i t is usually much contaminated with sulphur, which, in many cases is not discovered without the aid of a magnifying glass or chemical tests. In many places in these counties it has an inferior cannel associated with it. On the land of the Kingwood Gas Coal and Iron Company, near Tunnelton, in Preston county, several seams of very ex cellent bituminous coal are found. An analysis of one of 4J feet is shown in the first two items in the following table : *These results given by Mr. Randolph are, I believe, for freight trains. fFor measurements, see description of these counties in the last chapter. 224 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. c "3 o | a O U ts F* j"" Remarks. rt ^j r^i K si ^ g T: E E> < OQ ce Top of Seam Bottom of Seam 65.66 66.13 31.47 31.19 2.C3 2.17 0.51 0.58 0.61 0.58 053 Ash buff. Coke haul and bright. Austin Mine 66.29 81.12 2.48 0.12 064 0.01 Coke: medium hard. Is being used " " (Coke) 87 55 11.25 0.54 65 at the Belmont Fur- ind gives peneral sat isfaction. In the Southern portion of the State the bituminous coal is very pure and hard, and often approaches splint so closely that it is almost impossible to draw a dividing line between the two, or to know to which class a certain seam may be con sidered to belong. As found here, its seams furnish admirable coals for gas, domestic use, and steam, and, where interstrati- fied with splint, for use in the blast furnace, in the raw or uncoked state. In 1874, the Richmond (Va.) Gas Company tested various coals from the Kanawha valley with the following results: - d -+ i ^ g "i "<N~ ^ Q^ ^ 5-i rT V-^ LOCALITY. ^ H ^ -^ % III 2 M a Coalburg 951 8,534 14.5 Houston Mining and Manufacturing Cornp y 876 10,281 17 J B Lewis & Co 993 9,760 15 Cannt^ltoii Coal Company 1,049 8,892 14 Jlampton City Coal Company 609 9,184 15.5 Gordon and Seal 648 8,064 13.9 H C Replier (Coalmont) 1,003 17.1 Coal Valley Coal Company 10,080 17 "The coal from the Houston, Coal Valley, and Coalmont "mines, is superior to any tested so far, is more free from " slate and sulphur, produces greater heat, yields more gas, " and makes the best coke." (Report of Richmond Gas Works, 1875.) In order to better appreciate these figures, it should be men- RESOURCES 0V WEST VI&&HU. 225 tioned that the Penn Gas Coal, which is generally adopted as a standard in the United States, gives 9,856 cubic feet of gas, of 14-candle power, per ton, of 2,240 pounds. The coals given in the tabl are from various localities in the valley, the distance between the extreme eastern and western ones being 15 miles. The tent of Coalburg was on the rich bituminous coal at the bottom of the seam. The main portion of the bed, which is usually called splint (though in reality a mixture of that and bituminous), gave, when tested by the Chelsea Gas Com pany, the remarkable result, for this class of fuel, of 10,640 cubic feet, of 17J-candle power. The coal from the Cannelton Coal Company was from the splinty bituminous division of their cannel seam. The coal from the lower 5 feet 8 inches of the seam of the Coal Valley Coal Company shows : Fixed carbon 01.602 Volatile combustible, matter ;$;V20:$ Ash 1S.73 Moisture 1.322 100.000 Sulphur in coal O.t>58 ; coke 0.865 Dr. C. M. Cresson, analysed the coal from the same seam, from just across the river from the land of the Cannelton Coal Company, and in his report speaks of it as u a bitumin- " ous coal of first rate quality, and as especially adapted for " gas making. It exceeds in /value for such purposes, the best * bituminous coal in use in this or the New .York market, by " about 7 per cent, and is remarkably free from sulphur." The 4J to 5-feet 2-inch seam, at the old Winnifrede mines on Fields creek, in Kanawha county, is bituminous with 1J feet of splint at the bottom. An analysis by Prof. Locke, of Cincinnati shows : Carbon 68.53 Volatile matter 27.01 Ash ;i.22 Water 1.24 An analysis from the labratory of the Royal School of Mines, in London, of the coal from the 11-foot seam, worked 29 226 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRC4INIA. by the Gauley Kanawha Coal Company, on Gauley Mountain, in Fayette county, gives : Ash 2.1.", per cent. Sulpliur 0.74 Coke <>5.09 Volatile matter 8<>1 "Water 1.40 100.00 Volatile gas per ton, of 2,240 pounds, 10,100 cubic feet, of 17.9-candle power. Proceeding east from the Gauley Kanawha Coal Company, the hard bituminous coals disappear, and the serai-bitumin ous come in. They are almost altogether shipped to the east ern market, and in Richmond quote 50 cents per ton, of 2,240 pounds, higher than the coals from the Richmond field. They make a most excellent fuel, but their great value is in the admirable coke they produce. As mined at Sewell Station, by the Longdale Coal and Iron Company, it is mostly made into coke for use in the Company s furnace, at Longdale, in Alle- ghany county, Virginia, where they succeeded in reducing their fuel bill to a little over 2,200 pounds of coke per ton of pig metal produced. At the Nuttallburg Mines, it is extensively shipped both raw and coked, the latter being done in open kilns. At Quin- nimont, it is largely worked by the New River Car Com pany, for use in their furnace, on the spot, as well as for ship ment The first of the following tables gives analysis of the coals from these three localities, and the second of tho cokes. In the latter is added, for the sake of comparison^ an analysis of a sample, composed of 49 different pieces of the celebrated Councils ville colrc, of Pennsylvania : .. COALS. MINK. 3 r~ r-i - - Cliemist. ^ ^ 3 > X ^ Nuttallburu: 0000 29.59 1.07 0.7S o.:5-l ( \ \\. 1 )\visj, lit. Sewoll 7 %> :! ; %> 1 :>s 5 27 0.27 1 o:5 Quinuimont - 18.19 4. OS 0.9-1 J. I ,, r.riflon. COKES. Nuttalllmr"- 01.22 7.5:; 0.02 ( . !<;. l)\virlit. Sewel! 0:500 0.7:: 0.27 Quinnimont, No. 1 9:5. 85 0.15 o.:;o ,!. i . Brit (on. " " 2 91.72 5.57 0.48 " * Connellsville i>7.40 ; 11. :# O.OU "- . RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 227 No. 1, Quinnimont, is of the^coke made from the coal, as usually mined.,, No. 2 is^of the coked slack, or mine screen ings and refuse. The ash in the Nuttallburg coal and coke shows that the former was either a picked sample, or else that the latter was a poor specimen. Connellsville coke has obtained so high a reputation, and justly, that there are^many persons prone to believe that it can have no superior, and for such it would be well to state that the analyses from Sewell and Quinnimont were made for the private use of _the companies using the coal, and that of Nuttallburg was made_by the State Board [of Centennial Managers. At various points in. the surrounding counties, beds of this variety of fuel are found up to (> feet 2 inches thick, as, for in stance, near Raleigh court-house. Everywhere that I have ex amined them they contain the same tender, friable, rich, bitu minous coal. As far as a physical examination goes for no analysis has ever been made from this region, beyond those given they are exceedingly pure and would make excellent coke, and the seams have the advantage of being very free from partings. ^ Returning to the hard bituminous coals of the Kanawha valley,*! have measured very many exposures, varying from 2 to 9 feet, on Gauley, Elk and Coal rivers, and their tributa ries. In Logan, Lincoln, Wayne, &c., are, also, many valuable seams as shown in the following, analyses, which are from Wayne county, and as far as I can learn, all that have been made for the district. In the table there is no attempt to separate Splint from Bituminous, the list being given merely to show the general purity of the coals ; 228 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. i 1 If J ; T . I r-t \ 3 1 I ;5 o ; II LOCALITY. a .5 S |O O Chemist. I ^^ 0) J- il -j i r * 4 j ?4 1 i 5J TO ~ ! i? -^ ^ p I ^Cj j X "^ r=. ~t^ fS 1 ,rr ^ rf 1 *"" i < ^ GO OQ 6 v i Mouth Camp CVk ( | -.. .,- y - ,./ of 12P6le. | 56.35 37.60 6.05 1.60 0.57 0.14 Worm ley. Stephen s Br. of f ., n 1ft ; op (A Laurel of 12 Pole f 60.1036.40 o.50 1.70 0-72 0.18 u J Tn<* Fork 61. 181 38.741 1 SS 02 Taylor 00.54 W (5(j 2.80 003 Cassville 44.89 43.22 10.33 156 0.824 Dwight. As showing the thickness of the seams in this portion of the State, the following measurements of outcrops were ob tained from a report on the coals of Twelve Pole river, by Prof. E, B. Andrews, of the Ohio Geological Survey : So Thick 53 Am t ness oi LOCALITY. Character of Coal. ot (S Cl ear Remarks. Seam. IM ("oal. ^0 Mouth Carnpf Creek .. . f Bituminous Ft. In. 6 4 2 Ft. In. 5 f> fl>ry burning and 1 verj T pure. [ Sulphur Spring) Splint 6 1 .1 S -! Excellent quality. < - rcek \ ( Stephen sEr. ) tl 4 9 3 -1 o of Laurel ( Wm. Wiley* 1 Cove Creek f Spl t and Cannel 6 6 6 6 f Contains 4 ft. <J in. "i Cannel. HezekiaTis Cr k > .- 8 2 2 7 3 (Contains 5 ft. 6 in, j Cannel. Brush Creek - 4 1 1 o 10 j Contains 2 ft. in. 1 Cannel. The coals from all of these are spoken of in the highest terms by Prof. Andrews. On numberless other creeks and ravines in Wayne and the counties of Lincoln, Logan, Wyom ing, and Boone, exposures of equal thickness and purity can, be fou nd t RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 220 SPLINT COAL, Except in a local expansion on one of the seams above the Pittsburgh, near Wheeling, there is no well authenticated in stance of this class of coal being found in the Upper Coal Measures, or in the northern-half of the State. Possibly this may arise from the fact, that the attention of the miner is there mainly directed to gas coal. Hard, open burning, bitu minous fuels exist, but they lack the highly laminated, sonor ous characteristics of splint. Without saying that it occurs nowhere outride of the fol lowing limits, the area where it is known positively to exist in workable beds is in the Lower Coal Measures in B rax ton, Webster, Clay, Nicholas. Fayette, Kanawha, Boone, Logan, Lincoln, and Wayne counties, and its boundaries may be roughly outlined as follows: Beginning at the juncture of Louisa and Tug Forks of Big Sandy river, on the Kentucky line, and thence in a straight northwesterly lino to the Forks of Coal, in Lincoln and Kanawha ; thence to Charleston, on the Kanawha : thence to the point where Elk river crosses the Clay and Braxton line ; thence bending to the east and run- ningto where the Elk crosses the Braxton and Webster line ; thence southeasterly to the vicinity of Addison ; and thence southwesterly, passing though Summers ville, in Nicholas, Gauley mountain, near the Hawk s Nest, in Fayette, the ex treme southern corner of Kanawha, and thence on to the com mon corner of Wayne and Logan, on Tug Fork of Big Sandy. It should be clearly understood that these boundaries are only general, and that instead of being straight, as laid down, they will run in and out in. curves, so as, in some cases, to add to this area, and in others to subtract from it. In this region it is abundant, and in admixture with more or less bituminous coal is found in seams as thick as 10 and 11 feet. For the combined purposes of steam, domestic use, and the manufacture of iron, it may be looked upon as the most useful and valuable coal of the State, and even now it ranks so high that in the New York retail market it quotes higher than any other West Virginia coal, except cannel. Its value is due to its firmness and solidity, which enables it to be handled, shifted and stored with very little lo^s; it burns well ; leaving but little ash has both high calorific, power and in- 230 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. tensity ; is usually remarkably free from sulphur (iron pyrites) and other impurities; has little or no tcndenccy to clinker; is free from the danger of firing by spontaneous combustion a great desideratum in storage and ocean transportion ; is first- rate as a steam andj household fire, and it has a particular adaptability in the raw state to the manufacture of iron in the blast furnace, for which purpose it is eagerly sought in dis tricts accessible to market, as it makes a quality of iron which can only be surpassed by the use of charcoal. In this latter connection, it is well to point out how this fuel is esteemed in other States : The Block Coal of Ohio, in its position in the coal, measures, its structure, composition and its appearance, is exactly the same as the " Splint " of Kanawha, and is well adapted, in the raw state, to the smelting of iron ores. It is, indeed, a typical furnace coal, and forms the fuel by which fully half of the iron in the State is manufactured. It is the only fuel us-vd in the furnaces of the extensive iron district of Cleveland, and is, in fact, the basis of the great iron industry of Northern Ohio. (Geology of Ohio, 1870, page 26 and 27.) The u Block Coal" of Indiana, also, is the same as Kanawha Splint. " As a blast furnace fuel to smelt iron ores it has been amply tested in the five furnaces that are now using it in Clay county, and leaves nothing to be desired. The pig iron made at the Clay county blast furnaces from Iron mountain and Lake Superior iron ores, by use of block coal as fuel, com mands from $2 to $8 more per ton, at the furnace than the same grade of pig iron made in Kenucky and Ohio will com mand in Indianapolis." (Geology of Indiana, 1869, page 70). " The reputation of the block coal for smelting iron ores continues to be fully sustained by its excellent behavior in the blast furnaces that are using it. * * Mr. Hicks, the founder, assures me that the furnace (the Brazil) now runs with the utmost regularity, and he finds no difficulty in making a uniform grade of gray pig." (Geology of Indiana, 1872, page 9.) In the same book (page 37) Prof. Cox, the State Geologist, notes a case in Clay county where only 4,250 p >unds of raw block coal are required to make a ton of iron. After four years examination and trial of these splint coals in Indiana, Prof. Cox says: "I have every reason to believe? RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 231 that, when used under the most favorable conditions, we will obtain as large yields of iron with Indiana block coal fuel as can be obtained from the same ores with coke." Geology of Indiana, 1873, page 115.) Let us now look at Pennsylvania. "There is no bituminous coal in Pennsylvania that can be used in the raw state for smelting iron except the splint or block coal, as it is com monly called, of this region close to the Ohio line, in Mercer county, on the Pittsburgh and Erie R. R. and the Beaver and Erie Canal. * * There was nearly 500,000 tons of block coal produced in Mercer countv in 1871, and twenty-three blast furnaces in the district above mentioned were running on this coal in that year." (Coal Regions of America, page 209). As regards practical tests of this coal from West Virginia, the following is about all that has been done. Mr. Mendenhall, of C. C. Mendenhall & Co., tried it, and speaks of ic under date of October 10, 1867, thus : " We have thoroughly tested its quality for this purpose (a blast furnace fuel) in our own furnace, near Wheeling, with the most satis^ factory results; regarding it as better adapted to smelting iron than any known coal of the Alleghany coal field. We used Campbell s creek and Coalburg coals with about equal results. The estimate in which our furnace manager holds these coals is evidenced from the fact that I am authorized to contract for a supply to be carried up the Ohio river to Wheel ing, for use in our furnaces there." Coalburg splint has also been used in the furnaces at Iron- ton on the Ohio ; but they, as well as Wheeling, stopped their orders several years ago, because, on account of the uncertainty of the navigation of the Ohio and Kanawha rivers, they could not get a regular supply, and had to keep large stocks on hand. This stoppage I should mention, was before the Chesa peake and Ohio railroad was completed. The Kenton furnace, of Newport, Ky., up to 1873, had used some 10,000 tons of Campbell s creek splint, mixing it with an equal amount of Connellsville coke. Of this mixture it took 1J tons to make one ton of iron. In the summer of 1873 I visited the Elizabeth Furnace, Augusta county , _Virginia. They were then using two-thirds charcoal, and one-third Coalburg splint, with very satisfac- RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA, tory results. Since then the Lewiston splint has been a good deal used and very much liked, but I am not aware that Kanawha coal alone has ever been tested here. The same summer I also visited the Buffalo Gap Furnace in the same county. At that time Coalburg splint, mixed with a little charcoal was the fuel, and the iron went on the mar- , ket as charcoal iron. On one occasion, before my visit, the supply of charcoal gave out, and they ran on raw coal alone for three days, and Mr. McClure, the Superintendent, estima ted that one ton of pig would take If tons of coal, which he thought would produce a better iron than coke. In the spring of 1875, the Powhatan Iron Company, near Richmond, Virginia, made a test of Kanawha splint, with a view of substituting it for anthracite, which they were then using, but abandoned it, returning a verdict that the coal was not suited for iron making. This can be amply accounted for by the fact that they attempted to use it without making the proper and necessary changes in their furnace. Exactly the same difficulty was met with in the early days of the use of splint (or block coal, as there termed), in Indiana. The fur naces originally put up had a tendency to chill, and what grade of iron would be tapped, was always uncertain. After many experiments with changes in the interior form of the furnace, they learned exactly what was required, and in 1872, the Brazil " was running w T ith the utmost regularity, and the founder experienced no difficulty in making a uniform grade of gray pig." HESOtJRCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 233 The following table shows the analyses of various West Virginia splint coals. For the purpose of comparison, there is also added the block coal of Indiana, and the Mahoning Valley, Ohio, the Pittsburgh coal, and two of the best iron making coals of Great Britain : LOCALITY. Chemisi Campbell s Cr k. Kana- ! wha j Coalburg, 4-foot Seam, f Kanawha i Coalburg Main Seam, Kanawha .. 35.64i 61.07 33.20 02.01 40.50; 50,50; 121 1.81 1.50 1 qu j Riverside Iron Company. .) ! , ( Riverside Iron 1 Company. 2.00J J Li-vette. Indiana. Paint Creek Mines, Kanawha j 30.1.3; 63.74| ,:,,. N Doremns, X. V. jl Kellev s Cr k, Kanawha.. 37.08 00.92; 2.00 .. IRogers, Virginia. Stephen s Branch, Wavne j 30.40 60-10 3.50 1.70; \ Wormlev. Ohio. 1 Tug Fork, Wavne 38.74 1 61.18 . 1.88. . Taylor, Ohio. " < 30.00, 60.54 1 2.80... ; " Coal Vallev Coal Co.. ] If Upper 10 in. of Seam V i 38.32: 57.20! 4.30 0-18N D\vight, W. Vy, Favette J i ( Briar Hill, Ohio 32.58! 62.60- 1.16 3.00jWormlev, Ohio. Star Mine, Indiana 32.50 ! .61.50 2.50 3.oOLevette, "Indiana. Pittsburg Coal 41.10| 56.90 1.00 1.00 " Cl vde Splint 30.80; 59 00! 4.20 ., IMnshct. Worsborrongh, Yorkshire 48.18J 00.32! 1.50 .. .:_ __".! _. L In conjunction with this table, I would submit an extract as to what analysis gives as a good furnace coal : "It would appear that a furnace coal, to have sufficient reducing power, should have from 58 to 62 per cent, of fixed carbon, with little hygrometric moisture and few impurities. There should be als > such physical structure as to prevent the bitumen from running together in the process of com bustion and cementing the mass, and at the same time suffi cient firmness to bear up under the burden of the furnace 30 234 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. charge. l The effects produced by such a coal, says Mushet, in a blast furnace, either as to quality or quantity of cast-iron, far exceed anything in the history of the manufacture of that metal with charcoal. With these coals, a greater quantity of iron, in proportion to the fixed carbon, is produced than with anthracite ; the quality of iron is better, and tKe wear upon the furnace is less destructive."* Now note the reputation of some of the coals given in the table : The Briar Hill coal has been spoken of page 230. The praise bestowed upon it is very his^h, indeed, but in the same letter, from which an extract was quoted on page 231, Mr. Mendenhall says : " The coal in the Mahoning valleyt which is now used in tho works of Governor Todd and others there, has hitherto been regarded as of the finest quality known by the works which use it. but our founder, who lias managed furnaces for many years in the valley, places the Kanawha coal unquestionably before it." The coal from the Star Mine is that used for making iron at the Planet furnace, Clay county, Indiana, and for manu facturing iron it is not surpassed by any in the country. "t The Pittsburgh specimen is a coking coal. The analysis was made of a picked sample obtained from one of the Indian apolis coal dealers, by Prof. Levette, chemist on the State Geological Survey of Indiana. In his report on the Wayne county coals, as shown on Twelve Pole, Prof. Andrews, of the Geological Survey of Ohio, says, in speaking of the 4-foot 9-J-inch seam, on Stephens branch : "I have seldom " found a coal ^1 can commend so strongly and positively as " this." Thus we have the testimony of analyses that the West Vir ginia splint ranks with the most celebrated iron coals of the United States, and with two of the best British ones, whilst the verdict of practical tests places it in the front rank of val uable furnace fuels, one of the large iron making firms of the West giving it as their opinion, that it is better adapted to smelting iron than any known coal of the Alleghany coal field." -Report on the iron smelting coals of Southern Indiana, 1871. Page 14, Prof. J. W. Foster, LL. I), f Briar Hill, in this valley. JGeology of Indiana, ISG J, Page 49. Prof. E. T. Cox, State Geologist. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 235 Another glance at the table will show a very small propor tion of ash. This fact has a two-fold importance : 1. The smaller the quantity of ash the less limestone is re quired in the furnace to flux it : less slag is formed from that particular source, and consequently less heat and less coal are needed in forming that chemical compound in the blast fur nace. 2. It is well known that phosphorus makes iron "cold short," i. e., brittle under a blow: imparts fluidity to cast iron, but spoiling it for the manufacture of steel. Prof. Wormley, Chemist on the Geological Survey of Ohio, in his analysis of the ashes of coal, finds phosphorus present in every case, though, of course, in variable quantities.* The same was found to be the case in the analysis made of ten noted coals for Prof. S. Newberry, State Geologist of Ohio. Phosphorus no doubt, therefore, occurs in those from Ka- nawha; but as in all cases it forms but a small percentage of the ash, and as in the Kanawha splints the ash forms such a small percentage of the coal itself, therefore the phosphorus will form but a small percentage of the coal itself. It is due to this fact, amongst others, that splint coal, wherever found, owes its superiority in the blast furnace; and also, I have no doubt, that it is said, that iron smelted by it is especially adapted to the manufacture of steel by the Bessemer process, which process is superseding all others Its firmness and capability of bearing handling and trans portation ha^ been remarked on; but this will be better ap preciated when it is stated, that where it has been thrown out on the mountain side many years ago, from old openings, it may be found in many cases covered with moss, while on the shoals of the creeks and rivers are scattered lumps, varying from the size of a pebble up to 20 and 30 pounds weight, smooth and water-worn. How long they have been there no man can tell, and yet break them in either case and they are as black, rich, pure, sound and solid as when first severed from the mother seam. This hardness has an admirable illustration in a cargo ot lump coal that was shipped to New York by the Kanawha Semi-Cannel Coal Co. It was closely examined during the. - Geological Survey of Ohio, 1870, page 428, 236 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. loading of the vessel in Richmond, and while discharging in New York, out of the whole cargo only about two tons had been broken up into sizes of " egg " and " nut. ? As regards its advantages for steam and reheating furnaces, it has been largely tried both in the east and west, and is rapidly gaining popularity wherever introduced, but, unfor tunately, the mines are usually careless in getting the re sults of such practical tests, so that but very few detailed ones are accessible, and all that I have been able to obtain for this work are as follows: On the completion of the Chesapeake and Ohio R . R. in 1873, a trial of this coal was made by the Trede- gar Iron Works of Richmond. This test brought forth the report, " that we have made a limited trial of the Kanawha kb splint coal. That, however, was sufficient to satisfy us of u its admirable qualities for the heating furnace. The only " question as to its use on a large scale here, is the price at which it can be delivered." In the winter of 1875-6, the steamers of the New York and Harlem Steamboat Co. were using Kanawha coal, and the en gineers report a preference for it, as they could raise steam on short notice and could bank their fires over night wUh the certainty of quick combustion and ready steam in the morn ing, which they could not count on without re-lighting when other coals, to which they were accustomed, were in use. The Bridgew:iter Iron Co., of Massachusetts, made a very limited trial of the coal from the Kanawha Serni-Cannel Coal Co., which induced them to give an order for some 307 ton^, which they used under their boilers and in the rolling mills. They .reported it as being superior to any bituminous coal formerly used, and entered into contracts for farther supplies. This same Coal Co. is also supplying the Mantanzas and Havana R. R. Co., in Cuba, with its fuel. For steam purposes the most satisfactory tests (because the most in detail), have been obtained from the Kentucky Cen : tral, Chesapeake and Ohio, and the Atlantic. Mississippi and Ohio railroads. The former made a months careful tests of Youghiogheny, Pa., and Ashland, Ky., coal, witrh a result of 3i) pounds in the former case, end 43 pounds in the latter, consumed per mile run, for freight and passenger traffic. The rrr-.r 5 , x ,b? r . bought its fuel frora the Coalburg mines, in Karia- RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 237 wha, and a months trial gave 25 pounds per mile run. At the end of 12 months the fuel books showed that the average for the year (including what had baen used of ail three kinds named above) was 32.1 pounds per mile run for all kinds of service. The difference between the 25 pounds and 32.1 pounds can be accounted for by the care exercised while testing, with a view to contract for a year s supply, the difference in the seasons, and condition of the track (the first trial being made in the summer), and the one month s use of the lower grade Youghiogheny and Ashland, which, of course, tended to bring down the average. For the following information concerning the trials on the Chesapeake and Ohio, and Atlantic, Missis sippi and Ohio, railroads I am indebted to the kinJness of Gen. J. M. St. John, the Consulting Engineer of the former : u Our best monthly average for C. 0. engine perform ance is 29.62 pounds coal, per mile run. for passenger service, with loaded engine and tenders, weighing 88,000 to 90,000 pounds, and five cars weighing 220,700 pounds. Sum of ascents, Richmond to Huntington,* west, 6,271 feet ; descents, west, 5,639 feet. This monthly average includes all wastage and deterioration of fuel on hand, and for train detention, a per centage of lo-s that should always be considered in com paring statements of engine performance, and which is often large enough to explain the difference cited in your letter of llth of February, between the 25 pound trial trip on the Ken tucky Central and their 32.1-pound average. In this connection, I have just received from the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio railroad, a report of Le \\iston (Kana- wha) coal, which may interest you : Weight of engine and tender, loaded 110,300 pounds. " " train, west. ears., exclusive of engine 273,250 " " " east, 5 " I " " 214.000 Sum of ascents, west, (Lynch burg to Bristol) 4,815 feet- " " descents, u " " 3,755 " Maximum grade, 70 feet per mile; curve, 7 degrees; coa] consumed per round trip, of 408 miles, 29.02 pounds per mile run. Allowing for the difference of grades between the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio, and the Kentucky Central the results *Distanc<;, 4 27 miles; maximum grade, going west, T.I feet per mile; lowest radius of curve, 1,000 feet, RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. of the two trial trips do not vary essentially, while the Ches apeake and Ohio monthly average is probably a more reliable guide than either for estimating the value of Kanawha coals." The fuels used during this monthly average, by the C. it O. R. R., were from Levviston, Coatburg, and Coal valley, the two last being respectively about 4 and 13 miles east of the first, thus showing the distribution, in the Kanawha valley, of a first-rate article for steam. CANNEL COAIi May be termed a "fancy" article, as it sells at high prices, and the seams are erratic, varying from zero to 5J feet. It is universally associated with some other kind of coal, usually bituminous, a very fortunate circumstance, as in mining the 41 bearing in " can be done in this latter, leaving the whole of the cannel available, and as it separates very easily from the others, a 10 or 12-inch stratum in a large seam can be gotten out profitably and shipped by itself. Were it otherwise it would have to be mined with the rest and t-old at the smaller prices of lower grades. Unfortunately, from the peculiarity of its geological deposi tion, it cannot be stated over what area any given seam of it will be found, or how long it will last of any given thickness, so that it cannot be reasoned that, because a 5- foot seam is found on the northern edge of, say 5,000 acres, it will be found on the southern edge. The seam will be found, but the cannel may have been completely displaced by another kind of coal. This will be made more clear by a few examples : The celebrated Bog-head cannel, of Scotland, varied from 1 inch to 2 feet 6 inches. The cannel in the seam at C.innel- ton, on the Kanawha, has extremes, in the present mine, of 10 inches and o feet, the average being 89 to 42 inches. About half a mile to the west the seam has increased to 10 feet 4 inches of splint and bituminous, but without out a semblance of cannel, while to the east, arid across the river, the latter is so thin as not to be workable. At Peyton a, on Coal river, the; thinest place yet found in the seam now worked is 2 feet f> inches, and the thickest : :> > feet 8 inches. The entry is about half a mile from the river, on the other side of which the cannel has disappeared. Another example : Some four miles up Paint creek, before RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 239 the war, two companies made Qil from this mineral. On the east side of the creek a seam was opened and worked till the cannel stratum became too thin to get out easily. An open ing was then made on the west side, about 800 yards from the first, and the cannel was found 40 inches. A mile to the west the same bed is opened to its usual thickness, but the cannel has dwindled down to 14 inches. From its frequency in the southern portion of the State ? there is no telling where it may not bs found, but only an ac tual opening on it can prove its existence, and in searching for it, and in determining the extent of a deposit, the annular diamond drill can be most advantageously used. Its principal development in West Virginia appears to be in the area assigned to Splint Coal, though with more con tracted boundary lines, and in this the thickest exposures yet observed, are as follows : Locality. Thickness. Ft Wayne ! Laurel Branch of Hezekiah (outcrop) "> iBrush ("reek (outcrop) - Cove Creek " 4 Logan iNine mile of Guyandotte (outcrop) | :> Boone Workman s Branch 4 i: Peytona Coal Co. Lower Seam (average) > Kanawha.. Paint Creek Coal Co. (thickest place) ; 3 iMill Creek Coal Co. (reported) i 4 Fay ette.... Cannel ton Coal Co. (average) | Nicholas. ..jLittle Elk of Gauley (outcrop) | In the northern half of the State this coal seems to accom pany only one bed, viz : the Upper Freeport, and but little is known of it, for it has never been worked except in one case noted hereafter and there are no analyses except of the expo sure at Lost run, in Taylor county. In Monongalia county, on Tibb s run, a branch of Decker s creek, the Upper Freeport was examined by Prof. Stevenson, who reports that "the shale above it for several feet, is very bituminous, with a conchoidal fracture, and is undoubtedly " a cannel coal of inferior quality. Tn an exposure of this seam on Sand run. Randolph county, is a poor cannel of 2 feet 6 inches, which a mile distant shows 1 foot 1 inch; at Nuzum s 240 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Mill, Marion county, it show.s 1 foot. On Prickett s creek, in the same county, we have the general statement that the can- nel is thicker, hut no measurement of it. On Lost run, in Taylor county, is a seam composed of Bituminous Coal, 1 it. 6 in. Cannel " 2 " " Bituminous " . ... 3 " 6 Total, 7 ft, in. In this the cannel, though very handsome in appearance, is of very poor quality, as will he seen by its analysis in the next table. On White Day creek, in the northern part of Taylor county, is a seam composed of 2 feet of bituminous and 3J feet of can- nel. In 1859 the White Day Cannel Coal & Oil Company, purchased 1250 acres here, and erected extensive buildings and machinery for the purpose of distilling oil from the cannel. After five or six weeks profitable running, a careless manage ment allowed fire to reach the gas in the condensing pipes, which exploded the works. It was decided to rebuild them, but the discovery of petroleum caused an abandonment of the idea, and the property was sold. Mr. Hiram Winchester, who was formerly connected with these works, and who kindly furnished the above account, writes that the coal yielded about 37 gallons ot crude oil per ton. This is very low, and would seem to indicate that the coal would be poor in gas, which is the element that gives cannel its great value. The Peytona cannel of Boone county, gives Crude Illuminating Oil, 20 gals. Crude Lubricating Oil, 52 Oily Farafin, 7.2 " 79.2 " * Cannelton cannel, Fayette county, yielded by the treatment of the Union Oil Company, 2 gallons per bushel, or 56 gallons per ton. This is really not the full yitld, for when the retorts were taken up, the present company found there had been considerable waste and leakage. Two companies on Paint creek, and one on Mill creek, Kanawha county, formerly dis tilled oil from this mineral. They were stopped chiefly on "The New York Times, 1856. This is the latest information on this point I can find. The coal wa* jiwver distilled on a lurj;* seal*, that I am aware of. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 241 account of the war, and have not resumed operations since, partly from lack of capital, but mainly from t-be discoveries of the cheaper Petroleum. There are now no oil works of this class, in operation in the State. The chief value of this coal is as a gas producer. For this purpose, that from West Virginia has no superior in America. The only two mines in operation within our borders at this date, are the Cannelton Coal Company, on the Kauawha. and the Peytona Coal Company, on Coal river. The quotations for their article are higher, without an exception, in all mar kets that they reach, than any other fuel mined in the United States. To better appreciate the high results of the analyses, from Peytona and Cannelton, in the following table, the reader should compare them with the bituminous coai some pages back : i 5; , i .. r i ^x ! : ~ ->- - r "*" X i . *NV r ; > TY.: Locality, "b pr 2 : Chemist. i _; , : " - o a ^ ^ ; : ~ ^1 "T : X :- 3 i |^ ; 1 f Manhattan Teytona- ! 4!.0 400 ; 13.0 ; 13,200 32.00 ^ (i-as Lip it ( Co , X. Y. i i ( Manhattan Fayette....jCannelton... 23.r> I oS.O | 18.5 12,025. 45.0 \-{ Gas Light i I Co., N.Y, Kanawha.1. Taylor Lost Run 4232: 23.08J 34.01: I iTwelve Pole.l 42.59 ! 49.40! 7.41:.. C. E. Dwight. Before leaving this coal, attention should be called to the bituminous or cannel shale that is very often mistaken for it There are many outcroppings of it varying from a few incher to 5 or more feet. In appearance it is like cannel, but from which it can usually be distinguished by its greater specific gravity and slaty structure, this latter being particularly observable where the blocks have been exposed for some time to the weathering action of the atmosphere. It burns well, evolving great heat, and igniting readily, but leaves so large *At 10.000 cubic feet per ton, the illuminating power was 41,10 candles. ol 242 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. an amount of ash as to be unfit for fuel. It seems to be almost, if not quite, as rich in oils as the caiinel itself, and, if Petro leum was still undiscovered, would be a very valuable source of illuminating oils, whereas, at present, it is of no value. The similitude to cannel is so marked that in some cases the most practiced observer has to be very careful not to be deceived, and it has been the cause of erroneous rumors and many false hopes started. As an example we can cite the case of a company, in West Virginia, improving a property, building an incline, and opening a mine, to find out, after their money was gone, that they were shipping an unmar ketable article, and of another, so- deceived were they by appearance, that built the incline and opened the mine, to discover that their "cannel" contained 52 per cent of ash. Experientia docet. MARKETS. First, there is the Eastern one of the Atlantic seaboard states which are reached by the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, in the north, and the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad, in the south, and next is the Western one, of the great Mississippi valley, with its 16,674 miles of waters navigable for steam boats, and its system of 20,000 miles of railroads now in suc cessful operation, and its hundreds ot thousands of coal burning engines, locomotives, factories, furnaces, machine shops, &c. These rivers and railroads traverse the country of 16 mag nificent, populous, and growing States, of an aggregate of one million square miles, and minister to the wants of abont one-third of the population of the United States. To form a better idea of the wealth and demands of this western country, it may be stated that the tonnage of the Upper Ohio, in steamers, barges and boats, exceeds that of New York, and that the trade of the Ohio river, as estimated by Government Engineers, exceeds the entire foreign commerce of the United States. Before the war, the consumption of mineral fuel was increasing year by year, at a rapid rate throughout the West, and as the growth of that region in population and wealth has been even more rapid since that time, so the demand for coal has [increased, and must do so, to enormous bounds. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 243 Again, not only does the market become greater by increase of population, but it makes larger demands, year by year, from additions and improvements to the arts and manufac tures ; for every new invention of a labor saving machine usually implies a new source for the use of coal, either directly, in the production of steam to run it, or indirectly, in produc ing heat or steam for its manufacture, and often for both. Surely with so excellent fuels as West Virginia possesses, it may with all reison, look forward to the time when it may contribute no small per centage of this growing increase. The cannel and the gas coals will, from their superiority, grow yearly in favor, and become more in demand, and the State can expect larger and larger exportations. But for splint and pure coking coals that are suitable to iron making, the greatest demand will not be from abroad, but in home markets. By this is meant the consumption that will be found within or near our own borders in the blast furnace and its attendant industries. Besides the iron ores found in the Coal Measures of West Virginia, its eastern side forms part of the great iron belt of the United States, which runs from northern Pennsylvania to middle Alabama, and is so richly developed in our State and Virginia, between the Alleghanies and the Blue Ridge. In this belt the ores, for the most part, are the brown oxides, yielding in Virginia from 40 to 50 per cent, of iron. They are usually worked in open quarries, and though fine in the northern portion of the State, increase, both in quality and quantity, as we follow the belt in its southwesterly course, till in the last counties to the south they are very rich. In treating of the geology of this portion of Virginia and West Virginia, Professor Rogers says : " Of the twelve rocks, each marked by certain distinctive characteristics, composing the mountains and valleys of this region, it has been deter mined that at least eight are accompanied by beds of iron ore."* General Haupt,t in speaking of the minerals along the line of his road, which runs in this iron belt across the State of Virginia, says : " The iron deposits are very numerous, and of superior quality. Pennsylvania, rich as she is, is poor in iron ores as compared with Virginia. -Geology of Virginia. 183(>. "W. B. Rogers, State Geologist, f Chief Engineer ot the Shenandoah Valley Railroad, 244 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA, On the eastern edge of this iron country, on both sides of the Blue Ridge, are the magnetic and red haematite ores. On the James river, in the counties of Bedford, Amherst, Nelson, Buckingham, &c., the magnetics are exceedingly fine, and in Patrick, Henry. Grayson, Floyd and Carrol counties, they, as well as the brown oxides, also abound. Scattered throughout this belt are many charcoal furnaces, some of them producing metal of such quality that in 1871 it was bringing 55 to $56 per ton in Philadelphia, while the Pennsylvania iron on the Lehigh, was selling for $35, A furnace of 6 to 7 tons daily capacitj , requires about 200 acres of ordinary Virginia forest to supply it with fuel for a year, and hence it will be seen that timber is too soon stripped from the vicinity of a furnace to depend on it as a smelting i,gpt in very large and extensive works; while in rolling mills, c-, coal, ia a necessity. These ores will, therefore, look to other sources for their reduction, and they must turn to West Virginia coal, for besides being most excellent for this purpose, they are the nearest. In the history of the iron trade, the ore usually has come to the coal, and not the cjal to the ore : but in this case, owing to the nea,i 4 iictf of the one to the other, a reciprocity ot freights v r ili be established, and each will be taken into the other s district, and when brought into communication along the length of the State, we can look forward to the day when West Virginia and the bordering iroi* counties of Virginia will be teeming hives of industry and wealth, and one of the most important centres of the iron manufacture of the United States, while the ever consuming fires of the blast furnace will furnish one of the largest markets for our fuels. The following tables show the quotations of the chief West Virginia coals in the principal eastern and western markets to which they are carried. For the sake of comparison, their greatest rivals from other States, are also added. The prices are taken from the quotations given in the Engineering and Mining Journo-1, on the first Saturday of each of the six months ending 1st April, 1876. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 245 NEW YORK. "Wholesale Per Ton of 2,240 Pounds Alongside COAL. State, ! : Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. March April. Westmoreland and ) Per n j Penna.. W Va ., SO 50 .; 0.50 0.50 S0.50 (i 50 0.50 0-50 0.50 0.50 8.50 10.00 11.00 11.50 0.50 $0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 6.50 50 8.50 10.00 11.01 11.00 50 r ~~ i ~f $0.00 5.75 6 00 6.00 o.oo 0.00 8.50 so.oo 5.75 0.00 0.00 000 0.00 8.50 Youghiogheny, 1 Waveny County.. / Despard Murphy s Run lYnna.. Ohio W.vVa, 050 0.50 (5.50 . 8.50 . 10.00 . 11.00 11.50 6.50 Fairmont Newburg Orrel Red Bank Cannel Straitsville " Caimeltoii " Paytona " Canneltoii Splint 10.51 ooc 10.50 10.50 6.00 PvICHMOXD, VA. "Wholesale Per Ton of 2, 240 Pounds on Ship Board. COAL. State. Nov. Dec. Jan. i Feb. March] April. Kanawha Cannel W. Va. Coalburg Splint " Lewiston " " $12.00 S12.00S1200 4 90 4.75 4.75 4.90 ! 475 4.75 $9.00 4.75 4.75 so.oo: $9.00 4.75 4.75 4.75 4.75 Kanawha Gas 4.501 4 50 4.50 4 50 4.50 4.50 New River bituminous " Clover Hill Va, James River ) u Bituminous j j 4.50; 4.50 4 50 4.2"); 4.25 4.25 3.30 3 30 3 30 4.50 4.00 : , 30 4.50 4.50 4.00 4 00 330 3.30 CINCINNATI, OHIO. "Wholesale Per Bushel Afloat. COAL Nov. Dec. I Jan. j Feb. March April. Youghiogheny Pittsburgh Penna... Penna... Ohio lOc lOc 8c lOc lOc lOc 8c lOc 9c 9c Oc lOc 7}c i 7Ac ; _f I 7$c \ 7-]c 7|c 5c 7 2 C 7.1c 7Jc 5Jc 7|c Pomerov Kanawha W. Va... LOUISVILLE, KY. Retail Per Bushel. COAL. State. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. ~ j j March. April. Pittsburgh Penna . . . Raymond : City \\. Va... Pine ffilLJKy Pevtona 14c 13c 13c 14c 13c 14c 13c Cannel. ..[W. Va..~ 20 to 22c|20 to 22ci20 to 22c 14c i:]c 13c 14c 13c 13c 20 to 22ci20 to 22c 20 to 22c lie 13c 24fi RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. A final summing up of the advantages possessed by the West Virginia coal field, are : 1st. A very large area of coal strata of unusual -regularity, great thickness and excellent quality. 2d. In this coal field are numerous seams of splint, cannel, and bituminous coal, which rank with, and sometimes excel the best coals of the Tnited States. 3rZ. It has railroad connection with the western markets, as well as communication with 40,000 miles of western river navigation and railroads, along which are many large and manufacturing towns. 4th. Within its boundaries, and skirting its eastern borders, are deposits of iron ore of good quality, in great profusion, and of all the varieties necessary for the manufacture of first rate iron. bth. The vast deposits of ore in the adjoining State of Vir ginia, have to look to the West Virginia coal field for the fuesl for their reduction. These facts should commend our State in the most confident terms to the careful notice of those who desire an advantage ous location for mining coal, and for the erection of blast fur naces and their allied industries. CHAPTER XI. IRON. BY M. F. MAURY. The iron to be found in West Virginia may be divided into two classes : 1. Those ores which belong to, and are found in the Appa lachian Coal Measures, consisting of Brown Oxides, Carbon ates, and Black Bands, and in some places, nodular red hematite. 2. Those which belong to the region lying between the eastern escarpment of the coal formation and the eastern border of the State, forming a part of the great iron belt of the Atlantic States, and consisting of the brown and red haematites, which are much more rich and abundant than those of the first class. IRON ORES OF THE COAL MEASURES. Little attention has been paid to the iron of this geological horizon, except in the northern counties, where a few small blast furnaces have worked the native ores. With these excep tions, as there was generally no cheap and convenient outlet, and consequently no great value for this mineral or its pro duct, it has not possessed much attraction for the people at large, and but little attention has been paid to it. A careful geological survey may, and no doubt will, show that we possess more workable beds of it than are now known, and in fact, within the last two years most valuable searns of Black Band ores have been uncovered, the presence of which was not thought of before. Laboring under these disadvantages, and with a great lack 248 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. of data, only a very imperfect sketch of this mineral element of wealth can at present be given. In the chapter on Coal, it will be remembered that the Coal Measures were divided into four great divisions, viz.: The Lower Coal Measures. The Lower Barren Measures. The Upper Coal Measures. The Upper Barren Measures. With but one exception (in Jackson county), so far as exam inations go, it is only the first two that in West Virginia con tain workable beds of ore, which may be divided into Carbon ates and Black Bands. Black Band Iron Ore. This is nothing more than a Carbon ate of Iron, of a more or less black color, by reason of an. admixture of bituminous matter. So far as yet known, it is confined entirely to the southern part of the State, where it has been discovered only within the last few years. From the fact of its very often resembling black slate in its structure, it may often have been passed over unnoticed, and careful. search will no doubt show it in many places, where it is not now sus pected. It is a class of material that makes an excellent iron, and from which much of the celebrated Scotch pig is smelted. It possesses an especial value, from the fact that, in many cases, a low grade ore can be roasted into a higher grade. For instance, take that from Davis creek, in Kanawha county. Where mined, it contains 33 per cent of metallic iron, and 26 per cent, of carbonaceous matter. By piling it in heaps, and setting fire thereto, the carbonaceous matter is burnt out, and in the process of combustion, generates enough heat to con vert the carbonate of iron in the ore into a richer oxide, so that the mass, after being thus roasted, analyses 65 per cent, of metallic iron. Unfortunately, we can never reckon or depend upon any seam of it continuing of a uniform value, for in one place it will contain an ore well worth working, while half a mile off it may become so mixed with slate or earthy impurities as to be utterly valueless. As an example: On Bell creek, Fayette county, an excellent bed about 4 feet thick was found by Mr. L. Bemelmans, of Charleston. Some 2 or 3 miles from RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA* 249 this place, up a ravine a short distance below the mouth of Bell, the same seam showed only 12 to 14 inches of the good material, while on Little Elk run, of Gauley river, some three miles to the north, the results of two analyses from the same seam gave only 5 and 7 per cent, respectively, of metal lic iron. If we search for it in another direction, it may open to a very valuable deposit. From this irregularity, and from the fact that it has been well proven in this field, it will be readily understood that careful search may find it in many places where it has never yet been noticed, and wherever it JB found in workable quantity its presence adds great value to the land. So new is this ore to our people that it has been discovered in workable strata in only two counties. The first is in Wayne, near the Big Sandy river. There has been no analysis of it from this place, but one made by E. S. Wayne, of Cincinnati, from the 2-J-feet seam in Kentucky, a short distance from the West Virginia line, shows : Prot. Oxide Iron - . 54.07 Per Oxide Iron 231 Alumina .43 Lime ,. . 7.31 Magnesia 0.30 Carbonic Acid 37.40 Phosphoric Acid 17 Sulphur 34 Organic Matter * 0.45 Insoluble Matter 3.34 Water 2.30 100.00 Metallic Iron 28.12 per cent. The second is on Davis and Briar creeks, in Kanawha county, where many openings have been made, and its extent over a large area well proven. The seam is 6 to 7 feet thick, and in this are from 4 to 5 feet of good workable ore. An analysis by Otto Wuth, of Pittsburgh, Pa., gives: Silicic Acid 4.04 Carbonate of Iron 68.35 Phosphoric; Acid 0.58 Sulphur . 0.42 Carbonaceous Matter, some Lime and Alumina 20.02 100.00 Metallic Iron , 33 per cent, 32 250 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Thoroughly roasted, it would then contain about 6.5 per cent of metallic iron, while there is more than enough car bonaceous matter to roast it. I consider it a Black Band ore of the first quality." (Otto Wutli). On Bell creek, in Fayette, Little Elk run, in Nicholas, and Little Sycamore creek, of Elk river, in Clay, outcrops of it have been observed. Carbonate of Iron. Under this head may also be classed the Brown Haematites of the Coal Measures, as they are merely the results of the decomposition of the Carbonates, and in fact, when a seam of the former is discovered, we may expect it to turn into the latter as soon as we go far enough under ground to get beyond atmospheric influences. We see the result of this decomposition in the pieces of Brown Oxide that are found on the hills in every portion of the State. These have lead to many erroneous ideas as to the richness of certain localities in this mineral, which came origi nally from the carbonates of iron existing in the beds that were once superimposed upon the present strata, and have long since been worn away by erosion. As this took place, the lighter materials wore washed off by the currents, while the heavier ore Fettled down and was left, resting on our hill sides. Sometimes a great deal was deposited in one place, and the soil is full of it, while in others but a single lump w r as left, and hence it is that on many of our mountains w r e find the u blos som " of good ore, and yet have no bed of it near by. Like the Black Band, the seams of Carbonate of Iron are quite variable, so that in one locality they will be workable, while in another they may have thinned down or degenerated so much from an admixture of earthy impurities, as to be worthless. They usually contain more or less Carbonate ot Lime, which is of much importance in the blast furnace, in helping to flux out any earthy impurities that may be present. By roasting, the carbonic acid of this ore is driven off, and the mass is converted i nto the red oxide. As the former, when pure, contains 48.3 per cent of iron, and the latter 70 per cent., it will at once be perceived that a thorough burning will raise the per c>iitage so that an ore of low grade can often be roasted to a higher one a very fortunate circumstance, as otherwise many of our seams would be too poor to be of value. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 251 With the present lack of information, we are not able to trace the various seams from point to point, showing how they thin out or thicken up, and can only mention the indi vidual localities where the;/ have been opened. This will show the frequent occurrence of this mineral, and gives reason to believe that very many more localities with workable de posits, can be found. Mineral and Grant Counties. lu that portion of these coun ties that is underlaid by the Coal Measures, the ores that have been discovered, though very good, are not usually workable, on account of the thinness of the beds. The following are the analyses that have been made from this region by Prof. Rogers : No 1. ! i No. 2.|No. 3.|No. 4. j No. 5. Curb. Iron . 79.56 3 36 71.00 5.76 4.00 12.20 3 60 77.20 324 2.80 11.40 244 1.32 trace 6164 3.48 2 24 24.*88 4.60 2.04 trace 68.68 1.80 3.12 20.72 2,76 1.56 trace Carb. I>irQf Carb \Ea ir nesia. 2.56 10.16 1 84 Silica \lumina Water 1.40 truce 1.80 trace Carb. Alaii^aiieBC Metallic Iron 98 88 38.42 98.36 1 34.29 98.40 38.28 , 98.80 ! 29.77 98.64 33.17 No. 1, is from Grant county, on Stony river, 4 miles from the crossing of the Northwestern pike. It occurs in nodules of from 8 to 10 inches in diameter, in a band of calcareous shales, which latter also contain, irregularly distributed, another and coarser kind of ore, quite siliceous, and sometimes having the appearance, when freshly fractured, of a poor article, but upon exposure assuming a deep ferruginous hue. An analysis of this latter is shown in No. 2, from the Falls of Stony river, 7 miles above the North western pike. Here the shales are 15 to 20 feet thick. The ore is found in a 5 foot bed, which would yield about 3J feet of solid ore. No. 3. In the same band, 6 miles below the mouth of Abrams creek, in Mineral county, on the Potomac, the ore occurs again, being in some places 18 inches thick, though very variable. No. 4, Is still from the same band, from Wilson s Mill, 2 miles below the mouth of Abrams greek, in Mineral county. The 252 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. ore occurs in nodules 1 to 12 inches in diameter. It would be well to state that these shales in many places, especially on Stony river, contain bands of very pure limestone. No. 5. From a seam 6 inches thick, from the shales above the second seam of coal, at Brantzburg, on the Potomac, in. Miner al county. These analyses are given mainly to show the quality of the ore hi this basin, with the hopes that they may encourage fur ther investigation as to the quantity of this valuable mineral. Preston County. The following are the analyses that wer e made of the ores of this county by Prof. Wm. B. Rogers. No. 1. .No. 2. No. 3. Carbonate of Tron <>8.(U 5.84 12.04 10.48 1 80 92.00 jl.20 J 4.80 1.20 82.50 2.24 3.7H 8.44 2.12 1.04 trace Carbonate of Lime Carbonate of Magnesia Silica Alumina . Water... 2.12 trace 100.92 33.15 1.12 trace Carbonate < >f Manganese Metallic Iron -. 100.32 44.43 lOO.ltt 39.87 No. 1. One mile below Kingwood Ferry the shales which overlie the lowest coal seam of the basin, contain 5 bands of rich iron ore within a space of 4 to 5 feet; the lowest band is occasionally 4 to 5 inches thick, and the upper ones generally^ about 2 inches. No. 2. In the vicinity of German Settlement, on the summit of a high hill on the north side of the Rhine, is the outcrop of a body of iron ore of a superior quality. It occurs on the surface over a wide area in large fragments, and is also found a short distance beneath. These fragments are evidently in place, and are portions of a bed which occurs near the surface. ( W. B. Rogers.) No. 3. Two and a half miles up Muddy creek from its mouth, at Deep run hollow, the ore varies from 3 to 12 inches. Beneath this is a cacareous shale containing nodules of im pure iron ore 8 to 10 inches in diameter. A very rich ore occurs at Mr. Mich. Hart man s old place in Crab Orchard. The fragments are strewn on the surface over RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 253 a wide area and seem to indicate a contiuous vein. (W. B. Rogers.) It is a deep red. inclining to bro;vn, compact, fine grain. It shows 24.96 per cent of silica, and 46.67 per cent of metallic iron. The Austin Coal Co., on the Bait, and Ohio R. R., have a seam of iron ore 16 to 20 inches thick, 30 feet below their coal mine. The material is shipped to the Lancaster Furnace, Irontown, in Taylor county, and the seam is the same as that worked at the Franklin or Martin Iron Works, on Three Forks creek. From the northeast portion of Preston, in Grant township, we have reports of two veins of ore, each 4 feet thick, but no details concerning them are given. In the western portion of the county, from the vicinity of Reedsville, two seams are reported: one 22 inches of honey comb ore, and the other 6 to 36 inches of red lump, which were formerly worked at the Rock Forge, in the adjoining county of Monongalia. On Three Forks river the ores are said to be of superior quality and to occur under peculiarly favorable conditions for working. On the estate of the Kingwood Gas Coal and Iron Co., at Tunnelton, is .a seam of carbonate of iron that is reported as averaging 2 feet thick. It crops out in many places on the company s land, and also for several miles over the adjacent country. An analysis of an average of various sample?, by Otto Wuth, of Pittsburgh, shows : Silicic Acid 2.64 Alumina 0.31 Carbonate of Iron 67.36 Metallic Iron 32.52 " Lime 18.80 " Magnesia 6.41 Manganese : 0.51 Sulphate of Lime 0.56 Sulphur 0.13 Phosphate of Lime 3.32 Phosphorus 0.66 " When roasted the ore will yield about 50 per cent in the k * furnace, "it being a limestone ore, remarkably free from sili- k ca, other more siliceous ores can be worked with it without " using an additional flux." 254 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Four iron furnaces have been worked in this county, though none are now in operation. Hardman and Lancaster Furnace (the Franklin or Martins), on Three Forks, near the Bait, and Ohio R. R., went out of blast in the spring of 1875. The other three are Muddy Creek Furnace (Landoa s), on Muddy creek ; the Gladeville Furnace, and Carlisle s Furnace, in the north eastern portion of the county, near the Pennsylania line. This last is said to have been one of the original furnaces in. the country. Monongalia Comity. The workable beds of iron ore seem to be found in the eastern portion 01 this county. Samples from nine distinct seams were gotten and sent to the Centennial office in Wheeling in February, 1876, to be forwarded to the International Exhibition to be held in Philadelphia. Begin ning at the lowest and ascending in regular order, they were described in the invoice that accompanied them, as follows : No. 1. " Martin Vein/ about 18 inches thick at the outcrop. No. 2. England Ore." Thickness 18 inches. Formerly used at the Decker s Creek Furnace. No. 3. "Stratford Ore." Thickness IS inches. Formerly used at the Decker s Creek Furnace. No. 4. "Spring Hill Ore." Thickness 30 inches. This is the same seam as that worked at Duncan s Furnace, Pennsyl vania. No. 5. u S wisher Ore." Formerly extensively used at the Decker s Creek Furnace. No. 6. " Haine s Ore." Thickness 2 feet. Formerly used at the Decker s Creek and Cheat River Furnaces. No. 1. " Scott Ore." Thickness 18 inches. Formerly used at the Decker s Creek Furnace. No. 8. u Hastings Ore." Thickness 18 inches. Formerly used at the Cheat River Furnaces. No. 9. " Clippart Vein." About 2 feet thick. The analyses* of samples from each of these give : "These and all other analyses given in this chapter, were in ad another Chemist Is mentioned,) by C. E. Dwight, of Wheeling, SSSOtTRCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 255 ^ .3 i , co QO CO T ( cf i^ : . CO T f CO CONTENTS. q 2 6 "I 00 oT .5 o J^ o g 5 O O > 3 88 jLq 1 32 6 .9 a ^ bo y-* *t1 rH ^ re i c3 3 ^ <H -1 W CC OQ jQ ! * XI ffl o Carbonate of Iron J61.01 09.61 31.19 59.159 ... 4981 51.67 62.60 Hesquioxide of Iron 3.44 1.79 11.89 70.49 L8.76 57.71 2380 7.55 2.54 071 122 Oxide of Manganese-... { 0.01 Carbonate of Lime 11,95 trace 4.91 tr ce 26.05 1.07 1,41 2.28 5.22 3.34 5.60 2.43 13.25 0.23 19.26 0.02 8.37 Carbonate of Xagnesia. j 2 10 0.21 2.-15 1.01 031; 2.10 311 1.35 0.31 Silicr 15.14 20 75 15-55 14.41 13.041S 19 4.06 15,98 21.62 Alumina, 4 4K 1 3 2.12 2.10 0.31 2.10 1.48 1.25 321 Phosphor" - " ! d 53 71 i M S9 0.44 0.37 1.99 ().(;: I 069 041 Sulphuric Ackl 0.37 0.30i 0.42 0.32 0.49 0,74 0.54 082 0.22 -Moisture 04 0.48 1 %> 6.90 038 6.80 0.68 0.7 048 99.09 99.97 99.09J100.oo 99.59 99.80 99 80 99.56 9978 Metallic Iron 31.86 34.6927.24 49 69 41.94 11.35 40.71 39 2 j 32.00 Phosphorus 0.231 0.31 Sulphur 0.15 1 0.12 0.39 0.17 0.19i 0.16 0.87 013! 020 030 027; 0..30 0.22 0.33 0.18 009 These thicknesses appear to be somewhat excsptional and, local, as neither Profs. Wm. B. Rogers or J. J. Stevenson, who have both examined this county on the line of Decker s creek and Scott s run, make any mention of so many seams of these sizes. According to this latter gentleman, the most extensive ore deposit (the Clippart vein,) of this county, is in the Lower Bar ren Measures, in the shale immediately underlying the Pitts burgh coal seam. It is a proto-carbonate of iron, rich and pure, in some places locally known as the % Olyphant blue jump." Near Uniontown, in Pennsylvania, it is well devel oped, and Mr. Olyphant has worked it successfully there for many years in the Fair Chance Furnace. On Scott s Run, near Haigh s Mill, the quantity is considerable. It is said to be found south of Fairmont, in Marion county, on the Monon- gahela river. The following are the analyses that have been obtained of the ores of this county, by Prof. Wm. B. Rogers, who gives the following account of these . 256 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. No.l. No. 2. No. 3 No. 4. No. 5. No. 0. No. 7. Cnrb. Iron 93 08 04 3 00 00 71-16 89 I 9 70 72 78 9 Carb. Lime trace trace trace 3.72 4.40 Carb. Magnesia trace trace trace X 1 40 j | 0.80 2.80 3.00 Silica 4.48 2720 31.20 22.48 7.78 12.72 11.20 \1 urn in a. 80 4 10 3 70 90 1 40 04 1 40 Water 1 %> 4 1 k> > 00 1 04 088 1.70 oo Carb. Manganese trace trace trace trace trace trace trace Metallic Iron... 99.00 44.95 90.88 31.00 97.56 29 27 99.04 34.37 99.98 43.04 99.70 37.05 100.20 37.77 Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, are from three bands from a black shale from 20 to 30 feet thick, that immediately underlies the Great Conglomerate. It is the ore from these bands that sup plied the Henry Clay and Grenville Furnaces. Nos. I and 5 come from the Upper, or Castile band, which is the most uniform in thickness of the three. It varies from 8 to 15 inches, and, having but a slight covering of shale, has been less protected from weathering than the others, and is therefore, found in a decomposed state, the whole bed some times presenting the appearance of a friable, shaly oxide much valued on account of the ease with which it works. Oc casionally it occurs in nodules merely incrusted with oxide, the nucleus being in the original state of carbonate of iron. Nos. 2 and 3 are from the Rock Vein at the Grenville Fur nace. It is some 8 or 10 feet below the " Upper Vein." The ore is generally 8 or 10 inches thick, though varying from 3 feet to 3 inches. No. 4 is from the Lower Vein at the Grenville Furnace, and* is 8 or 10 feet below the " Rock Vein. 1 It varies from 2 to 6 inches averaging 4 inches and is usually coarse and silice ous, and chiefly valuable at the outcrop, where it has been decomposed. No. 6 and 7 are both from the lower part of a 6 to 8 feet bed of dark blue argillaceous shale on Decker s creek. The ore. con sists of a layer of nodules, and was the material chiefly used at the old furnace (the Valley), on that stream prior to 1837. It was mined on the side of Laurel hill, in a southeast direc tion from the furnace. The average thickness of the band is from G to 10 inches, though the nodules are sometimes 1-foot in diameter. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 257 There are no furnaces now in operation in the county. The Valley (?) (Mr. Glair s), on Decker s creek, and the Henry Clay, and Grenville, near the State line on Cheat river, were started at a very early day in the iron history of the region. The others that have been worked are the Pridevale, on Cheat River, and the Clinton on Booth s creek. Taylor County. The Centennial Local Board of this county report as follows : " There is a large amount of iron ore and it is in various parts of the county. By the side of the Bait, and Ohio R. R., on the Valley river, at the mouth of Lost Run, there is a seam of excellent ore, and more than 50 years ago an iron furnace was erected there. In the northeastern part of the county, next to Preston, on Three Fork creek and the railroad, a company from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, erected a furnace named the " Lancaster," and made iron from the ore obtained. The property was afterwards purchased and is now owned by the " Lancaster Furnace and Mining Co.," who built entirely new, large and costly buildings, furnaces and machinery, and shipped to market a large amount of me tal made from the ore obtained from that neighborhood." Two miles from the mouth of Lost Run, on the steep hill in front, of John Riley s house, are three strata, each 8 inches thick, of an excellent carbonate of iron, imbedded in 8 feet of rotten slate and clay. Below these are nodular pieces of 3 to 15 pounds weight in blue clay. On Plummer s run a very fine article of the same class of ore has been discovered, but never worked, and its thickness is not known, though it is said that it is in workable quantities. 33 258 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. The following are the analyses made of ores from this county : Lancaster Fur nace. cc 3 11 a Lost Run, near J. Riley s. Garb. Iron Peroxide Iron 31.34 33 98 24.576 34443 33141 33 100 Binoxide JVLan^anose trace 0256 Oarb Li m e 16 5 13 913 12495 Garb Magnesia 6.28 3478 3214 Phosphoric Acid * 068 0.477 0.536 Sulphuric Acid 013 1 01 1 050 Silica 9 36 16 9 60 7536 131 2 98 4978 Water and Loss 1.40 2673 3.697 Metallic Iron .... 100.00 38.91 100.000 35.983 100.000 39.100 Phosphorus .. 0.296 0.207 0.234 Sulphur s 0052 0.480 0.420 Barbour County About 2J- miles south of Philippi, on the east side of Tygart s Valley river, and some. 30 feet above the water, is a reported2 feet seam, and still above this is another of the same thickness. Both of these are carbonate of iron of very excellent quality by the samples that were forwarded to the Centennial office in Wheeling. Braxton and Clay Counties. In 1874 the Elk River Iron and Coal Co. built a furnace at the mouth of Strange creek, in Braxton, close to the Clay line, and since that date have gone into operation, making a No. 1 cold blast charcoal iron. Their developments have shown some most excellent beds of ore, on which the following notes were made in 1874, when I last visited them. In Clay county, at the mouth of Standing Rock Run, 246 feet (barometric measurement.) above Elk river, is a fine de posit of nodular brown oxide of iron, the result of decomposi tion from the carbonate. The nodules are very thickly embedded in a soft, gray clay, and will yield from 35 to 40 per cent, of metallic iron, and being soft and cellular, work well in the furnace. The bed averaged 4 feet thick, but when exam ined, there was no roof exposed, and the ore was still under RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 259 foot. Mr. J. Savage, the President of the company, who made this opening, said that at one place he went to the bottom of the bed, and found the total thickness 6 to 7 feet. He also traced the seam for 3J miles by walking along the out crop, and striking his pick in at every 80 or 100 yards, till he rolled out nodules of the ore, and, having noted it in the game way at many other places, feels confident that it runs for many miles up and down Elk river. About 15 feet lower down the hill was a very encouraging out crop, which, however, was not sufficiently opened to speak of its thickness. About a mile higher up the river, and below the last, is another seam of the same class of ore, though not quite so rich, It was opened enough to prove the existence of a workable bed, but the exact thickness could not be measured. Just across the river it is partially opened again. Here the ore is of better quality, and in very valuable and easily workable quantities. Above this, on the east side of the river, Mr. Sav age opened a 2{> foot bank. These 3 seams are found again from 2 to 4 miles below the company s iurnace in Braxton county. Concerning the min eral at these points, Mr. Savage, under date of 22nd March, 1876, writes : "Our heaviest seam of ore, which is of a gray ish color before it is burnt, lies 50 feet above Elk river, and is a regular bed. We also have two more regular beds which are 100 and 150 feet respectively, above the stream. There is another seam in which the ore lies in pockets or bunches, sometimes 3 or 4 feet thick, and again running out complete ly. Near the top of the hill is what we call the ; top hill ore, which is scattered promiscuously over the country, and appears to be more plentiful in Clay than in Braxton county." Besides the places mentioned, Mr. Savage has noticed one or more of these seams at various points on either side of the river for many miles down, but as to the continued thickness nothing can be said, as few or no openings, beyond the discov ery of out crops, have been made, though the indications are very encouraging. The furnace of this company is 42 feet high and 11 feet across the boshes. Concerning its working, the same gentle man mentioned before, has kindly furnished the following points; " We are making only about 8 tons per day at this 260 RESOURCES OP WEST VIRGINIA. time,* using 18 tons 580 pounds of roasted ore, 4 tons 600 pounds of limestone, and 1500 bushels of charcoal. These cost US- Charcoal, 5 cts. per bushel, delivered. Limestone, S2.00 per ton. Ore, 2.25 " " "Expenses of manufacturing about 821 per day. These items give a cost for the pig iron of about $17 per ton. In good weather on dry stock we can make an average of 10 to 11 tons a day, which will make the pig cheaper. The reason that we are not making more now is because last season was a very bad year to make charcoal, and it was out in the weather and is in bad condition, as we had not gotten up our coal house. The in wall bosh and hearth rock were obtained from this neighborhood and is superior to lire brick. 7 It may be proper to remark that all of the ore beds of this re gion just described occur in the lower barren group of the coal measures. Kanawha County. As far as examinations have gone, only the northwestern half of this county can lay claim to iron ore. Those exposures that have been observed are : a 2-foot bed in the hill-s across Elk river, opposite Charleston, from which the Kanawha Iron Company, whose furnace is now building, expects to draw a portion of its supplies ; a bed, 2 feet 2 inches thick, one and a quarter miles up Campbell s creek, of a brown oxide, lying just above the Black Flint Ledge. It has, how ever, a good deal of sand in it, and would have to be mixed with other and richer ores for furnace use. A seam, on the Davis creek side of the dividing ridge between that stream and Rush creek, was opened some 15 or 20 years ago, with the intention of starting a small furnace, but the idea was abandoned. It is 2J feet thick, according to the recol lection of General L. Ruffner, and is on the Black Flint. It is, therefore, the same bed as the last. The ore that is still lying about is a siliceous brown oxide, containing some 30 or~ 35 per cent, of iron. It would mix well with the richer ores of Virginia. Lower down Davis creek several workable seams of carbonate of iron, or the results of its decomposition, are reported, an 22ud March, 1876 . RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 261 analysis, by O. N. Stoddard, of Woocester University, Ohio, of one 80 feet above the Mahoning Sandstone, giving Iron 34.927 Carbonate Lime 9.400 Carbonate Magnesia 2.450 Siliceous Matter 15.400 Alumina 4.210 Manganese 2.900 Sulphur- 0.243 Loss of Water by Drying, 0.400 Loss of Combined Matter by Ignition 27.800 Loss.! ." 2.270 100.000 This shows that after the ore is roasted, and the 28.2 per cent, of water and combined matter are driven off, the remaining mass will contain 48.6 per cent, of matallic iron. Wayne County. Perhaps the best idea of the iron ore of this county can be obtained from a section made at Cassville, on the Big Sandy river, by Mr. Dwight : LEVEL OF SANDY RIVER. INTERVAL, 155 FEET. \. Clay and Fossiliferous Iron in kidneys 5 feet. INTERVAL, 8 to 10 FEET. 2. Shale containing lumps of -Blue Carbonate of Iron, con taining 34 per cent, of metal 5 feet. INTERVAL, 104 FEET. 3. Carbonate of Iron 2 feet. INTERVAL 12 FEET. 4. Black Manganiferous Iron Ore, containing 25 per cent, of Binoxide of Manganese, and 27 per cent, of Iron 2 feet. INTERVAL, 52 FEET? 5. Mixed stratum of Limestone and Iron Ore, the latter con taining 42 per cent of Iron 2 feet. tt. Clay with kidneys of Red Haematite, containing 55 per cent, of Iron INTERVAL, 37 FEET. 7. Carbonated Iron and Limestone 2 feet. 8. Clay and kidneys of Iron Ore 3 feet INTERVAL, 14 FEET. 9. Limestone Ore 1 foot, 262 KESOUBCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. INTERVAL, 138 FEET. 10. Clay with kidneys of Keel Haematite, containing 58 per cent. of Iron 3 feet. INTERVAL 60 FEET. Top of Hill Nos. 5 and 6 are locally known as the u Wilson Seam," and an analysis of the mixture of the ores therefrom shows : Peroxide of Iron . 16.20 Protoxide of Iron 25.70 Protoxide of Manganese *.. 20.85 Caustic Lime 30.22 Silica 3.56 Alumina 3.11 Phosphoric Acid 0.64 Sulphur Trace. 100.00 In December, 1875, 58 tons of this ore was tried at the Bel- mont Furnace, Wheeling, and so much liked that an order for 1,000 tons was at once given : Mr. D wight s analysis of the Black Manganiferous Ore, from No. 4, shows : Sesquioxide of Iron 27.400 Binoxide of Manganese 26.802 Carbonate of Lime 37.214 Carbonate of Magnesia 1.908 Silica Alumina Phosphoric Acid- Sulphuric Acid < Moisture Loss 100.000 Metallic Iron in raw ore 19.18 percent. " " "roasted ore 27.87 Phosphorus 0.679 " Sulphur 0.142 It will be noticed that, in the extensive belt from the Penn sylvania line, in Monongalia and Preston counties, to the Ken tucky line, at Cassville, the workable beds of ore that have been discovered, are confined to four localities, viz : 1st. Mo nongalia, Preston, Barbour, and Taylor counties, 2d. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 263 ton and Clay counties, near the furnace at Strange creek; 3d, Kanawha county, near Elk river, and 4th, Wayne county, on the Big Sandy. Of the gaps between these, we know noth ing, but it is fair to presume that, in these blank spaces, a careful and systematic search will develop beds fully as good as those of which we now know. Jackson County. A bed of Oxide of Iron, 6 miles from the mouth of Mill creek, has lately been purchased by the Bellaire Iron Company, in the State of Ohio, just below Wheeling, but we have no data showing its thickness. Raleigh County. A bed of Brown Haematite, 3 feet thick, has recently been discovered 3 miles north of the Court House, on the land of Wm. McCreery. It is very soft, porous and earthy, as taken from the outcrop. By an analysis, it gives: Peroxide of Iron 79.350 Silica 3.599 Alumina 1.593 Phosphoric Acid 1,880 Sulphuric Acid., 0.895 Lime 0821 Magnesia 0.034 Water 11.232 Organic Matter (rootlets) and Loss 0.589 100.000 ^Tetallic Iron 55.545 per cent. Phosphorus 0.819 Sulphur.... 0.358 " Red Hasmatite. In several places mention has already been made of this, which occurs in nodules in a series of bands of red and reddish-yellow shales, which are found in the Lower Barren Measures along the general line that has been indica ted for the carbonates of iron. These nodules often contain from 50 to 60 per cent of metal, but in no place as yet, with, perhaps, the exception of Wayne county, have these been found in sufficient quantity in the shale to constitute a workable deposit. If they should be, the probability is that the continuation of such would be uncertain, and would not justify the erection of any works looking to them as the main source of supplies. 264 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. IRON ORES EAST OF THE COAL MEASURES. We now come to the consideration of what may be called, par excellence, the Iron Region of West Virginia, as the ores are far richer and in greater abundance than those of the coal measures. It is to be regretted that the present knowledge concerning them is so scant that we are not able to trace the beds from point to point along the whole border of the State, showing where any individual one has its greatest develop ment, and we shall, therefore, have to be satisfied with point ing out those localities in the various counties where beds or deposits have been observed and their value examined into. The same remarks that were made about the ores in the coal measures can be reiterated for this district, viz : that in many localities a proper exploration will develope valuable deposits of which we have now no information, and this can be said with all the more positiveness because the beds are more strong and continuous, and less likely to die out in this geological horizon than they were in that. Mercer County. " The northern slope of the East River mountain shows considerable deposits of iron ore, ledges of variegated marble, very pure barytes and fine mill-stone-grit extending along Peter s mountain into Monroe county. Iron ore does not exist in such masses as in Giles county,* but Bluestone river, above the mouth of Brushy creek, presents fine bodies of ore, * * chiefly lying upon the spurs of thp Black Oak mountains, as well as in ridges and spurs of the Flat Top mountain, upon the opposite side of the Bluestone river." (Report of C. R. Boyd on the Minerals of New River. Exec. Doc. Nov. 25. 3rd Ses. 42d Congress). Monroe County. " Little Mountain, lying next to Peter s mountain, on the south boundary, possesses a very fine de posit of iron, from which metal of good quality has been manufactured." (Boyd s Report). On Peter s mountain, on the road from Union to the Salt Pond, a very fine outcrop of brown haematite has been observ ed, and along the eastern border of the county it is probable that other deposits will be found. * Giles is the adjoining couuty in Virginia, RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 265 Greenbrier County. On Howard s creek, within 4 or 5 miles of the White Sulphur Springs, iron ore of fair quality and apparently in large quantities has lately been discovered; and on Anthony s creek the fossiliferous and block ores make their appearance. At the point of observation the fossil ore was 9 inches thick, but the block ore has been opened at two places, each showing 7 feet. It inclines at a good angle for mining. A bluff ore. also, shows itself at numerous points in large masses. (Report of T. S Ridgeway on the Minerals along the C. & 0. R. R). Analyses of several of these ores by J. B. Brit- ton, show : Fossil Ore 52.23 per cent Iron. Pipe " 61.75 " " Haematite Ore 57.17 " " Bluff Ore 36.69 " Pocahontas County. Beyond the fact, that large bodies of iron ore are usually accredited to this county, nothing posi tive can here be stated, there being no data to show the quality of the mineral or the thickness of the deposits. We may, however, look with confidence for the same classes as are found in Greebrier, for the strata of the two counties are, in many places, identical. Pendleton County. A. R. Guerard, Associate of the Royal School of Mines, England, and one of the assistants of the State Board of Centennial Managers, made a reconnoiance of this and the counties presently to be mentioned, in February 1876. He writes : u So far, there have been no detailed Geological examinations of the great iron belt between the Blue Ridge and Alleghany mountains, passing through this State ; and the only authentic information on the subject at all, is the now scarce report of W. B. Rogers, made in 1838, as State Ge ologist of Virginia- Nor is it now to be expected, in the very short time allotted to me, in so extensive a region, that I should have been able to arrive at anything like adequate details, or indeed to make more than a confirmation of the existence of workable deposits of iron ore in this section of the State. I submit my report to the Board, therefore, with this reservation, prompted by the hope that if it cannot satisfy all demands it may at least call attention to the valuable mineral resour- 34 266 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. ces of this region, and awaken a desire for further investiga^ tion and development. u The principal deposits of this county (Pendleton,) are in the eastern portion, along the South Fork mountain, a few in dications only of no special importance being observed on the ranges of the North Fork. The ores comprise the red, brown and red fossiliferous haematites peculiar to, and always asso ciated with, this Geological formation, and traceable over a large extent of surface in West Virginia, including the coun ties of Hampshire, Hardy, Grant and Pendleton. "The red fossiliferous haematite, the most uniform and im portant of this group, displays itself at many points along the sides and summit of the South Fork range. This ore, from its occurrence in layers arranged parallel with each other, inter- stratified with friable red shales, and from its being usually filled with impressions of hollow castings of shells, admits of being readily identified and is traceable in a series of seams, though seldom very thick, in considerable numbers, and for a great distance; it presents everywhere the same natural advan tages, indicating the abundance in which it might be procured, as well as the facility with which it might be mined. Of its extraordinary value to any region, the experience in Pennsyl vania furnishes the most conclusive evidence, where, since the discovery of its admirable adaption for the furnace, it has been keenly sought after, and seams, which from their thinness, would, if composed of any other material, have remained unno ticed, have not only been diligently but profitably worked. This formation, which further north and south is not so well developed, expands in passing through this State, and here attains a thickness not found elsewhere. " Associated with these strata, at the junction of this with the overlying formation, are found valuable deposits of red and brown haematites, derived probably from the former. These appear in out crops and scattered boulders along the entire length of this mountain." RESOURCES OP WEST VIRGINIA. 267 The following analyses were made of the samples of the ores of this county, exhibited at the International Exhibition of 1876: No. 1. 63.470 3150 18.000 5.707 .146 .713 .300 1 575 6.197 .432 310 No. 2. No. 3. No. 5. No. 6. Sesquioxide of Iron BinoKide of \Ian <r anese 80.336 80.838 trace 17.544 1.266 trace trace .026 .423 X 1.02 50.010 70.201 trace 17,361 3,503 .456 1.489 2.400 1.345 X 2,754 55.706 Silica 5.722 7.291 1517 .482 1.331 1.070 X 1.864 37.151 8.390 .756 .432 .080 .925 X 1.877 ,379 18.110 13.463 1.321 .120 .090 2.147 7.799 .732 .512 \liin~iina Lime Ala^nOSia Phosphoric Acid Sulphuric \cid Coin biiied Water Hygroscopic Water Loss Iron 100-000 100,000 56.232 .580 .428 100.199 100.000 100.000 100.000 44.42 .131 .730 56.586 .012 .169 35.010 .035 .370 49.137 1,046 .538 38.994 .039 .858 Phosphorus Sulphur No. 1, is a Brown Haematite, from the neighborhood of Franklin. No. 2, is a Red Fossiliferous Haematite, from Dickenson s land, on South Fork mountain. No. 3, is a Red Haematite, from the vicinity of Upper Tract. No. 4, is a Red and Brown Haematite (mined), from George Miller s, South Fork mountain. No. 5, is a Red Haematite (part of No. 4). No. 6, is a Brown Haematite, from Col. Johnson s place near Franklin. Hardy County. Mr. Guerard in his report on these counties goes on to say : "Large and important bodies of iron ore, iden tical with those already mentioned, are conspicuously devel oped in this county on the ranges of the Middle and North mountains. "On the west side of Elk Horn Knob, 13 miles south from Moorefield, three separate seams of the Red Fossiliferous Hae matite crop out with the usual favorable characteristics of this valuable formation. They measure respectively : (1) feet, 8 inches , (2) 1 " 6 " (3) 3 " 3 " Y Ketterman s Farm." 268 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. " The upper ores of this group are remarkably well shown on the same range : (1) Red Haematite, 25 feet (16 feet solid ore) Pine moun tain, 1J miles from Ketterman s. (2) Brown Haematite, 30 feet (from outcrop) Salt Spring Run Knob, 5 miles from Ketterman s. (3) Brown Haematite (very pure), 14 feet Cunningham s Tract, 3 miles from this and 9 from Moorefield. " The Brown Haematites occur largely again on the spurs and ridges of the North or Capon mountain. These have long been mined and smslted by various iron works in this portion of the county. The only furnace now in existence, is that known as the Capon Iron works, six miles from Wardensville, on the east side of the mountain. " The ore bank shows in an open drift of a 100 yards, a remark able deposit of ore. Having sunk 70 feet on the vein, which is inclined at an angle of 40, it still appeared to be continu ous. The deposit lies between sandstone and limestone, of which there is a large supply, and the outcrop can be traced some distance along the mountain. Three smaller veins of the same ore crop out above this larger one, and some hundred yards below, a vein of Brown Fossiliferous Haematite, the counterpart of which has been worked at Bloomery, in Hamp shire, has lately been discovered. It is 2 feet thick near the outcrop, but has never yet been worked. " The following data show the general charge and working of the Capon furnace : f 800 to 1,000 pounds, limestone ^) I 140 to 160 bushels, Charcoal VTo 1 ton pig. nf nn 2 * % tOUS, charred OFC J 1 25 to 30 tons pig a week. $15 cost per ton at the works. Shipping point Winchester, dis tant 20 miles. " The ores worked are said to produce an excellent quality of iron, especially adapted to the manufacture of car wheels and boiler plate. u Of the furnaces formerly worked, but now abandoned, there were three in this county : One on Orr s mountain, west of Moorefield, and two on the east side of the mountain. la the neighborhood of Wardensville, Messrs. Saliard and Bryan car- RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 269 ried on a furnace many years ago, and 8 miles from Capon Iron Works, on the same range, was the Crack Whip Furnace, owned by Charles Carter Lee. A large deposit of ore was devel oped in this locality, as shown by the old workings still expos ing several feet of solid ore. The following are analyses made of the oros from this county : Xo. 1. Xo. 2. Xo. 3 Xo. 4. Scsouioxidf of Iron 8480 72990 83.47 64.287 Protoxide 1 of Iron 4.64 Binoxidc of M!aii?ancse trace 7.680 Silica. 5.90 23.500 9.40 11.771 Alumina 1.81 3.184 2.657 1.141 Phosphoric Acid . 1 60 .122 .373 1.110 Sulphuric A-cid .10 .870 .120 1.180 \Vater ) ) ) 6.695 Loss . . V 4.60 v 2.518 [ - .187 295 100.000 59.36 100.00 51 09 100.000 62.01 100.000 45.00 Phosphorus .698 053 163 .483 Sulphur 040 .035 048 .472 No. 1, is a Red Fossiliferous Haematite, from the 3-feet 3-inch seam on Ketterman s farm. No, 2 is a Red Haematite, from the 25-feet vein on Pine mountain. No. 3, is a Brown Haematite, from the 14-feet vein on Cun ningham s tract. No. 4, is a Brown Haematite, from Capon Iron Works. Grant County Mr. Guerard reports from this county: "The associated Haematites are exhibited in a still more remarkable manner in Grant than in Hardy and Pendleton. The beauti ful symmetry of arrangement, too, of the mountain strata here particularly well-defined, as well as the striking development of iron ore in close proximity to the coal basin of the Alle- ghany, render this county more than usually interesting, both in a geological and economical point of view. In the vicinity of Greenland Gap, the Red fossiliferous Haematite shows itself in 5 parallel layers, on the east side of Walker s bridge, dipping N. W., and on the west side of Little or Knobly mountain, dipping S. E., indicating the 270 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. wreck of a denuded anticlinal arch over the New Creek moun tain. These seams, workable in Pennsylvania when only a few inches thick, here assume the following large dimensions: (a) 8 feel | } Walker s Ridge (measured from outcrops). J Little Mountain (measured from section). (b) 18 (c) 13 (d) 11 Total . 57 feet. On either side, and overlying these strata, massive beds of limestone (partly hydraulic) and sandstone are exposed. Above the latter, the Brown Haematites crop out along the summits of Walker s ridge and Knobly mountain. From these ores, the Fanny furnace^ 4 miles from the village of Greenland, on Hasard s creek, was formerly worked, being long famous for its iron. These ores are only 6 miles from the coal of the Alleghany, and 20 miles from Keyser, on the Baltimore and Ohio rail road. The following table shows analyses of the ores of this county : No. 1. No. 2. Se^uuioxide of Iron 75 033 68 750 025 Silica 14 354 1 5 555 7 445 13 733 230 Lime... .521 Phosphoric Acid j 2.020 1.842 Sulphuric Acid ! .240i 0.120 Loss, etc ! .132 100.000100.000 52 52 48 13 Phosphorus . . 880 .803 Sulphur 096 .048- No. 1, is a Fossiliferous Red Haematite, from the 7-feet seam near Greenland Gap, Little Mountain. No. 2, is a similar variety, from the 13-feet seam on Walk er s ridge, in the same neighborhood. The 13.733 per cent, ascribed to alumina, includes, according to Mr. Dwight s report, also the moisture and loss. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 271 Hampshire County : Mr. Guerard goes pn to report "The Iron ^ ores of this county are more scattered and not so conspicuously 1 developed as those of the counties previously mentioned; but \ my observations led me to estimate the deposits of this county, (though small when compared with those of Grant, Hardy, &c) as still of economical importance. At various points along the slopes and ridges of the Patter son s Creek, Short and Capon mountains boulders may be observed lying thick over the surface, and here and there occasional outcrops of true beds of ore. The only deposits at present worked are those occurring at Bloomery, on the east side of Capon mountain, in the north eastern portion of the county. Here a fossiliferous variety of brown haematite occurs in a rein, varying from 18 inches to 4 feet. This and a vein of the ordinary Brown Iron ore (thick ness not known) has been mined and smelted here for many years. The furnace has been out of blast for the last few months, but will probably soon be in operation again. Lime stone, charcoal and fine water power are easily obtained any where along this valley, The following are the general pro portions of the charge and the production of the furnace, as given me by Mr. Withers, the present Manager and part owner. f 800 Ibs. limestone/ ) Cold blast 4 120 bushels, charcoal. [To ] ton Pig ( 2 J to 2| tons of raw ore j Cost $2-0 00 per ton, Pig delivered at Paw-paw station, distant 14 miles. 272 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. The following table gives the analyses of the ores from this county Sesquioxide of Iron.. ; 73531 75.250 Binoxide of Manganese.. * 4.380 trace Silica 13.329 12.035 Alumina 3.025 2.199 Lime 024 1.254 Magnesia .251 .631 Phosphoric Acid 241 ,089 Sulphuric Acid 1.204 2,058 Combined Water 3.082 .750 Hygroscopic Water 032 .631 Loss 301 ,524 100.000 100,000 Iron , 51.471 52.675 Phosphorus 105 .038 Sulphur .481 .823 No. 1, is a Brown Haematite from Short mountain, 15 miles from Romney. No. 2, is a Brown Hematite, from the same locality. Morgan County. Mr. Guerard continuing his reconnoissance into the Valley of Virginia, reports on this county : " There are no iron ores of any importance in this county. On the slopes of Sandy ridge, near Sir John s Run Station, are two veins of ore of a siliceous character, one measuring 6 and the other 2 feet, but not workable, except under peculiar circumstances. " At various points along the summit of Sleepy Creek moun-" tain boulders of ore may be observed, but indicating no work able deposits. " It may be mentioned, more as a mirieralogical curiosity than as of economical importance, that specimens of micace ous red haematite may be picked up frequently in both this and Berkeley county, at the base of the mountain." Berkeley County: Mr. Guerard reports, "two deposits of iron ore have been developed in this county, one owned by Charles J. Faulkner, about a mile south of the town of Marti nsburg, and the other by Adam Small, five miles in the opposite direc tion. The-se form a part of a series of irregular deposits im- RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 273 bedded in arenaceous limestone extending through this valley along the western base of the Blue Ridge. The ores consist of the cellular, honey-combed and pipe, or stalactitic varieties of brown haematite, in many cases proving valuable, and said to produce a very good iron. Both of the deposits above- mentioned have been worked and the ore shipped to Penn sylvania." Jefferson County. Mr. Guerard s report on this county con tains the following : " The ores of this county are analogous to those occurring in Berkeley, and belong to the same forma tion. Deposits have been worked on the Virginia side of the Potomac river, below the mouth of Antietam creek, to supply the Antietarn Iron Works, opposite, and also near Bolivar Heights at Harper s Ferry, furnishing the old Keeptryst fur nace with its stock when it was in blast, many years ago. But the most recent working is on the west side of the Shenan- doah river, 6 miles from Charlestown, at what is known a s Maltby s ore bank. Here is a large body of fine ore, giving every indication of a continued heavy yield. This bank has lately been abandoned in consequence of the furnace, which it fur nished with ore in Maryland, having stopped. CHAPTER XII. SALT A]\ T D PETROLEUM. SALT. BY DR. J. P. HALE, OF CHARLESTON. CHARLESTON, W. VA., APRIL 5TH, 1876. Prof. M. f. Maury: DEAR SIR : In compliance with your request, I send you> herewith, some facts in regard to the early history, subsequent developments, and present condition of the salt manufacture and salt interest of Kanawha and Mason counties, and of West Va., generally Hoping that the paper may, in some degree, furnish the in formation you desire, I am Very Respectfully, Yours Truly, J. P. HALB. Rich as is West Virginia in coal, iron, timber, &c., she is scarcely less rich in that indispensable necessity to human health and comfort, and to animal life common salt. Fossil or rock salt bas not been found in the State; but salt brines of greater or less strength, and in greater or less abundance are found by Artesian borings, at greater or less depth throughout the Appalachian coal field, which underlies the greater portion of our state. The strength of these brines varies in different localities, and in different wells in the same locality ; the range may be RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 2*75 stated at say 6 to 12 by the salometer, Baume scale (distilled water being , saturation 25), biit the average strength of the brines from which salt is now made is about 8 to 10. The value of thess brines depends, of course, upon their location, as regards accessibility, and cheap transportation of the prod ucts to market, as well as the convenient proximity of cheap coal for fuel, and timber for barrels. Only locations on the navigable rivers, or lines of railways at present fulfill these indications; but, as population increases, aud new routes of travel and traffic are opened up, it is probable that new salt manufacturing localities will be developed. The principal points at which salt has been manufactured in the state, are Charleston on the Great Kanawha river; from West Columbia to Hartford City on the Ohio river; at Bull-town on the little Kanawha; at Louisa on the Big-Sandy; in Mercer county on New river ; near Birch of Elk river; (at the mouth of Otter creek on Elk. Authors.) and at a few other less im portant points, on a very small scale for local use. At present, owing to the greater facility of reaching the markets of the great west by cheap water transportation, and the advantages of cheap fuel, salt is only manufactured, on a commercial scale near Charleston on the Great Kanawha, and in Mason county on the Ohio. It is of these localities that I propose to .give some account ; and of the latter first, reserving for the Kanawha works, the oldest in the State, a fuller account and description, much of which will apply to the Mason coun, ty and other works as well. The Mason county Salt works, now the most extensive in present productive capacity in the State are of conparatively recent development. In 1849 Messrs. Williams & Stevens, aided by Capt. Tom / Friend all Kanawha Salt makers bored for salt water at West Columbia, in Mason county on the Ohio river; they suc ceeded at about 700 feet in getting a fine well of water of good strength, and at once proceeded to erect the first Salt furnace on the Ohio river ; they also bored several other wells in the vi cinity, none of which, however, proved so good as the first They, shortly after, sold tho property to New York parties who remodeled and rebuilt the furnace on a much larger scale, giv ing it a productive capacity of some 1200 bushels, or more per 276 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. day. The success of this enterprise gave a great impetus to to salt boring, and coal mining throughout the available coal frontage of this region. This developed coal frontage along the river extends from West Columbia to Hartford City, about 7 miles. Up the river the coal dips, until it passes under water level at, or just above Hartford City The second salt furnace was erected at this upper limit of the coal frontage in 1854 by a Hartford City, (Conn.^company, / then under the management of W. 0. Healy, Esq ; since, and now under the management of G. W. Moredock, Esq. who has three large furnaces, with abundance of good brine, and cheap and convenient coal. These two operations, one at the extreme lower, and the other at the extreme upper limit of the coal fron tage, demonstrated pretty clearly the existence of good brines throughout that extent, and at once gave a value to furnace sites and coal lands which the owners had not hitherto suspected them to possess. / In 1855 Mr. R. C. M. Lovell, another Kanawha salt manu facturer, bored wells and erected a large furnace about half way between the two points above named, and laid out a town which he called " Mason City/ This valuable salt and coal property was afterwards pur chased by L. H. Sargent of Cincinnati, O., and more recently has passed into the hands of Messrs. Roots & Kilbreth of the same city. Following these three furnaces, and within the next few years, were built the New Castle, Burnup, Clifton, Bedford, Hope, German, Jackson, Valley City, Starr, and New Haven City, in all 13 in number. These 13 furnaces have a present productive capacity of over 3,000,000 bushels per year. The usual depth to which the wells in this neigborhood are bored, is about 1,100 to 1,200 feet : the strength of brines 8 to 10 : the quantity, 15 to 50 gals, per minute per well. The wells are tubed with iron tubing, usually about 4 inches in ternal diameter, and bagged at 600 to 800 feet depth, at which depth the pumps were worked, run by steam power. The coal used here in the manufacture of salt, and also ship ped to a considerable extent to the lower markets, is, geologi cally, the same as the well known Pittsburgh seam, so exten- RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 277 sively mined and shipped near the city of that name. It is here a fine seam of coal, 4-J to 5 feet thick, easily mined, acces sible and cheap. From the natural advantages of this locality, salt is pro duced here very cheaply, and cheaply freighted to the markets of the west, where it is in ready demand and its reputation de servedly excellent. From the bitterns or waste liquors from the salt furnaces here, a considerable quantity of bromine is manufactured, the uses and demand for which are steadily increasing. Chloride of calcium is also manufactured to some extent from these waste, bitter waters. The following table, kindly furnished by G. W. Moredock, Esq., of Hartford City, the largest manufacturer in Mason county, gives a very clear understanding of the present status of the salt manufacture in that county. SALT WORKS, MASON COUNTY, W. VA. NAME OF FURNACE. OWNERS NAMES. Bush, i Feet. New Haven i 300,000j Hartford City : 300,000 Star ". 325,000! Vallev City 350,000! 1,125-35 Jackson j 200,0001,120-30 German i 250,000 Hope i 350,000 Mason City 325,000 Bedford 300,000 Clifton 300,000| Burnup or Quaker City 150,000 Newcastle 250,000 1,155 West, Columbia ; 300,000 1,125-40 1,200 if Hartford City Coal and 1,150-00 Salt Co., 1,100 acres 01 coal land, 1,150 Actual capacity ! 3,700,000 Actually made" in 1875... |2,500,000 Valley City Coal and Salt C. V. B. Horton, jr. ! German. Salt Co jHope Salt Co. (Mason. City Salt Co. Bedford Salt Co. Not running. " It takes one bushel of coal to make a bushel of salt. Strength of brine from wells at Hartford City, 9 to 10 measured by Baurne s salometer ; saturated brine 25, making the brine stand 40 per cent salt. (G. W. Moredock). 278 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. The Kanawha salt works are situated in Kanawha county, on the Kanawha river, commencing about three miles above Charleston and extending up the river for several miles, on both side 1 *. These "Licks," as they are called, have not only been known and extensively worked, from the first settlement of the valley by the whites, but have been known and used, from time im memorial, by the Indian tribes, and frequented by swarms of buffalo, elk, deer, and other wild animals, before, the advent of the white man. In 1753, when all this region was an unbroken wilderness, which had never bean penetrated by the most adventurous white man, a party of Shawnees who dwelt upon the Scioto, in what is now Ohio, made a raid upon the frontier settle ments of Virginia, in what is now Montgomery county. Hav ing taken the settlers unawares, and after killing, burning, .and capturing prisoners, as was their custom, they retreated, with their captives, down New river, Kanawha, and Ohio, to their homes. One of these captives. Mrs. Mary Ingles,* who afterwards made her escape, and was returned to her friends, related that the party stopped several days at a salt spring on the Kanawha river, rested from their weary march, killed plenty of game and feasted themselves on the fat of the land; in the meantime, boiling salt water and making a supply of salt, which was carefully packed and taken with them to their western homes. This is not only the first account we have of salt-making on Kanawha, hut anywhere else west of the Alleghanies. In fact, if there is any earlier record of salt- making from brine springs, anywhere in the United States, I am not aware of it. The earliest settlement made by whites, in the Kanawha Valley, was by Walter Kelley and family, at the mouth of the creek, which bears his name, in the spring of 1774, several months before the battle of Poiat Pleasant, where the combined Indian tribes, under the celebrated Sachem, Cornstalk, were defeated and driven back by the Virginians, under Gen. Lewis. Kelly and his family paid the forfeit of their lives to their temerity; they were all killed by the Indians ; but after the battle of the Point, when there was greater security for life, *The great grand-mother of the writer. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 279 the valley was rapidly settled, mostly by Virginians, and in great part by the hardy soldiers who had followed Lewis to Point Pleasant. The early pioneer settlers, in a wilderness, without commu nication with other settlements, except by foot or bridle paths, depended upon the Kanawha Licks for their scanty supply of salt. In those days of simple economy and provident thrift, when ererything useful was made the most of, the women s wa?h-kettles were put under requisition for a fourfold duty ; they boiled the daily hog and hominy, and other wholesome, frugal fare; once a week they boiled the clothes, on washday; semi-occasionally they boiled the salt water for a little of the precious salt, and every spring they went to the sugar camp, to boil the annual supply of maple sugar and molasses. It is related that atone time, when there was an apprehended attack from the Indians, the few early settlers were posted at the mouth of Coal river, for protection. Being out of salt and suffering for the want of it, they sent some of their hardy and daring } 7 oung men in canoes up to the salt spring, where they dipped the canoes full of salt water; and, getting safely back, the water was boiled, and the precious salt made under cover of the fort. Among the earliest land locations made in the valley, was one of 502 acres, made in 1785, by John Dickinson, from thev/ Valley of Virginia, to include the mouth of Campbell s creek, the bottom above, and the salt spring. Dickinson did not im prove or work the property himself, but meeting with Joseph \f Rufmer, an enterprising farmer from the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, in 1794, and describing this salt spring to him, Ruif- ner became so impressed with its value, that he then and there purchased the 502 acres upon Dickinson s own report, with out himself seeing it, agreeing to pay for it 500 pounds sterl ing without condition, and other sums conditioned upon the quantity of salt to ba made which might increase the price to 10,000 pounds sterling. Having gone thus far, he sold out his Shenandoah estates, and in 1795 removed himself and family to Kanawha to look after his salt property. Upon arriving here, however, his penchant for rich farming lands overcame him, and he purchased, from George and William Clendenen, the large river bottom of 900 acres extending from the niouth 280 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. of Elk river up Kanawha; and, upon 40 acres of which the village of Charleston had been laid out and started the previous year. This last purchase, and the subsequent attention to clearing and improving the farm diverted Ruffner s attention for a time, from the salt project ; the delay was fatal so far as he was concerned ; he did not live to execute his pet scheme or realize his cherished hopes. Dying in 1803, he willed the ^property to his sons, David and Joseph, enjoining it upon them to carry out, as speedily as practicable, his plans of building up extensive salt manufactories to supply not only the increas ing local demand, but a larger and still mora rapidly growing demand which was now coming from the many thrifty settle ments throughout the Ohio Valley. During the elder Ruff ner s life, however, he had leased to oniXElisha Brooks, the use of salt water and the right to manufacture salt; and in 1797 this Elisha Brooks erected the first salt furnace in Kanawha, or in the western country. It consisted of two dozen small kettles, set in a double row, with a flue beneath, a chimney at one end, and a fire bed at the other. To obtain a supply of salt water he sank two or three "gums," some 8 or 10 fest each in length, into the mire and quicksand of the salt lick, and dipped the brine with a bucket and swape, as it oozed and seeped in through the sands below. / In this crude, rough-and-ready way, Brooks managed to make about 150 pounds of salt per day, which he sold at the kettles, at 8 to 10 cents per pound. No means were used to settle or purify the brines 01- salt, as the salt water came from the gum, so it was boiled down to salt in the kettles, with whatever impurities or coloring matter it contained. As it issues from the earth it holds some carbonate of iron in solu tion; when it is boiled, this iron becomes oxidized, and gives a reddish tinge to the brine and salt. This Kanawha salt soon acquired a reputation for its strong, pungent taste, and its superior qualities for curing meat, but ter, etc. A great many who used it and recognized these qual ities in connection with its striking reddish color came to associate the two in their minds in the relation of cause and effect, and orders used to come from far and near for some of " that strong red salt from the Kanawha "Licks." Almost the only mode of transporting salt beyond the neigh RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 281 borhood, in those early days, was by pack-horses, on the prim itive, backwoods pack-saddle. So-much of this was done, and so familiar did the public mind become with the term, as used in tbat sense, that even to this day, among a large class of people, the verb to pack" is always used instea.d of other synonymous or similar terms, such as carry, transport, fetch, bring, take, etc., and the " tote u of Old Virginia. It was not until 1806, that the brothers, David and Joseph / Ruffner, set to work to ascertain the source of the salt water, to procure, if possible, a larger supply and of better quality, and to prepare to manufacture salt on a scale commensurate with the growing wants of the country. The Salt Lick, or "The Great Buffalo Lick, "as it was called, was ju?t at the river s edge, 12 or 14 rods in extent, on the north side, a fow hundred yards above tho mou-th of Camp bell s creek, and just in front of what is now known as the "Thoroughfare Gap," through whicb, from the north, as well as up and down the river, the Buffalo, Elk, and other rumi nating animals made their way in va-t numbers to the lick. I may mention en passant that so great was the fame of this lick, and the herds of game that frequented it, that the great hunter, explorer, and conqueror of the "bloody ground "of Kentucky, Daniel Boone, was tempted up here, made a log cabin settlement, and lived just on the opposite side of the river, on what is now known as the Donnally farm or splint cord bottom. I have had, from old Mr. Paddy Huddlestone, who died a few years ago, at nearly one hundred years of age, many interesting anecdotes of their joint adventures in hunt ing and trapping. Boone still lived here in 1789-90, when Kanawha county was formed, and in 1791 served as one of the delegates for the county, in the Legislature at Richmond. But to return to the Lick, and the operations of the Ruff, brothers. In order to reach, if possible, the bottom of the mire and oozy quicksand through which the salt water flowed, they provided a straight, well-formed, hollow sycamore tree, with 4 feet internal diameter, sawed off square at each end. This is technically called a "gum." This gum was set upright on the spot selected for sinking, the large end down, and held in its perpendicular position by props or braces, on the four sides. A platform, upon which two men could stand, was fixed 36 282 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. about the top ; then, a swape erected, having its fulcrum in a forked post set in the ground close by. A large bucket, made from half of a whisky barrel, was attached to the end of the swape, by a rope, and a rope attached to the end of the pole to pull c|pwn on, to raise the bucket. With one man inside the gum, armed with pick, shovel, and crowbar, two men on the platform on top to empty and return the bucket, and three or four to work the swape, the crew and outfit were complete. After many unexpected difficulties and delays, the gum, at last, reached what seemed to be rock bottom at 13 feet ; upon cutting it with picks and crowbars, however, it proved to be but a shale or crust, about 6 inches thick, of conglomerated sand, gravel and iron. Upon breaking through this crust the water flowed up into the gum more freely than ever, but less salt. Discouraged at this result, the Ruffner brothers determined to abandon this gum, and sink a well out in the bottom, about 100 yards from the river. This was done, encountering, as before, many difficulties and delays ; when they had gotten through 45 feet of alluvial deposit, they came to the same bed of sand and gravel upon which they had started, at the river. To penetrate this, they made a 3J inch tube of a 20 foot oak log, by boring through it with a long shanked augur. This tube, sharpened, and shod with iron at the bottom, was driven down, pile-driver fashion, through the sand to the solid rock. Through this tube they then let down a glass vial with a string to catch the salt water for testing. They were again doomed to disappointment; the water, though slightly brackish, was less salt than that at the river. They now decided to return to the gum at the river, and, if possible, put it down to the bed rock. This they finally sue ceeded in doing, finding the rock at 16 to 17 feet from the surface. As the bottom of the gum was square, and the surface of the rock uneven, the rush of outside water into the gum was very troublesome. By dint of cutting and trimming from one side and the other, however, they were, at last, gotten nearly to a joint, after which they resorted to thin wedges, which were driven here and there as they would " do the most good." By this means the gum was gotten sufficiently tight to be so RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 283 bailed out as to determine whether the salt water came up through the rock. This turned out to be the case. The quan tity welling up through the rock was extremely small, but the strength was greater than any yet gotten, and tnife was encouraging. They were anxious to follow it down, but how ? They could not blast a hole down there, under water; but this idea occurred to them; they knew that rock blasters drilled their powder holes two or three feet deep, and they concluded they could, with a longer and larger drill, bore a correspond ingly deeper and larger hole. They fixed a long iron drill, with a 2-J inch chisel bit of steel, and attached the upper end to a spring pole, with a rope. In this way the boring went on slowly and tediously till on the 1st of November, 1807, at 17 feet in the rock, a cavity or fissure was struck, which gave an increased flow of stronger brine. This gave new encouragement to bore still further and so, by welding increasing length of shaft to the drill, from time to time, the hole was carried down to 28 feet, where a still larger and stronger supply of salt water was gotten. Having now sufficient salt water to justify it, they decided, and commenced, to build a salt furnace ; but while building, / continued the boring, and on the 15th January, 1808, at 40 w feet in the rock, and 58 feet from the top ot the gum, were re warded by an ample flow of strong brine for their furnace and ceased boring. Now was presented another difficulty : how to get the strong er brine from the bottom of the well, undiluted by the weaker brines and fresh water from above ; there was no precedent here ; they had to invent, contrive, and construct anew. A metal tube would naturally suggest itself to them; but there were neither metal tubes, nor sheet metal, nor metal workers save a home-made blacksmith in all this region, and to bore a wooden tube 40 feet long, and small enough in external di ameter to go in the 2J inch hole, was impracticable ; what they did do, was to whittle out of two long strips of wood, two long half tubes of the proper size, and, fitting the edges care fully together, wrap the whole from end to end with small twine ; this, with a bag of wrapping near the lower end, to fit, as nearly as practicable, water tight, in the 2-J inch hole, was cautiously pressed down to its place, and found to answer the 284 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. purpose perfectly; the brine flowed up freely through the tube into the gum, which was now provided .with a watertight floor or bottom, to hold it; and from which it was raised by the simple swape and bucket. Thus was bored arid tubed, rigged and worked, the first rock- bored salt well west of the Alleghanies, if not in the United States. The wonder is not that it required eighteen months or more to prepare, bore and complete this well for use, but, rather, that it was accomplished at all under the circumstan ces. In these times, when such a work can be accomplished in as many days as it then required months, it is difficult to appreciate the difficulties, doubts, delays, and general troubles that beset them then. Without preliminary study, previous experience or training, without precedents in what they un dertook, in a newly settled country, without steain power, ma chine shops, skilled mechanics, suitable tools or materials, failure, rather than success, might reasonably have been pre dicted. The new furnace, which for some time had been under con struction, was now complete. It was simply a reproduction of the Elisha Brooks kettle furnace, or a larger s-cale. There were more kettles, of larger size, and better arranged. On the 8th of February, 1808, the Ruffner Bros, made their first lifting of salt from this furnace, and simultaneously re duced the price to the, then, unprecedentedly low figure of 4 cents per pound.* .From this time forward, salt making, as one of the leading industries of Kariawha, was an established fact, and Kanawha salt one of the leading commercial articles of the west; and wherever it has gone, from the Alleghani- S to the Rocky mountains, from the Lakes to the Gulf, its superior qualities have been recognized and appreciated. The neighboring property owners, who had watched the progress and result of the Ruffoer well with such deep interest, . now instituted borings on their own lands, above and below, and on both sides, of the river. Among these earlier, enter- interesting facts in this history of tin- boring of ib.c first well, I am in- (!*-btc(l To a MS by the late Dr. Henry Rufl m r-am! 1 or personal recollections .-u litioiis 1. uia indebted o. is Hutt ncr, Isaac IluiFiirr, \V. D. ShivwsbeiT.v, Col. II. II. Smith, Col. L. I V/oo-lyan!, W. C. Brooks, and others, mid my o\\ ncrs for the last 3J your.s. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 285 terprising experimenters, were William Whitaker, Tobias./ Ruffner, Andrew Donally, and others. All were more or less successful in getting a supply of brine, at depths varying from 50 to 100 feet, and by 1817 there were some 30 furnaces and 15 or 20 wells in operation, making in the aggregate 600,000 to 700,000 bushels of salt. In this year an important revolution in the manufacture of salt was effected by the discovery of coal. Although, in one of the finest coal fields of the world, coal had not, hitherto, been found here in workable seams, nor been used at all, except for blacksmith purposes. Wood had been the only fuel used in salt making, and for other purposes, and all the bottoms and convenient hill slopes for several miles up ai d down the river had been stripped of their timber to supply this demand. David Ruffner, true to the spirit of enterprise and pluck which bored the first well, was the first here to use coal as a fuel. This would appear to be a very simple matter now; but was not so then. It was only after many months of discourag ing efforts, and failing experiments, that he finally succeeded in getting it to work to his satisfaction. Its value established, however, its use was, at once, adopted by the other furnaces, and wood ceased to be used as a fuel for salt making in Ka- nawha. Other important improvements w r ere gradually going on in the manner of boring, tubing and pumping wells, &c. The first progress made in tubing, after Rtiffner s compound wood- and-wrapping-twine tube, was made by a tinner who had loca ted in Charleston to make tin cups and coffee pots for the multitude, lie made tin tubes in convenient lengths, and soldered them together as they were put down the well. The refinement of screw joints had not yet come, but followed shortly after, in connection with copper pipes, which soon took the place of tin, and these are recently giving place to iron. In the manner of bagging the wells, that is, in forming a water-tight joint around the tube to shut off the weaker waters above from the stronger below, a simple arrangement, called a k< geed-bag," was fallen upon, which proved very effec tive, which has survived to this day, and has been adopted wherever deep boring is done, as one of the standard appliances 286 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. for the purpose for which it is used. This seed-bag is made of buckskin, or soft calf-skin pewed up like the sleeve of a coat or leg of a stocking ; made 12 to 15 inches long, about the size of the well hole and open at both ends ; this is slipped over the tube and one end securely wrapped over knots placed on the tube to prevent slipping. Some six or eight inches of the bag is then filled with flaxseed, either alone or mixed with pow dered gum tragacanth ; the other end of the bag is then wrap ped, like the first, and the tube is ready for the well. When to their place and they are put down any depth, to hundreds of feet the seed and gum soon swell from the water they ab sorb, till a close fit and water-tight joint are made. The hydraulic contrivance for raising salt water from the gums, consisting of a bucket, a swape and a man, was simple, I slow and sure ; but the spirit of progress was abroad and it : soon gave place to a more complicated arrangement, consist ing of a pump, lever, crank, shaft, and blind horse or mule, that revolved in its orbit around the shaft. This was consid ered a wonderful achievement in mechanical contrivance, es pecially by the men who had worked the swapes. For several years this "horse-mil]," as it was called, was the only mode of pumping salt water on Kanawha, but in the ; fulness of time it also went to the rear in 1828 and the steam engine came to the front, not only for pumping, but also for boring wells and various other uses. / In 1831 William Morris, or "Billy" Morris, as he was fa miliarly called, a very ingenious and successful practical well borer, invented a simple tool, which has done more to render deep boring practicable, simple and cheap, than anything else since the introduction of steam. This tool has always been called here "Slips," but in the oil regions they have given it the name of "Jars." It is a long double-link, with jaws that fit closely, but slide loosely up and down. They are made of the best steel, are about 30 inches long, and fitted, top and bottom, with pin and socket joint, respectively. For use they are interposed between the heavy iron sinker, with its cutting chisel-bit below, and the line of augur poles above. Its object is to let the heavy sinker and bit have a clear, quick, cutting fall, unobstructed and unen cumbered by the slower motion of the long line of augur pole? RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 287 above. In the case of fast augur or other tools in the well, they are also used to give heavy jars upward or downward, or both, to loosen them. From this use the oil well people have given them the name of "Jars." Billy Morris never patented his invention, and never asked for nor made a dollar out of it, but as a public benefactor, he deserves to rank with the inventors of the sewing machine, reaping machine, planing machine, printing cylinders, cot ton gin, &c. This tool has been adopted into general use wherever deep boring is done, but, outside of Kanawha, few have heard of Billy Morris, or know where the slips or jars came from. The invention of this tool, the adoption of the heavy sinker and some other minor improvements in well boring, gave a great impetus to deep boring in Kanawha. Wells were put down 500, 1,000, 1,500, and 1,800 feet, and one, the deepest in Kanawha, by Charles Reynolds, to about 2,000 feet. These borings would doubtless have been carried to a much greater depth, but that the fact soon got to be understood, that the salt-bearing strata had been passed, and that no brines were obtained at a greater depth than 800 to 1,000 feet. The limit of the salt-bearing rocks is readily told by the character of the borings. Within this limit are sandstones, shale, coal, &c., of the Coal Measures lying nearly horizontal, though dipping slightly to the northwest ; below is the Carbonifer ous Limestone which underlies the Coal Measures, and crops out 100 miles to the eastward. This limestone, when pene trated, is known to the well-borers as the "long-running rock," from the fact that a boring-bit will run along time in it without being dulled. No regular suites of samples of borings from the Kanawha wells have ever been kept. This is not important, however, as the strata are well known, and can be examined along the New river canon as they crop out to the eastward. The Kanawha borings have educated and sentjbrth a set of skilful well-borers, all over the country, who have bored for water for irrigation on the western plains, for artesian wells for city, factory, or private use, for salt water at various places, for oil all over the country, for geological or miner- ological explorations, &c., &c. 288 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Nearly all the Kanawha salt wells have contained more or less petroleum oil, and some of the deepest wells a consider- ble flow. Many persons now think, trusting to their recol lections, that some of the wells afforded as much as 25 to 50 barrels per day. This was allowed to flow over from the top of the salt cisterns, on to the river, where, from its specific gravity, it spread over a large surface, and by its beautiful iridescent hues, and not very savory odour, could be traced for many miles down the stream. It was from this that the river received the familiar nickname of " Old Greasy, by which it was for a long time familiarly known by Kanawha boatmen and others. At that time this oil not only had no value, but was con sidered a great nuisance, and every effort was made to tube it out and get rid of it. It is now the opinion of some compe tent geologists, as well as of practical oil men, that very deep borings, say 2,500 feet, would penetrate rich oil-bearing strata, and possibly inexhaustible supplies of gas. In 1775, Gen. Washington visited the Kanawha valley in person, and located some very valuable lands for his military services. About three miles above the Salt Lick, he set apart and deeded to the public, forever, a square acre of land near the river, on which was a great natural wonder, then little understood, called a "burning spring."* For many, many years aft^r, it was visited by every one who came to or pa?sed through Kanawha, as one of the great curiosities of the region. It was simply a hole in the ground, which filled with water when it rained, and up through which issued a jet of gas, giving the water the appearance of boiling, and when lighted burned with a bright flame till blown out by high wind. In 1841, William Tompkins, in boring a salt well a short distance above the burning spring, struck a large flow of gas, which he turned to account by boiling his furnace 7 and making salt with it, effecting a great saving in fuel and econ omy in the cost of salt. In 184B, Messrs. Dickinson & Shrewsberry, boring a few -The following is an extract from George Washington s will : " The tract of which tho 123 acres is a moiety, was taken up by Gen. Andrew Lewis and myself, for, and on account of, a bituminous spring, which it contains, of so inflammable a nature as to buni as freely as spirits, and is as nearly difficult to extinguish." RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 289 rods below, tapped at about 1,000 feet in depth, nature s great gas reservoir of this region. So great was the pressure of this gas, and the force with which it was vented through this bore hole, that the augur, consisting of a heavy iron sinker, weighing some 500 pounds, and several hundred feet more of augur poles, weighing in all, perhaps 1,000 pounds, was shot up out of the well like an arrow out of a cross-bow. With it came a column of salt water, which stood probably 150 feet high. The roaring of this gas and water, as they issued, could be heard under favorable conditions for several miles. It w r ould have been difficult to estimate with any approach to accuracy, the quantity of gas vented by this well, and no attempt was made to measure it. I heard it roughly esti mated as being enough to light London and Paris, with, per haps, enough left to supply a few such villages as New York and Philadelphia. But as this is a salt well, as well as gas well, I suggest that the gas estimates be taken, " cum grano salis." While this well was blowing it was the custom of the stage drivers, as they passed down by it, to stop and let their pas sengers take a look at the novel arid wonderful display. On one occasion a professor from Harvard College was one of the stage passengers, and being a man of investigating and experimenting turn of mind, he went as near the well as he could get for the gas and spray of the falling water, and lighted a match to see if the gas would burn. Instantly the whole atmosphere was ablaze, the Professor s hair and eye brows singed, and his clothes afire. The well-frame and engine-house also took fire, and were much damaged. The Professor, who had jumped into the river to save himself from the fire, crawled out, and back to the stage, as best he could, and went on to Charleston, where he took to bed, and sent for a doctor to dress his burns. Col; Dickinson, one of the owners of the well, hearing of the burning of his engine house and well frame, sent for his man of affairs, Col. Woodyard, and ordered him to follow the un known stage passenger to town, get a warrant, have him ar rested and punished, for wilfully and wantonly burning his property, unless concluded Col. Dickinson, as Woodyard was about starting, unless you find that the fellow is natur-al d d 37 290 RESOURCES OF WEPT VIRGINIA. fool, and didnt know any better* Arriving at Charleston, Woodyard went to the room of the burnt Professor at the hotel, finding him in bed, his face and hands blistered, "and in a sorry plight generally. He proceeded to state in very plain terms, the object of his visit, at which the Prof, seemed greatly wor ried, and alarmed, not knowing the extent of this additional impending trouble, which his folly had brought upon him. Before he had expressed himself in words, however, Woodyard proceeded to deliver, verbatim, and with great emphasis the codicil to Dickinson s instructions. The Prof, notwithstand ing his physical pain and mental alarm, seemed to take in the ludicrousnc ss of the whole case, and with an effort to smile through his blisters, replied that it seemed a pretty hard alter native; but, under the circumstances, he f 4t it his duty to con fess under the last clause, and escape. Well, said Woodyard, if this is your decision, my duty is ended, and I bid you good morning. The salt water and gas from this well were partially collect ed, and convoyed through wooden pip^s, to the nearest furnace, where they were used in making salt. Ftfr many years this natuial flow of gas lifted the salt water 1,000 feet from the bottom of the well, forced it a mile or more through pipes, to a salt furnace, raised it into a reservoir, boiled it in the furnace, and lighted the premises all around at night. About the only objection to the arrangement was, that it did not lift the salt and pack it in barrels. The success of this well induced other salt makers to bore \leep wells for gas, and several were successful- Messrs. Worth & English, Tompkins, Welch & Co., Wm. D. Shrewsberry, I J". H. Fry, and J. S. O. Brooks, got gas wells and used the gas either alone, or in connection with coal, for fuel in salt mak ing. Gas was also struck in a few other wells, but did not last long, and was not utilized. The first flow of gas ever struck in Kanawha, was as far back as 1815, in a well bored by Capt. James Wilson, within the present city limits of Charleston, near the residence of C. C. Lewis, Esq. The Capt. had not gotten as good salt water as he expected ; but instead of being discouraged, he declared in language em- RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 291 phatic, that he would have better brine or bore the well into lower regions, with higher temperature. Shortly after this the augur struck a cavity which gave vent to an immense flow of gas and salt water. The gas caught fire from a grate near at hand, and blazed up with great force and brilliancy, much to the consternation of the well borers and others. Capt. Wilson thought it would be a reckless tempting of Providence to go any deeper, and ordered the boring stopped. This well is now owned by the Charleston Gas Light Com pany, w r ho at some future time contemplate re-opening it to test the gas for lighting the city. Of the many wells in the neighborhood, that have furnished gas, some have stopped suddenly, and some by a slow and gradual process. Whether these stoppages have been from exhaustion of the gas, or sudden, or gradual stoppage of the vent-ways, has not been definitely determined. It is known, however, that in the Dickinson and Shrewsberry well, which blew longer than any other, that the copper pipes in the well, and the wooden pipes leading to the furnace, were lined with a mineral deposit, in some places nearly closing them. This deposit has not been analyzed, but may possibly be silicate of lime. A system of torpedoing might break up these incrus tations from the walls of the well and roek cavities, and start the gas again. From the results of such wells in Pennsylvania, and New York, we have large encouragement to hope for similar results here. A few wells intelligently manipulated, might give gas enough to boil all the salt manufactured here, and run all the machinery, in the neighborhood. After the introduction of steam power, and the use of coal for fuel, no striking change was effected in the process of salt manufacture for a number of years. What improvements were made, were simply in degree. Wells were bored deep er, the holes were bored larger, the tubing was better, the pumps and rigging simpler. The furnaces were larger, better constructed, andj more] effectively] operated, the quality of the salt improved and the quantity increased, but still they were kettle furnaces of the original type. 292 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. * The mammoth of the kettle era was that of Joseph Friend \t & Son, at the mouth of Campbell s creek, on which they made 100,000 bushels of salt per annum. The usual capacity of other furnaces was 25,000 to 50,000 bushels per annum. This was about the condition of the salt manufacture here in 1835, when there were, all told, about 40 furnaces, producing annually about 2,000,000 bushels of salt. i During this year Geo. H. Patrick, Esq. of Onondaiga, New York, came here, to introduce a patent steam furnace. The furnace proper, after it was developed and improved, consisted of cast iron pans, or bottoms, 8 to 10 feet by 3 feet. Eight or ten of these pieces were bolted together by iron screws, forming one section 24 to 30 feet long, by 8 or 10 feet wide. There were two, three, or four of these sections according to the size of the furnace. Over each of the sections was constructed a wooden steam chest, bolted to the flanges on the sides of the pans, and otherwise held together by wooden clamps and keys, and iron bolts and rods, all made steam and water tight by calking. These several sections are set longitudinally on the furnace walls to form one continuous furnace. After the furnace comes a series of wooden vats or cisterns, a usual size for which, is about 10 feet wide and 100 feet long. The number of these cisterns varies according to the size of the furnace, They are constructed of poplar plank, 4 to 5 inches thick, dressed to joints, and fitted in a frame of oak by sills and clamps. They are tightened by driving wooden keys, and then calked to make them water tight. This system of clamping and keying cisterns, was introduced here from a model brought by Col. B. H. Smith, from the navy yard at Norfolk,. It was very simple and effective, and has been re tained to this day, without improvement or change. There are two sets of these cisterns, the first in which the brines after boiling in the furnace proper, ars settled, and at the same time strengthened up to saturation. The latter in which the salt is graduated from the clear saturated brines. These settling and graining cisterns are very much alike, except that the grainers, are but 15 to 18 inches deep, while the settlers may be double that or more. Through each and all of these cisterns from end to end are three rows of copper pipes, usually 5 inches in diameter. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 293 After the salt water is boiled in the furnace proper, it runs into these settling cisterns, and after being thoroughly settled and saturated, is drawn into the grainers, where the salt is de posited, and once in 24 honrs is lifted out by long handled shovels, on to a salt board, suspended above the grainer, and from which, after proper draining it is wheeled in wheel bar rows to a salt house, where it is packed in barrels ready for shipment. The steam generated by the boiling in the furnace proper, is carried from the steam chest, by wooden pipes, to the copper pipes and through the settlers and grainers. This steam giv ing up its heat in passing through these cisterns, keeps up the temperature of the brines, and causes rapid evaporation. The temperature of these cisterns varies from 120 to 190, an average would probably be 165. This in short, is a description of the steam furnace, after it was improved, and the first mistakes and crudities eliminated. In the first experiments only very slight heat was imparted by the steam to t the brines, and only very coarse or alum salt made. It was very simple, accomplished all that was expected, and so soon as it was fairly tested, improved up to its working condition, and its advantages demonstrated, the days of kettle furnaces were numbered. Andrew Donnally and Isaac Xoyes were the first to try and j adopt the plan. Then followed John D. Lewis, Lewis Ruffner, i Frederick Brooks, and others, till all had made the change ; i and when the Ohio river furnaces were built, the system was fully adopted there. It is now about 40 years since George Patrick introduced the j steam furnace, but it still holds its position securely, and j without a rival. Minor improvements have been made, and the furnaces much enlarged, but the general plan has not been changed. From the 2,000 or 3,000 or 4,000 bushels per month of the earlier furnaces, the production has been increased to 20,000, 30,000 or 40,000 bushels per month. The writer s furnace, Snow Hill, has made in one year, independent of all stoppages, delays, 1 etc., 420,000 bushels, the largest single month s run being 41,- 000 bushels. This furnace has 20,000 square feet of evapor ating cistern surface, and over 1,300 square feet of metal-pan 294 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. furnace-surface. About 1.200 bushels of coal per d&y are con sumed in the furnace proper, and about 300 more for engines, houses, and other purposes. How far this will be exceeded in the future remains to be seen. The same progress has occurred in freighting salt, as in the manufacture. In the days of Elisha Brooks, the neigh bors took the salt from the kettles. in their pocket handker-- chiefs, tin buckets, or pillow cases. Later, it was taken in mealbags, on pack-horses, and pack-saddles. The first shipment west, by river, was in 1808, in tubs, boxes, and hogsheads, floated on a raft of logs. Next came small flat-boats, 50 to 75 feat long, and 10 to 18 feet wide, " run " by hand, and in ft hich salt was shipped in barrels. These boats increased in size up to 160 feet or more long, and 24 to 25 feet wide, and carried 1,800 to 2,200 barrels of salt. These boats were all run by hand, at great risk, and although the Kanawha boatmen were the best in the world, the boats and cargoes were not unfrequently sunk, entailing heavy loss upon the owners of the salt. The late Col. Andrew Donnally used to ask, when he heard of one of his boats sinking, whether any of the boatmen were drowned; if not, he contended it was not a fair sink. But all this is now done away. with. Salt is now shipped eastward by rail, and to the nearer westward markets by daily and weekly steamboat packets, and to the more distant markets by towbpats and barges. Atowboat will now take 8,000 to 15,000 barrels at one trip, landing them at Louisville, Evansville, Nashville, Memphis, St. Louis, or else where. In the matter of packages, no change has occurred here since the first use of barrels, the principal change being a gradual improvement in the quality of the cooperage. Our neighbors in Mason county, ship some salt in bulk, arid some in bags, but the larger portion in barrels. Kanawha uses barrels exclusively. We use two sizes 280 pounds and 350 pounds net salt, respectively. The pork pack ing trade takes the larger size, and the retail trade, the smaller chiefly. These barrels are made of white oak staves and hickory hoops, and it is believed that nothing cheaper or better can be devised for salt packages. They are cheaper than bags, more RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 295 convenient to handle, more convenient to store, stand rougher usages, and more exposure to the weather. Markets having choice of salt in bags or barrels, generally prefer the barrels. In the earlier times of salt making here, various substances were experimented with for the purpose of settling or sepa rating the impurities from the brine. Blood, glue, jelly, lime, *alum, etc., were used. Something of the sort was necessary when the brine was boiled down in kettles with all its impur ities, but they are all useless, and worse than useless in the present process, and have long been abandoned. Plenty of settle-room and plenty of time, are all that are needed to have the brines as clear as spring water. The bitterns, after the salt is granulated, are thrown away, or used for other purposes. It has long been known that a small portion of some greasy or oily substance, on the surface of the brine helped u to cut the grain, and hasten the granulation. Butter, tallow, lard, rosin, oils, etc., have been tried. Of these, butter is far the best, and next to butter, tallow ; lard and some of the other? are positively detrimental. What the action of butter is, whether chemical or mechani cal or both, I think has never been determined, but certain it is, that a very small quantity of butter on the surface of brine, while it is granulating very much improves the salt, making the grain finer and more uniform. Heat, too, is an important condition in making fine salt. The higher the temperature, other things being equal, the finer the salt. In making the finer grades of table and dairy salt, it is necessary to have the brine up to, or near, the boil ing point. On the other hand, the coarser grades of salt, preferred for meat packing and other purposes, are made at temperatures of from 100 to 150 F. A still coarser grained, or larger crystalled salt, known as alum salt or solar salt, and made in the open air by solar evap oration, is not made here, but there is no reason why it should not be to great advantage, as we have longer summers and warmer suns, than at Onondaiga, New York, where it is very largely made, and with more profit than other grades of salt. Some of the waste products from salt making, are recently being utilized. Mr. Lerner, an enterprising German, is manu- 296 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. facturiiig bromine, both here and at the Mason county fur naces, from bitterns, and Mr. Bemmelmans, a Belgian chemist, is erecting works to manufacture hydrochloric acid from bit terns, arid pigments from the impalpable oxide of iron which is deposited from salt brines. The cost of manufacturing salt on Kanawha varies, of course, from time to time, with the varying price of living,* labor and supplies. It also varies with each particular furnace according to size, and the greater or less advantages which it possesses. The larger the furnace, other things being equal, the cheapf3r it will make salt. The general superintendence and management of a large furnace, costs very little, if any more, than, for a small one ; and a given quantity of coal will make more salt on a large furnace than a small one. The best furnace .will make 100 bushels of salt with 80 to 90 bushels of coal. A good average result is, a bushel of salt for a bushel of coal, and the least economical consume about 125 bushels of coal per 100 bushels of salt. Some of the furnaces mine their own coal, and some buy fine or nut coal from mines that are shipping coal. Even the best furnaces do not use coal at all economically or to the best advantage. There is, in this respect, great room for improve ment. The cost of coal delivered at the furnaces, ranges from 2J- to 4 cents per bushel. The present cost of barrels is 25 to 28 cents for the smaller size and 28 to 32 cents for the larger. The cost of common day labor is $1,00 to $1,25 per day. Coal miners get 2 cents per bushel. The cost of producing salt at these figures may be stated at 8to 11 cents per bushel in bulk, or 13 to 16 cents in barrels, ready for shipment. The present cost of boring a salt well here, say 1,000 feet, after engine, well frame, &c., are ready, is $1,200 to $1,500. The time necessary to bore and ream it complete, is 60 to 90 days. The cost of a salt furnace, complete, depends upon size, &c., and varies within wide limits. It may be stated roughly at $40,000 to 100,000. The people of the United States consume more salt than those of any other country, the estimated average consump tion being one bushel of 50 pounds, per capita, for the entire RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 297 population. The great western markets, where our product goes, consume even more largely than the general average, as this is the largest pork-packing region on the globe. This portion of the country is rapidly increasing in population, and as rapidly in its meat crop and salt consumption. It is well known to chemists that salt is a valuable fertilizer on most soils for wheat, cotton, grass, potatoes, turnips, and other crops ; and as an ingredient in compound manures it has a wide range of value. It is often recommended by the high est authorities, but, as yet, very little is so used in this coun try. When agriculture gets to be better understood and prac ticed, and agricultural people understand their interests better, a large demand and consumption will doubtless be developed in that direction. The most important and prospectively promising develop ment in the manufacture of salt here, is its probable use on a large scale in the manufacture of alkalies and other chemicals having salt as a basis or important constituent. With a population of 40,000,000, and covering the greater part of a continent, it is an astonishing fact that our last census does not report a single Soda Ash works in operation in the United States, while the official returns show the im portation of these chemicals into the country to be enormously large. In 1872 the importation of soda ash, caustic soda, <fec., was over 100,000 tons; in 1873, 118,000 tons; in 1874, 140,000 tons; in 1875, tons. These figures, together with the following article, cut from the New York Tribune a few years ago, are strikingly sugges tive and instructive, and present, in a very forcible manner, the great and rapidly growing importance of this manufacture to this country. " GIVE US THE SODA ASH MANUFACTURE." " Soda ash, within ten days, has gone up J a cent a pound. Well, what of that ? Just this : For the bread we Ameri cans eat, for the window glass that lights our houses, and in fact shelters us from the weather, for every pound of hard soap that we use, for every sheet of our letter, cap, and print ing paper, for the bleaching of our cotton cloths, and very 38 298 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. many other blessings, we are absolutely dependent upon Great Britain. Her manufactories of soda ash have the monopoly of furnishing the United States with that article, indispensa bly necessary in itself, and in its correlative products, to the supply of the commonest wants of our social and domestic life. There is nob a soda ash manufactory in the United States. There are the skeletons of many, killed dead under a com petition under Free Trade Tariffs, or Free Trade clauses in Protective Tariffs, which represents the difference of wages paid to common laborers in the United States and Great Britain, 50 cents a day there, and $1.50 a day here. But there is not a single living, kicking soda ash factory in our whole country. Let us re-state this, our nation s dependence. If a war should break out between Great Britain and the United States we would be instantly cut off from the supply of the mate rials to make bread, soap, glass, and paper. The manufactur ing interests dependent upon soda ash and its correlations, would forthwith be brought to the greatest distress, or to abso lute ruin. So soon as the imported stock on hand was exhausted, we should have to depend on blockade running to obtain the chemical element necessary to enable the nation to wash its clothes and raise its bread and cakes. In the event of such a war, soda ash would go up to $2.00 per pound, indeed it could not be gotten at any price. Oar people would expiate with widespread distress their folly in not hav ing encouraged and established this article of prime and indis- pensible necessity, at least to the point of independence from foreign supply. But soda ash has gone up ^ a cent a pound. It is a new fluctuation, which we simply wish to employ in urging the solemn duty to make this nation independent of Great Britain, for the comfort of its social and domestic life. The fluctua tion in the price of soda ash in 1865 was between 3J cents the pound and 12^ cents. During that time, the profit the Britisli manufacturers and importers made out of us, ranged between 200 and 400 per cent. Money enough was sent out of this country, to pay inordinate profits to foreigners, to have paid for the successful establishment here of the soda ash manufacture in at least eight different States, and to have RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 299 secured a permanently low and steady price of the article in all the American markets. This rise of J a cent a pound, a British tax on every glass, soap, paper, and cotton manufac turer in this country, will not excite a protest. How wise it would be for these manufacturers, quitting forever their chronic protests against a tariff on soda ash, to unite in demanding one that should immediately establish the manu facture here, and save them forever from those inevitable fluctuations in the price of the foreign article, and the extrav agant profits from which only home competition, between established producers, saves the consumer." All, or nearly all, of our supply of these chemicals comes from Great Britain. Official reports of 1870, giving the opera tions of 1869. will give an idea of the extent and importance of the manufacture in that country. In that year the manufactories there consumed 10,184, 000 bushels of salt ; 26,908,000 bushels, or 961,000 tons of coal ; 281,000 tons of limestone and chalk ; 264,000 tons of pyrites ; 8,300 tons of nitrate of soda, and 33,000 tons of timber for casks. The manufacture, I am told, has largely increased since 1869, but I have not seen official reports of a later date. Is there any sufficient reason why this manufacture should be so neglected and ignored in this country? On the con trary, the advantages are so great and so palpable that it is difficult to understand why capital and enterprise have not been enlisted in it. To illustrate, compare the conditions of manufacture at New Castle, on the Tyne, the seat of the largest manufacture in England, with what they would be on the Kanawha. The New Castle manufacturer buys his salt in Cheshire and transports it several hundred miles by rail. He buys his coal from neighboring collieries, paying railway transportation on that to his works. His pyrites and manganese come from Spain, and his timber for casks from Canada or Norway. When the chemicals are made, he sends them to Liverpool or Glasgow by rail for American shipment, thence by steamers to New York, paying ocean freight, insurance, and govern ment duty. At New York he pays commission, cartage, &c., and thence railroad freight to the western markets, say to Pittsburgh, St. Louis, &c. 300 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Per contra, the Kanawha manufacturer would have salt and coal at his doors, at a small margin over producer s cost, if he did not produce them himself at actual cost. On the line of the dies. & Ohio R. R., accessible, cheap and convenient, are inexhaustible mines and beds of superior pyrites, manganese and limestone, and timber of the finest qualities abounds throughout the region, and. is extremely cheap. . The product, when ready, could be rolled from one door of the factory into boats or barges, and in a short time, by cheap water transportation, be landed at these same large western consuming markets from Pittsburgh to St. Louis, inclusive; or from the opposite do3r of the factory, on the cars of the Ches. & Ohio R. R. for early delivery into any of the eastern cities. It will be readily seen, I think, that the advantages are great ly in favor of the American manufacture, and especially at Kanawha, where there are, probably, more advantages com bined than at any other point in the country. With cheap salt, cheap coal, cheap sulphurets, cheap manga nese, cheap limestone, cheap timber, cheap labor, and cheap transportation, there is nothing lacking but capital to make the Kanawha the Tyne of America. West Virginia should at least supply soda ash, caustic soda, and bleaching powder, to the great chemical consuming mar kets of the west, so near and cheaply accessible to us, if not, indeed, to the whole continent, thus saving to the consumers millions 01 dollars of extra cost for the foreign article, and saving the country from the risk of the unpleasant contin gencies described in the foregoing Tribune article. The inauguration of this industry here on a large scale, it is believed, would promote other enterprises depending largely upon these products as well as upon cheap coal and cheap timber. Glass works, soap factories, paper mills, <fcc., might, with advantage, be located here convenient to salt and chemical supplies. The products of these establishments would, of course, have the same advantages of cheaply reaching the great consuming and rapidly growing markets of the west. The Great Kanawha Coal Field, within which lies the Ka nawha salt basin, is one of the finest known coal fields in the RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 301 world. We have coal of the finest qualities, splint, bitumin ous and cannel, hard block coal, suitable for iron making ; soft, rich coal for gas ; good coking coal ; steam coal and grate coal. Oar cannel coals for parlor use or gas making are unexcelled. Iron ores, carbonates of the coal formation, are found through out the region, red and brown haematites and specular ores are cheaply accessible by rail, and black band of superior qual ity is found here in large abundance. As a timber region, especially for the hard woods, this can hardly be excelled on the continent. It is not my purpose, however, in this paper, to describe the coal, iron or timber ; they will doubtless be written up by others; but I wished, simply in a few words, to call attention to the conjunction, or convenient proximity of these great leading staple, raw materials, herein described or mentioned, and all on a great line of railroad and a navigable river, con necting with all the 16,000 miles of water-ways draining the interior of the continent into the "Great Father of Waters," the Mississippi, and reaching the teeming millions of population who dwell upon his fertile shores to their farthest limits. It is upon such valuable, staple raw materials, as I have named, and so favorably located as here, that communities and nations, found their industries, and build their wealth. I will not undertake to give any detailed description of the geology of this salt basin, to do so, would be to give the geology of the Appalachian coal field. The strata here, are simply the usual strata of the coal measures, lying nearly horizontal, and saturated in an unusual degree, with valuable brines. Pun. salt, or chloride of sodium, is the same under all cir cumstances, but no commercial salt is entirely pure. Sea water, brine springs, rock salt, and all sources of commercial supply contain, associated with common salt, other saline ingredients- These are chiefly sulphates and chlorides, in greater or less quantity, and varying proportions. Probably the most common, as well a^ the most deliterious of these compounds is sulphate of lime. Our salt has the ad vantage of being absolutely free from lime and other sulphates, our process of manufacture, perhaps better, than any other, enables us to separate the hurtful compounds and purify the brines. 302 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. The salt when carefully made analyzes 98.00 to 99.00 per cent of pure chloride of sodium, the remaining fraction being made up of chlorides of magnesium, and calcium. These absorb a little moisture from the atmosphere, relieve the salt from a chappy dryness, and impart to it that valuable property of penetrating and curing meat in any climate or weather, for which it has so long enjoyed a high reputation.. In fact the distinctive characteristics of Kanawha salt may be stated as follows : 1st. It has a more lively, pungent and pleasant taste as a table salt than any other known. 2nd. "It is the only commercial salt that is absolutely free from sulphate of lime. 3rd It does not, under any conditions of climate and weather, cake or crust on the surface of the meat, but penetrates it and cures it thoroughly to the bone, so that in large pork packing establishments in Cincinnati and elsewhere, it is found to save meat in very unfavorable weather, where with any other salt known or used the meat would have been injured. 4ih. On account of its pnngency and penetrating qualities a less quantity of it will suffice for any of the purposes for which it is used whether table, dairy, grazing or packing. Certificates from numerous western firms show that the Ma son county salt quotes with this ; though at the same price consumers prefer that from the Kanawha wells. There are in this salt district, about 120 salt wells, all told. Some of these being inferior, have been abandoned, and will probably never be used again. Others are good wells, the fur naces connected with which, have been dismantled by " dead rents," or other causes. These furnaces may be rebuilt, and restarted. The good wells, if all run, would supply brine for about 5,000,000 bushels of salt per year. Each furnace requires three to five wells. There are at present ten furnaces here, of which the follow ing is a list, with name of furnace, name of owner, and capac ity. The aggregate capacity is about 2,500,000 bushels per year, if all were run full time. Two of the furnaces, however, are not in repair, and some others that had been idle, have only recently been repaired, so that the product of 1875 was, very small. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. LIST OF KANAWHA SALT FURNACES. Name of Furnace. Name of Owner. 6 o > p 4 Remarks. Bushels. Daniel Boone Crittenden W. B. Brooks W. D. Shrewsberrv ... 300,000 280,000 Not in repair. / Snow Hill ^V ashin^ton J. P. Hale : .T. ]) Lewis 420,000 230 000 \ot in re])alr. Pioneer Gen TJ Ruffner 180 000 Quincy J ( ) Dickinson 210 000 Burning Sprin< r Mrs K Tompkins 160 000 Aldeii- Airs S Dickinson 40 000 Lorena Splint Coal Company 240 000 Kenton Splint Coal Company 240 000 10 2,500,000 Statement Showing the Production of Salt in Kanawha. Date. Bushels. Date. Bushels. 1797 1808 1814 150 pounds per day. 25 bushels per day. 000,000 bushels per vear. <1850 1851 1852 3,142,100 bushels per vear. 2,802,070 " " * " 2741,570 1827 787,000 1853 2,729,910 1828 8153,542 < 1854 2,233,803 1829 989,758 t. 1855 1,493,54S 1830 900,132 i 1850 1,204,049 1831 950,814 ( 1857 1,266,749 " 1832 1,029,207 " 1858 1833 1,288,873 u 1859 1^34 1835 1,702,956 1,900,583 It 1800 1861 - No records. 1830 1,702,410 it 1802 1837 1,880,415 i 1803 J 1838 1,811.076 < 1804 1,300,991 bushels per year. 1839 1,593,217 1 1865 801,973 " 1840 1,419,205 1806 1,275,017 1841 [1.443,645 1807 1,321,000 " " 1842 1,919,389 I 1808 1,528,282 1843 2,197,887 t 1801) 1,822,430 " 1844 1,874,919 1 1870 1,721,903 1845 2,578,499 i 1.871 1 1840 3,224,786 1847 2,690,087 u t it 1872 1873 - No records. 1848 2,876,010 i874i!!!. ! J 1849 |2,951,492 t a 1875 907,405 bushels per year. 304 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. CHKONOLOGICAL LIST OF EVENTS AND INCIDENTS CON NECTED WITH THE KANAWHA SALT INTEREST. Indians made salt at the Kanawha salt springs. Reported by Mrs. Mary Ingles, then a captive, Walter Kelley and family, first white settlers in Kanawha Valley. General Washington reserved from his lands, and gave to the pub lic, the Kanawha Burning Spring. 1785. John Dickinson "located" the Kanawha Salt Spring. 1790. (Before and after) Daniel Boone lived here opposite the Salt Spring. 1794. Joseph Runner purchased the Salt Spring, and in 1795, moved to Kanawha. 1797. Elisha Brooks put up a little kettle furnace, made 150 pounds of salt per day, and sold it at 8 to 10 cents per pound. 1806. David and Joseph Ruffner, commenced to bore the first salt well. 1808. Same parties started their kettle furnace, made 25 bushels per day, and sold it for 4 cents per pound. 1808. Win. \Vhittaker Tobias Ruffner, Andrew Donnally, and others followed, boring wells and building furnaces. 1808. First salt shipped west by river, in tubs and boxes on a log raft, and in canoes. 1810-12. The late Tom Ewing. of Ohio, boiled salt and studied law and Latin here. 1815. First gas well struck by Captain James Wilson. 1816. First steamboat ever in Kanawha, called the Eliza. 1817. Coal first used in salt making. 1817. The first Kanawha salt company, " Steele, Donnally & Steele." 1822. Highest water ever known in Kanawha to that time. 1822. Second salt company, " William and Robert M. Steele." 1827. Lewis Ruffner and Frederick Brooks introduced the first steatn engine to pump salt water. 1827. Third salt company, " Armstrong, Grant & Co." 1830. F. Brooks laid the first wooden tramway to haul coal. 1831. Billy Morris invented the " Slips." 1833. Fourth salt company, Donnally, Bream & Co." 1834. Col. B. H. Smith brought from the Norfolk navy yard, model for keyed clamped cistern. Geo. Patrick introduced steam evaporation in salt making. Lewis Ruffner built the first keyed cistern (20 by 7 feet), and put a cast iron pipe through it. 1836. Fifth salt company, " Hewitt, Ruffner & Co." 1841. John D. Lewis first used steam under copper pans for making salt. 1841. Frederick Brooks first used copper pipes and steam through cis terns. 1843. Big Burning Spring gas well struck. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 305 1849. Williams & Stevens bored and built first furnace on the Ohio. 1851. Sixth salt company, "Eiiffner, Donnally & Co." 1856. Seventh salt company, " Ruffner, Hale & Co." 1856. Lowest water ever known on the Kanawha and Ohio rivers. 1856-7. Coldest winter and longest freeze-up ever known here. 1861. Disastrous flood in river, the highest water ever known here. 1861-5. War. 1864. Eighth salt company, " Kanawha Salt Co " 1872. The Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad opened. 1875. The ninth and present salt company, "The Kanawha Salt Co.," organized. 1875. United States Government commenced to improve the Kanawha river by locks ami dams. PETROLEUM. BY HON. WM. E. STEVENSON, OF PARKERSBURG. Prof. M. F. Maunj : DEAR SIR: In accordance with your request, I give you some account of the oil interests of West Virginia, and am sorry that sickness and a press of business prevented my writing a fuller statement of .this very important item in our natural resources. A source of considerable wealth to the State since 1864, is found in the production of Petroleum. This production at present, is confined principally to what is known as the " Oil Break," a geological upheaval of the earth s surface, giving it a roof shape or bulge, especially the rocky portion. This break, passing from Ohio into this State, crosses the Horse-Neck Fork of Bull creek, Cow creek, and French creek, all of which flow into the Ohio river, a few miles above Mari etta ; then passes in a direction to the southeast, across Goose creek, Hughes river, and the valley of the Little Kana wha, in the direction of Charleston. Petroleum in small quantities was found within, and even outside the territory of this break, at a very early day. As far back as 1771, Thomas Jefferson gave an interesting descrip tion of a burning spring, and the oil connected with it, found in the Great Kanawha valley. But it was not until modern discovery and invention had transmuted the oily treasure into a source of money making, 39 806 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. that its abundance and multifarious uses became rapidly known. The main development of the oil districts of West Vir ginia commenced soon after the close of the war in 1865. There had been partial developments in different sections of the State prior to that period, but it was in a very primitive way. At Burning Springs, in Wirt county, and at different points along " The Break," wells had been bored and oil obtained in paying quantities, but the difficulties found in getting it to market, deterred operators from making "developments" in any satisfactory manner. Petroleum has been obtained near Morgantown, in Monon- galia county, and at points on a line from Morgantown to Charleston, Kanawha county. This fact has given rise to the theory that the " Great ^Pennsylvania Oil Belt" extends into West Virginia, and crosses the State from north to south, Acting upon this theory, parties are now actively " prospect ing " for new oil territory. A beginning will be made during this summer, on territory at the head waters of the Little Kanawha river. It is thought by practical oil men, that this line is to be the future oil field of the State. Everything in this direction, however, is in the future. A few months will, it its believed, confirm, or disappoint the now pronounced belief of some of the most successful operators of Pennsylvania, in the success of the attempt. Many of them propose to make large investments in this direction. But looking to the past, we must consider what has already been done, in the way of actual accomplished facts : Up to 1865, the oil busines in West Virginia had been almost entirely speculative. Large amounts of money had been ex : pended, and but little return had been made on the invest ments. In 1865-6, however, the business assumed a legiti mate form. Oil men came to an appreciation of the fact that this, like any other legitimate calling, had to be followed with an eye to economy, and to a proper regard for order and sys tem, in the management of oil and oil wells. As a conse quence of this, oil development assumed a more scientific and business-like shape. Operations commenced almost simulta- RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 307 neously at Burning Springs, Oil Rock, California House, Vol cano, Sand Hill, and Horceneck. Large quantities were pro duced at all of these points. Light oil was obtained at each of these places except at Volcano and Sand Hill. At these points were produced the u Heavy Oils," which have obtained a world wide reputation as u Lubricators. " The amount of heavy oil produced in the West Virginia oil regions, is about 300 barrels per day. Its gravity runs from 26 to 32 Beaume. It is used, in its crude state, almost exclu sively for the purpose of lubrication. It will stand a lower degree of cold test than any other oil lubricator; this, added to its extreme cheapness, gives it the preference to all other lubrica tors, for general purposes. By different processes of reducing and admixture with oils of a lighter gravity, most excellent lubricators, at still lower rates than the crude article, are pro duced. These, as well as the crude heavy oil, are used in all parts of the country, and even form a large item in our export trade. The wells producing heavy oil are durable in their character, yielding not a large but steady flow of their oily treasure. It is the opinion of the most experienced operators, that there is still undeveloped, heavy ;oil territory of large extent within the State. Whilst the light oil regions ran a rapid course, giving a large yield during their productive career, the heavy oil dis trict continues to remunerate the producer. Some idea may be gained of the extent of the oil develop ment in the districts just named, by the inspection of a few figures. As far as can be estimated, there have been produced not less than 3,000,000 barrels of oil. The specific gravities of these range from 27 to 45 degs., Beaume, the greater portion varying from 27 to 33 degs. The estimated value of this product is about $20,000,000. The number of producing wells at present, is 292, averaging about 3 barrels per day each. If the price and the times jus tified it, this number would probably be doubled in twelve months. One noticeable feature in the development of oil in West Virginia, is the cheapness of putting down wells. In Pennsylvania, it costs from $5,000 to $10,000 to bore a well, while in the oil district of West Virginia, it costs not exceed ing $1200. Men of small means can operate in this State, but 308 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. in Pennsylvania, the operator must have a fortune to make success certain. In this respect. West Virginia affords advan tages not shown by any other section. Notwithstanding the fact that oil had been developed in Pennsylvania long prior to 1865, and that large sums had been expended in the production of the crude product, in Venango county, in that state, to West Virginia belongs the honor of first furnishing the means of transporting it to market in the modes now recgnized to be cheap, safe, and expeditious. By means of tubing lines, and iron tank cars, oil is shipped to the seaboard and to all parts of the country in bulk, thus cheap ening transportation, and bringing the article to the door of the consumer. By means of steam pumps, adapted to the purpose, oil is propelled for miles through iron tubing to such termini as are accessible. It is cheaply pumped to the Ohio river, or to the Baltimore & Ohio R. R.. and to the Laurel Fork, and Sand Hill R- R., and from thence transported in tank cars, to its destination, the product being handled with safety, and great expedition. By these means the producer is enabled to send his oil to mar ket from the most inaccessible points. Parkersburg is the great oil centre of the state. Here is the market for the crude article, both for West Virginia and Ohio. Here are large refineries, which not only consume our own production, but import largely from Pennsylvania. The refi ning capacity of Parkersburg is about 2000 barrels per day, In connection with most of the refineries, "are reducing" and and "treating" houses, for putting the heavy crude oil into shape for lubrication. Being at the junction of the Little Kanawha, and the Ohio river, and the center of railroad connections which give it the advantage of river and rail transportation, it has become a rec ognized point in the sale and delivery of crude oil and its prod ucts. The trade gives employment to several hundred opera tives, besides furnishing facilities by which great prosperity has been brought to this active and well-to-do city. A few words about the uses of Petroleum may be of interest to the general reader. The "heavy oils" are extensively em- ployad for lubricating purposes, taking the place almost wholly RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 309 of the various articles heretofore in use for this purpose. For illuminating purposes, the light oils, when refined are exten sively, almost universally used. This is not to be wondered at, when it is known that the in tensity of the light of refined Petroleum, is eighteen times as great as that of burning fluid ; six times as great as that of sperm oil, and more than twice that of camphene, while the oil itself is furnished more cheaply than any of the above named articles. Printing inks of all colors are made from Petroleum, the black especially, being an excellent article. Many varieties of soap are made from it, and are held in high repute. The med icinal qualities of Petroleum, especially the crude article, have long been known ; its use as a liniment, more especially for cutaneous diseases, is quite extensive. As a specific for Con sumption, by the inhalation of its vapors, it has acknowledged virtues. Recently, it has been applied with very satisfactory results as a motive power in running the machinery of steam boats iron mills &c. It is also used successfully in smelting iron ores, and as a coating for iron and wood to preserve them from decay, indeed for almost numberless other purposes which can not be even named in a brief article like this. Yours very truly, WM. E. STEVENSON. Parkersburg, W. Va., April 1876. CHAPTER XIII. MISCELLANEOUS MINERALS. BY M. P. MAURY. Having, in the three preceding chapters, spoken of the Coal, Iron. Salt, and Oil, of the State, its most abundant and valu able minerals, it is proposed, in this, to speak of the others that may be of interest and importance, giving such informa tion as may be deemed of practical utility. LIMESTONE-COMMON. In great abundance and of great, purity, this stone is found in the region between the coal measures and the eastern border of the State. In (he counties in the coal formation in the northern-half of the State it is also very abundant, the Lower Barrens and the superincumbent strata containing, in some districts, an aggregate of 75 to 80 feet. In the southern counties of the coal field there is a striking scarcity of this mineral, the seams being thin and usually of very poor quality. The limestones of West Virginia are suited to all the pur poses of the farmer, builder and blast furnace use. Where there is so much land that would be most materially benefitted by the use of lime, this material should attract the attention of the agriculturist far more than it does. Indeed it is rather a matter of surprise that the agriculture of this State has hither- to been suffered to reap so little benefit from this source of im provement so easily within reach. As yet, its application as a manure has been restricted to particular neighborhoods, though there is no portion of the uplands, especially of the limestone regions themselves, where it could not be used ad vantageously. The impression that the soils of a limestone RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 311 country are already impregnated with calcareous matter, in consequence of the proximity of the limestone, which in many places rises to the surface in the fields, seems more than any other circumstance to have lead to the erroneous idea that lime could be of no benefit to the soil. It may, therefore, alter the opinions of many to state, that in a great many cases the soils even when in contact with this class of rock of the best quality, contain little or no available calcareous matter, for to have it, the material must be in the form of a soluble salt, and the ledges which crop out on the surface are carbonate of lime T which may be said to be insoluble for all practical purposes. When, however, it is burnt and applied to the land as quick lime, it imparts fertility partly by being dissolved in the sur face waters, and so- passing into the soil in such a shape that the roots of plants can seize hold of it, but mainly by tending to decompose vegetable matter and so forma fertilizing humus. In the chapter on Agricultural Geology we have treated of the soils that would be particularly benefitted by an applica tion of this class of manure. The following are analyses from various portions of the State, and will tend to show the great purity in which this mineral may be found: 312 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. g cj <^H OS m DC 9 | COUNTY. LOCALITY. I I x ^ | 9 CHEMIST. Q 1 -jn 33 O c3 cc -3 ^j ^w d Cw 08 UV C2 | O ,0 a r-* p_ O Cv gg "* ^ K O < M ^ Grant Knoblv Mountain 90.08 400 0,72 4 56 064 W.B Rogers Near Petersburg 88 52 3.24 1 52 600 0.72 Greenbrier... Fort Spring 90.11 2.49 202 5.04 034 J. B. Britton On C. O. R. R 93.76 0.29 1.12 3.92 0.91 C.ED wight. " Blue Sulphur Sp gs 98.20 Muddy Creek Mt ... 88.64 000 9.60 048! 0.40 0.12 1.20 0.92! W.B.Rogers. 0.44 Harrison Near Clarksburg-... 95.52 1-88 0.96j 092 0.72 Jefferson Harpers Ferry 81-16 10.80 52 6.68 084 " 2 miless.w. H. F.... 153.88 43.40 0.48 1,68 0.56 " 4 " AV. " .... J95.86 1.46 tr ce 1.83 0.85 " Mineral Patterson s Creek... 92.44 140 076 4.96 0.68 " Monongalia.. Grenville Furnace.. 88.32 0.00 252 7.24 1.92 Monroe Red Sulphur Spg s.. 90.92 tr ee 1.20 620 1.68 it Union 95 $9, u 0.56 1.88 1.62 " it Dun lap s Creek 8652 952 0.52 2.96 0.48 " " Little North Mt 78.48 9.20 1.00 1080 052 " Ohio \Villo\v Grove 85 95 1 38 4 10 7.61 096 C.E.Dwi^ht Preston Jenkins Lime-kiln 88.16 2.32 1.16 5,80 2,56 W.B.Rogers. " Richard Foreman s 91.80 5.72! 0.40 1.36 0.72 " " Below Coal No. 2... 79 52 2.801 312 13.80 0.76 " LIMESTONE-TUFA. This is another valuable class of lime within our State, in the counties on the eastern border, that has been much neglected; though occurring in some places in enormous beds. It is formed by the precipitation of calcareous matter from limestone water, and may therefore be looked for in those neighborhoods where the springs, thus impregnated, are of general occurence. In Jefferson, Hardy, Hampshire, Grant,* etc., this chalky deposit forms beds of great thickness, mingled with but little extran eous matter, and yields a lime ot very superior quality. Its utility in agriculture, added to the facility with which the *A deposit on Patterson s creek, in Grant county, has a surface from. to 8 acres, and a depth of 25 to 30 feet, the mass being very friable and extremely easy to work. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 313 deposit may often be obtained (no quarrying being necessary to separate it from the mass), renders it a very advantageous substitute for the limestones of the same neighborhood. More over it should be remembered that in its more friable and pow dery state, it may, as in Europe, be very beneficially applied as a marl without being burnt. Although it is of the same composition as limestone, yet when it is spread on the ground in a pulverized state, it presents so large a surface to the action of the carbonic acid that exists in the atmosphere, and is gen erated by the decay and decamposition of vegetable matter, that a portion of it is converted into a soluble bicarbonate of lime, which can then be taken up by the soil. But, as this chemical change is slow, a larger quantity has to be applied to the land, than if it was first burnt. If the ordinary pure lime- stone was ground to powder, it would have the same effect, but the expense forbids it being done, and besides, the burning the hard stone is cheaper, as well as produces a more active fer tilizer. The immense improvement that tide-water Virginia has derived from calcareous marl must render any illustration of its beneficial effects quite superfluous, when it is understood that its composition cannot be distinguished from the better classes of pulverulent marls, independent of which, its value has been unequivocally tested in other countries, where it has been found to have the most decided ameliorating effects upon land to which it is properly applied. LIMESTONE--HYDKAULIC. Associated with the common limestone strata of all portions of the State, are many bands of most excellent Hydraulic Limestone, which can be converted into a cement to suit all the requirements of trade. In Jefferson county, near Shep- herdstown, quarries on a stratum from 10 to 15 feet thick are now in operation, and have been, since 1825, the product being used in the various public buildings in Washington for many years. At Wheeling, a band some 9 feet thick, is being worked by Mr. A. J. Long, and it produces a very valuable article. These are the only two places in the State where this mineral is at present wrought. In our southern counties some three seams of it have been observed, but never tested to any prac tical extent. 40 314 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. The following are analyses from some of the principal local ities where it has heen observed, and received high indorse ment, according to laboratory tests. I I hH 0) C3 "o "c3 a? 1 r 02 3 So *w COUNTY. LOCALITY. 5 S3 O o o 1 CHEMIST. (3 "45 2 3 H-i o M CQ 0) CJ 1 oi <D 5 1 s 2 1 o "c8 O <H M ^ Hampshire .. Near Bloomer y Furnace 46.64 30.68 6.32 ] 5.(>0 n 7<; \v \\ l.v i -(i H. Jefferson "Gray Cement," Reynolds Quarry, Shepherdstown ... 23.90 24.36 42.90 2.10 6.74 Near Charlestown.. 38.66 9.50 42.50 3.50 5.84 a Monongalia.. Near Morgantown.. 52.04 17.12 8.60 19.36 1.40 " Ohio Rilcv s Hill, Wheel ing 43.44 26.44 4.40 24,64 1 .08 u Preston Cheat river, mouth > of Laurel... 41.60 25.92 9.68 20.00 2.80 u Near . Kingwocxl, below Coal No. 3 57.16 23.80 9.12 8.52 1.40 u LIMESTONE-MARBLE. There are no true marbles in West Virginia, though in the counties on our eastern borders are many varieties of dark var iegated, and nearly white limestones, susceptible of a high and beautiful polish, which bear that name. This is especially the case in Jefferson, where they appear to be very abundant, for here we see pink and gray, red and yellow, white, dove colored, etc., stones. A light gray stone shows a thickness of 25 feet at Shepherdstown, and crops out along with strata of colored marbles, on the river cliff, where a quarry might be advan tageously located. A very beautiful black variety has also been found, and if it should prove to be free from flaws and RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 315 fissures when gotten out in large slabs, will be a valuable ele ment of wealth to this county. Five miles from Charlestown, a marble of this color has been worked by a Pennsylvania company for tile?, but is now abandoned. Not far from here is a small outcrop of a beautifully crystalline variety of a pure white stone, and it is possible that it may belong to a very valuable deposit. In Berkeley, also, are some gray and black limestones approximating to a compact marble. In Greenbrier a bed of this black ornamental stone has been found on the land of the Hon. James Withrow, near Lewisburg, but the quarry has not been opened so as to show the size. In this county some of the lighter shaded varieties of the limestone can be polished into very handsome facings and trimmings. The same remarks would seem to be applicable to other por tions of the limestone belt of our eastern borders. BUILDING STONES. From various limestone and sandstone, strata over the State most excellent building material of innumerable shades and colors can be had. Many of the limestone bands of our eastern borders yield a most beautiful and durable material for any class of work, but except for foundations, chimneys, and dams, they have been put to very little practical use. Among the beds of the conglomerate coal measures, sand stones of almost any size and texture can be quarried. Near Morgantown, in Monongalia county, a portion of the Mahon- ing sandstone can be quarried without difficulty, into blocks 6 or 8 feet long. Some distance higher in the hills than this is a stratum 15 feet thick, that furnishes a most beautiful and superior sandstone for all kinds of building. It is a light buff and dove color, dresses well, and when the improvement of the Monongahela river is completed and the material can be cheaply shipped, will form a most valuable source of revenue to the county, as it has but few equals and no superiors in the building market ; in fact, it is of so excellent a quality that Col. Merrill, who has charge of the river improvement, ex presses the opinion that it could well bear the expense of transportation to New York. It is now being used in the con struction of the locks and dams in the Monongahela by the United States Government, and it forms the facings and dress- 316 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. ings to the two main buildings of the West Virginia Univer sity. In Taylor county, the Grafton sandstone as it is called, is of a most superior order. The texture is close, the grit sharp and clean, and the color gray. It has been used by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad for their most superior masonry in this State. In Ritchie county, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad have for many years worked a large quarry of a very handsome and durable gray sandstone, which has be^n used in the construction of their bridges, etc. An extremely valuable quarry of gray sandstone was opened at Weston, in Lewis county, and from it was con structed the Insane Asylum, located at that place. In archi tectural beauty this stone is said to have but few, if any^ superiors in the United States. In Greenbrier county, near Ronceverte, large deposits of an extremely hard, durable and handsome sandstone occur. One is of a gray color, and was largely quarried and boated 6 miles down the Greenbrier river to build the piers, etc., of the railroad bridge over that stream, the contractors preferring to do this to using the stone nearer at hand. The other is of a chocolate color, and has a local use for building purposes. On the upper portion of the Kanawha river, the sandstones of the Lower Coal Measures furnish the materials for the locks and dams now being built by the United States Government, and from the various hills along its line, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad obtained the stone for the construction of its bridges, culverts, etc., while the Mahoning sandstone at Charles ton furnishes a beautiful gray and easily wrought trimming, for many of the houses of that city. Many other instances could be citsd, but it may suffice at present to merely mention the fact that in nearly all portions of the State can good and first-class building stone ba obtained FIKE CLAY. Fire clay is frequently found in the Coal Measures, often an-, derlying a seam of coal. It results from the decomposition of siliceo argillaceous shale, and its plasticity and impervious nature, when collected in a bed, prevents it from being carried away by infiltration. A very valuable seam, 4 feet thick, is mined by the Glade Fire Brick Company, at Nuzum s Mill, Marion County. The RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 317 bricks are used in all parts of furnaces where great heat is re quired. The capacity of the works is 4,000 bricks per day. Of this Mr. Dwight, who made the analysis given in the next table, says: "The clay is superior to Mt. Savage clay, which has obtained such a reputation here (Wheeling,) as to exclude all other clay for blast furnace use. The analysis of Mt. Sav age clay shows 1.5 per cent, of Protoxide of Iron, while this clay has no trace of this greatest enemy to the refractory na ture of fire clays." This seam shows across the Monongahela rivei, in Taylor county, one mile up Lost Run, where, to all physical exami nation it is of exactly the same quality. On the property of the Kingwood Gas Coal and Iron Com pany, at Tunnelton, in Preston county, is the out crop of a very good article, which varies from 20 inches to 3 feet, being 2 feet thick on the average. In Monongalia county, a very promising bed 4 feet thick occurs near Morgantown, and this class of mineral was also worked by the Pridevalo Furnace Company, though nothing has been done in this line at that place for many years. The following table shows the analyses of the clay from these places : CONTEXTS. g s ^o . j-i i i c 3 p ^ |,o Near Morga n to wn , Monongaliil Co. Silica 45 86 6g.l6 5427 Alumina 44.23 24.11 33.83 Oxide of Iron 0.00 0.01 0.01 Lime 0.24 trace trace Magnesia 0.36 trace 0.02 Potash ai id Soda trace truce trace hygroscopic 70 85 3 00 " combined ) 8 35 ) 6.66 10.86 Organic r natter. / " j trace 0.15 . 99.74 99.79 100.14 In Hancock county some 20 firms, employing from 200 to oOO hand-, are employed in working a fire clay which a good refractory brick. 318 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. On Two Mile creek of Elk river, in Kanawha county, a few miles from Charleston, very excellent fire clays have, been worked and shipped to western markets. In Wayne county, near Cassville, a bed apparently of the best quality, is found. Also, one and a half miles from Savageville, on J. W. John son s farm, Braxton county, is a stratum about 3 feet thick, and frequently of excellent quality. Taking into consideration the process by which this mineral is formed, we may expect to find it in very many places in the Coal Measures of the State. POTTER S CLAY. This clay results from the decomposition of granites and shales. That in West Virginia comes from the latter source entirely, of which there is a great abundance and variety, so that we may look for very many deposits of the material. When it is yellow or red, it denotes the presence of oxide of iron, which tinges the manufactured articles red. When the clay is white, there is no iron present. Potter s clay has a peculiarly unctous feel, and has the valuable property of resisting heat without cracking. Within our State are sev eral establishments that carry on a very successful business in this material Notable amongst these, is that of Mr. James Smith, at Point Pleasant, Mason county, who manufactures all sizes of tiles, the demand for which is double the capacity of his present works. In Berkeley this clay is worked and made into crocks at Mar- tinsburg ; in Barbour county it is worked by Messrs. Burley & Holler ; in Greenbrier county, near Alvon, on Anthony s creek, a blue variety of excellent quality is found; in Harri son county it is worked at Shinnston by Wilkinson & Flem- ming into crocks, jugs, jars, vases, drain pipes, &c. This clay, which is white, burns blue and very compact, forming a strong ware, and is found two miles from Shinnston, on the Clarks burg road. In Hampshire county potter s clay is wrought on North river, arid again in Hardy county on the outskirts of Moorefield and in Capon mountain ridge ; also, in Jefferson county at the Shepherdstown pottery, as well as in Lewis county by S. A. Col v in, where it is white. It burns blue, forming a strong ware and all forms of pottery used in the country is manufactured. Also, on Kincheloe creek, in this RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 319 county, on the farm of A. Davis, a clay is abundant which will make table ware, where very hard burning is not de manded. At Palatine, in Marion county, Knotts, Swindler & Co. work an excellent article, found two miles from the town down the river road. It is 6 feet thick, and on R. M. Hill s property. This firm manufactures excellent wares jugs, jars, crocks, vases, &c. There is, also, at Mr. Hill s, a clay which presents all the physical properties of an excellent slip. In Mercer county, on East river, potter s clay is manufactured in to crockery and pipes by Messrs. Brown & McKenzie. At Morgantown, in Monongalia county, there are crockery works, and at Parkersburg, in Wood county, is a large estab lishment making jars, jugs, vases, tiles, drain pipes, &c. In Wirt county, on the farm of Mr. Bibbee, 1| miles from New port, is found a 4-foot seam of white potter s clay, which has been tried with great success. . On the land of I. S. Boggs, on Steer creek, near Kennedy s mills, in Gilmer count} 7 ", is a deposit of clay, 4 feet thick, so white, and sand so fine and clear, as to lead to the belief that excellent ironstone china and terra cotta ware could be made therefrom. This stratum, from surface indications, is exten sive. A very fine article is found, extensively, near Cassville, in Wayne county. GLASS SA3SID. In Hampshire county, in Blue s Gap of Short mountain, occurs a very remarkable deposit of pure, white, siliceous sand, tbat would be most admirably adapted to glass making, as it seems to contain no trace of any deliterious coloring matter. The cliffs, for a height of several hundred feet are composed of it, forming a hard rock where in mass, but quickly disin tegrating when exposed to the air. From its great quan tity and purity it will form a very important item in the mineral wealth of this highly favored district, when railroads give it a free exit to the manufacturing world. In Monongalia county, near Morgantown, is a stratum 30 feet thick, of a very soft sandstone that rapidly disintegrates on exposure to the atmosphere, and would make a good glass sand where absolute freedom from coloring matter was not a prerequisite. The same may be said of a deposit, of unknown 320 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. size, in Morgan county, li- miles from Sir John s run, on the Bait. & Ohio R. R. In the same county, on Sanely ridge, are large deposits of a fine white sand, which are at present worked by a Philadelphia company for glass works in that city. The quarry is at Alpines, on the railroad, and while the sand is of good quality, it is not so pure as that at Blue s gap in Hamp shire county. OCHRE. In Lewis county, on the land of Perry T. Smith, near Wes- ton, is a deposit some 3 feet thick of an exceedingly fine yel low ochre, which in burning yields a pure rich red. It mines easily, can be ground to powder either raw or burnt, with the greatest facility, and, as it can go on the market at once, with out further preparation, as a mineral paint of excellent qual ity, it will be of great value when railroads connect it with the commercial world. In Hardy county a light yellow ochre though not of so fine a quality as that from Lewis has been observed in the South Branch valley about 6 miles south of Moorefield, as well as on Lost river near Harper s Mills, this latter being a delicate buff and very good. In Jefferson county, near Shepherdstown, ochre has been discovered, and the article is so pure that after wash ing, it already has been used as a pigment in oil paintings. Of a yellow color, this material also occurs at Clines Cross Roads, near Upper Tract in Pendleton county. In Cabell coun ty on Guyandotte river is a very fine deposit several feet thick of a yellow ochre, and also in Wayne county near Ceredo. BARYTES. Is a heavy, white, mineral, used in cheap paints, and for the adulteration of white lead. Deposits occur in Jefferson county, 8 miles from the Baltimore & Ohio R. R., and 4 miles from the Winchester Branch of the same, but no tests have as yet been made, to show the size of the bed. A very pure article has also been reported from Mercer coun ty on the north side of East River mountain, but no informa tion is obtainable a:s to the quantity present. BLACK OXIDE OF MANGANESE. Manganese is one of the important concomitants in the manufacture of steel by the Bessemer process, aud the black RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 321 oxide is used largely in bleaching and in printing cotton goods, and produces the purple color used in imprinting images on china ware. It is also used by the flint glass manufacturer to correct the green tinge which his glass is apt to derive from the iron present in the sand he employs. It will be found in the eastern counties of the State, associ ated with the strata that contain the Brown Oxide of Iron. A very pure article, though in what quantity is not yet known, is found on Anthony s creek, in Greenbrier county. To make it marketable, from 60 to 70 per cent of the mate rial mined should be pure mineral. SALTPETRE Is to be found mingled with the earth in many of the caves of the limestone region of Greenbrier, Monroe, and Pocahontas, and in the first named county, has been procured from time to time in considerable quantities from this source. This earth, or "^etre-dirt," as it is called, is a sediment deposited from the waters formerly, or at the present time, found in these caves, and sometimes has a texture of such impalpable fine ness as to indicate that the deposition took place while the liquid was in a very quiet state. Besides this, it also con tains a large amount of nitrate of lime, which, by mingling the washings of common wood ashes with those of the petre- dirt, is, by direct chemical action, converted into saltpetre. LEAD, ZINC, COPPER, GOLD, AND SILVER. Lead. In innumerable localities small pieces of Galena (Sulphide of Lead) are found, sometimes in a creek, and some times, in small nuggets or masses of several pounds weight, embedded in rock. These fragments have given rise to many traditions, handed down from Indian days, concerning vast deposits. They can be heard of in nearly every county in the State, but amount to traditions and traditions only, for nowhere within our borders is, or will, this metal be found in workable quantities, except, perhaps, in the extreme eastern counties, in some of the limestone formations, and even there it is doubtful. Zinc and Copper. Zinc is also found in several localities, but is not workable in a single one, and the same may be said in most emphatic terms of Copper. 41 > 22 RESOURCES OF WEST As to Gold and tfilver, many are the hopes that have been raised by old men s stories of money coined, and silver dollars moulded in the wild hollows of the State, and many a day s labor lias been lost to the laboring man by ".wild goose chases, 7 induced by old traditions concerning the presence of these metals, when the geological structure of West Virginia does not, in a single locality, from north to south, or east to west, admit of their profitable presence. It would be far better for our general welfare if Nature had not put an ounce of Lead, Zinc or Copper within our borders, and that there were no shining yellow iron pyrites or silvery glittering scales of mica to tempt men off from profitable labor. CHAPTER XIV. MINERAL WATERS. BY DR. J. J. MOORMAN, OF THE GREENBRIER WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS. As a scientist might infer from the general geological char acter of West Va., and especially from the chemical character of her abounding minerals, numerous medicinal waters are found to exist in the State, some of which have been well and fully tested for many years, and are equal, or superior to any waters of their class, found in any portion of the world. West Virginia comprises, within her southern a.nd south eastern border, a large portion of the celebrated mineral spring plaza, long known as the " Spring Region of Virginia, " and which, for the last 80 or 90 years, has been greatly resort, ed to by the seekers of health and pleasure, of every great section of the United States. The springs of this State present considerable variety of chemical character, and therapeutic adaptation: comprising various and differently compounded sulphur waters ; the Chaly beate*, simple, and compounded : the Aeidulom. or Carbonated ; the Saline: the Aluminated CJialybeates; with thermal waters, not of very high temperature. Of these springs, the sulphur waters, so far as such springs have yet been developed, are found in greatest abundance, and in greater strength, on the southern border of the State, and on the western and northern slopes of the Alleghany mountains: The Simple Cholybeates, are found in every great section of the State, but in greatest strength, so far as they have been tested, along the course of the great Appalachian Ranges, extending from the northeastern to the southwestern extremities of the State, 324 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. The Acidulous Carbonated waters, as well as the Aluminated Chalybeates, are found in different parts of the State^but have been most developed on its southern border. The most valuable mineral waters of the State, so far as they have been tested in the treatment of diseases, are the sulphur ous, the alum waters, as they are called commonly, and the Compound Acidulated waters. The latter especially, are gen erally found adjacent to faults in the strata, or where the rocks give evidence of displacement from their natural posi tion, and near the junction of slates with limestone. The alum waters, so far as I have ever known, are an infil tration through slate, which generally lies a few feet below the surface of the earth, but often cropping out considerably above it. I have examined numerous specimens of these waters, obtained from different sections, and found them all to possess the leading chemical characteristic of the springs of this class, which have been brought into popular use. My observations are to the effect that the mineral waters of the State generally; and certainly those within the ranges of the disturbances of the rocks so common in the southern section of the State, are slightly thermal, compared with the temperature of the common springs in their vicinity, or of the earth through which they flow. The decided thermal waters, some of them running up as high as 107, are found immedi ately on the eastern slopes of the Alleghany in Virginia, and within a few miles of the southern border of West Virginia. In particularizing the leading, and long used mineral springs of the State, and it is such only that I propose par ticularly to mention, I will first mention those on the ex treme eastern border. BEBKELEY SPBINGS, In the county Morgan, are the oldest in the State, or in the southern country, in public use. They were much vis ited in Colonial times, and long before the Revolutionary war. The land upon which they are situated, originally belonged to the Right Honorable Thomas Lord Fairfax. Building lots were laid off here by an act of the Legisla ture, in 1776, and among those who became owners of them and were the habitues of the springs, were Charles Car roll, of Carrollton, Gen. Horatio Gates, Gen. George Wash ington, and many others of note and distinction. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. &~0 The bathing establishments are extensive and convenient. The ladies bath house is an elegant structure, 90 feet long, containing nice private baths, and a plunge bath 30 by 16 feet, floored with white marble. The hotel accommodations are extensive and well gotten up. The temperature of the water ranges from 72 to 74 Fahr., and remains the same at all seasons. It has never been care fully analyzed. Medical Use. While these waters possess considerable virtues when taken internally, they have been most celebrated as a bath. Thus used, they have been found beneficial in the whole class of nervous disorders, that are disconnected with a full plethoric habit, extrema debility, or decided organic derange ments. In reduced habit, or debility, when sufficient power of reaction exists in the system, they prove useful. Persons who are suffering from a residence in a warm or damp climate, are generally much benefitted by these baths. In subacute rheumatism, they have a good reputation, and in many such cases have been advantageously employed. As a beverage, they are serviceable in several of the mildly chronic, or subacute disorders; such as derangements of the digestion, unconnected with organic disease. In the early stages of calculus diseases, attended with irrita ble bladder, their use internally and externally is often bene ficial. ORICH S SULPHUR SPRINGS. Situated three and a half miles from Berkeley, on the Warm Spring run, and near the road that leads to Hancock, is Orich s Sulphur Spring. It is a very pleasant water, of the tempera ture of 85 Fah. If properly improved, it will become a bene ficial place for popular resort, and an important auxiliary to Berkeley Springs. SH ANN ON DALE SPRINGS. The Shannondale Springs are in the county of Jefferson, and arise in a peninsula of the Shenandoah river, known as the Horse Shoe." They are five and a half miles from Charles- town, the seat of justice for Jefferson county. The springs are three in number, but one only is principally used. The temperature of the water is 55 Fah. 326 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. The Shannondale water seems to have some approximation, in its nature and effects, to the celebrated Bedford" water. It may properly be classed as a Saline Chalybeate, and may be used with good effects, as a mild alterative tonic, in some forms of dyspepsia, nervous diseases, general debility unattended with serious organic derangements, chronic diseases of the mucous surfaces, such as gleet, leucorrhoea, etc., and in that class of female diseases requiring the aid of mineral tonics. The water acts generally ay a diuretic, and very commonly has a noted aperient effect. The late Dr. DeButts, of Baltimore, analyzed this water in 1821. One hundred grains of its solid contents afforded the following results: Carbonate of Lime 1.0. o grains Sulphate of Lime (>30 " Sulphate of Magnesia ^ 23.5 " Chloride of Magnesium 1.0 " Chloride of Sodium 1.0 Sulphate of Iron 0.3 " Carbonate of Iron 0.7 Gaseous contents, sulphuretted hydrogen, quantity not ascer tained; carbonic acid, quantity not ascertained. The accommodations at Shannondale are not extensive, being perhaps adapted to 140 to 150 persons; but it is, admittedly a very delightful placs, and the scenery is unsurpassed for its varied beauty and grandeur, exciting the admiration of all who behold it. CAPON SPRINGS, At the -western base of North mountain, in the county of Hampshire, have been a favorite resort for those seeking recre ation and health, for many years. The improvements here are extensive, and comfortable; suf ficient for the entertainment of seven or eight hundred persons. The bathing establishments are extensive and elegant. The spring is bold, affording a,bout 100 gallons of water per minute. The temperature of the water as it flows from the earth is 64. A qualitative analysis shows that the water contains: Silicic acid. Soda, Magnesia, Bromine, Iodine, Car bonic acid. Except in thermal character, this water cannot be closely RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. o 27 compared to any of the springs of the State. As a therapeu tic agent it more resembles Berkeley, than any other. Medical Uses. Both as a bath and a beverage it will, when properly directed, be found very useful in a wide range of dis eases, especially in idiopathic affections of the nervous system dyspeptic depravities, chronic derangements of the mucous surfaces, etc. It has acquired reputation, and I believe justly, as a remedy in gravel, and other derangements of the urinary organs. It is a valuable water, and like the Berkeley water, is destined to grOAV in public favor. THE SWEET" SPRING, In the county of Monroe, next to Berkeley, is the oldest water ing place in the South that has permanently kept up its visita tions and maintained its reputation. The hotel accommoda tions are extensive and comfortable. The bathing facilities, for both sexes , are neat and well adapted to their purpose. The temperature of the water of the spring and bath varies from 72 to 76 Fah. The analysis of the water by Professor Rogers, shows that it contains in 100 cubic inches, the follow ing ingredients and proportions, viz : 1st. Solid matter procured by evaporation from 100 cubic inches of the water 32.07 grains 2d. Quantity of each solid ingredient, estimated as perfect ly free from water, in 100 cubic inches of water : Sulphate of Lime 5.703 grains Sulphate of Magnesia 4.007 " Sulphate of Soda 2.740 " Carbonate of Lime 13.012 " Carbonate of Magnesia 0.357 " Chloride of Sodium 0.060 " Chloride of Magnesium 0.136 " Chloride of Calcium 0.065 " Peroxide of Iron 0,065 " Silica 0.075 Earthy Phosphate Trace. Iodine Trace, 3d. Volume of each of the gMs.-s contained in a free state, in 100 cubic inches of water : Carbonic Acid 37.17 cubic inches Nitrogen 1.87 " " Sulphuretted Hydrogen Trace. Oxygen Trace, 328 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Therapeutic Effects. Its first effects when drunk, due to its temperature and gaseous contents, are a feeling of warmth at the stomach, with a sensation of fullness of the head and some giddiness. Taken at intervals in moderate quantities, it pro duce 4 ? a slight moisture of the skin, and an increase in the flow of urine. If the stomach be in a good condition, it increases the appetite, and imparts general vigor to the system. Its effects upon the bowels vary at first, but after some days use, it will be found to increase a costive habit. As a tonic in pure debility, unaccompanied by congestion in the vital organs, it may be used both as a beverage and bath, to great advantage. In -that form of dyspeptic depravity, accompaned by gc&rodenia, or spasm, with pains occurring at intervals, connected with heartburn, and generally with cold feet and topid skin, it is employed with decided advantage. In chronic diarrhoea and dysentery, it is often highly beneficial. In sub-acute rheumatism, in primary neuralgia,, and for deli cate females, enervated by long nursing, it is employed with good effect. As might be supposed from its excess of carbonic acid, it is found useful in calculus and nephritic complaints. As an exhilarating and tonic bath, this water is highly prized. It is advantageous in quite a large number of cases, for which baths of its temperature and chemical composition are adapted. WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, The White Sulphur Springs, so long famous among the mineral waters of the world, are in the county of Greenbrier, o miles west of the crest of the Alleghany mountains. These springs have been known, and appreciated as min eral waters, for nearly 100 years, and for 75 of that period, have been held in high repute for their medicinal efficacy. The improvements here are extensive, affording accommo dations directly, and with their cottages, for from 1,500 to 2,000 persons. The altitude of the spring above the sea level is about 2,000 feet. The spring is a bold one, yielding upwards of 30 gallons per minute, and is not influenced in its flow, or in the strength of the water, either by the season of the year, or by wet and dry weather. The temperature of the water is uniformly RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 329 62 Fah., which is 10 warmer than the neighboring surface springs, or the earth through which it flows. The analysis of this water shows that 100 cubic inches, or 3-J pints, nearly, contain the following ingredients : Sulphate of Lime, 31. (580 grains. " Magnesia 8.241 " " Soda... 4.050 " "Alumina., 0.012 " Protosulphate of Iron 0.069 " Carbonate of Lime 1.520 " " Magnesia 1.071 " Chloride of Calcium 0.010 " ." " Sodium 0.226 " Earthy phosphates a trace. Azotized organic matter, combined with a large amount of sulphur, about 005 grains. Also some Iodine, combined with Sodium or Magnesium. Volume of each of the gases, in a free state, estimated in 100 cubic inches of water : Sulphuretted Hydrogen 0.66 cubic inches, Nitrogen 0.6G " Oxygen 0.19 Carbonic Acid 3.67 " MEDICAL CHARACTER, The distinctive medicinal influence of these waters upon the system, are cathartic, diuretic, sudorific, and alterative. Some cathartic and diuretic effect, as well as a distinct determination to the skin by sweating, is induced by its use in the great majority that drink it ; but its most decidedly controlling effect over diseased action, and that which, more than any other, gives it its highest and most valuable character as a remedy, is its alterative power, or that peculiar action by which it effects salutary changes, or alterations in the blood, in the various secretions, and in the tissues of the body generally. The water has also the remarkable power of reducing the frequency of the pulse when unduly excited. This is not to be attributed to a direct sedative effect of the water upon the heart and arteries, but to its potent influence in abating gener al excitement, resolving inflammations, and removing obstruc tions, thus bringing back the system to its normal condition. 42 330 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Experiment has abundantly established the fact of the direct and positive effect of these waters in controlling and eradicating many diseases. When properly used, their effect is to revive the languishing circulation, to give a new direc tion to the vital energies, re-establish the perspiratory action of the skin, bring back to their physiological type the vitiated or suppressed secretions, provoke salutory evacuations, either by urine or stool, or by transpiration ; thus they bring about in the animal system, through their alterative power, an internal transmutation or profound change. It is thus that they relieve chronic disordered action, and im part natural energy and elasticity to vessels that have been distended either by inflammation or congestion, while they communicate an energy to the muscular fibre and to the ani mal tissues generally, which is not witnessed from the ad ministration of ordinary remedies. This is the alterative effect and the profound change to which I have alluded, and which gives to these waters their characteristic efficiency. The White Sulphur water is used with good effect in most of the disorders of the abdominal viscera such as dyspepsia, chronic irritations of the mucous coat of the stomach and bowels , chronic live complaint, jaundice, and in long standing cases of diarrhoea and dysentery, when unattended by inflammatory action. In the various disorders of the urinary organs, and especially when such disorders depend upon acid predomi nance in the fluids it is useful. To chronic rheumatism and the various diseases of the skin, as exema and its kindred affections, it is most happily adapted. A regular and marked effect of the free use of this water, is its potency in abating, or entirely overcoming, during the time of its use, the desire for drinking ardent spirits by those who have been habitually indulging in their use. During my long residence at the Springs, I have witnessed hundreds of cases justifying the above statement. This influence de pends, first, on the action of the sulphuretted hydrogen in the water, which is an active nervine stimulant, and as such, sup plies, for the time, the want the inebriate feels for his accus tomed alcoholic stimulant; and secondly, on the alterative influence exerted by the waters on the organism, which brings the entire animal structure into harmoneous action, and pro- RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 331 duces an abatement of the cerebral and nervous irritation which prevails in the habitual drunkard. This enables him to exert a greater moral power than he could before, and at least gives him time for reflection, free from the craving for for alcoholic stimulants. Of course it is not meant that the waters are a sure cure for absolute or threatened inebriation, but that a proper and continuous use of them will be a, valuable aid in returning to sobriety. In that enfeebled, susceptible and very peculiar condition of the the system, often found to exist as the result of a long continued or injudicious use of mercury, and in what is com monly known as the Secondary form of Venereal Disease, the White Sulphur water, when carried to its full alterative effects, displays its highest curative powers. A long experi ence in the use of the water, in the peculiar forms of disease under consideration, causes me not to hesitate to name these as the diseases in which they are most certainly efficacious. The water in such cases,, exerts a specific effect, and more certainly brings relief to the sufferer than any other agency. I have no hesitancy in saying to those who are so unfortunate as to be subjects of the disease in question, that they have in these waters, when properly and fully used, in connection with warm and hot sulphur baths, a reasonable hope of permanent cure, which they cannot have from the u^e of any other remedy known to the profession. BATHS AT THE WHITE SULPHUR. Warm and hot bathing, especially in highly medicated waters, is a remedy of leading importance, in a large number of the cases which resort to mineral waters for relief. The water used for bathing at the White Sulphur, flows from the spring from which the visitors drink, and no other waters in America, used for bathing, except the Washita Springs, in Arkansas, are more highly impregnated with mineral salts. These baths, in connection with the drinking of the sulphur waters, although not required in every case, are a matter of the utmost importance, in a large number of cases, in aiding to produce the best effects of the waters. The bathing-house is large, affording ample accommodations for the bathers. The bathing-rooms are spacious, airy, and comfortable, and in addition to the usual tub-baths, they have RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. erected douche baths, for the application of hot or warm water to local parts of the body, and have set apart rooms arranged for sweating-l>a.ihs. The water is heated by steam in the ves sel in which it is used, and the heat is never so great as to cause any precipitation, and loss of the solid contents. Hence they are left in their natural suspension in the water, to exert their specific effect upon the bather. Steam may also be let from time to time into the tub, so as to keep up the temperature during the entire period of bathing, a matter of no small importance. THE BED SULPHUR SPRINGS, In the county of Monroe 40 miles south from the White Sulphur, have been known and distinguished as a watering place for more than 60 years. The water of the spring is clear and cool, having the temperature of 54 Fah. The fol lowing is Prof. Rogers analysis of this spring : Gaseous contents in an Imperial GaMon: Sulphuretted Hydrogen 4.54 cubic inches. Carbonic Acid 8.75 Nitrogen 4.25 Solid contents in 32 cubic inches oj witter, 1.25 grains, consist ing of sulphate of soda, lime, and magnesia, carbonate of lime, and chloride of sodium. Besides these ingredients, the water contains in considerable quantity, a peculiar organic substance, mingled with sulphur, which is deposited on the sides ef the spring, and seems to increase by a species of organic growth. These springs have, for many years, had a high reputation in. the treatment of various diseases of the lungs, as well as lor many other diseases, for which the milder sulphur waters have been advantageously employed. THE SALT SULPHUR SPIRNGS. Near Union, in Monroe county, afford a valuable mineral water. They were largely visited for many years, especial!} by South- 1 ern people. The improvements here are large and comfortable, but for several years have not been opened to visitors. The lollowing is the analysis of the water, furnished by Prof. Wm, B. Rogers : Temperature, variable, from 49 to 56 ". RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Solid matter procured by evaporating 100 cubic inches of the water, and drying at 212 : 81. 44 grains. Quantity of each solid ingredient in 100 cubic inches, esti mated as perfectly free from water : Sulphate of Lime 36.755 grains. " Magnesia . 7.883 " " Soda 9,682 " Carbonate of Lime 4445 " " Magnesia 1.434 " Chloride of Magnesium 0.116 " " " Sodium 0.683 " " Calcium 0.025 " Peroxide of Iron from Protosulphate 0042 " Azotized Organic Matter 0.004 " Earthy Phosphates trace. Iodine trace. Volume of each gas contained, in a free state, in 100 cubic inches : Sulphuretted Hydrogen 1.10 to 1.50 cubic inches. Nitrogen 2.05 Oxygen 0.27 " Carbonic Acid 5.75 In addition to the springs already mentioned, there arc in various parts of the State, indeed in every great section of it, mineral fountains that are well worthy of public attention. Among these are the Blue Sulphur springs in Greenbrier county, once a place of much resort and an excellent mineral water, and Guinn s Spring, in Fayette county, near the mouth of Lick creek. This has bean but little tested, and not at all chemi cally. It is evidently a sulphur water of excellent promise. There is also a spring in the vicinity of Parkersburg, now attracting considerable attention, of which I know too little, either therapeutically or chemically, to attempt a description, but it is favorably regarded by many persons. Besides the springs mentioned by Dr. Moorman, in the above paper, we may note here, two additional ones. The first of the^e is the Hardy \Vfiite Sulphur Spring, situated at the east base of the South Branch mountain, 14 miles south of Moore- field. This is a white sulphur, forming a deposit of snowy whiteness. No analysis has been made of it, but carbonic acid escapes from it continually. The temperature in summer is 50 Fah., and in winter 48. The flow is 65 gallonsjper hour. 334 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. It has baen a place of resort for 45 years, and its medicinal qualities well established. It is anti-acid, and diuretic, and tonic, and in diseases arising from a disordered liver, its cura tive effects are well marked. [Thos! Maslin.] The second spring to be noted, is the Magnesia Spring, on Howard s creek, near the White Sulphur in Greenbrier. The following analy sis of it is by Dr. Aiken, of Baltimore, Md. Solid contents in one imperial gallon : Carbonate of Lime 22.367 grains Carbonate, of Magnesia 11.160 " Carbonate of Iron 0.320 " Sulphate of Lime 21.010 " Sulphate of Magnesia 12.060 " Sulphateof Potasium 1.460 " Sulphate of Soda 1.201 " Sulphateof Ammonia 0.179 " Organic Matter Trace. Chloride of Sodium 1.260 " Chloride of Potasium 1.742 " Silica 0.860 " Iodine Trace. Lithia Trace. Bromine Trace. Loss 0.43 Specific gravity i 1.0004 This is a new spring, and we have no report of its thera peutic effects. The following analysis of the Parkersburg Mineral Wells was furnished by Rezin P. Davis, M. D., to the owner of the wells : One quart of water contains : Carbonic acid gas 16 cubic inches Sulphate of Magnesia 10 grains. Sulphateof Soda 24 " Sulphate of Iron 4 u Chloride of Lime 41 Carbonate of Soda 4 " Iodine ... .. Trace. CHAPTER XV. TRANSPORTATION, BY M. F. MAURY. With mineral riches of so vast an extent, with forests of such magnificent size, with soils of such fertility, and with so many other natural advantages as have been shown in the preceding chapters, the question naturally arises, Why, if these things be true, are the resources of West Virginia so little developed? The answer is readily given when we exam ine the lack of railroads within our borders. Before the western country along the Ohio river sprang up, with its mighty power of population, manufactures and wealth the main markets of the Union were in the seaboard States, bordering the Atlantic, and all trade tended to them. Conse quently the inauguration of public improvements were around these business centers, and, tending to bring them into closer communication, were made north and south, the west ern connections being built but slowly; so that 1861 saw but one company that had built an east and west line through West Virginia, and, now, that, with its western feeders, does a heavier freight business than almost any road in the United States. Up to 1861, Old Virginia, which then stretched from the Atlantic to the Ohio, fostered the railroads centering arouiid the eastern cities, and western connections, though projected, were not pushed, and the beginning of the war showed only the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, a foreign cor poration, and one that carried trade to northern centers, and away from her seaports completed. During the sectional struggle of four years, no improvements were made, and it 336 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. was not until 1872 that the southern portion of the State had any rail communication with markets. There is another reason why we were passed over, viz.: Our population was comparatively smalj, and possessed nothing that was not found more or less abundantly elsewhere, and the Alleghany mountains on the eastern borders were generally looked upon as a very awkward barrier to be overcome in rail roading. The knowledge concerning our mineral riches in the money centers, was vague and uncertain, and the existing lines in Pennsylvania passed through coal fields that could fill all demands. No north and south lines were built, simply because there were no great commercial cities to be connected by them, while the products along such lines would have gone into markets, with railroad charges on them, to compete with articles that already existed in great profusion around the termini. But this state of things can no longer remain so. The trade of the west has become so great, and its surplus pro- ducts, that find their best markets in Europe, and other por tions of the world, have become so vast that they call for new routes to the seaports. The Alleghanies on our eastern bor der have been shown not to be the barrier supposed, for the Baltimore and Ohio railroad runs over their summits, and the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad passes them with grades of only 30 feet per mile, while other roads, already surveyed, show most practicable and feasible routes. Those now in operation have placed our coals in eastern markets, where they always equal, and sometimes outrank, the best of the United States ; iron ores of good quality and in vast deposits have been well" proven, while in every portion of the State streams have cut the roadbeds, so that lateral branches can be run up innu merable creeks to furnish a vast tonnage for the main trunk lines, and an enormous ireight traffic can be looked for in local business in carrying coal to iron, and iroa to coal, and then transporting the results of the manufactuie. In fact, though there can be no question that this lack of of transportation has been of great disadvantage in the past, and still is at the present, yet it has its compensatory advan tages for the future, as it has left the riches of this State un touched, while all the country around was being developed RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 337 and new markets constantly created every year growing larger. Formerly we would, in common with the other States, have looked to the eastern trade alone, but now we are sur rounded on the west, north, and east, by immense and ever consuming centres, that have been changed from producers and competitors into consumers and customers, and many an item of wealth that would, heretofore, on account of lack of demand or low price, have been used or prepared for market, in the most wasteful manner, and have been a positive loss to our ultimate prosperity, now becomes a source of revenue and wealth. Hence, West Virginia occupies the enviable position of being a " new country" with all the advantages of an "old one," in being surrounded with counsumers for every article that it can supply, ar.d this fact alone should attract no little attention from the miner, lumberman, agriculturist, mechanic and laborer. The following are the transportation companies now in operation : Baltimore and Ohio Railroad runs through the northern por tion of the State, having Baltimore as its eastern terminus and passing through the counties of Jefferson, Berkley, Mor gan, Hampshire, Mineral, Preston, Taylor, Marion, Wetzel, Marshall, and part of Ohio, connecting the towns of Harper s Ferry, Martinsburg, Keyser, Piedmont, Rowlesburg, Graft-on, Fairmont, Moundsville and Wheeling. A branch leaves the main road at Grafton, in Taylor county, and passes through the counties of Harrison, Doddridge, Ritchie and Wood, to Parkersburg on the Ohio river. Besides its termini, the main towns on it are Clarksburg, West Union and Cairo. Pennsboro & Harrisville Railroad, leaves the Parkersburg Branch of the Bait. & Ohio R. R. at Pennsboro, in Ritchie county, and runs about 14 miles to Harrisville, in same coun ty. It was built to accommodate the timber interests of this section. Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad. In the southern part of the State with its eastern terminus on tide-water at Richmond, Va., and its western at Huntington, on the Ohio river. It passes through the counties of Greenbrier Monroe, Summers, Fayette, Kanawha, Putnam, and Cabell, having, as its princi pal stations, the White Sulphur Springs, Lewisburg, with 43 338 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Ronceverte as the depot, 3 miles distant ; Quinnimont Fur* nace, Kanawha Falls, Coalburg, Charleston, Saint Albans, Barboursville, and Huntington, whence it is 160 miles by the Ohio river to Cincinnati. Martinsburg & Potomac Railroad. JLu West Virginia this road is altogether in Berkeley county. It runs from the Baltimore and Ohio R. R., at Martinsburg, to Hagerstown in Maryland. Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad. This road crosses the Ohio river at Steubenville and passes across the Panhan dle in Brooke county, touching Hancock county at Holliday s Cove. Pitklmrgh, Wheeling < Baltimore Railroad. Runs from Wheel ing to Washington in Pennsylvania, where it has connections with Pittsburgh. In West Virginia it is altogether in Ohio county. When completed through to Baltimore, it will be shorter than of any existing line between Cincinnati and the seaboard, and will be used by the Bait, & Ohio R. R. as their quick passenger route. Valley Railroad. Passes from the Bait. & Ohio R. R. at Har per s Ferry, southward through Jefferson county, and into Virginia to the Chesapeake & Ohio R. R. at Staunton. To show the interest that is being attracted to and mani fested in the deveiopement of this State, the following is a list of the charters that have been granted, and still exist, within our borders since 1867, though it is proper to remark, that t.he construction of some of the roads are in the distant future. Blue Stone Mining Railroad Company. To construct a rail road up the Blue Stone river in Summers and Mercer counties, for the development of the minerals. BucJchannon Mineral Railroad Company. To construct a rail road from some point on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad/ between Clarksburg and Grafton, to Buckhannon, in Upshur county. Coal River Railroad Company. To build a railroad from Saint Albans, in Kanawha county, up Coal river to the juncture of the Marsh and Clear Forks, in Raleigh county, to have a branch running up Little Coal river to Boone Court House. Objects : To develop the mineral and timber resources of Coal river. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 339 Cumberland^ Moorefield and Broadway Railroad Company. To build a railrood from a point in Mineral county opposite Cum berland, to Moorefield, in Hardy county, thence to Petersburg, in Grant county, and thence to the State line near Monterey, in Highland count} 7 , Virginia. Gaidey River Railroad Company. -To build a railroad from the mouth to the head of Gauley river, passing through Fayette, Nicholas, and Webster, into Pocahontas. Objects : To develop the mineral and timber resources of Gauley river. Guyandotte Railroad Company. rto build a railroad from the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, at Huntington, to Cabell Court House (Barbournville), and thence on up the Guyandotte river into Logan county. Objects : To develope the mineral and timber resources of the Guyandotte river. Guyandotte and Ohio River Railroad, and Mineral. Company. To build a railroad from some point in Logan county, on Guyandotte river, above Dusenbury Mill, to the Ohio river, be tween the mouths of Four Pole and Seven Mile creeks. Ob jects : The same as the last. Hartford, Mason and Clifton Railroad. To extend along the Ohio river, in Mason county, to connect the three towns named in the title. Iron Valley and Pennsylvania Line Railroad Company. To build a railroad from where Big Sandy creek crosses the Pennsylvania line, via Brandonville, Bruceton Mills, Muddy Creek Furnace, valley of Green s Run, and Martin Iron Works, to a point on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Altogether in Preston county. Mud River Railroad Company.- To a build a railroad from Milton Station on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, in Cabell county, up Mud river to the mouth of LTpton creek, in Lincoln county, and thence crossing to Big Ugly creek, and down that stream to the Guyandotte river, in Logan county. Objects : To develop the mineral and timber resources along its line. New River Railroad, Mining and Manufacturing Company. - To build a railroad from the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, at the mouth of Greenbrier river, up New river to the State line. North Branch Railroad Company. To build a railroad from a point on the Baltimore arid Ohio Railroad, between Piedmont 340 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. and Bloomiiigton Ridge, south to a point on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. Northern and Southern West Virginia Railroad Company. To build a railroad from the Pennsylvania line, in Monongalia county, via Morgantown, Fairmont, Clarksburg, Weston, and Charleston, to some p:>int on the Kentucky line, in Wayne county. This is a most important line, being, as its name im plies, a north and south ore, and passing through the center of the State, developing enormous mineral and timber inter ests throughout its whole route. Ohio River and Wayne County Mineral Railroad Company. To build a railroad from any point on the Ohio river, in Wayne county, to the mineral lands in Wayne and Lincoln counties. Paint Creek Railroad Company. To build a railroad from the C. & 0. R. R. at the mouth of Paint creek, up that stream, in Kanawha and Fayette counties. Objects : To de velop the coal interests of Paint creek. Pittsburgh, Wheeling and Kentucky Railroad. To connect with the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis railroad, at Holli- day s Cove, in Hancock county, and thence to pa^-s down the Ohio river to Wheeling, and thence on to the Kentucky line, ultimately to connect with the Texas Pacific railroad. This is another very important north and south line, as it would develop all the Ohio river counties. The road bed is already graded as far south as Wheeling. Potomac and Ohio Railroad Company. To build a railroad from near Harper s Ferry, in Jefferson county, to the Ohio river, via the SouthBranch Valley, in Hampshire, Hardy and Grant counties. RipUy and Ohio Narrow Gauge Railroad Company. To build a railroad in Jackson county, from Ripley, down Mill creek to the Ohio. Steer Creek Valley and Elk River Railroad Company. To build a railroad from the mouth of Steer creek, in Calhoun county, to some point on Elk river, in Braxton county, between Little Otter and Duck creeks. tihcnandoah and Ohio Railroad Company. To build a railroad irom the Virginia line, in Pendleton county, on the east, to RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 341 Parkersburg, on the Ohio river, on the west. This will traverse the whole State through a most valuable mineral country. South Branch Railroad Company. To build a railroad in Hampshire county, from Romney to the Baltimore <C* Ohio Rail road. This is partially built. Tug River Railroad Company.-r- Fo build a railroad from the Ohio river, up Big Sandy river and Tug Fork thereof, into Logan county, to a point opposite Lonsville, in Pike county, Kentucky. Object : to develop the mineral and timber re sources of Big Sandy river. Union and Greenbrier River Turnpike and Railroad Company. To build a railroad from Union, in Monroe county, to some point on the C. & O. Railroad, on Greenbrier river. Washington and Ohio Railroad Company. This is a very im portant projected east and west line in the State, as it passes through the rich coal, iron, timber and agricultural region ly ing between the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad on the north, and the C. & 0. Railroad on the south. It begins at Alexan dria, in Virginia, on the Potomac, and the first 51 J miles are completed. It will pass through Winchester, and enter West Virginia in Hampshire county, and thence, according to the route laid down on the map of West Virginia, will run through Hardy, Grant, Tucker, Randolph, Upshur, Lewis, Gilmer, Cal- houn, Roane, Jackson, and Mason counties, to the Ohio river, at Point Pheasant. West Virginia Railroad Company. Beginning at or near the mouth of the Big Sandy river, in Wayne county, their rail road runs thence in an easterly direction to the Kanawha river, nt-ar St. Albans, in Kanawha county, thence to Charles ton, at the mouth of Elk river, thence up that stream for 150 miles, thence northeasterly to the South Branch of the Poto mac, and thence down the same to its mouth, passing through the counties of Wayne, Cabell, Putnam, Kanawha, Clay, Brax- ton, Webster, Randolph, Pendleton, Grant, Hardy, Hampshire and Morgan. West Virginia Central Railroad Company.- From Charleston, their railroad runs up the Kanawha, thence up Gauley to its head, ad thence through Pocahontas county to Harrisonburg, in Virginia, passing through the counties of Kanawha, Fay- ette, Nicholas, Webster, and Pocahontas. 342 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. West Fork and V/eston Railroad Company. Their railroad runs from Weston, in Lewis county, to Clarksburg, in Har rison county. West Virginia Division of the People* Freight Railroad Company. Their railroad runs from the Ohio river, between Short and Buffalo creeks to where the State line crosses the latter, in Brooke county. RIVERS. The Ohio River forms the western boundary of the State for some 300 miles, and washes the counties of Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel, Tyler, Pleasants,Wood, Jackson, Mason, Cabell, and Wayne. Daily, weekly and tri-weekly steamers from Wheeling to Marietta, Parkersburg and Cincinnati, and mail boats from Parkersburg to Charleston, on the Kanawha, keep up constant communication between all the river land ings in West Virginia, and the great markets in the adjoin ing States. There are also daily lines connecting with the C. & O. R. R., from Huntington to Cincinnati, and regular lines ply from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati, stopping at all West Virginia landings. It is open to navigation, with but r<are exceptions from ice and low water, all the year round. Great Kanavtha River Is navigable all the year round, except in exceptional cases, when, navigation is impeded by ice, from the Ohio lo Brownstown, a distance of 70 miles. In a good stage of water we can go up to Loup creek, 22 miles higher. In low water only the smaller classes of boats can run. In order to give the enormous mineral interests of this stream, a free exit to the Ohio all the year, the United States Govern, ment is now locking and damming it so that 6 feet of water can always be expected. From Maiden, 6 miles above Charleston, there is a weekly line of beats to Cincinnati, and a daily line to Gailipolis, on the Ohio, and tri-weekly connections with Parkersburg and Cincinnati packets. Little KanawJm River Is locked and dammed to Elizabeth, in Wirt county, and on good water steamboats pass up daily to Burning Springs, 38 miles from Parkersburg, on the Ohio river, and even to Grants ville, Calhoun county. The work is done by the Little Kanawha Navigation Company, and will tend much to foster the rich timber and oil resources, etc., of this important portion of our State. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA* 343 The Mononghelia River, in Monongalia county, is navigable on good water to Morgantown, and in exceptional cases steam ers have gone as far up as Fairmont, in Marion .county. The United States Government are now locking and damming this stream as far as Morgan tow o, and steps are being taken for an appropriation to carry the work on to Fairmont, so as to give the important coal interests of Marion and southern Monon galia a cheap water exit to the western markets. Big Coal River In Kanawha and Boone counties, is im proved by locks and dams by the Coal River Navigation Com pany to the Peytona Mines, 35 miles above its mouth. Many years ago Little Coal river, a branch of Big Coal, was locked and dammed for the first few miles for the accommodation of the Marae Mining Company, but the workshavenow gone to ruin, owing to the suspension of the mines. This stream could be improved as. high as Boone court-house, which is .some 40 miles from the Kanawha, Big Sandy River Which divides West Virginia from Ken tucky, is usually navigable to Louisa, and in good water many miles above. The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal. Though this is nowhere with in the borders of the State, yet, as it is largely used by the citizens of the eastern counties, it may be looked upon as one of the transportation lines of West Virginia. It extends from Cumberland to Georgetown, and follows the West Virginia line, on the opposite side of the Potomac river, from the first named place to Harper s Ferry, a distance of over 100 miles. The counties that are opposite to it are Mineral, Hampshire, Morgan, Berkely. and Jefferson. Before the completion of the Bait. & Ohio R. R., Cumberland was the great connecting point for all goods from the western country to the eastern markets and vice versa. The following is a list of the other streams that have con templated improvements, as shown by the charters to naviga tion companies. % Grcenbrier River. The St. Lawrence Boom and Manufactur ing Company, whose boom and saw mills are at Ronceverte, Greenbrier county, have a charter to improve the navigation of this stream. The work so far done has been to remove the 344 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. obstructions to the lumber business, so that logs can conie down freely. New River. -The Greenbrier, New, and Kanawha rivers, is the intended route for the James River and Kanawha Canal from Richmond, Va., to the Ohio river. The gap still left for completion, between this last point and Buchanan, on the James river in Virginia, is 207 miles. As regards its chances for completion, the following letter from Commodore M. F. Maury, who will readily be admitted as an authority of the highest standing, is very interesting. VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE J LEXINGTON, 6th July, 1872. ) COL. R.L MAURY, MY DEAR SIR : You ask my opinion as to "the probabili ties of completing the James River and Kanawha Canal." I think them not only reasonable but proximate, and any one who will make himself acquainted with that work, who will- consider the rapidly increasing population and production, the growing wealth and political power of the West, and who will then consider what has been done with regard to it, will be very apt to come to a like conclusion. That work was commenced more than a generation ago by the State of Virginia. After reaching the eastern base of the Allegheny rhountains, the work, owing to difficulties of various sorts, and the absence of appropriations and the exigen cies of war amongst them, was suspended. During this long suspension, the public mind was with drawn from this canal and given to things of more absorbing interest. But that attention was recalled to it by "Report No. 1. Physical Survey of Virginia" * * * * * Look at the map and you will see that Virginia is as the keystone to the arch of States that border on the Atlantic Ocean. She has the best harbor of the coast, is midway be tween the Northern and Southern extremes, and offers the shortest and best passage that can be found for commerce be tween the Atlantic seabord and the chief centres of the Mis sissippi Valley, such as Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis, St. Paul, and even Chicago, on the lakes; for, if you will take the the trouble to measure, you will see that by opening these OF WEST VIRGINIA. 345 routes, they will bring the Capes of Virginia and the sea, near er to Chicago than Sand v Book now is. The Government in Washington, impresssd with these facts, sent out their corps of engineers to examine the ground and see if a practicable route for the canal can be found, and they have found it, for it was well known to exist. And in antic ipation of this canal, Congress and the city of Richmond, as if to prepare for it have moved in the matter andare now spend ing large sums of money upon the improvement of James Riv er. They aim ultimately to give this river 18 feet of wafer from the cifcy to the sea, and by so doing to bring the seaport of the great West 100 miles up into the interior; and then by opening docks for its shipping, they expect to, establish that port at Richmond. * * * For my part, content to wait and watch, I look upon a canal from the James river at Richmond to the "fairway" of the Kan- awha River, as a thing that muit be. There is no event of the future that falls not in the "order of nature." but which de pends upon the accidents of time and circumstances, the coming of which E regard as more certain than the completion, sooner or later, of this canal. It is a work of transcendent importance and must be built. Your truly, M. F. MAURY. Gauley River In IS 72 a charter was granted the Gauley River Improvement Manufacturing, Mining and Lumber Co. giving it the exclusive privilege of improving the river by re moving obstructions to the navigation, and by constructing dams by cutting a canal or by sluices. So far the only work done has been to improve the navigation so that lo^s can come down freely from Peters creek, which is some 20 miles above the Kanawha. Elk River. The Elk River Navigation Company have put in one dam abjve Charleston, and the stream has been so improved that on a good stage of water a small steamboat can go up 70 miles to the furnace of the Elk River Iron and Coal Company. In this distance, according to the survey of the Northern and Southern West Virginia railroad, the fall of the River is 206 feet. Quyandotte River. Improvements were in progress before the war and dams built for some distance up, but neglected since, and finallv destroyed. 44 346 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Twelve Pole River. A charter has been granted to the Twelve Pole River Mining and Navigation Company, an association formed for the purpose of improving the naviga tion of Twelve Pole river and its tributaries by slack water dams and otherwise, and of mining and shipping coal and other products therefrom." Steer Greek. A charter has been granted to the Steer Creek Lumber, Boom and Navigation Company to improve the waters of that stream in Calhoun and Gilmer counties. Ob ject : To develop the timber resources. Middle Island Creel:. A charter was granted to the Middle Island Navigation Company, to improve the stream from its mouth throughout so much of its course as lies iri Tyler and Pleasants counties. Fishing Creek. A branch of the Ohio river, in Wetze l county. Navigation to be improved by the Fishing Creek Lumber and Boom Company. Object : To develop the tim ber resources. North Branch oj the Potomac River. A charter to the North Branch Lumber and Boom Company, to improve the naviga tion of Stony river and the North Branch to Cumberland. Object: Lumber shipping. Shenandoah River. In Jefferson county. The title of the improvement is the Shenandoah Navigation Company ; to improve the navigation of the stream. CHAPTER XVI. EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS. BY M. F. MAIJRY. For much of the information in the following paper, I am indebted to a manuscript on this subject by Dr. J. G. Blair, Principal of the Branch of the State Normal School, at Fair mont. FREE SCHOOLS. The constitution ot West Virginia requires the Legislature to provide by general law for a thorough and efficient- system of Free Schools. To secure this end- " the existing permanent and invested school fund, and all moneys accruing to this State from forfeited, delinquent, waste, and unappropriated lands ; from lands hitherto sold for taxes and purchased by the State [of Virginia, if hereafter redeemed or sold toothers than this State ; all grants, bequests, or devises that may be made to this State for educational purposes; the State s just share of the literary fund of Virginia, whether paid over or otherwise liquidated; any sums of money, stocks or property which this State shall have a right to claim from the State of Virginia for educational purposes ; the proceeds of the estates of persons who die without leaving a will or heir, and of all escheated lands ; the proceeds of all taxes that may be levied on any cor poration ; all moneys that may be paid for exemption from military duty, and such sums as may be appropriated from time to time by the Legislature, shall be set apart as a school fund, and invested under such regulations .as maybe prescribed by law in the interest bearing securities of the United States, and of this State, or in such other solvent interest bearing 348 . RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. securities as maybe approved by the Governor, Superintendent of Free* Schools, Auditor and Treasurer," who are constituted, the Board of the School Fund, to manage the same under such regulations as maybe prescribed by law, and the interest thereof shall be annually applied to the support of free schools throughout the State, and to no other purpose whatever. * * Any portion of said interest, remaining unexpended at the close of the fiscal year, shall be added to, and remain part of the capital of the school fund." The Legislature is required "to foster and encourage moral, intellectual, scientific and agricultural improvement, and when it may bo practicable, to make suitable provision for the blind, mute, and insnne, and organize such institutions of learning as the best interests of general education in the State may demand." Under the Constitution of 186}, the Legislature put into efficient operation the Free School system of the State. The popular school law then adopted still retains its essential fea tures, having only been changed in expedients, to give the schools greater advantages. This law, as re-enacted by the Legislature in 1*873, compares favorably with the most liberal school legislation of other States. For school purposes, each county is divided into districts (cor responding to townships in other States), and each of these into sub-districts. Each district is controlled by a " Board of Education," consisting of a President, and t\vo Commissioners, and each sub-district, is under the management of one "Trustee." The officers are chosen by the electors of the district every two years. In addition to the,School Fund already alluded to, the School Law says: " For the support of the Primary Free Schools of their district, and in each independent school district, the Board of Education thereof shall annually levy by the author ity of the people, such a tax on the property taxable in the district, as will, with the money received from the State for the support of Free Schools, be sufficient to keep such schools in operation at least four months in the year; provided, the said tax in any year shall not exceed the amount of -50 cents on every 100 dollars valuation." (School Laws, Sec 40.) The proceeds of this tax, together with the distributable State School Fund, constitute the k: Te;iohor s Fund," which is to be used only in paying teachers salaries. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 349 Should any Board of Education fail to make this levy, after the people have voted to do so, the law requires that the county court shall compel them to do so, and every district rejecting said levy by a majority vote, shall not receive its pro rata of the State funds. The School Law (Sec. 60) provides: "That for the support of Free Schools, there shall be a State tax, levied annually, of 10 cents on the 100 dollars valuation of all real and per sonal property of the State." This amount, combined with the interest accruing on the invested fund, makes up the annual appropriations by the State in aid of the " Teachers Fund." Section 38 of the School Law says : "To provide school houses and grounds, furniture, fixtures and appendage?, and to keep the same in good order and repair, and to supply fuel and other things needed for comfort and convenience, the Board of Edu cation shall annually levy a tax on the taxable property of each district, not to exceed in any single year 40 cents on the 100 dollars, valuation thereof, according to the latest assess ment of the same for State and county taxation," This tax, together with the bequests and other revenues that may be for the purpose, constitute a " Building Fund," which is entirely distinct from the " Teachers Fund." The report for 1875 of the State Superintendent of Free Schools shows that the Permanent School Fund amounts to $325,243fVir; the Current Teachers Fund to $541, 358 T %\; the Current Building Fund to $255,233-^; and the aggregate amount expended for school purposes for thut year to $796,- 592 ^V The school year begins on the 1st of September, and the District Boards hold their first meeting for this year on the 1st Monday of September, when they have to determine the num ber of months the schools shall be taught in each sub-district, the number of teachers to be employed, andtheir wages, which latter are graded according to the individual merits of the teachers, as shown by the certificates granted them by the County Board of Examiners. The trustee in each sub-district employs the teacher. He has discretionary power in minor matters relating to the comfort, order and success of thQ Bchool. 350 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. At the time of electing the Trustees and District Boards, the people of each count} elect a County Superintendent of Free Schools, who shall be, says the law: " a person of temperate habits, of literary acquirements, and of skill and experience in the art of teaching." This officer is charged with grave re sponsibilities, and by his efficiency contributes largely to school success. It is his duty to visit the schools of his coun ty each year, to advise and direct the teachers in their work, to see that the school law is executed by all subordinate offi cers, to look after school finances, to act as Chairman of the County Board of Examiners, to examine into the condition of school-houses and property, to encourage and to aid in the organization of County Institutes, and, if need be, in the for mation of Union Institutes between two or more counties, to distribute official blanks or papers relative to school work, and annually to report the exact condition of the schools in his district to the State Superintendent. Two experienced teachers, appointed by the Presidents of the District Boards of each county, at a meeting held for that purpose in August of every year, constitute, with the County Superintendent, a County Examining Board," which issues teachers licenses. These are granted for a period of not more than one year, and are of five grades, No. 1 being the highest. The examination fee is one dollar. The Constitution provides for a State Superintendent of Free Schools, who is the highest officer known in the school law, and is elected by the people of the State at large. His. term of office is four years. The law provides that he shall be * of good moral character, of temperate habits, of literary acquirements, and skill, and experience in the art of teach ing." His salary comes out of the general school fund. He has complete charge of all State educational matters, sees that the school funds are properly distributed, has to do everything that will lend energy and efficiency to his department at large, and makes an annual report to the Governor, as to the condition of the free schools ot the State and their financial condition, with such suggestions for improvements in any of the departments, as may seem to him to concern their general welfare. This report is communicated by the Governor to RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 351 the Cession of the Legislature at each biennial session triers after. The Code of West Virginia declares that "all teachers. Boards of Education, and all other school officers, are charged with the duty of providing that moral training for the youth of the State, which will contribute to securing good behavior and manners, and furnishing the State with exemplary citi zens," (Sec. 32, chap. 123), and provides for three grades of of schools, viz.: Primary, Graded, and High, The present free school system was inaugurated in the entire State in 1865, and speedily put into operation, though several counties adopted a similar system at a much earlier date. In no State in the Union has the" educational system been more cordially adopted, or met with less opposition, and the spirit of each Legislature has been in unison with the Con stitution, in cherishing the State system of public instruction. From the first the schools have been of the most approved form that the funds would sanction. In 1865 there were 133 houses for free schools; in 1875, 2,959. The value of school property in 1865 was $52,856, while in 1875, it was $1,605,627. In 1875 the number of free schools, both high and sub-district, taught, was 3,231. In 1865 there were 387 teachers, of both sexes, engaged in teaching in the free schools, while in 1875, there were 3,461, which gives one teacher for about every 144 of our citizens. In Illinois, one of the first free school Pfcates of the country, the ratio is as 1 to 141. The Free School work in West Virginia is shown with some degree of accuracy by the following official statistics, for the year beginning 1st September, from the office of the State Superintendent : 352 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. c-^ : c ^ 2 a *"o **T* H I v1 7; OQ ^f O OD x.o I 4 ~ C || T3 *, w 4 4J v, " S -M 1 t2 O ^ 5 5^5 O 5 ^ COUNTY. I If 1 ! i COUNTY. .2 S (Hg 00 1 O ^ ^ *^* ^J cfl i*iQ ,- o" r, P^^O rtic" 1 f 1 .2 ^1 o O &2 .2 "^ o 00 1^ "2 ^s "S ts If S Sf (U q |jf If 1 5 >- c ^* eS QJ c ^*> S *** w *$ [l H ^ W H Barbour > 4 706.74 3942 75 Br t forward Berkeley.... 5,892.39 4,935 811 Mineral. .. $ 2,31277 1,937 31 Boone 2,078.751 1,741 32 iMonongalia 5,907.91 4,948 46 Braxton 3,42081 2,865 70 i Monroe 3,884,08 3,253 67 Brooke 2,315.16 1,939 49 Morgan 1,796.97 1,505 29 Cabell 4,144.37 3,471 58 Nicholas 2,350.98 1,969 44 Calhoun ... 1 732.49 1,451 24 Ohio 2,783.21 2,331 32 Clav 1,262.08 1,057 21 Pendleton .. 3,020.82 2,530 47 Dodd ridge... 3,633.34 3,043 69 Pleasants ... 1,798.16 1,506 29 Fayette 3,301.41 2,765 68 Pocahontas. 1,708.61 1,431 26 Gilmer 2,479.93i 2 ,077 41 Preston 6,882.21 5,764 100 Grant.. 1,905.62 1,596 35 Putnam 3,806.47 3,188 52 Greenbrier.. 4,884.65 4,091 85 Raleigh 2,622 02 2,196 54 Ha mpshire. 3,413.64 2,859 57 Randolph... 2,755.75 2,308 55 Hancock 1,993.98 1,670 44 Ritchie 4,481.08 3,753 89 Hardy 2,390.38 2002 48 Roane 3,934.61 3,297 62 Harrison. ... 7,720.40 6,466 112 Summers ... 2,521.72 2,112 51 J IK"* lv SO 11 5 475 68 4 ^P. 104- Taylor 4 15 9 73 3,478 Jefferson.... 5^469.71 TTjtJClJ 4,581 XU~r 44 Tucker 1,161.76 *973 24 Ivanawha.... Lewis 11,052.94 4,602.87 2,765.30 9,260 3,855 2,316 105 70 51 : Tvler . 4,022.58 3,755.13 4,701.97 3,369 3,145 3,938 66 71 62 lUpshur IV\^vnp Lincoln Logan 2,330.68 1,952 21 Webster 903.85 757 Marion 6.820.12 5,712 87 jWetzel 4,973.01 4,165 " ?8 Marshall 7.903.40 6 033 S! Wirfc 2,208 90 1,850 29 Mason 8,183.68 6 854 iWood 9.260.66 7,756 121 McDowell... Mercer 1,065.04 2,490.68 892 24 1 Wyoming... IJ583.24 2,086 s 53 Wheel. City 10,763.91 1,326 9,015 26 73 |$214,791.32 179,897 2,993 During the present year the number of pupils who are study ing all the branches of the free school course has been greatly increased. Each year is adding greatly to the elevation of the grades of study. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 353 No text books books are used except those prescribed by the Legislature, which has provided most amply for all subjects taught in the best schools. NORMAL SCHOOLS. The?e were organized at an early period of the school work of West Virginia, to supply trained teachers for the rural dis tricts and towns, and are therefore valuable adjuncts of the common school system. They are under the direction of a Board of Regents, consist ing of the Governor, Auditor, Treasurer, and Superintendent of Free Schools of the State, and one member from each Con gressional district. Section 88 of the School Law give* this Board the control of the property and conduct of the schools, and fall authority to make such by-laws and regulations for the government of the same, as, in their opinion, will be^t subserve the purposes of their creation. They appoint the teachers, determine their compensation, prescribe the conditions upon which students shall be admitted, and the text books and general course of study, regulate the condition^ of graduation, and prepare and confer normal diploma*, which, by a provision of law, are accepted throughout the State as teachers 1 certificates, and empower Boards of Education to employ such graduates as free school teachers, without further examination by County Boards. The object of this regulation was to encour age teachers to seek those higher qualifications for their work, which the Normal schools were designed to bestow. In fulfilment of their duties the Board of Regents, on the 8th July, 1873, adopted the following regulations for the admission of pupils to these institutions : The number of students which each county of the State ?hall be entitled to send to the Normal Department in the State Normal school and its branches, free of charge, for tuition, shall be as follows : 45 354 RESOURCES OF rt EST VIRGINIA. Barb /ir. 9 Hancock 4 M on on cr alia i ? Roane 7 Berkeley 1") 1 1 irdy 9 Summers 4 Boone... 4 Harrison ... . . ..15! Morgan 4 Taylor - s Braxton H Jackson --. 9 j McDowell 9 Tucker 2 Brooke f> .Jefferson V J1 Nicholas 4 Tyler Cabell 1 i Ivanawha 20iOhio 26 Upshnr . Calhoun 3 Lewis 9 Pendleton 6 Wayne 7 Clay 9 Lincoln 5 Pleasints 3 Webster > Doddrin^e (vLo^ail . 5 Pocahontas 4 Wetzel s Favette 6 Marion .... .... 1M Preston IS Wirt . . .. 4 Gilmer 4 Marsliall .. 13 Putnam Wood 17 Grant 4 Mason 14Rttleigh 3 Wyoming 3 Greenbrier 9 Mercer (j Randolph fS Humpshire ..... 7 Mineral .... Ritchie.. Applications for admission to the Normal Department, of the ^ta!e Normal School and its Branches, are made to the Super intendent of Free Schools of the^county in which the applicant/ resides. Male pupils must not 1)3 less than 15, and females not less than 13 year> of age. No applicants can be selected unless they are of good moral character and found, upon examination, to he entitled to a No. 4 Teacher s certificate. The county Superintendent shall require from each selected applicant, a written declaration, that they propose to -become teachers in the State Frefi Schools and that they will, on the conplelion of their studies in the Normal School, teach for one year in the Free Schools, or upon failure to do so, to pay to the school, the usual amount of fees charged to other students. The Normal School, or any of its Branches, may admit paying students from any State (preference being given to those from West Virginia) whether they desire to become teachers or not. State student.^ of any one of the Normal Schools may be trans ferred to another of said schools, only upon procuring a certifi cate of good deportment from the Principal of the school he has been attending or by permission of the Board of Regents* and the time he has so attended, shall be credited to him in course, by the Principal of the school to which he is trans ferred. To all persons appointed in accordance with the foregoing provisions, tuition is free and students not qualified to enter the Junior class of the Normal course, may, if of proper age and RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 355 otherwise qualified, receive one years preparatory instruction in the school. The Normal course consists of two years the Junior and the Senior. The Junior Normal course shall embrace Reading, Spelling, Writing, Arithmetic, Geography, Algebra (commenced), Eng lish Grammar, Composition, and History of the United States. The Senior Normal course shall embrace. Composition, Alge bra (continued), Rhetoric, Physical Geography, Mental Sci ence, General History, Geometry, and plain Trigonometry, School Economy, Method of Teaching, and Systematic Classi fication of pupils. The Principal and assistants of any of the Normal Schools, are authorized to teach a classical and scientific course in addition to the Normal course ; provided, the Normal course shall not be abridged or neglected in any manner, by the teaching of such scientific and classical course. The rates of tuition for pay scholars are hereby fixed as follows : For Junior Normal Course per year $2000 " Senior " " " " 24.00 Classical department per year 3200 One-half of which shall be paid on entrance, and the resi due, when half the year has elapsed. The Board of Regents direct that the method of discipline in the Normal Schools shall be : 1st. Private admonition by the Instructor. 2d. Admonition by the Faculty. 81 A I monition before the whole school. 4th. Suspension. oth. Dismissal. Striking in anger, any pupil or teacher, or the commission of any felony, is to be followed by expulsion, and any viola tion of the law of the State, is to be followed by suspension or .expulsion, as the Executive Committee may direct. The following Normal Schools have been provided for. A further increase in their numbsr is prohibited by the Consti tution, which says that " no appropriation shall hereafter be made to any State Normal School or branch thereof, except to those already established, or in operation, or now chartered." 356 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. WEST VIRGINIA STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, or, Marshall Colleg^ Has an admirable location on the Ohio, at Huntington, in Cabell county. As "Marshall Academy," it was aschool of high rank, before it was transferred to the State. On 27th February, 1867, an act of the Legislature established it a State Normal School. The main building of the col lege is 70 by 40 feet, with a wing 100 by 30 feet, both be- being three stories high, and having accommodations for 100 boarders 60 male and 40 female. The institution has a small cabinet of minerals, a fair amount of chemical and philosoph ical apparatus, and a library of much 1133 to the students of about 1,000 volumes of standard \vorks. About 100 of its pupils are now teaching in the Free Schools. From 1870 to 1875, both inclusive, 47 students have graduated from the Nor mal School Department. Fairmont Branch of the State Normal School, is situated at Fair mont, in Marion county. On the 8th March, 18(58, the State purchased this property, consisting of a brick building 60 by 40 feet, two stories high, and created it a branch State Normal School. During the year, 1872-3, a substantial brick edifice three stories high, and 70 by 38 feet, was added to the former building, thus furnishing ample accommodation for 300 stu dents. Nearly all the teachers who have graduated from this school, have been continuously engaged in teaching, and dur ing the present year, about 1 60 of its pupils have been employed in the Free Schools. From 1872 to 1875, both inclusive, the number of graduates was 82. During the year, 1874-5, the number of pupils was 152 Shepherd s College and Branch State Normal School, located at Shepherdstown, Jefferson county, has been in operation as a Normal School, sines 8th September, 1873. The buildings are commodious and well arranged for school purposes. The main building is of brick, two stories high. To this are added two wings. The building occupies an eminence in the center of the town, and is surrounded by extensive and beautiful grounds. % The property is valued at 810,000. The graduates of this school number 50, of which more than half, ao) now teaching in the State. The number of pupils in attendance the present year, is 135, of which 62 are in the Senior class. Glenville Branch Normal School, located at Glenville, Gil- RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 357 mer county, has been conducted with success since its organi zation in March, 1873. The enrollment of pupils in 1875, was 105. The graduates have been 14 in all. This school is of great value to the State, as it is located in an interior county, where its educational -influence is much appreciated. T/ie Bmnrh Sonnal School at West Liberty, Ohio county, has been in operation since 1870. The buildings are very conven ient for school purposes, and ample to accommodate from 100 to 150 pupils. The school began with 30 pupils, and at the end of 3 years had 110. Its graduates have nearly all become teachers in the State. The Branch Normal School at Concord, in Mercer county, has been in operation only a short time, and has turned out no graduates. WEST VIRGINIA. UNIVERSITY. This was designed to stand at the head of the literary insti- tionsof the State, and was located by the Legislature at Mor- gantown, in Monongalia county. The buildings are new, tasteful, spacious and well adapted to their purpose, consisting of a University Hall, an Armory, arid new Central Hull. The surroundings are favorable for student life. The origin of this institution began in the grant of lands, made several years ago, by the United States to most of the States of the Union, for the purpose of establishing agricul tural colleges. The proceeds of the land script thus given to West Virginia were about $90,000. To this the State has since addo ( about 620,000, thus furnishing the school a per manent fund of 3110,003, the income from which goes to meet the curient expenses of the college. In addition to this fund the Legislature has been accustomed to make special appro priation for its current expenses. From the outset, the plan and scope of the college was made broad and liberal, assuming the features of a university. The departments of instruction embrace the literary, scien tific, practical and experimental, agricultural and military. The Unite-1 States furnishes arms and equipments, and also details an officer from the regular officer army to teach military science, &c. 358 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. The various departments, as at present arranged, are as follows : 1st. Philosophy and English Literature. 2d. Astronomy and Physics. 3d. Mathematics and Engineering. 4th. Military Science and Tactics. 5th. Modern Languages and Literature. 6th. History, Political Economy, and Belles Lettres. 7th. Chemistry, Natural History, and Agriculture. The University is in possession of the apparatus, requisite for a thorough illustration of Chemistry and Physics, and its Museum contains extensive mineralogical, geological and con- chological cabinets, together with many specimens in other departments of Natural History. Its laboratory of Practical Chemistry is in operation, the instruction at present being devoted chiefly to analysis, with its application to agricul ture. Its library embraces about 4,000 volumes, which include not only valuable books of reference, but also stand ard works in the various departments of History, Biography, Theology, Agriculture, Arts, Sciences and General Literature. In 1874-5 there were 150 students enrolled. This includes the preparatory class. This institution is un ier the control of a Board of nine Regents, one from each judicial district of the State, who are appointed by the Board 01 th School Fund. The law pro vides that four cadets from each judicial district of the State may be appointed to the Military Department. These enjoy all the privileges of the college, have all their books furnished them, and are exempt from any charges for tuition. STATE COLORED SCHOOLS. When the number of colored youth in any sub-district of a county exceeds 25, the law requires the Trustee to pro vide a school for the class, or two or more sub-districts may unite in maintaining such a school. Accordingly there are well arranged, and conducted schools, in the cities of Wheel ing, Parkersburg, Charleston, arid Martinsburg, for this portion of the population of the State. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 359 PRIVATE SCHOOLS. In addition to the foregoing schools belonging to, and pro vided for, by the State, the youth of West Virginia have edu cational advantages in. many private and denominational in stitutions, among which .may be mentioned the following, as among the most conspicuous : Bethany College, located at Bethany, in Brooke county, and under the control of the Christian Church, was organized by the renowned Rev. Alex. Campbell. It is a literary college of high grade, and offers a liberal training to its pupils. Its building* and grounds are fine and ample ; its library and ap paratus extensive, and its students have become distinguish ed educators in this and oth?r States. Fleming College, at Flemington, Taylor county, was estab lished as a " Free Will Baptist" College, in 1868. The course of study i.s largely of a normal character. During 1875, there were 70 pupils in attendance. Stover Colleyz chartere-l in 1868, received its name from the late John Stover, of Maine, who gave S 10,000 towards its en dowment. It is situated at Harper s Ferry, in Jefferson coun ty. It was the wish of the founder that it should be operated as a seminary and normal school, until it-* endowment should justify the establishment of a college course. Its catalogue says that a cardinal feature in it-< administration, is that "stu dents shall be admitted without distinction, on account of race, color, sex or religious preferences." It is, however, only at tended by colored pupils. Its buildings furnish a chapel, recitation rooms, library, printing office, reading room, and boarding hall for 70 male students, and the effort now is to erect a similar hall for girls. This has been begun, but is not completed. The school has an annual course of lectures on scientific, and other topics, and an excellent feature in its administration is, that instruction is given in printing and in dustrial pursuits. The course of study is academic and normal. The Board of Instruction consists of a principal and nine as sistants. The aggregate number of pupils for the year. ending June 1875, was 285. Wheeling female College, chartered in 1849, has been in ex cellent reputation for many years, and is the property of a joint stock company. The building occupies a commanding 360 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. position in tho centre of Wheeling, is well furnished, and can accommodate a large number of boarding pupils. At present it has an enrollment of 100 pupils, a large number of whom re side in Wheeling. The Doddridge Mmic and Art School, located on 12th street, in Wheeling, was established in 1874. Instruction is given in oil painting, drawing and music. Number of pupils the present your, 69. Morgantown female Seminary, in Monongalia county, was organized in 18-V2, and has been in successful operation since that time, enjoying an excellent reputation. The want of statistics showing the extent of its work, is much to be re gretted. St. Albrins Seminary, in Kanawha county, was begun a few years ago, under the care of the Baptist church, and has an ex cellent reputation. There is also an academy at French creek, in Upshur county. Also, a High School, at Buckhannon, in [Jpshur county, which bids fair to become very useful in the State. St Josrph s Academy, in Wheeling was opened 1st of September 1865, by the "Sisters of St. Joseph, for girl* and boys under 12 years old. The present attendance is 115 of the former and 57 of the latter. German is taughc gratis to children of German parentage. These Sisters also conduct St. Josephs Parish School with 240 pupils; St. Alpltonxw (German) with 300 pupils, and a Parish and Orphan Asylum School, with 260 pupils. Also in Graf to n, Taylor county, they teach a parish school with 165 pupils; an academy at Clarksburg, Harrison county, with 122* pupils, and one at Charleston, Kanawha, with 8S pupils. Total number of pupils 1347. Number of teachers, including those engaged solely in teaching music and the languages, 46 In the^e schools the boys and girl* are taught separately. Mount de Chainrl. Near Wheeling, controlled by the "Sisters of the Visitation," has been in operation since 1864, and has done much valuable work. It is to be regretted that statistics showing the extent and progress of this institution, have not been furnished by those in charge. Commercial Srhonlx In Parkersburg, Charleston and Wheel ing, busiiK-s- colleges have been organized, and are in success ful operation. Asa school of the highest type of its class in RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 361 the State, may be named the National Business College in Wheeling. It is designed for the practical education of ladies, young men, and boys, in business affairs. It embraces in struction in all departments of Book-keeping, Penmanship, Arithmetic, Spelling, Commercial Law, Commercial Corres pondence, Lectures and Practical Exercises. PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF WHEELING-. Although the Free Schools of the State have been generally mentioned, yet those of Wheeling are so important that they merit a special notice. The Free School system of this city was organized in 1849 many years before the formation of the State of West Virginia and under it, they have been successfully conducted ever since, though the plans have been modified from time to time to meet the growth of the city, and the increasing needs of the youth. These schools are governed by a "Board of Educa tion/ consisting of 21 commissioners, elected to represent the eight wards of the city. There are seven large admirably con structed buildings, and one smaller one, suitably furnished for school purposes, and all conveniently located. Every school is under the charge of a Principal, assisted by teachers who each take charge of a room and class of pupils. In the high est grade the Principal gives instruction in Mathematics and various Physical Science?. German is taught in all the grades, to such pupils as desire to study this language. Colored Schools. In accordance with the school law. before alluded to, a school for the colored youth of Wheeling was established in 1866. Since that date it has been taught 10 months in the year, under the control of Board of Education. It has a principal and one assitant, with an average daily attendance of 60 pupils. The building provides comfortable and ample room for the scholars. The number of pupils in the Wheeling Public Schools in January, 1876, was 3,308. These were under the care of one Superintendent, one Secretary, nine Principals, and seventy- seven assistants. TEACHERS NORMAL INSTITUTES. The school law of West Virginia makes it the duty of the State Superintendent of Schools, u to endeavor to render available to the people of the State, all such improvements in the sys* 46 362 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. tem of Free Schools, and the methods of instruction, as may have been tested and proved by the experience of other communi ties." It enjoins upon the County School Superintendents " to encourage the formation of County Institutes, and to give such advice and instruction in regard to their management, as in his judgment may contribute to their greater efficiency." In obedience to this spirit, the Stale Teachers Association was organized, soon after the establishment of the Free School system, and holds its meeting annually. The leading teach ers of the State contribute liberally to the welfare and interest of these gatherings. . LITERARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO EDUCATION. West Virginia teachers have not hitherto contributed largely to the general fund of text-books, &c., in circulation, but this is by no means an indication of their incompetency in this direction. Of those works that now exist, the follow ing should be mentioned : The Geography of West Virginia, by Miss A. C. Knote, embrac ing in simple and clear form, a complete view of the State, is especially adapted to use in the Primary Schools, and has been made one of the text books of our Free School system. West Virginia Educational Monthly, a pamphlet of about 50 pages, is published in Parkersburg. Concerning it the follow ing notice is clipped from the Wheeling Register, of the 22d of March, 1876: " This magazine of popular education and gen eral literary intelligence, has been published in the interests of the educational work of the Free Schools, and literary insti tutions of West Virginia, for almost four years. During "this time the * Monthly has done a good work for education in the State, by advocating and illustrating the best methods of instruction, by urging teachers to a higher degree of attain ment, by stimulating them to study for the sake of their own culture, as well as for the benefit of their pupils, and by seek ing to encourage every influence for good among the masse of the people. It contains items of intelligence connected with schools throughout the State, and affords to teachers and school officers, a medium for the interchange of ideas concerning the duties of the profession. In this way the 4 Monthly has been of great service in cultivating and developing laborers in our RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 363 The Medical Student, a "monthly record of the progress of medicine, surgery, and the allied sciences," is published in Wheeling. It is a matter of regret that the limits and scope of this vol ume on the resources of our State, will not permit a more detailed account of the history of the progress of its educational interests, hut enough has been said to show that these advan- tuges are by no means narrow or limited, and it may be added that few States of the Union have made more ample or relia ble provisions for popular education, or made schools more fully accessible to all the population. CHAPTER XVII. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE INDIVIDUAL COUNTIES. The data given in the following account of the counties, so far as they relate to the topography, soil, productions, mar kets, &c., &c., were obtained from the answers to circulars, which, to the number of 4,000, were sent out into the State, and from such other sources as were available. It is to be regretted that the account is not, in all cases, as full and accu rate as it might have been made, had the answers to the ques tions been more complete and satisfactory. The number of Public Schools was obtained from the Report of the Superin tendent of Public Schools, for the year 1874, the number of Postoffices from the United States Official Postal Guide for October, 1875. The number of churches and the population were obtained from the United States Census for 1870, and the value of taxable property was gotten from the Auditor s Report for 1874. BARBOTJR COUNTY. This county is hilly, and the hills in the east rise into the Laurel mountain range. The land is generally good, and a considerable amount of it is in a good state of cultivation. A large amount is in wood still, and the timber is very fine. The soil is mainly clay, or clay loam, which on the hills, is from 4 to 6 inches deep, and on the level lands about 12 inches. Corn, Wheat, Oats, and Rye are the crops best adapted to the soil in this county. The RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 365 yields are : Corn, 25 to 50 bushels per acre ; Wheat, 10 to 15 bushels ; Rye, 20 to 25 bushels, and Oats, 30 to 50 bushels. The lower yields are on the hill?, and the higher, on the levels and bottoms. No manures are used to produce these yields. The value of the agricultural land varies from $12 to $40 per acre; of the mineral land, from 815 to $40; of timber land, $5 to $15. The value of the timber is about $1 per tree, stand ing, and 31 to $1.50 per hundred feet for lumber at the mills. The principal industries are farming, grazing, and timber getting. The principal exports are cattle, wool, and forest products. The principal market is Grafton for the timber, where it is received and cut. Baltimore is the market for cattle. The minerals are, Coal, in abundance, in the hills and workable ; Limestone, in quantities sufficient for building, and agricultural purposes ; some Potters Clay, some Iron, and Sandstone for building. No mines exist, except of coal for local use. Manufactures: One w r oolen factory, several saw and grist mills, one pottery, worked by Burley, Bennett & Lowry. Principal streams. Tygart s Valley river, navigable for canoes, and used largely in floating logs to Grafton. Im provements completed : Beverly turnpike and dirt roads ; in contemplation : W. C. & St. L. Narrow Gauge railroad. Public Schools, 73; Postoffices, 16 ; Churches, 38. Population, 10,312. Value of taxable property, $2,020,800,98. County seat, Phil- ippi. Newspapers, Philippi Plaindealer and Barbour Jeffer- sonian, both weekly, and published at Philippi. BERKELEY COUNTY. Berkeley, in the western part, is mountainous and broken, but in the eastern part, is smooth and undulating. The soils are loams a nd clay; thinner and less productive in the west, but in the east there is a large amount of highly produc tive and improved calcareous lands, forming a part of the Great Valley of Virginia. Depth of soil not given, but varying from 4 inches to 2, on the hills, to 12 inches and more on the levels. The grains specially adapted to the lands, are Wheat, Corn, Oats, and Barley. All the cereals do well. Yield of Wheat, on hills, 8 to 10 bushels. On level, limestone lands, 12 to 15 bushels. The yields of the other grains are not reported. No manures are used to produce these yields. Value of land with limestome soil, $20 to $50 per acre. Mineral land, none sold. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Timber land, price according to the amount of wood; prices not reported.. Timber, stumpage not reported ; lumber at the mill, $1.50 to 82.00 per hundred. The principal industries are stock farming, and grain raising. The principal exports are Wheat^ Corn, and Stock. The markets for stock and grain, Baltimore and Marti nsburg. The minerals are some Anthracite coal, in the western part of the county, in Third Hill mountain, and its continuations, worked in a small way for local use. Iron Ore, in good quantities, is also found, of excellent quality, and is worked to some extent, and was shipped to Philadelphia. Limestone is abundant, and furnishes fine material for agri cultural and building purposes, both when burnt for lime and quarried for building stone. Potter s Clay exists, and is man ufactured into crocks, etc., at Martinsburg. Sandstone suita ble for building, is also found. Mineral waters, sulphur and chalybeate exist. Manufactures, 4 cigar factories, producing 219,100 cigars; 2 small breweries, making 200 barrels of lager beer; 1 distillery, producing 253,914 gallons of spirits value, $355,479.60. All these products are for 1875. One woolen factory, one iron furnace, besides sawmills and other manufacturies, are established at Martinsburg, where the shops of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad are located. Im provements, canal, turnpikes, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, Martinsburg and Potomac Railroad ; streams, the Potomac river,Opecquan, and Back creeks, are all navigable for good sized boats. Contemplated improvements: A railroad from ;Mar tins- burg to Bunker Hill. Schools: Two seminaries, and 53 public schools. Postoffices, 15. Churches, 39. Population, 14,900. Val ue of taxable property, S6,142, 387. County Seat, Martinsburg, which is a wealthy and thriving town of some3,500 inhabitants, and is situated on the B. &. O. R. R. 101 miles from Baltimore. Newspapers, Martinsburg Independent, daily and weekly ; Mar- finsburrf Statesman, weekly, published at Martinsburg. BOONE COUNTY. This county, in most part, is very hilly and mountainous, with much of the hilly land too steep for profitable cultiva tion. Some good bottom land is found on Big and Little Coal rivers. The soil, even when the hills are steep, is usually quite deep and fertile, being on the hills, where they are cul tivated, 5 to 6 inches deep, and on the levels, one to several RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 367 feet. It is mainly a sandy or clay loam. Corn, Oats, Wheat Rye, and Tobacco grow well. The bottoms yield: Corn, 30 to 50 bushels; Wheat, 10 to 12 bushels; Oats, 30 bushels; Pota toes, 50 to 100 bushels. Hillsides : Corn, 25 bushels; Wheat, 12 bushels; Oats, 30 bushels. Xo manure is used, for these yields. Principal industries, cattle raising, farming, lumber getting, and coal mining. Principal exports, cattle, lumber as staves, etc., and timber in Walnut. Poplar, etc., logs and Cannel coal from Peytona. Markets, neighboring counties for youngstock. The lumber goes to Cincinnati ; also the Poplar timber. The Walnut timber is sent to New York. Minerals: Coals, Cannel of all kinds, Splint and Common Bituminous. Several seams of each kind of workable size are found in the hills above water level. See general chapter on Coals and Iron. Some little limestone. Excellent sand stone for building is found. Coal is mined extensively at Peytona, and shipped. Saw and grist mills exist; number not reported. Streams : Big and Little Coal rivers. Big Coal is locked and darned up to Peytona, and is navigable to that point, for small steamers and barges. Little Coal is navigable for canoes for some distance up. Improvements, are on Big Coal in the form of locks a-d dams. It is proposed to lock and dam Little Coal, and to build a railroad up Big Coal to the Forks of Coal, and up Little Coal to Madison. Public schools, 32, Postoffices, 8. Churches, 2. Population, 4,553. Value of taxable property, 8595,732.46. County seat, Madison. BRAXTON COUNTY. Braxton is a hilly county, with some of the hills quite high? even mountainous. The county is within the plateau region and hence although the streams are deeply sunken into the urface, and the hills along them are rough and broken, their summits are flat, and there is much rolling, and tolerably smooth surface in the uplands. The soils are red clay, and san dy loams, with a depth of 4 to 6 inches on the hillsides, and 10 to 12 and more, on the levels. Crops well adapted to the county are Corn, Oats, Wheat, and Grass, and Buckwheat. The yields are on the levels. c ,Corn, 40 bushels : Wheat, 10 bush els ; Hay two tons ; on the hills, Corn, 30 bushels; Wheat 12 bushels; Rye, 20 bushels ; Hay litons; Potatoes, 120 bushels. Value of the lands, agricultural, 5 to 15 dollars per acre; min- 368 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. eral land, 4 to 6 dollars per acre ; of timber land, 3 to 5 dollars. Value of the timber; Sfcumpage, 50 cents; at the mill, 5 cents per cubic foot, or $1.00 per hundred, board measure. Principal industries : Farming, Cattle raising. Lumber get ting, Principal exports, Stock and Lumber. Stock is raised and partly fattened, and then sold to parties who fatten farth er, and send to eastern markets. The Lumber, goes to Charles ton, where it is cut for home consumption, and for shipment to the markets on the Lower Ohio. Mineral: Coals, splint and soft bituminous, in workable seams, in the hills above water level, Iron in workable quantities is found, and worked by the Elk River Iron and Coal Company. Some limestone, and good sandstone for building. Two salt wells and furnaces are at Bull Creek near Stitton on Elk River. Besides the usual country grist and saw mills, the Messrs. Burns & Co., have a large 50 horse power steam saw mill at Lumberport^ and the Elk River Iron and Coal Co., have erected a cold blast charcoal furnace, at Strange Creek, which went into blast in 1875. Elk River is the principal stream, and runs north and south 40 miles through the county. It is navigable for bat- teaux and light crafts 10 months in the year, and with some improvements, would be so for small Steamboats. Rich and Holly Rivers are tributaries of Elk in the county. No public improvements except the Weston and Gauley Bridge Turnpike. Slack water on the Elk is contemplated. Contemplated R. R.; The N. & S. & W. Va. R. R. Steer Creek Valley & Elk River R. R. and the \V. Va. R. R. Public Schools 43 ; Post Offices, 15; Churches, 7; Population 6480. Value of taxable property $1.472,916,45, County seat, JSutton. Newspapers, The Moun taineer," weekly, at Sutton. BROOKE COUNTY. Brooke county is hilly and rolling, the hills being quite high, but smooth, and capable of cultivation to their summits. The soils are clay, and calcareous loams, very fertile, and in a high state of cultivation. They have a depth on the hill sides of from 3 to 6 inches, and on the levels, of from 12 to 18 inches and over. Crops best adapted, are Corn, Oats, Wheat, Barley, Buckwheat, and Grass. Yields, on uplands and lowlands are about the same, viz: Corn, 40 to 60 bushels; Wheat 10 to 15 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. bushels; Oats, 30 to 45 bushels; Rye, 10 bushels; Grass, 1 to 2 tons. No manures are used for these yields. The farmers of this county, as well as of the adjoining ones of the Pan- Handle, by means of Timothy and Blue Grass, in rotation after grain crops, keep the land in a high state of productiveness. Value of the land, agricultural, from 840 to $100; mineral land, 825 to $100; timber land, $40 to $70 per acre. Princi pal industries, Farming, Cattle and Sheep raising, and Man ufacturing. Principal exports, Sheep, Wool, Cattle and Grain. Markets, Pittsburgh, Wheeling, Baltimore, eastern cities, and points on the river. Minerals, C^,d, bit :*ninous. The Pitts burgh seam is above water level, and worked for local use. Some Sandstone, fit for building. Limestone is abundant. There are manufacturies of Mowing Machins, a Woolen Mill, a Paper Mill, one Brewery, making 127 barrels annually. Cigar factories, making 782,000 Cigars. An Iron Foundry, Machine Shops, &c., besides the ordinary Grist and Saw Mills. The Ohio river skirts the county, and is navigable for steamboats. Good roads exist. The West Virginia Division of the Peo ple s Freight Railroad is contemplated, and the Pittsburgh, Wheeling and Kentucky Railroad is partly completed. Schools and Colleges, Bethany College, and 27 Public Schools; Post- offices, 5; Churches, 13: Population, 5,464; value of taxable property, $2,739,77294; County Soat, Wellsburg ; Newspa pers, Panhandle News, and We kburg Herald, both weekly. CABBLL COUNTY. Cabell county is hilly, but the hills are low and easily culti vated. Wide flats are found along the Ohio river, and also on Mud river, and some on the lovver Guyandotte river. These are all fine lands, with small exceptions. The uplands have generally a productive soil. The soil is clay and clay loam, sometimes quite stiff. The hills have a depth of soil of 4 to 6 inches, and the bottoms and levels a depth of 12 inches to many feet. The grains, &c., which do well are, Corn, Wheat, Oats, Tobacco, Rye, and Grasses. Corn, on bottoms, yields 40 to 50 bushel; Wheat, 10 bushels; Oats, 40 to 50 bushels. On uplands. Corn, 25 bushels; Wheat, 10 bushels; Oats, 15 to 20 bushels; Rye, 12 bushels; Tobacco, no estimate, but produces finely. Value of land, improved agricultural, hills, $5 to $20 ; bottoms, 340 to $100. Timber land, $2 to $9. Value of tim- 47 ->/0 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. ber, btumpage, 81 per tree; at the mills, 10 to 12^ cents per cubic foot. Principal industries: farming and timber getting, markets for timber are down the Ohio river. Minerals: Coal, 4 feet seam of soft bituminous, above water level. Some Iron Ore, fine Yellow Ochre, good Fire and Potter s Clay, good Building Stones, of blue and grey sandstones, several Salt Wells, Magnesia, Sulphur, and Chalybeate Springs, Limestone in small amounts. Coal is worked for local use. Manufactures: Shop* of the Ches. & Ohio R. R. at Hun ting ton, also the Foun dry of the Ensign Iron Works, for making Carwheels, etc.; Planing Mills, and Soap Factory. Near Huntington is a large Brush Factory at St. Cloud ; at Guyando tte are a Woolen Fac tory and a large Saw Mill; at Milton is a Steam Saw and Grist Mill ; at Barboursville a Tan-Yard and Grist Mill. Streams: The Ohio river skirts the county, and Guyandotte and Mud rivers, the latter both navigable for canoes and light craft--, and Guyandotte for "push-boats" some distance inland. Lines of Trans portion : Ohio river, Ches. & Ohio R. R., Guy andotte and Mud rivers. Contemplated Improvements: The Locking and Damming of the Guyandotte river, also, of Mud. Railroads projected : Guyandotte R. R., Guyandotte & Ohio River R. R., Mud River R. R., The West Virginia R. R. Pub lic Institutions: Marshall College, the State Normal School at Huntington, Public Schools, 49 ; Post Offices, 13; Churches, 13. Population, 6,429; Taxable Property, 82902,46639. County Seat, Barboursville ; Newspapers: Huntington Advertiser and Huntington Commercial, both weekly. CALHOTJN COUNTY. This county is hilly, and the land is generally good. Since a great deal deal of it is owned in very large tracts, there is not much land in cultivation. The soils are sandy and clayey loams, being about 15 inches deep in the bottoms and 6 to 8 inches on the hiils. The crop yields given in the reports for this county are so unsatisfactory that we cannot quote them. No manures are usfd. The value of the agricultural land is : 85, to -$20, per acre; of the timber land, 33 to $10 : value of Timber, stumpage, 50 cents to 81 per tree, and at the mills 8 to 10 cents per cubic foot. The principal Industries are, .Farming grazing, and lumbering. The principal export is Lumber; principal rnar- RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 371 kets, Baltimore for Stock, and Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Par- kersburg. for Lumber: principal minerals, Limestone for building and Agricultural purposes ; good Sandstone for build ing, and Coal below water level, except in the southern part, where it will be fonnd in the hills; principal manufactures, 8 Grist Mills, uorked mainly by steam, though the water pow er is good and extensive. The principal streams are the Lit tle Kanawha and its tributaries: the former is navigable to Glenville on winter and spring tides, and to Burning Spring the whole year, per batteaux. In good water steamboats go to the latter place. Steer creek is navigable for batteaux as far as Stumptown. Thu means of transportation are the Little Kanawha river and county roads. The contemplated improve ments are, the locking and damming of the Little Kanawha through the county, and the building of the Washington and Ohio R. R. Public Schools, 31 ; Post Offices, 6; Churches, 13. Population, 2939; value of taxable property, $513,972 00. County seat, Grantsville. CIiAY COUNTY. Clay is an extremely hilly county, the hills being very high above the bottoms (800 to 1,000 feet), and having narrow tops. The valleys are very narrow, and the streams are deeply sunken below the surface. The land is mostly wild, and in very large tracts. The hills are usually too steep to cultivate to advantage, but have a pretty deep and fertile soil, it being 4 to 6 inches on the hills, and 12 inches or more on the level lands. The soil in some parts, is a stiff clay, and in others, a clay loam or sandy loam, which is naturally fertile. Grains adapted to the lands, are Corn, Wheat, Oats, Rye, &c. The yields on the hills and level lands do not differ much. Corn yields 25 bushel?, Oats 20 bushel?, Rye 10 bushels, Wheat 8 bushels, Potatoes 50 to 100 bushels, Turnips, 100 to 200 bushels. No manures are used for these yields. In general, the averages given for the grain yields in the counties, will be those obtained without manures. Value of land : Agricultural land is worth about $5 per acre, Min eral land the same, and timber land, $2 per acre. Timber is worth 10 to 20 cents per log, stumpage, and at the mills, 7 to 8 cents per cubic foot. The principal industry is lumbering, and the principal .exports are Saw-logs, Hoop-poles, Staves, 372 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. &c., which all go to Charleston. Minerals : Coals, Splint, Cannel, and Soft Bituminous, all in workable quantities, in fine seams above water level. Iron Ore in workable beds is found. Some Limestone, and some good Sandstones for build ing. Streams : Elk river is the principal stream, and is nav igable 70 miles from its mouth for small steamboats, and 100 miles, to Sutton, for batteaux. It is proposed to lock and dam Elk river in Braxton county. The same proposed railroads pass through Clay that penetrate Braxton. Public Schools 21, Postoffices, 6, Churches 2, Population 2,196. Value of taxable property, $399,879.50. County seat, Clay C. H. DODDRIDGE COUNTY. The surface of Doddridge is rolling and hilly, with average bottoms. The soil is loam and clay-loam, with a depth on the levels of 15 inches, and on the hills of 4 to 6 inches. A good deal of the land has fine timber on it. The grains best adapt ed to the soil, are Corn, Oats, Buckwheat, and Wheat. On the bottoms, the yields are: Corn, 30 to 50 bushels; Wheat, 10 to 15 bushels; Oats, 25 to .35 bushels; Rye, 20 bushels ; Po tatoes and Turnips, 100 bushels. On the hills, Corn, 25 bush els : wheat 8 to 10 bushels : Oats 20 bushels ; Potatoes, 50 to 100 bushels. No manure used for these. The value of the agricultural land is $7 to $20; mineral lands, 810; timber lands, 85 to $15. The timber is worth $1 per tree stum page, and lumber $12 50 per 1000 at the mills. The principal in dustries are. Farming, Lumbering and Grazing. The prin cipal exports, are Timber and Stock. Market for stock. Balti more ; market for timber, Baltimore and other points east. Doddridge sends out a large amout of cooperage stuff, sawed lumber, and ship timber from Smithton, West Union and other points on the railroad, and down Middle Island creek. Coal in workable seams is found above water level. Some Limestone for building and agricultural purposes. Steam and water Grist and Saw Mills exist. The coal is mined only for local use. The only stream is Middle Island creek, navigable in winter, and in full stanres of water, for rafts and flat boats. The lines of transportation are, the Baltimore and Ohio rail road, and the Middle Island railroad, a tram road 22j miles long, passing through the southern part of Doddridge, in order to develope the timber, &c., and several turnpikes. Public Schools, 59. Postoffices, 13 ; Churches, 28 ; Population, RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 373 7,076. Value of taxable property, 81.406,560 09. County Seat, West Union. Newspapers, West Union lObscrrer, and the Baptist Messenger, both weekly. FAYETTE COUNTY. The surface of Fayette, is hilly, mountainous, and high tableland. The hills and mountains usually are not precipi tous, and have a fertile soil, the soil is a rich light loam, and a sandy loam, which is well suited for the culture of Tobacco, There are some fine bottom lands on Meadow River, the soil is 6 inches deep on the hills, and 12 inches or more, on the lev els. The grains and crops, especially suited to the land- 1 , are. Corn, Oats, Wheat, Rye, Tobacco, and Grass. The principal exports are Coal, Timber, Tobacco, and Stock. Principal in dustries, are Coal, Mining, Farming, Lumbering, and Stock raising, Markets. The tobacco goes to Richmond, Stock to Baltimore, Timber to New York, and Cincinnati. Minerals : Coal in large amounts, in fine workable seams, Soft bituminous, Splint, and Cannel, the two former are those mined and shipped. Some limestone, but poor. Fine sand stone for building purposes. The mineral waters are Alum, and Chalybeate. Several important Coal mines are in opera tion in this county, they are the Gauly Kanawha Coal Co. (limited), Longdale Coal and Iron Co; New River Car Co.; Nutallburg Mines ; Coal Valley Coal Co. and a new Mine now being opened by George Straughan, besides these, there are sev eral Mills and Factories, amcng which we may mention the Fayetteville Tobacco Factory, making 2568 pounds yearly Junction Saw Mill Co ; Atlantic Barrel Co ; Koontsman & Go s. Shook and Stave Factory ; Kanawha Falls Lumber Co. The principal streams, are the Gauley, New and Kanawha rivers. The Kanawha is navigable six months tor steam boats, and 12 months for batteaux ; Gauley, 8 months for bat- teaux, and 12 months for canoes for 12 miles ; New river in the lower part is too rough for canoes even, in the upper part it is navigable for batteaux. The lines of transportation, are the rivers, and the Chesapeake & Ohio R. R., and the Jarnes river and Kanawha turnpike. Contemplated improvements; locking and damming Kana wha and New Rivers, and the continuation of the James river and Kanawha canal, from its present eastern terminus. Public Schools, 63 ; Post Offices, 23 ; Churches; 10. Popula- 374 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. tion 6647. Value of taxable property $1.440,839,83. County seat, Fayetteville; Newspapers, fayetteville Enterprise, weekly. GILMER COUNTY. Gilmer county is billy, and bas a rich soil. There are some fine bottoms with loam and sand. Red calcareous clay and sandy loams are found on the hills. On the levels the soil is 12 to 14 inches deep, on the level 6 to 8 inches. It is espe cially adapted to Corn and Grass. Wheat does best on the hills. The county has fine forrest range for cattle. Some of the level land grows 80 to 105 bushels of corn. The average yields are, on the bottoms, Corn, 40 bushels; Oats, 15 to 25 ; Turnips, 150. On the hills, Corn yields 20 bushels; Wheat, 10 to 15 ; Oats, 10 to 25; Turnips, 100. The Tobacco grown on the hills is large, bright, and very fine ; on the bottoms, it is large and heavy. Little or no attention is paid to manures. The value of agricultural land, slightly improved, is $5 to $10 per acre ; of the improved, $10 to $25 ; of the timber land, $2 to 5. The principal industries are farming, stock raising, and lumbering. The principal exports are timber and stock. The markets are, for stook, Baltimore and eastern cities ; for timber, Parkersburg and Pittsburgh. Principal Minerals: Coal, and Sandstone for building purposes. The principal manufactures are two steam saw mills on Tanner s Fork, and one at Troy, as well as various grist mills, both steam and water. The means of transportation are, by the Little Kana- wha, which is navigable for batteaux and rafts 9 months of the year, and by various county roads and turnpikes. The principal stream is the Little Kaiiawha, on which, on rare oc casions, steamboats have been as far as Glenville. The contem plated improvements are : The locking and damming of the Little Kanawha to Glenville, and the building of the Wash ington and Ohio railroad. Schools, &c.: Glenville Normal School, at Glenville; Public Schools, 40; Postoffices, 13; Churches, 14. Population, 4,338. Value of taxable property, $856,174.00. County seat, Glenville. GRANT COUNTY. Grant county is rolling table land, and mountainous, with fine broad bottoms on the streams. Much of the county is in the original forest, and the land is in both small and large tracts. The soil along the streams, is exceedingly fertile, and RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 375 much of the rolling table land has a very productive soil, as is shown by the exceedingly fine timber which covers it. The soil of the bottoms is a deep loam, of the upland.-, sandy loam. It is slaty and thin, on some of the hills and mountains. Depth on hills, to 4 inches, on bottoms, 12 inches to many feet. Crops best adapted, are: Corn, Wheat, Oat?, Rye, Grass. Corn yields, on bottoms, 50 to 80 bushels ; Wheat 1.0 to 25 bushels; Oats, 30 to 50 bushels ; Potatoes, 75 to 200 bushels. On uplands, Corn 25 to 40 bushels ; Wheat 8 to 10 bushels. The principal industries are farming and grazing. Piinci- pal exports, Cattle, Sheep, Hogs, Grain. No development has been made of the timber of this county. The vast amount of Hemlock and Black Spruce, etc., on the west face of the Alle- ghany, points to this as an important source of future reve nue. The markets for Cattle, are Baltimore and Philadelphia, and New York for the best cattle. This county, with the others of the South Branch District," is emphatically a cat tle and grain producing region, Bottom lands are worth 835 to $100; hill lands, S5 to 810 per acre. There is no market for timber except the home ones. At the mills plank is worth 812 to 820 per 1000. Minerals: Coal, in large and workable seams above water level; Iron in abundance, both red fossilif- erous and brown haematite ; Limestone in large amounts, good for agricultural and building purposes; some Hydraulic Limestone. Mineral Springs, white sulphur and chalybeate. Principal stream, South Branch of the Potomac. This was used for boating flour and grain, before the completion of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. The present lines of transporta tion are, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and various mud pikes leading to it. Contemplated lines : Washington & O. Railroad, Cumberland, Moorefield & Broadway. Railroad, North Branch Railroad, Potomac & Ohio Railroad. Public Schools, 41; Postoffices, 10; Churches, 12; Population, 4,467; value of taxable property, 81,835.533 21; County Seat. Grant C/H. Three small Woolen Factories exist in the county, and it is intended to establish an Agricultural Fair next year. (1877.) GREENERIES COUNTY. This county, on the eastern and western sides, is moun tainous, the western mountains rising high above the sea, but not so much in proportion above their bases. They are not too rugged for cultivation in parts, or for grazing. The cen- 376 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. tral portion is a rolling plateau, embracing very fertile and highly cultivated grass and grain lands. The soil on the eastern and western sides is a red clay, or clay loam. In the central portion, over the limestone, the soil is yellowish, red clayey, and calcareous loams. The depths on the hills is 4 to 6 inches; on the levels* 12 to 18 inches. The crops best adapted to the land, are Corn, Wheat, Oats, Buckwheat, Grass. Corn produces on the levels, 20 to 40 bushels ; Wheat, 15 bush els: Oats, 30; Buckwheat, 30; Potatoes, 100; on the hills corn produces 10 to 15 bushels: Oats 15 ; Wheat, 8; Buckwheat, 35; Potatoes, 75. No manures used for these yields. The value of the land is: Best Agricultural, 820 to $50: second-class and rougher land, with less improvements, but some subsoil, 82 to $10 ; Timber lands, 81.50 to $6: Iron and Coal lands are worth from $2.50 up to 8100, according to distance from railroad and richness of deposit. In the X. part, near the Greenbrier river, is a good deal of valuable timber, especially White Pine. Timber is worth, stumpage, 81.25 par 1,000 feet; at the mill, 86 to $7. 50. The principal industries are farming and stock- raising- The principal exports are grass-fed Cattle, Sheep, Horses, Wool, &c The county is emphatically a grazing one- The market for stock is Baltimore ; some goes to Rich mond. Surplus grain is fed to shipping stock. Horses go to North Carolina and East Virginia. For timber, Baltimore, and other eastern cities. In the western part, some workable seams of Coal ; fine workable Iron Ores on Anthony s and How ard s creeks, and elsewhere ; Limestone in abundance, of all qualities for agricultural, building, and hydraulic lime ; Clays suitable for rough crocks are found, and these were made, for years, at Lewisbnrg. Excellent grit for grindstones is found. Mineral Springs: White Sulphur, Blue Sulphur, and Alum. Many Chalybeate springs. Coal was formerly worked on Little Sewell, and hauled 22 miles to Lewisburg, now discon tinued, on account of more ready transport on the C. & O. rail road, for the coals further west. Manufactories : four Carding Mills, three Woolen Mills, one Tan Yard, exporting leather? and several smaller one,-?, St. Lawrence Boom and Manufactur ing Company. The Greenbrier river is the principal stream, and is navigable for canoes and batteaux on rises. Means of transportation, Chesapeake and Ohio railroad, and turnpikes. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 377 Contemplated lines, the Pittsburgh, Virginia and Charleston railroad. Schools , Lewisburg Female Institute, High School at Frankford, and 68 Public Schools; Postoffices, 22; Churches, 35. Population, 11,417. Taxable property, $4,524,562.59. County seat, Lewsburg. Newspaper, Greenbrier Independent, weekly. . HAMPSHIRE COUNTY. Hampshire county is composed of mountains, rolling hills, and bottom lands, in the proportion of two-fifths mountains, two-fifths hills, and one-fifth bottom land. Soil on the uplands, 4 to 8 inches, of a light loamy character. On the hills, the soil is sandy and clayey, 5 to 10 inches deep, and is especially adapted to grazing and rfmall grain. In the bottoms, the soil is a black and sandy loam, 3 to 15 feet deep, and brings im mense crops of Corn, Wheat, Potatoes, Hay, etc., without rota tion or fertilizers. The grains especially adapted to the county are, Corn. Wheat, Oats, Rye, and Buckwheat. The yields on the bottoms are on an average, Corn, 50 bushels; Wheat, 20 bushels ; Oats, 40 bushels ; Potatoes, 100 bushels ; Hay, 2 tons. On the upland-!, Corn produces 25 bushels; Wheat, 12 bushels; Oats, 25 bushels; Buckwheat, 25 bushels. A little barn yard manure is sometimes used on the uplands. No Fair is held in the counties of the South Branch district. They are represented at the Fairs held at Winchester, Virginia. The bottom lands sell for $100 per acre, and upwards. Clay and hill land from $5 to $30. Timber lands from 50 cents to $10 per acre. There is no fixed price for mineral lands, of -which there are large areas. Hardly anything is done in tim ber, except for home consumption. Price on stump, 25 cents per hundred. At the mill, $12 50 to $15.00 per thousand. The principal industries are farming and stock raising. The prin cipal exports, are Cattle, Horses, Hogs, Wheat, etc. Of these, cattle are by far the most important, since all the counties of this district, make the fattening of Cattle their main business. The heavy Cattle go to New York, and the lighter to Baltimore and Philadelphia, these latter cities not having a sufficient demand for the finer grades. The cattle are grazed on the uplands and mountains, in summer, and fed on corn in winter. Hence all the corn raised is consumed at home. Wheat, Oats, Rye, and small marketing find sale in Cumberland and 378 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. the mines around. Excellent Iron ores, both red fossil iferous and brown haematite, are found in workable deposits in the county, and are smelted at the Bloomery Furnace. Good limestone for building and agricultural purposes is found, and some potters clay, which is worked by a pottery on Xorth river. One at Glencoe has suspended operations. Good sand stones for building are found, and a deposit of fine glass sand also. The celebrated Capon Mineral Springs are found in this county. The iron ore is worked in the vicinity of the Bloom ery Furnace. Besides this last, there are among the manufac tories, three woolen factories. The Big Capon and South Branch run through the county, and are navigable for bat- teau\ in seasons of full water in winter and spring. The North Branch of the Potomac skirts it on the north, to which the same remarks apply. The present lines of transportation are the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which runs through the northern part, and the county roads and pikes. Contempla ted lines aiM : The Washington and Ohio Railroad, the South Branch Railroad, the West Virginia Railroad, the Potomac and Ohio Railroad. The Deaf and Dumb Asylum is at Rom- ney. Public school-?, 51. Postoffic^s, 22. Churches, 15. Pop ulation, 7,643. Valu* of taxable property, $2,542,408.82. County seat, Roinney, with 600 inhabitants. Newspapers, South Branch Intelligencer, weekly. HANCOCK COUNTY. This is the most northerly county in the State. It is hilly and somewhat broken, with the hills quite high, and valleys narrow. The soil is the usual calcareous and clayey loam of the Pan-Han lie counties. The depth on the hillsides is from 5 to 7 inches, being deeper, as is usual in the counties of this part of the State, on the north sides of the hills. On the levels and bottoms, it is from 12 inches, to many feet. The crops best adapted to them, are Corn, Oats, Barley, Wheat, and espe cially grain. All the calcareous lands of the Pan-Handle, bring fine Blue Grass, Timothy, Clover, etc., while the height of the hills make them well adapted to the pasturage of sheep. The hills and levels produce equally well. Corn yields 50 to 75 bushels; Oats, 40 bushels; Wheat, 15 bushels; Pototoes, 100 to 200 bushel >; Hay, H- to 2J tons. No manures are used for these yields. Value of improved agricultural lands, $50 to RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 379 WO per acre, and over. Mineral lands: Coal, 50. Timber land, $30. No timber sold except for home use. Principal industries, Sheep and Wool growing, Farming, and manufac turing of Fire Clay. Principal exports. Sheep, Wool, various products of the manufacture of Fire Clay, such as bricks, drainage pipes, etc. Markets : For grain, etc., home; for Sheep, Wool, etc, eastern cities. Minerals: Good Coal, in workable beds above wat.er level. Good sandstone, for build ing. Limestone in abundance for building and agricultural purposes. Large deposits of excellent fire clay, which is largely manufactured. Principal stream, the Ohio river, which is navigable for go xl sized steamers. Manufactories : One woolen mill, several flouring mills, and about 20 c mipan- ies engaged in mining and manufacturing fire clay, brick, etc., affording employment to from 200 to 300 hands. Public schools, 21. Churches, 7. Postofnces, 6. Population, 4,363. Taxable property, 2,052,676.11. County seat, Fairview. Newspaper, Hancock Courier, weekly. HAKDY COUNTY, The same remarks apply to the topography and soil, crops, yields, value of land and timber, principal industries, market*, and exports of Hardy, that were made concerning these points in connection with Hampshire. The deposits of Iron in Hardy are larger than those in Hampshire. They are worked at the Capon Iron Works. Hardy has a great number of Mineral Springs, Alum, Sulphur and Chalybeate, none of which are >*. improved. The Hardy White Sulphur Springs are consid- p ered by some equal to the Greenbrier White Sulphur. Near Moorefif ld good fire clay is found, also pipe and potter s clay, whi vi last has been worked to some extent. Good lime for hail ling and agricultural purposes, and the fluxing of iron exists. Good sandstone for building are also found. Iron is mine -I for Capon Furnace. The principal streams are, the South Branch of the Potomac and Capon river, both navigable for hatteaux and canoes one-half of the year. Transportation is to the Bait. & Ohio R. R. by county roads, and to the Valley R. R. in Virginia. Contemplated lines~are, the Washington .v Ohio R. R., the Cumberland, Moorefield & Broadway R. R., pntomac & Ohio R. R., the West Virginia R. R. Schools: High School for males and Seminary for girls, at Moorefield, 380 RESOURCES OP WEST VIRGINIA. and 36 Public Schools; Post-Offices, 11 ; Churches, 9. Popula tion 5,518 ; value of taxable property, $2,812,194 37. County seat, Moofielrl, a thriving village with 850 inhabitants. News papers, Moorefield Courier and Advertiser and Moorfield Weekly Examiner, both weekly. HARRISON COUNTY. The surface in Harrison is rolling and hilly. The hills are broad and low, comparatively speaking, and the valleys wide. The county has much improved land with good soil, and is well cultivated. The soil is mainly clay loam and calcareous loam, 6 to 8 inches deep on the hills and from 12 inches to 18 inches on the levels. Crops best suited are Corn, Oats, Wheat, Rye, and especially grass. The Blue Grass sods over the land spontaneously. The county is pre-eminently a grazing one. Hills and levels yield about alike. Corn, 30 to 60 bu-h^ls ; Wheat, 10 to 15 bushels; Oats, 15 to 25 bushels; Rye, 15 to 25 bushels. The Central Agricultural and Mechanical Society holds an annual Fair at Clarksburg, where $1,550 (about) are distributed in premiums. The prices of improved agricultu ral land is 825 to $50 per acre, of mineral land (Coal), $75 to $100 per acre, of timber land, $10 to $15 per acre. The timber of Harrison is not so abundant as that in the counties farther west, though still considerable in amount. Price, stumpage, $2,50 per 1,000 feet; after sawing $10 to $12 50 per 1,000 feet, The principal industries are Stock raising, Farming, and Coal mining. Principal exports, Stock, Coal and Lumber. Mar kets for Stock, Baltimore ; for. Grain and General Produce, Clarksburg and other home markets ; Coal is sent, for gas ma king, to the eastern cities; Timber goes to Pittsburgh, mainly White Oak and Poplar logs, Lumber as cooperage stuff, and sawed stuff goes east. Minerals : Coal in large quantites above water level; Limestone, both for agricultural and building purposes ; Potter s Clay exists, and has been worked : Sand stone of good quality for building is found ; several mines of Coal are worked on a large scale for gas making ; among them are the Despard Coal Company, The Murphy s Run Coal Com pany, Harrison County Coal Company, Wakeman Mines, Monongahela Gas Coal Company, &c., Harrison county is well supplied with mills and manufactories. They are as fol lows : Three Cheese Factories, 1 Pottery, 8 Tanneries, 16 Grist RESOURCES OP WEST VIRGINIA. 381 and Saw Mills, 7 Flour and Saw Mills, 4 Saw Mills (3 porta ble), 3 Grist Mills, 2 Flour Mills, 1 Flour Mill with Saw and Carding, 1 Flour Mill and Woolen Factory, J_ Portable Saw Mill and Machine Shop, making doors, sash, <fcc., 1 Flour Mill with wood-working machinery, 1 Saw Mill with wood working machinery, 1 Planing Mill with machinery for ma king doors, sash, &c., 1 Foundry and Machine Shop and Man ufacture of Saw-Mill Truck Cars. 1 Foundry with machinery for making Portable Grist and Saw Mills, Truck Cars, Porta ble Engines, &c., &c. The principal stream is the West Fork of the Monongahela, navigable for rafts and batteaux during high water. Means of transportation are, the Bait. & Ohio R. R. and turnpikes. Contemplated lines are, The Buckhannon Mineral R. R., Northern & Southern West Virginia R. R., The Weston and W. Fork R. R. Schools : Academy at Clarks burg, and 101 Public Schools; Post-Offices, 25 ; Churches, 57. Population, 16,714; value of taxable property $7,331,48648. County Seat, Clarksburg, a thriving town, with a population of about 1,600 inhabitants. Newspapers Clarksburg Telegram and The News, both weekly. JACKSON COUNTY. The surface of the county is hilly and rolling, the hills to the eastward becoming quite high. All are somewhat rough. Considerable flats are found on the Ohio river, which skirts the county for 30 miles. Along this, the bottoms avere age \ mile. The bottoms on Mill and Sandy creeks, averag 200 yards. These are, as is usual in this part of the State, very productive The soils vary a good deal, being a heavy clay, calcareous loam, and sandy loam, in different locations. About -J of the county is in timber, some being very fine. The depth of soil on the hills is 6 to 8 inches ; on the levels and bottoms, 1 foot to many. On the bottoms Corn yields 40 to 60 bush els; Wheat, 12 to 15 bushels; Oats, 40 to 50 bushels; Potatoes, 100 to 150 bushels; Hay, 1 to 2 tons. These are the crops, along with Tobacco, best suited to the lands. On the hills, Corn yields 25 to 30 bushels ; Wheat 10 to 12 bushels ; Oats, 25 bushels ; Potatoes, 75 to 100 bushels. No manures are used for these yields. It is proposed to establish an Agricul tural Fair at Ripley, the county seat, under the auspices of the Patrons of Husbandry. Price ot improved bottom lands, 382 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. from $40 to $70 ; Upland Farming land, 85 to $20; Timber land, $4 to $8. The timber is worth, stumpage, $1 per tree sawed at the mills, $5 to $12.50 per 1,000. The principal industries are, farming, cattle-raising, and lumbering. The principal exports are, Timber, Stock, and Grain, and Tobacco. The markets for the Timber are down the Ohio river; for grain, along the Ohio; for stock, Baltimore. Minerals : Coal in small seams, enough for local use, above water level : some Iron Ore in. workable quantities; excellent sandstone for building purposes; a considerable amount of Limestone in the northern part of the county, which will make good agri cultural and building lime ; Iron Ore is worked on Mill creek, by Mr. Melville for the Bell ai re Iron Works. Manufactories : One Tobacco factory, making 4,808 pounds ; one cigar fac tory, making 5,300 cigars; Woolen Mill, at Ripley ; Wagon Factory; Flour Mill, and Barrel Factories at Ravenswood; Flour Mill, and Saw Mill, at Sandyville and Cottageville, and several movable steam Saw Mills. Principal streams : The Ohio, along the west border ; Mill and Sandy creeks pen etrate the county, and are navigable 10 to 20 miles from the Ohio, by rafts and canoes, on high waters.. Means of trans portation: Ohio river and turnpikes; contemplated ones: W. C. & St. L. Narrow Gauge railroad; Pittsburgh, Wheeling and Kentucky railroad ; Ripley and Ohio Narrow Gauge railroad ; Washington and Ohio railroad. Public Schools, 69 ; Churches, 21; Postoffices, 20. Population, 10,300. Value of taxable property, $2,342,559.19. County seat, Ripley. News papers, Jackson County News, weekly, at Ravenswood. JEFFERSON COUNTY. This county has a rolling and hilly surface, except in the eastern part, where it is bounded by the Blue Ridge moun tains. The soil is mainly calcareous loams and clays. The depth on the hills varies from 2 to 8 inches, and in the valleys, from one to many feet. Crops adapted to the soils, are Wheat, Corn, Oat?, Rye, and Grass especially. Crops yield on the hills. Wheat, 10 bushels; Corn, 30 bushels ; Rye, 15 bushels ; Potatoes, 100 bushels; Oats, 30 bushels. On the bottoms, the yields are one-third to one-half more. These are all for the improved calcareous agricultural lands. The value of the agricultural land, which embraces all the county is from $30 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 388 to $60 per acre, according to location and amount of improve ment. Not much is done in timber. The principal indus tries, are farm ing, manufacturing and stock raising. The principal exports are grain and stock of various kinds, manu factured articles, and some Poplar and Walnut. Markets for timber, Baltimore and home. For grain, Baltimore and east ern cities. For stock, Baltimore and Philadelphia. Minerals: Iron ore is found in several localities. On the Potomac, near Antietam creek, it is worked for the Antietam Iron Works. Other localities where it is in workable quantities are near Bolivar Heights, and on the Shanandoah river, at Mulby sOre Bank, which is now worked. A fine deposit of hydraulic limestone is worked at Shepherdstovvn, and furnishes a cement of well known good quality. Limestone for building stone, is quarried of good quality, and ,ent down the canal. Lime stone for burning, of good quality is abundant. Some of the limestones approach marble in grain, and occa sionally yield a stone of good color and taking a good polish. A good quarry of grey marble might be obtained at Shepherds- town. Chalybeate and sulphur springs exist. Some potters clay is found. Manufactories: 4 cigar factories, making 329,- 350 cigars ; 3 wool factories, 20 flour mills, 2 hardwood factor ies, 4 or 5 portable steam saw mills, 2 paper mills, 1 planing mill and sash factory, agricultural implement factory and foundry, 1 cement mill, and 1 pottery. The county is skirted by the Potomac and Shenandoah, the latter being navigable on full waters by flat boats. Xeans of transportation are by Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, and Valley Railroad. Contemplated improvements : The Shenan doah Valley Railroad, Potomac and Ohio Railroad, and the improvement of the Shenandoah river. Public institutions : State Normal School at Shepherdstown, schools, etc.; Stover Co lege, for colored persons, at Harper s Ferry, and 32 public schools. Churches, 27- Postoffices, 11 Value of taxable property, $7,434,309.63. Population, 13,219. County seat, Shepherdstown, with a population of about 2,200. News papers, Charlestown Spirit of Jeff er son, Shepherdstown Register, and Virginia Free Press, all weekly. KANAWHA COUNTY. The topography of this county is hilly and mountainous. The 384 RESOURCES OP WEST VIRGINIA. hills in the west are comparatively low; in the middle portion they become quite high, and in the western part, they become mountainous. Much of the surface is quite rough and broken- The valleys are usually narrow. The soil is naturally produc tive, and is quite deep. On the hills, it varies from 4 to 12 inches, and on the levels from 12 inches to many feet. The crops suited to the lands are Corn, Wheat, Oats, Rye, and To bacco. On the bottoms, as those along the Kanawha, the yields are high. Corn produces 40 to 60 bushels ; Oats, 30 to 40 bush els; Wheat, 10 to 15 bushels; Tobacco, 1,000 to 1,400 pounds. On the hills. Corn produces 20 to 50 bushels; Oats, 20 to 25 bushels ; Wheat, 8 to 10 bushels ; Tobacco, 800 to 1,000 pounds. Value of improved lands, $5 to $50; of mineral lands, coal, $10 to $100, according to location and deposits. Timber lands, S5 to $20; value of timber, stumpage, 2 to 3 cents; at mill, 8 to 10 cents, per cubic foot. Principal industries, farming, lum bering, coal mining, and the manufacture of salt. Principal exports, Coal, Salt, Timber, Grain, and Tobacco. Markets for timber, Ohio river and eastern cities ; for grain and farm pro duce, Charleston and home. Stock goes east, as does some of the timber. The coal goes down the Ohio,and to the eastern cities. The principal minerals are Coal, Iron, and Salt. The iron is siderite, and blackband; the former has been worked somewhat. Large exports of salt are made, mainly down the Ohio, and to Richmond. Fire clay was worked, and ship ped to Cincinnati. Sandstone for building can be obtained, of good quality. There are: 1 tobacco manufactory, manufac turing 648 pounds; 3 cigar manufactories, making 51,100 cigars; 1 brewery, making 722 barrels; 1 bromine works. Mines : These are exclusively of coal, which is common bitu minous, splint and cannel. The mines now in operation are Bibby s mine, Pioneer Coal Company, Campbell s Creek Coal Company, J. B. Lewis & Co., Coalmont Coal Company, Hous ton Mining and Manufacturing Company, Kanawha and Ohio Coal Company, Hampton Mines, Blacksburg mines, Blackberry mines, Enterprise Coal and Iron Company, Kanawha Semi- Cannel Coal Conipany, Gordon & Seal, Cannelton Coal Com pany, and various mines to supply the salt companies. Salt companies are: Brook s Furnace, Lorena Furnace, Snow Hill Furnace, Campbell s Creek Furnace, Pioneer Furnace, a furnace RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. a short distance above Maiden ; now building at Charleston, the Kanawha Coal and Iron Furnace. Lines of transportation now used : Kanawha river, navigable by steamboats and barges; Elk, navigable for batteaux, in all stages, and for rafts in full water, and also for small steamers, 10 mile*.. B:g Coal is locked and darned to Pevtona, and used by small -tenners and barges. Rafts are sent out of Pocatalieo in full stages. Contemplated improvements: The locking and darning of Elk, extension of the James river and Kanawha canal, Coal River Railroad, Northern and Southern West Virginia Central Railroad, Paint Creek Railroad, West Virginia Railroad, the West VirginiaCentral Railroad. Public schools, 125. Churches, 37. Postoffices. 24. Population, 22,349. Value of taxable property, $6,430,051. County seat, Charleston, with a popula tion of 5,000. It has one woolen mill, two barrel factories, 10 steam saw mills in and near Charleston, 1 brewery, 1 foundry, 2 tanneries. One steam saw mill is at St. Albans, and another at Coallmrg. Newspapers: Charleston Courier, tri-weekly ; Kanawha Chronicle, weekly ; West Virginia Journal, weekly ; all at Charleston. LEWIS COUNTY. The surface of Lewis is rolling and hilly. The soil is uni formly fertile, being clay and clayey loam, sometimes calcare ous. It produces grass well. Depth on hills 3 to 12 inches, and on the levels, 12 to. 18 inches. Crops suited to the lands, are Corn, Wheat, Oat*, and the grasses ; yiekls-on the levels, Corn, 40 to 60 bushels ; Wheat, 10 to 12 bushels ; Oats, 25 to 40 bushels ; on the hills, Corn, 25 to 30 bushels ; Wheat, 8 to 10 bushels ; Oats, 20 to 25 bushels. The Lewis County Agricul tural and Mechanical Association hold an annual Fair near Weston. The usual sum distributed in premiums per annum is $2,000. The price of Agricultural land is from 85 to 825 ; Timber land, from f^to $6. Timber is worth, stumpage, $1 per average tree ; at the mills, sawed, 810 per 1,000, The principal industries are farming and stock-raising. The county is mainly a grazing one. The principal exports for stock are Baltimore and eastern cities. Some timber is exported to Pittsburgh and Brownsville, Pa. Minerals are coal, ordinary bituminous in large seams, and ot good quality ; Limestone is found for cement, and Agricultural purposes; Pot- 386 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. ters Clay is found and worked by Parker & Co.; Sandstones for building, of excellent quality, and very handsome, exist. The Insane Asylum, at Weston, is built of a handsome sand stone, quarried on the spot. A fine Ochre, of a rich orange color is found, and used in painting in the vicinity. The West Fork of the Monongahela is the principal stream, and is used in high stages of water for running rafts out. But for the dams it could be navigated by canoe.-. The means of transportation at present are pikes and dirt roads alone. Con templated improvements are, the Weston and West Fork rail road, and the Washington and Ohio railroad, the Northern and Southern West Virginia railroad, Shenandoah and Ohio railroad. The Insane Asylum is at Weston. Manufactories are, Cigar factories, making 78,000 cigars ; Weston Woolen Mills, Weston Flouring Mills, Weston Iron Foundry, for cast ings and hollow ware, Furniture factories, <fec. Public Schools, 72; Churches, 36; Postoffices, 14. Population, 10,175. Taxable property, 82,616,650.00. County seat, Weston, a growing town with about 1,200 inhabitants. Newspaper, Weston Democrat, weekly. LINCOLN COUNTY. The surface of Lincoln is hilly, with hills generally of a con siderable elevation, in some cases rising almost into moun tains. The slope is usually sufficient for cultivation Only about one-fifth of the land is cleared, and much of the uncleared land is in large tracts, up to 100,000 acres. There is some fine bottom land along the Guyandotte river, but the hills on the Guyandotte and Coal rivers are high and rough. On Mud river, the soils are clay, elsewhere they are Sandy loams, all generally deep and very fertile. The crops best suited to the lands, are Corn, Oats, Wheat, Rye, Buckwheat, and Tobacco. Lincoln is one of the most extensive Tobacco raising connties in the State, and the soils are especially adapted to this crop. The glasses also do finely. Lincoln produces large amounts of ginseng. The soils are from 7 to 10 inches deep on the hills, and 12 to 14 inches on the levels. The hilis and levels pro duce about alike. Corn yields 30 to 40 bushels; Wheat, 10; Rye, 12; Oats, 20. Land in large tracts is worth, when con taining fine coal, as much of it does, 35 to $10, which is also about the value of the farming land. The timber is in RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 387 large amounts, and of the finest quality. Coal and timber land can also be purchased at from $1 to $1.50 Timber is worth 50 cents per tree, stumpage, and at tne mills 6 to 10 cents per cubic foot. Principal industries, farming, lumber ing, and stock raising. The stock is very good. Principal exports, timber, lumber, tobacco, forest products, and stock. Markets: The timber is sold at the stump, and ra ted down to markets on the Ohio river, as is the lumber. The tobacco and stock are sent to Cincinnati. Minerals : Coal in great quan tity ; splint, common bituminous, and cannel ; fine sand stones for building, Manufactories: Three or more large grist and saw mills, on Mud river, one on Guyandotte river, and several steam saw mills, two tan-yards, at Hanilin. The principal streams are Guyandotte and Mud rivers. The former is navigable several months of the year for " push boats," and timber may be floated down it on full water. Mud and Little Coal are navigable for canoes and rafts in full stages. Mean^ of transportion at present, are the above streams, and county mud roads, to the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad. Contemplated improvements: Coal River railroad, the branch running up Little Coal ; Guyandotte railroad, Guyandotte and Ohio River railroad, Mud River railroad, Ohio River and Wayne County Mineral railroad. Public Schools 50; Churches, 6: Postoffices, 7. Population, 5 053. Value of taxable property, $1,073,901.45. County seat, Hamliri. LOGAN COUNTY. This county is quite broken, the hills which occupy most of the surface are very high, attaining the dignity of moun tains in places. The valleys are narrow, with, as a rule, little botto n land. On the Guyandotte there is a good deal of gent ly rolling and bottom lands. A considerable amount of gently sloping land is also found on Pigeon and Island creeks, while near and below the court-house is fine farming land. The soil is loam, more or less sandy or clayey, quite productive, and yielding grass and grain well. The crops are Corn, Wheat, Oats, Rye, Buckwheat and Tobacco. All yield well, f- of the land is in timber, which grows to enoimous size. Some of the largest trees in the State, especially of Poplar and Oak, are re ported here. The land is in large tracts and mostly has the timber untouched. The soil is deeper on the northwest side of RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. the hills, and is usually on the uplands from 4 to 15 inches ; on the bottoms 12 inches to several feet. The yields on the hills, where cultivated, which is only in patches, are the same as the bottoms : Corn produces 30 to 60 bushels ; Oats, 20 to 40 bushels; Wheat, 10; Rye, 12. Not much farming on a large scale is done. Grass grows luxuriantly, and the winters are mild. Some stock is raised. The land in large tracts may be bought at from $1 to $10. The timber and wild lands mainly at the former price. Value of timber, stumpage, 50 cents to SI per tree, and $2 on the river. For logs in the riv^r, 8 to 10 cents per cubic foot. Principal industries, Farming and Lumbering. Principal exports. Timber in Logs, and forest products. Logan, as well as Lincoln, exports a large amount of Ginseng, the collecting of which form a" considerable busi ness with the inhabitants, as they go long distances for it. The markets for all products are down the Ohio. Minerals : Coal, Splint, Caunel, and ordinary Bituminous, in fine work able seams ; Sandstone for building is abundant; Salt w r ater is found in some localities. There are several Saw and Grist Mills on Guyandotte river. The people manufacture at home a good deal of the minor articles for household use. The pre sent means of transportation are the Big Sandy and Guyan dotte rivers. The former stream is navigable for steamers, barges, and timber. rafts, several months in the year, as is the Guyandotte for canoes and timber rafts. Contemplated im provements: Improvement of the navigation of the Guyan dotte river, which was in progress before the war; Tug River R. R. ; Mud River R. R. ; Guyandotte & Ohio R. R. ; Guyan dotte R. R. Public Schools, 43; Churches, 8 ; Post-offices, 9; Value of taxable property, 8604,851 14. Population, 5,124. County Seat, Logan Court-House. MARION COUNTY. The surface of the county is rolling and hilly, the hills being often quite high, and the valleys narrow. The soil is usually pretty deep, and naturally fertile. It is a loam, clayey, sandy, or calcareous, from 6 to 8 inches deep on the hills, and 10 to 12 inches on the levels. The land is well adapted to the production of Grass, Corn. Wheat, Oats, Rye, Potatoes, and Buckwheat. There is little difference between the yields on the hills and levels. The average without RKSOHRCKS OK WEST VIRGINIA. 389 manures is as follows: Corn, 30 to 40 bushels ; Wheat, 12 hushels ; Oats, 30 bushels; Potatoes, 75 to 100 bushels ; Rye, 15 bushels. An annual Fair is held at Fairmont; the amounts given out in premiums are not reported. ; Principal indus tries, fanning, stock-raising, coal mining, and lumbering. Principal exports, stock, iarm products, lumber and coal. Large amounts of sawed and cooperage stuff are sent from along the line of the railroad, and large exports of excellent gas coal are made from the vicinity of Fairmont. Markets for stock, Baltimore ; for timber, Baltimore, eastern cities, &c.; for coal, eastern cities. Minerals : A* large and fine seam of Gas Coal, and other workable seams ; good Limestone for agri cultural and building purposes ; good Sandstones for building ; good Potter s Clay, manufactured at Palatine ; Clay near Pal- tine suitable for Potter s slip; excellent Tin Clay, mined and manufactured at Nuzum s Mills, by the Glade Tin Brick Company. The following coal mines are in operation : The Gaston mines of the Fairmont Gas Coal Company, the West Fairmont mines, of the West Fairmont Gas Coal Company ; the Palatine mines, of the O DonnelTs : the Central mines, of O. Jackson. Manufactories: These have not been fully reported, and we cannot give thetn in any detail. There are ten cigar factories in the county, making 242,100 cigars in 1875; a pottery in Palatine; a fine Jbrick manufactory at Nuzum s Mills ; at Fairmont. Palatine and other point- , there are 9 strain Flouring mills, most of them have saw attach ments ; 9 Water mills ; Furniture shops ; a Foundry and Ma chine shops; Agricultural Machine manufactory, etc.; Flour ing mills, &c., etc-; at Valley Falls, is a Sa.v^ mill and Shook factory; at, Farmington, Flour and Grist mills, a Tannery, &c.; at Mannington, a good deal of lumber and shooks are ship ped ; there are here Flouring, Grist, and Saw mills, a Planing mill, a Wagon Factory, a Foundry, &c,, &c. Principal streams are, the West Fork, Tygart s Valley, and Monongahela, all navigable for timber rafts and batteaux in full stages. Good sized steamers have several times been up as high as Fair. mont in very high stages of water. The present lines of transportation are, the Baltimore and Ohio railroad and turnpike roads; in contemplation, are the improvement of the Monongahela river, the Northern and Southern West 390 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Virginia railroad. The Fairmont Normal school is at Fair mont. Public schools, 94 , Churches, 37 ; Postoffices, 21. Population, 12,107. Value ot taxable property, $4,169,099.06. County seat, Fairmont, a thriving town on the Monongahela river. Newspapers, fairmont Index, Fairmont West Virginian, Mannington Ventilator, and Golden Rale. MAKSHALL COUNTY. The topography of this county is much like that of Ohio county. The amount of bottom land along the Ohio river and Grave creek is considerable, and of excellent character. The hills are high, but not r6cky, and the slopes are not too steep for grazing and cultivation; they have narrow valleys be tween The soil is very fertile, being calcareous clay loam, or sandy loam. The depth on the hills is 7 to 8 inches, and on the levels 1 to many feet. The crops adapted to the lands are Corn, Oats, Wheat, Barley, and especially Grass. The hills and levels produce about alike. Corn produces 40 to 70 bushels; Oats, 30 to 40 bushels; Wheat, 6 to 15 bushels. No manures are used for these yields. Agricultural improved land is worth $50 to $300 per acre; Mineral land (Coal) 81,000 to $1,500; Timber land, $35 to $40. Timber is worth 82 per cord, stump- age, and $4 per cord at the mill. Principal industries : Farm ing, Stock raising and Manufacturing. Principal exports: Stock, such as Hogs, Sheep, and Cattle, also, Grain. Markets for Stock, the East; for Grain and general produce. Wheeling, also, for Timber. Minerals: Coal, in good seams above water level; Limestone for agricultural and building purposes, etc., are found ; a Sandstone for building is obtained ; Coal is min ed at Moundsville and up the river for consumption in the vicinity. Manufactories : Two Rolling Mills, Cigar Factories making 454,000 cigars, 1 Blast Furnace, Saw Mill at Bellton and Moundsville, Flouring Mills, Saddlery, Wagon Manufac tories, Brick Yards, &c., &c. W r e may state here, that the re ports made to us of the manufactories in the several counties, are very imperfect, and our lists cannot pretend to be com plete. The principal stream is the Ohio river. Means of transportation are the Ohio river and the Bait. & Ohio R. R. Contemplated: The Pittsburgh, Wheeling & Kentucky R. R. The State Penitentiary is at Moundsville. Public Schools, 88; Churches, 13 ; Posi-Offices, 21. Population, 14,941. Value of RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 391 taxable property is 84,363,713 35. County seat, Moundsville, a considerable village. Newspapers, Moundsville National, Moundsville Reporter, and New State Gazette. MASON" COUNTY. The surface of this county is gently rolling and hilly, with much flat land along the Ohio and Great Kanawha. The hills are low and gently sloping, comparatively epeaking, and the valleys are wide. The Ohio skirts the county for 50 miles, and the Kanawha passes through its center. The county has 75,000 acres of river bottoms. The soil on the flats is a rich loam very deep. Clay loams, clays, and calcareous loams, are found on the hills. More than half of the land is in cultiva tion, and the rest contains a great deal of fine heavy timber. The levels have a soil from one to many feet deep, while on the hills it is from 8 to 12 inches. The crops raised are Corn, Wheat, Oats, Rye, and the Grasses, which do finely. The yields on the bottoms are Wheat, 15 to 20 bushels; Corn, 40 to 50; Oats, 30 to 40; Rye, 30. On the uplands, Corn yields about 30 to 35 bushels; Wheat, 10; Oats, 25 to 30, etc. No manures used for these yields. Corn has been produced on the flats, at the rate of 106 bushels in a 30 acre field. The Mason County Agricultural and Mechanical Association holds an annual Fair at Point Pleasant. Value of premiums distributed, $1,000. The bottom lands sell for $80 to $100 per acre; the uplands for from $5 to $20 ; mineral land (coal), $200 DO $400; timber, stumpage, is worth $1 per tree; at the mill, $10. The princi pal industries are farming, stock raising, lumbering, salt man ufacturing, mining, etc. Mason pays a good deal oi attention to stock and the introduction of improved breeds, for the rais ing of which its fine grass lands afford many advantages. The principal exports are Coal, 5,000,000 bushels ; salt, 2,500,- 000 bushel; Wheat, Cattle, Bromine, Nails, Glass, Wool, Hogs, Lumber, etc. Markets: The agricultural products arid stock, go to eastern cities ; others down the river. Minerals: Coal, in a searn from 5 to 6 feet, is exposed above water level for 7 miles in the northern edge of the county. Salt water is fur nished from wells 1,000 to 1,200 feet deep, in the northern part of the county. Clay, for tile making, is found and worked. Sandstone of good quality abounds in the county. Mines : Coal is mined at nine different openings from Camden 392 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. to New Haven City. They send 5,000,000 bushels down the Ohio, and use half that amount in making salt. [I. W. C. Davis.] This is soft bituminous coal. Manufactories: Mason county has one brewery, making 126 barrels of beer per annum. Salt is manufactured by 11 companies, with 13 furnaces. These, with the coal -mines, and other manufactories, make a continuous village along the Ohio for six miles. There are bromine works at Clifton, Mason City, and Valley City, and two at Hartford City. One nail factory and rolling mill, of large size, at Clifton, 2 glass factories at Mason City, 2 stove factories at Hartford City; also 2 steam saw mills at Mason City, 1 steam saw mill and 1 keg factory at Clifton, 1 tile fac tory opposite Point Pleasant, I flour, 1 lumber and planing mill at Point Pleasant, 1 Hour mill at New Haven City, 3 saw mills along the Ohio above Point Pleasant, and 1 floating dock at that place. Principal streams: The Ohio and Kana- wha, both navigable for large steamers. Present means of transportation: The Ohio and Kanawha rivers. Improve ments contemplated : The improvement of the navigation of the Kanawha, the Washington and Ohio Railroad, the W., C. & St. L. Narrow Gauge Railroad, the Pittsburgh, Wheeling and Kentucky Railroad, Hartford, Mason and Clifton Rail road. Public schools, 96. Churches, 29. Postoflices, 22. Pop- ulatim, 15,978. Value of taxable property, $6,207,710.49. County seat, Point Pleasant. Newspapers: The Weekly Regis ter, The Mason County Journal, both weekly. M DO WELL COUNTY. McDowell is a hilly and mountainous county, much of it broken and rough. Most of the land is in the original foreat, aud very little cultivation is carried on, except in patches. The land is generally held in large tracts. The county is very inaccessible, as may be gathered from the fact that not a sin gle answer has been obtained to fifty circulars sent into it, ask ing for information. In consequence of this, we cannot give any detailed account of it. The topography, soil, industries, etc., are like those of Wyoming, except that the land is rougher, and less cultivated. The soil is naturally fertile, the winters mild, and the timber very fine. There are no public improve ments, and no means of transportation, except down the Big Sandy and rough roads. The improved land is worth $5 to RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 393 810 per acre, and the unimproved wild lands, in large tracts, 50 cents to 61. The crops, industries, and exports are the same as those of Wyoming and Logan. Good coal, in work able seams, exists. Public schools, 14. Churches, 8. Post- offices, 4. Value of taxable property, $303,878.43. Popula tion, 1,952. County seat, Perrysville. MEKCEB COUNTY. This county is flanked on the east by the East River mountains, and on the west by the Flat-Top mountains. It consists chiefly of hilly or rolling plateau land, with some mountains. The soil is fertile, being a clay, sandy loam, and calcareous loam. The soil on the hills is 6 to 8 inches deep, but thinner near the mountains ; on the levels, 10 to 12 inches and more. The crops raised are, Corn, Oats, Wheat, Tobacco, and Grass, for which latter much of the soil is espe cially adapted, making this essentially a grazing country The yields on the levels are, Corn, 30 to 40 bushels ; Wheat, 15 to 20 bushels ; Oats, 40 to 50 bushels ; Tobacco, 1,200 pounds; on the hills, Corn, 15 to 25 bushels; Wheat, 7 to 9 bushels ; Oats, 20 to 30 bushels ; Tobacco, 900 pounds. These are without manures. The agricultural land is worth from $8 to $50 per acre; timber land, from $2 to $5, and mineral land (coal and iron), the same. Timber is worth, stumpage, 25 cents per tree, and at the mills, $10 to $12.50 per 1,000 feet. The prin cipal industries are, stock-raising and farming. Principal exports, stock, wheat, and tobacco. Markets for tobacco and grain, Richmond, Virginia; for stock, Baltimore and Phila delphia. Minerals, good Coal (ordinary bituminous), in work able seams above water level ; abundance of Limestone, suit able for building and agricultural purposes ; good Potters Clay is obtained and worked ; large deposits of good brown haematite are found. The manufactories are not definitely reported ; one Pottery exists on "East river, making crockery and pipes, and one or more woolen factories are in the county. The principal streams are Blue Stone and New rivers. The former is navigable for canoes, and the latter for batteaux and canoes. Present means of transportation, are by these rivers and the county roads. Contemplated improvements, improve ment of the navigation of New river, the New- River railroad, Blue Stone Mining railroad. The Mercer county Normal 50 394 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. school is at Concord. Public schools, 38; Churches, 11; Postoffices, 12. Population, 7,064. Value of taxable property, $660,895.06. County seat, Princeton. MINERAL COUNTY, Mineral county is mountainous, with long valleys along the streams. What was said of the soil, products, &c., etc., of Grant and Hampshire counties applies to Mineral, with the important exception that .this county has a large amount of fine Coal and not so much Iron. The soil along the broad bottoms is extremely fertile, and brings fine Grass and Grain crops. The soil on the hills and mountains is sandy and san dy loam. Depth on highlands, to 10 inches ; on the bot toms many feet. Crops : Corn, Wheat, Oats, Rye, Grass. In the bottoms, Corn yields 30 to 50 bushels ; Wheat, 10 to 15 bushels ; Rye, 10 to 15 bushels ; Oats, 25 to 35 bushels. On the hills, Corn, 20 bushels; Wheat, 8 bushels; Oats, 10 to 15 bushels; Rye, 10 bushels; Buckwheat, 20 bushels. Value of land, (agricultural, bottom), S20, to $100; uplands, $5 to $20; Timber land SI to $5 ; Mineral lands, $50 to $150, per acre. Timber is worth, stumpage, $1,25 to $3 per 1,000; at the mills, sawed $15 per 1,000. The principal industries are Farming, Grazing, and Coal mining. Principal exports : Cattle, Tim ber, Coal; Timber is sold to Bait. & Ohio R. R. and eastern cities ; Cattle goes to Baltimore and eastern cities ; Coal goes east for steam making. Minerals : Soft Bituminous, in large workable beds. Knobby mountain contains an abundance of Limestone, good for agricutural and building purposes ; good Sandstone for building purposes exists. The Virginia Coal Company, and the Baltimore and Hampshire Coal Company, are mining and shipping it from this county. The Manufac tories have not been reported from this county. The Bait. & Ohio R. R. Machine Shops are located at New Creek or Key- ser City, as it is now called. The principal streams are the North Branch of the Potomac and Patterson s creek, both navi gable for small boats and timber rafts in high water. The pre sent means of transportation are the Ches. & Obio Canal, and the Bait. & Ohio R. R. and county roads. Contemplated : The improvement of the North Branch of the Potomac; The Cum berland, Moorefield <fc Broadway R. R. ; North Branch R. R. Public Schools, 28 ; Churches, 21 ; Post-Offices, 9. Population, RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 395 6,332 ; Value of taxable property, $2,463,434 96. County Seat, Keyser. Newspapers: West Virginia Tribune, and The Piedmont Independent, both weekly. MONONGALIA COUNTY. The surface is very hilly, with many of the hills quite high, but none too steep for grazing and agricultural purposes. Many of the hills have broad tops, on which a good deal un dulating land is afforded. Laurel hill on the east rises into a low range of mountains. The soil is a loam, varying from sandy to clayey, with some calcareous lands. All is naturally productive and well suited for grass. The depth on the hills is from 6 to 15 inches, deepest on the northwest sides; on the levels, from 1 to several feet. The. crops are Corn, Oats, Wheat, and Grass. There is not much difference in the pro duct of the hills and levels. Average yields are, Corn, 30 to 40 bushels ; Oats, 25 to 35 bushels ; Wheat, when succeeding, 10 to I2[bushels; Potatoes, 75 to 150 bushels. The Mononga- hela Agricultural and Mechanical Association holds an an nual Fair at Morgantown, where about 81,400 in premiums are distributed. Value of land (Agricultural), from $10 to $75 ; no Mineral or Timber land is sold as such. Timber is worth, stumpage, 3 to 4 cents per cubic foot, and sawed lum ber at the mills, $1,50 per hundred. The principal industries are Farming and Stock raising. Principal exports, Farm Produce, Stock, and some White Oak Timber. The market for Timber is Pittsburgh and down the river : for Stock, Bal timore; for Farm Products, Pittsburgh. Minerals : Good Coal in numerous workable beds above water level, all common bituminous ; Limestone in large amounts, in the east, of fine quality for agricultural and building purposes ; large amounts along the river; Iron Ore in workable quantities; excellent Sandstone for building ; good Glass Sand ; good Fire Clay, from which bricks have been made ^Manufacturers : One Cigar Factory, making 71,600 cigars : Carriage Factory and Planing Mill at Morgantown ; Cabinet and Furniture Factory, and several large Steam Saw and Grist Mills. The principal streams are the Monongahela and Cheat rivers ; the latter navigable for small boats, and the former for steamers on full water. Present means of transportation : The Monongahela river and dirt pikes. Contemplated and in progress: The 396 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. improvement of the Monongahela by locks and dams, also, the Northern and Southern West Va. R. R. Public institu tions : West Virginia University at Morgantown, Schools etc. ; The Morgantown Female Seminary, and 79 Public Schools; Churches, 39; Post-Offices, 27. Population, 13,547. Value of taxable property, $4,597,207. County seat, Morgan- town. Newspapers, Morgantoivn Post and The New Dominion, both weekly, at Morgantown. MONROE COUNTY. What was said of the topography, soil, products, ect., etc., of Greenbrier, applies, in great part, to Monroe. The surface is hilly and undulating, rising suddenly at some points into pretty high mountains. The soil is loam, clay, and calcareous clayey loam, producing fine farming and grazing lands. Depth on hills, 4 to 10 inches ; on levels, 12 to 18 inches. Crops are Corn, Oats, Wheat, Grass, and Tobacco. Corn yields on the level lands, 30 to 40 bushels; Wheat, 15 ; Oats, 25 to 30. On the hills : Corn, 10 to 15 ; Wheat, 8 to 10; Oats, 15. Value of the land, which is mainly agricultural, 810 to $50; timber land, $5 to $20. Value of the timber, stumpage, 50 cents per tree; at the mill, $8 to $15. Principal industries: Farming and grazing. Principal exports : Stock of all kinds, and farm produce, tobacco, etc. Markets for grain and tobacco, Rich mond; for stock, Baltimore. Minerals: Iron in workable quantities (brown haematite). Limestone in abundance, for building and agricultural purposes. Several celebrated min eral springs exist in this county, viz : " The Red Sweet," u Salt Sulphur," etc. The manufactories are not reported. One cigar factory is worked, making 3,000 cigars. Principal streams, New and Greenbrier rivers. Present means of transportation, Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, and turnpike roads. Contem plated: The New River Railroad, the improvement of New river, and the extension of the James River and Kanawha Canal. Schools: 1 high school, 1 female seminary, and 69 public sehools. Churches, 32. Postoifices, 15. Population, 11,123. Value of taxable property, $2,891^953.20. County seat, Union. Newspapers : Border Watchman and Monroe Reg ister -, both weekly. MORGAN COUNTY. Morgan county is a mountainous one, with numerous rocky RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 397 ridges, many of which are too steep, and the soil too thin, for ordinary cultivation. There is some fine bottom land along the Potomac, and good farming land along the Great Cacapon and Sleepy creek. The soil is loam and sandy, from to 4 inches on the highlands, and 4 to 8 inches on the levels. The crops are Wheat, Corn, Oats, Tobacco, and Buckwheat. The yields on the cultivated lands, which are mainly the levels, are: Corn, 15 to 25 bushels ; Oats, 10 to 20 bushels; Buch- wheat, 15 to 30 bushels ; Wheat, 8 to 15. The value of agri cultural land is from $4 to 820; of timber land, on an average, $3 to $4. Price of timber, stumpage, $1 per tree ; of lumber sawed at the mills, $10 per 1,000 feet. The principal industries are farming and lumbering. The principal exports are forest products, such as crossties, shingles, staves, hoop- poles, straps, tanbark and sawed lumber, mainly Yellow Pine. The mar kets are the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and eastern cities. Minerals : Iron ore of fair quality on Sandy Ridge. Large deposits of white sand on Sandy Ridge, now used by a Phila delphia company. Some potters clay, which was formerly worked, at Hancock Station. The Berkely Mineral Springs have long been celebrated, and much resorted to. Manufac tures, etc: 2 large tanneries, 1 small woolen factory, 1 broom factory, 4 steam saw mills, and 14 grist and saw mills moved by water. The principal streams are the Potomac, Sleepy creek, and Great Cacapon, all navigable for rafts and canoes, 4 months in the year. Present means of transportation: Balti more and Ohio Railroad, and Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Contemplated : Improvement of the navigation of the Great Cacapon, the Potomac and Ohio Railroad, the West Virginia Railroad. Public schools, 25. Churches, 14. Postofnces, 11. Populat : on, 4,315. Value of taxable property, $1,082,354.80. County seat, Berkeley Springs. Newspaper, Morgan Mercury. NICHOLAS COUNTY. The surface is hilly, mountainous, and plateau, or glade. The soil is generally good. Much of it is held in large tracts, and is unimproved, or in the original forest. The soil is loam, sandy, and sandy loam ; depth on hills, 4 to 8 inches ; on the bottoms, 8 to 20 inches. Crops raised are Corn, Oats, Wheat, Rye, - Irish and Sweet Potatoes. Corn brings on the levels 30 to 40 bushels; Wheat, 10 to 12 bushels ; Rye, 15 to 20 bushels; Po- 398 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. tatoes, 100 to 150. On the hills : Corn, 15 to 25 bushels ; Wheat, 8 to 10 bushels; Rye-, 10 to 15 bushels; Potatoes, 50 to 75 bush els. The unimproved land is worth from SI to $3 per acre, and the improved, $5 to $15. Timber is worth, stumpage, about $1 per tree; at the mill, $7.50 to $12. Principal exports, farming, grazing, and lumbering. For want of means of trans portation, but little is sent out of the county, and this is mainly timber and stock. Market for stock, Baltimore ; for timber, mouth of Gauley, where it is sawed up. Minerals : Coal ; bituminous (ordinary), splint and cannel, in workable seams above water level. Good sandstone for building ; also, mill stone and grindstone grits. Brine has been found in the county. Principal stream, Gauley, navigable for rafts and single logs, on full tides. Present means of transportation, county roads. Contemplated improvements : Improvement of the navigation of the Gauley, Gauley River railroad. Pub lic schools, 49. Churches, 11. PostofFices, 8. Population, 4,- 458. Value of taxable property, $990,847. County seat, Sum- mersville. OHIO COUNTY. This county is very hilly, many of the hills being quite high, but they are fertile, and may be cultivated to their sum mits. It has a large amount of splendid bottom land on the Ohio and the creeks. The soil is excellent everywhere, and is mainly well cultivated. The soils of the bottoms are san dy loams, of the uplands, clay and sandy loams, usually like the other counties of the Panhandle, with a large amount of calcareous matter. On the levels the soil is from 12 inches to many feet deep on the hills from 5 to 7 inches, being deeper and better on the north fides. All the cereals and root crops, grow well, and grass nourishes. The yields on the hills and bottoms are nearly alike ; Grass produces 2 to 3 tons of Hay ; Corn, 60 to 75 bushels ; .Oats, 40 to 50 ; Wheat, 15 to 20 ; Rye, 20 to 30 ; Potatoes, 100 to 200 bushels. No manures are used. Grapes do well, and in good seasons, produce as much as 1,000 gallons of wine per acre. Value of agricultural land, from $50 to $100 per acre. Good land can be rented for from $5 to sK) per acre per annum. The principal industries are farm ing grazing, mining coal, and manufacturing. Principal ox ports, farm products, stock, wool, and manufactured arti- RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 399 cles. Markets for produce, stock, wool, &c., Wheeling, Pitts burgh, and eastern cities. The minerals are coal, in large quantities, limestone for agricultural purposes and hydraulic cement. The principal river is the Ohio, which is naviga ble for steamers during the greater part of the year. The means of transportation are the Ohio river, the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Wheeling railroad ; contemplated railroads are the Pittsburgh, Wheeling and Kentucky railroad, partly completed from Steubenville to Wheeling. Public institutions, State Capitol, Custom House, Branch of the State Normal School. Schools, &c., are, Cath olic Female Seminary, Commercial College, and 33 Public Schools; Postoffices, 8; Churches, 36. Population, 40,831. Value of taxable property, 815,104,740.00. Newspapers, Standard, daily and weekly ; Intelligencer, daily and weekly ; Register, daily, tri-weekly and weekly; Sunday Leader, weekly; Arbiter Freund, German, weekly ; The Medical Student, monthly, all published at the county seat, Wheeling, which is the principal city of the county and State, being the State Capital. THE CITY OF WHEELING. This is both the principal town and Capital of the State. Its population, according to the latest data, is a little over 30,000. Its principal industry is manufacturing, and in this it is surpassed by few, if any, cities of its size in the Union. For the purpose of manufacturing, and bringing the completed articles to market with smallcost, it has unexcep tionable advantages. A large seam of good coal crops out in the hills around, and almost overhangs the furnaces consuming it. The Ohio river and Wheeling creek, furnish an abundance of water, while the Ohio river and railroad connections give easy and cheap access to all parts of the country. Within the limits of this article we can only notice the leading manufactures. These are, the production of cigars, malt liquors, glass, and various manufactured forms of iron. For information concerning the manufacture of tobacco and liquors, we are indebted to Thos. J. Blair, Deputy Collector Internal Revenue, who has kindly furnished the statistics which follow. 400 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Manufacture of Cigars. Mr. Blair says : " The manufacture of cigars in the city of Wheeling, has been quite extensive for many years, to my knowledge, say 25 years, and what are known as Wheeling Stogies have had a national reputation for at least that period. They are made of what is known as * Kentucky Leaf obacco and weigh, on an average, about 12 pounds to the 1,000, and were sold in the year 1875, at from $10 to $12 per 1,000, the United States revenue tax being, for two months of said year, $5 per 1,000, and for the remaining part of the year, $6 per 1,000. "Other cigars of finer grades, ranging in value from $15 to $30, per 1,000, have also been produced to some extent, but are not to be compared in numbers to the Stogie above referred to. " I believe from examination, that during the year, 1872, there were more cigars manufactured in the city of Wheeling than in any previous year, and also, perhaps, outside of the city, and within the First District of West Virginia, viz.: "Manufactured in the city of Wheeling, in 1872 31^)00,000 " Manufactured outside of the city of Wheeling, in 1872 5,000,000 " Making a total production of 36,000,000 "The number of cigars manufactured in the city of Wheel ing during 1875, was 22,783,000, and the total sales in the city were 22,765,000, while the number of cigar factories in that year was 52. The number of hands employed in the city in 1875, in the manufacture of cigars, was, on an aver age, 260. " The manufacture of Tobacco for the year 1875 shows a falling off, as compared with previous years. The production of smoking tobacco during the year 1875, was, from three factories, about 38,000 pounds, taxed by the government at the rate of 24 cents per pound. Malt Liquors. The production of Ale, Beer, and Porter, in the city of Wheeling, has been for many years quite large, and is increasing every year, that of Beer especially. The following is the number of barrels manufactured in 4876 : " Ale and Toiler, 2 breweries, barrels 3,700 "Beer, 8 breweries, barrels 21,606 Total 25,366 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 401 " Taxed by the government at the rate of $1 per barrel." The following facts concerning the manufacture of glass, were kindly furnished by Mr. Joseph Bell, President of the Excelsior Glass Company : Manufacture oj Glass in Wheeling. The first manufacture of window glass in this State was undertaken in Wheeling about 1820. The commencement of this branch of business, and the subsequent change to the manufacture of flint glass are describ ed in the following extracts from a letter written by Col. Red- ick McKee. He says : " Up to 1817 or 1818, Wellsburg, then called Charlestown, was the principal town in the Pan-Handle, but the approach ing completion of the " National Road" caused business men from other places to move into Wheeling, and changed the rel ative position of the two places. However, the immigrants brought, as a general thing, but little active capital, and the former inhabitants, though many of them were wealthy, had their money mainly locked up in lands, town lots, &c. Hence, new enterprises, such as the building of factories, steam mills, &c., were left to new-comers. " About 1820 or 1821, Mr. George Carothers of Brownsville, Pa., came to Wheeling and proposed the building of a Win dow Glass Factory. Aided by Wheeling capital, he erected the necessary buildings for an eight-pot furnace, annealing ovens, &c. Owing to accidents the first attempt at glass mak ing in this furnace failed, and the works were finally bought by Knox <fe McKee, who employed Carothers as superinten dent, and in the latter part of 1821, or early in 1822, com menced successfully the manufacture of cylinder glass, packing mainly in half boxes (50 feet), with the brand, " Virginia Works, Knox & McKee, Wheeling." "We," says Col. McKee, "continued the business satisfactorily for several years, turning out, I think, annually, some 3,000 or 4,000 boxes of all sizes, from 6x8 to 14x20, together with large quantities of green hollow-ware ; gallon, half gal lon, and quart bottles ; oil and porter bottles ; and pint bottles innumerable. Our 6x8 and 7x9 glass was sent to Boston ; for other sizes the west and south furnished a market. Our No. 1 glass was in high repute, and bore transportation to distant points, even going to the trading posts in New Mexico. 51 402 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. lt As factories multipled, and blowers became more numer ous and skillful, prices declined, and finally ceased to pay. We followed them down from $12 to $3,50, and then changed the concern into a White Flint Hollow-Ware Factory, under the firm of Wheat, Price & Co." The glass works spoken of above by Col. McKee, occupied the square on which now stands the Fourth Ward School House. " In 1829 a Flint Glass House was erected in Wheeling by John and Craig Ritchie, located on the side of the hill, east of the Second Ward Market House. This establishment was operated for several years with great activity and success, and had a wide spread reputation for the manufacture of fine cut glass-ware. " This success, and the unrivalled advantages for procur ing cheap fuel at Wheeling, encouraged other firms to embark in the business, and in 1835 the Messrs. Sweeney put a large Flint Glass Works into operation, in the northern part of the town, which was followed in the course of the next few years, by the erection of another large establishment at the extreme south end, built by Plunkett & Miller. The estab lishment built by the Messrs. Sweeney,was operated actively for more than 35 years, in Wheeling, until, in the changes of business, its proprietors found it to their advantage to move it across the river, where it is now known as the Excelsior Glass Works. " These works, though on the Ohio side, are operated by Wheeling capital, and have the company incor porated under the laws of West Virginia. Hence, as it is in fact a Wheeling enterprise, it should be mentioned here. Mr. J. Bell, the President of the company, has kindly furnished us with the following statistics : " The goods manufactured are known as crystal glassware made up into table, lamp, and bar goods, such as goblets tumblers, pitchers, bowls, dishes, beer glasses, lamps^ lamp- chimneys, &c. About 150 persons are employed, of whom 10 to 15 are females. The annual product is about $115,000." Returning to the establishments within the limits of the city of Wheeling, we quote still further from Mr. Bell s description of them : " The works built at the south end of the city by Plunkett RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 403 & Miller, are now owned and operated by Hobbs, Brockunier & Co. The establishment has grown to be one of the most extensive in the country, and its products deservedly have a national reputation for excellence of quality. " Another extensive and noted establishment located in the city of Wheeling, is known as the Central Glass Works, 7 making flint glassware. This has been in existence about fourteen years. It commenced with one small furnace, and now has three large furnaces, producing large quantities of common and fine cut glassware, and enjoys a reputation equal to any in the country. " The increase in the number of establishments does not fully represent the growth of glass production in Wheeling, for it is safe to say that any one of the works now operating makes ten times the quantity produced by any one running in Wheeling forty years ago. The improvement in quality, and the cheapening of the cost of production have been equally marked. Articles of great beauty of design, excellence of finish, and unsurpassed in purity of metal, are of every day manufacture, and are sold at prices so low as to excite sur prise. It is safe to say that nowhere is glassware of equal quality made more cheaply than in Wheeling." IRON INTERESTS OF WHEELING. BY A. W. CAMPBELL, ESQ. Wheeling is chiefly known as the centre of a large iron industry, particularly for Cut Nails. The city and vicinity constitute the largest Nail market in the world. The growth of this business, as indeed of all the manufactures of Wheel ing, is due to the abundance of cheap fuel (stone coal) in the hills around the city, and to the facilities for reaching all the markets of the country, either by rail or water, at low rates for freight. The iron out of which these nails is made is produced on the spot, mostly from mixtures of Missouri and Lake Supe rior ores, and when made is immediately in market, without cost for transportation. There are now, at Wheeling and Steubenville, nine blast furnaces for the manufacture of iron, as follows : On the Wheeling side of the river, the " Top " furnace, the " Belmont," and the " Riverside." On the 404 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Ohio side, the "Bellaire" furnace, the " Benwood," the "Mingo," the two "Jefferson - furnaces, and the " Stony Hollow." These furnaces have mostly 16 feet boshes and 60 feet stacks. The " Top Mill has an 18 foot bosh, and the Benwood a 13 foot. They produce mostly Red Short " irons, such as are used for Nails. At this time iron is made as low as $19 per ton, worth in the market say $22, on four months time. The connec tion now being made, via the Hempfield Short-line, between Wheeling and Connellsville, will so reduce the price of coke as to give Wheeling a further margin in its manufacture of iron. The Nail mills at Wheeling and vicinity are as follows : The " Riverside " works, running 126 machines, including, also, a separate Bar and Rail mill belonging to the same company. Their blast furnace is three miles below their mills, with which they connect by rail and water. The "Top Mill," running 106 machines, situated in the north part of the city, on the line of the Pittsburgh, Wheel ing and Kentucky railroad a new road not yet completed. Their blast furnace immediately adjoins their mill, and iron can be handled at a minimum cost through all its processes. The "Belmont Nail Works," situated in Center Wheeling, running 110 machines. This mill has turned out as high as 8,155 kegs of nails in one week, on an extraordinary run. Its blast furnace immediately adjoins the mill. It has also a large cooper shop, whereat all its kegs are made. The La Belle Nail Works, running 85 machines, but is one of two mills owned by the same company. The other is the Jefferson, situated at Steubsnville, and it also runs 85 ma chines, and has two blast furnaces. Together they form a large and wealthy company, which was originally started as a practical workingmen s organization. The Benwood Nail Works, running 112 machines, four miles below the city. The company owns some 80 tenement houses, and has built up the suburb of " Benwood." The Mill has a cooper establishment connected with it. Its blast furnace is on the opposite side of the river, in the suburb of Martin s Ferry. The Bellaire Nail Works, situated immediately opposite Benwood, on the Ohio side, runs 100 machines, and has a blast RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 405 furnace on its premises. Is a large and valuable property. The Ohio Ci5y Nail Works, situated in the suburb of Mar tin s Ferry, a town lying opposite the north end of the city of Wheeling. This is a new mill, and only runs 50 machines. On a double turn it can produce 2,500 kegs of Nails per week. During the years 1871, 72 and 73, the mills above named, except the Ohio City, produced 2,995,509 kegs of Nails. In those years Wheeling manufactured about one fourth of all the Nails made in the United States. Nails can be shipped at the following low rates of freight: To New Orleans, 20 cents per keg ; to St. Louis, 10 cents ; to Chicago, 22 cents ; to Cincinnati, 7 cents. The other principal iron manufactories of Wheeling and vicinity, are as follows : The Wheeling Hinge Company, now in the 12th year of its existence, has steadily grown from a small affair to be a large concern. It owns the patent for the Dunning hinge an arti cle intended to supersede, to a certain extent, the old screw and strap hinge. The Superior Machine Works, a large concern organized for the manufacture of the Superior Reaping and Mowing Ma chines, and where also engines and other machinery are built. The Centripetal Power Company Works, organized for the manufacture of portable machinery for the use (principally) of farmers, whereby important advantages are claimed in over coming friction, and in the retention of speed and momentum. The Crescent Rail and Sheet Mills situated on the south bank of Wheeling creek connected by a bridge across said creek with the 4th ward of the city, and directly opposite the works of the Wheeling Hinge Co. A large concern, owned by the VVhitakers, well known iron men. Is principally run now on sheet iron. The .-Etna Iron Works, situated in the suburb of ^Etnaville, a new village just growing up opposite the city, midway be tween Bridgeport and Martin s Ferry. Manufactures bar and sheet iron, and also small rails for coal banks and light roads. The Norway Tack Factory, situated in the 4th ward of the city; started in 1865 owned by Jones, Heald & Phinney manufactures all varieties of tacks and a fine, three-penny nail. The Arlington Stove Works and Foundry of Joseph Bell fr 406 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Co. ; the Star Stove Works and Foundry of Benjamin Fisher ; the Boiler Works of Moorehead & Son ; the Foundry, Machine and Repair Works of A. J. Sweeney & Son ; the Foundry, Ma chine and Repair Works of Cecil, Hobbs & Co.; the Bellaire Im plement Factory ; the Stove Works and Foundry of Spence, Baggs & Co., at Martin s Ferry; the Ohio Valley Machine Works of L. Spence & Co., (same place,) whereat were built the engines of the Belmont Blast Furnace, and where also are made Thresh ers and Cleaners, and other machinery; the large Foundry of Culbertson, Wiley & Co., (same place,) where was cast the heavy iron work of the J^tna Mill. The foregoing are the principal iron establishments in and around Wheeling. Quite a number of them are of recent ori gin, either in whole or part. Just previous to the panic of 1873, an important impetus had been given to the develop ment of the iron business of this vicinity, growing out, as we have said, of the abundance of cheap fuel and the facilities for shipment. It is hoped that these advantages will, at an early day, re-assert themselves, and go on, as in the years 72 and 73, increasing the number of our manufactories. Tanneries. The business of tanning has long been impor tant in Wheeling. Hides and bark are obtained in the vicin ity. The following data are given by one knowing the facts : 2 large steam tanneries and 5 small ones, employ 100 work men, use yearly 4,700 cords of bark, 25,000 hides, and make 725,000 Ibs. of harness, sole and upper leather; the principal part being harness leather, of a quality second to none in the country, which is sold to all parts of the Union, from Main to Wisconsin, Kansas and Texas. These tanneries also dress 8,000 calfskins, and 60,000 to 70,000 sheep skins a year. Large numbers of saddles, harness, collars, &c., are made in the city. 2 glue factories make 75,000 Ibs. of glue yearly. Lumber. This trade is extensive. 5 large steam planing mills make flooring, doors, sash, boxes, &c. Steamboat build ing, and the making of wagons, carriages, barrels, kegs and other articles composed in whole or part of wood, deserve mention. Furniture is made in several factories. Miscellaneous. Six factories are engaged in making candy. The amount made yearly, exceeds 350,000 Ibs. I woolen fac tory uses from 60,000 to 80,000 Ibs. of wool, making 6,000 yards of flannel a month, also knitting yarn. 2 factories make soap RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 407 and candles. The supply of clay for brick is good, abundant, and largely worked. The manufacture of flour, paper, drugs and medicines, paper boxes, blank books, printed calico, gloves, brushes, willow ware, shoe nails, and wrought trace chains? while not as extensive as the interests before named, should not be overlooked. It may be added that Wheeling manufac tures enjoy the reputation of being exceedingly well made. PENDLETON COUNTY. Pendleton county in position, topography, and soil, belongs to the South Branch group of counties, and much that was said of Hampshire and Hardy may be said of it. The amount of mountain land is larger, however, and the elevations are greater, the surface rougher, and the amount of cultivation less than in the counties to the north of it. The mountains of this county form some of the highest, if not the very highest, land in the State. The soils are sandy, sandy loams, clayey loams, with some calcareous soil. The crops are Wheat, Corn, Rye, Oats, Buckwheat, and Grass, which latter is the staple. The grains are raised only for home consumption. The depth of soil on the highlands is to 12 inches ; on the levels, 4 to 12 inches. Yields of grain on the bottom lands, are Corn, 20 to 50 bushels ; Wheat, 12 to 15 bushels ; Oats and Buckwheat, 25 to 40 bushels. On improved uplands, not much less. The mountainous lands are not cultivated. Value of land : The South Branch agricultural land is worth from 85 to $100 per acre ; timber land is worth from $5 to $10. Timber is worth on the stump, 35 to 50 cents per cord ; at the mills, $10 to $12.50 per 1,000. The principal industries are farming and stock raising. The principal exports, cattle, sheep, horses and wool. The principal market for stock is- Baltimore. Min erals : Iron, in workable quantities (brown and red hematite, and fossil ore). Limestone in abundance for agricultural and building purposes. Some potters clay, that has been worked with success. Good limestone and sandstone for building. Mineral waters : White Sulphur, Alum, and Chalybeate. One woolen factory exists. Principal streams : Headwaters of the South Branch of the Potomac ; these are not navigable. Pres ent means of transportation, county roads. Contemplated : The Cumberland, Moorefield and Broadway railroad, Potomac and Ohio railroad, Shenandoah and Ohio railroad, W., C. & 408 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. St. L. Narrow Gauge railroad. Public schools, 63. Churches, 13. Postoffices, 15. Value of taxable property, 81,559,435.51. Population, 6,455. County seat, Franklin. Newspaper, Pen- dleton New^ weekly. PLEASANTS COUNTY. This county is hilly, like the others along the Ohio river, and has a good deal of flat land along the Ohio, and the numer ous creeks which empty into it. On the bottoms, the soil is a sandy loam ; on the hills, clayey loam, with some calcareous land. The first Ohio bottoms have 3 feet and more of soil ; the second bottom sand valleys, 1 foot and more ; the hills, 6 to 8 inches. Crops are Corn, Oats, Wheat, Rye, Potatoes, and Grass. On the bottoms Corn yields 40 to 60 bushels; Wheat, 15 to 30; Oats, 20 to 30; Rye, 20. Hills yield of Com, 20 to 25 bushels; Wheat, 10; Oats, 15; Rye, 10. No manures used for these yields. The value of the land is: Ohio bottoms, $80 to $100; creek bottoms, $40 to $50 ; hill land, 815 to 20; timber land, $10 to 20. Timber is worth, stumpage, 2 cents per linear foot ; at the mill, 10 cents per cubic foot. Principal industries, farming, stock raising, and lumbering. Principal exports, grain, cattle, wool, lumber, cooperage stuff, etc. Market for stock, Baltimore ; for grain, lumber, etc., points down the Ohio river. Minerals : Thin coal seams above water level. Some good sandstone for building. Petroleum and salt water are found. The petroleum is worked and exported. Several tan neries, barrel and shingle factories, saw mills, etc., exist, but are not definitely reported. The principal streams are the Ohio river and Middle Island creek. Middle Island is naviga ble for flatboats, rafts, etc., when high. Present means of trans portation : The Ohio river, Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and Middle Island. Contemplated : Slack water navigation for Middle Island, the Pittsburgh, Wheeling and Kentucky rail road. Public schools, 25. Churches, 15. Postoffices, 6. Pop ulation, 3,012. Value of taxable property, $784,841. 86. County seat, Saint Marys. POCAHONTAS COUNTY. This county has a considerable variety of surface. Much of the land is in high mountains, which are rough and broken. The county has a good deal of the smoothly undu lating limestone land, found in Greenbrier and Monroe, RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 409 which is of the finest character. The soils are calcareous clays, or loams, or sandy loams. On the levels, the depth is 18 inches and more: on the hills and highlands, to 6 inches. Crops are Corn, Wheat, Oats, R>e, Buckwheat, and Grass. Yields on the bottoms, Corn, 35 to 40 bushels ; Wheat, 15 to 20; Oats, 30 to 40 ; Rye, 20 to 30; Buckwheat, 20 to 30 bush els ; on the uplands, when cultivated, Corn, 20 to 25 ; Wheat, 8 to 10; Oats, 25 to 30; Rye, 20 to 25; Buckwheat, 30 to 40 bushels. No manures used with these yields. Value of best agricultural land, S40 to 875 per acre; of ordinary $5 to 20; of timber land, 1 to 88. Timber, stumpage, is sold by the acre at 81.50 to $2 per acre ; at the saw mills lumber is worth 812,50 per 1,000. The principal industries are farming and grazing. The principal exports are, cattle, sheep, timber, and farm produce. Market for farm produce, Staunton : for cattle, Baltimore and New York : timber, mainly white pine, is &ent down the Greenbrier river to Ronceverte. Minerals, limestone in abundance for agricultural and building purposes ; good sandstone for building; also grits for grindstones and whet stones ; iron ore of good quality and in workable seams. Mineral waters, sulphur and chalybeate. Principal stream, Greenbrier river, navigable for rafts and small boats in high water. Present means of transportation, the turnpike and dirt roads to the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad. Contempla ted: Improvement of the Greenbrier river, the W. C. & St. L. Narrow Gauge railroad, North Branch railroad, West Virginia railroad. Public Schools, 35; Qhurches, 9; Postoffices, 16. Population, 4,069. Value of taxable property, 81,405,462.69. County seat, Huntersville. PRESTON COUNTY. The surface of Preston county shows a good deal of variety, it being mountainous, hilly and rolling, and "glady," or with a rolling plateau character. The soil varies a good deal also, being sandy, sandy loam, clay loam, and calcareous loam. The limestone appears in the hills, and gives the strongest soil. The " glade land " has a deep, black, unctious soil, often several feet deep, and sometimes needs ditching. Crops are Corn, Wheat, Oats, Rye, and Buckwheat. The depth of soil on the levels is 12 to 15 inches ; on the hills, 4 to 6 inches- Yields of grain, Corn, 25 to 40 ; Oats, 15 to 25 ; Buckwheat, 41 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 20 to 25 ; Rye, 12 to 15 bushels. These are on improved agricultural lands. Value of land, best agricultural, $25 to 840; common, from $10 to $20; timber land. $5 to $10 ; min eral land, $5 to $40. Value of timber, sturnpage, SI per tree ; at the mills, $10 to $15 per 1,000. Principal industries, farm ing, grazing and lumbering. Principal exports, stock, lum ber, and coal. Markets for all these are in the eastern cities. The minerals are coal (common bituminous), in several good workable seams ; iron (siderite), in workable quantities ; an abunance of excellent limestone, for building and agricul tural purposes ; good sandstone, for building purposes ; pot ters clay of good quality is found and worked. Manufactures and mines, the Newburg Orrell Coal Company, and the Aus tin mines, both ship a good deal of coal. Besides these, there are many openings for local use.- Manufactures, tfec., are, two iron furnaces, one foundry, four woolen factories, besides vari ous saw and grist mills; one cigar factory, making 105,400 cigars ; stave factories, cvc., etc., the number and kind not being definitely reported. The principal stream is Cheat, navigable in its lower portion for rafts and flat boats. Pres ent means of transportation, Baltimore and Ohio railroad and several good turnpike roads. Contemplated improvements, Iron Valley and Pennsylvania Line railroad. Public Schools, 110; Churches, 38; Postoffices, 30. Population, 14,555. Value of taxable property, $3,106,778.00. County seat, Kingwood, with about 900 inhabitants. Newspapers, Presion County Jfjiiriial and Preston County Herald, both weekly. PUTNAM COUNTY. This county is generally hilly and rolling. It has a good deal of bottom land of considerable fertility on the Kana- wha and the numerous creeks. These bottoms are a mile wide- on the Kanawha, and have a deep loam. On the hills the soil is clay, and calcareous clayey loam, of con siderable productiveness. The county is wooded over five- sixths of its area. The crops are Corn, Wheat, Oats, Buck wheat, and Tobacco. Yields of Corn on the bottoms are 50 to -SO bushels: Wheat, 12 to 15 bushels ; Oats, 25 to 30 bushels: while on the hills Corn produces 20 to 30 bushels; Wheat, S to 10 The soil on the bottoms is many feet deep, and on the hills 12 to^ IS indies, producing line grass and tobacco. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Value of land : Kanawha bottoms bring $100, other lands from $1 to $20, according to location and condition. Timber, stump- age, is worth about SI per tree ; at the mills, $13. Principal industries : Farming and Lumbering. Principal exports, Lum ber, Cooperage Stuff, Grain, and Coal. Staves, &c , go to Eng land ; Farm Produce, to Richmond and Cincinnati ; Timber, in logs, and Coal are sent down the river to Cincinnati, &c. Minerals: Coal of fme quality, and workable in quantity, is above water level ; some good Limestone, and Sandstone suit able for building occurs. Mines : Raymond Coal Co., ship- ing annually from 1,300,000 to 1,400,000 bushels. ,Oak Ridge Colliery ha^ just commenced operations. Manufactories, &c.: A large Flour Mill at Buffalo, Flour and Saw Mill at Win- field, Saw Mill at Hurricane, and at Raymond City, all driv en by steam. Principal streams, Kanawha, navigable for steamers ; Pocatalico, navigable for batteauxand rafts in good water. Present means of transportation, Kanawha river and Ches. & Ohio railroad. Contemplated : Improvement of the Kanawha river, now going on, and the West Va. R. R. Public Schools, 48; Churches, 14; Postofnces, 11. Population, 7,79-1. Value of taxable property, $1,823,624 00. County seat, Win- lield. Newspaper, Winfield Independent, weekly. RALEIGH COUNTY. The surface of Raleigh is hilly and mountainous, with a large proportion of plateau land, covered with undulating and rolling hills. The rivers cut deeply into the plane of the country, and the roughest land lies in the sides of the hills facing them. The soil is a loam, or sandy loam, 4 to 6 inches deep on the hills, and 6 to 10 inches, or more, on the levels. The hills and levels produce about alike. The crops are Corn, Wheat, Oats, Buckwheat, and Potatoes. Yields are Corn, 20 to 40 bushels ; Oats, 20 to 25 ; Wheat, 10 ; Rye, 15 to 25 ; Pota toes, 100 to 150. Price of agricultural land, $5 to $15 ; of tim ber and coal lands, from $1 to $5. Timber is worth 50 cents to $1 per tree, according to kind and location; at the mills, $10 per 1,000. Principal industries, farming and stock rais ing. Principal exports, cattle. Market: Cattle go to Balti more. Manufactures, etc.: Several steam saw mills, besides the usual grist and saw mills on streams. Minerals : Coal, in workable seams of good quality ; iron, in workable quantities ; 412 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. sandstone of good quality for building; good millstone grit. Principal streams: New river, navigable for batteaux; Piney river, for logs, in full water. Present means of transporta tion : Chesapeake and Ohio railroad and county roads. Con templated: The improvement of New river, and the Coal River railroad. Public schools, 47. Churches, 4. Postoffices, 10. Population, 3,673. Value of taxable property, $730,862.19. County seat, Raleigh C. H. RANDOLPH COUNTY. This county is quite mountainous, with a large proportion of rolling plateau, or glade land , and a good deal of fertile bottom land along the streams. It has a great amount of heavily timbered iorests, and a considerable proportion is owned in large tracts. The bottoms are loam, and sandy loam > the uplands and glades, sandy loam, and some calcareous land. On the hills the depth is 3 to 10 inches ; on the bottoms, from one to many feet. Crops are Corn, Wheat, Oats, Rye, Buckwheat and fine Grass. Corn produces on the levels, 25 to 70 bushels; Wheat, 10 to 15 ; Oats, 25 to 40. On the hills, Corn, 15 to 25 ; Wheat, 8 to 10; Oats, 20 ; BucV wheat, 20. Value of improved land, bottoms, $50 to $100; mountain, or glade land, $4 to $10; timber land, in large tracts, Irom $1 to $2.50 per acre. Value of timber, stumpage, $1 per tree. After sawing at the mills, $10 to $12.50 per 1,000. Principal industries, farming and stock raising. Principal exports : Stock and wool. The stock goes to eastern markets. Minerals: Coal, in workable beds in the western part ; limestone, suitable for building and agricultural purposes; good sandstone for building. Tygart s Valley is the principal stream; navigable for small boats in full water. Present means of transportation: Turnpikes and good county roads. Contemplated improvements : Wash ington and Ohio railroad, Potomac and Ohio railroad, W., C. & St. L. Narrow Gauge railroad, Shenandoah and Ohio rail road, and West Va. railroad. Public schools, 70. Churches, 14. Postoffices, 17. Population, 5,563. Value of taxable property, $1,561,101.23. County seat, Beverly. Newspaper, Randolph Enterprise, week ly . KITCHIJEJ COUNTY. This county is for the most part very hilly, and some of the hills are quite high, rising 600 feet above their valleys. There RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 413 are fine bottom lands along the streams. The soils are clayey and sandy loams, on the levels, 12 to 18 inches deep, and on the hills, 4 to 6 inches. The- crops adapted to these soils are, Corn, Oats, and Grass. But little wheat is sown, and most of the flour used comes from the State of Ohio. The crops aver age, per acre, on the levels, Corn, 40 to 50 bushels ; Oats, 20 to 25 : Potatoes, 75 to 100 ; Grass, 2 tons, and 1 ton on the hills. The hill crops of the grains are often as good as those on the levels. No manures are used for these yields. The value of the agricultural land is 810 to 820 per acre, and of the timber land from 84 to 86, according to location and amount of tim ber. Value of timber, stumpage, $1 per tree, and at the mills, 8 to 10 cents per cubic foot. Principal industries, farming, grazing, lumbering, arid -oil production. Principal exports, timber, lumber, cooperage stuff, on a iarge scale, stock, oil, and building stone. Principal markets, Parkersburg, Cincinnati, Baltimore, and eastern cities. The minerals are, petroleum, building stone of fine quality, and small seams of coal above water level. Manufactures, &c., stave factory at Pennsboro, one at Petroleum, and four mills on the North Fork of Hughes river, five mills on the South Fork, and several steam and water mills in other parts of the county ; cigar fac. tories making 77,000 cigars. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company works a large and valuable quarry of superior build ing stone. The Ritchie Asphaltum mines formerly carried on. extensive operations, but the deposit has now given out. The principal streams are the North and South Forks of Hughes river. They are navigable for rafts, ba.tteaux, and canoes, on a full stage of water. The means of transportation are, Park ersburg Branch of the Baltimore and Ohio jailroad, Penns boro and Harris ville railroad, and county roads. Public Schools, 78 ; Postoffices, 21 ; Churches, 35. Population, 9,055. Value o; taxable property, SI, 981, 650.00. Newspaper, Ritchie Gazette, weekly, published at Harris ville, the county seat. KOANE COUBITY. The surface of this county is hilly and roiling. The hills are lower than those on the Kanawha river, and have broad tops, with gentle slopes and valleys of considerable width between them. The soil is clay, and clay loam, usually with calcare, ous matter, and very fertile, The depth on the hills and 414 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. levels is nearly the same, vi/.: 8 to 12 inches. Crops are, Corn, Wheat, Oats, Tobacco and Grass. The bottoms yield, of Corn, 40 to 50 bushels ; Wheat, 15 to 20 bushels ; Oats, 30 to 40. On the hills. Corn produces 25 to 30 ; Wheat 10 to 15 ; Oats, 20 to 25. Value of agricultural land, S10 to $20; of timber land 15. The timber of Roane is very fine. European ship builders have agents getting out material for exportation. Timber is worth 75 cents to $1 per tree, stumpage, and at the mills, $10 to $14 per 1,000. Principal industries, farming stock raising, and lumbering. Principal exports, cattle, tobacco, forest and orchard products. Market for farm pro duce, Charleston and home ; for stock, Baltimore ; for tobacco, Parkersburg ; for timber, Parkersburg and points on the Ohio. Minerals, coal, in a good seam above water level ; good sandstone for building. The county has flouring and other mills, and woolen factories, but as they have not been reported we cannot say anything definitely about them. Pocatalico is the principal stream, and is navigable in high water for flat- boats and rafts. Present means of transportation, county roads. Contemplated improvements, Washington and Ohio railroad, and W. C. & St. L. Narrow Gauge railroad. Public Schools, 72; Churches, 6 ; Postoffices, 16. Population, 7,232. Value of taxable property, $1,022,767.00. County seat. Spencer. SUMMERS COUNTY. This county has some high mountains and a large proportion of rolling, or gently undulating plateau land. The soil is sandy or loam, and clay loam, with calcareous matter in some parts. On the hills it is 3 to 6 inches deep ; on the bottoms, 6 to 12. The crops are Corn, Wheat, Oats, Rye, Tobacco and Grass. Corn yields, on the levels, 30 to 35 bushels ; Wheat, 15 to 18; Rye, 15 ; Oats, 35. On the hills, Wheat and Rye, 10 bushels ; Corn and Oats, 25 ; Tobacco, 600 pounds. Value of agricul tural land, from $10 to $40 per acre ; of timber land, $1 to *">. Timber, stumpage, is worth 50 cents to SI per tree ; at the mills, pine and poplar, are worth $15 per 1,000. Principal industries, farming, lumbering and stock raising. Principal exports: Stock, tobacco, and timber. Market for stock, Bal timore; for tobacco, etc., Richmond and Cincinnati ; for titu- bei, eastern cities. Minerals. Coal, in probably workable RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 415 seams; sandstone, for building purposes; good limestone, for building and agricultural purposes. Alum, Chalybeate and Sulphur Springs. Manufactures : Hiuton lumber mills, Burk s and Clark s lumber mills, 3 or more flouring mills, 1 tobacco factory, producing 1,250 pounds, etc. Principal streams : New and Blue Stone rivers, navigable for canoes. Present means of transportation : Chesapeake and Ohio railroad. Contempla ted improvements : Improvement of New river, Blue Stone Mining railroad, and New River railroad. Public schools, 28. Postoffices, 17. Value of taxable property, $752,711. County seat, Hinton. Newspaper, Mountain Herald, weekly. TAYLOR COUNTY The surface of this county is very hilly, many o( the hills being quite high. Laurel Hill range passes through this county, but flattens out so as to be nothing more than a high range of hills. The land is mostly quite fertile, and most of it is arable. The soils are sandy loam, calcareous, and clay loams. On the hills they are 4 to 12 inches ; on the bottoms, 6 to 15 inches deep. The hills are about as productive as the levels. The crops are Corn, Wheat, Oats, and Grass. Corn pro duces 25 to 50 bushels ; Wheat, 8 to 15 bushels ; Oats, 15 to 25 bushels. The Taylor County Agricultural and Mechanical Society holds an annual Fair at Grafton, and distributes about $3,000 in premiums. The value of the agricultural land, when improved, is $20 to $60 ; of timber land, $12 to $25. For the privilege of mining the 7 foot gas coal seam, without the sur face land, average price $100 per acre; for the same privilege for the 5 foot seam, $20; for the 4 foot seam, $10, etc. Price ol timber, stumpage, good Oak and Poplar, S4 per tree ; Walnut, $5; other trees, $2; at the mills, $7 per 1,000. Principal in dustries : farming, stock raising, and lumbering. Principal exports : horses, cattle, timber, lumber, cooperage stuff, and coal. Markets : for timber, the mills in the county, where it is manufactured into plank, shook s, etc., and sent east. Some logs sent down the Monongahela to Pittsburgh. For stock, the markets are eastern cities ; for grain and general produce, the villages of the county. Minerals : abundance of good coal in large seams ; iron, in workable quantities; good limestone, for agricultural and building purposes ; excellent sandstones, for building ; good fire clay. Mines : Coal Tyrconnell mines. RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. Flemirigton mines, Clays ville mine-?, Pruntytown. mines ; the latter two for local use. Manufactures : Webster woolen fac tory, 2 steam furniture mills at Grafton, 2 steam furniture mills at Fetterman, 1 steam excelsior mattress factory at Graf- ton, where there are also 1 foundry and machine shop, the Baltimore and Ohio repair shop?, 1 wood pump factory, 3 shook factories 2 steam planing, sash and door factories, 1 cigar fac tor} -, making 596,400 cigars annually. Besides these there are in the county 12 steam saw mills, 6 steam flouring mills, 11 water grist mills, on Tygart s Valley river, and its tributaries; 6 tanneries. There are 6 water mills in Taylor county, on the river, within a distance of 15 miles. The principal stream is Tygart s Valley, which has, at Graf- ton, a large boom. It is capable of floating rafts, and is navi gable for batteaux and canoes all the year. Present means of transportation ; Baltimore and Ohio railroad (main stern) and Parkersburg Branch, Tygart s Valley river, and two principal turnpike roads. In contemplation : Slack water of Tygart s Valley river, and Buckhannon Minernl railroad. Schools: West Virginia College at Flemingtori, High School at Grafton, and 46 public schools. Churches, 3. Postofrices, 11. Population, 9,367. Value of taxable property, $4,058,763.27. County seat, Prunty- town, with a population ot about 800. Newspaper, Grafton Sentinel, weekly. TTJCKEK COUNTY. Tucker is a mountainous county, mostly in wild land. There is, however, a good deal of rolling plateau country, and the soil is very fertile in many places. The timber is very fine in amount, size, and kinds. The soil is sandy loam, and clayey loam : on the levels 3 to 12 inches deep ; on the hills 2 to 6 inches. Corn, Oats, Rye, and Buckwheat are the crops. Corn produces 20 to 30 bushels; Oats, 20 to 25 bushels; Rye, 8 bushels, on the hills or plateau. On the levels or bottoms, Corn produces 40 bushels : Rye 12 bushels ; Oats 25 to 30 bushels; Buckwheat, on levels, 30 bushels; on the hills 35 bushels. Value of land : Agricultural, 5 to 810 ; Wild Tim ber lands in large tracts. SI to $5. Value of Timber, stump- age, 81 per tree: at the mills, 6,25 to $10 per 1,000. Prin cipal industry: Farming. Principal exports: but little is exported from the county. A few Cattle and some Forest Pro- RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 41? ducts, Ginseng, &c., are sent out, and some little Lumber. The markets are along the Bait. & Ohio R. R. and in eastern cities. Minerals . Good Limestone for building and agricultural pur poses, and sandstone for building. There are some Saw and Grist Mills in the county. Principal stream, Cheat river. Public Schools, 18; Churches, 9; Postoffices. 9. Population, 1,917. Value of taxable property, 8377,111 24. County seat, Saint George. TYLER COUNTY. The surface of the county, back from the river and creeks is hilly ; however the hills are not rough, but are arable and fertile. There is a large amount of fine bottom land along the Ohio river, and Middle Island and other creeks. The soil is sandy loam, loam, and clayey loam, or clay, usually deep and mellow. On the levels it is from one to many feet deep ; on the hills 8 to 12 inches. Crops are, Corn, Wheat, Oats, Tobacco, and Grass. On the bottoms, Corn yields 50 to 65 bushels; Wheat, 10 to 12 bushels ; Oats, 30 to 40 bushels ; on the hills, Corn brings 35 to 40 bushels ; Wheat, 8 to 10 bushels ; Oats, 25 to 30 bushels ; Tobacco, 800 to 1,000 pounds. Value of land : Agricultural bottom lands, 840 to 6100; Upland, 820 to $30 ; Timber land, 810 to 820. Value of timber, sturnpage, 3 to 4 cents per cubic foot ; at the mills. 5 to 10 cents per cubic foot. Principal industries : Farming, Stock raising, and Lumbering. Principal exports : Tobacco, Grain, Stock, Sawed Lumber, and Cooperage Stuff. Markets for timber, points on the Ohio river; for Tobacco, Cincinnati ; for Stock, Baltimore and Phil adelphia. Minerals: Small Coal seams above water level; some Iron and Limestone, and good Sandstone for building. Manufactures : Two Woolen Mills, and several Saw and Grist Mills, not definitely reported. The principal streams are the Ohio river and Midclle Island creek ; the latter is navigable for rafts and flat boats on full water. Present means of transpor tation : The Ohio river and Bait. & Ohio R. R. Improvements contemplated : The improvement of the navigation of Middle Island creek, The Pittsburgh, Wheeling <fc Kentucky R. R. Public schools, 67; Churches, 22; Postoffices, 15. Population, 7,832. Value of taxable property, 81,838,126. County seat, Middlebourne, with a, population of about 500 inhabitants. 53 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. TJPSHUR COUNTY. This county has a very diversified surface ; a portion is rough ; most of it hilly, with a good deal of undulating and table land. The soil is sandy, clay, and loam ; depth on the levels, 8 to 10 inches ; on the hills, 4 to 6 inches. Crops, Corn, Wheat, Oats, and Grass. The hills produce nearly as well as the levels. Corn yields from 25 to 40 bushels ; Wheat, 5 to 15 ; Oats, 20 to 30. Value of land: agricultural, 5 to 830; timber land, SI to $5. Value of timber: stumpage, $1 per tree ; at the river, delivered in the stream, $1 to $2 per log ; sawed at the mills, $5 to 37.50 per 1,000. Principal industries: farming, stock raising, and lumbering. Principal exports: stock, tobacco, lumber, timber, and forest products. Cattle go to eastern cities, timber to Grafton. Coal in workable seams, some iron, good sandstone for building. Manufactures, mills, ifcc., not reported. Principal stream, Buckhannon river, nav igable for canoes. Present means of transportation, turnpike and county roads. Improvements contemplated: Buckhannon Mineral railroad, Shenandoah and Ohio railroad, and Washing ton and Ohio railroad. Schools, &c., Buckhannon Normal Acad emy, Frenchton Academy, Public Schools, 58; Churches, 31; Postoffices, 15. Population, 8,023. Value of taxable property, $2,353,008.54. County seat, Buckhannon. Newspaper, Buck hannon Delta, weekly. WAYNE COUNTY. The surface of this county is hilly, the hills being compara tively low on the Ohio, and rising higher back in the country. There is a good deal of fine bottom land on the Ohio river (the bottoms are about half a mile wide), and on the other streams and creeks. These bottoms, and the sloping hills near the water-courses, form all the cleared land, most of the county being in forest. This county yields .some of the finest timber in the State. The soil is mainly loam, very deep on the levels, and lying 6 to 8 inches thick on the hills. The land is usually very fertile, and produces fine Corn, Wheat, Oats, Tobacco and Grass. Some acres of Ohio bottoms have pro duced 110 bushels of Corn. The yields are, on the bottoms, of Corn, 50 to 70 bushels ; Wheat, 10 to 15; Oats, 25 to 40; on the hills, Corn, 30 to 50 bushels ; Oats, 20 to 30; Wheat, 8 to 10. Value of Ohio bottoms, $80 to $100; other bottom land, RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 419 $10 to $20 ; hill mineral, and timber land, $5 to $10 per acre. Value of timber, stumpage, $1 per tree ; at the mills, 8 to 10 cents per cubic foot. Principal industries, farming and lum bering. Principal exports, grain, young cattle, tobacco, tim ber. The markets for all are down the Ohio, except for the young cattle, which are sold to inland counties. Minerals : Wayne has abundant supplies of the finest splint, cannel, and common bituminous coal, in large seams above water level ; iron ore in workable quantities; fine potters clay and good sandstone for building ; yellow ochre; salt water is found at Warfield, Kentucky, just beyond the south corner of the county ; 250 bushels of salt per day are made. Manufactures, At Ceredo, two extensive saw and planing mills; steam saw and grist mills at Cassville, Trout Hill, and other points, along Sandy and Twelve-Pole rivers. The principal streams are the Ohio. Big Sandy and Tug Fork. The two latter are navigable for from 5 to 10 months of the year, by steamers and heavy barges. Rafts are floated down Twelve- Pole, in freshets. Present means of transportation, Ohio river and Big Sandy. Improvements contemplated : Improve ment of the navigation of the Big Sandy, and of Twelve- Pole, the Northern and Southern West Virginia railroad, Ohio River and Wayne County Mineral railroad, Pittsburgh, Wheeling and Kentucky railroad, and Tug River railroad. Public Schools. 66; Churches, 10; Postoffices, 18. Population, 7,832. Value of taxable property, $1,965,714.46. County seat, Wayne C. H. Newspaper, Wayne Advocate, weekly. WEBSTER COUNTY. The southern portion of this county, next to Nicholas, is rolling and hilly plateau land, which is also the character of the northern part. The central and eastern portions, making up a large part of the county, are exceedingly rocky and rough, with very high mountains. Much of this land is too rough for cultivation, the soil being also thin and obstructed with stones. In our remarks, we will deal only with the arable plateau lands. The soil is sandy and loam, from 4 to 6 inches deep on the hills, and on the levels 8 to 12 inches. The crops are Corn, Wheat, Oats, Rye and Grass. The yields on the levels and hills are about the same; Corn 25 to 35 bush els; Wheat 8 to 10; Oats 25. Value of farming land, S2 to $5; 420 RESOURCES OP WEST VIRGINIA. wild lands in large tracts sell for 25 cents to SI per acre, Value of timber not reported, but tfhere is no sale for it, and it is used only for home consumption. The principal industry is farm ing and stock raising. Principal exports: Cattle and Sheep, which find their way through intermediate points to the east ern cities. Minerals: thin Coal seams in the hills; Limestone for agricultural and building purposes; excellent Sandstone. Most of the county is covered with heavy forests, and is very inaccessible. The only means of transportation is by dirt road-?. The principal stream is Elk river, by which some logs are floated out from the western part of the county. Contem plated improvements: the West Virginia Central railroad, the West Virginia railroad, and the Gauley River railroad. Pub lic Schools 10; Churches, 3; Postoffices, 7; Population, 1,730: value of taxable property, $543,19239; County Seat, Web ster C. H. WETZEL COUNTY. Wetzel county has a good deal of fine bottom land along the Ohio river and Fishing creek, which resembles the usual bot toms along this river and its affluent creeks, being noted for fertility. Most of the county is occupied by hills with nar row valleys. The hills along the Ohio are quite high, and rise to a very considerable height towards the western side of the county, where they have narrow backs and steep slopes. Though so hilly, the land is not rocky or rough usually, but has a fine depth of fertile soil. However, the slopes of the hillsides are too steep to render frequent ploughing advisable. The soil is a loam, or sandy loam. The depth on the hills is 6 to 10 inches, and on the levels from one foot to many. The crops are Corn, Oats, Wheat, and Potatoes. The hills produce as well as the upland levels. The yields are, Corn, 40 to 50 bushels ; Oats, 30 to 40 , Wheat, 10 to 12 ; Potatoes, 100 to 150. The value of the Ohio bottoms, as usual, is from $75 to $100; other arable lands, $10 to $25; timber land, $10 to $12. The timber has a higher value, according to its proximity to the Ohio river and the railroad. Value, stumpage, is $1 to $2.50 per tree ; at the mills, $10 to $12 per 1,000. Principal industries, farming, stock-raising, and lumbering. Principal exports, stock, timber and lumber. Markets for stock and farm produce. Baltimore and Wheeling ; for timber, <fcc., Bal- RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 421 tiraore; Wheeling, and other points on the Ohio. Minerals, coal in workable seams above water level ; good sandstone for building; some limestone for agricultural and building purposes. Manufactures, 3 woolen mills, and various saw mills, not reported definitely. The principal streams are the Ohio river and Fishing creek. Fishing creek is navigable for rafts and flat boats in high water. Present means of trans portation: Baltimore and Ohio railroad and Ohio river. In con templation: Narrow Gauge road from New Martinsville to the Forks of Fishing creek, improvement of the navigation of Fishing creek, and the Pittsburgh, Wheeling and Kentucky railroad. Public Schools, 61; Churches, 12 ; Postoffices, 14. Population, 8,595. Value of taxable property, 81,633,764.43. County seat, New Martinsville. Newspaper, Labor Vindicator, weekly. WIRT COUNTY. This county is hilly, and in some parts rough. It has good bottom lands on the rivers and creeks. The soils are clay, or clay loam, 18 inches deep on the level lands, and averaging 8 inches on the hills, being deepest and best on the north sides. The crops adapted to the soils are, Corn, Wheat, Oats, Potatoes, and Tobacco. The yields are, on the bottoms, Corn, 80 to 40: Wheat, 15 to 20; Oats, 25 to 30; Potatoes, 100 to 150 bushels ; Tobacco, 1,000 to 1,200 pounds ; on the hills, Corn, 30 to 35; Wheat, 10 to 15; Potatoes, 100; Tobacco, 1 ,2CO to 1,500 pounds. No manures are used for these crops. Value of improved agricultural land, from 810 to 8100 per acre; of oil land, 8100 to 81,000; of timber laud, $2.50 to 825. Principal industries: farming, grazing, oil-raising, and lum bering. Principal exports: lumber, hoop-poles, tan-bark, petroleum, and stock. The general markets for timber are Parkersburg and points on the Ohio river. Value of the tim ber, stumpage, is 81 per tree, and 8 to 12 cents per cubic foot at the mills. The principal minerals are, limestone for building and agricultural purposes, sandstone for building, whetstone, potters clay, and oil ; coal is above water level in small seams. Manufactures are, one woolen factory at Eliza beth, six steam lumber mills, one flouring mill at Elizabeth, and two on Hughes river, as well as various grist mills. Means of transportation: steamers on the Little Kanawha, 422 RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. and county roads. Contemplated improvements: the further improvement of the Little Kanawha. Public Schools, 43; Postoftiees, 6 ; Churches, 8. Population, 4,804. Value of taxable property, $1,035,708.00. County beat, Elizabeth. News paper, the Wiri County Mentor, weekly, published at Elizabeth. WOOD COUNTY. The general surface of Wood county is hilly, with some quite high hills and rough land- There are extensive flats on the Ohio and Little Kanawha, and the hills near these streams arc comparatively low and smooth. About one -third of the county is cleared. It has fine timber in the southern part, where the soil is calcareous. The soil is loam, sandy, clayey and calcareous in different portions of the county. The best upland soil is in the south, where limestone is displayed among the strata. The crops are Corn, Wheat, Oats, Tobacco and Grass. On the ordinary uplands Corn produces 20 to 25 bushels: Wheat, 6 to 8 bushels: Oats, 15 to 20 bushels; on the bottoms Corn produces 40 to 80 bushels ; Wheat, 12 to 15 bushels ; Oats, 20 to 30 bushels. Soil on the hills often thin, from 1 to 4 inches; on the bottoms, one foot to many. An annual Fair is held at Parkersburg, where about $6,000 are distributed in premiums. Value of Ohio bottoms. $60 to $100, other bottoms, $20 to $50 ; hill land from $1 to $15, according to the character of the soil; timber land from $2 to 15. Value of timber, not reported. Principal industries: farm ing, stock raising, manufacturing, oil raising, and lumber ing. Principal exports : Oils of various kinds, manufactured articles, lumber, stock, and grain. Markets for stock and farm produce, eastern cities; for oils, eae-t and west; for timber, Parkersburg, and points on the Ohio. Minerals: small coal scams; petroleum, pumped from over 200 wells; good pipe and potters clay; good sandstone, for building: limestone, in the southern part, good for agricultural and building purposes; mineral water (magnesium). Manufactures, etc.: 2 breweries, producing 2,206 barrels ; 4 tobacco factories, producing 44,918 pounds; -- cigar factories, producing 831,000 cigars: 6 oil refineries at Parker.sburg and one at Volcano: one pottery: Balti more and Ohio railroad machine shops at Parkersburg: one large cooper shop and several smaller ones at Parkersburg and Belle ville; brick works at Parkersburg; besides numerous flour, saw RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA. 423 and planing mills and tanneries at Parkersburg, Rockport, Wadeville, and other points. This list is not complete, as we have very imperfect reports of the manufactories. The prin cipal streams are the Ohio river and Little Kanawha, both navigable the year round for steamers and barges. Present means of transportation : these streams and the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. Contemplated : Pittsburgh, Wheeling and Kentucky railroad. Puhlic institutions, United States Cus tom House. Public schools, 99, Churches, 49. Postomces, 23. Population, 19,000. Value of taxable property, $6,959,- 263. County seat, Parkersburg, a thriving town of about 8,000 inhabitants. Newspapers: Daily and Weekly Times, State Journal, Sentinel, Inquirer, (last three weekly), and the \\ r e*t Virginia Educational Monthly. WYOMING COUNTY. This county has a good deal of rough, broken land, Its surface is hilly, the hills rising into high mountains. Nearly all of the land is in the original forest. The climate is quite mild. The soil is a loam, or sandy loam, very deep and rich on the bottoms. There is a good deal of wide bottoms near the Court House, where the land is very productive. The soil on the hills, is from 4 to 6 inches deep, and very fertile. There is very little cultivation carried on in the county generally. The crops are Corn, Wheat, Rye, Oats, Buckwheat, Tobacco, and Grass. The hills and bottoms yield about alike. Corn produces 30 to 50 bushels ; Wheat, 10 to 15 ; Buckwheat, 25 to 30; Oats, 25 to 30. Principal industries: stock raising and lumbering. Principal exports : stock, timber, ginseng, and skins of wild animals. Mai kets : animals are driven eastward, timber is rafted down to points on the Ohio, other produce is transported to the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad. Corn is im ported into this county from Ohio at SI per bushel (January, 1876). Minerals : Coal is in fine workable seams ; fine build ing stone (sandstone). Principal stream, Guyandotte river; it will float logs in high water. Present means of transporta tion : rough county roads. Public schools, 29. Churches, 2. Postofhces, 10. Population, 2,861. Taxable property, $955,- 377.63. County seat, Oceana. FINIS. INDEX. A GRICULTURE, causes prevent jL\. ing development of. 62 Alluviuwi, streams and uplands 50 ALTITUDES On B. & O. R. R 19 of different belts of country parallel to the Ohio 17 On east border of, Jefferson county 21 On Greenbrier River 17 On Kanawha River 17 Miscellaneous, in W. Virginia.. 21 On New River 17 On Ohio River .. 17 On W.& O. R. R 18 ANALYSES Abram s Creek Coal 171 Austin Coal 224 Black Band Gauley. 249 Black Band, in Kanawha 249 Black Band, in Wayne 249 Brantzburg coal 170 Briar Hill coal 233 Cannel coal , 241 Clyde splint 233 Coal frorn Pittsburgh seam in West Virginia 221 Coal Valley coal 22f Fire clay 317 Grant county iron ores 270 Greenbrier iron ores 265 Hampshire iron ores 272 Hardy iron ores 269 Hawk s Nest coal 226 Hydraulic limestone 314 Indiana splint 233 Kanawha coals, for gas 224 Kanawha iron ores 249-261 Limestones 312 Manganiferous iron ores 262 Mineral county iron ores 251 Monongalia county iron ores 25"i New river coals 226 Pendleton county iron ores 267 Pittsburgh coal.. 233 Pittsburgh coal in W. Va 221 Preston iron ores 252 Raleigh iron ores 263 Redstone coal 217 Sewickley coal 217 Splint coal 233 Taylor iron ores 258 Tumielton coal 223 Wayne county coals 228 W r aynesburg coal 217 Wilson iron ore 262 Winifrede coal 225 Yorkshire coal 233 Anticlinal axes, how formed 188 54 ! Appalachian coal field, area in different States 162 1 Appalachian coal field, production of. coal inl870 162 ! Apples, cultivation, <frc., of 82 ; Ash, Black, character and uses 112 Ash, Blue and Green, character ;uid uses 113 ! Ash, Mountain, character and uses lit Ash, White, character and uses Ill > Aspen, character and uses 1M Austen Coal Company 175 T3 ARBOUR COUNTY, general de- O scription of 364 Barbour county, quality of coal hi.. 22;? Barley, yields of 71 Barytes 320 Baltimore & Ohio R, R 337 Beech, character and uses. 114 Beech, Water, character and uses... 114 Berkeley county, coal in 213 Berkeley county, general descrip tion of. 365 Berkeley county Springs 324 Bethany College 359 B g Bewell, coal in 193 Birch, Red and Black, chaiacter and uses 115 Bituminous coal 216 Black Band iron ore 248 Blast furnaces, destruction of for ests for 244 Bloomery Iron W r orks 271 Blue Stone Mining: R. R 33S Blue Sulphur Springs 333 Board of Education 348 Booiie county, general description of 36 Braxtoii county, general descrip tion of 367 Brines, strength of. 274 Bromine 296 Brooke county, general descrip tion of 368 Buckeye, Sweet and Fetid, char acter and uses of. 115 Buckhannoii Mineral R. R 333 Buckwheat, cultivation, yields, &c 71 Building fund, how raised 349 Building stones 315 Butter and cheese production, character of ,. 79 CABELL roi NTY, general de scription of ... :>i;y 426 INDEX. Calhouii couiitv, general descrip tion of. " 370 Canneltoii cannel, yields ot oil 240 Cannelton, coal .scams at 198 CANNEL As a gas producer ^11 Irregularity ot... 238 Monongalia county - 239 Cotton wood, cliaracter and uses 117 County Superintendent of Free Schools 350 (Cranberry river, coal on 193 Crops, miscellaneous 78 Crops, rotation of 65 Cucumber Tree, character and uses 117 on Prickett s creek 240 Cumberland .Moorefield & Broad - Randolph county. Shale similitude to cannel 239 2412 way R. R.. Shale, yield of oil 241 In Taylor county.. 240 Thickest seams in \\Vst V a 239 On White Day creek 240 Canon features 3 Canons, production of. 13 Capon Springs 326 Capon Iron works 26S Carbonate of Iron, occurrence ol... 250 Carboniferous strata, character and soil of 60 CATTLE Best improved t 93 Exports of and markets for 95 (ieneral remarks on !.> Kinds of ! Management of 92 Management of, in South Branch District 97 Cedar, character and uses character of timber in genei al 144 Cheese 79 Cherry river, coal on 193 Cherry, Wild, character and uses... 116 ; Chesapeake <& Ohio Canal 343 ; Chesapeake A: Ohio R. R 337 , Chestnut, character and uses 116 | Clay county, general description ol 371 | Climate, general causes controll ing 21 Climate of Oh .o River Valley 23 ; Climate, suitableness of for sheep... 104 Climatic division of State 23 Climatic records for Marietta 33 | Clinton, position, character, und soil of 55 Clover, Red and White 98 COAL Market quotations ol 245 Ash, plioshorus in 235 Consumption on A. M. & O. en gines 2:17 Consumption on B. & O. en gines 2-J2 Consumption on C. it O. en gines l"- !7 Consumption on Kv. c. en gines ; Increase ol markets for 243 . TTVMR T)\YS, average number.,. 242 P DECKER S CREEK, coal on- 178 Depth ot salt wells 287 i DEVELOPMENTS OF TIMBER On B & O. R, R 155 On Big Sandy 160 In centre and western portion of State 153 On Great Kanawha 160 On Qreenbrier river 151 on Little Kanawha 159 On Ohio river 159 ! Difficult creclc, coal on 173 i Dimmock, coal at 194 Dip in Kanawha Valley* 202 Dip between Quinnimont and Sew- ell -. 195 Dip between Sewell and Hawk s Nest 196 115 I Doddridge county, general descrip tion of 372 Doddridge Music and Art School... 360 Dogwood, character, uses, Arc 117 T7>DUCATION ................................... * 4 ~ JLlJ Educational Monthly. .............. 362 Flder, Box, character and uses ........ 118 ELEVATIONS At Cannelton ............................... 19* opposite Coalburg ...................... 200 At Hawk s Nest.. ......... : .............. l .K> On Paint Creek ........................... 19U QuinnimoiU seam At Sewell Elk river, coal on head ot Elk river, improvement of K!k River Iron and C >al Company Kim, Slippery, character and uses.. 118 Kim, Waboo, character and uses... 20 Kim, White, character and uses ..... 119 Erosion, effects of in central and and southern portions of the State .......................................... 11 Krosion, e fleets of in mountain re- ~ ............................ 9 192 195 193 345 5S Markets for Relation of Virginia iron ores to : 214 Measures, geographical division of 168 Measures, geological division of 167 Coal River R. R MS Coffee Tree, character and uses 117 Colored Schools of the State :*5S Colored Schoojsof Wheeling 361 Commercial Schools 360 Concord Normal School 357 Consumption of salt in I niled States 296 Copper Corn, cultivation and yield ot Cotton 321 60 Fair days, yearly number 47 Fairmont Normal School 356 Farm produce, statistics of 88 Farm products, general remarks on 62 Farming, calendar 31 Fayette county, general descrip tion of. 373 Fir, Ulack and Balsam, character and uses : 120 Fireclay 316 Fishing creek, improvement of 346 Fleeces, weight of 104 Fleming College. 359 Formations mainly influencing topography 4 Free schools 347 Frost, latest and earliest 46 INDEX. 427 Fruit culture 81 j IROX ORE Fruit, inuill 83 | In Monongalia ,254 In Monroe 264 111 Morgan V GARDEN PRODUCTS S4 In Peiidlet*ri " : >tr> Gas wells in Kan awn a 2S^ InPocahontas" " "" ";5 Gauley river, coal on head of 193; In Preston " >."> Gauley river, improvement of. 345 ; in Raleigh " Vis* Gauley River R. R 339 ; In Taylor " "" ">57 Geography of West Va 362 1 j n Vallev of "Virginia: r >43 Gilmer county, general descrip- m Wayne 4fi 9tf] tion of..- :;7! In West Virginia.:: ~M7 M Iron Valley^- Pa. R. R . " . 339 Glass sand 31 H Iron-wood, character and uses 123 Glenville Normal School 35<> : Gold S22 Grant county, general description TACKS* )N COUNTY, ^eiieral de- of - 374 ,] serintion of scription of 381 Jefferson count v, general descrip- 382 Grapes, cultivation, &c.. Grasses 91) Grassy r in. coal on 184 Grazing counties 95 Grazing farms-formation of moun- i T7-ANAW1TA COUNTY, -eneral f*JP ,- 94 JV description of 383 Great Conglomerate, charac-teris- r oa ] lield.... ." W7 t ( s ; l ( ii Amount of coal in ?01 Greenbrier county, general de- Pal t, chronological "tabie:/.: I 304 scnption of 875 S ; iM, discoverv of 278 Greenbrier county, coal m 213 Salt Furnaces "" 303 SlunnXrin - im v< "-nt* of 343 ; ^,,, f>Pn ^, H , p^^rtiw oCr m gSiS^tfnTSweSiV^-rS^ 813 SlVt. SS.^^i ?S <**S?6:&~ ::::::. m KPttlp ibrn< ..-~-^r:rr: Guyandotte * Ohio River R. R 389 Guyandotte river improvement 345 -p AX , ,, ,; in , )r0 ve,l acreage of.. 88 LJ Lead... .",21 TTAC KBERHY, character and t of^^.^^^t^^sgft Haniilf(m; prsViioiV; chaV-ai.t;-; : and \ L]mVstone,"cV>Vn mon::: 310 ian ^^^l^j^ --- : is^ ^r^^^S 58 on 01 3T3 tion of I ^^R Hin.-or.k county, genera] deserip- g Linden, character and: us^::V.:.:::;: S Hardv coukty^n^ral deVcription ^ | J^ ffiSSMi^ Jg Hardy White Sulphur SpriVu^: ^ LO ^"" on of^ fff>n ml (1eSCri P tion ,o- Hr.rrison county, general descrip- | Lowe, Barrens on tne Kanawha ^02 1^^^,^ | j -^HS~I^^: ;; uses 121 Hickory, character and uses.. 121 Hillary Coal Bank 1x5 Holly, character and uses . .. " 122 Hominy river, coal on 193 Honey, causes favoring production 80 Hydraulic limestone 313 TRONOREin Barbonr 258 J In Berkeley 272 In Braxton and Clay . . 258 In Grant . 251, 2 !9 In Greenbrier 265 In Hampshire . .". . . 271 In Hardy fn Jackson " 203 ln ; Jefferson ........:.. 273 In Kanawha 9.4Q 9n In Lower Barren. er county and Rich Mountain"182 Lower Helderherg, position, char-" acter and soils 55 McCQRKLE S.C., Topographical Report of 20 ! McDowell county, general descrip tion of 392 McDowell county, c.oalin, 193 Magnesia Springs 334 Magnetic declinations 22 Mahonina sandstone in Monongalia 181 Manganese 320 Maple, Red. character and uses 128 Maple, Silver, character and uses... 127 Maple, Sugar, character- and uses... 125 Maries 314 Marion county, description at."" . ". 388 In Mercer % Marion county, quality coal in 218 In Mineril "" 4ci i -^ ars hall county, general descrip- "" ff o* I tion of ... 390 428 INDEX. Marshall College , 356 Marshes of Coal river, formation of 14 Martinsburg & Potomac R. R 338 Mason county, general description of . 391 Mason county, quality coal in 219 .Meadows of Meadow river, forma tion of. 14 Medical Student. 3(W Medicinal plants 138 Medina sandstone, position, char acter and soils ol 54 Mercer county, general description of 393 Mercer county, coal in 189 Merino origin of 100 Middle Island creek, improvement of 34G Mineral county, general descrip tion of 394 Mineral county, quality coal in 217 Mineral Springs production of 57 Mineral Waters 323 Mining advantages in W. Va 215 Monorigalia county, general de scription of 395 Monongalia county, quality coal in 218 Monorigahela river, improvement 01 343 Monroe couiitv, general description of 396 Morgan county, general descrip tion of 396 Morgautown Female Seminary 360 Morgantown, climatic records of.... 29 Mount de Chantal 3(ii) Mud River R. R 339 Mulberry, Red, character and uses 129 NAVIGATION Big Coal river 343 Big Handy 343 Great Kanawha 312 Little Kanawha 342 Monongahela ; 343 Ohio 34 1 Newburg Coal Company 176 New oil territory .*. 300 New river coals 189 New river coal basin, how formed., is? New river coal basin, regularity Ol strata in 189 New river coal basin, thickness of coal measures in 188 New river, improvement of 344 New River Mining and Manufac turing Company.... 339 Nicholas county, general descrip- . lion of..- - 597 NOKMAL, SC J 1001,8 353 Discipline 3o5 How controlled 353 Rates of tuition 355 Regulations of -~>i Subjects taught 355 North Branch Potomac, improve ment ol North Branch R. R Northern A- Southern \V . Ya. R. R.. O A K Character and uses of. black 132 Black Jack 131 Bur KM) Chestnut 130 Laurel 131 !>in 132 Post,... ... 130 OAK Red 131 Scarlet 131 Spanish 13L Swamp White 131 White . . 129 Willow " . . . 131 Oats, yields, &c 70 Ochre 320 Ohio -county, general description of 398 Ohio county, quality coal in 219 Ohio River & Wayne Mineral R. R. 340 Oil break 305 Oil in salt wells 288 Oil tanks 308 Old Greasy 2S8 Orchard grass 98 Orich s Sulphur Springs 325 Oriskany, position, character, and soils of ., 56 PAINT CREEK R. R 340 Parkersburg Mineral Wells 334 Parkersburg oil refineries 308 Peaches 83 Pears 83 Pend eton county, general descrip tion of 407 Pennsboro & Harrisville R. R 337 PETROLEUM 305 In Kanawha 288 Near Morgantown 306 Tseful productions from 309 Peytona cannel, oil from 240 PINE -Character and uses of. Black 133 Yellow 132 White 132 Pittsburgh, Cincinnati it St. Louis R. R 338 Pittsburgh, Wheeling & Bait. R. R. 338 Pittsburgh, Wheeling & Kentucky U.K. 340 Pittsburgh seam, character of in different counties 206 to 211 Pittsburgh seam eastern limit of... 205 Plateaux, production of by ero sion 15 Pleasants county, general descrip tion of 408 Poeohontas county, general des cription ot 408 Poeahontas county, coal in 213 Poplar, character and uses 133 Potatoes, Irish, cultivation, <fce 72 Potatoes, Sweet, cultivation, &c 72 Potomac & Ohio R. R 310 Potomac coal basin 169 Potters clay 318 Preston countv, general descrip tion of . 409 Preston county coal besin, seams in ." 174 Privat" Schools 359 Production salt Kanawha county,.. 303 Production sail Mason county 276 Public schools of Wheeling 3(il Putnam county, general descrip tion ol 110 Putnam county, quality coal in 219 Q I ALITIKS of good furnace coal 233 Quinces 83 INDEX. 429 RAIN and snow at Marietta 44 Rainfall, etc., season average at Wheeling 30 RAINFALL, ETC. Mean annual at Wheeling 30 JVt ean for year and seasons at Kanawha Salines 31 Mean for year and seasons at Lewisburg 31 Mean for year at White Sul phur Springs 31 Mean, monthly at Marietta 42 Rainy, &c., days, No. of, at Wheel ing 30 Raleigh county, general descrip tion of. 411 Raleigh county, coal in 192 Randolph county, general descrip tion of. 412 Randolph county, elevated water shed of 1 Randolph county, quantity coal in 223 Red Bud, character and uses 135 Red haematites of the coal meas ures 203 Redstone seam in different coun ties 20(5-7-9-10-11 Red Sulphur Springs 332 Ripley & Ohio Narrow Guage R. .R 340 Ritchie county, general descrip tion of 412 River traiisportion., 342 Roane county, general description. 413 Roaring run, coal on 185 Ruflher s first salt Avell 2X1 Rush creek, coal on.... 194 Rye, cultivation, &c 71 SALT PACKING 294 Salt transporiion 294 Salt wells in Mason 277 Saltpetre 321 Salt Sulphur Springs 332 Sand run, coal on 184 Sandstones, character of soils of 52 Sassafras, character and uses 135 School lund, how raised 347 School work, tabulated 352 Scon s run, coal on 178 SECTION Opposite Coalburg 200 At Hawk s Nest 195 On Paint creek 199 Near Piedmont 169 At Quinnimont.... 190 At Sewell 195 At Wheeling 210 Lower coal measures in Monon- galia 178 Lower coal measures in Upshur 184 Scwicklev seam in different coun ties 206-7-9-10-11 Shales, character of soils of 51 Shannondale Springs 325 SHEEP Excellency of water for 101 Feeding period in different States 104 Improvement in breeding 109 Kinds and variety ot food for... 102 Markets for 106 suitableness of climate for 104 Sui face of country favorable for 105 Shenandoah and.Ohio railroad ^310 Shenandoah river, improvement)*** of .... .... 346 Shepherd s College and Normal School 356 Shrubs, and small trees 137 Silver 322 Slips or jars 286 Snow, earliest, latest and heaviest falls of 45 Sod, grass used for 97 Soda ash 297 Soda ash, advantages for making in Kanawha 3UO Soda ash, importance of 297 SOILS Alluvial, character of 50 Calcareous, character of. 50 Clay, character of 48 Loams, character of ... 49 Sandy, character of 19 Suitableness for sheep 101 Sorghum, cultivation, ttc 74 Sourwood, character mid uses 13<> South Branch railroad 341 SPLINT COAL Area of 229 For blast furnace use 230 Hardness of. l 3(> In heating furnace 23H For steam 23(i Supeiiority of 230 St. Albaus Seminary 340 Sf. Alphonsus 360 St. .Toseoh s Academy 360 State Superintendent of Schools 350 Steer creek, improvement of !!(> Steer Creek Valley and Elk River R. R .".10 Stock, cost of wintering in differ ent States 103 Stoney river, coal on 172 Stover Lollege :<59 Streams, direction of 1 Structure of southern and central portion of State 10 Summers county, general descrip tion 414 Summers county, coal in 190 Sw.-e: Siirings 327 Sycamore, character and uses 136 TAYLOR-COUNTY, general des cription of 415 Taylor county, quality of coal in 218 Teachers fund, how raised 348 Teachers normal schools, 361 TEMPERATURE Causes influencing 25 At Marietta 3t Mean monthly, Lewisburg 27 Mean monthly, Kanawha Sa lines .; 2(i Mean monthly, Wheeling 2H Mean for seasons at Wheeling.. 26 Tests of coal in Chicago 219 Thickness coal seams in Wayne county 228 TIMBER Distributioii"of 144 On Cheat river 149 In Greenbrier 150 Of mountain region 147 Of plateau region 145 Of yew pine district 148 Timothy , 98 Tobacco, cultivation, ttc * f 75 TOPOGRAPHICAL character ofCon-jj F.omerate 5 lower barrens 5 430 INDEX. TOPOGRAPHICAL Of Upper Barrens.. 5 Of Unibral and Vespertine.. 6 Division of the State 6 TOPOGRAPHY On Green brier river 4 Of hilly region 7 Of J effe rson , Ac 21 On the Kanuwha river 2 Of the mountain region- 8 On New river :{ In North of State 4 Traiisportatation 33.~> Tubing lines 308 Tu.-ker county, general description of -]l(i Tucker county, COM! in 213 Tufa . . 312 Tug River R. K 31! Turnips, cultivation, &c 73 Twelve Pole, improvement of 3-H5 Tygart s Valley river, coal on ISo Tyler county, general description of ... 417 TTMBRAL, character O f soils of... f>9 U University of W.Va 357 Upper Coal Measures, principal coals of 204 Upper Coal Measures, thickness of 203 Upshnr county, general descrip tion of . . 418 Upshur county, quality coal in }3 \TALTjEYJl. R ... 338 > Value State school property... 3f>l \ esp.-rtine, character of soils of. f>8 Vineyards Si WALNUT, black, character and uses 13(1 Walnut, white 137 Washington & Ohio K. R 341 Washington seam in different counties 212 Water shed nor I h and sout h, of 1 he rotate I Wayne count \ general description of 418 Wayne county, thickness of coal seams 22* Waynesbnrg seam in different count irs 207-9-10-11 Webster county, general descrip tion of.. 119 West Fork cv \VesIoii R. R 342 West Liberty Normal School ;>">7 \V KST VlWil N-JA- Railroad 341 < entral R. R 341 Division of People s Freight R.R 312 ( oaltield, advantages of locat ing in 24H Coaitield, counties without coal lt>3 Kustern boundary of 164 General sketch of Itii i Relation of Ohio riv r tw Jtif) \\ etxei county, general description of 420 Wheat, cultivation, <fcc B8 Wheeling Female College 35!) Wheeling. manufactures and gen eral descript ion of. 397 to 407 White Sulphur Springs 328 Williams river, coal on, 193 Willow, white, character and uses.. 137 WINDS Direction at Marietta 37 Effect 011 weather 2S . u-neral direction and charac ter of 24 Prevailing at Wheeling 30 Relative frequency at Marietta 3s Relation of direction to fair weath( v r 41 Relation oi direction to rain 40 Relation of direction to temper ature 38 Wirt county general description of 421 Wool, facilities for exporting 105 Wool, facilities for manufactories... ion Wool, rank of West Virginia 110 Wood county, general Description of 422 Woodland, acreage in West Va 88 Wyoming county, general dexcrip- lion of 423 Wyoming county, coal in 193 821 V RETURN TO the circulation desk of any University of California Library or to the NORTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY Bldg. 400, Richmond Field Station University of California Richmond, CA 94804-4698 ALL BOOKS MAY BE RECALLED AFTER 7 DAYS 2-month loans may be renewed by calling (510)642-6753 1-year loans may be recharged by bringing books to NRLF Renewals and recharges may be made 4 days prior to due date. 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