Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XVI.djvu/598

 574 WEST VIRGINIA the lower, which are separated by the bar- ren measures. Above the upper coal group is a second series of barren measures com- posed of alternate layers of shale and sand- stone. The thickness of the whole, exclusive of the upper barren measures, is about 1,000 ft. The lower coal measures are about 250 ft. thick. In- the N". part of the state they contain five seams of coal, the upper one being from 3 J to 4 ft. thick, and the others from 1 to 2^ ft. On the Kanawha river the coal seams are greater in number and size, and are among the best in the Alleghany coal region. The upper coal measures are more accessible and present larger seams in the N. part of the state. They are also about 250 ft. thick, and comprise four seams of coal, the lowest, the famous Pitts- burgh bod, being 9 ft. thick. The others are 8$, 5$, and 7 ft. thick. Valuable beds of coal, convenient for mining and shipping, are worked along the Ohio river, on the line of the Balti- more and Ohio railroad in the N. part of the state, and in the Kanawha valley. One of the richest deposits of coal in the state is near Clarksburg, in the valley of the Monongahela. In one of the beds hero, from 10 to 12 ft. thick, there are numerous mines which send large quantities of gas coal to the eastern and west- ern cities; it is regarded as ranking among the best in the United States for the produc- tion of gas. The exposure of coal on the Great Kanawha is one of the most extensive and valuable in the United States. For nearly 80 in. above Charleston four beds of coal stretch along the hillsides in parallel and nearly hori- zontal bands; the lowest is about 6 ft. thick. On the Gauley, Coal, and other rivers in this region frequent beds of coal are exposed. The coal of West Virginia is generally bituminous, but valuable beds of cannel coal are worked. Splint or iron-smelting coal is found on the Kanawha ; in Ritchie co. there is a vein of al- bertite similar to that in New Brunswick. The Kanawha valley is one of the great salt-pro- ducing regions of the United States. The sa- lines are on both sides of the Kanawha river, and extend from Charleston for about 20 m. above. (See SALT, vol. xiv., p. 576.) Largo quantities of salt are also produced ia Mason co. on the Ohio, and in Braxton co. on the Elk and Little Kanawha rivers. Iron ore in various forms abounds generally throughout the state. In the S. part are valuable beds of hematite and oxides and peroxides of iron. The iron ore alternates in the same hills with coal. It is found in broken and continuous beds, and often yields from 50 to 80 per cent, of pure metal. In the vicinity of Laurel Hill and across the mountains to the Potomac the ore yields from 60 to 80 per cent, of iron, and is regarded as the best in the state. Valuable seams are also found in Braxton co., from which iron is now manufactured. Large quantities of petro- leum are obtained in a belt from 1 to 2 m. wide, extending from the Little Kanawha to the Ohio through the counties of Wirt, Ritchie, Wood, and Pleasants. Limestone in its various modifications abounds in nearly all parts of the state. Fire clay and potters' clay are com- mon in several counties. Sandstones are abun- dant, and grindstones may be made in almost any section. A valuable buhrstone is obtained in Laurel Hill. A handsome quality of amyg- daloid, or variegated marble, is found in the E. part of the state on the Potomac. The pil- lars in the old hall of the house of represen- tatives at Washington are made of this Poto- mac marble. Fine seams of a good quality of marble have been discovered in Webster co. In Marion co. is an extensive deposit of white sand, which is used in the manufacture of glass in Wheeling. Alum and copperas are found in the crystalline state on the outside of banks of sand rock and shales. West Virginia contains numerous valuable mineral springs. The most important are the White Sulphur and the Blue Sulphur in Greenbrier co. ; the Red, the Salt, and the Sweet Sulphur in Monroe co. ; the Berkeley springs in Morgan co. ; the Capon springs in Hampshire co. ; the Shannondale springs in Jefferson co. ; the mineral wells near Parkersburg; and a white sulphur spring at Addison, in Webster co. The climate of West Virginia is generally free from extremes of heat and cold. The air, especially in the highland sections, is pure and healthful, and favorable to persons having pulmonary com- plaints. At Morgantown, lat. 89 86' N., Ion. 79 52' W., the mean temperature for the year ending Juno 80, 1875, was 51 '7; mean annual barometer, 80*049 ; amount of rain- fall, 43'17 inches. The mean temperature of spring was 60'5 ; summer, 71 '4; autumn, 54-1 ; winter, 80-8. The soil and climate of West Virginia are generally well adapted to agriculture, stock raising, and fruit growing. According to the census of 1870, there were in farms 2,580,254 acres of improved land, 4,364,405 of woodland, and 1,588,735 of other unimproved land. The total number of farms was 89,778, having an average of 214 acres each. There were 13,158 containing from 20 to 50 acres, 9,077 from 50 to 100, 7,813 from 100 to 500, 242 from 500 to 1,000, and 43 over 1,000. The cash value of farms was $101,604,- 381 ; of farming implements and machinery, $2,112,937; total estimated value of all farm productions, including betterments and addi- tions to stock, $28,879,692. In 1873 products valued at $14,187,511 were obtained from 945,- 349 acres, as follows : , CROPS. Quantity produced. Artnf* ykldptr CM. No. of Km in wob crop. V.lue. Indian com, bush. Wheat 10,004,000 L'.G.'M.OOO 89 9-6 lUI.'.if.-, 276,771 J.VM-.'.MU 3,799,510 Rye 261.000 12-8 20,890 219,240 Gate 2,762,000 87 102.296 1,049,560 Barley 56,006 84 -.:':{:! 51,520 Buckwheat Potatoes 59,000 824,000 17 1 70 MM 11,771 47,790 576,800 Tobacco, Ibs Hay, tons 2.!t67,000 197,500 775 1-1 UN 179,545 mjtn 2,765,000