Stevenson.] UK) [Nov. 21, 



an available line through it. Some conception of the difBculties to be 

 overcome by a road in passing from the valley to Clinch river may be 

 had, when one remembers that in that interval the line must cross Walker 

 mountain, Rich valley, Brushy mountain, Poor valley, Clinch mountain, 

 and the irregular limestone ridges of Tazewell county. Roads have been 

 projected and survey lines run across the headwaters of streams entering 

 Clinch river from the north, having for object the passage into Kentucky. 

 None of these has advanced beyond the preliminary surveys. 



Several wagon-roads with good grades were constructed many years 

 ago by State aid, and some excellent pikes were constructed by private 

 companies. The engineering of the Tazewell pike and of the Hayter's 

 Gap road as they cross the abrupt Clinch mountain is remarkably good. 

 The grades of the Fincastle pike passing through the county seats of Taze- 

 well, Russell, Scott and Lee on the way to Cumberland gap are very easy. 

 The common roads, as in too manj"^ other parts of our country, are far from 

 being good ; often a very fair wagon road terminates suddenly in a mere 

 trail with almost impassible grades. The traveler finds horseback the 

 more comfortable as well as the more expeditious mode of conveyance. 



The especial industries of the region are grazing and tobacco culture. 

 The limestone soils yield grass equal to that of Kentucky, and beef cattle 

 from the ridge land of Russell and Tazewell are thought to be equal to 

 those from any other region of our country. The timber is superb, walnut, 

 poplar, oak, ash and hickory being still plentiful beyond Clinch river. 

 The mineral resources are important. Brown hematites occur at many 

 localities ; fossil ore is present in greater or less quantities on Big Walker, 

 Clinch, Paint Lick, Rich and East River mountains ; oxide of manganese 

 was seen on Rich mountain and Copper ridge ; barium sulphate is present 

 at times in considerable quantity ; the Estilville marbles are of the finest 

 quality and in almost unlimited quantity ; salt and gypsum of great excel- 

 lence are found in the valley of the North Holston ; north from the Clinch 

 river is the great coal field, containing in Tazewell and part of Russell the 

 soft coking coals of the Quinnimont group or Lower Coal measures, while 

 in western Russell and in Wise county, north from Stone mountain, are the 

 harder coals, the shipping coals of the Middle Coal measures. For the 

 present, however, none of all these resources, agricultural and mineral, is 

 available, except that of converting grass and grain into beef, the cost of 

 transportation destroying the value of the rest. 



The following lists of altitudes have been supplied to me by the gentle- 

 men whose names precede the lists : 



Altitudes on and near the Line of the Norfolk and Cincinnati Railroad. 

 From Oramel Barrett, Jr., Chief Engineer. 



Elevations above mean tide at Norfolk, Virginia, all taken with the 

 level, except a few by barometer which are specially indicated. 

 Washington County. 

 Abingdon station, sub-ballast on N. and W. R. R. ... 2056.8 



