USA > Virginia > Albemarle County > Albemarle County > Albemarle County (Virginia) A hand book giving a description of its topography, climate, geology, minerals, fruits, plants, history, educational, agricultural and manufacturing advantages, and inducements the county offers the industrious and intelligent farmer and manufacturer > Part 2
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Mrs. E. C. Harrison.
Physical Albemarle.
Topography.
LBEMARLE COUNTY lies close to the geographical centre of the State of Virginia, and is the fifth largest county in it, having an area of 755 square miles. It lies mainly in the noted Piedmont region of the State, a region famous for the fertility of its soils, the abundance and excel- lence of its waters, the beauty of its scenery, the salubrity of its climate, and the intelligence and hospitality of its citizens. The western portion of the county lies in the Blue Ridge and the eastern in Midland Virginias. These three regions are natural divisions, marked as well by decided differences in the character of the soils as by natural boundaries.
The average elevation of Midland Albemarle above tide is about 300 feet; it is a rolling plain with some hills rising to 500 feet. In the Southwest Mountains which constitute the natural boundary between Midland and Piedmont Albemarle, there are some peaks as high as 1800 feet above tide.
Piedmont Albemarle is about 400 feet in the eastern part,. rising to 1000 in the western where it merges into the Blue Ridge, which at Jarman's Gap rises to the height of 3161 feet above tide. Between the Southwest and Blue Ridge Moun- tains, there is a chain known as the Ragged Mountains with a few peaks 2000 feet above tide.
The James River flows along the southeastern boundary of the county and receives Rockfish, Hardware and Rivanna rivers, which with their tributaries Mechum's, Moorman's and Lynch rivers and Doyles', Buck Mountain and Buck Island creeks, rising in the western part of the county, flow towards the southeast, draining the county thoroughly. These small streams are always well-filled with good water, derived from
16
ALBEMARLE COUNTY.
the large and numerous perennial springs dispersed every- where throughout the county, and falling rapidly in their courses, furnish at many points excellent motive power for various forms of machinery. Only a small portion, however, of this natural power is now used in these days of steam.
There is much diversity in the nature of the soils of the county, in consequence of the great variability in the rocks from whose decomposition the soils are derived. In Midland Albemarle they are most commonly of a grayish color, and being derived principally from slates are light, but quite fertile under good cultivation. Along the eastern and western bor- ders of the Southwest and Greene Mountains, the soils are of a deep red color, owing to the presence of large amounts of Titanium oxide and the occurrence of minerals of the Horn- blende and Epidote groups in the rocks from whose decom- position the soils are derived. These soils are very fertile, but are heavy when wet, do not retain moisture, and are, therefore, apt to suffer during a protracted drought. East of this belt, and south of the Hardware river, the rocks are of the Mesozoic age principally, and the soils are mainly chocolate colored. These are of the best, perhaps, in the county. In Blue Ridge and Piedmont Albemarle we find alternating grey and red soils. The red soils which usually are derived from the decomposition of epidotic and hornblendic rocks, and those of the grey soils derived from feldspathic rocks, are no- tably fertile.
Alluvial bottoms are as common as the creeks and rivers ; are of good depth, easily worked, seldom overflowed at sea- sons when growing crops could be seriously injured, and are very productive for small outlays of labor.
Between Moorman's and Doyle's rivers, in the Whitehall district, the underlying Archæan rocks have been largely covered with the detritus of these streams, brought from the Blue Ridge. The detritus consists of much fine material, in which are imbedded rocks and bowlders showing the action of running water. These soils are very productive, and this is one of the finest localities in the county.
I7
ALBEMARLE COUNTY.
Fertile as the soils of Albemarle naturally are, many of them have suffered from insufficient working, due, no doubt, to the changed conditions of labor and to the 'large areas which have been, until recently, worked by individual land-holders. The farms are now being subdivided, resulting in their improved working, and in yielding a correspondingly larger return for the labor expended. W. H. Seamon.
Climate.
LBEMARLE lies far enough to the south, and is suffi- ciently well-protected from cold northwest winds by the
Blue Ridge Mountains to possess a mild winter climate, while in the summer its elevation and proximity to the moun- tains temper the sun's heat so that it enjoys quite a reputa- tion as an agreeable summer retreat.
In winter there are but few cold spells, not long or intense enough to cause any suffering in the lowliest cabins, but enough to furnish sufficient ice for summer's needs. It is not unusual to play, with comfort, such outdoor games as croquet up to and beyond the middle of December, and the writer well remembers having seen the dandelion in full bloom, in the fields about the University of Virginia, during the Christmas holidays.
Albemarle has always been exempted from the ravages of the terrible cyclones and tornadoes that have done so much damage in other parts of our country.
The county enjoys a mean annual temperature of 55°, the minimum of winter seldom falling lower than + 10. The mean temperature of the months of June, July and August is about 72º F., and of December, January and February about 35.8°.
The annual rain fall averages 45 inches, and is well distribu- ted throughout the year. The following table, compiled from the meteorological observations of James Wearmouth, Esq.,
.
18
ALBEMARLE COUNTY.
made at the University of Virginia, shows the two extremes, giving, perhaps, the best possible idea of the nature of the climate :
1886.
1887.
MONTHS.
Mean temperature.
No. days that cloud-
iness ave. 8 or more
on scale of 10.
No. days in which
rain fell
Rain fall in inches.
Mean temperature.
No. days that cloudi-
ness ave 8 or more
on a scale of 10.
No. days in which
rain fell.
Rain fall in inches.
January
31.0
3
I2
3.59
39.0
3
6
1.79
February
32.5
I
6
3.06
47.2
4
9
3.58
March
47.5
8
8
5.65
44.5
5
8
2.1I
April
58.5
4
7
3.II
53,I
4
8
3.01
May
62.7
6
II
9.66
71.0
2
13
6.03
June
70.7
4
14
7.33
72 7
2
II
7.04
July
71.9
2
15
8.34
74.9
I
12
3 37
August
72.0
2
7
1.74
73.2
4
14
2.96
September
66.5
3
8
1.75
62.8
8
9
2.58
October
58.3
2
6
0.80
56.8
7
9
2.51
November
45.4
5
9
4.29
48.5
5
3
1.00
December.
29.7
7
8
I.OI
35.8
9
8
4.42
Totals
47
III
50.33
54
IIO
40.40
Mean annual temperature for 1886, 53.8° ; for 1887, 56.62º.
Highest temperature during June, 1887 and 1888, 95°.
The reader is respectfully invited to read the following tables (taken from United States Census Report, 1880), comparing the death-rate of the United States and other States with Albemarle (these States were taken at random) :
Whites.
Colored.
Death Rate
1000 pop.
Male
Female
Male
Female
Albemarle County
15.4
10.4
II.6
20.
19.2
Virginia
16.32
14.02
14.01
19.73
19.34
United States
15.09
15.08
14.4I
17.19
17.38
Alabama
14.20
12.66
12.50
15.92
16.06
Arkansas
18.46
19.32
18.89
16.51
16.72
Kansas
15.52
14.34
15.35
24.22
24.02
Massachusetts
18.59
19.06
18.07
24.41
20.12
New York
17.38
18.23
16.36
26.74
22.28
I
I
1
I
19
ALBEMARLE COUNTY.
The healthfulness of the climate is best attested by the low death-rate and the longevity of the people.
DEATH-RATE IN ALBEMARLE.
Whites.
Colored.
Totals.
Males. Females
Males.
Females
White.
Colored.
Population
7,973
7,986
7,910
8,749
15,959
16,659
Deaths
83
93
158
168
24I
261
Principal causes of death-
LE
Scarlet fever
2
I
I
I
3
2
Enteric fever
4
6
5
7
IO
I2
Malarial fever
I
0
I
O
2
O
Diptheria
3
4
3
2
7
5
Croup
O
2
4
I
2
5
Diarrhoeal diseases
9
IO
7
13
19
20
Consumption
IO
13
I2
29
23
41
Pneumonia
4
6
17
22
IO
39
Heart disease and dropsy
5
2
I3
II
7
24
Old age.
3
4
I
I
7
2
Death rate per 1,000, entire population,
15.4
Death rate per 1,000, white population,-
II.2
Death rate per 1,000, colored population,
19.5
3
W. H. Seamon.
Geology.
OWEVER interesting the details of the geological struc- ture of this county may be to the scientific person, the scope of this publication only permits a general descrip- tion of the formations recognized.
There are but two ages certainly represented-the Archæan and Mesozoic. Some sandstone west of the Southwest Moun- tains is so much like the Potsdam sandstone, found west of the Blue Ridge in adjoining counties, that it is not improbable that it belongs to that epoch. Of the two formations cer- tainly represented the Archæan is the most extensive; the
20
ALBEMARLE COUNTY.
Mesozoic being confined to an area roughly bounded, on the west by an irregular line beginning at Howardsville, extending north-easterly, and gradually diverging from the eastern foot of the Greene Mountains to Hardware river, which it crosses at the plantations of Messrs. Moon and Barksdale, quickly retreats towards the south, by a very roughly defined line to near the north-western part of the town of Scottsville, from thence south-westerly to the James.
Its western border is marked by a very coarse conglomerate, which most likely rests upon the underlying Archæan rocks throughout the Mesozoic area, for it comes to the surface at many different points throughout this region. This conglom- erate is very properly called a "bowlder conglomerate," being made up of fragments of the common Blue Ridge rocks, large rounded, or angular, such as epidote and hornblende schists green quartzites and fragments of the Potsdam sandstone. It is extremely hard and difficulty is experienced in attempting to secure specimens, even with a sledge hammer. Besides this conglomerate there is a finer-grained one in which are white particles of quartz, feldspar or calcite embedded in a brown matrix. A brown sandstone of varying degrees of induration and texture is also found; in some localities it pos- sessess a texture and appearance that make it valuable for building purposes.
At several points, within this Mesozoic area, Diorite of ig- neous origin lifts itself to the surface, always at the axis of the anticlinal folds. Near Glendower Mills there is a ledge of slates, variegated in color, but not cleaving well enough to be valuable. A mile west of Glendower, on the Porter's Precinct road, an impure limestone is found.' The strike of the Meso- zoic is about N. 25° E., varying but little locally, the dip is most commonly towards the south-east, and amounts to about 25°. No fossils have been reported from this formation.
At the period when the James was breaking its way through the Blue Ridge, the locality now occupied by this Mesozoic area, was most evidently a bay, into which the river carried and deposited the debris, produced by erosion, coarse at first,
21
ALBEMARLE COUNTY.
afterwards becoming finer, and these, by consolidation and in- duration, were converted into the conglomerates and sand- stones of the formation.
The remainder of the rocks of the country belong to the Archæan. Two periods being recognized-the Laurentian and Huronian. There being no uncomformability nor fossils in the strata, the division is based entirely upon the differences in the rocks. The granitic rocks and gneisses, diorite (bedded) and mica schists are considered as Laurentian, while the slates and other schists are most usually considered to be Huronian. The strata of this age have been frequently and so closely flexed, and their tops so much eroded as to render it almost impossible to accurately determine their connection and rela- tive superposition. The strike of these rocks is about W. 32º E., varying locally to a slight amount. The dip is always to- wards the S. E., except along an east and west section passing through Dudley's Mountain, where there is an anticlinal fold in the Mica schist.
The Blue Ridge is mainly made up of a series of metamor- phic schists, greenish, blue and black in color. Concretions of epidote and other minerals are frequently found in the schists, giving them a curious mottled appearance.
The Ragged Mountains is composed of a species of granu- lite, the quartz possessing a waxy lustre and bluish color, due to being filled with microscopic crystals of Titanium oxide. This rock varies much in composition, weathers unequally, and hence gives to the mountains the appearance which justi- . fies their name.
The range east of the Virginia Midland railway, in which are Dudley's, Appleberry, and Lead Mine Mountains is made up of mica schist and some bedded Diorite.
The Southwest Mountains are are made up of metamorphic schists, like the Blue Ridge, and some granitic rocks and quartzites. The Greene Mountains, towards their southern part, become very slaty, and in some localities the slates are so highly impregnated with iron oxide as to appear to be fairly good micaceous hematite.
22
. ALBEMARLE COUNTY.
East of these mountains there is a succession of slates, sometimes hydro-micaceous in character and usually soft.
In the debris of Moorman's river, which rises in the Blue Ridge, Potsdam bowlders are so frequently met with as to lead to the belief that Potsdam S. S. is to be found in situ, on the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge; and in Black Rock gap, in which a tributary of Moorman's river rises, there are found, near the summit, masses of Potsdam embedded in the soil as if they occupied their original place. These masses are usually detached from each other, their strike and dip being different for each mass, points to the belief that they have been moved down the mountain from their original position. Their position may be accounted for by the following facts :
The Potsdam formation lies upon the western slope of the Blue Ridge, forming a range of mountains which are usually of a lower height than the crest of the Blue Ridge. But, north-west of Black Rock Gap, in Rockingham county, there is a peak, surmounted by the Potsdam sandstone, higher than the crest of the Blue Ridge at the Gap; this peak is connected with the crest by a long slope, and it would be only a matter of time for the Potsdam sandstones, propelled by action of frost, &c., to work their way down and over the crest to the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge. W. H. Seamon.
Minerals.
LBEMARLE county possesses deposits of iron ore, slate, soapstone and building stones, which have been. and some are now, worked with profit. Besides these, there are deposits of graphite, zinc, and clay, which may de- velop in the future and become valuable. In addition to these minerals of industrial importance there are found specimens of galenite, gold, quartz of different varieties, including the amethyst, orthoclase, albite, oligoclase, muscovite, biotite, amphibole, asbestos, epidote, chlorite, serpentine, pyrolusite, psilomelane, rutile, pyrite, chalcopyrite, azurite, göthite pseu- domorphic after pyrite and others.
23
ALBEMARLE COUNTY.
IRON ORE .- Specimens of red and brown hæmatites and magnetites are found abundantly at many localities, but have been worked at only three localities.
The largest known deposit is near Stony Point, not far from the Virginia Midland railroad, at about ten miles north of Charlottesville. A track runs from the Virginia Midland rail- road up to the mine, though it is not worked now.
The ore is a brown hematite with some specular. Averages of numerous analyses, give-
Metalic Iron
55.00 per cent.
Silica
5.00 per cent.
Phosphorus
0.16 per cent.
Sulphur
trace.
Six shafts have been put down varying in depth from 50 to 180 feet. The width of the vein varies from 4 to 6 feet, and it has been traced by shafts for a distance of a half a mile.
Ore of the magnetic variety was taken from Cook's Moun- tain, near North Garden, several years ago and shipped to the North. This, and a deposit one mile south of Covesville, be- longed to and were operated by a Pennsylvania company, which ceased its operations several years ago for unknown reasons. The Covesville deposit is larger, perhaps, than the North Garden, but is injured somewhat by the Titanium oxide which it contains.
Specular ore is frequently met with along the James River, between Scottsville and Howardsville, and at some localities, as at Mrs. Scruggs, it appears to be in large quantity. Mr. George W. Clarke, a gentleman who takes great interest in · the development of this county, had samples of this ore ana- lyzed abroad, and the great metallurgist, Prof. Siemens, in speaking of it, pronounced it as quite valuable for conversion into steel by the direct process. Analysis of this ore gives-
Peroxide of Iron
91.10.
Protoxide of Iron
I.IO.
Phosphoric Acid
0.03.
.
Sulphuric Acid .
0.07.
Siliceous Matter
7.20.
Water
0.50.
Total .
100.00.
Metallic Iron 64.63.
24
ALBEMARLE COUNTY.
SLATE .- Slaty rocks are abundant in Albemarle, and in the neighborhood of Slate Hill church, which is about 7 miles south-east of Charlottesville, a deposit of this valuable mate- rial has long been worked. The Albemarle Slate Company has operated the deposit very successfully for a number of years, and now employ 75 persons in the manufacture of slate pencils ; their sole product at present. There is a vein of slate so soft and free from grit as to make the finest quality of slate pencils known in the trade.
Adjacent to this property lies that of L. W. and A. D. Cox, which is larger and contains a greater variety of valuable slate than the other. It is not operated at this writing but will be before the end of the year.
At both these deposits valuable slate for manufacture into mantels, window caps, sills, coffins, &c., is also found, and both companies are arranging to manufacture these goods.
BUILDING-STONES .- The brownstones of the southern part of the county have never been utilized, although in some places their quality is such as to indicate valuable properties.
A greyish sandstone occurs west of the Southwest Moun- tains. It has been quarried at several points near Charlottes- ville, and used in the construction of the Brookes Museum and Chapel of the University of Virginia. From the results of the practical tests thus made, there can be no doubt as to the value of these deposits.
A soft, bluish, black schist has been worked near the gas- works of the city of Charlottesville, being used for paving, curbing and building purposes. Though so soft as to be " easily sawed, it proves quite durable on exposure.
SOAPSTONE .- A valuable deposit of this material is worked near Hardware P. O., about 412 miles from North Garden station, of the Virginia Midland Railroad. The quarries here were first opened in 1883, and in spite of a destructive fire, and other impediments, the company has overcome all obsta- cles and is now doing a large and profitable business. Sixty to seventy-five men are kept constantly employed in the quar- ries and in preparing the rough goods for shipment to New
25
ALBEMARLE
York, where they are finished and placed upon the market. It has no superior for fireplaces, register borders, laundry tubs, sinks and bath-room fixtures, it being non-porous, acid and fireproof; and as it is a large absorbent of heat and a slow radiator of it, it is much used for heaters and radiators in the public and private buildings of the East.
GRAPHITE .- A belt of slate passes through Charlottesville in a northeasterly direction, which contains considerable graphite, or black lead, and at Hardware P. O. there is so much of it in the slate as to give it a probable value for the manufacture of crucibles.
Graphite of good quality is found in the northwestern part of the county, at Shifflet's Hollow and at Mr. Naylor's, about one half mile north of Wesley Chapel on the Nortonsville road. These deposits have not been developed enough to form any definite idea as to their value. The mineral occurs as a vein in a decomposing feldspathic rock. It is found amorphous and also in crystallized aggregates composed of long, narrow prisms, apparently of a monoclinic habit.
Analysis of the two varieties of the Naylor Graphite show-
Crystals.
Amorphous.
Carbon
90.799
74.645
Ash .
6.555
19.195
Moisture
2.646
6.160
100.000
100.000
The large amount of ash shown by the amorphous variety was due to some mechanically adherent mineral silicates.
CLAY .- Clay for the manufacture of building brick is quite plentiful and of good quality. No china or firebrick clays are worked. Near the Tilt Hammer road in Turk's Gap, and near Christ church in the Scottsville district, there are deposits of fine clay worthy of examination, for the manu - facture of queensware.
ZINC .- On the eastern slope of what is known as Lead Mine Mountain, there exists a vein of mineral which, during the war, was operated by the Confederates for lead. The shafts which were opened then, and the buildings which shel- tered the operatives, have all fallen in, and it is only with
26
ALBEMARLE COUNTY.
some trouble that specimens of the ore can now be secured. Zinc blende is more abundant than the Galena, and the repu- tation of the deposit has no doubt been injured by calling it a lead mine, for there is but little lead there.
In 1883 the writer collected an average sample from the " dump " and submitted it to analysis, with these results :
Pts. in 100.
Zinc Sulphide
48.22 per cent.
Lead Sulphide
Calcium Fluoride 4.65 per cent.
17.75 per cent.
Iron Sulphide .
2.92 per cent.
Insoluble Silicious Matter. .
25.24 per cent.
Silver (two-thirds ozs. to ton).
Copper and Arsenic
traces.
98.78
There is good reason to believe that this, and other unde- veloped mineral resources of Albemarle, may one day become as valuable as other deposits more favorably situated.
LIMESTONE .- At Buckeyeland creek, on the property of Mr. Frank Gilmer, and elsewhere in the same locality, there is an impure limestone, which has furnished agricultural lime on burning ; containing, as it does, from 70 to 80 per cent. of calcium carbonate. It is surprising that the farmers of that neighborhood do not take advantage of the opportunity to improve their farms by use of this most valuable fertilizer.
MINERAL SPRINGS .- The mineral springs of the county are chiefly of a chalybeate character. That of Fry's Spring, about one mile from Charlottesville and the University of Virginia, amongst many others, enjoys a considerable local reputation ; an analysis, by R. D. Bohannon, made in the Laboratory of · of the University of Virginia, under supervision of Prof. Dun- nington, shows it to be an excellent water of its class.
One imperial gallon contains -
Carbonate of Iron 1.010 grains.
Sulphate of Lime
490 grains.
Sulphate of Soda 640 grains. Chloride of Sodium .260 grains.
Chloride of Potassium .030 grains.
Silica I.320 grains.
3.840 grains.
W. H. Seamon.
27
ALBEMARLE COUNTY.
Forestry.
LTHOUGH Albemarle can in no sense be considered as a lumber producing county, there is still standing in its forests a considerable quantity of white oak and yellow pine, and other varieties of less value, of such size as to furnish enough lumber for building purposes. Good pine is sold at from $8 to $12 per 1,000 square feet and other varieties proportional to their relative values.
Besides the larger growths, there is a much larger quantity of second growth timber now large enough for fencing and fire-wood, and, if not improperly managed, there is sufficient to supply the lumber necessary for the growth of the county, and for all demands of the farm.
Tan bark is being taken from the forests in great rapidity, particularly in the Blue Ridge region, where, at the present rate of cutting, the supply must soon be exhausted. It is a great pity that of the vast amount of lumber cut down for this purpose, only the bark is used, and the growth of centu- ries is ruthlessly cut and permitted to rot, inflicting needless injury to the future citizens of the county.
The time is not far distant when the people will have to rise and prevent further desecration of this favored county, and require new trees to be set out where one has been cut down.
According to the Census Reports of 1880, 158,985 acres of the 424,424 of the county's area are covered with timber. This estimate is about correct for the present year, to which should be added 21,000 acres of old fields, now occupied with scrub pines and oaks of from 10 to 15 years growth.
The Umbrella tree, Magnolia Umbrella, is very common along the cool branks of streams in the Piedmont district .: Its light and soft wood makes excellent pumps.
The White Wood, or as it is most commonly called in Al-
28
ALBEMARLE COUNTY.
bemarle, the Poplar, Liriodendron Tulipifera, attains perfect growth, and is everywhere met with, furnishing excellent lum- ber. The inner bark of its branches and roots possess medi- cinal properties of value in.intermittent fever.
Astmina Triloba, the Papaw or Custard Apple, is found along the banks of streams, but is nowhere abundant.
Tilia Americana, the Linden tree, is rarely met with away from the cool hollows in the Blue Ridge, near Moorman's river, where it attains its full size. Besides being a beautiful tree well adapted for ornamental planting, its lumber is highly. prized for cabinet work. When reduced to pulp it is valuable in the manufacture of paper. In Europe, an infusion of the flowers, buds and leaves of the various species of Linden is much used as a remedy for indigestion and nervous disorders.
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