Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-01-13
Frsm he correspondent If the New York
Commercial Advertiser.
TYashin.. tan. Dscember 81.


TYashin.s ton, Dscember 81.
have just seen and conversed with
an intelligent gentleu. IN WIN resides in
that part of the state of North Carolina
where gold has lately been discovered.
From him have learned several
facts in relation to that subject, with
which was previously not acquainted,
and which lpresume may be interesting
To you. You may reeollect that when
first found, the precious metal was
picked up.ia the bed Of brook. is now
found on higher ground. The farm on
which the most has been obtained, is ST.
tuated in Montgomery county, about i6
miles from Montgomery Court House.
The farm. Of about $50 acres, belongs
to widow who has several sons. The
property was equally divided among
them; but by an amicsble arrangement
il is agreed that whatever gold may be
found on the portion belonging 10 either
brother, il shall be equally parted among
the rest The metal is found in Jumps
of varions size: the largest lately pick
ed up weighing four pounds ten ounces,
another three pounds aud two ounces.
You may remember that some years a
go, in the brook first mentioned, lump
was found weighing % pounds They
have not yet gone far from the surface,
not perhaps above twelve feet: but the
lower they 20 the more gold is found
The mode by which the metal is obtain
ed, is by putting the soil into rockers
lhst is, boxes placed on pieces similar to
those under cradle, where water is
poured on it, and the dirt is constantly
agitated till by its gravity the gold sinks
to the bottom, and is then picked out
by hand
The land on hichit is found is of RAJ
Their poor quality, raising say twenty
bushels of corn To an acre. There are
about $50 hands at work, though the
number varies, as few of them are hire
ed, but consists of persons living near
by, who are permitted by the owner TO
digoh condition OF yielding up to him
one alf.of what they may find 4 ne
gro lately found a lump worth 1850 dol
| lars. Fhe gold is of such virgin purity
! as to require two carats of alloy to bring
it down to the American standard for
gold coins. The gentleman who gave
me the above particulars has in his pos
session several small Jumps of it, which
he Showed me. In shape they look
much like pieces oil lead which have
been dropped in water; they are OF
deep yellow, but without any glittering
brightness. Some of that found on the
high ground is paler The surface on
different parts of which this precious
metal has yet been discovered, extends
about Thirty miles, within which space
there are eight diggings, some more and
less productive. The poor people who
adventure generally club their earnings
in companies of three and four. When
they come to tough clay they throw it
on one side, as it requires too much time
and labor to wash it to render the bust
ness profitable. Yet it often happens,
when the rains have washed these heaps
of clay, that small yellow points are ex-
posed.
There are, as yet, no persons of capi-
tai embarked in this search; but should
this happen, as doubtless il soon will, we
may possibly have regular gold nine-
an event which, in my judgment, rs a
matter rather of regret than congratula-
ton.
N'sie Hampshire Colonization Society
This Society was organized Dee. 10,
1924, at meeting holden at the capitol,
consistinu If members nc The LEGISLATURE