Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-06-11
From the Nashville Banner.
TENNESSEE GOLD.

From the Nashville Banner.
TENNESSEE GOLD.
The following communication from Justly distin-
guished naturalist whose statements entitled to
the highest confidence & respect will be found to con-
tam, IN addition to its valuable scientific information,
some details of facts and differences interesting TO
every class of readers We hope he will pcrsevere in
MS researches into the geology of this state and
municale the results, from time time, to the public
we know no, how columns be more usefully
and appro ria'ey filed.
For the Ma icnol Banner
NATURAL. HISTORY OF TENNESSEE
In our new country, it hardly to be expected
that much correct knowledge OF it's geology and mine
ralogy should have been obtained, and the my
experience OF it becomes extended the am I con-
WINGED in the belief that what has been written upon
the subject is the result rather of conjecture than of
observations-ln short ssmble which the collegiate
vacation has enabled me to make the Cumbe r
land Mountains, and through portion of East Ten
nessee. have been very much interested and greatly
pleased at finding the country very different from what
had been led to anticipate and in it's external fea
lures at least full OF richness and variety of
ductions. The discovery of gold has been already
made, but whether should congratulate the inhabl-
tans on this acquisition their natural resources or
pot may be matter fdoubt. The consequences inva-
raby produced by the discovery of the precious me-
tails are the creation the community of passion for
wealth, and the excitement of delusive hope of OBJ.
tanning 1t by mining and hunting for gold. Common
hbour is suspended, agriculture is neglected
with the most useful branches of human inGusrv mud
seeks the reward of his abop from the bowefs Of
the earth, instead OF obtaining it from surface If
this change in his habits be benefit, then may CON
gratolate the people of Tennessee the discovery Of
this that has been already made and on the pYob.
bIi'ty that it will be extensively found.
have visited the rennessean 0pAir which believe
contains none gold than the African <phir II is stu
a,ed about 10 l2 mics the souti, of the Felico
PLAINS near the OMka mountain IN the Cherokee In
dian settlement The gold in small grains ee.
neraiy called gold dust, and obtained by the wash
ing OF stratum ot 10 or u inches of soil Judging
from it's local situations gold is not brought from
tiistance but to have been produced by the dis
Indignation OF the rock of which these mountains are
composed These rocks belong the series of trans
ition rather the clay slate formation This slate
has been fed anh small tubes of iron pyrites which
are now nearly all in state of decomposition leaving
the cavities tiled with the yellow ocher. These
pyritss often ourei and the gold not being sus
oeptble OF decomposition remains and is dis
Srmnaed through the soil By the dsntegraon of the
rock, the lighter PARTICLES of which carried away
by the rains Sc leaving the heavier still remain
ing among other gravel This seems to have been the
case with the gold region of this state because the
gold IS not only found In the small rvulets or brooks
bot also the declytes of the mountains and near
theg very sunmts that this district may prove an
inexhaus,'ble source of wealth alone for those who
are collecting the metal but particularly the farm ers
OF the surronnding coHntry who viii find market for
their produce among the people who are working
Gese mines 1" fact produce has already risen in East
tennessee since the working these mines in the !
DeIghboriDg state OF North Carolina.
Inc local snaton Of tine present exploerd gold region is
scale The water sufficiently abundau and iudrsg
from surrounding circumstances am induced believe thai
abundance OF the metal true may
20 anpsor the gravel about two miles, where there 6ne
stream OF water sufficient for purpose
have already expressed doubt whether finding
Of gold will prove to be of much ultimate advantage TO The
country " u be found IN considerable quantities.
benefit will seem TO by its directly the circua
ting nedum and rendering money more plenty in the vcn
OF me mines the certain eec, which will be withdraw
the abour from every other branch useful industry Aer
culture and the mechanic will abandoned for The
aiorins and exciting pursuit of gold
There is probably no undertaking. which engages the a,tcn
lion OF mankind, speculative uncertain than muinp
n he,
gain the prze knowing same time how greatly the cb,n
ces are against him, and large propoT,iou must fail
lh cause alone sufficient produce amount in
dvdua poverty and distress The aspect country under
s operations becomes changed: of rural con,enteut
industry felicity and abundance gradually fade awav and The
one smiling and happy land the of ssua
sEe informed fast taking place gold regions of
ma and georgia They already obliged draw their
IN -, ,d s apu ere long they may have to exchange
m m Bon lot the necessary articles Of substance for in pro
portion To the increase In the quantity tho eta
the relative value, as respects other articles commerce. is
Hh,se, ana IaIger quantity of gold silver
CURED IN exchange The value gold therefore "a mn,
pie same hut depends like every article of conumo,;o
ePn the amount which may be IN demand means Of
Supplying this demand IF there supcrabundance NJ chs,
metal fund ts relative value may much decreased o
render mining longer profitable employment and this mus,
NJ" he considered merely speculative contingency such
state of things having really happened both Europe and
Ancr'ca+ The lead mines of Missouri and Illinois have Of
late produced soch quantities Of lead the ahe, is en
Guttsd and the price reduced low bof Nor
DnJ) that the miners longer make any profit nv their
Undergone various changes the operation of the 80
the Teatisn Of the supply The demand Tins be
'ne o. syer IS e'eT than That OF gold Il we take con
deraon ooy the relative quantity obtained this difference
TO be accounted for by the do,d od
consumption of she former than Of the latter '''
IN all ages the amount OF the precious metsIs btogh
he marker hos exceeded the demand for them hut This ss,
uy has greatly augmented within the last 500 vepr
tire discovery of America no;ailnandng The ,,, i,
lat time Tire hS has been brought rom the cs,etn