Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-06-11


And holy the haven they find al last !,
Jsnuary o. 1879
From the Nashville Banner.
TENNESSEE GOLD.
The following communication from Justly distin-
glisbcd naturalist whose statements entitled 10
the highest confidence respect will be found to
addition to its valuable scientific information,
details of facts and infercpces interesting 10
every class nj readers. We hope he will persevere in
his researches into the geology of this state aud
the results from time time, to the public.
We know not how columns can be more usefuy
and appro rlatey flled
For The yaa:ion u Banner
NATURAL. HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
In our new country, it was hardly to be expected
thst much cnrrec knowledge OF IT'S geology and mine
r1logy should have been obtained, and the ny
experience oft becomes extended. the am Z con-
WINGED 10 The belief that what has been written upon
the subject the Result rather Of conjecture than Of
observa,'ons-In q short Gamble which the collegiate
vacation has enabled me to make acrosy tho Cuu,b
land Mountains, and through portion of East 1on
Dessee, have been very much interested and greatly
pleased at finding the country very different from what
hSd been led To anticipate, and its external fea-
esst full of richness and variety of
duc,ions. The discovery IF gold has been already
made, but whether should congratulate the inhab-
tanis on this acquisition TO their natural reseurcrs
pot-may be matter ofdoubt. The guences inva.
rably produced by the discovery Of the precious me-
tails the cteation the Community Of q passion for
wealth. aud the excitement Of q delusive hope Of OBJ.
tanning it BY mining ann bunting for gold. Common
iabour sstispened agriculture neglected. together
with the most useful branches Of human industry and
seeks the reward of his labor from the bowels of
th- earth, instead of obtaining it from it's surface.
this change IN bus habits be benefit, tben may
gratuate the people of Tennessee the discovery Of
This that has bee" sise.dy made and the proS.
bih,y that it will b. excessively found.
have Visited the Tennes sran 0phr which believe
contain, more coli t,sn the Afrr:rn cphir %
.esss 1e or y ssd e os ses :o .% 9. R
nefaly called gold dust and 70 obtained bv th. ~sh
rug OF str.ium Ut 10 or II inches Of soil Judging
from ITS local situations. this gold brousht from
distance. out ser ms to have been produced by the dis
'negrat'on OF the rock of which these mountains are
composed These rocks belong the series of tram,
iuo" OF rather to the clay slate formations Th,
n.s 6eenafiled with small tubes of iron pyrtes which
e n"S nearly all M state Of decomposition leaving
The cavities filled with the yellow IRON ocher Tb.s
pyntss re often ourfe' and the gold not being ss
cePteie OF decomposition remains and Is dis
sSnnsed throu8h the soil by the dsn,eRratioo of m.
rock, the lighter particles of which are Carried ,ws
~ the rams &c leaving the heavier ones stnl r.ma;n
ing among other gravel This seems 10 have been the
Csc with The gold region Of this state becau,. On.
gold is not only found IN the small rivule,s n, hrt
bu' .lso on the declvties Of the mountains and n,.,
ther very submits, that this district NAV prove a.
source OF wealth no, alone for those who
are cohecnB the metal but particularly to the farmer.
o. Hs surrounding country, who will find q market for
p'eu produce among the people who are workns
mines In fact produce has already risen in Rasi
Aennessec Dnce the working OF these mines in ihs
DeyghborinB state OF North Carolina VIZ
W a ,noauon OF tie present. exploeId gold region is
wa
srnie The sufficiently abundant, and ndas
nom surrounding circumstance induced 10 brey. sha
WIN so mat should my suggestions respecting the
" 'ne meai prove true, may be found uecessarv
10 uanpsou the gravel about miles where there !, -
Hsam OF water sufficient, for every purpose ~
have already expressed doubt whether or M, tie e.
of gold will prove be Of much uima,, ad,sn,.. -.
hssn De found 10 considerable quantities. fanstory
WI ven 70 arse by IT'S directly increasing the circula
ting u'ednm. and rendering money more olen,v 4, ho
On. we nes the certain effect Of which be TO withdraw
Oo' 'on every other branch Of useful Industry A.;
culture aud The mechanic will I've abandoned n, ~, @
aiurIpg and exciting pursuit Of gold " VIC 'e
AheIe IS profanity undertaking which en,a,e. a.. .,
I'm on maosnd more speculative and uncertain than minns
en s engages with the hope loary tina, he NAV
% 'oc przs knowing AZ the time how greatly hs oh.
IS are asaint him, and how larze a nro,nr,;o, @ 81
aoue IS suiceu 10 produce large amount Of IN
poverty ana distress The aspect of the country
Us becomes changed scenes of rroI
uusy felicity and abundance gradually fade awav and a.
Ted misery, disease deer,,ou and decay such sq"a
loa and ;eo,~is Th place 10 The gold regions OF caro-
pe hom distance and long they NAV have IN s.shp
sn,o 70 o ne necessary articles Of substance; for in pro
70 tne increase In the quantity Of the ios meas
,e relative value, respects other articles NJ
unn,he, and larger quanty Of gold or silver viii be 70
ueu ~ enchanse The value Of god therefore IL moi aa..
I've same, but depends like every Other ariel. If
vPn me ansun' which may he demand and the
meta FUND ts relative value may be so moct .. '
mn'ng no longer profitable employment and mi. %
@ DC CONSIDERED merely speculative contingency such
Amercat The lead Of Missouri and no, Pc, soa
produced such quantities Of lead that the mako, s
y Guted and the price reduced 80 low lone con, and III
[ 'nsr we miners can no longer make any profit nv their
ue ne relative value between gold and sIv., h.. -
various changes from the operation of the sane
W ne elauen OF the supply 10 the demand Thu, IN.
wee OF silver greater than that ~ gold il we ,nt. mt ~
'ueTauon only The relative ooany obtained this d.,.oe
20 oe accounted os BY the greater demand and
consumption OF tie former than Of the latter ""'
IN al sges the amount Of precoos metal, b,o,,h,
mas exceeded tie demand for them hut this ,nss
nss Dsen greatly augmented Within tho as 800 wear.
nee zoe usccysyo America. Notwithstanding the p,oss.
luxury enc civilization has greatly iDcrsased ,ew ne. s;ors
H"e mass that has been brouet fiom Ihs western