Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-05-06
LETTERS FROM THE ALLEGHANY MOUNTAINS.
EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE.


0w metal and is applied to small hamlet at the foot
If the Aegbany Mountains in Lumpkn county, Georgia,
which is repud to be the weahest gold region the United
States II recorded of De Soto and his followers that in
he sixteenth century, they explored this entire Southern
Try in search of god and unsuesionabe evidences of their
work have been discovered in various sections Of the State
Among these testimonials may be mentioned the remains OF an
old furnace and other works for mining which have been
brought light by explorations But the attention of
people first directed this region while yet the
Cherokees in possession Of the land though the digging
Of gold made regular business until after they had
been politely banshed by the General Government Soon
the State Of Georgia had become the ghl possesor Of the
soil (accordng to a much contention and excitement
among the people who should have the best oppoun
ties for making fortunes and. to settle all difficulties it
decided by the State Legislature that the country should be
and divided into lots Of forty hundred and
sixty and distributed to the people by lottery For
raj years subsequent that period deeds of wrong and out
pactsed to great extent by progate adven
who focked this Ell Dorado In the year 1888,
however, the Government established branch mint this
place. since which time much better Of things has
isted in Dahlonega.
The appearance Of this village though not than
dozen years DID, is somewhat antquated owing the fact
that the houses chiefly built of logs and having been
painted, particularly dark and dingy, but uncommony
picturesque in form and location The population Of the place
is about five hundred. II is located upon hill and though
the country around is quite uneven, having been deeply
vned by atmospheric agents. when viewed connexion with
the mountains (some fifteen miles off, which seem to
hem three sides, presents the appearance of pit
magnificent amphitheate. On approaching Dahlonega no
ced that the water had all been mutaed with the
spade and pckaxe and that their Of deep vel
low and having explored the country since them find that
such is the condition of all the within circuit of
many miles. Large brooks (and occasional rver)
have been turned into channel and thereby deprived
of their original beauty And Of all the hills in the vicinity
of Dahlonega which have visited, have not yet
which actually rddled with shafts and tunnels The
soil is of primitive character, quite yelowsh in color
posed of sand and clay and uncommony easy
with the spade Heretofore the gold Of Lumpkn county
has been obtained from what is called the depose BEDS but
the miners beginning direct their attention the
veined which supposed to be very abundant in all d
rectons generally found in quartz and species Of slate
stone. The gold region of Georgia. strictly speaking
fined TO broad belt, which in northeastern and south
western direction from Dahonega, which may be considered
its Several aurferous veins traverse the town. and it
is alter the inhabitants busy engaged
in hunting for gold in the streets That huge quantities
thus accumulated in these days not ready TO believe,
whatever may have been done in former years know not
that any very remarkable specimens Of gold have been
found in the immediate vicinity of Dahonega but idea Of
the wealth ofhe State in this particular may be gathered from
the fact that several Jumps have heretofore been found in diff
ferent sections which worth from five hundred
thousand dollars More valuable specimens have been found
in North Carolina but while Virginia, the Caronas, and
Alabama have all produced goody of gold, have
heard conceded that Georgia has produced the largest guam
tity and decidedly the best quality.
And with regard to the fortunes that have been made
in this region They very few and far between But
by way Of illustration will give three incidents which
have come to my knowledge In passing, however, may
repeat the remark made to by intelligent gentleman
that the expenses Of digging the gold this section Of
country had exceeded the gain about hundred per
cent Immense of labor well money have been
expended and generally speaking the condition of the peo
pie has not been improved the very wealth of the country
has caused the ruin Of many individuals The following story
is matter of popular history After the State Legislature
had divided the Cherokee Purchase into lots and regularly
numbered them, rumored about the country that lot
No. 1852 was great prize, and every body ptoe
with regard to its distribution by the proposed lottery AT
that time 1862 figured in the dreams of every Georgian and
those figures were then far popular than the figures 81
40 have been in these latter days Among the crazy
dyduals who attended the lottery Mosey who had
determined either to draw the much talked Of prize pur
chase Of The winne though should be at the
Of his entire property, which quite large The drawing
took place, and 1852 into the possession Of poor far
mer named Ellison Moseiy Immediately mounted his horse
and FASTENED TO Esons farm where he found the child Of
fortune following the plough The woube purchaser made
known the object Of his visit and Ellison only laughed the
mpetuosity Of his impatient friend. Ellison said he
anxious to sell the lot but il Mosc must have it, he might
have it for $4,000 Mosey acceded the terms, and in
paying for the lot sacrificed the Of his landed and per-
sonal property. The little property which left him he
was compelled to employ in working his mines he labored
with great diligence for years. but he could make
both ends meet for his mines were not all distinguished for
heir richness In process of time he compelled sell
1852 for what would bng and having squandered that
remnant Of his former wealth, he left the country for parts
Known, vertable beggar But what singular than
Ill, the present proprietor Of 1852 is that identical Eli
on who is annually realizing handsome Of money from
he dscoyered gold found in the bowels Of his lot
cry lot.
Another instance Of good fortune, unattended with any al
oy follows Five years ago couple OF brothers, who
work upon the Georgia raroad took ii into their
reads visit Dahonega and their luck in the mining busi
They hardwoking rshmen and understood the
cence Of digging perfection. They leased or two lots
this vicinity, and eputed TO be worth 0O0
Aud, now that it has come into my mind, will mention
mother lottery anecdoe which was related to by old