New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-08-03

10 the hedd-Natcrs o. the ihattsnoOueS g." -
South " est--a distance Of several hundreds OIL
miles. Though conforming generally TO theooufse
Of the Allegheny Ridge, the backbone o. tne
United States las they were,l II hes some as
lance soutberlv at this end, approaching Irregular
lv nearer. and finally blending with the grsatrange
itself near the dividing line OF North ana ool'h
Carolina. Farther south, it seems To recede from
the mountains and approach the sea-coasti bat all
il vet vague and uncertain We know that IN
certain loo ties gold in considerable quantities
has been obtained by mining or washing bat
whether IL is confined 70 those localities or ex-
tends over much wider area, is not known
Biologists may say confidently that in such or
such a formation no gold ever has been and prob
ably none ever viii be found but even The out
lines Of the geology OF the Southern States IS yet
so imperfecty known that very little can be safely
affirmed with regard to it.
Digging and washing for Gold has been prose
cuted in certain portions Of Virginia, North Caro-
lima and Georgia through several years past, with
varied success. Some have grown suddenly rich
by it others have realized moderate gains Or held
their own; some have impoverished themselves
Nothing is easier than this last, even IN country
rich with the shining dross. Mere digging and
! washing Of sand and earth must ever be preca-
rious business, unless the earth operated on be
that wherein the mineral primarily deposited
unless. in short, it be a mine. Washing the
| gold-bearing sand Of rivers and streams must ne
cessarily be as precarious as fishing or any other
industrial lottery.
Want OF Science, of Experience, Of Means-such
is the briefest synopsis OF gold mining generally
| We suspect the immense returns OF Gold obtained
through late years by Russia from her Arabian
Mines are due quite much TO good management
and abundant capital as to the richness Of the
ores Especially has the deficiency OF skill in the
separation Of the precious metal from the sub
stances wherein it is mbedded been a serious OBJ
stacle to profitable working. friend who re-
Gently visited some Virginia Mines casually stated
that he washed a bucket of the refuse whence the
miners supposed they had extracted the gold, and
obtained a liberal yield Of that metal-quite as
much az those who had washed 1t before him did.
We understand that recent invention remedies
the waste here indicated by extracting the whole
of the metal-99I grains having been obtained on
a test trial from a bucket OF earth through which
100 grains of gold dust had been thoroughly dis
seminated. This discovery is expected to work
great and instant change in the productiveness Of
gold mines
A friend who recently visited that portion Of the
ascertsined Gold Region Of Virginia lying nearest
us stafford and spottsylvanis Counticsl writes us
as follows:
Many rich gold mines have been dis
covered in this vicinity by farmers while pillow Ing
and digging on their lands. Some have IN tins
way been made suddenly ricf. These mines are
now being washed with science and economy, IN
der the direction OF Northern capitalists. some OF
the estates or farms have thus been found very
valuable the ores in some instances having yield
ed as high as e., 500 per bHShei by the new pro
cess, which extracts five times as much ron the
same quantity and quality of ore as the old meth
DDS did Thirty or forty estates known To produce
Gold have changed hands ON the strength Of the ex
element which this discovery has created and
capitalists and miners are now examining aud
buying.
The working as yet proceeds cautousy-In
fact IT has generally but begun. The veins are
show 10 be rich, abundant and extensive. Single
veins have been traced for a mile or more aud
shafts sunk to the depth Of two hundred feet, at
which depth the veins regular and OF increased
width. Warned by experience the works are
now prosecuted with strict economy.
The Gold Region Of Virginia 50 far as ascer-
tut
Fredericksburg, and have been traced South
Westerly through that Spottsylvania,) Stafford,
Culpepcr. Orange, Louisa and other Counties
so far as has yet been ascertaned, 1t varies from
SIX TO ten miles in width. One farm has already
produced Sl50,OO0 worth OF gold but there are
doubtless farms on which none has yet been found
which will prove as rich as any. The large sum
abovenamed has been mainly obtained by wash
ing surface earth and gravel Working IN tins
way generally leads in time 10 discovery OF the
veins whence the surface mineral was thrown OIL
Large purchases of land here on British account
are reported.
"The regularity of the veins is ascertained, as
well as their richness. The same vein has been
traced through and worked upon two or three es-
tates The vein-stOnc rs quartz, carrying spar,
very clearly defined from the soft, crumblng slate
which is the prevailing rock, and which Is easily
mined with pick merely, without drilling or
blasting.
Fredericksburg has been aroused to activity
and thrift by concurrence of good influences.
vote of the citizens, nine 20 one has recently de
creed n subscription of $4,000 10 the Blue Ridge
Railroad. The waterpower Canal taking the
Rappahannock from its rocky bed and conveying
IL through the town 10 tide-water below, is to be
finished this Fall The fall is sixty feet the nv
er as large as the Merrimac. IL is said that sew
eral prominent young men of the place have been
for years learning the business they hope to fol
low at home when the factories go up Thus the
town thriyes and promises TO become large and
wealthy
We recently examined, at the office, 60
Broadway, large collection Of specimens of Gold
Ores from the property known as the Monroe
Gold Mine Stafford County. They look rich, and
will reward curiosity their intrinsic value and
importance as indications are matters for the mi
ncr or geologist. Should the results OF the pres
ent operations prove SO favorable as to excite
Gold fever, we trust it will be fever for actual
mining and working-not for bubble stock specu
latons There is doubtless mineral wealth
enough in the country to reward literally the out
lay of labor and capital required to develop it. So
let it come to the light
| For The Tribune.
| City TaXes....No. l.