The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-06-17

1
MINERAL WEALTH OF ALABAMA-From the
report Of that eminent Philosopher, Lewis Troost
we take the following notes on the Coal fields Iron
beds and Marble quarries Of North Alabama. Mr.
Troost has been making Survey for the Railroad
from Selma, on the Alabama, to the Tennessee
River. The great expense of transportation rem.
ders them in a great measure useless. The pro
posed road will open cheap and rapid communi
cation between the Gulf and the mountains. A
road is alone needed to divert industry from tn,
cultivation of products already furnished beyonc
the demand, to the damming of rivers, the openin,
OF mines, the erection of factories and forges til,
creation Of villages. This road must either ascent
the spurs of the Alleghanies, or cut through them
or turn their fanks-
E Est through is fairy course. go where il viii,
i Opens and lets it in, and on it runs,
through se ss'S locked l aU be S%e g cline
The carboniferous and silurian beds in AIabam,
are exceedingly rich in their useful rocks and
metals. ~-'.
There are four extensive Coal fields in Alabama
~ striking distance Of your railroad They NAV
be designated as follows The &c Tuscaloosa Coal
Field which IS the greatest in area, lies in the
| valleys OF the Warrior and its tributaries. The
" Cahawba Coal Field" the southern boundary ~
which i at Centerville and Montevallo. occnpie,
the valley of the Cahawba and its tributariess
1 INC ASOuSh OUdl Il ielQ is on the Ride nj
i Inc Coosa River ln the vicinity of Broken Arrow
Creek-and the fourth Coal Field is in DeKalb
aud Marshall counties, between the Tennessee nd
Coosa Rivers. The Coal strata on the warrior and
us tributaries, ten of which have been discovered.
are from 10 10 48 inches thick and ara sligb,lg in;
clIned toward the valley of the river those On the
Cahawba are from to s feet thick and are highly
inclined, while those on Broken Arrow Creek and
in DeKalb and Marshall counties are said 10 he
from to 10 feet thick.
he ali
three frst mentioned ields has proved 10 be Of an
excellent quality, having been tested in seamsbips
gas works, factories, foundries, etc. and from The
examinations which have been made there can he
no doubt of its abundance.
Each and all Of these Coal Fields are convenient
and accessible to your railroad particularly those
on the Cahawba River, and Broken Arrow CreeL
and in DeKalb and Marshall counties. The Goa
measures Of the Cahawba will be in from 60 to rs
mules; of the Broken Arrow, of from 100 TO I3O
a and Of Dekalb and Marshall counties, of
from l7O TO 1876 miles Of Selma by your railroad
with branch lines of from to Is miles long. The
warrior beds may be reached by branch Of 30 10
AZ miles long, making their total distance to Selma
from 80 TO 30 miles.
IN close proximity to the Coal measures are inex
HsaustiDie and extensive beds of Iron ore of the
snnest quality. Ia fact, the counties of Ribh
9nsiDy, lailadega, Benton, Cherokee. ST. Clair
Jefferson and Tuscaloosa, abound in denosi,s ~
aou VIC, NOT excelled IN richness and extent The
.as oeeH Tested and yields an excellent quality
y ron notwithstanding the difficulties expg.
.lenced ior me want of suitable means Of transnpy
.alleh 70 market 1.-The cost of transportation 10 a
haVlgaoIe river being from 50 to SI2 mar ION / Tic
ore Is manufactured into Iron in several ocslisiss
with profit. " se'e'ai locailtles
Another highly important material abound;n,,
IA localities convenient 10 your railroad thronabe
out the carboniferous and surisD rocks IL III
limestone. Some of the limestone Of tbssa ',Ie
furnish marble of excellent quality, and of besns;'
Iuliy variegated colors Several Varieties az hn,o
ana gray marble occur in Shelby county in 1sIs
ihaunsga county jet black marble in CheTokee a
oun e9lored marble; and in Benton county dove
oS ~ marble, have been found These yariesis.
" e marble take very fine polish, dress wall and
WI become very useful for building and ornam ,aru
sat purposes. A large portion of this limestona
WY ms, pusned, Yields quick lime, equal in strength
any mnl1eness to the Thomaston lime.
1l Large beds of Gypsum have Likewise baen found
ns aitieie, SO useful in agriculture, will also swell
s e,a ne!snl' There are other productions of these
ii.oIihatons deserving notice, such az bvdranl;c
limestone, mlll-stones, whet-stones aag-stonas
lead and manganese ""s s'ones'
IA the metamorphic rocks in IAlladsva and
Soosa counties, We And beautifni ana b;ahis
valuable white marble, and eranj,e will s5a5sa55
~, ouiulg; The marble quarries Of DR.. CAN'T
al.ualea IN the southern part of Talladeoa coun,v
eonsenent 10 tbs projected route of YOUR road are
petueuIafiy wortay of being mentioned on sccoan,
" tne pure white saccharine marble which ~
yleid 10 masses OF great size '"oy