Washington telegraph., 1851-11-19

S;r-Tbe undersigned. committee appointed
~, the purpose, would respectfully ask that you
.nrush us, for publication, copy Of the very in
.eresting and able speech delivered by you in this
Hall, to day. -,
-.,usst we subscribe ourselves, very respectfully
your obedient servants,
S'' WELDON E. WRIGHT,
C. TROUSDALE, Com.
C. G. DANLEY,
Nessrs. WELDON F. WslcHE, C. TRousnALE, and
C. C. DANLEx:
Gentlemen-Agreeahly TO your request, here
bv enclose you brief outline Of the remarks made
Sy me in the Representative Hall, OH the 9th inst,
which are at your disposal.
Respectfully, yours, L. FLETCHER.
Little Rock, Nop. 9th, 1851
The following is copy Of the speech referred
to in the preceding correspondence;
Mr.. President and Gentlsmen:
In the few remarks that / propose to make,
wish it to be understood, that though am not a
resident of your State, and appear as stranger
before you; yet do not speak as foreigner, or
as an alien, for all the pecunary interests that
connect me with this earth are within the limits
of Arkansas.
Though accustomed for many years to speak in
public assemblies, it will be readily apparent to
,ou ALL that, in speaking on the subject of Internal
improvements, and especially on railroads, that
| am "off the track
The cause IN which you are engaged is one of
deep and vital interest to the State, and must
sooner or later develope its abundant resources.
Arkansas has been far-famed for its rich mines
in davs of yore, and work published in Glasgow,
Scotland in 1919. states, as matter OF veritable
history that Al years before, silver mines had been
found and worked OH the Washita SO rich that
three pounds of the ore yielded one yound Of pure
silver.
Knowing that your legislature had, as yet, taken
no Efficient steps towards having geological sur
yey of the State, three individuals, residents OF
New Oreans resolved to explore Arkansas, and
learn something relative to its mineral wealth.
We entered upon the work in earnest, and have
succeeded in accomplishing part OF design,
and our tour has been Que full of incident aud in
teresL We have Travelled over your mountains,
ami through your valleys; witnessing the most
magnificent scenery that ever excited d poets
fancy called into exercise painters art.
The broad bottom lands upon your numerous
streams rciuie the ISLANDERS, often heard at dis
tance, that "Arkansas, as to soil, is the poorest
State in the Union." Majestic forest trees Of wal
nut, sycamore, aud oak, many Of which are four
feet IN diameter, give evidences IndIsputabe OF the
depth and richness of the soil.
Chrystal springs are bubbling from the adjacent
decivtes, and all around promises health, plenty,
and happiness to the industrious laborer.
But in addition to these beauties of nature, and
bounties of Providence, your State abounds in
mineral wealth. In our geological and mneraO-
gca researches, We have obtained the evidence
which proves to demonstration, that there is
great mineral belt passing through the State the
great body of which lies south of the Arkansas
nver, extending in width from Magnet Cove, to
Fort Smith One Of company is practical
geoogst, miueralOgist, and chemist, and one OF
the best assayers in the world. We are prepared,
therefore, far We have explored the State, to
give d correct account of its mineral character,
and Of Ihe variety and richness of its ore. Permit
Inc, then, to say, sir, that the God of nature has
made Arkansas d depositary of vast and varied
mineral wealth. Here you have Granite of the
most beautiful character, and in the greatest
abundance
You have roofing Slate that is nexhaustible,
and equal, if not superior to any that is imported
from Wales
You have any amount of Amygdat0id, which
when once excavated may easily be cut into any
shape you please but when exposed to the air and
sun, soon hydrates and becomes as hard and as
durable as marble.
Here are mountains Of Dolomite of the purest
kind and in 40 wise inferior to the Turkish OIL
stone, that is sold throughout our country in its
rough state, for one dollar per pound; " he yours,
lying untouched by the hand Of man, is in suffi-
clenl quantity TO supply the world TO the end Of
time.
You have GrindstOne Grit in the greatest abun-
dance, which cannot be surpassed by any that has
hitherto been discovered in this any other cOun
Try
Add TO these the Gypsum, the Emory, the Man
gqaese, the Soapstone and the Marble, and then
We have hardly begun the enumeration of the re-
sources Of your mineral wealth.
You have Iron ore in imm ense bodies, and OF
lhe hnest quallly-you have nexhaustlbe beds OF
htumnOus and anthracite Coal. Yes, sir, as in
credible as 1t may appeal, you have IN this State
Gathrdcrte coal, not inferior to any in The State
oi Pennsylvania. But, in this great mineral belt
already alluded to, you have iunu,nerabie veins oi
What Is termed ggehtJerouS Lead ore, but when
tested, l. proves te be more than argenterous, II
also durl'erous; yes, aud more than that, for
~hen 1t was assayod, the mineral yielded not only
ninety hUe per cent. metal, but it contained Lead,
Aiac, Copper, Silper, and Gold; and the gold, al
ane rate II yielded in that analysis, will amount TO
least thirteen hundred dollars per ton of the ore.
Aud to this, MIR. President, will add yet one
other Item which is perhaps, worthy of some
consideration
We discovered in one Of these veins of mineral
"at Unread your State, what believe has never
Oeen discovered before on any part of this conti-
Aent, and that is Lapis iazul, the value of which
Per ounce is, double that Of Gold. 1t has been
asserted by men protesting to be geologisis, that
'ere is no primitive formation in your State, con-
sSquently gold did not, and could not, exist there
put IN our Investigations, we have collected the
u's' indubable evidence, from different localities,
a! There is not only primitive formation, but that
4uIerous ores exist in the bowels of Arkansas.
II has been often and think truly said that
"here nature has done the most for man, there
~an does the least for himself, and this remark
may be justly applied to this State. What more
s0uId have been done for ii? Or, rather, what
more could have been desired?
oeiOw aud around you are immense tracts of
auSlal and tertiary soil, which is destitute of min
aa deposits, but is fertile beyond comparison, and
capable Of sustaining dense and wealthy popu-
auOn' And here in its very borders you have the
nHefa Resources that will be necessary to supply