Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1853-06-08
PROFESSOR EMMONS.

ton from Prof. Emmons, the State Geologist II
the las. number of the Salisbury Banner. To al
interested in the development of the resources o.
our State, it will prove an acquisition:
Mr.. EDITOR: At a time when the public attention
is called to the subject Of internal improvements, il
seems highly important that those who interest
ed in carrying them forward should be we'll informed
of the resources upon which they must rely, in part
foi support. ...s.... .F..
1t is evident that Improvements in Rail and Plank
Roads will at once place upon entire new footing
the Agricultural interest of the whole interior Of
North Carolina. This interest has ever been op-
obliged to haul his corn long distance, and when
the market has been finally reached, the price of his
corn OF cotton has been consumed, nearly SO, in
the expenses Of transportation. The farmer planter
may as well, so Tor as profit is concerned, have re-
mained at home and consumed his corn, as to have
incurred the expense Of hauling tito market. In the
same condition the mineral interests have slumbered,
except, indeed in that of single metal, Iron,
lead and copper have never been regarded valuable,
because the expense Of transportation required to be
net, and this expense has been too great TO encour
age capitalists to embark their facure, except
upon very limited scale. Iron which is one Of
the most important mineral productions, is at the
same time one Of the most abundant in this State (;
it is not only abundant but it is also of the finest and
best kinds for bar iron.
Let US look at:tbis subject one moment. Upon
Deep River in connection with the coal formation,
there are numeroas beds Of the mixed oxides and
of iron. Adjacent to the coal formation,
and within few mile, of it, the primary rocks also
abound in the richest iron ore. In the favorable
position then, there is every inducement whrh can
be offered in the interior Of the country for the
,abishmen of iron works. There is no manufacture.
there is no branch of business which brings so much
prosperity to community the manufacture OF iron.
II faf Pkoffo nd of fam,
products-grains, fruits and meat A large poPula.
lion which are not producers Of food in any uf its
forms, have to be fed and clothed. Leaving out Of
view, however. A MAhKET, wish to call the aien-
tion of the public to the fact. that North Carolina is
one of the best fields for the manufacture of refined
iron. Pennsylvania may be much better provided
" ilh the means of making common iron but refined
bar iron can be made cheaper here than the State
! have named; for the sole reason that while this
State has the right kind of for the purpose, she
can produce the only kind Of fuel in sufficient abun-
dance to meet the wants of the business. This is
Charcoal and she has it, because her forests are un.
failing and will renew themselves in about one-half
the period required in Pennsy lvana and New York.
No other fuel bat charcoal can be employed for the
manufacture OF the best bar iron From the best bar
iron, steel is made, as we'll as all kinds OF wire and
tile various utensils which require tough iron.
Here, then is field ye, occupied in This country,
and IT We consider for one moment the present wants
of community for tie best kinds Of iron, as steam
butler plafes and all the iron ,vork Of steamboas and
railroad cars, we can scarcely calculate the demand
which might spring up for it. In addition to all this
why should North Carolina manufacture the rails
for her iron roads which she is constructingl II is
true, it is too late to meet the demand Tor iron tor her
Central Road but there is still and time be.
gin for that business, for the extensions Of this Road
East and West. This State should have made every
foot of for her Roads, for il be cerain, and
indeed can be proved, that even at the low price Of
Railroad iron during portion OF the twelve months
past il could have been made here at small profit.
The climate is favorable than the North, the
means of living cheap, and fuel and coal abundant.
The great expense attending the manufacture of ron
in North Carolina must be cheaper, By one.fourth,
than in New York. The abundant and
fovorably located. Among the ores Of iron the steel
ore is quite abundant. At Mr.. D. W:JohnsoI's, in
Randolph county, the steel ore exists in two quite
important veins. In Germany this variety 10 manu-
factured at once into steel.
My object in the foregoing remarks is TO call the
attention Of capitalists the manufacture of iron in
all its branches, which wish the public consider
in relation 10 the Improvements in roads in pro-
gress OF construction.
But the iron manufacture is only one branch OF in-
dustry which is destined to spring up and flourish
Copper is another metal which is now found to be
abundant, and its mining and manufacture opens
another road TO wealth and encouragement to improve
ments in roads. Itis, however, impossible that the
three great pursuits OF human life. Agriculture,
MINING, and MANUFACTURES, should prosper with
out also increasing to very great extent the travel
both for business and pleasure, and hence those who
propose investing capital in rail and plank roads,
cannot be disappointed, provided they construct.
ed through those sections which contain mineral
wealth combined with rich productive soil and i,
is remarkable fact in North Carolina, that fertile
soils cover her mines Of COAL copper. iron and gold
whereas, in other rich mining districts the soil is
usually unproduttive. In fine, North Carolina is now
ginning new and prosperous era, and she may
we'll venture upon new projects and schemes for con.
Meeting herself with the Ocean, the adjoining Sates
and especially such shall promote her inland trade
and more intimate communication with the add
.ionaI parts of her own territory. ... E.