Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-09-07

course is constantly and properly open to public
scrutiny.
DIR. M1TcuEILs REPoRT THE DEEP RIVER Coal
FIELDS OF NORTH CAROLINA. The insertion of this
Report in the u S. Mining Journal of the 10Th inst
has brought us in of correspondence from our
friends in the Old North State
AS we invariably, when there are two sides to
question, act with the strctest mpartalty and JUS
tice, give place to the following communication
from well known resident of Greensborough, who,
from his local knowledge is well qualified to give his
views on this important subject:
GREENSBORO, N. c., Aug. %, 1853.
must call your attention to your republication
of DR.. Mitchells opinions and comments on the
Deep River improvements and Coal Fields
DIR. Mitchell was greatly disappointed that the Gov
ernor of North Carolina had not discovered that he
(MitchelD was Geologst enough to receive the ap-
pointment of Geologist to the State and by way of
excuse for this oversight of Governor Reid would
mention that at the last annual meeting of the Tus
tees of the University of Chapel Hill, aged, dis
tiuguised and learned Trustee moved to add to the
faculty Professor of Geology and Mineralogy In
reply to this motion President Swain explained that
Dr. Mitchell had been Professor of Geology and Min
eralogy of the University for nearly thirty years.
The mover good friend of Dr. Ms, withdrew his
motion, expressing, however, much surprise.
DIR. Mitchell first published his communication
in the Raleigh Register He was replied to from va
rious quarters and the result that he became the
object of universal merriment and Iidcule. He has
recently had occasion to go North, and now note
that his report is published in your Journal.
On the subject of of Geology he has in the short
space of thirty years written little primer of eight
teen pages Although he has taught, he and his
friends say, for nearly thirty years science in
which of late he has become such Lion yet there
is not to be found among the hundreds ofyoung men
who have enjoyed the superior advantages of his in
structlon, one to my knowledge, who knows or pro-
fesses to know one thing about the Geology taught
by him.
He admits himself that in this mighty volume of
eighteen pages he put down the coal at Farrishs as
Anthracite which n0ac ta7ns out to be BitatminOuS
But he made the statement from hearsay He was
appointed in 1S45-1S46 to make a survey for Turn
pike Roads from Fayetteville and Raleigh to Salisbu
~. When his report was read before the Assembly
the friends of the gave them up declaring
that the report if to be believed destroyed all their
hopes of improvements between these several places
Since then on the route there has been built
excellent Plank Road, paying extraordinary good
dividends, and the other there is nearly
completed the grading for excellent Railroad.
This shows that the people of North Carolina now
feel the assured of the proprty and necessity
of public work if DIR. Mitchell reports against it.
A history of the many and mistakes commit
ted by him in all public matters to which he has been
called would be too voluminous to be included in a
letter.
do really think that Professor Emmons, in JUS
tce to himself to the memory of Dr. johnson and to
his friends in North Carolina ought to write in reply
and have it forthwith published in your Mining Jour
nat He is now in your State-say Albany DIR. En-
mons will give to himself the greatest popularity in
North Carolina if he will reply. The fullest
tirmation ofmy remarks DR.. Mitchell can be found
the structures published in the various journals of
North Carolina during the past three months G.
The foregoing is from the United States Mining
journal, New York
We have taken no part in the controversy which |
has been going on in the newspapers between Dr.
McCe nahan Assistant State Geologst and Professor
Mitchell; would insert the above but for the
fact of Dr. Mtchels "opinions and comments =" hay
ing appeared in Northern journal. We could no |
doubt guess who &C" is. We do not of course, |
endorse what he says-we only publish it, as we |
shall publish DIR. Mitchelrs reply if he should think
proper to make one.
That the mineral resources of the State have been
to extent overstated and exaggerated we think
probable; but cannot resist the belief that the
tendency of some of DR.. Mitchells writings has been
to produce the impression that these resources
small, and not of character to justify the expense
and attention bestowed upon them. We speak only
Of the opinion which prevails in the public mind,
md do not undertake to decide to the correctness
IF Dr. Mitchelrs theories, as to the soundness
eability of his differences and opinions. He may be
light. We can only say we trust he is not and that
he weight of evidence to be against him. But
Why this republication of his opinions in Northern
ournal?
We know that the coal fields and copper mines of
he State have already attracted large amounts of
oreign capital that several of the copper mines are
represented, on good authority, to be exceedingly
ich and valuable; that many more mines have been
discovered, which said to give fair indications of
Profitable results; that the coal fields have also at
racted capital from distance; that the artice-bi
luminous, semi-bituminous and anthracte-s repre- :
ented by the State Geologst and his Assistants to
re fully equal to any coal upon the continent. These
Kings zoe Lnow
We have also heard incidentally, that DIR. Mitchell
as given it as his opinion that there is not suf-
iency of water at all times, in the Cape Fear River
0 justify the improvements now in progress; and
hat he has been written to the subject by lead
ng citizen of Chatham, and proof to the contrary
endered for his consideration 1t is also probable
re learn, that the proofs referred to will be brought
ut in the papers, in case Dr. M. should not, upon
areful review of the subject and upon further ex-
feel himself justified in changing his
pinion.
~ The North Carolina Democrat, published at
lllton by N. j. & j. NJ. Palmer, and edited by N j.
'aimer and P. S. Henson, appears to be in a fair
ay to please its Wing readers 1t is out in favor of
he election of E. G. Reade, Esq, to the Commons
rom Person County, and in its last issue it advo-
ates at some length the Wing humbug of distribu-
onl The Editor saws he beZieneen M - -