Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-01-25
Letter from Prot. Emmons.

To His EreeLency, DAVID S. REID:
| returned from Cherokee last week
You arc aware, no doubt, that high expec-
tations had been formed of the value of the
resources of the Southwestern Counties in
minerals, especially in copper. But it un-
fortunately happens that the expectations
as to copper are not likely to be realized.
The people, however, had been encouraged
by numerous individuals who pretended to
know, especially certain Cornish miners.
Their decisions were apparently sustained
BY the copper mines at Ducktown, where
thick masses of the hydrous brown oxide of
iron ovorlie the black oxide of copper-and
1t was expected That wherever this variety
Of oxide of iron was found there copper
must be found also. But the beds of iron
ore in Cherokee County belong to a forma-
ton which l am familiar with, and which
have never produced a pound of copper to
my knowledge. The black oxide of copper
ut Ducktown is derived from the decompo.
sition Of the parts ~sulphuret of copper and
iron. But the iron ore Of Cherokee, which
resembles most perfectly the Ducktown hy-
dras oxide Of iron, is derived from the
parts sulphuret of iron alone. The iron
will exist at both places. In Ducktown it
is accompanied with copper because the sui
phuret contained it; in Cherokee it does
not accompany the iron because the sulphu-
ret did not contain it. All persons there
fore who regarded the iron ore as a sign of
copper we're deceived, and the deception has
extended Ear and wide-even through the
mountains and valleys of eastern Tennes-
sec. Even the Unaka range of mountains
which lie west Of the Ducktown mines, and
which arc composed of rocks entirely differ.
ent, and even ovcrlie those Of DucktoWn,
have been penetrated with many shafts in
search of copper. These must all prove
failures. The Unaka and Smoky noun
tains are not metaliferous. Iron indeed oc-
ours in them, so does gold, but after all
they are not third rate in the production Of
valuable mines.
Still Cherokee and the Southwestern
counties contain much that is valuable
For example, marble, statuary marble, tn,
best of soap stone, iron, manganese, serpen
tine chromate of iron, etc. Probably n,
country is richer in the ores of iron and il
the means of making iron. Gold mine
will also become more profitable work thai
any have hitherto. From all l have see
| am disposed to regard those counties a
possessed of valuable mineral resources
but they are still more valuable for farming
The climate is charming and the land
productive. The hill sides might be cult
waited with the finest Of our grapes and otf
er fruits, or they will make excellent shee
walks, or for the grazing of cattle. Th
distance from market is the great dra,
back upon the industry and enterprise {
the people. The greatest boon which TIL
portion Of the State can receive is q Raj
road. l can see, however, from my ow
barrometrical measurements, that there
more ditnculty to be encountered in passin
the blue ridge than has been expected
The ascent on the east side is quite stee
while upon the west side it is comparative
level. Thus the ascent from the foot of Il
Blue Ridge to its summit is as great in f
miles as it is in one hundred miles on Il
west side, or the ratio of ascent in feet
the cast side is as one hundred to one
the west side. Hence, though it is ca
enough to begin a tunnel on the east sid
still you can't get out on the west side. B
still the difficulty can be overcome.
l nm most respectfully yours,
L. EMMONS,
State GeologiSt.