Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-05-07

VIsIT TO THE MINERAL REGIoN.-lr0D OTe.-
Our second day in this interesting section OF Chat
ham County was devoted to ride and ramble
through the Iron region, including the remarkable
spot called 'sOre Hill" or I" Iron Mountain" In
this excursion again favored with the plea
SAINT company Of VIM. McClane, ESQ.,, whose love
of the sciences of Geology and Mineralogy has led
him to explore nearly every foot of the ground in
that section, and whose practical knowledge had
enabled him to trace their rich deposites through
all their rami6cations of hill and valley.
Leaving the Gulf, on the Gulf and Graham Plank
Road half mile brought us to the line OF the out
crop Of the coal, and Immediately afterwards vein
of iron ore presented itself miles further we came
upon vein of pure oxide of iron, very abundant
and rich, the being scattered profusey over and
under the surface, and extending for miles on each
side of the road. We stopped and broke up with
hammer many pieces OF the ore, bringing OH some
of the richest specimens.
Five miles beyond this we turned of the Plank
Road, (Which by the way is very well constructedD
and proceeded to the left hand mile or two to Ore
HILL This is an immense conical eminence several
hundred feet high, about half mile from its base
to it's summit, and thence extending west nearly
two miles in fiat table land. At its Western ex-
tremty is the Mineral Spring known formerly as
the Hickory Spring, and more recentlv as the Mount
Vernon Spring, place of considerable resort Tor
many years past considering the limited accommo-
datiOns for company
We were satisfied with ascending the hill to its
summit Its surface IS covered with ore, and there
are several pits of the depth of 10 to 20 feet each,
which were opened and worked during the Rero-
lutionary War, but have ever since been neglected
In these pits are presented to view immense masses
of the ORE from which the exterior was chiseled of
and worked up at the Foundry Tick creek, near
by, the ruins of which still visible. The hill,
and to an unknown extent beyond it. is literally full
of ORE and scarcely be too much to say, that
there is enough to make all the iron that North Caro-
lima can want, for rail road other purposes, tor
ages to come. The at this point differs IN KIND
from that passed the road, being of the descrlp-
ton. called red H;emetite, very valuable variety,
and when mixed with the pure oxide, making very
strong IRON In breaking it, rich and very fine
vermion powder.is left on the hammer, an evidence
of its kind and quality.
We descended the hill at different point from
that of ascent but still there lay the iron ore, con-
stantly tempting to the of the hapier il! orr
ing up for examination and for specimens to bring
off,
Reaching the base of the hiI returned to the
Gulf by different route so as to pass other veins
of iron and coal Two mics from the hill, We saw
a vein of ore, and two miles further another
When nearer Deep river at Evans's (now Stuarts)
mill, we came upon the outcrop OF coal and VEN
of iron ore, whose course we pursued about miles
to the Gulf In several places saw pits opened
both to the coal and iron. On P. &. Evanss late
plantation, the coal is anthracite, not pure at the
surface, but supposed to be below. On Wicoxs
and Palmers the same description of Goa! is found
IL
nous, but is preferable for parlor use.
This coal out-crop is all in a straight line with
that at the Gulf Egypt, Taylors, Farmersville and
Hornesville From Farmersville we had followed It
about 90 miles; but Mr.. McClane had explored it
for nearly 80 miles, and has only postponed the
further pursuit towards South Carolina till con-
venient season.
We said it straight line, but there is one re-
markablc variation. A mile or two above the Gulf
trap dixie where the seam of coal turns OFT
towards the river at right angles. for hall mile,
then resumes its former course for II miles, then
back to its original line, and thus resumes its place
in the regular formation.
We had thus Travelled on this day around cir
conference of above 25 miles, Astounding with coal
and iron and fire clay. Near by, also, are soap
stone Mines which our friend Robt. A. Stuart Esq,
is grinding into powder finer than the finest Hour,
having contract with New York company for
1900 barrels Of such powder. What the Now York
ers DO with it is matter Of conjecture only, but
doubtless it is used for some purpose OF adultera-
ton, and comes back to us at the South in some
material increased ten fold in value by the operation
MesSrs HaughtOn have also discovered on their
lands Mineral Paint that is said to be very valua
BILE. A specimen of it was exhibited at our last
County Fair. There also found in various con-
tiguous places grit of the best quality for corn mill
stones, sand stone for grind stones, (of which we
a very fine at Mr.. Daniel CampbeIs, on
Crawey's creek and abundance of excellent brown
stone for building purposes.
There is abundant and cheap water power also
in all that region; and the farm lands are not often
excelled for natite richness of soil for beauty of
situation and adaptability for improvement As
may be supposed, such country is more thickly
settled than the sand-hils of Cumberland, with an
intelligent and comparatively wealthy population.
The Gulf and Carbenton, and Egypt, a'e at present
small villages; but one more OF them is proba-
blv destined to grow into importance when the rich
treasures of that region begin to be developed.
Timbcr.-During the whole Of our previous rides,
we had an eve to the kind and quality of Timber
through which we passed. But we had so far found
none of that great size which will be wanted for the
u s. Arsenal in this place. should that become one
for Construction of Gun Carriages and other Ord
nance stores. Parting with regret from our friend
Mr.. McClane on Thursday evening, we crossed at
the Gulf into Moore county, Friday and fell into
the care of Messrs Peter NJ. & Daniel Campbell, OF
that county, who accompanied us ten or twelve miles
to Crawleys Creek and McLennon's Greek, where
in the course of long ramblcs foot through their
forests we had ample occasion to cry Eureka! On
these streams we POUNDS White Oak trees tine de-
scription principally wanted) Red Oak and Pine
measuring from Ii to Is feet in circumference feet
from the ground, and one which measured a foot
lower down, was Is feet in circumference. There
were besides immense poplar, hickory, gum, ana
maple trees; many of every description straight ana
without limb for 80 or 60 feet from the ground
We heard also of equal or even superior Timber on
New Hope and Lick creeks and our friend and COM
panon continued his explorations up Deep River into
Randolph county, where he found very fine Timber,
though generally not of the largest size and where
also he found abundance of iron ore, of the magnet
ic and specular varieties, which are among the more
valuable kinds. We regretted that we were obliged
to give up the excursion at Carthage and to return
home to business.
We need scarcely sum up the conclusions to when
this trip has brought us. Those who have done us
the honor to read can anticipate them. We feel