Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-12-10

GEO. GEO.; W. 2n MoRbEoA1, Committee
November, 1856
Fog the Standard
MEssRs EDIroRs: While numerous minino ~,
Jects have been commenced in this State. for tbo
production ofgold, silver, and "copper" some Of wb;oh
nave lailed while others are still carried on success
fuliy, the manufacture of iron seems to have hoas
little thought Of and yetal ofthc materials necess.
ry for carrying on this business are bounfully SIM.
Piled to many portions of this State. It has hsan
lound that negro labor is very we'll adapted TO ,bo
manufacture and working of iron The forests srs
renewed in this climate least one third sooner thn
at the North, thus furnishing better supply Of fin.
el There is usually in the immediate neisbbor.
hood of the ore beds ample water power: and faknr
into consideration the cheapness of labor, and the
cheapness of subsistence for the laborer. as com.
pared with that at the North there is every reason
to say that we mil ht successfully compete with be
Northern and foreign manufacturers in the produc.
ton Of iron of all kinds
During recent visit to Stokes county. nv atten.
ton was directed to the various products of that re-
gion and especially to the iron ore. There is Sec
ton of country about six miles long, and from two
to three miles wide, which furnishes iron ore in
great abundance and of fine quality These beds
OF ore are not confined to the section spoken of
above; but arc in reality an extension of the ore
banks OF Kings Mountain, and Lincoln county, and
can be traced by the appearance of at different
points between these places. The ore, which is
magnetic, is of the same variety as that at Kings
Mountain, and produces an iron of similar qualities
possessing great toughneSs and malleabiity and is
easily reduced. The rocks in which the ore occurs
in Stokes, arc gneiss and mica slate and instead of
dipping nearly perpendicular, as in Lincoln county,
arc generally but slightly inclined and the veins
conforming to the qualification accounts for the oc
currence OF iron ore over so wide belt This hor.
izontalty of the veins obvates the necessity ofsink
ing very deep shafts for mining The most partic-
ular examination was made at the Rogers ore bank
owned by Mr.. Golding about three miles from Dan.
bury. This bank has been worked at intervals for
long time, and large quantity of ore has been
taken out, can be seen by the remains of the old
works. This is called the mother bank, from being
of the Oldest and is nearly in the of this
iron region. A shaft has been sunk here which
cuts the veins at the depth of fifty feet. The vein
carries in the workings ofthis shaft from two to ten
feet in thickness and was informed by one of tho
miners that in part of the mine which has now
fallen in the vein was left standing fifteen feet thick
There are several other openings on the lands own
ed by Mr.. Golding-n fact almost every hill in this
region furnishes iron ore. Mr. Goding has in ope-
ration at present forge with two fires, and is ma
king superior quality of iron, profitaby, but on
small scale. 1t is his desire to induce capitalists to
enter upon the business with him, and carry it on
in an extensive way. And certainly, this locality
offers very many advantages for the prosecution OF
this business. Situated on Dan river, three miles
from the Rogers bank there is water power suf-
fcient for moving all the machinery necessary for
the most extensive iron works. and most favoraby
situated regards ground for the erection OF build
ings. The dam is about three hundred feet long,
and from nine to ten feet high, the water is taken
out by tunnel and the fall of water at the wheel
is fourteen feet and there is never lack OF water
The ore is hauled in wagons about one mile to the
river, thence it is oated in boats directly to the
forge thus making the cost of transporting ore very
trif1ing. Fuel is abundant-charcoal costing only
from two to three cents per bushel. In the imme-
date vicinity of the forge there is bed ofrock very
superior for building purposes and easily quarrled.
An incxhaustable supply of ore Of fine quality,
easily mined, and which can be cheaply moved to
the works, an abundant water power, in the midst
OF we'll wooded region, giving supply of cheap
fuel furnishes all the elements for the profitable
manufacture OF iron.
To warrant, however. the erection of extensive
machinery for the manufacture of ron it is ncces.
sary that there should be some improved mode OF
transportation to market. railroad interesting
the Central road at High Point vicinity, and ex'
tending through Salem and Germanton and thence
on to Lcaksvie would supply this desderatum,
route in the opinion of those competent to Judge,
perfectly feasible. But iron is only one of many ar
ticles which would thus be open to market By
this route the road would run the entire length OF
the Dan river coal.eld, the out-crop of which can
be traced from Germanton to Leaksyille, dis
lance of thirty miles, thus making this coal ava'a.
BILE, which is now comparatively valueless 1t would
also run through fine agricultural section, abound.
ing in superior wheat and tobacco lands. 1t would
afford facilities for sending the lime of Stokes to the
middle and eastern counties, where the use OF lime
for agricultural purposes is almost impossible from
kHoh ss>E rs h. az SNnn Nf
quality could be furnished for from fifteen to twen'
ty cents per bushe where now it's is almost UNI
known. Fine white marble is another article which
will be produced by the quarries of Stokes and SER
pentine of beautiful pattern and fine texture sulta-
BILE for ornamental purposes, is found in abundance
near Germanton. Sandstone perfectly white and
free from iron, suitable for making the finest flint
glass; is found near Danbury. Inc lha'yoeate
Springs, near Danbury, are also worthy OF notice.
Situated in healthy region surrounded by beauti-
full scenery they Of access they would soon
become place of great resort to invalids and per-
sons of leisure. ~E
Thus it appears that in Stokes and adjacent coun.
ties there resources sufficiently important ana
valuable to warrant the projection of line OF ra'
road as to connect that section with the central
lines of railroad Were this accomplished, togeth'
need be indebted to other State for those articles
of prime necessity, such as iron, lime. &C., which
are now brought from abroad at great cost and an
absolute loss Of money to the State More than this,
she would soon be able to manufacture surplus,
and from her great natural advantages, this could oe
done at cheap rate compared with other States,
and thus instead of being buyer, she would be-
come a seller.
E. EMMoNs, JR,
Assistant Geologist