The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-11-17
THE BeYPr MIME I'M cH J.
We are indebted to . friend who recently
visited the Egypt mine in Chatham, for the
following interesting article STANDARD.

land; and Is situated on Deep river, abot
40 miles north east of Fay etteville, in Cha
ham county. "a e. sze-a = So --rs=zEI
Originally the property of Judge Cam
eron, the plantation was sold by him to tn
late Peter G. Evans. and by him cenveye
to Laurens Haughton and - Harris, 70
$4,000. Haugiton and Harris eonyeye
TO Thomas Andrews, the agent of the pres
ent corporation, Wig: Charles His, w lillian
Shepard. --- Monot, and --]Boyd
Robert Patton, all citizens of New Y ork, 70
the sum of $4,000. )
Since this purchase other parties hav.
been admitted until the Company nov
numbers some thirty persons They are
possessed of ample means fur the pro<ecu
ton of the Important work in which they
are engaged.
/ They have already expended upon the
mine and plantation some S235 OG0. and q.
! soon as the river is opened, other expendi
lures are contemplated, which will involve
an equal and perhaps larger sum.
The works consist of shaft. which is
cut through alternate seams of rock, slate
earth, iron ore, coal. ETC., to the depth of
| 464 feet, and extends horizontally some 6G
or 80 feet each side in the veins of metal
and coal. This shaft is now filled with wa
ter. caused by the accumulation of rain,
&c, since last spring, when an explosion
of fire damp occurred, which caused the
death of several of the workmen.
was told by the highly Intelligent and
accomplished engineer in charge. Mr. Nc
Lane, that they were able, with the machin-
cry on hand, to empty thesmine, and begin
the delivery of coal at the rate of a ton per
minute, in sixteen days notice. -
Connected with the shaft by rods and
nt har s,ra 4
gines, each of sixty horse power, which are
well worthy more deliberate examination
than could bestow.. Besides the large
building which encloses these engines. I
noticed others used as saw mills black
smith shops, etc. The mouth of the shaft
is covered with scaffalding which supports
the wheel around which a rope repolves at.
tached to a bucket or cage, which traverses
the mine, and is drawn up or let down as
occasion demands. as ~r7.t 49,.
The engines and chimney estupon bases
of solid hewn sandstone rock, euarried in
the vicinity, and have a very substantial
appearance. The chimney is about 50 feet
high. From the mouth of the mine to the
! river, distance Of 3G0-yards, as,nall rail
roads already constructed. and as the
land shelves in that direction. the grade is
overcome by trestiework about 30 feetligh
in some places. Tho trestle work is filed
in with a curious looking slate rock. which,
upon inquiry, | ascertaiued was. nothing
more nor less: than the celebrated iron ore
discovered by Mr. Patton in 1856. to be iden-
teal with that, from which "pig irorl'' is.
made in Scotland. Prof. Elnm,pls. alludas
to this discovery in his lastreport. Before
its value was discovered, some thirty tiiou-
sand dollars worth had, been expended in
fl lliptr i'm thn fra ST -XypcE
The river is about $50 feet wide, dnd
some feet deep at Egypt a canal is al
ready begun to conduct the river under the
of the road, so as to dump
the mineral at once into the boats from the
cars above. -~t. ~-E.ft
Imagine these works in the centre OF
plain. slOping gently hack from the ri-cr's
bank about one mile and three foartlls, and
extending up and down without Single
tree or large shrub, and you viii have a
toerable idea of the site upon which is Sc
riously contemplated by men who have the
means and the Will to carry out their plans,
to found a city of Is or 10000 Inhabitants. |
There are already prepared and ready to
be put up some thirty five or forty houses,
included the storellouse, barns, etc, usual |
on largo plantation. ~ SIR 9. =. ... ..r- i
One of them, the residence of Mr. Nc /
All CtidTpF, Is Il very |
substantial and handsome dwelling-cost |
some $4,000. 1t contains 8 rooms and a
large basement, and is surrounded by a !
double piazza, Situated in fine grove of |
oaks. ..
In company with young gentleman
named Mcdonald, I strolIed over the pro-
pcrty carly one morning in search of game:
had a shot or two at II fine flock of wild
lucks. Squirrels, snipe and deer are also
% be found on the premises. The soil is
producing corn and fruit in album
lance, and covered with pine timber
some thirty five acres are set apart for an
richard. There are about $500 young ap-
lie trees on the premises. The crop from
lbout 1000 acres under fence, reached
1000 bushels this year, under Indifferent
cultivation. .-.......r... ...se....
A committee appointed by the Governor
# South Carolina, is now in the vicinity
the mines of deep river. The
Engineer and all connected with the work
re about the most accommodating and
ospitable people you can meet anywhere,
md gladly welcome and entertain the citi-
ems of this. and the adjoining States. l
IN much indebted to them for their polite
Tess and hospitality to me-
Returning through Haywood | learned
luded a contract with the Deep River
navigation and other companies for OPEN
lg the river by the 1st October next, and
ad already begun operations.
The coal is of the best quality of bitumin-
us or Newca coal.s There were about
ZOO tons on the bank waiting shipment,
ut the chief value of the Egypt mine con-
lists in it's large and inexhaustible stores
f black band iron, which is of incalculable
alue. The Company estimates this pro-
erty at two hundred millions of dollars.
nd have already contracted to deliver
of tons of IRE. upon the rivers
ank. upon the Opening of the navigation.
his immense sum may be realized in the
curse of few years, and leave altogether :
the original value of the sur
ace for agricultural purposes.
Altogether it is at the present moment :,
ne of the most interesting localities in n.
'arolina, and ought to be Visited by every
IAN who is ambitious of becoming acquaiit-
d with the untold wealth and resources of
he State. No better site could be found