Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-04-10

NoRlu CAROLINA MOUNTAIN SCENERY, &c.-Hen-
ry E. Cotton, ESQ.,, Senior Editor of the Asheville
Spectator, gives glowing description of the scene
~ and riches of the mounYhs and valleys of the
horseback. We extract the following:
THE valley of Valley River, remarked in my
last is one of the most beautiful have seen,
and in fertility and wealth it does not deceive its
looks. If l were going to be tarmer-and they
are the happiest and most independent of men-l
know of no life I would desire more. | would as
leve own farm on Valley River, as any section
have yet Not only is the soil fertile, but
there is in the hill sides and valleys mineral wealth
perfectly nexhaustibe; Iron, Lead, Silver and Gold
abound in chief Marble, of various qualities and
species, is found in the greatest abundance. was
surprised to see in Murphy numbers of chimneys
built of marble, which by little work is capable OF
the highest polish-while in the quarry found an
immense vein of the purest white The vein OF
lead, silver and gold-more valuable for lead and
silver than anything ese-foows close upon the
marble vein, rather to its Southern side About
two miles of the traced vein is owned by d. F. Ram.
sour, Esq, who has politely offered to furnish me
with a box of the mineral specimens of Valley Rv-
1t has been opened in several places-one at
mine called No. 6, is now in law, and will probably
lie idle for some time. Its original owners are MIR.
A. j. Patton, of Macon, and G. L. Morris, of Chero-
kee. The indications of iron are very strong even
on the West side of the Valley River Mountains,
but the only mines which have been worked of much
account are in few steps of the road through the
valley.
was told that articles of ronware sold in Chero.
kee at from to cts per pound, never dearer than
the latter. They have Iron orks in the county with
no facility for getting it to market Copper has
been found in some places, but is not so valuable as
the other minerals 1t is very evident to me from
what have seen, that the valley of Valley River
contains more undeveloped wealth than any scope
of country of the larger size in the world
have never seen its equal and do not to see
full even in its not halfcultivated state-and my
heart swell with pride when think that all this
beauty is within my own glorious Carolina. But
how neglected, how unknown? How many of the
| wealthy farmers of Hyde, Tyrrell, Washington, or
! Carteret, know that amid the Businesses of our
mountains, as many bushels of corn be raised to
| the acre as on their boosted swamp lands. None,
we fear none. Nor will they know it until
| they have more of the North Carolina spirit. Day
after day Charleston and Savannah both inferior
| ports-reap the fruits of North Carolina industry,
while the best port of the Southern States is lying
| idle and almost without improvement We may
| oftentimes repeat that this should not be so, but
again the Legislature assemblies and the claims of the
west passed by, while South Carolina continues
| to strain every nerve to be ahead and win the
| prize.
| 81 spent nearly day at MIR. Walkers on the up
per waters Of Valley River-and plcasanter spot
| to stay at have seldom found | would recon-
| mend persons visiting the Western mountains t.
call on him. learned that about fourteen miles
| from his house there is large and high mountain
| wholly of beautiful flesh colored marble, and tina
there is in it a Blowing Cave. Having guide ant
some other circumstances preventing, l did no
/ visit it."