Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-12-14
REMARKS OF Mr.. GILMORE,

81 OF CUMBERLAND, "a
Dszicered in tie Senate Of North Carolina, Deem
Der 2. 1855 in taror Of the bill to extend State
aid to the Western Railroad from Fayetteville to
the Coayfelds
Mr. SPEAKER As this is the proper time to
slider the objects and provisions of the BILL would
ask the attention of the Senate whilst make few
remarks in favor of its passage This is one of the
most important measures that has ever been presen
ted to the Senate occupied the attention of the
people of the State It involves the great question
of the extent and value IF the coalclds and wheth
er the articles of coal and iron exist in sufficient
quantities to justify the passage of the bill The
coalelds on Deep river were known before the rev.
dictionary war, and fragments of the iron then man.
ufactured may now be seen at one of the mines
Afterwards the Crown issued letters patent to COM
pany to work the mines. This company, having left
the mother country, proceeded on its way to the
mines and reached within some 80 or 40 miles of its
destination when the disturbances in the State oc
CURED, and the company compelled to return.
This fact is established by the records Of the Board
of Trade of Liverpool The period referred to must
have been about the time the Regulators began.
The coalfieds were then considered chiefly valuable
for iron ore. After this the fame of the coalields
passed away until 1851, when Geologist
ployed to make survey of the State and reported
in 1852 by which public attention called to the
subject again. Shortly after this report was made,
a controversy in the newspapers between scientific
gentlemen carried in relation to the quantity
of coal and and the extent of the coalieds This
discussion produced the deepest interest not only
between the parties themselves but also among the
people of that section of the State. When this
troversy subsidized popular opinion finally settled
down in favor of those who maintained that the coal
fields were both rich and abundant After this the
auger applied the shaft sunk, and the coal and
ore taken up. At one of the Mines machinery cos
ting $50 600 dollars is now ready for the raising of
coal and ore as soon of transportation are
provided These coalfeds 80 miles long and from
to miles wide. The quality of the coal is supe-
rior to any-t is free from smut and sulphur and is
therefore not unhealthy. Itburns with clear light
containing from 10 to - gallons of oil to the ton,
and is superior to any other coal in the production
of gas and when take into consideration the
increased demand for that article in lighting the CT
ties it forms no uncomfortable item in estimating
the value of this coal and beside this, the resduum
of the coal after being burned forms coke Of great
value in the manufacture of iron This coal alone
is sufficient to place the State in the most prosperous
condition. 1t has been compared not only with the
Goals of this country but of Europe, and has been
pronounced superior to them ALL In this day of
Improvement, when the boundary of knowledge has
been enlarged and the arts and sciences improved,
it bchooves us to look to the incidental as well as
the principal products of the State. Coal is now be-
coming more and more abundant in its use, and is
indispensable fuel for almost every steamer; and
when we look to the constant increase of steam pow
e.: cannot too highly estimate the great value of
these coalfields There is product upon the earth
so eagerly sought after by capitalists as that of coal
Gold and silver mines liable to give out-they
uncertain-but experience proves that the guam
tity Of coal can be easily ascertained and with
greater certainty.
But the coal is not all the iron ore is of incalcu-
liable wealth, and is proven to be equally extensive
and abundant There are five kinds of ore, and
among the number that which is prominently known
the backband rcnore. tits from this that the best
Scotch pig iron is made and think that is esteemed
the best in any market. To appreciate this matter
properly should know the fact that this black
band ore has been found nowhere upon the earth,
except in Scotland and at these very coalfieds.-
This ore produces from - to 16 gallons of oil per
ton, and at very small expense. The coal and ore
found together, and in removing the one you
essarily remove the other These coalfieds near
the ocean than any others on the Atlantic slope.
Every Governor for the last ten years has recon-
mended the development of the of the State
The Legislature saw its Importance and hence about
forty thousand dollars have been expended Ia, Coo
logical surveys of the State. Whatever doubts may
have been heretofore entertained in relation to the
vast quantity of coal and iron existing in these
mines, there can be none now. l can here refer
with confidence to the naval commission under Com.
Wilkes, by whom an examination was made, in ref
erence to the establishment of government machine
shops at these very coafeds and upon the very best
authority, by letters this city, it is beyond a
doubt that his report to the government will be of
the most favorable character.
We have no means of ascertaining certainly the
quantity of iron imported into the State but the
lowest estimate that has been made by those l have
consulted is S. 600 OOO exclusive of railroad iron.
The duty upon iron is 90 per commissions,
profits and freight will exceed 10 per cent making
in all at least 80 per cent, which is about 81 $780,
600, nearly one third of the whole cost of the IRON
If then this amount of iron should be manufactured
in the State by our own citizens, it would be
nual gain of 100000; for even if this iron should
sell as high the imported iron, still the entire profit
would be retained in the State, and if manufactured
by citizens out of the State by foreigners there
would still be avery large expenditure out of this
which would enure to the benefit of the State, for
the wealth of the citizen is the wealth of the State
Assuming then what I believe to be true, that a
large and populous town would be created and ex-
tensivc establishments erected for the manufacture
of ron it follows necessarily that instead the
ufacture of S. 600 900 worth of iron, it would be-
ten, fifteen twenty Millions and the increas
ed advantages to the State would be in the same in
creased proportion.
No measure has ever been submitted to the Sem
ate in which the interests of the State of
DINA have been so deeply involved. Before the
stockholders have asked any aid of the State $780,
900 have been subscribed and mostly expended
upon the road which is constructed of the very best
material and promises to be equal to any road in the
Union. The bonds of private companies all know,
cannot command high rates. whereas the bonds of the
State can The company therefore propose an ex-
change of bonds to the amount of 5000, 900. The
State is secured at every step. When - miles of
the road is finished an exchange of bonds to the
amount of 5000, 900 is to take place when the iron
for the whole road reaches the port of Wilmington
an exchange of 100000 more is to take place :;
when 10 miles more of the road is finished an ex-
change of 100000 is to take place; and when the
whole road is finished exchange of the last $780,
600 is to take place. and the State is to have lien
upon the whole road, stock, houses and lands, and
if the company fail to pay the interest within 70
months after is DUE the State is to take possession
of ALL and the same provision is made in case of fail
pay the principal This road differs from all 9TH
er roads in the State for the freight ready as
the cars arrive It is thought it will pay Is or 20