Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-04-07
The Establishment of a National Foundry
the Claims of North Carolina.

It has been recommended by the Secretary of
War that the government of the United States es-
tablish in some eligible and healthy point Of the
country national foundry, for the manufacture Of
cannon, &C., for the use Of the army.
Last week Mr.. Gilmer presented to Congress the
petition of Edward Cantwell and others, for the es-
Enlistment of national foundry in the valley Of
Deep river, North Carolina.
The Odd North State" has more claims upon the
Government to establish national foundry within
her borders than any other State in the Union True
to the Continental Congress in the troublesome
times of the revolution, true to the Constitution
since the formation Of our Federal Union, with
brave, industrious and loyal people cheerfully con-
tributng their share to the maintenance and defence
Of our Government, she has asked for and received
few favors at its hands.-There is federal estab-
lishment within her limits.
But North Carolina has other, and in the present
uaran age, stronger claims for this national foun
dry. She has inf the valley of the Deep river sit
uation offering advantages unequalled, certainly not
surpassed, in the broad of our Republic for an
extensive foundry. We speak of Chatham county.
From conversations with DR.. Emmons the North
Carolina State geologist and Hugh Waddell, ESQ.,,
a most intelligent gentleman of that State, have
learnt that this locality possesses an exhaustless
supply of bituminous and semi-bituminous coal of
the best quality, boundless resources for the manu-
facture OF ron forests Of TIMBER quarries Of stone
abundant water power, productive soil and salubri
GUS climate. Together with these advantages, this
valley is inaccessible to a foreign foe Here, then,
is concentration of inducements for the choice Of
this location for a national foundry, which Con.
gress if alive to the interests OF the country, cannot
Withstand.
The coal fields of this region are known to extend
from Farmersville thirty miles up the river, in an
almost continuous seam. In eleven different places
pits have been sunk, all of which have entered the
main feet seam.-The Egypt shaft is the only one
which has been worked to any extent This shaft
is 46O feet Deep and sunk 1000 feet within what is
called the out CROP" " here the coal has been
proved to exist) So complete the arrangements
at this place that ton OF coal be raised every
two minutes. When the other pits worked to
the same extent of which it is known they will ad-
init, not only an ample supply can be obtained for
all local foundries, but an immense supply will be
yielded for foreign use. A railway Of some thirty
miles would connect this rich region with Raleigh,
where the coal could be carried the potts of Vir
gina and North and South Carolina.
Before the late financial crisis, capitalists had un.
der consideration project Tor the connection Of this
region with port, and the establishment of an
extensive coal depot at some point near Norfolk.
The quality of this coal is most excellent 1t is
cheaper to the smith at 40 cts. per bushel, than
charcoal at cents. DR.. Emmons informs that
it contains large proportion of volatile matter and
forms during combustion firm, hollow coke, furn.
ishng intense heat, which especially fits it for
the performance of very heavy work. 1t has been
tried in New York, Philadelphia, and other Cities
for the manufacture of gas. with complete success
Its coke has been found well adapted to high heat
ing, as well as reducing properties when employed
for smelling Ores
Several varieties of metallic are found in the
valley of the Deep river--the iron ores, however,
are the principal five kinds have been found in
abundance. The 6Lack band is the most important
and valuable The cost of obtainng this ore is small.
1t owes its value to the carbon combined with It.
The supply of this is nexhaustible, being cock
hoof NkNkn
pig in such great demand in this country, is made
from this kind of ore. 1t has been estimated by an
iron founder, that Pig, equal to the best Scotch,
could be manufactured from this ore ct nine dollars
per :on-Another kind found in great abundance
is the hydrated argilaceos oxide. Its position is
said to be SO favorable for mining that many tons
may be thrown down every hour by single min
err Dr. Ernmons says: This ore is the kind which
usually accompanies the coal measures Of all coun-
tries. 1t possesses properties in common with the
ores Of this GLASS; especially that Of Pennsylvania and
the carbonferous system OF Wales. 81
From the geographical survey of this REGION, It
has been proved that there is no lack Of raw mate
rails for the manufacture Of iron; indeed that there
is rare combination Of advantages for it
Fre-clay is found in immense quantities along the
) Deep river. 81 ss4
s For the construction Of implements OF war. as
well as buildingA there is Al unlimited supply of
pine, oak, hickory, ash, elm, and other hmbers in
Chatham and the adjacent couatiea $3.50
uarries OF free stone Of variens textures md COLI
OF are found granite Of superior quality abouhdss
Roofing slate is EASILY ebtsined; sDd gyindstones
cosEss ind fine IRE at hans The ireesstone, when
ant aaarrisd, s soft md easily dressed but aooss
becomes hard Ikis admirably sdAptsd @ 6aiiding
priInpsea ~ A 81 70 "a
stef po,s if desired, an
from The ials on Deep asssl o. 81
adjarent atreslnA s s.
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