Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-10-19
OCTOBER 19, 1858. NJ
THE COPPER REGION OF TENNEssLE AND GEoR.
GIA-A NEW BRANCH OF INDUSTRY FOR RICH.

THE COPPER REGION OF TEkNEssLE AND GEoR-
GIA-A NEW BRANCH OF INDUSTRY FOR RICH.
MoND.
The secluded and little known, but rich mineral
deposit of "Ducktown" lice in the extreme South
eastern corner of Tennessee, and the part Of Georgia
adjoining, it being divided nearly equally between the
two States 1t consists Of an sllipticai valley about
eeven miles long by three wide, almost closed In by
lofty mountains, and disgonally cut across BY the
Ocoee river, dashng tributary Of the Hwassee and
Tennessee Within this epse, six bold and distinct
veins OF copper have been upheaved by some mighty
convusiou which has tilted the once horizontal strata
to an angle OF 80 degrees and forced up the metal be
tween the layers Of rock.
The veins approach to within 25 to 100 feet of the
surface, and are marked by an out crop of porous
oxide of iron called gossan. all the copper from which
has disappeared under the action Of the elements
Along the tops of the veins are found the black and
grey Oxides the silicse and carbonate of copper,
malachte, containing ~ to 6O per cent. of mets aud
beneath lice the yellow suphuret copper pyritss,
not rich the others, but far valued by the
miner, from its being iDexhaustible. Several large
companies are at work In hi, isolated valley, some
belonging to England, some to New York and one to
Mobile, and With capitals varying from 100000 to
81 25O, 900. Thousands OF tons Of ore and regulus
or smesd "copper" are annually shipped by the Geor-
gia roads to Baltimore and New York and even to
England, to be re- smeted and refined for commerce
and the arts.
Now a. this deposit lies near the East Tennessee
and Virginia railroad, might not some effort on the
part Of our transportation companies draw part
the whole of these products to the coast through
oarterritory. And, further considering abundant
coal and water power ar exceeding that of any other
city nesr the coast might not Richmond share in the
profits of smelling and refining the enjoyed
entirely by Northern cities and by England. We
earnestly call the attention of our railroad authorities
snd of our capitalists to this subject.
These remarks have been suggested by the perusal
of report made by Capt. NJ. +. Maury, of the Navy,
and Prof. Currey, Gsologst, of Tennessee, of re.
cant vi.t made by them to the Ducktown mines. II
forms neat pamphlet of about thirty psges and has
Just been printed at Knoxville for Dr. L. b. Ander-
son, of Alabama, at whose invitation the scientific
gentlemen above named, visited the mines. 1t is en-
titled the "Alleghauy Mining Company of Tennnes'
sse, it's Mineral Resources and Mining Prospects"
II is we'll illustrated by msps engraved by Ritchie &
Dunnavant and gives 4 comprehensive summary OF
the Theological geographical, and industrial features
of the mineral region-beiBg more particularly devo
ted however TO exposition Of the resources OF the
'.Allegbany" properties.
The company has q very liberal charter from the
State of Tennessee; a capital Of $l,OO0.0OO, which
amount, by one provision of the charter, may be al
most indefinitely expanded. II is based upon six.
teen hundred and hfty-seven acres of land, lying in
the heart OF the deposit, and including two we'll
proven and extensively developed mines. One Of
these has sent TO MARKET in less than eighteen months
"res worth nearly three hundred thousand dollsrs,
averaging twentythree and half per cent. OF pure
metal. This mine is on the Tennessee side. The
other s in Georgia, at the South Western extremity
Of the property 1t is not 81 fully open, but gives
4mple evidence of being scarcely less valuable
i;otb are hsppily situated on hill side, and can be
worked and drained By horizontal tunnels or ads,
Instead Of by perpendicular shafts-e eu immense
saving Of labor and expense. Besides these there
sre perhaps, twenty other places the property,
where mines equally rich could probably be opened
rs they lie on the same lodes, and Immediately be-
tween those already so successfully explored. The
report leaves little doubt in the mind as to these
matters.
Now here is subject worthy the attention of oapi.
taists-not only to acquiring an interest in the
mining enterprise itself, but to the transportation
IF the ores over our roads, and the creation Of
nsw and profitable branch Of industry for Richmond
With her e1uberant water power and cheap coal,
Richmond we feel sure, must be the place above all
others in the country for smelling and refining cop
per- and we sincerely hope that some Of the enter
prispg men Of hs city will seriously investigate the
matter A visit to Ducktown is speedily made, one
10 the copper-furnsces Of Baltimore and Boaton not
less 80, and it will doubtless be easy to attract hither
the requisite mechanical skilI The first thing to be
rone however, is for the railroad, to reduce their
freights, go to draw the copper this way. When
once begins TO take this route, 1t will be easy to
prepare 1t for manufacturing purposes here. We
are glad to learn that the worthy President Of the
Virginia and Tennessee Railroad is in favor of redu
cling the freight go to allow the transportation Of
this copper to Lynchburg by rail- and thence by wa
ter to Richmond where smelling works would realize
a fine profit Wesgain repeat the hope that our bu-
siness men will look into these copper mines and aid
in the development Of new subject that promises
to be valuable addition to the trade and msnufac
lures Of our city.