Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-01-07
From the Fayetteville Observer.
Report of Can't. wilkes.

appEInL6U
the Secretary of the Navy to examine the Deep River
alley, with view to the entertainment of its adapted
ness for the location of Naval Work Shops.
1t will be that this Officer whose scientific at
tanments well known, enumerates the various rich
mineral and other treasures which careful personal in
spection disclosed him in that remarkable region but
says emphacay that they must remain valueless until
facilities for transportation and travel provided and
he very naturally surprised that there should be any
hesitation in providing those facilities.
We trust that his letter will turn the scale in the Ie
gsature in favor of that small amount of aid which our
Railroad needs -
WASHINGTON Dec. "a, 1858.
To THE Hon. WARREN WINsLow
| My Dear Sir Il take great pleasure in answering
your letter relative to the examination of the Deep Rv
er Country, which I am now enabled to do as my Re
port is finished and will be handed to the Department
Tor presentation to Congress after the Holidays. This
you understand, unofficial, and will be short synop
Sis which will give you correct idea of the result of
my examination. Owing to the delay in receiving the
specimens from the Deep River Country the analysis of
the Goals and ore has postponed my official report much
longer than anticipated and time must still eapse
after it is handed in, before it be published by Con-
gress, ON account of the engraving of the Maps and
Sections of the Geological formation.
need not point out to you the situation of the Deep
River district, but you must be well as | am
how little is really known of its geographical position
well as its valuable productions, and the apathy with
which AL improvements for accessibility to this district
|
and the prejudice which has existed against it, from the
appropriations having been avishy and useessy expen
ded in the construction Of inefficient Dams and insecure
Locks which were found inadequate to bear their
weight, without the force of the water.
These mishaps and procrastnations have acted very
unavoraby in preventing appropriations being made by
the Legislature, we'll deterring individuals from
subscribing towards these great and useful works.
am sure that there yet many who entertain doubts,
and unwilling to give their money and eXertOns
|
light by the we'll directed efforts of Mr. VIM. McClane
in sinking the shaft at Egypt; this fully established the
existence OF the veins Of coal and left to doubt
the existence of coal basin and large quantities of the
best btuminous COAL well great variety of iron
ores which had been noticed by Prof. Emmons, the
State Geologis in many localities and l can now add
that is fully confirmed by the recent examination of
the Commission indeed, there are few places to be
found in country where there is such concentration
of material and which be mined with so little toll
and EXPENSE abundance of the best fuel consisting
of charcoal and the mineral Goals susceptible of being
advantageOusy coke in great variety and quantity for
all purposes of the arts well as domestic uses.
Although these deposits of coal and iron in the Deep
River country will not bear comparison with the vast
fields and mountains OF these minerals in our Western
States yet owing to their position, proximity to mar
ket and adaptaby to many purposes of the arts it is
far before them in value of great interest to your State
and | consider of National Importance.
The Outcrop of the btumin0us coal has been traced
|
The shaft at Egypt sunk to the depth of AGO feet and
includes the lower coal seam and by it assured
that there four coal two having united they
descended the largest is there found be feet wide,
separated from the others by beds Of carbonate of iron
| known as the Black Band"
Iha coal has been proved to be of the best quality Of
bitumnous Goals. lti shining clean coal resembling
! the best specimens OF Cumberland it gnites
easily burns with bright clear combus0n and leaves
very little ash it swel5 and aggutinates, making hol
! for and
blacksmhs use is well adapted for fuel cOking and
oil and superior to most Goals for the production Of
gas tor which it will be in great demand it almost
entirely rec from sulphur its coke is light and porous
wien rapidly burned it incllnes to smelt and flow, but
when under slow combustion it does not exhibit this ten
dtncy which owing the presence of large quantities
of bitumen it does not easily dsntegrae when exposed
to the atmosphere.
| | think every one who visits this coalfeld must be
satisfied, from the regularity OF its and the dimnu-
ton of the dip it descends (proved to be or
10 degrees in the shaft of Egypt, which IS 1900 feet
within the outcrop that its conform to the shape
of basin, trough, and satisfied that the greatest
depth will lie the northern side of the axis of the
trough and that this valuable mineral does not extend
to such depths to render its mining difficult, but,
the contrary, both easy and profitable
The ores of iron consist of the Black Band, in juXa-
position with the coal seams and situated be
readily mined with the coal Specular, Hematitc, the
ArgiaCeOus and Magnetic ores are all found to be rich
and in quantity and for their manufacture besides the
mineral coa there is abundance of wood for charcoal
the unceared lands of this district still have the prmi-
tive forest growing upon them, and charcoal be OBJ
tanned in any quantity and at cheap rate and there
can be question: but that the best quality OF iron
be manufactured there, and that there is locality in
our country where better and cheaper article be
produced. Fire cays tor refractory furnaces building
materials of sandstone gneiss and granite, milestone
grit and fine sandstone roofing slate and sands fer the
manufacture of glass; and porcelain cay of which there
ico ok rio rnnoC ord
quarries of soap stone and lgamatolite
The proximity of the Deep River Country to market
gives it great advantages and think nsures its be-
coming at distant day populous manufacturing dis
trict The bulk Of coal and iron in its state rem
ders its transportation expensive, and will the
erection of manufactures the spot, which will be
more economical and profitable [ am of opinion that
when such the case, very little coal be afforded to
be shipped except it be for the production of gas which
may be able to afford the prices it will command for the
manufacture of iron.
would however, remark, that all these minerals and
materials Uatuee unless the routes opened and
every convenience afforded to reach the district not only
with easy and safe transportation, but the quickest
possible time from all parts of your State and unless
this is effected they must remain entirely dormant
think it must be apparent that it cannot be expedi
ent for the General Government to establish machine
shops for the construction of machinery &c, &C., fol
naval vessels until this district shown to be accessible
from every direction. The completion of your Western
Railroad and sack-water navigation will tend grea
measure to give the facilities for speedy and trans
portation for both passengers and freight.
To acquire some estimate of the quantity Of coa
allowing but half the width of the basin for the eXten
of the COAL shall have of IS square miles
this gives approximation to the quantity Of mnera
wealth locked up in this district Surely legslatur
can hesitate for moment to expedite its development
), by any means in its power.
Although we have no actual proof to offer yet ther
can be little doubt that the extent of the coal must
derlie the basin. was desrous to place this beyon