Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-11-07
NoRrH.cARoL1NA MINES.

o. F.-j
within yery short time, perhaps within the last
two years. Of, extraordinary impetus has been gwen
to mining interests in North Carolina In the Gen.
sus returns of 1850 the fifth schedule. which was
devoted to the classification of industrial products
gave the results of one years labor in the gold
mines which were confined to two or three coun-
tes-Guilford, Davidson and Cabarrus, perhaps
and the annual yield Of the precious metal was
very insignificant item in the State s product but
a Comparison of the returns therein given with the
reports of the present year would undoubtedly show
wonderful increase Of product IN this branch OF.
industry.
The increase in yield of gold, however, has been
in a great measure an incidental result within the
past year or two. Many, if not all of the mines
which are now worked for copper exclusively were
formerly worked only for gold, and in some districts
all these mines were abandoned when aurlerons oe
posts became scarce. It is said by those familiar
with the subject that ground becomes Improbable
for gold working as as the presence OF copper
is indicated There is however, more or less OF
the precious metal still found sometimes in the
lower levels far below the point at which the mines
we're given up as worthless California, Australia
and Pixies Peak offered SO much more that was
tempting to the god-seeker that the comparatively
small returns from the North Carolina and Virginia
mines seemed very insignificant; besides, with some
few exceptions the gold deposites that were found
have been too triing to induce the outlay Of sui-
Gent capital to make mining profitable.
The want of capital on the part of the original
owncrs as we'll the facility with which stock COM
panies were formed, and large profit secured by
the speculator caused the transfer of the proper
ties now upon our various stock boards. More en-
ergy was infused into the mining system, and larger
explorations were boldly made sometimes with ex-
tremcly satisfactory results. From one Of these
mines there has been sold in this market during the
present year, nearly one hundred thousand dollars
worth of ore, and as is very clearly demonstrated
by the elaborate report of the Presdent-just issued
to the stockholders-the capacity of this mine is
only beginning to be developed. Whether it is
mere good fortune that has attended this particular
enterprise, or whether the necessary explorations
have been conducted with more skill and prudence
than is common, does not matter; the facts-if We
are to credit the report-are sufficiently encour-
aging
1t would be very unreasonable to say that similar
or equal results might not be obtained from other
mines in the same region The mineral wealth OF
North Carolina may be over-estimated and it is
quite possible that the f1attering prospects claimed
for some Of the properties may fail of realization.
But there has been an undoubted and continuous
product of "copper" silver and lead during the past
year. and it is not impossible that the results al
ready obtained are but the orerunners and earnestS
of future products. Among the more recent COM
panies that have been formed there has usually been
provision made for an adequate working capital, to
be retained permanently in the treasury until the
mine is productive enough to pay its own way. I'm
addition to this conservative feature the managers
of several of the mines now in process of develop
mcnt have made an important improvement upon
the old Cornish system of vertical shafts The ex-
cavatons by the modern plan follow the tread Of
the vein, and, instead of sending barren earth OF
rocks to the surface the miner is continually work
ing in ore ground, descending upon the vein from
the outcropping baltimore american.