The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-11-13
THE MINERAL WEALTH OF NORTH
CAROLINA.


1t is almost unknown to the world, but neverthe-
less fact, that within what is called the basin of
the Deep River, there is wealth of coal and iron
ore almost inexhaustible, and exceeding in rich
ness anything yet developed in this country. 4
We have reputation at the North for being fast
asleep, while you SO wide-awake. In that re-
speet, at least, you do US some injustice. We may
not make SO much fuss and fury--we have no great
Journalism Printing House square to proclaim, with
their thousand tongues, our untirng enterprise
But yet, long ago 1924 our sleeply State pro-
jected partial Geological Survey. 1t was com
menced by Professor Olmstead, of Yale College,
but abandoned because of other engagements which
engrossed his entire attention. At q later period
it was renewed and carefully completed by Pro-
fessor Emmons. Both these eminent gentlemen
unite in the opinion that the region of the Deep
River is rich beyond comparison in deposi is of coal
and iron minerals -. -...--.. .-
In 1858, the Congress of the United States di-
rected the Secretary of the Navy to cause survey
of the Deep River region, with reference to the
establishment on the Cape Fear River of National
Foundry and Machine Shop. The Secretary of
the Navy designated Capt. Chas. Wilkes and Chief
Engineers Hunt and Martin to perform this duty.
Capt. Wilkes, in his report, minutely describes
the geological position of the Deep River country,
:" deeming such details necessary" as he says,
from the fact that but little is known of it even
in the capital of North Carolina" The Deep
River basin he describes as occupying the centre of
the State, and but 30 miles in a southwesterly
direction from Raleigh. 1t is about % miles in
length by 10 in width, and so embraces an area of
from $50 TO 800 square miles.
Capt. Wilkes procured and brought with him to
Washington specimens of the coal and iron ores
from the Egypt shaft, there beng worked. These
he submitted to Prof. George G. Shaeffer for ex-
animation and analysis. r.. s --..-
The analysis of each is there given at length.
"The COAL" says Prof Shaeffer, ais light,
highly bituminous, yielding a shining and very
porous coke, and purplish ASH aud is an excellent
coal for making gas or for burning It absorbs
only 12,OO0th of its weight of water after having
been immersed for some time"
Capt Wilkes thus concludes that portion of his
report relating to the mineral resources of the
gion he was instructed to explore: "There are few
places" he says, to be found in our country,
where there is such concentration of material,
and which can be mined with so little toll and ex-
pense; and abundance of the best fuel, consisting
of charcoal and the mineral Goals susceptible of
being advantageously coked, and in great quantity
and variety for all purposes of the arts as well as
domestic uses fine clays for refractory furnaces,
building materials, of sandstone, gneiss and grantee
clays and sands for the manufacture of porcelain
Of the latter class there is large tract Jones
Falls" .... , .....-. -.. s...
He continues: "Steatite, or soapstone, and agal-
matolite are found in extensive masses in alternate
beds with the metamophic slate. The latter is an
exceedingly fine and compact grain, and has very
soft and soapy feeling, and is of greenish-white
color 1t is different in composition from the stea-
tte or soapstone and is of much finer grain. 1t
can be applied to the same uses /; but that which
has beon quarried in Chatham county has been
ground at Stuart's mills, on the Deep River, to a
powder as fine as -four, and exported to New York,
where it is used for clarifying sugar. 1t sells for
S18 to $40 a ton. Its composition, as given by
Professor Enmons, is as follows:
Slick 10 90 Potash zoo
Aumina .....-1a.76 Water
Total ........ ......... ......... ........-97.2l
Roofing slate was also found, specimens of which
were shown Capt Wilkes, which he says were
compact, aud appeared to split smooth and even
The engineers, Messrs Hunt aud Martin, who
assisted in the survey, bear testimony to the cor
rectness of the conclusions stated by the Chief OF
the Commission. I" From the great quantities of
ore," they add, " which we saw in different local-
ties together with the various kinds and qualities,
some exceedingly rich, We have no hesitation in
saying there is i'll the Deep River country almost
inexhaustible quantities of ore, from which, by
proper selection and mixing, the very best quality
Of pig Or wrought iron can be made" Ut the Bit
luminous coal, Messrs Hunt and Martin say: "a
sample sent on was tried in the smith shop at the
Washington Navy Yard, and compares well with
the best Cumberland Goals used there. IL appears
quite free of sulphur slate, and leaves very little
earthly matter"
Capt Wilkes accompanies his Report OF the
Examination of the Deep River Country" by maps
and profles showing the topography of the land
and the dip of the mineral beds, and also a Sec
tional drawing of the shaft of the Egypt mines,
which at that time had been sunk to depth Of
46O feet.
These facts, Mr.. Times arc gathered from
official reports They are impartial, and therefore
to be relied upon. | have quoted them to show
you the extent and value of the section which the
+" Deep River Improvement" is expected to drain.
The correspondent concluded by asking if we
cannot reasonably expect great things from this
work for our good old State We think and
shall continue to have faith until We "die, or our
hopes are realized"
DIR. WIsTAR's BALSAM OF WILD CHERRY.-At
this asonof the year. well all seaseus HnPor
tant to have hand remedy for coughs and colds We
speak for the benefit of readers whe Ge recommend TO
them the above named remedy which has been advertised
our paper time We have bad occasion TO in
our family and other throat affections, and IN all
such has cured the complaint We nov deem
article for always prefer 10 have reliable
remedy hand for these complains to which all are liable
Christian Freeman and Family VISITOR 88~--
Sodby Nye Hutcbison & Cos and by all druggists. =
Charlotte, October, 1860. E@.= p s.- fa zrsr ~