Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-07-10
The STANDARD.
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN A. GILMER,
OF NoRTa.CARoLMA,

On the location of a National Foundry in the Deep
Riuer Wiley, and the Mineral and 4dnyae,
turing Resources Of North Carolina Dehsere@
ca tie House Of Representatives., Fe6. u, 1901.
The House being in COMMITTEES OF the "hole' MI.
Gimer said:
M. CHA1Rs,S;-In Offering any views in sup
mort of the claims of my native State North Caro-
lima to a share of the public patronage and DIS
bursements in the establishment of national works,
l am at once struck with two important retlectiohs'
First that of the many millions invested IN hu-
niicent Government structures distributing 81
much capital among the people where tney are
erected, and at the same time, Strengthening tne
hand Of commerce and enterprise IN their reSPec',
i've localities and from which all OF the seaooaru
States have derived more less advantage the OLD
North State though of the most ialthlul Oh inc
thirteen sisters who pledged their Jewels treasure
and honor upon the altar of liberty ana never oroKe
the VOW has vet to be rewarded Win inc hrSI par
tice of Government patronage to any Respectable
degree; and second, and perhaps more astonishing,
that mineral wealth of such almost bonndless ex-
tent as is proven to exist there, should not long
ere this have been called into active use by we'll d.
rected individual enterprise Here are two manifest
Sierelicons of duty of sort, and should claim
the immediate attention of every true son OF North
Carolna.
The first neglect fear, has resulted from the
want of proper attention and vigilance, on the part
of her Representatives on this floor who have spent
too much of their time upon abstract propositions,
in fostering the mere political issues OF the Gay
which, when advancement or tenure oil place Is 10
be the result are never wanting Tor ardent II not
furious advocates while the real interests OF the
constituency, and the State they represent, have
been too much neglected. Days, weeks months,
and years have been wasted lahOred away, urging
in the political forum matters wholly abstract, and
often incapable Of even practical test; and Ill
which fact consists in many instances, the major
part of the apparent dignity and effect OF Such
issues while real practical useful questions, on the
development and improvement OF the material re-
sources, agricultural, commercial, and mineral, OF
their State have been completely overlooked. Now,
do not propose to arraign any gentleman Tor a
failure in duty who has heretofore now repre-
sents my State for their reasons for their previous
course of legislative action have doubtless been 10
them satisfactory and sufficient But, do propose
to ask them, and all others, to unite with me in
giving some attention to the real material interests
of North Carolina. In fact, might extend my re-
marks beyond my purpose, and cause them to apply
to many of the other Southern States; but in doing
so, would not only assume the duties OF others
more competent to do so, but would, at the same
time transcend the courtesy extended to Inc by the
House on this occasion
Nor can now do full justice to my State on this
important matter both for the want of time and all
the information could wish, even were | not limit
ed by this particular subj ect of the establishment of
national foundry to which shall advert directly
So immense and almost boundlesS are the mineral
and manufacturing resources of North Carolina, that
a volume may be filled with their variety, quality
and utility. speak not now of the gold and silver
existing IN such large quantities. and which are so
much more actively sought, but | mean to allude
more particularly to the more solid abundant, and
will add, more valuable deposits of coal and iron
These are the articles of universal USE which every
body pays tribute to in some shape, and ever must
so long commerce and agriculture, and their nat
ural offspring, manufactures, the leading objects
of mans attention. | care not who holds the purse,
while hold the articles of indispensable use, such
coal and iron The former will loosen its strings
and flow to the latter as naturally the magnet is
attracted by the poles. Every man who inhabits
house or shelters under roof uses, her directly
or indirectly, the fabrics products of coal and
iron, and pays for them, in ST lpe; therefore,
every man is contributor to the use of these great
staple minerals. While Spain and other European
Powers held and absorbed, as it were the so called
precious metals, then known both to the old and
the world England being possessed of the solid
coal and iron, the real precious metals, has drawn
the gold and silver of Spain and other countries into
her national Golfers, where they yet safely locked
up and are likely to be, while English domestic and
commercial policy is observed and until other ma
TONS equally blessed with like material shall adopt
the same precept and example of using their best
resources their solid wealth, their cOaG and iron.
North Carolina is bountifuiy blessed by Prov
idence with these solid staple minerals of coal and
iron. and equally blessed with water power and
other natural elements for bringing them into use,
and which must come into USE in spite of present
or hitherto neglect. Her water-power, | can al
most say. is the best in the universe Her Yad-
kin, Ararat, Mitchelfs, Fishers Dan Smith, North
and South Tow, Carey, Ivy, Swanannoa, French
Broad Pigeon, Tuckaseega, Tennessee, Nantihaa,
Valley, Hiwassee, Watauga, New, Catawba Uwha-
re, Haw, and Deep Rivers furnish streams for man.
ufacturing purposes, which will last inexhaustibe,
beyond the power of man to consume, so long as the
mountains, from which these streams flow, shall
stand to attest the work and glory of beneficent
Creator. In her French Broad alone is more water
power than in all New England put together only
waiting to be called into by an industrial enter
prise similar to that which has made New England
what she is and hope will ever be in this particular
to render NorthCarolina in everything her superior
Over four hundred thousand spindes revove in Low
ell alone, and ten times four hundred thousand
can be moved by the regular waters of the French
Broad alone, without even making an impression on
the abundant supply. Besides the over abundance
of water in the limpid streams of the old North
State, they are exempt from the bitter frosts and
freezing winters, which CONCEAL at times the best
streams in New England obstructing their great
utility, while in North Carolina they rarely ever
freeze, and at the time blessed with an ele
waited locality, and wholesome mountain atmosphere
rendering her valleys not only safe for mans hab-
tation, but desirable.
But iron ores, the best and most abundant as
have stated, abound throughout the whole State 1t
would astonsh not familiar to see or learn their
quantity and extent To attempt to describe their
precise locality and extent with minuteness, would
lead me into too great detail; but before confirming
myself to the particular subject designed in these
remarks, this much will say; you may cast your
eye on the map of North Carolina, and start with
me from the county of Stokes, where you have an
abundant supply of coal and iron, in immediate
proximity; you may go westward, bordering hard
on the Virginia and then the Tennessee line till
you reach the Roam mountain, and from thence
bear southwark till you reach Kings mountain,
which continually calls to mind much Of the heroism
of the Revolution and from thence eastward till YOU
run into the Deep river valley and you will have
travelled over deposits of iron so abundant of such
superior quality, that not similar scope of country