Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-07-10

SPEECH OF HON. JOHN A. GILMER,


River Yu1ley, and the Nise,al and Nangtae,
txriag Rcssnress of North. Carolina Delivered
IL the HOUSE, Of Representatives, Fec, q, 1909.
The House being in Committee of the Whole, Mr.
Gilmer said: .
Mr. CuAIRNAN:-In Offering any views IN sup
port Of the claims Of my native State, NorthCaro'
lima, to share of the public patronage ana aus
bursements in the establishment Of national works.
I am Mt once struck with two important renecuons
First that of the many millions invested IN mu-
nifcens Government structures, distributing SO
much capital among the people where they are
erected, and, at the same time, strengthening .ne
hand of commerce and enterprise IN their respect,
i've localities, and from which all oil the sea'oa,u
States have derived more or less sdvantage une ou
forth State though Of the most talth'u' OF the
thirteen sisters who pledged their jewels treasure
and honor upon the altar Of liberty, and never broke
the VOW. has vet to be rewarded with the rst par
ticle Of Government patronage to any respecaoie
degree: and second, and perhaps more astonishing,
that mineral wealth of such almost bonndleSs ex-
tent rs il proven to exist there, should not long
ere this have been called into active use by welt d.
rected individual enterprise. Here are two manifest
derelctions of duty Of some sort and should claim
the immediate attention Of every true son OF North-
Carolins. :,
The first neglect fear, has resulted from the
want Of proper attention and vigilance on tne 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 DAY;
which, when advancement or tenure OF place is 10
be the result are never wanting tor ardent 1t not
ferrous 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 or labored away urging
ia the political forum matters wholly abstract and
often incapable Of even a practical test; and in
which f.ct 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 arralgn any gentleman for a
failure in duty, who has heretofore, or now repre-
sents my State for their for their previous
course Of legislative action have doubtless been to
them satisfactory and sufficient. But do propose
to ask them, and all others, to unite with me in
giving 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 me 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 subject 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
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 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 are the leading objects
of mans attention. care not who holds the purse,
while hold the articles of indispensable use, such
and flow to the latter as naturally as the magnet is
attracted by the poles. Every man who inbabi:s
house or shelters under roof uses, either directly
or indirectly, the fabrics or products of coal and
iron, and pays for them, in some shape; therefore,
every is contributor to the use Of these great
staple minerals. While Spain and other European
Powers held and absorbed as it were the so-calied
precious metals, then known both to the old and
the new world England being possessed Of the solid
coal and iron, the real precious anetals has drawn
the gold and silver Of Spain and other countries into
her national Golfers, where they are 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 coal and iron.
North-Carolina is bountfully 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 Mitchelrs Fishers Dan, Smith, North
and South Tow, Carey, Ivy, Swanannoa, French
Broad, Pigeon, Tuckaseega Tennessee, Nanthala,
Valley, Hiwassee, Wataugs, New, Catawba, Uwha.
RE, Haw, and Deep Rivers furnish streams for man.
ufacturing purposes, which will last nexhaustible,
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 benefcent
Creator. In her French Broad alone is more water
power than in all New England put together, only
waiting to be called into use 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 North Carolina in everything her superior
Over four hundred thousand spindes revove in Low
ell alone. and over ten times four hundred thousand
can be moved by the regular waters of the French
Broad alone, without even making an impression on
LUG aouhudht supply. DeSiueS 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 are at the same time blessed with an ele
waited locality, and wholesome mountain atmosphere
rendering her valleys not only safe for mans hab
tation, but desirable.
Blu: iron ores, the best and most abundant, as ]
have stated abound throughout the whole State. l,
would astonish not familiar to see or learn thei
quantity and extent To attempt to describe theil
precise locality and extent with minuteness, wou!t
lead me into too great detail but before combining
myself to the particular subject designed in thes'
remarks, this much will say; you may cast you
eye on the map of North Carolina and start witt
me from the county Of Stokes where you have a,
abundant supply Of coal and iron, in immediate
proximity; you may 60 westward, bordering har,
on the Virginia and then the Tennessee line, til
you reach the Roam mountain, and from theme
bear southwark till you reach Kings mountain
which continually calls to mind much Of the herosr
of the Revolution and from thence eastward till yo
run into the Deep river valley, and you will hav
Travelled over deDosts of iron so abundant ne s,,o