The Hillsborough recorder., 1861-06-12
From the standard.
CHATHAM COAL FIELDS.

Mn. EDITOR: According to promise, will
give You some account Of the iron and coal
fields in Chatham county, and what is being
done in the mines.
Arriving in that region, first visited Ore
Hill, twelve miles above Egypt, on Deep
River, where found blast.furnace nearly
ready for the blast am indebted for much
Information concerning the coal and iron de-
posits Of this section, TO the politeness Of
Mr.. B. B. BabbingtOn, gentleman Of much
skill, and who has had considerable experi-
ence in making iron from the ore. He ac-
companied me to Ore Hill, which comprises
about Ave hundred acres OF one solid mass Of
iron.pre. was informed, and my own
Hdgmeat endorses the opinion, that this ore
will yield 4s per cent. Of iron. There is a
large quantity of it already got out for the
furnace. This is the hemefue ore, of which
iron is made for such articles as require great
strength. such as mill-gear, car-wheels, can
non, &c. was also conducted 10 the coal
house, where they have very large amount
Of coal to be used in the furnace; and next,
70 the farnace.building, which is completed,
and has the pOnderOus stack already up. Mr..
B. informed me'that be would be able 10 take
Nlk dDOHA siA VI Gleuk tous W nun pCt udN.
After survey Of the works at this place,
bade adieu to my genilemanly conductor,
with hearty wish that the company may
meet with the most abundant success.
IneKt visited the Gulf" on Deep River,
where found three men raising coal by hand
power, with a Uind-lass. The coal is obtain.
ed about twenty feet below the surface, and
they informed me that they we're taking out
about one hundred bushels per day, and the
coal is Of very good quality. Inext came to
the Egypt coal.felds. Il is known to the
public that the company operating here, met
with serious misfortune some three or four
years ago, BY having their shaft blown up by
hre-damp. Since then, the mine has not
been worked, for want of an outlet. The
Coal-field Railroad from Fayetteville, is CON.
pleted 10 within two miles Of this place. The
company who own these mines, seeing the
troubles that were coming upon the county,
aud knowIng that we must soon look entire.
y At home for supplies Of coal and iron, CON.
menced to clear the shaft Of the water, Of
which il was full, to accomplish which will
involve an expense Of several thousand dol
lars. Mr.. Mclean. who superinte1ds the
operations, informed me be would be able in
q snort tune, to raise forty tons Of coal per
dsy. He said they had the power to raise
two hundred tons per day, but il they can
fad safe for forty tons, be could keep going
and pay expenses.
Now. shall this company be sustained, or
shalt IL be allowed 70 20 down. that is the
question. ] hope il wall be sustained. not
fOr the benefit Of a few only, but for the
whole State. II can be sustained. and spring
Into new life and yigor, il the Convention,
noW 10 session, will authorize al approprIa
tion 10 erect rolling mill at the Coal. fields,
icr The purpose Ol rolling out bar-iron, rail.
road Iron, and iron for other purposes, for
the use Of the State. A supply Of coal and
pig.irOn can be furnished BY individual en-
terprise. 70 keep the mill constantly going.
E'sy industrial pursuit will be checked, and
many entirely stopped. unless something Of
this sort be done. II may be said BY some
thai the State Is not nov able TO enter into
this thing; 30 be IL. And We soon will not
be sbie % run cur plgNs, nor our mills, nor
repair 0ar railroads, nor bgild houses orss.
teiA Let the enterprise be fosiefed by lit
&c STATE aid, and We will soon be independ.
ent Ui the North and Of every where else, in
this respect, az least. No richer mineral
deposits iie imbsdded beneath the surface u
~ grvuad, than can be found IN North Car
olina, and no State can come nearer pr0due-
w everything required to give her people
El tie necessaries and lBxgries 0f life than
si,s. j. - only necessary 70 20 o. work and
usselSp her natars resources, 10 make her
saalgsi independent oi tie world, aud to tnrn
ibs saffent of tfsde. 20 a. TO make her an
sfpnriing iaslssd 81 al importing people.
These facts, Mr. Editor, | have hastily
ihfoNn together, Tor the consideration of the
Convention snI II the State, and aope they
may receiss that attention 10 winch their
Importance, and not ny imperfect sketch ol
item, u entitIsd.
fogrA &C., PRACTICAL.