Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-02-12
Or CHATHA,

se'ereu III, we muS1 1eel assured that it will last for
several years to come, and that We shall encounter
trials and dangers far more painful and imminent
than any we have yet endured. However this may
oe, 1t IS certainly the part of prudence to conduct
this war; SO tar at least as the calling out the en-
eEgles and developing the resources Of the State is
concerned, as If it was to last for years and ex-
Pect to be able to show that the building of this
road is necessity, which the Convention, having
lE charge the liberties and property of the people Of
North Carolina, cannot overlook.
In the first place, then, Mr. President, are coal
and iron to be found on Deep River in sufficient
Quantities to be of service any considerable length
OF time. and worth any large expenditure of money
Inc deposltes OF coal ano iron on Deep River, have
been known ever since the revolution of '76; for
our ancestors appointed Commissioners to take them
in charge and work them, but owing to the cost of
transportation, they were, after few years, aban-
doned This region has more recently been exam
ined by Prof. Johnston, Dr. Jackson, of Boston,
CON- Wilkes, Prof Emmons and DR.. Mitchell, and
they all concur in declaring it TO be the richest de-
poslte of minerals known in any country DR..
Mitchell at one time entertained and expressed the
opinion that the geological indices of regular coal
basin did not appear in such form as to demonstrate
that the Deep River valley was coal basin, But
the sinking of the shaft at Egypt and the wonder
ful disclosures it made, convinced him that it was
coal basin, and might confidently be relied on to
furnish supply of coal and iron for ages to come
The coal basin has been proved by actual Dor.
ing to extend a. distance of thirty miles in
length, and from q to miles in width. The shaft
at Egypt, the slopes at Farmersvlle, and on the
Taylor property, the pits at the Gulf Murchison's
and Foushee's, demonstrate the number and thick.
ness Of the of coal and iron ore and their rea.
tive situation to each other The shaft at Egypt at
the depth of 464 feet from the surface, cuts seam
OF coal six feet in thickness next, seam of black
band iron ore, of l6 inches; next two feet of coal;
next, 6inches of slate, z inches of coal, 8 feet of
black band iron ore next, 35 feet of sandstone or
waste then feet of black band iron ore, one foot
of COAL and last, three feet of black band iron ore
The position of these seams of coal and iron ore in
respect to each other is the most remarkable feature
of this coal region they are in juxtapositon, and
the same Car brings to the surface both of these
minerals. And at Egypt, the facilities are such
that ton can be raised every two minutes. bad
the temerity, Mr.. President, to descend the Egypt
shaft myself and have therefore seen what state
with regard to the position of the coal and iron in
that shaft
Propose now, in the second place, Mr.. Presi-
dent to consider the quality and kind of the coal
and iron ores The coal is bituminous of high or.
der, not equal to the Breckenridge coal, says DR..
Emmons, in its volatile matters, but equal to it in
its combustible products; and the analysis of Dr.
jackson, of Boston, shows that probably no coal is
ployed. As an agent in the reduction of metals,
and in generating steam, the British Goals do not
exceed those on Deep River. 1t burns brskly with
bright fame, and makes light porous coke which
has been used by the smiths in the neighborhood
for years. and has been found to be economical
at 40 cts. per bushel than charcoal at 5 cents
This coal has been proved by several experiments
made at the Manhattan Gas Works to be most
excellent gas coal. Of course, Mr. President what
have said as to the quality of the Deep River COAL
except so far as it is used in the smiths shops and
CRATES, have gathered from the reports of scientific
men who have tested it, and given to the world the
results of their la5ors
Now, as to the iron ores. l will remark, in the
first place, that these iron ores are co-extensive
with and in juxtaposition to the coal throughout
the basin. The most important ores of iron are the
argillaceous, black-band, specular, magnetic and
hGmatitc. The argillaceous is found in a bed from
to feet thick, and 70 feet above the first coal
seam the specular, you find six miles from the
Gulf, on the plank-road leading to Graham the
magnetic, six miles further in the same direction
the hamatitc, at what is known as Ore Hill, and
the black. band throughout the whole coal region.
Now Mr.. President, l ask, what is wanting to
bring this coal and iron into market? Nothing,
Sir but 80 miles of railroad. Why not develope
and give to the world this rich and inexhaustible
mine of wealth, and thus put our good old State in
the van of her Southern sisters? Coal and iron rule
the world and England is mistress of the SEAS be-
cause she has coal and iron both. Now, Mr.. Presi.
dent, is there not pressing necessity for this road?
Look at the rolling-stock Of our Railroads fast
wearing out, unable to transport more than half
freight and consequently utterly unaole to trans
port the government supplies, and the produce OF
the farmer, who therefore, has no market except
the Commmissary and the Quarter-master.
Mr.. President, tremble for the safety Of our
gallant volunteers if do not speedily set to work
to make axles and wheels. We can no more fight
this war without railroads, than we can, without
men. Is there no necessity for this road, when
iron and steel have risen in price one hundred per
cent in the market? Is there necessity for this
road, when our farmers do not know where they
are to replace their agricultural implements, now
fast wearing out? Is there no necessity, when
Eastern Tennessee, from which we derive nearly
onehalf of our present supply Of iron threatened
by the enemy: The Confederate government is
alive to the importance Of this subject and is look
ing earnestly to Deep River for q supply of iron,
and to stimulate the development of that section, it
has given two large contracts to companies with
liberal advances for the purpose of making shot,
shell and pig iron. Mr. President do hope,
therefore, that the motion Of the delegate from New
Hanover will not prevail. hear no objection made
to the particular plan proposed in this ordinance;
it is not said by any one that the State will risk
single dollar, Of which both the principal and in
terest is not amply secured.
Mr.. President, am proud Of my State-proud
Of her past historyproud Of her present position,
proud of the gallantry, honesty and edesty Of her
sons and as she the first victory in thissecond
war Of independence, so hope shs viii Be the fsat
to encourage manufactures and arts, and the hsst
to prove her independence and sovereignty by rais
ing her own coal and manufacturing her 0Wn itou.
Confederate bonds ara selling ia NaR Oslsaua Il