The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1865-10-04
from the Raleigh Standard.
GRANVILLE UNDER THE GROUND.

per Nine, anu, OF COURSES MI. o'''s, ."S
noted geologist. found the venerable
Scotchman seated by table covered with
rocks; his books, hammer. and glass. were
al hand. When he found that was will
ing TO hear him he told me where his rocks
were found and how they got there. he
told me where the waters flowed before
the mountains were brought forth" and be-
fore the earth received its present shape.
I hstened with. rapturous delight while he
dwelt upon the wisdom and goodness OF
Cod in SO wisely distributing wood, water,
coal. rocks, and metals. On leaving him
he said. al am glad 10 find in Granville a
Young man who has taste for geology, and
feels m interest in the wealth under the
grouad. The present generation follows
fame and fashion, and walks blindiy over
the riches which nature has placed 50 A.
baudantly under our feet. Granville is
rich above. but richer still 6eioU the sur
face. Our hills are swelling With ores
our streams are washing the precious stones
--our sands are glittering with gold. God
has not bestowed these bounties TOR naught:
!, change will ceme--you may see it
cannot. NV days are few, am Fastening
to the grave. Farewell"
His words made deep and lasting i'm
preston apon me. Mr.. ellis is gone to
earich with his body, that earth whose rich
e. be so mach admired. But is Granville,
under the ground. as rich as Mr.. ellis sup
posed? Let the facts speak for themselves.
A bed Of syenite underlies the greater
mart OF this county. and crops out on the
hllsides. Many Of The hill-tops are crown
ed with syeni:e beulders. Gravels OF sy.-
enite lie IN abundance on the soil. This
rock drinks rain. dew and vapor. and the
water freezes and thaws. gradually reduc-
ing the rock 10 powder. This powder con.
tains suficiency of every element for or
dnary crops, sulphur and lime excepted.
Hence Granville land has the power OF ma
nuring itself, and If our farmers will throw
90 high beds in the fall. and appIy Plaster
elParis" in the, spring. the same fields may
be cultivated with success for several years
in succession. High beds will promote
freezing and thawing, and Plaster OF Pa
r,s" will furnish the needed sulphur and
line. In this way syenlte--our most album
dant rocks "treasure hid" in almost
every field. Syenite. when kept dry. is
also a good material for building. The Cap.
,,ol az Raleigh is built Of syenite, and not
of granite. as some suppose. But Gran
Vile contains "brown iron sandstane, =
both baautiIul and durable.
An excellent quarry is found on the Ra-
leigh road, three miles from Oxford. If.
therefore, Granville man shall desire TO
buiid hitn stone house, he will have choice
of. splendid material. At Lyons Hill. on
Tar river, he may also find verd antique
marble to decorate his house and furni-
Isre.
AZ Ramsey's mill there is mine Of mag
netic iron ore. DR.. Emmons found that
the Chatham coal erterds to Tar river on
the land nf Mr. w. b. Crews. The ellis
Copper Mine has been described by Dr.. c
e. Jackson. Copper ore IS abundant. Tabs
creek and is tributaries wash golden sands
and gold in small quantities j. found from
salem TO KittreiPs. Soapstone Tor ovens
furnaces. &c.. is found 10 various parts o
the Counts. | have found tive kinds o
mar. in Granville. One kind excellent IL
qua iity, but very limited in quantity; the
erh er kind * abundant on the lands OF DIR
Lewis and Mr.. J. II. Davis. With THU
mari have made single experiment. tbs
result Of which is 50 surprising that an
unwilling TO publish 4 until. confirmed b,
additional experiments
In the North Western part Of the eoun.
" is also found an extensive bed Of roofing
safe OF very respectable quality.
Bot the wealth Of Granville like "Old
John Brown lies mouldering in the ground.
These underground storehouses are no~
waiting for enterprise 10 knock AZ their
doors, which are ready TO open.
Specimens from various parts Of the coun'
~. may be seen. stany time, IN nv cab,
act, and At any leisure hour. IL will aforC
ne pleasure TO accompany geolOgists 10 ih'
ssdoos localities.
J. III. MILLS.