The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-09-19

left at our counting room.
Ma 1t seems that the great mineral re-
sources of our State are at last likely to be
developed. Amongst the other good works"
Of Governor Pierpoint since he has resided at
Richmond, was the appointment of State
Gsologist. The gentleman chosen to fill this
important place, DR.. E. H. Grant, Immediately
entered upon the discharge of his duties and
that he has shown great diligence, may be in
terred from the fact that he has already made
extensive explorations, and at this time is en-
gagged in preparing his report to lay before
the Legislature at its next meeting. We
gather from the Richmond papers some facts,
as developed by DR.. Grants researches. highly
encouraging to the miners, as far as they have
gone. 1t is proper to state, that Dr. Grant is
scientific Geologist, and Of long and intimate
acquaintance with the practical details of
gold and silver mining, as carried on in Cah-
fornia, Idaho and Nevada:
"Dr. Grant speaks in the most enthusiastic
terms of the marvellous richness of the mineral
and metallic wealth of large number of the
counties of the State, which are accessible by
means Of our principal canal and railroads.
6 80 far as his explorations and researches
have extended, he has found broad belt of
country Astounding in the most valuable me-
tails and minerals, nearly fifty miles wide,
which extends directly across the State, and
embraces in its limits the counties of Buck
ingham, Fluvanna, Goochland. Louisa, Gull
pepper, Stafford, Spottsylvania, Orange and
Fauquier. This belt of country, which has
been settled for nearly century and half.
and which is everywhere watered by large and
navigable rivers, and interspersed by nlme-
rous railroads, canals and turnpikes, is sur
passlngly rich III gold, silver, iron, lead, tin.
zinc, plumbago, sulphur, kaolin or porcelain
clay, marble, granite, gypsum, salt, coal, mine
raj paints, soap stone, asbestos, chalk, kali,
emory of several varieties and Turkish hone
or oil stone. DIR. Grant states, without hest
tation, that his honest convictions are, that the
most favored portions of the world-those
most famous for their mineral and metallic
wealth-do not surpass Virginia in the rich
ness or abundance of the metals and minerals
which we have named.
Gold mining in Virginia he describes as yet
in its infancy. He found the crudest views
upon the subject prevailing everywhere AL
though from the position, as well as from the
substances, with which Dr. Grant found the
gold ore incorporated, tunneling is indispen-
sable for the successful working of our gold
Understanding is unknown in this State
All the work has been heretofore done by
shafts, and many of the richest mines in the
State were abandoned when the tunnel reached
nr Al Al.
richest gold ores are below the water. Min
ing like that of California, Idaho and Nevada
would make many an abandoned mine enor-
Hously profitable to the men who understood
heir business.
DR.. Grant gives the most encouraging and
gratifying accounts of the enthusiasm and
energy with which not less than five hundred
capitalists and practical miners are now explor-
ing and seeking to invest in the lands contain
ing this heretofore neglected wealth. These
men he encountered, he says, everywhere
keen, intelligent and energetic, exploring every
valley and mountain, regardless of extreme of
hsat and cold in their pursuit of wealth. He
gave the names of a number of individuals as
well as companies, who are the adventurous
pioneers in this great work
In Buckingham county Messrs. Apperson
and Hughes have erected chilling mil' and
are re-working a vast pile of 'tailings" from
the old buckingham and Aldridge mines"
Mr. Hobson. of the same county, has large
number of laborers with Burk's washers,
proftably engaged in surface workings. The
old "Lightfoot copper mines" have passed into
the hands of wealthy company of Northern
men, who are now engaged in re-opening the
navigation of Slate river in order that they
may get their heavy and expensive machinery
to their mines. There are also in different
sections of Buckingham county at least thirty
gangs of negroes who are engaged after very
lazy fashion, in surface mining for gold, and
they make each, about two dollars and half
day. An intelligent, industrious white la
borer could make great deal more
In Goochland county, the "Waller gold
mine" has been re-opened by Messrs Bowles,
Hughes & Co., and they have been working
for more than two months At the Fleming
mines in the same county, Messrs Grant & Co.
are working 80 miners and find surface wash
ing exceedingly profitable. In the county of
Louisa, the old Cooper gold mine" has been
squatted upon by vast number of negroes,
''aoho are making fifteen or tacenty dollars a
day" I'VE give the exact language of Dr.
Grant.
No. If competition is the life OF trade"
Il cd in fhic itIT