The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-10-20

| an entirerevolution in the process of surface
| gold mining. 1t is a combination of the iron
barrel used in Russia and Germany and an
I matchmaking process. The barrels are
made of boiler iron, and are sixty by forty
inches inside. They have two openings,
twelve by twelve, through which the mate
| rial to be washed is introduced, and out of
which the tailings are forced after washing.
On the side of the barrel, extending its en-
tire length, is a pocket holding seventy
pounds of quicksilver, and in the centre of
! the pocket a hole one inch in diameter, in
which is fitted a faucet through which the
quicksilver can be drawn off The barrels
| filled something more than half full OF soil
and rock, and water enough introduced to
make the masses about the consistency of
"mush." They are then closed and revolved
| by machinery at the rate of twenty-five rev.
olutions to the minute for thirty minutes,
when the quicksilver is thrown in. Every rev.
| olution of the barrel then throws the quick
silver through the entire mass, and after re-
volving for another thirty minutes the bar
res are stopped, with the pocket down, and
the openings at the side. A stream of wa
ter is then introduced through hose from
the reservoir, and the tailingS washed off,
leaving the quicksilver in the pocket with
all the gold previously contained in the ma
| terial adhering to the mercury. 1t is sim
promises to be remarkable success.
have not the time, and fear you would
not spare the space, to give aminute account
of all have seen here. The work is being
driven forward with energy and rapidity
have never seen surpassed, and with an econ
omy really astonishing. AS there is none of
the stock of the company for sale I cannot be
accused of writing in their interest, and
can hardly trust myself to write all l hon
estly believe in regard to this mine. Gold
has been found all about this section in pay
ing quantities. but it is a remarkable fact in
every instance, that the veins struck have
all run into the " Poi it's" mine. and I conf
IDENTIFY believe that sooner or later the main
vein from which all this wealth has flowed
will be found on this property. Wonderful
as the statement may seem, it is yet fact
that the deepest excavation ever made by
any of those who have worked the mine
hardly reaches twenty feet, if except an at
tempt to sink an Artesian well made many
years ago and abandoned on striking trap
rock at depth of eighty feet.
Unmistakable evidences of volcanic action
and former submersion exist all over the
property, and in some great CONFUSION of
nature the gold was deposited where it is
now so plentifully found.
North Carolina is unquestionably one of
the richest States in the Union in minerals.
The cost of mining here hears no proportion
to the great cost in more distant localities,
where wood and labor are scarce and held
at enormous prices. The only things neces-
sary to develop her immenee wealth are in
telligent labor and available capital, and I
do not believe the world can show a more
promising field for the profitable employment
of these great agencies. The success of the
Ports Gold Mining Company will doubtless
stimulate inquiry in this direction, and
should any person who may read this letter
be induced by it to visit North Carolina for
the purpose of investigating the mining adj
vantages of the State he may call on me for
his expenses if the trip does more than re-
pay him. The climate among these noun
tains is temperate and rarely subject to
tremes The air and water are pure and
healthful, and the people hospitable and will
lig to welcome Northern men who come here
to invest capital or assist in developing their
resources.
Mr. Plat assures me he has met only kind
ness from all classes, though well known to
have been in the Northern army. He also
says the great error of Northern men COM
ing South to settle is, in many instances,
sycophantic adhesion or pretended CONVEX
sion to extreme Southern views, instead of
an honest acknowledgment of their real feel
ings. He has found nearly every gentleman
he has met tolerant of a temperate express
sion of Northern sentiment and believes they
respect an honest opponent more than they
do an apostate. He urges the acceptance of
the constitutional amendment as the best
thing the South can now do, and as a fair
between the two extremes. and
believes the people could easily be induced
to accept it as a settlement if they could be
that farther terms would be
demanded, and the States admitted at once
on their adoption. Politicians who are af-
fected by one clause, and fear that its adop-
lion will remove them from public life and
prevent them from holding office, of course,
oppose it bitterly, and their influence will
probably prevent its acceptance. Mr.. Platt
was originally from Vermont, settling in
Virginia Immediately after Lees surrender,
md is we'll qualified to judge intelligently of
public feeling in the South.
1 shall extend my trip to other mines in
his State, and will write you again should
his meet your acceptance.