The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1867-02-22
For the Citizen.l
Mineral Resources Of Tennessee,

Mineral Resources Of Tennessee,
The fertility Of the lands Of our State, 7
with The abundant, cheap and certain sup |
ply of labor furnished by the institution of |
slavery, has hitherto directed the industrial
pursuits of our citizens almost exclusively !
to Agriculture. This was an avOcatiOn
suited to the humblest capacity-one which
afforded certain and easy living, and Of
ten remunerative profits. Manufacturers,
from our limited knowledge of machinery,
were looked upon with distrust, and Min
ing was esteemed a purely speculative oP-
GRAFTON. But the worn condition Of our
lands, the advent of the Ethiopian millen-
mum, and the supervision of our entire in
dustriaI system necessitate a corresponding
change in our pursuits. The fact that the
accumulated wealth of generations is no
longer left to foster indoleuce-that almost
every one is dependent On individual exer-
ton for enthusiastically arouse our dor
nant minds. viialize epd quicken our eRer-.
gies, and thus open up new channels for
the acquisition Of wealth. New m&nuiac--
turing enterprises and closer investigations
into our mineral resources show chat the
proper agencies are at work.. which shall
yet make our devastated and impoverished
State, ''to blossom as the rose" The SUI
perior, water power-the abundance of coal
and wood-the cheap lsbor--the super6u,
GUS proYisons-the nayigable streams and
the railroad connections contemplated and
completed-the quantity and variety Of the
crude materials, all combine to make this
one of the 6rst mar ufacturing States in the
Union, Nor are her advantages for mining
Of secondary importance. Petroleum, coal,
marble, iron, copper, and other valuable
minerals are known to be abundant in guam
tity and superior in quality, Indeed. re-
cent explorations and late developments
seem to indicate that this is to be the
great Oil region. -.
Some three years ago, being detained Al
the house of a simple backwoodsman, moi
a great distance from the Tennessee river,
mine host showed to mea pitchy substance,
which he said, exuded from the lcrevice. o.
a rock bluff in the vicinity, known to the
primitive inhabitants of that secluded re.
giou as the "Tsr Spring. The substance
had the consistency of pitch, but none o.
the peculiar odor of tar. The damsels o.
the vicinity used it for chewing wax" and
! the honest cordwainers adopted it as sub.
stitute for "shoemaker's wax" Calling t.
aid my limited stock of Chemical lore, de-
J termined the substance to be Aspkaltans-
the residum left by Petroleum on evapora
ton, which is always regarded as SUR
Indication Of that oil. Influenced by thi
, opinion, learned from my host, on furihe
: inquiry, that some little springs in the "a
vine below the ''Tar Spring." were cover
ed with greasy scum" and that the trac
might be bought for trifle, as it was con
g sidered valueless, being very poor. Beini
then absorbed with the one great idea o
''separate nationality and independence, /"
. made no further inquiries or investigation
There are doubtless hundreds of similar 10
calities, which need only capital and labo
intelligently directed to yield fortunes.
. We are, every day, walking over richie
which rival in amount the tabled treasure
. of Aladdin-while the jewels and gold {
: the Genii of the Lamp too often brin
. sloth, ignorance and decay, our hide
treasures belong TO that class which bull
up men and .nations-which, instead of re
tarding, quicken every branch of industry
4 The energy and enterprise of the day wi
. soon open. these secret repositories Z
4 wealth, The only question is, 'shan th
q work be done by our own, citizens or b
! Northern Spectators ?'' I was glad /
> note, from an advertisement in your paper
h the formation Of company for this oBjecl
# embracing the name of some of the frs
"a citizens of Giles and the surroupdip
> counties. The characters Of these gentle
;. men guarantee that the Tennessee, Ala
bama d Nortbwestern0 Oil and Mining Com
> pany,'' is no ''swindle" to deceive homes
= meanwhile the intelligence and energy
!. the Directors is promising indication c
4 success. It is to such men and ouch en-
4 terprises that the South, in this hour {
) trial, should look to with hope. Sc
= -. WILSON.
II So, OOO, 600 for Southern Education.
: Mr.. George Peabody has addressed