Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1873-05-08

I'm i'm tire N fountains.

where" and "the how" it is obtained. A
few years since the mineral, which now
bring from $3.50 to $500 per pound, was
comparatively vAlueless in market.
Not long since, in company with one
Of the entsrprisiug miners from our coun-
ty, your correspondent took trip via.
Walkers Railroad, that is a foot, to the
mountains Of Mitchell county, North Car
DINA, and the events and results Of that
voyage" you shall now hear:
On Tuesday morning betimes we left
the Doe River Cove and being detained
sometime on the road arrived at the foot
Of the Yellow Mountain, the further trip
up whose grim looking sides We were fain
to defer until the morrow, so we put up
with our friend, Mr.. McNabb, by whom
we were Hospitality entertained, until
morning.
Next morning, starting carly, We be.
gan the toilsonle ascent Of the Yellow
Mountain gaining gradually upon the as
cent we at last found ourselves upon the
summit and sat down in the chill, grew
mist that enveloped all created things to
rest our wearied limbs before undertak.
ing the almos. as tiresome descent, upon
the other side.
l regretted much the state of the wealth
er prevented us from seeing any of the
beauties of nature that surrounded US (;
but this disappointment was amply com
peusated as you shall presently see.
Descending the mountain we found our
selves upon the banks of Roaring Greek,
and being prepared we tried our hands at
catching the beautiful mountain trout
that abounded in that classically named
stream. We, lie. am mot mnch of a
"h'hlst," but my companion was a very
Isaac Walton of al angler, and by the
time VIC came to the mouth of the creek
where it empties into Tow river we had
quite a string of slippery writhing life.
Being hungry. we called at a house up.
on the roadside, had our fish fried, eat our
dinner and proceeded upon our journey,
and late in the evening, quite wearied
out at Avery's quarters, arrived at the
house of Mr.. Milton English, staying
there all night; the next morning we set
ont Tor the mines. (Now right here in
parenthesis, | tell you | would rather fol.
low a red fox up the mountain than that
same companion Of nine, Geo. w. Emert),
Up, up those mountains we went until We
stood at the mouth of tho mine upon the
top OF Elk Mountain, Eve thousand feet
above the level of the sea. Here the
scene presented to our gaze was grand
enough to amply compensate for what
was lost in crossing the dividing ridge.
Upon our right lay the Yellow Moun>
tain, turning its bald front fully to the
sun, destitute apparently Of vegetation,
and reminding one Of the pictures of tie
old monks in some Catholic c%loister. And
then in front Of us, towering above US for
athousand feet, was the grand old Roam,
the monarch Of all the pigmies hat sur
rounded, looking grim and awful. At
our feet wound the bright sparkling stream
that rising in the heart of these mountains
fuds way by devious windings through the
Uuaka range, changing its name as it goes
until 1t finds an outlet in our beautiful
State.
But %suficit. turning round We look and
sawl-wbat? Nothing but a hole in the
rock where, upon a jutting point. sat a
man with a drill, upon the head of which
two other men we're striking alternate
blows with large hammers. This then is
the how, lie. by blasting, for this same
mica will persist in dwelling in the hard.
est Of white flint. Pretty soon the blast
was ready and having q wholesome fear Of
having our feelings hurt by some pieces
of rock of the size of a washing tub aud
and upwards, we retired to q safe distance
and awaited the explosion. As soon as it
accomplished we returned and picked up
quite a number of pieces Of the bright
mineral for which these miners we're toll
ing. The value of this substance in mar
kst depends entirely upon its size and
quality. By quality we mean whether
clear or free from spots and stains, or
whether cloudea and spockled with dingy
black or green spots. BY size is meant
the number Of inches it will square or cut
to given pattern. The rough block
when taken from the mine is split to the
requisite thickness. about the thickness Of
ordinary window glass aud then cut to
any desired pattern that the piece will Gil.
The prices range from seveuty-6ve cents
to Eve dollars per pound. according to