The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-03-13
OUR SOURCES OF WEALTH-HoW
SHALL THEY BE DEVELOPED
BY w. P. HARRrsoN.


are rich IN mineral .resources-the vast
majority which reman untouched, and
indeed, unknown to the people of these
States. a large portion of their terri
tory lies in the region of the ,metamor-
phic, and metalliferous rocks, a region
which has never been accurately sur
veyed by any one competent to form
conclusion, or to reason from geological
data. A few geologists, it is true, have
been employed, on small salaries, who
have made hasty trips, scanned the
snrface of large districts, classified them
according to geological formulas, pub
hshed theirreports, and there the matter
rests.
It is of little service to the farmer to
know that he is blowing land which
belongs to the Upper or Lower SiIurian
period-or to the merchant that he lives
in n city founded on a cretaceo,ls basis.
No practical information has been or
can be conveyed to the public through
such channels. The great need has
been, not a Geoligist, proceeding from
principles already fixed TO assign large
districts to their proper places; but
competent N[ineralogist, one who, talk
ing the lights which Geology furnishes,
proceeds by actual experiment to test
and to decclope the resources of the
country. Thousands of dollars have
been wastedin searching for gold, where
some enthusiastic wiseacre has found
PARTICLES OF beautiful golden mica-and
hundreds of thousands wasted by made
quate machinery when the gold actually
existed in plenty.
The writer of this article has for many
years past given this subject special
attention, at such periods as his leisure
would admit, and he proposes to furnish
in this paper, a few Of the results of his
observation. Embarrassed by no theories
TO be upheld, he has carefully labored
10 ocquonth himself with practical truths.
mtelhgiblo 60 the most ordinary capa-
city.
OUR GOLD This metal
Grst in importance among our native
deposits, existsin much larger quantities
IAN has generally been believed. We
have no California in the South. but
we have, I do not question, more re-
liable, and ultimately a more remuner-
atve gold supply. Wild excitement
over the discovery of pocket gola in
large nuggets, have SO demoralized
public sentiment that we cannot force
mon to believe that these heavy Iodes of
the precious metal are treacherous and
dangerous in tho extrme. Find lump
of gold worth 81, 900 ON a mans estate.
and you have prepared him for speedy
bankruptcy. He reasons, he thinks
souudly, when he concludes that where
this lump was found, or nearly-there
are others-no ono knows how many.
lie sets his figures at fortune in a /
month, or n year &C most He spends /
his limp of gold in heavy and costly 1
machinery. goes to wo3 with large
debt awaiting his profits, ond-hnds no |
mono gold. Thus no breaks, and curses
his folly, and perhaps, the discoverer Of !
tho treasure Now, if an experienced /
NIineralogist had been at his side to tell |
him. Sir, this lucky nugget may, or
may not have amy companion in thous- /
and yards of this spot. You must not /
listen to your craving for Immediate +
wealth. Look around you. The soil 1
that produced this valuable specimen
should be examined; the rocks should I
be tested, and it may he that you have
a Surcr treasure, n more certain source 1
OF wealth than You suppose. But do /
not 10 extnvagant. Don't expect to /
make S1O0 per day 70 the hand Come
down 20 two, three. or Eve dollars per
day profit, and measure your outlay aud
yolir income accordingly"
I have been forcibly impressed with
these facts, on making brief examine
ton and test Of the earth thrown out of
nanes u this State, which have been