New-York tribune., 1874-08-01
MICA MiyiyG IN NORTH CAROLINA

ONE HUNDRED MINES ~ THE WESTERN PART OF
THE sTAIE-AN OLD INDUSTRY RECENTLY RE-
vlvEp-PRMuIvE METHODS OF MINING-THE
DEMAND FOR MICA AND HoW 1T Is SUPPLIED
rFpoM A. OCCASIONAL CoRRE-PoSDENrOP THE TRIBUNE ]
MITCHELL COUNTY, y. c., July 23.-The
mica the mountains OF the Eastern and Middle states
having become exhausted. the attention u manuiact-
this mineral IN the manufacture ot stove
DOORS lanterns &c. has for the last few years been
70 the OF the Blue Ridge IN Western North
Carolina There evidences around I'VE mica mines
In Mitchell County y. Csuch trees between 900 and
6O years old growing upon the dumpngs about their
enrances-which testify that At dates thus early race
not possessing metal TOOL, blasting powder sought
this mineral primitive way possibly TO trade TO the
more emil ghtened people Of Mexico, among whose de-
scendauts at q later day Cor;ez found 1t III use a.
mirrors ana ornaments. These five mines are situated
a. follows sink Hole. three miles from BaAersyiile the
county seat the Cane Creek Buchanan on the NOgth
Toe River, four miles from Bakersvle; Baylock's' on
the same stream about miles the county seat and
two OF a smaller character At the Caue Creek mIue'
human bones OF q ant size have been round.
Modern mining was begun here bur seven years ago-n
lsG--and Dy accident. Ex-senator C!ingman az that
date employed labOrrrs 10 work one Of those ancient
mnes-Bavlocks- IN search OF silver, sdpposlng that
precious metal be the one sought by the original
miners. OF course silver was found; butt singular
coincidence-the owner OF tie land, whose name was
silver. having acquaintance az Knoxville. Tenn, sent
thituer sample OF the mica which had been eXcavaed
and Thought Of no value shire wd N0rtherner named
Clapp happening there saw t and knowing its value,
quietly went TO the mine leased u for ts mica. sold the
discarded pile ~ that article for considerable sum,
and before MS death enriched bs hrm ana added
much 10 the wealth Of the county by causlnga score OF
other mines to be opened and successfully worked
therein The County Of Mitchell has been enabled By
this 70 40 what many Others have tailed 10 do, pay of
,ts Indebtedness which t could not otherwise have
done It, trade has given general employment To
II. ctz ns ana scattered money throughout rs Dor
fLere Is now mica % the value OF 100000 one firm is
rared to have ~ OJ 20 10000 pouuds II rough
state aud nave made some s0OJ Ia the Trade during
Ia rho adioInipg county of Yncv the Ray mine is
pored TO have thus lar turned ou mlel % tue Vanr or
$4,000 IL has proved the most successful Aca mines
nave a4so Oeen "oTn'T % @ "o o, tpap ronnfes while
Mitchell furnishes the main supply. ana Us miners are
IN. NOR. sxperenced. Even mere the Dasuess ap-
nareuIIv IN H. infancy and the methods Uf mining
exceedingly primitive, few or none haVns ihucl rNl,
rirnre i'm H. sun the supply Il greater tAan the dc
maud which Is increasing ways OF dsu- mica H.
crease and efforts made 70 keen mines id.e tn mo
Manufacturers In New-YOrk Philadelphia and Boston
make their purchases OF Mitchell County dealers, ana
IL l. even sought for IN Europe Tue largest Droprers
nf mica lands IN Mitchell OniOan, Major Brown,
now OF Australia. and Mrssrs. Avery AZ Pau. aud
Mi. Heap. formerly partner oi thpp' 10 tue largest
lessee of mines aud the extensive operator PrO1
ably Que hundred mica mines IN an are opened IN the
North Carolina mountains. from whlcn tnis country
now recriyes Ia supply. In one sense IL Is NORM Caro-
lnl'- most important mineral, though lis value IS NOT
great OF her gold products, while ts mining
results are quite uncertain, more being lJ5t than
made tn the pursuit very large per centage Of The
mica mined unht for market. While tAat WA u SUIT
able ranges from cents ssper pound And 80 much
was mined last year, with the rldes tools aud IA
the mu-t unsllliul manner, tat the price Ieli Oheha
and the market was glutted. city dealers ana manu-
facturers supply miners and collectors with patterns
m size from AXIS inches even up To 10 inches
square by which t s prepared for market, II beng
cut with timers shear assorted. wrapped IN papers,
boxed strongly aud MAJ Set II has ~ De free
from SCOT or other bemish, and the dark or brandy
colored brings tne best price.
THIS mica locality is mountainous and i1accessIble
NV railroad. a. ~ IL -h'rtv miles from its
ee nter To both Western North Ca Oua Road The
south ana tle Virginia and East Ten Rad 10 the
north. Otherwise the decompOs 1 leldhptr, always
accompanying mica when IA here ~ hbu1iince aId
while a. snow could be utilized aud .anafactHret In
p0rrelan n equang tnat OF Limoges teNrrs iud tie
a-brsto- iron. aud other minerals OF value Well
inc excellent timber winch covers this Blue Ridge
great natural between the eastern and western
waer.-Siuld made Ia enrich the Inhabitants, now
so poor aud isolated The country l. fIl VI large ever
iowiug crystal ahirdiug the best WATERPROOF j.
uu0o cuped. They all uuhrtdged, .artUnais y
fUrdaUie though the natives ford them stills. like
people the LaAdes district, whom la rosU"e,s
they resemble.