Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-23
TENNESSEE'S FUTURE.
A Leading PittsbUrg Iron Man
on Her Vast Resources.
How She Must Rank Ere Long
Among the States,

4AukAlE AAldl q pdLtF ~ 4Cdolf VI gOuI
many readers might be interested in a short
sketch Of the valuable interests which are
unknown to those who have not travelled
over that portion Of our. great country
known as Northern Georgia and Alabama,
as well as the State Of Tennessee at large,
is why give this brief sketch Of my late
travels through that portion Of our country.
shall cOnfne myself mostly to the
mineral resources, as that part seems to be
least known, and will commence with Ala
bama. The northern part Of this State
has, perhaps, one Of the largest iron
mountains yet discovered in the world, be-
ing about fOrty-five miles in length and
three-quarters Of a mile in width
at the base, and one hundred and seventy
five feet high, with a continuous vein Of
iron ore the entire length. The ore is Of
the kind generally known as the fossil or
dystem species, and is found cropping out
on the west side Of the mountain Gas the
mountain runs north and sOuth), near the
top, and shows a vein near forty feet in
thickness and dipping about fOTty-five de-
grees to the east. The ore lies in strata
from six inches to one foot thick, like sand
or free-stOne rock, lying closely compact,
one upon the top Of another, making il
quite easy to mine after the covering is re-
moved, which, Of course, is quite expensive
in some places, as the covering in some in
stances is so heavy that the ore has % be
drifted after, as we 90 after coal here.
Near this mountain is the very flourish
ing town Of Birmingham, on the Nashville
and Great Southern Railroad, which has
sprung up since the war to the size Of ten
thousand inhabitants, with a fair prospect
of getting the State capital removed there
before many years, on account Of the great
future prosperity which is expected to be
derived from this iron deposit. There have
been three furnaces erected within a short
distance Of Birmingham, and had it not
been for the panic, many more would have
been in the course Of erection, as there are
large coal fields almost adjoining, which
are said to furnish excellent coke fOrsmelt-
ing iron.
l passed from here to Northern Georgia.
Here l found a different kind or species Of
iron ore, that known as the brown hema-
tite, which, l must say, aSLOnished me, and
/ think will astOnisb all who examine It.
l say it will astOnish any one 10 learn that
we have such immense bodies Of iron ore
which are comparatively unknown 10 the
world.
But l must not dwell mere, lest l weary
your patience, but will pass from here to
the great State Of Tennessee, where We find
the iron ores Of all kinds in superabuud-
ance. Let me say, by way Of introducing
myself to this State, that have no Interests
there, not owning one foot Of land OF other
property in IL, my interests all being IN
Missouri; therefore the probabilities are
that l will not OyCrate i-, aud
would recommend all those visiting Ten
nessee, for the purpose Of purchasing or To-
eating IN that State, TO call upon Col. J. b.
KilIebrew, Secretary Of the Bureau of Az
riculture. 1t Nashville, and Mai. $. 3
Lowe, Of Chattanooga, who will be happy
to give any desired information, IS they
are gentlemen Of high standing, and can
be relied on at all times, as they are well
acquainted with all parts Of the STATE.
will commence BY saying that this
Slate has one Of the finest futures, as Az
iron manufacturing state, Of any in the
Union. To substantiate this, will men
| tiOn 2 few Of the advantages which this
State has in minerals over Others. In the
first place, IL is centrally located, being The
nearest and most ready Of access to the
| great coal fields Of Indiana and Illinois,
/ l might say almost contiguous, having
| the two great rivers, the Cumberland and
the Tennessee, which are uavigable the
| wear round, and right through the center OF
/ the State, passing through its entire length,
/ and with their tributaries making an out
| let water transportation to almost every
| locality where iron ore abOuuds, in quantity
/ and quality which, think, is not eNcelled
/ in the United States, if in the world.
will Just say that the iron ores are mex
haustible, making the Lake Superior as well
| as Missouri mines secondary. Knowing
/ what l say, will be content As to iron ore.
| still further think tina. these iron ore
fields on the Lower Tennessee and Cum
berland rivers are the most ready ores that
can be reached from Pittsburgh, being
/ almost directly on the Ohio river.
But the great wealth Of Tennessee is that
| she has all Of the requirements requisite 10
/ making iron within her own grasp, having
| coal fields IN extent equal 10 Pennsylvania,
and in addition to that, has immense for
/ ests, which will furnish charcoal for wears
| to come, which is almost Indispensable for
making a certain grade Of iron that we
must have. Very few who have never
made a proper investigation Of this State
they are doing in regard 10 mining and
cOking coal. will take, for instance, the
SeWanee mines, near COwan, on the
Nashville and Chattanooga Rail-
road. These mines employ from SIX to
seven hundred hands, and have a capacity
Of shipping four millions Of bushels per
annUm, COkinC about Oue-haf Of their
shipments, it being an excellent quality,
which can be made to be delivered al any
point by rail in the State at eight cents
per bushel. These mines or coal fields eX-
tend over the greater part Of GrUndy and
Marion counties, the vein being about a
four and half foot vein, but these mines
are not all, by any means. There are many
others, but of less note, however, as the
coal fields cover near ODe-tCurth Of the
State.
As yet, have only mentioned the iron
ore, and stone, and chaIcO3ls Of the state;
but in addition to these are large deposits
of lead, zinc, copper, nickel, cobalt, lum-
bagO, silver, and last, though not least the
great marble QUarTies which are, perhaps,
not surpassed in the world for variety ard
richness, being Of every shade and color
from the snowy white with al the Vdri5-
gated cOlOrs to the black.
Now, then, in summing mp this great
State, with its beautiful, fertile lands,
which, with their Cheapness, make It ac-
cessible to all, with its fine, healthy
climate, the great future prospects which
us mineral wealth must bring within its
borders, must, as soon IS properly known,
cause a tide OF emigration to flow within
its borders that will ere long make
it rank among the first States
in the Union, if not the leading;
but many will say, with all your
great natural wealth, what is il without
good society? 1 know a great many think
that a person having Northern o. different
sentiments from the people in the South
are not safe. Now, l only have To- say that
l have travelled a great deal ia the South
eTn States since the war, and 1 must say
that l never met with a more hOspitable
people or a people. that respected others
opinions more, provided thcy come from 4
gentleman or lady; and as % crime, think
the per centage Of crime far below that Of
the North. These going there need have
no fears, if they 60 with an honest pur-
pose. They will also find much refined
society, even in The rural tiStTig,s-ol
course not so much In the most remote
parts, back in the mountains, but You viii
find it there equally as refined rs in our
mountainous parts in Pennsylvania.
WILLIAM BURNS.
THE savings hanNs Of California owe