Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-13

perceive that we have the
advantage over Pittsburg in the
cost of one Of SO per ton. Coke may be as
cheap there now, or even cheaper than in
this State; because most of the furnaces
have suspended operations, but can con-
ceive Of no reason why Tennessee may not
furnish coke as cheaply as any section in
the United States. Certainly coal lands
are cheaper. The same quality of coal lands
that can be bought in this State for one and
two dollars per acre would sell in Pennsyl-
vania for 500 per acre.
Did you visit any other places in Geor-
gia?
One Other-seven miles south Of Kings
ton. Here at one point is a ravine which
cuts a cash some seventy or eighty feet
deep through a solid bed Of ore. This
one extends out on either side to the
distance Of three hundred yards and had
the appearance of being a solid bed. 1t
was at this point my Plttsburg companion
declared after having visited Lake Cham
plain, Lake Superior and the Iron Noun
tain of Missouri, that there was more ore
here than at any Of them. The truth is
when one looks at this immense deposit,
iron ores appear sOabundant that the places
4lO value pun LAACAlls II AOAAA LlAo DAeSNN al
the furnaces in America could be supplied
for a century.
What was your idea for visiting Georgia
aud Alabama? Did we not have ore
enough in our own State
Plenty Of it. But you see coal builds
up the wealth of a Slate, and all these ores
after the exhaustion of the timber
must be smelted by Tennessee coal, and
to save transportation the ores are always
carried to the coal, and practically these
ores, though in Georgia and Alabama belong
to Tennessee. Being on the railroad, they
are already accessible.
Do you think we have any deposits that
equal those you have described?
Yes; in Hickman county, on the old
Etna property, is the finest presentation of
iron ore in the South, so far as l know.
Running for the distance of four miles is a
bluff Of ore sixty feet high. This ledge is oc-
casiOnally gashed by transverse rayines so as
to show its solidity. In Stewart and Law
renee counties are also large deposits,
though not usually so snowy a. those
named. 1 visited one ore bank during my
trip, near LaGrauge furnace in Stewart
county, Tenn, which l think 3 Little re-
markable. An excavation fifty yards across,
made in hill, shows a solid face of ore
fifty feet high. The floor of the excava-
ton is also solid ore. Occasionally the
ore assumes a CrustaceOuS form, run
ming in COntOTted sheets separated from
each other by thin layers Of clay. Again
it lies in the form Of pots, hollow within
and Oftentimes filed with water. Again
rOunded-shaped masses of spaIry stone is
encrUsted with an iron casing resembling
an oyster dipped in batter. Indeed the ore
takes many fantastic forms The quantity
here, l am satisfied, is iLeXhaustible.
Many other such deposits exist in that
county.
But if we go to the eastern iron belt we
shall find along the North Carolina line a
great double range Of mountains con-
shutting one of the natural divisions
Of the State, and are called the
UnaKa. This range of mountains con-
sists Of several long, high, parallel ridges
interseCted by deep cuts or Chasms through
which the Wautauga, Nolichucky, French
Brood, Big Pigeon, Little Tennessee, Hi
waSsee and OcOee rivers flow in raging tor
rents out Of North Carolina and Georgia
into this StaIe. Now, between this double
range is a series of low hills running the
whole diagonal length of the State, and
every one Of these hills is filled with IL
monte iron ore and ores intemixed with
oxide Of maganese. Time will make these
mountains luminous with the fires Of fur
Eaces and forges, and Knoxville and Chatta-
nooga and probably Nashville, will become
the great iron emp0riums OF the Mississippi
Valley
You speak of prospective means of
What do you mean by
that?
l mean simply that the Cincinnati
Southern railroad, now in course Of con-
struCtiOn, will pass along the margin of
cur coal fields and parallel for a hundred
and twenty miles with the great DyestoEe
iron vein. l mean that the government
has appropriated 100000 to improve the
Muscle Shoals, thereby uniting the great
grain fields OF the Northwest with the coal
and iron Of Tennessee. mean the Duck
River Valley railroad, which will run from
to Fayetteville, over beds Of
iron as rich and as eXhaustiess as may be
found IN any country. | mean also the
possibility Of the construction Of a ship
canal from the Mississippi river TO the At
lautiC, which would doubtless pass through
a large portion Of Tennessee and give a
market for her iron ore products in EgrOpe.
Already, within the past month, an order
has been received in Rome, Ga, from LiY-
eTpoOl, for pig non. Open a ship canal
and England nor Pennsylvania, nor Mis-
souri,, can compete with Tennessee in put
ting PIG metal in the iron centres Of the
world. One thing 1 deeply regret, that the
last Legislature did not make an applOprla-
ton TO have Tennessee properly repre-
scented at the Centennial exhibition at
Philadelphia. Tennessee is now ahead,
but I am fearful that Kentucky, Missouri
and Virginia. with appropriations for the
purpose, will be able TO make such an ex-
hibi;Ion Of their ores as will shame Ten
neSsee. A little money judiCiOusly spent
i'm this way would have attracted millions
10 the State.
What was The opinion Of your Pittsburg
as TO the prospect of Tennessee !
becoming an iron centre?
He said the iron men Of Pittsburg were |
satisfied that Pennsylvania cannot compete |
With some other sections in the manufac- !
.ure Of IRON; and before leaving Pittsburg |
he was under the impression that Missouri |
would perhaps present the fairest OppOrtu |
mites. After careful and critical eXamina- |
ion. however, of our State, with its numeT- |
lus ores and abundance and cheapness of |
uel, he Is decidedly Of the opinion that |
Tennessee will become one of the iron
centres, if not the principal one, Of the |
valley.
We also visited the Sewanee mines and, |
ifter an admiring inspection, Mr.. Burns
aid there was but one working mine in
Pennsylvania Equal to these. he was also
# the opinion that COwan was an excel
ent point for the location Of furnaces.
SUMMING UP IN ADVANCE OF THE
LAWYERS.
L chester Democrat.
Believe TiltOn, and the circumstantial
evidence is harmonious with the main al
egatiOn. Believe Beecher, and every de-
all must be subjected TO an elaborate and
explanation. Mrs. TiltOn would
doubtless explain much that seems damna-
DRY. Deprive Mr.. Beecher Of the benefit
II her exp anatiOn, and he is bereft of half
MS defence. Reject, by his own act, her
assistance, and be appears TO commit legal
uicide.
RED CLOUD says: ''The Great Father
ends Commissioners out here to tell the
ruth, and they pray God to help them tell
he truth; but they all lie and steal; !
on't understand it, The trouble with