The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-03-09
NORTHERN GEORGIA.
How a Stranger Sees 1.-THE Black
Hills Discounted.

To the Editor Of the Scar:
l have been in the South for some time
now, and am getting-to be pretty much
Southernized, 80 far as enjoying the
lovely climate is concerned; and l must
confess l like the people-not the polili.
cians-but the masses; they are patient,
poor, broken.spirited, but honest and
peaceabIe. / enjoy here sense of Sc.
curity far exceeding that experienced
in New York, and l am satisfied that
life and property are safer here than in
Northern cities.
The natives are naturally suspicious
OF Northern newcomers, and one is
compelled to hear great many severe
comments on governmental action, winch
is rather unpleasant; but it is simply
Jolly to answer in kind or attempt TO
argue the question. The easiest and
best way to get along is to say nothing:
especially SO, as nothing you might say
would have the least effect in converting
them from their errors.
The most noticeable feature OF society
in Northern Georgia, in business es-
pecially, is the apparent lack OF conf
dence in the people themselves. They
have unfortunately more iaith in a
Northern mans ideas than in their own.
But-not politically. But leaving the
subjects OF business and politics have
never found any place, in the matter OF
climate, so well adapted to the rebuild
ing of the degenerated physical system.
One reason, perhaps, Tor our perfect
healthfulness is the fact that we are ele-
Yated exactly twelve hundred and twen-
ty-two leet above tide level.
The first OF March finds flowers bloom
ing, grass green, gardens planted, BIRDS
singIng-iG seems like encnantment 10 a
pers ON accustomed to the rigors of a
northern winter. But no place on earth
is without It's drawbacks, and we have
them here, chief among wnicu is the
want of society anu modern cOnven-
fences; but then good health enables
one to do without many things which
We're once regarded as necessities, but
which in our prImoJlVe stale are simply
luXuries.
AS regards minerals, find that there
are ptenty of mines, abounding in pre-
clous me tals, but the modes provided for
The development of this industry are as
cru do as possible. Gold is scattered ali
over the country, but the gold-mInIng
interest has never recovered from the
incident to tue lung-protract-
ed war of the Rebellion. Instead OF
again working the mines, the people
have undertaken to make this cotton
growing country by forcing crops with
the aid OF guano-a process which i'm
poverishes the soil.
The condition of the people here is
just Lnis: No money, no credit, no col a.
hdence, no anythiDg that goes to make
up y thI living communily-yet tney nave
gold enough III their h!lls-easi, y accus i
slble anu cheaply worked. 1 have
earnestly studied the mineral working
of this section, have visited every work.
ing mine and all prospected ones in
Northern Georgia; my conviction is,
that while Lne prospects are OVer-estI-
mated, the cost and Kind OF machinery
is very much oYer-estlmated also. Tue
gold is free, and the soil loaded with it
where rich views and deposites await
the simple process of pounding and
saving.
There is not single steam-mill at
work here-Want of enterprise. Wood
costs nothing but the cutting-say 5C
cents per cord; labor from so 10 81 cenLs
a day; best hand, 81. No country in the
world viii afford such cheap mining la
cillLles; and ior The reason that they
have no water-power many excellent
prospects are lying idle, notwiLnstand-
ing the fact that mining can be carried
on every day i'll the year. Steam saw
mills, however, are plenty, but there Is
no demand Tor sawed lumDer, hence ILL
Vulnerable failures; the country is dot
led with unused boilers and engines
that can be bought for about the price OF
old iron. So, in looking Tor machinery
or mining purposes, the outlay WouIu
be merely nominal.
l can place a good-sized tive-stamp
mill, with pumping apparatus. engine ana
boi CT, lor sum not to exceed $1,000,
aud then by constant, persistent
''pounding" man would real Ze much
larger amount of the precious ID fetal than
he would ever imagine could be gained
ON SO small an investment. This is The
Uest watered country in America. There
are very lew OF the g0ld-bearlng belts
that could not be "slu iced" with water
pumped at surprisingly cheap rates.
nave entered into this subject mure fully
perhaps than your space warrants, be-
cause l wish to interest as many as pos
sible, that they may come down here
and see tor themselves what the situa-
ton offers 10 men oil enterprise and small
investments.
Here's one circumstance to the point
There is belt OF country carrying the
famous HPlgeon hoosp veins, about SIX
miles long. that mas been abandoned
because "water can not be made to run
up hill." Not one inch OF that belt but
nhat bears gold in both veins and soil
deposites. The ''Chestatee' and fEto-
wan Rivers and Camp Greek surround
this ridge at short distances, and water
can be pumped on an elevation suth cient
to cover the entire ridge by elevating
not to exceed three hundred feet. Ev-
cry drop of water can be rented at re-
nuneralive rates to the various prop
ty owners, who are just awaking to the
pending revolution in working the
mines.
A cottage can be built in this section
good enough for any one at cost MOI
% exceed 5000. Lumber is only from So
TO $40 per THOUSAND, and labor in pro-
portion.
The country affords all kinds of fruits
and vegetables; walnuts, hickory nuts,
tilberts, chestnuts, &c. in abundance
Eggs 10 cents per dozen, butter 10
ceUts per pound. In my opinion, tor
neaithfulness and cheap living, no place
can "ampare with Northern Georgia.
R.F.W.