The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-12-18

- 10 lluIS AdDl ludl Snc CAN DItStul
such a favorable showing.
l am asked why capitalists do not come
here and develop our mines-why do not
miners come here and prospect ! |, in turn,
ask why do not miners flock to New jersey
to prospect her zinc mines-why are there
no miners prospecting on the Western
slope of California z 1t is known that these
lands arc owned by wealthy individuals or
corporations and that they could not be-
come owners--simply laborers. Capitalists
Will come here just as soon as YOU convince
them that they can find these mines-con-
vince them that they exist. tina they are
not paper mines"
Gold was first discovered in the United
States in 1890, and was found in North
Carolina; and up to 1849 the largest rug
get that had ever been found was found In
this State. Gold is found in thirty coUn-
ties in this State, and the amount she has
contributed to the bullion of the country
amounts to millions of dollars. There are
mines tco,hted ii California, Nevada, Mon
tana, and Colorado that the rocL. 1riU nat as
sag rs rel as tie quartz Of this State,
which lie to-day as old fields.
From I'll. PasO OH the Rio Grande, to the
capital Of chihuahua, you may see mines
quite us valuable as those OF New Mexico
or Colorado, that are not worked and if |
iiShIiN. tl' CiH Cdo "dS once
the most productive of mines; now the
tourist can scarcely find a trace of it.
1T is not necessary to elaborate this point.
Capitalists and skilled labor alone are
needed to developc the mineral interests Of
this State, and place them along with the
great mining districts of other States.
The deposits of iron in this State are
enormous, and almost endless in variety.
1t is found in large quantities in more than
80 counties of the State. In many instances
it is as pure as Pilot Knob Missouri. For
the higher grades of cutlery it is not sur
passed, and now that England's workmen
are coming here-erecting their factories
near iron and coal-this fact should be
made known to those looking for locations.
and for the purpose of making steel rails
for railroads it is unequalled. There is also
an abundance of coal, though not so widely
ditfused; but in ~juxtaposition to some Of
the largest iron beds in the State. Lack Of
time compels me to notice only the most
precious of metals and the most useful.
The other minerals are found more or less
in abundance, and II erery nc III THIS State
acere to leare has present occupation and de-
rOte the balance of has natural life to min
ing the different numerals mder the most ia
rOrdbie circumstances, that is to say with all
the appliances that capital could bring to
their aid, when this generation would have
passed away, the mineral wealth of the
State would just be opening up, and its
resource even then would be i'm
perfectly understood.
There is no country of its area, that can
present so many minerals, so easily mined,
and so accessible to market as the Old
North State.
If our minerals were mined, what would
be the effect ? We can best understand its
Importance by comparison with other
States. | have seen towns spring up as if
magic in the far off West, brought about
by the development of mines, and the
interests were but q small part of
the interests thus developed. Saw and
mills, manufacturing establish
ments, etc, giving employment to hun
drcds. together with other hundreds of
mechanics-aI contributing towards
the permanent wealth and growth Of the
country. Around these mining camps !
have seer farms opened, settlements that
ordinarily would not have been made in a
quarter Of a century-cOmfortable farm
houses, bespeaking thrift and industry fol
owed and when | haveridden over trackless
prarics-slecpiug in tents made Of buffalo
robes, cities and rich farming districts have
greeted my return, III a few instances IN
less than a year, in many cases in less than
half a decade. Let our mines be developed,
let enterprising men and capitalists know
they eXist-not on paper only, but
they are a reality and they will be
opened here just as rapidly as if they were
in California. have before me statistics
in relation to the mineral resources of this
which gives it a very high rank, but
[ conceive that [ have demonstrated my
statement, and | will not consume more
time on the mineral resources of the
State.
HER MANUFACTURING ADVANTAGES.
What natural advantages for manufac-
turing does this State possess Within
he limits of this State are IA large rivers
over 200 smaller streams that have at
onc or more points over 80 horse power,
while the Roanoke river furnishes 800 horse
per foot of fall, and it has 135 it. of
in ten miles. The aggregate OF horse
power at lowest water In this State is over
o5O OoO horse mower heinO about equal to