The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-05-25

AAhlo O1kP3 OSCuES the AlOSS IGAl1dT HI
BILE, and probably the most extern
sive deposit of iron ore to be found
in the United States. 1t is a red
hematite ore, fossiliferous, and there
fore easily worked, everything the
entire northern slope of high ridge
lying south of, and parallel with the
Cumberland mountain, having an
almost uniform thickness of about
27 inches, singularly free from
sulphur and phosphorus, and CON
tanning about so per cent. of iron.
Underlying the Cumberland, and
Immediately facing this ridge of red
hematite, am told there are large
deposits of brown hematite ores, of
fair quality, but these l did not
examine.
| am informed that at many
places near the line of the projected
road, between Cumberland Gap and
the HolstOn river, there are out
groupings of brown hematite ores,
that indicate the existence of large
bodies, but l have not examined the
localities. Specimens of these out
groupings have been shown me, that
are very good ores.
Immediately after crossing the
HOlston river, the road will pass
through a region of country very
rich in brown hematite ores.
These ores occur in irregular
masses, all along between the Hol-
ston and French Broad rivers, on
both sides of MorrIstown. They are
very rich, easily obtained and easily
worked, and are free from silica,
and other impurities. Some of these
ores have lately been mined near
MOrristown, and shipped by rail
long distances, with fair profit.
All along up the French Broad
river, numerous and considerable
deposits of brown hematite ores are
to be found, in the valleys, and along
the foot hills of the western Allie
ghanies Near the line between
Tennessee and North Carolina,
about 40 miles south from Morris
town, is an extensive outcrop of
splendid specular iron ore.
Beyond that short distance the
magnetic ores are found, not very
far from Warm Springs, n. G.
These specular and magnetic ores
have not been extensively uncover
ed, but enough is known to justify
the statement that they exist in
immense quantities.
Briefly, / may say, that from the
eastern escarpment of the Cumber-
land mountain to the western slope
of the Blue Ridge, a distance of
something over 100 miles, as meas
ured by the engineers, every variety
of iron ore known to the mineralO-
gist is to be found.
MOrriStOwn is situated in the
centre Of the great brown hematite
belt, and is nearly equi-distant from
the fossiliferous dyestone ores of the
Cumberland region and the specular
and magnetic ores of the Appalachian
chain. But this section is not only
rich in it's iron ores. At several
points in Claiborne county, although
now remote from any railway lines,
zinc ores Of remarkable purity are
being mined. So rich are these ores
that they bear transportation over
long distances, by the crude appG-
ances Of the country.
/ have seen no zinc from Granger
county, but, from a casual eXamina-
ton, in passing across the county,
[ feel confident that zinc ores will be
found there. From Hamblen coun-
ty, near Morristown,. l have been
shown several fine specimens Of zinc
ores, taken from the surface. No
mining has been done in Hamblen
so far as l know. In Jefferson coun-
5y, however, which Immediately
adjoins Hamblen on the South, zinc
has been extensively mined at sever
ii points, on both the East Tennes-
see, Virginia and Georgia railroad
and the Cincinnati, Cumberland Gap
md Charleston railroad.
. | have been shown some hand
some specimens of lead ores from
Claiborne and Granger counties,
md my information is that the su-
Derficial indications are very fine,
,hough owing to the want Of facil-
ties for transportation, no works for
have been built, and but
title mining done.s
At Leadvale, in Jefferson county,
lbOut 10 miles south of MOrristOwn,
IN the c., c.. G. and c.. railroad, the
I'D lead mines have fallen into new
lands and are now being actively
developed with surprising results
4 short distance south of the old
liggings, three parallel vertical veins
# so per cent. galena have been re-
,eNtly uncovered At this place
ONE rude smelling works have been
rected, and lead in bars and pigs is
made in considerable quantity.
The great variegated marble belt
# East Tennessee is crossed near
Gorristown by the route to Cum
Derland Gap. These variegated
marbles are now being quarried at
everal points along the HolstOn
liver, above MorrIstOwn, and are
,eing hauled on wagons a distance
f II miles across the country to |
he E. T., Va. and Ga railroad and |
re shipped by rail to Boston, New
York and Philadelphia.
A railroad from Morristown north
through Cumberland Gap to the
tiles on the OhiO-would, as | have
aid, cross over this belt, and also
ross the HoIston river in the very
lidst of the marble belt. The mar
les from the quarries now being
,orked could be foated down the
iver to the railroad, and thus easy
transportation would be furnished
II all these marbles, and the ship
tents would be diverted from the
astern to the western cities, and a
ew industry built up there.
The building of q railroad from