The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1881-09-07
GcolosiSt ! Read This !

VtUtOS iSt . lttdu ANtS
Editors Press nnd Banner:
It's generally known to the readers OF
vour paper that Col. \. Z. Butler, the
Commissioner If the State Agricultural
Bureau. is doing all in his power to have
the products and resources of the State
represented As fully as possible in the
Atlanta Exposition to be opened in o.
tObcr.
Every person in the State should feel
and take Il lively interest in the matter.
One object of the Bureau is to attract the
attention of immigrants, manufactures
and land purchasers to our State. 1t is
not often that such a favorable opportu-
nifty occurs for nur people to Show to 9TH
"r> beyond our borders what we possess,
and what we can make. As orr inter
cStS are almost exclusively on the farm,
50 a very large and universally distri-
buted class can do more towards showing
the crowds OF the soil, and the character
Of the soil than all others combined.
What can grow out Of the soil, or lie on
its surface, or within the range of the
pick and spade, that II or another OF
the farmer, does not see?
Now, | wish to pcrtare a request with
these remarks. Among the things that
Col. Butler wishes to place on exhibition
are the rocks and minerals Of the State.
Soils are produced from the rocks by tenn
pcrature. rain, ice and atmosphere. Any
person who knows the rocks am miner
ais of Il section has a key to its soils, and
at least approximately to its productive
capacity. All soils arc composite, but in
every locality, some special rocks give
the predominant characteristics. These
are more Or less fertile according 10 the
class Of rock dccOlnposing on the sur
face.
Col. Batter has requested me to assist
him in collecting the rock and mineral
exhihlt for this county. am willing to
do what | can, and have been doing so
but ] III nSt have assistance myself, 1t IS
impossible for me, wen il | could afford
the time. to travel all Over the county.
| an trying To send four general classes
Of rocks, viz: LIST the building rocks piln-
cipally the grantees !; End the economical
rocks including the foregoing; 3rd the
principal soil producing rocks; 18th the
valuable ores. The first three classes are
easily obtained. In fact | have already
shipped Col. Butler samples from the Sa-
luda side. The ores should be prOmincnl
w exhibited, but the mines and known
deposits are so far scattered, l will have
to request those owning Tor in charge, to
collect for me, and deposit as indicated
below. | would also like to gather such
valuable works as the jewellcr works,
They are generally species of the quality
In Il short communication like this,
cannot speak intelligibly Of them and
vet some might be willing to examine
ahradcd SuIfrccS, and washed places
that know nothing of names or eNterna
appearances. For the benefit Of such,
will name \ few, limiting at color and
form. II they cannot be determined by
the finder, they can be examined after
wards.
Phase. Color dark green most com.
mon form is pebbles and crystals.
Rose Quartz. Col. rose red massive
and CRY sa.S.
Amethyst. Col. violet blue; generally
crystalliar.
Precious Opal. Col. white to yellowisl
white; gives the Rainbow colors on tnrn
ing it.
Chalcedony. Col. white, BLUSH white
pale yellow. brownish. greenish ant
gray; in masses, nodules, concretions
and trusts lined with quartz crystals.
Blackstone. Col. deep green with blooo
red or yellow spots within.
Agate. Col. aggregation of mineral:
usually in stripes or ziSzaSs.
Garnets. Col. blood and cherry rcd ;
short crystals.
There are only a few Of the precious
stones of this genus. Corundum aEC
Sapphines might be found both very
hard and heavy. The last is very valu
able.
If every person that is within reach o
the gullics, branches and exposed places
Iamong the pebbles of the iieldsor woods
will examine, nan such may be found
Thes. works, after being sent to the At
lanta Exposition, will be returned to Co
lumbia and kept labeled in the name o
the county in the Cabinet of the Agricul
tural Bureau.
request persons gathering rocks t
| label as far as they can, giving plac
where found and send to the following
persons for ne
Messrs. Thomas bucket at Ninety Sin
G.. \. G. Waller at Greenwood, Hon. d
Wyatt Aiken at Cokesbnry. j. c. Cald
well at DonaldS, james McDill at Lown
desvillc, j. T.. Bradley at Widemans
! Andrew Wardlaw of the firm OF Ward
law and Edwards at the Court House.
4 Col. Butler should have there Spcci
mems at least by the 18th of the month.
WIN. HOOD.