The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-12-29
LETTER FROM THE BLUE RIDGE.


THE WEATHER.
try whose scenery invites the tourist and
lover Of nature in her wild grandeur, the
character of the prevailing weather be-
comes very important factor. This
southwest Blue Ridge country, aside
from its wealth OF minerals, Gas yet but
little hevc!oped) and its adaptability to
become leading dairy and apple grow
Ing country, viii assert It's precmineEce
as a land OF health, as it is opened up aud
becomes known to the world.
The weather since last May. would
challenge the finest the dreamy climate
of the Mediterranean could produce Days
| of sunshine, snbdted by the dro@sy haze
which ever shrouds these mountains.
overhung by an azure sky, through whose
liquid depths tieecy clouds are always
sailing. Ever of ETHEREAL mildness. the
jewellers in these mountains have enioyed
Il season, for a land which is considered
a region of showers, which has made
SPIN SUMMIT 'ilitl autumn, one III al
most unbroken enjoyment. No day in
the year is ever so warm as to feel oppres-
siyc. and no night that sleeping under a
blanket is not comfortable.
THE MINERAL
wealth of the country is only beginning
to be even suspected, not developed. The
: = that has been done is only arousing
:, sc suspicion of the treasures its soil
j: 5 conceal. \ few parties have
zen ont corundum aud mica
kt>- = '"r c"uncc' all SOY king
a score IT, men. making 10 fnss
and as little display If their business as
possible. Gnii has been aimed in the
same Va: ~ capital and br,; little labor
employed. l:ii results Of course M liking
hut a moderate showing. Racvng!y Capt.
K. \. Bowie Of Baltimore. among Tiers.
III" lla.'c extensive purchases ct mineral
land :! lew iltiirS t,,rn ths. town al High
lands, &:r'' .p.ne ct ~" IrS.iiTS -: his pros
pectiug only. he exhibits mia. clear as
crystal which Vii cut sheets 6x10I iuS.:
rubicS o; the tln ''f,igcoE blood" color:
purpiC on 'uf;"utai' AMETHYST: rich wine
coared garEct%: several opaIine quartz
specimens, clear anN OF decided color:
Aqua marine Der !, the topaz, Soapstone
OF foliatcd tale. y ;,iCh is l.nre white. fine
rs !iuur ara ciltiI, y free from grit: and
ashcSt. white lar" aud OF finn fibre also
specimens oi piola"a"r. popularity called
black lead
From the cuIEi',.tjI' nine NOW owned
and Operate ii ty Or. Lucas, some YEARS
ago was taken 4 ruby mass which was
sod to Iaie 'nirr%n for $l2G, 900, am
credihly informed. Mica. aS}uStnx and
nickle are also it'uud on The tract Capt.
Bow has recently pucrh, sad, and on
which WORK Is st'uu IT, he commenced,
opening mines.
:l.@oo 4 nAT.
tnundu." is min,r.l. the value of
which is not generally understood. 1t is
divide! into transparent and Opaque.
Under the first of these heads are placed
the ruby, sapphire and other gems. These
are carefully separated from the opaque
corundum, and washed to separate the
crystals from foreign matter. and sent to
jewelers. to be cut and polished. The
smaller ones are sold to watch manufac-
ulrelS. and for other mechanical purpo-
seS. The Opaque carundum is crushed
and sold by the ton. Its chiet and most
Important use is in the manufacture of
v heels and other parts of machinery re-
qniVing great hardness and durability. |
also for emory and numerous other pur-
poses. The market price for a first class |
article is $500 a ton, and il is believed. |
by knowing ones who have been compil- |
ing statistics based on the quantity of |
corundum shipped by Lucas, that his |
receipts reach a thousand dollars day. |
The price of clear mica RANGES from 80 |
ceatS IA pound to s.. according to size of |
sheet which the mineral will cut. Mica |
lies in large sheets or blocks which ale
easily split into sheets. almost as thin as |
gold leaf, with thin hildcd knife The |
sheets when split to the desired thinness |
are trimmed to pattern with common |
hand shears and packed in boxes for !
market.
1t is only Niah!n the last ten years that
North Carolina has Developed as the |
great corundun deposit Of this country; |
formerly our corunGum came from Tur-
key. The gems OF these deposits are |
finer and richer in color than ANY others
found in this country, and the hardness
~ of the Opaque crystals. rank |
e. -. = >se-Ss'-the world. \ vein of