The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-15
A DAY AT BLACKS.
Lively Times Brewing Among the Minerals
of Cherokee.

life and activity, the like Of which this
section has never before experienced,
are now transpiring in and around
Blacks. The whole population is in
high spirits over the prospective revival
of the iron industry, and while there is
no undue excitement, the atmosphere
of an infant Birmingham is undoubted-
ly thickening.
The Magnetic Iron and Steel Orc
Mining Company, composed Of Atlanta,
Birmingham and New York capitalists,
and few gentlemen of this place, have
called out the old miners and colliers to
again uncover the rich lodes Of mag
netic iron ore in which this section
abounds. The company has leased
and purchased about ten thousand
acres Of what are thought to be the most
valuable iron lands in York, Spartan
burg and Union counties, including:
nearly all Of the property once owned
by the Kings Mountain Iron company
in Cherokee township. Forces of pros
pectors have been at work on the pro-
perty for the past three or four week,
with a view of locating the most valu-
able lodes and ascertaining their extent
Several excavations that were made by
different companies operating here be-
fore the war, have been uncovered, and
a large force is now engaged in cutting
through a rich lode recently discovered
by Col. John L. Black, and which is
likely to prove the most extensive and
valuable that has ever been developed
in this section. This lode is situated
about four miles southwest Of Blacks
within quarter of Il mile from Broad
river, and not more than twice that dis
tance from the Air Line railroad. Two
or three analyses of the ore have recent
ly been made by DR.. Pratt, Of Atlanta,
and although your correspondent is un-
able to learn the result, the fact that
the mining operations continue with
UNDATED energy goes to show that it is
not satisfactory. The immC diate OBJ
ject of the present Investigations, how
ever, being to determine whether or
not the ores will justify shipment to
Pittsburg, and other furnaces, it is
necessary to proceed with great eau
ton, 1t is hoped aud believed that the
magnetic iron ores of Blacks will COM
pare favorably with any in the world.
Should this belief prove to be correct,
your correspondent is informed that
the output of the mines can be more
profitably shipped to different furnaces
already in operation than they can be
reduced on the spot on account of the
difficulty in securing the necessary
coal. However, when the Three Cs
fultills its promise in furnishing coal at
from $3.50 10 $500 per ton, the establish
ment of furnaces at this place is assured
Though it is barely possible that these
ores many fail to come up to the exact
ing expectations of their owners as to
their per cent, Of metallic iron, their
high grade has long since been estah-
lished. BY careful test made in the
Washington navy yard, in l>r4, the
product of these ores proved to be su-
perior to the finest then known.
Col. John L. Black, originator Of the
present enterprise and managing direc-
tor of the company, and Prof. \. p.
Pratt, a mining engineer of wide en-
perience, are in charge Of the prospect
ing forces.
Several different varieties of iron ore
are found in this. vicinity. 1t is the
magnetic oxides, steel ores, however,
that are now receiving the most attcn-
ton. Whittaker's mountain is known
to contain vast beds of red hematite of
great value; and we are informed that a
company Of Richmond capitalists are
prospecting among the lodes of specu-
lar oxides, about seven miles to the
southeast of the operations of the
Magnetic Iron and Steel Ore Mining
Company.
Since the above companies com.
menced making their Investigations,
prospectors have brought to light quite
Il number Of other Ivaluable minerals,
the existence Of some Of Which had not
been suspected in this locality. Among
these are: Manganese, asbestos, sui.
phate baryta, silver, gold, tin, plumb,
ago, corundun, fire-proof clay, lime
rock and yellow and red ochre, all OF
which are found in belt said to be
not more than seven miles wide.
An investigation ofthe story that has
been going the rounds of the paper:
about the discovery of mammoth
cave with subterranean river and eve
less fishes, in this neighborhood, shows
the facts to be as follows: About two
years ago Mr.. NJ. &. Byers dug a wei
in his yard on Whitakcr's mountain
After going down some fifty feet, {
hard white rock was encountered. Ii
blasting through this, the we'll sudden
| iy opened into a hollow space and 6
rush of air was heard either going in ol
coming out Of the aperture. The dig
gers left the spot in alarm, and the
noise continued for about twelve hours
Next day, so the story goes, Mr. Dyer:
attempted to sound the depth of the
cavern with long pole, but was unable
to touch either sides or bottom. He
dropped the pole into theaperture, anG
after an interval of about Il second
hear. it strike the bottom. The vel
was then covered up, and no furthel
explorations have been attempted
r,i -f 1