The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-18
DUCK HILLS TREASURES.
THE EASTERN DIVISION OF THE
GREAT IRON REGION.
Miles Of Rich Ore Territory Traversed
The Valuable Coal Beds and Fscin.
ties for Mining Them-The New Rail-
road.
flaIl corrsronaence o. rhe Appeal.

stated in the last correspondence,
the first days explorations Of the iron ore
fields which environ the prolific valley in
which this hospitable but business. like
little towns located was ON the western
division. II was hard days ride, on
spry and willing horses, but only a frac-
ton Of the geological section was passed
over. The gentlemen who went with
your correspondent proved themselves TO
be excellent company, but to say that he
was not physically tired at the expiration
Of The ride would he TO withhold fact
which DE canno,ina personal sense over
look. Miles Of rock-cruwned hills were
travcrsed, and from every ledge or up-
turnedsione could besecn the rich veins
and outcroppngs of the abundant wealth
which had lain for ages unutilized by the
unminliul hand OF those for whom il was
in such easy grasp.
IL was not necessary Tor one OF the genial
companions Of the day TO admonish the
writer that he had better retire early and
get good nights rest for the next day,
the gentleman who would accompany him
was regarded as the hardest rider in the
county. The next days route, as arranged
the evening before; should be over the
eastern division, and the companonable
guide was to be Cold. ~ wilkins, one OF
the wealthest and most public spirited
men in the county. lie only owns about
1900 acres OF land lying in the county.
All that il tillabe he has in high state Of
cultivation. Some 1000 or 1900 acres Of
Il lies centrally in the ore region and il
rich in the mineral. Besides his vast landed
possessions he is largely interested in the
mercantile business, both ut this place and
at Winona. the county site.
The eastern division, 80 called for geo.
logical convenience, embraces upward of
thirty square miles ON which the ore has
been tested and found 10 be in quantity
and quality superior 10 the same area 10
any yet discovered in the south. II Is
quito clear and established beyond doubt
that this division is hut the continuation
Of the Appalachian chain which dips after
leaving the Corona coal fields near Bir-
mingham, coming through the prairies OF
east Mississippi, where evidences OF Il are
alone found in the water of the wells, some
OF which have been bored to depth OF
1000 feet, all showing a strong mineral de-
post. Then there is another dip and the
next evidences Of II, which arr most pat
cnt, are about eighteen miles west Of this
place, whore the substmia OF the earth
surface Is filed with the strongest indica-
tons Of iron ore, which increases In
strength and volume toand all through the
iorcs, and rock.coycrcd hills For thirty.
five miles cas, Of this place the iron region
extends. The chemical analysis OF It's
worth, the depth and quantity which the
experts nnicsitatingly pronounced 10 he
inexhaustiblc and incalcuablc. were set
forth IN The last correspondence
ANY one who Is familiar with the gcog-
raphy Of the country by reference 10 n
map can readily see the direct line TO lie
traced from the Appalachian chain through
the Birmingham coal fields, across the
low piliries Of eastern Mississippi up 10
the next tier Of hills, which, are only
reached at n distance OF eighteen miles
wcsl of this place, where ngain the same
though IN largcr quantities, the ore stands
boldly 10 view from every projection and
along the crusiaccous surface. Pursuing
the plainly marked lines imbedded deep
into the earth's surface OF mineral veins to
the east for miles and miles. until the
hills again slope down into the valleys,
another dip II 10 he crnsscd aud the next
10 b. seen Of the mineral onicfoppings
which pcrmeaie the entire chain Is around
in The Hot Strings pgion OF Arkansar
All along over this eastern division, but
more especially wherever there had been
an old settlement, the rock showed heavy
compositions Of iron ore. Wherever there
had been n washout from the banks, aud
nj the very bottom Of IL, the orr was best
10 he seen, confirming the theory, or
rather the actual tests Of the chemists,
that the further down into the surface the
shafts VEN pipk, there Il would be found
las the better abundance OF the no longer
hidden wealth Of this great iron region.
All through this section from the hillsidcs
are springs 81 water, which never cease TO
tricklc their way adown the rocks 20 the
valley below, and the strong iincture Of
iron 10 be tasted IN draught Of II, and
the blighting iron coloring Il gives 10
everything Il touches, shows, beyond all
peradventurc, that. lie source Il deep
down In an Iron bed. The health giving
qualities OF, theseFprinRs, have been tested
by tie best medical authority, aud their
virtue prpnounccsa-'De unqucsiionable.
On INC hillrides Ia this ~ well ~ In the
western division, h 10 be found fire brick
clay Ia abundance. 30 Tar ~ regards the
existence OF incxhausliblc iron ono in these
bills, that II a fact settled beyond all pen.
adventure, but u other natural facilities
arr not equally asconvcnicnt 90 hand the
mining Of the We and handling IL for trans
poration necessarily enhances lis value
aud the work OF utilization Il placed at a
great disadvantage. Are thcsc natural ia
cilitics and necessary ingredients which
enter into the mining aud manufacture 81
iron at command? We will show that
they are, and 10 an extent that surprises
and gives this iron region decided adj
Vantage over any other Of like character In
the south.
Coal !. an important inctor, not only In
ih own intrinsic value. but II enters large.
" into The cost Of developing an iron mine.
Eight miles east Of Duck ilill there lies
coal bed which We undertake 90 say,
upon development, viii show ~ rich q
yield and "a Tine 4 specimen oi coal a.
any yet discovered IN the south. Thi,
coal bed has been explored distance Of
hitecn miles, and mngcs from eight to ten
miles In width. Shafts have been sunk d
distance Of forty feet Expert analytical
chemists have examined this coal, and
pronounce " good. The richest beds seen
10 lie ON What Is known rs Codcy's farm,
large tract OF land almost centrally 10.
Gated IN The region. There the coal Il
found In hyen Of four and half 10 five
feet thick. The expert who examined II
was not only Of the opinion that II was OF
a fine grade, hut that the entire surface
Whereabouts was composed OF a Htronp
tubs,raia Of coal. Following up this
theory, and IN confirmation 81 n, thC
tame expert thcol the coal vein 20 IN,
beds Of the lcreeks which run on eithei