The Charlotte Democrat., 1889-11-01
Onr Mineral Wealth.

The mineral deposits of North Carolina
are destined to become at some time an
important factor in her industrial devel-
opment, and in her wealth-producing
properties. Heretofore they have not
been appreciated at their full value tor
the very good reason that their full value
or full extent were not known, and are
not known now.
Previous to the war agriculture was the
chief industry of our people, aud as they
lived pretty we'll by that, and we're, as a
rule, comfortable and independent, there
was no necessity and but little stimulus
to strike out in new paths or venture into
speculative enterprises. They were sat-
isfied with little, were not inspired with
the desire TO chase and catch the almigh y
dollar, but were content with the income
which the products of their fields brought
them, and were apparently hsppiest when
sharing the fruits of their labor with
friends ever welcome under their hospi
table roofs,or with the wayfaring stranger
to whom the gates always stood ajar
The desire to accumulate for the sake oi
being rich was never a characteristic OF
North Carolinians of the olden time, but
simply to have enough of this worlds
goods to make home-lite pleasant. and tc
greet with a generous hospitality the
friend or the stranger who entered that
home. 1t is doubtful whether In all these
States there were a happier or more
contented people than the people oi
North Carolina under the old order oi
things, q generation ago. They have
changed somewhat with the new order oi
things, but they still retain the character
istics which so pre-eminently distinguish
ed them then.
1t was known then, as it is now, that
under the surface of the hills and in the
valleys were stored indefinite quantities
of the various minerals, but little money
value was attached to these lands because
of the minerals buried beneath. The
lands were valued simply as farming
lands, for then the spirit of speculative
enterprise or industrial development had
not been awakened. Occasionally an
iron vein was tapped, the ores smelted
and the iron used to supply local de-
mands, but this was in small and insig-
nifcant way. Previous to the war, and
since, Northern capitalists invested in
and operated some of the gold and copper
mines, which extended over a consider
able area. During the war the Confed
crate government opened up one or two
iron mines to furnish metal for gun max
ing, but as field for industry it might
be said that the mineral belt of this State
has been scarcely touched, and it NIGH
be said, too, that we have no just concep
tion of the extent of the riches in this
field for it has never been scientifically
and thoroughly explored to ascertain
either it's extent or it's possessions. W.
know in a general way through the sur
veys made and partial explorations the
radius of the mineral area, but of its full
resources, or of the special qualities o
these resources we have but a vague idea
because systematic tests have never beer
made. We know that from the centre tc
the mountains OF the West, iron extends
and is found in many localities in greater
or less abundance, some of it equal to The
best ore found in the world; we know
that copper is found in a number of coun
ties, and gold in paying quantities, some
of the mines being proftably worked now
throughout a considerable area. W.
know that in the Dan River country, and
also in the Deep River country, there are
coal deposits, the full extent of which il
: not known, but from the partial explora
tions that have been made enough ha.
been learned to justify the assertion thai
they are practically inexhaustible, ani
that the coal is of a very superior quality
This much we know, and with this ",
must be content until the Legislature o
North Carolina takes level.headed sen
sible view of this question, and provides
for thorough and systematic geological
survey to test Our mineral properties ant
encourage capitalists to invest thei
money in them. - WSlnaS,aoton Star.