The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-07-28
GOLD IN GEORGIA.
Wonderful Resources Of Undevei-
oped Mining Regions



Down Among tho Chcro-
kes Indians
Some time ago a prominent geolo-
gist, on being approached on the sub
ject, spoke 81 the possibilities Of the
production Of Georgia gold very high
ly. "The gold In Georgia." said he, "is
In perfectly accessible region, which
makes IL twice as valuable as gold
that might he taken out Of California
or the Black Hills. A mine of enor-
nous richness Is of little value II IL
is IN an impenetrable region. The gold
country Of Georgia Is in perfect nett
work Of railways, and the metal can be
found very near the surface thus mals-
ing 1t easily reached by the miner.
The water courses that pour down the
hills give the best possible power,
labor Is cheap and easily procurable,
and 1t Is necessary to transport the
ore but short distance. In Califor-
nia II was frequently necessary to haul
It fifty or hundred miles The value
Of gold is controlled to great extent
by the cost of It's production, and the
ore in north Georgia, being particular
ly decomposed, Is worked with greah
facility. 1t looks as II nature had con-
spired to put the enormous amount OF
gold in the hills Of Georgia into the
miners hands"
It has been estimated that the gold
belt of Georgia Is about one hundred
miles In breadth. The richest sections
In this belt have been found to be In
the counties Of Cherokee, Lumpkin.
White and Dawson.
A prominent Atlanta capitalist re-
Gently told writer for the Atlanta
Constitution some pretty good storiei
about the mines and seems to have
their whole history at his fingers
ends. "There have been traditions
handed down for generations among
the Cherokee Indians, who once in
habited the northwest portion Of
Georgia" he began, assuming refleo-
tive mood, 'in regard to the vast guam
titles of gold stored away in the old
red hills of northern Georgia. There
was an old chief named Cheynagowah,
who could tell wonderful stories about
the richness of tho Cherokee gold.
The present location of the Cherokee
mills was one of the camps of the Span
ish invaders. who, under the leader
ship of De Soto, invaded Georgia on
their way to the Mississippi, and after
ward on their return to Spain related
wonderful stories about the immense
richness of the ore to be found on the
new continent. The historic Etowah
river runs through this country, and
the old chief used to talk great deal
. | lc1 <1,o 1f <hn %N 1No
found on the banks of the little creek
that emptied into the Etowah. The
little creek was of such Importance
that 1t had several different names,
none Of which were at all suitable.
They called it the Rio Creek Blanket
Creek and the natives would fre-
quently combine the two, and unite on
Rio Blanket These names were all
derived from Spanish source, and
the proper appcllation was doubtless
Rio Blanquetta' The Spnniards
struck trail along the Etowah, and,
keeping the much-named stream in
sight, proceeded through the very
heart Of the gold country and passed
} over the sites of the famous Frank.
lin, Pasco and Strickland mines
| IuerG was I'LL Olu Iuluc lcdT UIcSe
J famous ones which was formerly
! worked to one hundred feet below the
water level and in its time yielded two
hundred dollars per ton. This mine
was situated on the little Blanket
! Creek"
, A well-known mining specialist, ir
talking of late discoveries recently,
said: "It seems to be decidedly In the
/, range of probabilities TINT tons of the
] precious ore can be taken out Of the
existing mines or newly opened veins
] If the proper machinery is used ant
Q the shafts are sunk deep enough. 1t Il
s o question Of international Importance
c where we may replenish the fast-de
creasing supply of the precious meta
, when the mines now being worked
foil. do not think that government
al MD would be misplaced In opening
!, up these valuable lands, but whethc
q or not any action is taken by our gov
). eminent, the wonderful resources o
the Georgia hills cannot long remain
, undeveloped."