The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-24
N0RTHSTATE MICA MINES
a VERY TALUABLE INDUSTRY or
THE TAR-HEEL STATE.
How the Substance 10 Secured and Pro-
pared for tho Markct-Fortunes
Made without Capital.


quiet little town in western North Caro-
lima. forty miles from any railroad. Is the
centre Of one of the most important min
ing interests IN the country. The mica
business IS so commonplace. ana affords
such "a small show Of machinery, that IL
~ not unr suai for a stranger to be si<ep-
teal when told OF its actual magnitude.
II looks Insignificant anu yet 1t Is one
OF the greatest Industries IA the State.
and has yielded immense fortunes 90
those engaged in running II. IL requires
no capital TO set one aoing on tho road
TO fortune; all that is needed Is TO own
or set control of a deposit. IT can be
mined cheaply. "a the labor Of this region
n low. The dealers who handle mica oc-
crpy lttlo shdcks, which are amply fCrn-
lshed with a crude work bench and pair
OF shears This Is all that IS needed;
million dollars would not secure better
outht for tho work.
Mica Is a mineral but OF the many
millions who spend hours looking at the
glowing fire through the little windows
I'm the stove. few know where that thin,
transparent substance, whose durability
mocks tho fusion Of tho most intense
heat. came from.
The wild and apparently worthless
mountain region OF which Bakersville IS
inc metropolis, Is tho ililn tDuIff OF sup
ply for the United States This town
looks as II might have been built OF mica,
or else stands on the site OF a ruined city
that was erected Of IL. IL can be seen
scattered all about the city and suburbs.
The river Is fun of the shining particles,
and the sffeets and alleys are strewn
with heaps OF the refuse It's formation
s. like that Of stone, and here and there
about tho mountains IL can be seen crop
sIf md rot Afftf lf a.. ho
SUM- makes a most brilliant effect. 1t
can be found ia the formation of almost
any rock anf OF more or less size. mostly
IN fuccaiL quartz. and feldspar. The
puror veins arc found between walls OF
slrfe. IL is taken from the mines 10 the
F, ltlo shops spoken OF by means OF various
conveyancos. from tho shoulder OF ma
tive TO the cart drawn by a bridled and
harnessed steer. Here IL is split into thin
sheets. trimmed into regular shapes. and
IS prepared for the market
a stranger is always welcome 10 the
bed and board Of these mountalneers I'M
less one happens 70 drift into a moon
shine" locality; then he is apt to get cold
comfort or rot lead. Many a man whose
offence was no greater than an innocent
prospecting for mica has been led out
OF these gorgcs. given two or three me
nacing Kicks. and made 10 understand that
ne had better not be found again in that
region. But even the moonshiner viii
give you his best bed and siecp on the
floor himself II he is satisfied that your
mission does not concern him or his
The mica miner or owner OF mines has
nothing TO fear, and is therefore free TO
bestow his hospitality on all, and none
who have the appearance OF gentlemen
are over turned from his rude doorstep
II a stranger manifest any interest in
the property Of a native he wlh take
great pains to show him anything and
in giving him every possible assistance in
obtaining the desired I'm formation.
a visit 10 the works on the mountain
side was taken. II required no shafting
90 reach the veins. as the mines were cx-
posed and I'm good working shape. which
is the condition Of most Of the working
mines i'm this section ON reaching
mines men were set TO work drilling holes
with "a steel rod and hammer Ii took
about half day 20 drill two or three
holes. which were promptly filled with
dynamite and exploded. The rock was
shattered 10 pieces, but the mica was
preserved from the shock and came out
in large chunks. rs 10 has wonderful
tenacity unless in the direction II splits
From DO tO 200 pounds OF mica s obtained
from a shot of this kind. After IL is
split and trimmed down il Will lose about
half ON this occasion eighty pounds
were procured at cost of less than g.
II brings on am average 81 pound.
The price varies with the size and color
Of the sheets The Bakersville product
IS known 20 trade as rum mica. 2X4
sheet. good clear quality. is worth about
90 cents a pound while l0Nl2 will bring
81 10 g. Sheets OF these Dimensions are
extra size, as the average is only about
Ike Rare sheets 2ixlS inches have been
found. Occasionally a mine 6 found
where the mica Is too much scattered in
the bed rock 10 make its operation pro-
itabie. hence there S. "a possibility of
man sinking n little money without the
expected tcnfold return but generally the
expert mountaincer can tel I'm a few
shots whether there is any use Of fOoling
with a bed or not IL is not an uncom-
ilon thing for couple of natives 80
leave I'm the morning with box 81 dyna-
mite and return at night with so worth
of Mica Blocks worth 500 have been
found after a shot
In view of these facts II is not suroris-
Ing TO find a man. an ordinary mountain
bed man. who has amlesCd a fortune by
simply having the horse sense 10 push a
good thing along. Occasionally a shaft
mine Is found which Is operated by a
company and pays = good dividend, nut
the most individual money has been made
ont of mica blasted of bald peaks ana
cliffs on private land. Most of the shaft
mines have shut down of late. hut some
of them. such as the Clariss y and Spread
Eagle. were regular bonanzas for a while.
The old Clarissa. Spread Eagle. and
Goose Neck shafts were all sunk in the
same vein and mining was done as deep
as 800 feet with considerable machinery
These mines were not far apart. The old
Clarissa Is the best mica mine in the
world. but by reason OF litigation IL is
not now in operation IL was worked
last by a CHATTANOOGA firm that leased
II out, and IN three months cleared $40
O0p This work was done on bench m
the mine about half the way down, and
so much rock was blasted of that the
old shaft was actually filled mp. 1t IS os-
tlmated that there IS a million dollars
worth Of feldspar I'm this one mine alone.
if IL was ON the railroad where shipping
facilities could be had. IL is used for
making glassware. and has a good COM
mcrcial value.
The Cioudland mines. owned and OPP
Grated by Col. Rorison. OF Philadelphia.
are very productive. and are doing well
az present Col. Rorison Is a great char
setter, and used 20 have a regular geologi-
cal "den" in Bakersvillc. He was the own
er OF the largest quartz crystal in the
world
II was found nv "A man r1oprbg,e, 81