The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1895-11-23

one mine alone, if it was on the railroa,
where shipping facilities could be had. |
is used for making glassware, and has
good commercial value
The Cloudland mines. owned and oper
ated by Col Rorison Of Philadel phia, ar
very productive, and are doing we'll a
present Col ROrison is great character
and used TO have regular geological ':den
in Bakersville He was the owner Of thu
largest quartz crystal in the world. Il
was found by man ploughing field foul
miles from Bakersville on the farm of K. j.
! Young. in what is known as Young Cove.
| 1t is claimed to be thelargest fawless crys
tai in the world and weighs over zoo
pounds. 1t is as clear as a drop Of water,
and was presented by Col. Rorison to the
Smithsonian Institute at Washington
city. where it still remains. About the
time the Colonel had it on exhibition here
the mountains were full of prospectors and
tourists and they asked 50 many questions
about it that he was forced to put placalo
ON it. This card told where it was found,
gave its weight, and its value. was EN-
phatically and sententiousl Y written,
Damned if know
For the last few years men have come
in here, and getting control of the small
corn mills. have founded the industry OF
ground mica. By this means all the
bits and scraps too small to be Of any value
as sheet mica are ground to flour IN the
mills. and bring good price. The grow
ing use Of electricity has greatly stimulated
this industry. as mica. being perfect non
conductor. can be used in the various IN
situations.
In addition to the mica obtained from
the rocks. some rare specimens "t precious
stones are also found. These are not very
abundant. but are found in considerable
variety. Some valuable specimens OF ru-
bies garnets. topaz, emeralds, tourmallhe,
and other gems are found. but by most OF
the rough miners, they are regarded as OF
no value. Judge & ID. Ray OF Barns
vile. twenty five miles from here. has been
able to turn the carelessness of the miners
to very GOOD account. He Is native
of this section. but by his own efforts OBJ
tanned Il GOOD education He is we'll Versed
in geology and AN expert mimeral"@lSt. lie
operates Il mica mine and saves ali the
Gems he comes across. and has 4 most
beautiful and valuable collection. which he
keeps securely in small metal cases. almost
Fihn-n h1yn npurIE .II
been sent to New York and been cut. and
some are very brilliant. This collection
looked as lift would be abundant riches
for any man. but the Judge keeps adding
to it year after year.
These people in the mountains are lie
publicanS. but are for free trade on Mica
because they have such IL fine quality tha!
it can be sold at good price i'll amy market
in the world. Politics, however causes
fewer eruptions than mountain dew.
Everybody seems to attend strictly to his
own business. and will discountenance an
effort ON the part of Il stranger to ''pry
into their affairs One reason why the
pcople here have 50 little trouble is. per
haps due to the fact that they have few
public and ambitious men. Lawyers are
scarce. and it is claimed that Attorney
Moore at huntsville Is the only lawyer III
Yanccv county. That town has something
over 90 population, and contains several
rich men. BakerSyille has about 800 pop
uIatiom Added to these two towns lSthe
large town of Franklin with population
nf 700. The inhabitants of these towns
control the mica business. and are well
posted ON It's market
North Carolina has Il mica output of
100. 900 pounds year. which Is nearly
four times as great AZ that of New Ilamp-
shire. South Dakota produces $4,000
pounds and New Mexic" Loco. The
product Of North Carolina is reported by
the 'nited States Geological Survey t" be
of the very best quality. and demands the
highest price in the market
Its uses are varied and i'll addition 10
those already mentioned. mica Is used IN
the manufacture OF Spectacles for stone
cutters. 1t is made into retlectors. sea
compaS>e> for mlaying for wood instead of
enamel. for roofing purposes. and IN SeV-
eral patent processes when it Is used as Il
tre-proof covering for rubber tar. canvas,
and other material The ground mica Is
used for lubricatorS and insulating pur-
poses and in the manufacture of paints,
wall paper. &c.