The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-10-03
A NATIONAL FOUNDRY
A SPECIAL REPORT OF STATE
GEOLOGIsT EMMONs TO
GOV. BRAGG.
IRON IN THE DEEP RIVER VALLEY

Gov. Bragg Believed that in No Section
of the Country Were there to be
United as Many of the Essentials OF
Such an Establishment as I'm the VAL
ley of Deep River-He Purposed
Laying the Report Before Congress
When the Question Came UP.
Mr.. Pulaski Cowper has shown us the
report of Dr. E. Emmons, State Geolo-
gist, in his own hand writing, written in
1868, which he found among some old
papers day or two ago, and which we
print in full below. 1t has never been
published, and will be interesting read
ing.
The following letter addressed to Dr.
Emmons from Governor Bragg, then
Governor of the State, is copied from
Gov. Bragg's letter book in the Execu-
tive office. We do not know that Gov
ernor Bragg carried out his intention of
laying the report before Congress. 1t
will be seen that DR.. Emmons thought
well of the Deep River iron ore. The
letter, or report of date December 29th,
1857, cannot be found, and Governor
Bragg says was not recorded in his let
textbook This report may have been
laid before Congress. We suppose not,
as if so the additional one of December
q, 1853, would also have been.
On the back of this report is the fol-
lowing in DR.. Emmons' hond- writing !:
e. EMMoNs,
"Geologist to the State N. c."
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
December 26, 1857.
SIR:-As the subject of the establish
ment of National Foundry will in all
probability be brought during the pres
emit session before the Congress of the
United States, and believing that there
is no section of the country in which
there are to be found united as many of
the essentials for such an establishment
as in the valley of the Deep River, in
this State, | have to request that you
will, at your earliest convenience, report
to me your opinion upon that subject,
setting forth fully, if you concur with
me, the reasons for your opinion, and
the facts upon which it is based.
Although you have already very thor
oughly examined that section of the
State in making your Geological survey,
vet, if you deem it advisable before
making so special report as | desire,
<box ,a+s mil
please do so.
This, however, you will consider as
addressed to your discretion. | need
hardly say that it is my purpose to cause
your report to be laid before the Congress
of the United States.
i have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
THOMAS BRAGG.
DIR. e. Emmons, State Geologist.
To the above letter an answer was re-
ceived on the goth of December, but
which, from its length, it is unnecessary
to copy here. T. B.
The report of DR.. Emmons is as fo.-
lows
RALEIGH, March 81, 1868.
To His Excellency Governor Bragg.
SIR:-Since your instructions bearing
date of December 20, 81, relative to the
communication of facts having relation
to the establishment of a national foun
dry somewhere in the valley OF Deep
River, / have from time to time pursued
my enquiries and now have the honor
of communicating to your Excellency
the additional information which | have
acquired. This additional information,
however, does not relate so much to the
discovery of new locations of the metal,
as to their composition; it amounts,
therefore, simply to the determination OF
the chemical constitution of the ores al
ready known to exist in this valley with
one exception, that of existence of fine
bed of iron ore near Buckhorn Falls, and
about six miles below Lockvitle. The ex-
istence of ore at this place was known at
the time my report was made, but |
wished to scertain one or two facts re-
specting it before it was placed among
the reliable resources of this valley. The
Buckhorn ore lis massive peroxide of
iron. It's composition is similar to the
well known specular ore, but it is OF dull
red brown color and without crystaliza-
ton and is extremely heavy. Its streak
is bright red and it is rather tough, but
is not difficult to break. 1t would strike
one at once On making but a slight ex-
animation of it, that it is very rich ore.
The vein is eight feet wide and is con
tanned in the Saeonic states, in which
respect, as well as in its composition, ii
closely resembles the ores of Lake Su'
perior.
On submitting this ore to analysis,
found it composed of
Peroxide of iron, $500
Slick, Arc
90 80
According to the tables it contains
66. 156 of metallic iron.