The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-12-17

From the Raleigh Pre$s-Visitor we
take the following. The GOLD LEAF
has frequently mentioned this matter
but with no desire to so highly color 1t
as TO make it appear sensational. Many
Of the facts mentioned by our cOntem
porary were known to US but as whole
we fear the picture is little over
drawn. However, here is the story as
the Press Visitor gives it:
There is n strip OF rugged, billy land
ten miles long and from five to three
miles in width. situated between two
streams and intersected by numerous
smaller ones in Granville and Vance
counties which bids fair to become the
most valuable possession in the world.
For generations the land has been
plOved and titled as other red hills in
North Carolina, but little did the honest
toiiers know that they were turning over
quartz-quartz richly imbedded with the
yellow metal. The people of the two
counties CD which the land is situated
IRE in Il ferment. They think and talk
of gold by day and by night. The PEG
ple who settled California and Cripple
Creek were never more enthusiastic than
those Granville and Vance farmers who
have quit the quiet and industrious Oc-
cupatiOns which have always engaged
their attention. The excitement is truly
intense among the people.
Six months ago gold was discovered
in the hills of the finest tobacco country
III the world. This same territory il
known as the golden tobacco belt and
became famous throughout the country.
The bare fact WAS published that quartz
supposed to contain gold had been dis
covered Since then IL very expensive
mining plant has been put in at one
mine and strips OF land have sold for
fifty, forty, thirty and twenty thousand
dollars each.
The mines are only II miles from Raj
cigh, but still nothing was known here OF
the gold fever, nor had it been learned
that the land was selling for such fabu-
lous prices, or that the mines were being
worked The miners, most OF whom
came from the North, spoke disparIngly
of the mines. They tried to discourage
the farmers who owned the land, but
still they were trying to purchase all the
while This policy has been kept up by
the new arrivals, but the farmers held
their land, though IL few were induced to
sell. In this way the sudden wealth of
papers
But new arrivals are coming in every
few days, and the possibilities of the
country are extending out everywhere.
An Engishman by the name of Horne
has taken an option on n farm of a few
acres belonging to Henry Hamme, for
$4,000. The Englishman has put in q
complete mining plant and if the mines
turn out we'll lIamme will receive the
amount of the option next March. The
machinery has only been in opera ton
two weeks but the production of the
mine is truly marvellous. The yield is
said to be 81 100 to the ton.
An experienced miner from Rowan ar
rived at the hills last week. He is the
only miner who has been inclined to tell
the people of the reality of their sudden
fortune. The Rowan man says that the
mines are the richest he has ever seen.
The mining he SAYS, will be very mex
pensive, for the fact that the strata of
quartz is found on the surface and re-
quires little digging.
Last week an old farmer, who said
that he was tired of waiting, gave an OPP
ton on his tract of land for $40, 900.
Before the day was gone, Horne, the
Englishman, raised this $4,000, but the
old man had already signed the option.
The man who secured the option has
since disposed of it for $4,000.
4 sixty acre tract brought $40, 900 on
an option short while ago. The OPP
ton was secured by one Harris, who is
representing Senator Stewart and other
well known miners.
The great area OF land on which the
quartz is found is owned in 200 and 100
acre tracts by native farmers. The sup
ply OF quartz is said to be inexhaustible
Mr.. James Wright. u young man,
whose father owns Il farm in the gold
hills, was here today and gave the facts
to the Press Visitor. lie brought splen-
did specimens of gold ore with him, sam.
pies of which have been sent to the labo.
ratories ut the University and Wake
Forest Mr.. Wright says the ore is seat
tered about the surface of the ground al
over the farm.
Mr.. Wright has received several hand
some offers for his farm.