The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-01-26
SOUTH A G0LCONDA.
sTS MOUNTAINS TEEN WITH PRE-
CIOUs STONES AND METALS.
Future Mining Operations VIII lie
In the South Instead of the West
told, Silver, Diamonds anu
Other Gems Abound.


New York after IN extended
trip through the South in the interest
of his organization, aud, in spe aking
OF the mineral resources in the South.
ern States, said:
II have passed through nearly all
tho mining sections of tho South to
examine the mineral products in the
interest of n number OF capitalists,
md, alter careful survey OF the field,
1t is my honest belief that the future
mining operations OF this country Will
be IN the South instead of tho West.
L found the Appalachian range partic
ularly rich in nil the auriferous mud
nrgentiferous ores, not only in Vir.
GINA, bat throughout the whole length
into Alabama. In Georgia the rich
deposits are well known, aad compau-
les are now rapidly organizing to mine
the various ores. In South Carolina
the deposits of monazite Crystals OF q
rare metal known as cerium, used ONLY
In chemistry, and worth SlG0 an
ounce) have been found so valuable
that big Industry has been built M
in the Piedmont section. IL is esti
mated that this industry Is now valued
NJ several millions OF dollars, although
1T IS only few years Cd. When
visited tho fields everybody was LOOK
ing for monazite, nod the business
will bring in ut least 100000 to the
Piedmont section this year. Owners
OF apparently worthless land have let
1T ont to contractors at the rate of
5000 an acre, and these miners make
big profits besides. A few wears ngo
the owners would have been glad to
have received 50 or 81 per acre for
this land.
There is more gold in the South
than any man ever imagined. Traces
OF 1t crop up in the most unexpected
places, and there must be some valua-
be veins hid away il the mountains
that will some day be discovered and
stnrtle the country. Cripple Creek
will be nothing to the Southern gold
fields after they have once been 10
Gated. 1t seems strange, but the fact
is nevertheless true, that the Sonth
has never been thoroughly examined
for mineral and gold PRODUCTS. Before
the war everybody went West to end
gold, aud the South was given over to
cotton, tobacco, sugar and rice. After
the war closed nothing was done for IL
long timo to develop the industries of
tie Southern States, but now we ME
beginning TO realize that great, un.
developed field spreads out before us.
There are scores of gold prospectors
travelling through the mountains OF
the South, looking for treasures that
are sure 10 come to light some day.
People speak about the future supply
of gold being found in Africll Why,
moro gold is buried In the Appa-
iachian range of IL ountains than they
will find IN Africa in the next 100
yoarF. But the mountains are so vast,
and the region so little known, that it
will take time to locate the best mines
even after the prospectors have been
attracted TO the place.
Another thing about the Southern
mines IS that many of the most pro-
cions stones have been picked mp Mt
various points, and where such Jewels
are spread ou5 on tie surface yoa can
rest assured that there are others fur
ther down under the ground. For in.
stance Mt Coruudum Hill some bcauti.
full sapphires have hcen found. Here
arc some that I secured from n miner.
They were not mining for sapphires,
but happened TO pick them up while
mining for ores. Over 100 sapphres
have been found ct this place, and
most OF them are valued atS50 to 500
and upward. But sapphires nro not
by my means the only precious stones
found in the South Genuine dia.
monds have been found in North Caro-
lima, and one miner secured precious
gem that sold for 5000. IN South
Carolina ana Georgia fine specimens
OF emeralds have also been taken from
the orc mines. In fact, We have two
mines that have recently been started
Tor the purpose of digging ont the
emerRlds, for both the aqua. marine
and the yellow beryl nre found.
Ia the last five years nearly $50, 900
worth OF cmerald5 have been minod.
and they arc among the best ever dis.
covered in America. Qarnetg, OF
course, are scattered all over these
rich auriierous fields, and We pick NJ,
such largo genuine specimens that
they prove very valuable. Ordinary
small gurnets are not worth much, but
whom yOu can mine them rs big rs
/ BIRDS egg you uro sure to find r.
profitable market for them. In Vir.
ginin garnets OF wonderful SIZE and
brillian5y have been taken, and the
coal fields of Alabama and Tennessee
also abound in these products Small
specimens OF diamonds have been
found in Georgia, end tnero are IN
doubtedly whole districts that could
be proGtably mined for these precious
stones.
"Tho fact is that we have country
capable of producing all the precious
stones known TO science, but 40 much
attention has been given 90 the min
ing Of iron, coal, oil, silver aud gold
that tho moro precious products of
the rocks have boon neglected. re
member distinctly IN California. when
the gold fever was at its HEIGHT. miners
threwu up several fairly good specimens
Of diamonds, hut In their craze for the
yellow metal they paid no attention TO
tho precious stones. They knew oil
about gold mining, but nothing about
diamonds Now that the gold fields
have been exhausted, guess many of
them wish they had stopped aud poe.
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