The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-17


The most important condition neces-
sary for the development of the Noftn
Carolina mines at the present time is
the esta blishment at one or more points
in the State of such metallurgical plants
as will successfully and cheaply treat
the low grade sulphuret ores, which
may be said to range in value from
So to SO per ton. As one of the means
of securing the establishment of such
nlants. the Geological Survey is ensieav-
oring to demonstrate the fact that we
have at accessible points sufficient guam
titles of those low grade ores for the
operation of smelters or other metal
lnrgicaI plants. so that they can feel
assured of securing sufficient quantities
Of ore for continuous work
One of the difficulties met with in
connection with the supply of such ores
is the fact tht many of the workable
mines are located at considerable dis
tance from the railroad, and the coun-
try roads connecting them with the rail
roads are such miserably poor condi-
ton that hauling with wagons is far roo
expensive. The report on the gold min
ing and metallurgical methods is in the
hands of the printers and will be ready
MINOR INVESTIGATIONS.
On this subject / may report that
during tine past two years the State
Geologist has devoted a considerable
portion OF his time to the investigation
Of mica deposits in Western North
Carolina, and incidentally me has exam
ined the mica eposits in a number OF
other States with a view OF determining
there the possibilities of competition with
the North Carolina mica, and with a
view also of determining the most econo-
mic methods for mica mining which
might be introduced in the North Caro-
lima work. This State continues to pro-
duce the largest portion and the best
quality Of mica mined in the United
States. A report On the mica deposits
and mining methods will be ready foI
publication at sometime during 1898.
The corundum deposits have been
investigated at intervals during the pas,
two years by Mr.. Joseph III. Pratt, the
Mineralogist Of the Survey, and in the
laboratory work Mr.. Pratt has been as
sisted by MT. ]. v. Lewis, who was
formerly connected with this survey, but
is now Professor OF Geology in the
Clemson Agricultural College, South
Carolina North Carolina still produces
much The larger part OF THE corundum
mined in the United States; the prin-
cipal mines being located in jackson and
Macon counties. Lesser deposits of
corundum are known to occur in several
Of our mountain counties, and east OF
the Blue Ridge, especially in Iredell
county. 1t is expected that the final
report on the corundum deposits will be
prepared by Messrs. Pratt and Lewis at
sometime during the year 1898.
Our miscellaneous mineral deposits in
the western counties have been investi-
gated during the past year by Mr..
Joseph III. Pratt, and these investiga-
tons it is proposed to continue during
1898. Beginning in the mountain coun-
ties, Mr.. Pratt will gradually work east
ward so that in the future he will be
able to prepare a report on the miscel
laneous mineral deposits of the entire
State.
MINERAL WATERS.
From time to time the survey has
received numerous inquiries concerning
THE mineral springs of the State, and
numerous applications from parties in
different counties of the State that ex-
aminations be made of supposed mineral
waters ON their lands. In endeayoring
to answer both these demands as nearly
as possible inquiries were instituted in
all of the counties of the State con-
corning the existence of mineral springs
which had anything more than local
reputation and which appeared to
possess really mineral constituents
which could be claimed TO have medi-
cinal properties. As a result of these
inquiries during the past two
years some eighty different mineral
springs, occurring in about one-half of
the counties of the State, have been
examined as to the supply and temper
allure of the water, and samples, con-
sisting Of from three to ten gallons, in
different cases, of the water from these
springs have been collected and ana
lyzed by Prof. II. p. Venable, of the
State University, with a view of deter
mining their mineral constituents and
properties. This work has been nearly
completed and the report viii be ready
for publication at sometime during 1898
DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES.
Another subject, the investigation of
which was begun same two years ago,
is that of the general drinking water
supplies in the different portions of the
State In the western counties the
supply Of most excellent drinking water
is ample for all purposes and the waters
are as pure as could be desired, except
where they are contaminated from the
careless location of pig pens, barn yards,
privies, etc. In the middle counties, the
problem of suitable water supplies, es-
pecially for the larger towns, is one
which presents difficulties in many
cases. The streams are more or less
sluggish, generally muddy, and often
located at a distance from the town
so great as to make the pumping of
water to the town too expensive. Con.
sequently we have received numerous
inquiries from these town authorities
as to the feasibility of water supplies
from deep wells. In the past this has
been generally regarded as an imprac-
ticable undertaking on account of the
numerous failures to obtain waters
from such wells in regions where the