The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-17
A LAND RICH
IN RESOURCES
North Carolina the Garden
Spot of the Earth.
FAIREST OF HER SISTERS
GREAT WEALTH IN RIVER AND
PLAIN AND MOUNTAIN.
RESOURCES PRACTICALLY INExHAUS TIBLt
All These Facts Were Brought Out Yesterday
by State GeoIogist Holmes Annual Re-
port Of Work of Survey During
the Past Year.

port Of Work of Survey During
the Past Year.
The State Geological Board met in the
Governors office yesterday morning at
10 o'clock. The Board consists of the
Governor, as chairman, Mr.. Charles Nc
: Nance, of Biltmore and Maj. j. Tur-
1er Morehead, of Leaksville. All OF
them were present.
This was the regular annual meeting
IT the Board to hear the report of the
Htate Geologist, Prof. Holmes, and take
action upon the recommendations con-
tamed therein.
The report proved to be q very valu-
able and interesting document-full Of
formation in regard ito the States re-
sources and development-and for that
reason is given below in full. 1t was
7 accompanied by itemized and tabulated
statements of expenditures Of the Sur
vey during the past year.
All tie recommendations made in the
seport were adopted by the Board, and
6he work Of surveying the Yadkin river
Fails was ordered completed. Prof.
Holmes report was as follows:
REPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST
The work Of the Geological Survey
during the past year has been continued
along the same general lines as were
pursued during the previous year, but
In the course OF the work some new
subjects have been taken UP, as will
appear III the statement submitted be-
low. The work has been mainly in
connection with the investigation of the
following subjects:
1. The clay deposits and industries.
2. Gold deposits and mining methods
3. The minor mineral resources, such
rs mica, corundum, tale, marble and
miscellaneous mineral deposits.
T. Water powers.
8. Forests and forest resources.
6. General and economic geology Of
the western counties.
Z Topographic maps.
8. Mineral waters.
8. Drinking wafer supplies, and espe-
sially altesian water supplies for the
eastern counties.
10. Irrigation and drainage of swamp
lands.
Ii. A magnetic survey Of the State.
CLAY DEPOSITS AND INDUSTRIES
The investigation of this subject was
gist and DIR. Heinrich Ries. of the
Columbia School of Mines, New York,
IN 1896, and the work for the prelimi-
nary report, which is now in the hands
of the printers, was finished in July
OF the present year. Clay deposits were
examined in some seventy different locali-
ties, and the clay industries, including
che manufacture of brick of different
grades, the manufacture Of drain tile
and sewer pipe, terra Gotta fues and
general pottery ware examined in
all regions of the State where they
were known to exist, The analysis Of
these Claws have been made in the
chemical laboratory of the State Uni-
versity by DIR. Chas. Baskerville. The
various physical tests, including plastic
ity, fusibility and proper admixture Of
these clays have been made in the
laboratory of the School of Mines, Column
bia College, New York.
In connection with this investigation
1T was found that all of the fancy brick,
and even many ordinary brick, much Of
the sewer pipe, all Of the china ware
and large part of the better grades
Of pottery ware used in North Caro-
lima are imported from other States;
but these investigations have shown that
the clay deposits of North Carolina are
of such quality and quantity that all
Of these different articles may be man
ufactured in tn State. Indeed the kao-
lin which is shipped from Jackson coun-
fy, in North Carolina, is not only equal
to any other in color and other general
qualities, but is superior to that shipped
from Florida inasmuch as it shrinks less;
consequently our jackson county kaolin
Is being used In the manufacture Of the
finest china ware now made at Trenton,
Baltimore and at South Liverpool, Ohio.
The report on this subject which is
now in the press describes not only
our clay deposits and the present con-
dition of our clay industries, but also
describes the better and more modern
method of manufacture of different clay
products. There is already a considera-
bic demand for it in advance Of its pub
hcation, and it is believed that it will
render an important service to the State
in the way of improving and enlarging
our clay industries.
GOLD INVESTIGATIONS.
The report ON the gold deposits Of
North Carolina, which was prepared
Jointly by Mr.. Ii. b. g. Mite, of this
survey, and Mr.. George b. Hanna, of
the United States Assay office, in Char
= lotte, was printed a year ago, and in
response to a considerable demand for
such information it has had a wide dis
tribution. Already it has been instru-
mental in bringing several hundreds of
thousands of dollars of capital into the
State for the development of gold min
ing properties and its usefulness in this
direction has only fairly begun.
The investigations in this field of work
during the latter part of 1896 and the
earlier half of the present year were
carried on mainly by Mr.. Mite, and the
result of these investigations has been
the PREPARATION of a report on the most
approved gold mining and metallurgi-
cal methods which are being used at
the present time in North Carolina and
other Southern States; but investigations