The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-09
NORTH CAROLINA'S WEALTH.
Her Natural Resources Rich Beyond
POPULAR ISnnNYIeGmc


Her Natural Resources Rich beyond
Popular knowledge.
1t is expected that a closer acauaint-
ance with the great Pan-American Elk
position to be held at Buffalo next
year will convince the people of North
Carolina of the wisdom of being re-
presented by proper state exhibit.
Where there is one reason for the states
representation at Paris there are score
of good reasons why it should have an
exhibit at Buffalo. The great markets
into which this state sends her prod
ucts are the cities of the United States.
The state is seeking, not settlers speak
ing a foreign tongue, but Americans
from any state who are looking Tor
grand opportunities for investment or
for engaging actively in profitable lines
of business. Many of our own people
| do not realize that they have one OF the
most productive states in the Union
and one of tie richest in natural re-
sources.
I
| possibilities and in mineral wealth
| North Carolina is one of the most
| favored states of the Union. All agri-
| cultural interests have rapidly advanc-
| ed since 1890. The corn crop of 1893
approximated 30,O00000 bushels and
that of 1894 33.000000 bushels. Much
| attention has been given to truck farm
ing, and as much as $750,000 worth Of
| produce has been shipped from a single
| town in one season. Peanuts are eX-
| tensively grown by our citizens, North
| Carolina having been at one time al
most the only source of supply for the
| United States. Since 1870 much atten-
| ton has also been given to grape cul-
| ture, both for the manufacture of wine
and the supply of the northern market
with grapes The climate and soil are
especially adapted to the culture of the
vine. and vineyards are found in al
most all sections. 1t will interest
| many to learn that no state has within
its boundaries so many of the plants
used in medicine. the Atlantic slope OF
| the Blue Ridge furnishing $500 varie-
ties. One firm annually ships over
| . 600 900 pounds, the dried roots, herbs
and barks going to all parts of the
world.
In the cotton year ending Aug. 81,
! 1899. the area under cultivation for
cotton was 1,311.70S acres and the pro-
duction G20. G20 gross bales. For the
wear 1S90-1900 the area was l,22O,0OO
! and the estimated yield 1913 pounds of
| lint cotton per acre.
The timber lands of North Carolina
are one of it's most valuable posses
| sions The great variety of soils ana
the wide range of climate give rise to
q rich and varied forest growth. In
the southeastern counties under the IN
fuence of the gulf stream are found
the magnolas. palmettos, live oaks ana
| other semitropical trees, while on the
| higher mountains of the west are the
| spruces and frs. The state abounds
in pines, and from this tree is derived
| one of its most valuable products-that
of turDentine. Out of % oaks indigo
nous to the United States. North Caro-
| lima has 10. 1t has all the light pines
! four OF the five spruces, six of the
eight hickorics and all Of the seven
mGgnolias
| The mineral wealth of North Carolina
is as boundlcss as its agricultural and
| forest resources. and the further de-
| velopment Of this wealth offers great
inducements to capitalists seeking in
vestment. They have 10 need to go
to South Africa or the golden sands Of
Cape Nome. There are both gold and
silver TO lie mined in paying quantities
in North Carolina Work is being
pushed in the Greer, Cappl Hill. Sum
meryille and other mines In Mecklen-
burg county; il several mines in Ca
barras county, at the Gold Hill, Dutch
Creek, and enc or two other points in
Rowan county; at the Delle mine in
] Moore county, portes mine in Franklin
county, Mann Arlington mine in Nash
county and at points in Stanly and
Montgomery counties.
In silver the most notable activity
Is at the Silver Hill mines in Dawson
county and the TroUtman, near the di-
viding line between Rowan and Ca
barras counties. There was a notable
gain In gold mining in 1898, the out
put being 4,0G4 fine ounces. valued at
$4,000.
| Copper and iron mines are being
worked, and quarrying is carried on
upon an extensive scale. In 1898 there
were quaTfed granite valued at ST9,7Gc
| and sandstone and limestone valued al
| SO, 100, total, $90674. The copper ores
found include native free copper, cup
rite, aZuritc. malGchitC, red oxide, cop
per glaze and the green and blue car
bonades of copper. There are several
promising iron mines in operation. =
company has recently been formed IL
Macon county to mine systematically
for the gem rhodolte, also for the ruby
sapphire and other corundum gems.
Mica In North Carolina.
There are extensive beds Of mica IL
the western portion of the state. Mica