The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1901-11-22
MISsIss1PPI's WEALTH.

MISSISSIPPI'S WEALTH.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WOULD REVEAL
VAST NATURAL RESOURCES.
1t was announced some time ago ia
the Picayune, upon the authority Of
Gov. Longino that he would recon.
mend an appropriation for a geologi.
cal survey, TO the special session Of
the legislature which conyenes In this
city Tuesday after the 6rst Monday
In January next, says Hon. E. S. vii.
son 10 the Picayune. The press OF
the State for the past year or so has
advocated such survey and pointed
out that splendid results might follow
such a step. 1t Is a curious thing
that the drst geological survey, per.
haps made in America was made on
Mississippi soil. This was In 1899,
under LIE Seur, by authorization from
the French government. Even at
that early day 10000 pounds Of ochre
was shipped to France. In 1912, as
showed by Goodspeed's History Of
Mississippi two ship loads of yellow
ochrc we're taken from the white
~
cliffs near Natchez for Boston con.
signees. The same authority points
out that in 1852 gold discoveries were
made on Black creek, Marion county
and a body OF prospectors carried
away some metallic nuggets for assay
at New Orleans, where the gold
theory was demolished. During the
drst decade OF the last century, how.
ever, bell maker used this metal for
brazinR bells. 1t could be cut like
lead. but 10 the furnace it was minus
the leaden fumes. Galena was found
In the diluvium sections Of the north.
east, % we'll as In Adams, Claiborne,
Neshoba, Lawrence and Kemper, car.
ried hither from Missouri with the
drift. This evidently has reference
to the glacial epoch. The quantity Of
aluminium has not yet been deter.
mined, but beyond question there is
. very large per cent In the soil.
Mississippi Is rich In mineral clays,
and II may be laid down that from
Tishamingo to the southeast corner
of Wilkinson and from DeSota to the
Pascagoula, beds as extensive as they
are useful are awaiting developement
Marine mari, 1t is said extends
q cross the State, from Vicksburg to
Meridian and thence to Alabama.
This mari Is rich in carbonate Of lime,
yielding 90 percentum, 2 percentum OF
potash and from l to 2 percentum OF
magnesia.
On Big and Little Bear creeks, out.
crops Of a peculiar character occur,
presenting rock capable OF producing
excellent agriculture lime
On MacKays creek a commercial
limestone Is found, which yields from
53 to so per cent OF good lime. This
lime Is considered good enough for all
purposes, aud like redstone, is found
10 many other places 10 the State.
Silica OF a whitish pulverulent
character ab0unds east OF Eastpoct.
With reference to coal. Goodspeed
says: "The territory referring to
the Mississippi) shows heavy deposits
of semi.carbonized wood coal, and
collection OF clay substances of all
colors. This Ignite Is black as in
Choctaw county, or brown, as in
Lafayette, and shows It's desire to be.
come true bitumen on one side and
true bog oak on the other. 1t is an
uncertain commodity in every way
and 40 we'll 10 this fact established,
few persons avail themselves Of what
may b useful 10 II, while bltuminous
coal and wood ID at hand for fuel coke
or charcoal. Asa fuel, the presence
Iof iron pyrites destroys usefulness;
for the sulphurous acid, 10 which It
abounds casts out such fumes as to
fepder u dlsagreeable and dangerous.
With al Its faults It Is welcome In
the absence Of other fuel; for necess-
|ity generally suggests means Of
using the gifts Of nature no matter
how rough their ends may be shaped. "
Gypsum. or plaster deposits exist
! in Carroll, Attala, Kinds, Madison
and adjoining counties and pure
gypsum 10 Rankin, as well as in
other sections Of the State.
Extensive mineral springs, Of the
tnest quality and abundant quantity
are scattered all over Mississippi.
These are only Z few Of the hidden
treasures that the geological survey
may Disclose 10 paying quantities.
Mississippi has waited too long 10
this matter and II must be gratifying
TO the people TO know that the pa.
trlotic and progressive legislature,
which has given the Stat0 million