Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-09

one Of the busiest places in the whole
south 4 Ducktovn. Tenn Busy. yet one OF
the most forsaken looking places within
the bounds Of the whole country The Bad
Lands Of the Dak0tas are a paradise be-
side portions OF the Ducktown basin. AS
usually applied. the name does not signify
= single village. but has reference 10 many
square miles Of territory situated on a
hikh plateau nearly 2.ooo feet above sea
level and embracing a score OF little COM
munites.
COPPER Is found more or less abundantly
from one end Of the Allegheny mountains
70 the other. but the OuJcroppings at
Ducktovn are the largest and most extern
sivels- worked. Scores Of mines have been
opened. OF which large numbers are
actively worked and are the sole depend
snce OF the inhabitants II has been esti-
mated that 15o00 people owe their living
10 the employment offered by the mining
companies in the vicinity Of DucStown- A
market Is furnished farmers from - and
even - miles distant. and much that might
be grown were the farmers 50 disposed.
fs shipped I'm frorl a distance. For some
distance around the roast-hesps nothing
cultivatahle can be grown. The laborer
has no little garden 70 be cultivated at
odd moments. and thus add TO his income.
but must buy everything ne uses He new
er applies for work but he gets IL. and at
earners are simple mountain folk, who, in
the majority OF instances. are at work to-
day and idle tomorrow and usua--y the
day following. They have no amusements.
nor want any. There are no public places
OF amusement 10 speak OF. never lee
ture. and but few schools: yet they have
ali they desire. Small boys are daily doing
mems work while their fathers are living
on their earnings. A most peculiar feature
Is the total absence Of colored people. In
fact. not negro is on the payroll OF
any company.
The two copper mining companies. one
an English concern and the other OF New
York capitalization. are annually produc-
fng millions OF pounds of pure copper. The
statement has been spread broadcast
throughout Tennessee and Georgia that
the first pure copper was but recently
Ehfnped from the south. and even the
Ducktown papers have copied the state
ment without criticism. Millions of
pounds Of pure pig-copper were shipped
by wagon 10 Cleveland. Tenn, as long ago
as 1877. and undoubtedly long before that.
as the first mining was done nearly 50
years ago The statement recently given
such wide publication Is wholly without
foundation and should have been chal-
Ienged long ago by newspapers in the VI
entity CT Ducktown- II Is a singular fact
that while most copper ore has sssociat-
ed with IL both bold and silver. or at least
enc OF these. neither are found In the
Ducktown ores. Again. the copper Ii as
ISOLATED with sulphur and r. entirely free
from arsenic. another remarkable exemp-
ton While Lake Superior copper exists
for the most part I'm a practically pure
state the great majority Of the copper
mines OF the world contain the metal as a
sulphide. technically known as chalcopy-
rite. This r. a combination OF copper.
iron and sulphur. and Is always contami-
mated with other material such as quartz
or lime. To get the copper into shipping
condition Il must be concentrated ~
smelling after a preliminary treatment
known as roasting. Too much sulphur i'm
terferes with economic smelling hence Il
II necessary 70 roast or the excess. After
the ore r. taken from the mines AMI
crushed TO a suitable size BY powerful
crushing machinery II Is drawn 10 the
roast yards. First a layer OF wood y
placed on the ground and on this the ore
is piled 10 a depth OF several feet leaving
q rectangular pile with a board chimney
or two sticking UP through 10 create a
draft The match r. applied 20 the wool
and soon the sulphur In the ore Is iEniteI
and for about two months dense volumes
q sulphur smoke are poured heavenward.
Thousands OF these roast piles are burn
ing daily. All vegetation I'm the immediate
vicinity II destroyed and lesser effects are
20 be noted for some miles distant.
Strange 20 say. that while injurious 20
plant life. Il has absolutely no iIl effect
- animal life. " Is often noon before the
mixture Of fog and smoke lifts 80 that
one can get clear vision Tor a Few ruds.