The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-08

the counties of Cherokee, Clay and
Swain, and of varieties and quality that
would surprise the world. Here We have
the white, blue, black, flesh-colored,
some green and varigated.
These marbles extend for from fifty to
sixty miles in length in these counties,
and five miles and more in width. Their
quality is considered by experts superior
to anything found in the United States,
and equal in some instances to the
Italian marble, especially for statuary
work. The pioneer marble man in this
country is Major Abram G. Kinsey, who
organized the Malta Consolidated Marble,
Iron and Tale Company, which has been
in operation for some fifteen or more
years. These works are located near
Kinsey, Cherokee county, N. c.
Within the last two years Mr.. A. S.
Emerson, of Baltimore, has come among
us and has organized the United Tale
Company of Murphy, N. C. This company
intends to work marble and other min
erals on a very large scale, on the prop
erty of the Cherokee Iron and Marble
Company, within four miles of Murphy,
and on the line of the Southern Railway.
1t must not be understood that these
companies, by any means control the
marble of these counties. for they do not
control one e-hundredth of it.
AS TO our iron, we have the finest
equality of iron, and as is thought by
some large supply of it. Before and
during the war of 1861 LEA, the iron mines
Of Cherokee county were worked quite
extensively. but as We have no coal to
compete with Birmingham and Admission,
Ala. our iron is not being developed. yet
We think that, owing TO the superior
quality of the ore we will see our mines
opened UP.
We have the finest tale mines in the
world that is our tale is superior in
quality TO any yet found in the world
The GOVERNOR Tale of New York, a
fbrous tale, is larger as to the one mine
than any we have. yet it does not COM
pare in quality. Years ago tale was
mined here and shipned in large blocks
to be used in place of fire brick. but now
it is mined for higher and more profitable
purposes The hnnors are about equal
between Major Abran G. Kinsov, afore
mentioned, and Mr.. Frank r Hewitt as
to the beginning Of the mining of tale
in this county, but Mr.. Hewitt has mined
by far the greater quantity. Mr.. Hewitt
virtually furnishes seven eighths of the
material used in the United States for
gas tips, etc. He is now operating a
oompany--the North Carolina Telc and
Mining Coat Hewitts, N. c.. This tale
seems to run with the marble and is
found from Canton, Ga, to and beyond
Hewitt's, N. c., distance of more than
100 miles.
Copper is found in Cherokee. Clay,
Swain, Macon and Jackson counties
Whilst there are no smelters erected, yet
developments are going on, and we hope
soon to see extensive operations in cop
per.
l have superior samplessof copper that
took from prospects myself.
kaolin is found in Macon, Jackson and
Swain counties. For some years MIR. Chas
Harris, of Dillsboro, Jackson county, N
c., has been working successfully kaolin
works near Dillsboro. There are other
kaolin works but do not know the names
of the parties working same. One is near
Sylvia, n. c.. Any letter addressed to
Hon. Walter E. Moore or Henry Robin
sen or c. G. Cowan, Webster N. c., will
receive attention.
Corundum is found in abundance in the
counties of Macon, Clay and Jackson.
Mr.. Fred. S. Johnston and Hon. Kope
Elias, of Franklin, Macon county, informs