Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1904-08-24
OUR MINERAL RESOURCES
Paper to be Read Before American
Mining Cohsfess:

immigration, State Geologist Earl Sloa
G has prepared a paper on the miners
resources of South Carolina as We've
from commercial standpoint-that
y their adaptability to commercial SIS,
i age.
i: This paper will be read before th
American Mining congress at Portland
Oregon, In October 1t is classified int
three heads as follows:
T.; Metals-Gold; copper, tin, iror
nickel. The location and names OF OWE
ers Of all deposits are given togethe
with the character
2. Non-metals = Monazite, kaolir
FulIer's earth, pottcr's clay, pyrites
granite; marble, limestones, etc.
8. Agricultural adjuicts-Marls adapt
eG to the manufacture of Portland ce
ment and fertilizers.
No phosphate is dealt With hecaus'
it is considered that about all the cap
ital that can be invested in that idus
try is now here end is being used.
Mr.. Sloan's paper is included in the
whole report which bears the signature
of Commissioner Watson. The introduc-
tioh reads:
ITO the American Mining Congress:
"At the request Of your secretary,
was recently named by the governor
OF the State to undertake through this
department of the State government,
the preparation of paper dealing
with the mineral resources of the State,
viewed from the standpoint Of their
value commercially. No attention,
therefore, has been given to various
mineral resources that are not Of suffi-
cent commercial value to warrant Sue
cessful deYelopm ent. This State has
been for many years without that class
of information about her varied min
eral resources that would prove of val
ue to the investor. These properties
have simply been lying idle awaiting
intelligent direction and sufficient capt.
tai to develop them. When this depart
ment was established five months ago
at once determined to secure this in
formation aid present it to investors
in such form as 20 command attention
and give them facts they wished to
know. A hasty study of the mining
statistics Of the State showed an utter
lack of development, there being only
SS mines, quarries and wells operated
in the State employing only 1854 wage
earnefs; and showing only 81, 1884 ,134 as
the value of the produce placed upon
the market, of which III 1903 s102,573
was in gold and $145 in silver, not
sa91I 4siE9a1e7 1.aE5EEaa !g5fa prSass
se;ng credited to neighboring States.
"Knowing the value Of many OF tue
undeveiopad mineral propertles III lue
State. had already determined w
carefully prepare just such a.paper, "a as
YOU requested in your secretarys ie.
ter of May to the governor Conse-
ouently I have endearored to give you
inflammation, prepared with greater
care than was originally intended ahu
NJ NJ once I invoked the aid Of our very
competent State geologist, VINO mas Ia
furnished me over his signature tne
resume Of our mineral resources iHs01
porated in this paper.
AS TO the properties Incorporated IN
the treaties of the geologist | VIII say
that it is the business OF this depart.
ment to push their development q, as laf
&C nossible. The department will enc
deayor to show inquiring investors over
Ihe nroperties. offering, with his con-
sent. the further aid of the state geoi-
ogist when his services are needeu.
THE department will also endeavor 10
secnrp such properties as may De
wanted at the lowest possible sa pli.e7
and upon the best terms for lnVestols'
when the proposition is coupled WIZ u
the m assurance of the purchaser that ne
Intends to Immediately develop tne
nronerty. and there is an absence OIL
= nnrnose to make the TRANSACTION
merely for speculative purposes
Among the properties now listed WIN
the department is the Mary copper
mine referred to below. .or
"Haying had considerable exper'
,ence with development matters 90
not hesitate to say that l Ieel sa lnas
there is a fine opportunity LOT .nuse ~
who undertake the developmene OIL lns
excellent mineral resources Oh SOUL
Carolina. particularly in view OF tne
fact that the field is practlcally
virgin one and unexplored almost
and in view Of the further fact tnal
these properties are so well LOCATED
&C IN railroad and water transporta
tion. being almost in the suburbs VI
the eastern markets and seaports.
An extract from Mr.. Sloans paper
dealing with iron follows:
numerous deposits Of iron are II
this State, occurring in formatloh:
ranging from the tertiary to tne sllu
rian. but up to the present time noht
have been noted Of modern industria
Importance excepting in the King
mountain district One zone, pegin
ming north of Kings mountain, extend:
southwesterdly through Cherokee ane
parts of Spartanburg and Union coun
ties, and comprises magnetic and spec
ular ores bedded in talcose schists O
shales and in the itacolumitic rocks
These beds were worked to great ao
vantage when charcoal was, available
prior to 1865. The magnetic ore, o
Catawberite afforded a peculiarly su
perior iron, close grain and soft, ye
tough, which was intensively enploye'
in the manufacture Of the Confedenat
ordinance. Furnaces and roller mill
were operated for this purpose ada
cent to the Cherokee ford on the Broa'
: river. specular ore was also employe
in mix, ur IS and alone for the pre-
auction IF superior pig metal for cast
ings. Tie red ore or ltawberlte is
low grade arenaceous magnetic, Wnlc
- FOL