The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-20
To THE MOUNTAINS
Places for Sport, Pleas
ure and Business.
Mines and Timber Interests Being
Developed. Large Increase in Re.
sort Industry. Paradise of Hunt
er and Fisherman.

The Department or Mining ana
Minerals at the Commission of La
Dor Statistics, yesterday received a
communication from Mr.. d. w. l..
Wagner, of Terre Haute, and, asking
for the latest State reports on mines,
mining and minerals in North Carroll
ma and such other information as
the department possessed. Mr.. Wag-
ner is general manager of the Blue
Valley Gem Company, of Scaly, Ma
con county, n. G.
The department frequently receives
requests for statistics concerning the
western section of this State, and es-
pecially the mountains.
The inquirers nearly always ask for
information about game to be found,
the natural beauty and resources OF
the mountains.
There are mines in the west that
yield amethyst, sapphire, topaz and
other semi-precious stones which are
said to be equal if not superior to any
of those stones found in the famous
gem mines of Siberia or South Ameri-
ca. Rich minerals are found there.
Gold, silver, copper, mica, field spar,
and the tantalum minerals with traces
of lead.
Corundrum is found in a great
dunn has been found in this State al
so.
There are rich and valuable large
woods Of timber, for which there is an
ever increasing demand, the price of
which has doubled within the past
few years; the wood consisting chief
ly of oak, poplar, pine, hickory,
chestnut, maple, gum and locust III
large quantities.
Because the air is pure and health
full; because the nights are cool and
pleasant; because the air, during the
summer is laden with the perfume of
wild flowers, which grow in lavish
profusion; because the springs are
clear, and the streams are cool, and
filled with mountain trout, people OF
all parts of the country flock to the
North Carolina mountains in summer,
and incidentally a great many of them
are struck with the magnificence of
the unsurpassed opportunities that
the undeveloped hills provide, and
think of business when they go away
they tell it TO others who also visit
the mountains. and many return, some
to invest, others to live and invest
III the mountains.
Those seeking recreation from the
blistering sun, such as was in Raleigh
yesterday, should so west.
Inc report III the ONCE OF the STA
tistician relates that there are in the
pleasant mountain woods for the
sportsman all kinds of game, wood
cock deer, coon, o'possom, fox,
grounding, squirrel, and rabbits, and
the streams contain beautiful speckled
mountain trout which give the hunter
augler an ample opportunity to salts
fy their ambitions.
The mountains of Western North
Carolina afford excellent grazing for
sheep and cattle.
The Department of Agriculture has
given new impetus to the raising of
stock, and a new bulletin, which is be-
ing prepared by the State Veterinari-
Tart Butler, will discuss this subject.
The Department of Labor and
Printing is preparing the statistics on
the resort industry, for the next re-
port, and it is said that Western North
Carolina will show an increase in new
resorts this year of over fifty per
cent.