The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-07-15
THE PITTSBURC REGION OF
SOUTH ATLANTIC STATES
BY BION II. BUTLER.

Nj. Gilead, July 12.-The opening
of the Raleigh. Charlotte and South
ern Railroad from Mt. Gilead to the
sea marks an epoch in the history of
this section Of North Carolina. It
comes just as another great event is
happening, the rejuvenation Of the
gigantic water power at Whitney, a
few miles from here on the YaHkin
river. With a through railroad to the
East and a seat of electrical activity
On its borders. Montgomery county ex-
poets to make conspicuous name in
the new life of the State.
The Yadkin river on the western
boundary of Montgomery and the east
Of Stanly, is one Of the most valuable
water power streams of the United
States Just after the river crosses
over the line from Rowan and David
son counties, it enters upon series cl
shoals and decliyities which culminate
in that restless piece of water known
AZ the Narrows. There is one Of the
most picturesque bits of scenery in the
South
The Yadkin river is a noble river:
it sweeps down from the mountain
country, it's width at Whitney reach
ing almost quarter of mile. When
this mighty volume of water crowds
into the gorge of the NarroWs it is
contracted in some places to a width
of 50 feet, the current pouring
through the narrow channel with in
conceivable violence, comparab BILE only
with such wild rapids as the whirl-
pool Of the Niagara. For mile the
gorges average not above so yards In
width. and through this defile the wa
tar nj lo at hn cnt n Of fn0f n q
mile. From Mllledgeville, in the north
Of Stanly county, down to the mouth
of the Uharie river, a distance of q
dozen miles, the river has fall ol
nearly 240 feet. or an average Of about
20 feet to tho mile.
1t is hardly Of use to speculate OF
the available water power there. The
Whitney company planned to realize
100000 horsepower. The company
pointments, proposes to develop a
least fourth more than that much
and with a dam at one point. Th'
Whitney company intended to buill
two dams. one up near Whitney, th'
other at the head OF the Narrows.
If the Whitney company could fin1
$4,000 horsepower at the dam a
Whitney. and another $4,000 at tn
head Of the NarrOWS, to a superficial
foot OF the Narrows another 5000
could be obtained.
But who knows?
One hundred and twenty five thou
sand horsepower is what the new con
Germ is figuring on. and at one dam
That is enough. 1t is so much tha
none Of US can realize what it mean:
and 1t Is so little that much more
available, not only in the immediat
Of h<a Nh hn1f
and down the Yadkin at other pOiut
The amount of waterpower avail
able is not what 1 set out to tai
about. Rather II was my intentio
To prophesy concerning the slgnif
canoe OF this remarkable work.
Only Eve rivers flowing into the Al
lantic ocean fro mthe United State
develop as much power as this or
concern proposes to create at the Nal
rows Of the Yadkin. That gives yo
an idea OF how it will rata
This enormous force is TO be use
to make aluminium. a metal that
lew years ago was a novelty, ana lie
more years ago Was unknown. NO
this newcomer among metals is
have one Of the biggest factories c
earth. the most modern one. II
cradle Of a new industry In mar
ways. and the Yadkin river is to b
come a shrine toward which the utll
tartan and the industrial represent
,ives Of civilization will steadily tur
Aluminium is one of the most abu
dant Of all the metals of the cart
Clay lis so common that you cam
think Of anything. perhaps. tnat
more abundant. Now. pay attenuo
and see how important this yak
project is going to be. Clay is cor
bination OF silica and a1umina, al
alumina, which is one Of the constlt
ents Of clay. is aluminium and OK
gen Aluminium. therefore. is e'
IDENTITY SO plentiful in nature that 1t
impossible to exhaust the supply.
long as we can find q brickbat
throw at a dog we will be able to
cut u little aluminium we q