Year: 1859




similar to that which has made New Englant


what she is, and hope will ever be in this par


teular, to render North Carolina in every


thing her superior. Over four hundred thous


and spindes reyolve in Lowell alone, ane


over ten times four hundred thousand can BIZ


moved by the regular waters Of the French


Broad alone, without eyen making an impress


sion on the abundant supply. Besides the oyel


abundance Of erin the Iimpid streams O


the old North State, they are exempt from


the bitter frosts and freezing winters, which
CONCEAL at times the best streams in New


England, obstructing their greater utility
while in North Carolina they rarely ever
freeze, and are at the same time blessed with
an elevated locality, and wholesome noun.


tain atmosphere. rendering her valleys moi


only safe for mans habitation, but equally


desirable.


But iron ores, the best and most abundant
as | have stated, abound throughout the
whole State. 1t would astonish one not
familiar, to see or learn their quantity and
extent. To attempt to describe their pre-
else locality and extent with minutcness,
would lead me into too great detail but be-
fore confning myself to the particular sub.
ject designed in these remarks, this much |
will say you may cast your eye on the map
OF North Carolina, and start with me from
the county Of Stokes, where you have an
abundant supply of coal and iron, in immedi-
ate proximity ; you may go westward, bor-
dering hard on the Virginia and then the
Tennessee line, till you reach the Roam
mountain, and from thence bear southward
till you reach Kings mountain, which con.
tinually calls to mind much Of the heroism
Of the Revolution aud from thence eastward
till you run into the Deep river valley. and
you will have travelled over deposits Of iron,
so abundant, of such superior quality, that
not similar scope of country on the earth
reserve treasured up in natures store-house
waiting for the trained hand OF the enterpris.
ing utilitarian 10 quietly unlock and use, 10
the benefit and wealth Of mankind. can
not contemplate the vastness and value of
these sinews of wealth and grandeure of my
native State without being greatly moved,
and longing to see the day when a better
directed industry and wiser political econ.
omy shall, with fostering policy, call them
forth, and bid North Carolina be in practical
fact what she is by nature designed, one Of
the best and most extensive iron producing
countries in the world. Once developed,
the mines will sustain themselves; and the
southern forge and rolling-mill will sustain
and meet the southern demand, and every
car-wheel that trayerses the State, bearing
the products of her soil, will wind their way
over iron rails taken from the same soil with
out the aid Of tariffs or protection and then,
indeed, may we talk Of and about southern
independence.


II has long been growing conviction on
the part Of the Government, thut national
foundery should be established, not only for
the certain supply Of a better article Of GER
tain kinds Of fabrics Of iron for naval and
military use, but also 10 improve the system
Of combining, and the effect Of combining
the various descriptions Of iron, and other
kindred metallic ores. This important sub.
iect at once attracted the attention of the
present able Secretary Of War, upon his in
stallment into the Office, and in his first an.
nual report he spoke and recommended the
subject. in the following earnest and empha-
tic manner:


"The importance to the public service Of
establishing national foundery has been so
often brought TO the attention Of Congress by
my predecessors, that nothing but conyic.
tion Of its great consequence to the public
and private interests Of the whole country
encourages me to mention il again.


"A well-managcd national ionndery would
very speedily develop and establish facts
which would add immensely to our national
wealth. IL is scarcely TO be credited that,
with the infinite variety ofiron ore. and their
boundless extent in the United States, we
should not have vet discovered mine capa-
bic Of making the very best gun. or. ii such be
that there are no means by which
the public service can be benefited By ii;
but such i the fact.


"a national foundcry would serve as a
great laboratory at which the quality and
value Of metals throughout the whole Con.
federacy would be tested aud fixed. Every
variety Of iron, with its special adaptation to
particular uses, would. in few years, he
lamiliarly known in the country, and indi.
sihual enterprises would be saved, in expert.
ments. many times the amount which the
work cost; whilst great national branch Of
industry might, by this means, receive a
legitimate and efficient encouragement


/" There is but little doubt that many A.
merican iron ores are equal. at least, to those
Df Norway, and vet the national armories are
driven by necessity to purchase from abroad
Ihe Norwegian iron FOR the manufacture Of
small arms. Choosing TO have the best quali-
~ Of arms. we must 80 abroad for the best
quality Of iron. 4 national foundery would
soon teach to improve the manufacture OF
IRON, and we would be saved the mortiiica.
lion Of bringing iron from abroad, and tae
money, too, We have 10 pay for ii.


"fhc cost II heavy guns would presently
De diminished. and their quality would bc,
very materially improved.


"lt therefore appears to. the that every
Of sound policy and economy
demands the establishment Of national
ioundery, which accordingly respectfully



50 soon as | discovered that this subject
vas again recommended 70 The attention 81
ItnnprSeS A ~ nt,ep feti rnuV;Urel that Nnrth