Year: 1871

About a year ago the General Land Office
called attention to nugget of gold, weighing
over nine ounces, found in the Potomac, near
| Cabin Johns bridge, about ten miles above
this city. The Commissioner has just received
feur specimens Of gold quartz, found on the
| banks cf the Potomac, near the Long Bridge.
| The virgin gold in the specimens was visible
to the naked eye, and in general appearance
| they closely resemble samples of gold quartz
| found at various times in Montgomery county,
| Maryland, and deposited in the mineral cabinet
of the General Land Office. 1t can be seen
from other specimens of rock and minerals
| collected in the vicinity of the great falls OF
| the Potomac that the rock formations OF this
| locality are identical with the most auriferous
| deposits of other countries, and 1t is believed
| there is sufficient inducement for an extended
| exploration of tne quartz veins OF this region,
| with fair probability that the precious metal


may be found in paying quantities.


We clip the above from an exchange,


and add, what has been our conviction for


years, that there is vast wealth in the gold


mines of Virginia. Years ago, when a


student of geology with Prof Rogers, OF
Pennsylvania, (the most accomplished OF


American geologists,) we remember his


confident prediction, that the gold mines
of the primary ranges Of the Atlantic


coast would yet be found equal to those
of the Rocky Mountains or the Pacific.
In Virginia, we have extensive ranges Of


gold-bearing rock, already known, that


would pay far better than many of. the


Western mines with the same machinery.


The old diggings were abandoned years ago


for want of the powerful machines with


which modern invention has supplied the


miner.


New fields Of vast extent and richness
undoubtedly exist, and would be discover
ed if the enterprise that has explored eve'y
nook Of the Rocky Mountain range was
not driven away from Virginia. The most
distant of our territories is vastly better
known, aud its mineral wealth more
thoroughly explored, than this State,
which has been settled for two hundred
years.


What can we expect OF State which
has money enough to spend for pictures
and statues of dead men, but none to ex-
plore the hidden wealth of its own noun
tains, or to aid its honest sons and daugh-
ters in the hard struggle for bread /?


Is it strange that we are poor and behind
all the young States of the West, when our
young manhood and enterprise is driven
out for want of something to do, or crush
ed into subservience to few fossilized old
gentlemen who keep up show of life, but
who, like Rip Van Winkle, have been
asleep for hundred years ? The State
should instantly order a survey of its min
eral districts, even hasty general recon-
noissance would be of great use, if nnder-
taken by vigorous man, and its prelimi-
nary reports speedily published and wide.
ly circulated.


If then we could get the newspapers Of
the State to throw out the pro6tless and
personalities of politics cease
to apologize for murder, arson and thug
gerry on partisan grounds; and tell people
what we have here and what is true, that
every good, industrious man will be well
come, the mines of Virginia will become
vast sources of wealth, and every interest
will receive new impulse from their de-
velopment.