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HAND-BOOK 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA, 
 
 II 
 
 WITH 
 
 MAP OF THE STATE, 
 
 PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 R A L E I a H : 
 r. M. IIALE, State Pkixteu and Himi 
 
 1SS(5. 
 
 "^0 ,P y ^ 
 
 '^fy 
 
ton, 
 
 
 In Exchange 
 
 Univ, of Texaa 
 
 MAY B 1933 
 
 lO.t Ti 
 
CONTENTS, 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 GEXP; ^L SKETCH 1 
 
 Pl\sTtRx Section 6 
 
 Middle and Piedmont Section 22 
 
 Western Section 35 
 
 Geological Formation 46 
 
 PEOPLE OF THE STATE 52 
 
 GOVERNMENT AND TAXATION 55 
 
 EDUCATION 59 
 
 RELIGION 63 
 
 STATE DEBT 63 
 
 PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 65 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES 67 
 
 Alamance 120 
 
 Alexander 128 
 
 Alleghany ] 33 
 
 Anson 107 
 
 Ashe 133 
 
 Beaufort 75 
 
 Bertie 85 
 
 Bladen 99 
 
 Brunswick 82 
 
 Buncombe 138 
 
 Burke ISO 
 
 Cabarrus Ill 
 
 Caldwell 129 
 
 Camden (58 
 
 Carteret 78 
 
IV OONTKNTS. 
 
 I'AGK. 
 
 Caswell ' ; 121 
 
 Catawba 113 
 
 Chatham 105 
 
 Cherokee 145 
 
 Chowan 71 
 
 Clay 144 
 
 Cleveland 116 
 
 columbi's 83 
 
 Craven 77 
 
 Cumberland 95 
 
 Currituck 67 
 
 Dare 72 
 
 Davidson 109 
 
 Davie 124 
 
 Duplin 94 
 
 Durham 105 
 
 Edgecombe 88 
 
 Forsyth 124 
 
 Franklin 101 
 
 Gaston 115 
 
 Gates 83 
 
 Graham .^ 143 
 
 Granville 102 
 
 Greene 89 
 
 Guilford 118 
 
 Halifax 86 
 
 Harnett 96 
 
 Ha ywood 140 
 
 Henderson 139 
 
 He rtford 84 
 
 Hyde 74 
 
 Ire DELL 112 
 
 Jackson 141 
 
 Johnston ■ 91 
 
 Jones 78 
 
 Lenoir 93 
 
CONTENTS. V 
 
 PA(iE. 
 
 Lincoln 114 
 
 McDowell 131 
 
 Macon 142 
 
 Madlson 137 
 
 Martin 90 
 
 Mecklenburg 112 
 
 Mitchell 135 
 
 m ontgomery 1 06 
 
 Moore 97 
 
 Nash 87 
 
 New Hanover 81 
 
 Northampton 85 
 
 Onslow 79 
 
 Orange 104 
 
 Pamlico 76 
 
 Pasquotank 69 
 
 Pender 80 
 
 Perquimans 70 
 
 Person 120 
 
 Pitt 89 
 
 Polk 132 
 
 Randolph 118 
 
 Richmond 98 
 
 Robeson 98 
 
 Rockingham 122 
 
 Rowan 110 
 
 Rutherford 117 
 
 Sampson 94 
 
 Stanly 108 
 
 Stokes 123 
 
 Surry 126 
 
 Swain 143 
 
 Transylvania 139 
 
 Tyrrell 73 
 
 Union 107 
 
 Vance 103 
 
VI CONTENTS. 
 
 VA(iK. 
 
 Wake 103 
 
 Warren 100 
 
 Washington 73 
 
 Watauga 134 
 
 Wayne 92 
 
 Wilkes 127 
 
 Wilson 91 
 
 Yadkin 125 
 
 Yancey - 136 
 
 MINERALS 146 
 
 Iron Ores 146 
 
 Of the East 146 
 
 Halifax and (jianville 147 
 
 Johnston and Wake 148 
 
 Ch'Uham and Orange 148 
 
 Person 153 
 
 Montgotnerv and Randolph 153 
 
 Guilford 154 
 
 Mecklenburg and Cabarrus 155 
 
 Gaston, Lincoln and Catawba 156 
 
 Yadkin, Surry and »Stokes 161 
 
 Burke, Caldwell, &c 162 
 
 Mitchell and Ashe 165 
 
 French Broad .. 167 
 
 Cherokee 168 
 
 Coal : 169 
 
 Deep River Coalfield 170 
 
 Dan River Coalfield 174 
 
 Gold 175 
 
 Copper 176 
 
 Silver, Lead, Zinc 178 
 
 Other Useful Minerals 179 
 
 Mica 179 
 
 Corundum 180 
 
 Chromic Iron 180 
 
 Manganese 181 
 
conte:nts. VII 
 
 I'AGE. 
 
 Kaolin 181 
 
 Fire Clay 182 
 
 Agalraatolite 183 
 
 Whetstone 183 
 
 Millstone and Grindstone 184 
 
 Graphite 185 
 
 Limestone 186 
 
 Marble 188 
 
 Talc 188 
 
 Serpentine 189 
 
 Baryte 190 
 
 Marls 191 
 
 Peat and Muck 194 
 
 Asbestos 194 
 
 Soapstone 195 
 
 Pyrite 195 
 
 Building Stones 196 
 
 Precious Stones 197 
 
 Diamond 197 
 
 Beryl 198 
 
 Zircon 199 
 
 Garnet 199 
 
 Agate 200 
 
 Opal 201 
 
 Hiddenite 201 
 
 Emerald.... 202 
 
 Ruby 203 
 
 Sapphire 203 
 
 Mineral Waters 204 
 
 Mining in 1885 205 
 
 Warren, Franklin, Nash 207 
 
 Moore 211 
 
 Montgomery 217 
 
 Randolph 224 
 
 Stanly 229 
 
 Union 232 
 
VXII CONTENTS. 
 
 Davidson 236, 248 
 
 Guilford 246 
 
 Rowan 249 
 
 Cabarrus 256 
 
 Mecklenburg 260 
 
 Gaston 267, 283 
 
 Lincoln ; 26!) 
 
 Catawba 270 
 
 Davie 271 
 
 Ashe 272 
 
 Caldwell 272 
 
 Burke '. 273 
 
 McDowell 273 
 
 Rutherford - 273 
 
 Cleveland..... 273 
 
 Polk 279 
 
 Granville 280 
 
 Person 280 
 
 MANUFACTURES 286 
 
 Manufacturing Facilities 286 
 
 Cotton Factories 293 
 
 Woollen Mills 299 
 
 Tobacco Factories 301 
 
 Manufactures OF Wood 302 
 
 Iron Manufactures 304 /I 
 
 Paper Factories 305 
 
 Flouring and Grist Mills 306 
 
 Rice Mills 307 
 
 Fertilizer Factories 308 
 
 Pine Leaf Factories 310 
 
 Mill Stones ■ 311 
 
 Cotton Seed Oil Mills 312 
 
 Fish Oil Mills 338 
 
 AGRICULTURE 314 
 
 Farm Areas AND Classification 314 
 
conte:nts. IX 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Agricultural Population 319 
 
 Agricultural Societies and Fairs 319 
 
 Ensilage 320 
 
 Principal Products 321 
 
 WOODS AND TIMBERS 328 
 
 TAR, PITCH AND TURPENTINE 329 
 
 SILK CULTURE 331 
 
 FISHING INTERESTS 334 
 
 The Oyster Survey ? 336 
 
 German Carp , 338 
 
 Fish Oil Mills 338 
 
 NEWSPAPERS 342 
 
 COMMERCIAL FACILITIES 347 
 
 Railroads 347 
 
 Waterways 349 
 
 REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY— folding leaf after 349 
 
 POPULATION 350 
 
 MAP OF NORTH CAROLINA 
 
GENERAL SKETCH. 
 
 The State of North Carolina is bounded on the north 
 by Virginia, east by the Atlantic Ocean, south by South 
 Carolina, and west by Tennessee. It is included nearly 
 between the parallels 34° and 36 J° north latitude, and 
 between the meridians 75J° and 84|^° west longitude. 
 
 The extreme length of the State from east to west is 
 503J miles; its average breadth is 100 miles; its extreme 
 breadth is 187J miles. Its area embraces 52,286 square 
 miles, of which 48,666 is laud, and 3,620 is water. 
 
 Its topography may be best conceived by picturing to 
 the mind's eye the surface of the State as a vast decliv- 
 ity, sloping down from the summits of the Smoky 
 mountains, an altitude of 7,000 feet, to the level of the 
 Atlantic Ocean. The Smoky mountains constitute a 
 part of the great Appalachian chain, which here attains 
 its greatest height; the greatest, indeed, in the United 
 States, east of the Rocky mountains. This slope is 
 made up of three wide extended terraces — if that term 
 may be allowed ; the first a high mountain plateau — 
 distinguished as the Western or Mountain Section; the 
 second, a submontane plateau, distinguished as the Mid- 
 dle Section, of which the western half is further dis- 
 
2 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 tinguisliecl as the Piedmont Section ; the third, the 
 Atlantic plain, distinguished as the Low Country or 
 Eastern Section, and that part from the head of the 
 tides downward as the Tide-water Section. From the 
 first to the second section there is a sharp descent through 
 a few miles only of not less than fifteen hundred feet; 
 from the middle to the low country a descent of about 
 two hundred feet; through the two latter, however, 
 there is a constant downward grade. 
 
 The State is traversed by two ranges of mountains. 
 The first, the Blue Ridge, a grand and lofty chain, which, 
 conforming to the trend of the Smoky mountains and 
 that of the coast line, runs in a direction N. E. and S. 
 W. entirely across the State. The Brus'iy and the South 
 mountains are bold offshoots of tliis chain. The second, 
 the Occoneeche and Uwharrie mountains, a range of 
 much inferior elevation — whose rounded summits and 
 sloping outlines present themselves in forms alike grace- 
 ful and pleasing — crosses the State in a parallel direc- 
 tion near its centre. 
 
 The State is watered by numerous rivers, many of 
 which have their rise on the flanks of the Blue Ridge. 
 Those which flow west empty into tlie Mississippi, 
 breaking their way through the Smoky mountains, 
 plunging headlong for miles through chasms from three 
 to four thousand feet in depth, the walls of which are 
 perpendicular to the height of one thousand feet. Some 
 of these gloomy passages have seldom been explored ; 
 no boat could live in such a current, and it is hard to 
 
GENERAL SKETCH. 6 
 
 find a foothold along the sides. Of those which rise on 
 the eastern flank only one, the Roanoke, reaches the 
 sea within the borders of the State. The rest, following 
 the line of the softest rock, meander first towards the 
 northeast, then sweeping round with bohl curves, flow 
 to the sea through South Carolina. The principal rivers 
 which reach the sea within the State limits take their 
 rise in the northern part of the Middle Section, and on 
 the eastern flank of the Occoueeche range near its north- 
 ern termination, and of these only one, the Cape Fear, 
 flows directly into the ocean. Many of the rivers in 
 every part of the State are noble streams in their middle 
 course; some of those that flow into the sounds swell to 
 majestic proportions, spreading out to a width of from 
 three to five miles. The eastern rivers are navigable 
 from fifty to one hundred and fifty miles. 
 
 By reference to the mean parallels of latitude of the 
 United States it will be seen that North Carolina is sit- 
 uated nearly midway of the Union; and inasmuch as 
 those States lie entirely within the temperate zone, it 
 follows tiiat North Carolina is situated upon the central 
 belt of that zone. This position gives to the State a 
 climate not excelled by any in the world. She is exempt 
 from the extreme cold which prevails in the Northern 
 States, and to a considerable extent from tiie early frosts 
 which visit the States immediately north of her, on the 
 one hand; and from the torrid heat and malarial influ- 
 ences which prevail in the States to the south of her on 
 the other. Other causes apart from its position concur to 
 
4 HAND-BOOK OF NOKTH CAROLINA. 
 
 j)rocl nee this result. On the west the lofty Appalaehiaii 
 chain interposes its mighty barrier between the bleak 
 winds of the northwest and the general surface of the 
 State. On the east the coast is swept by the Gulf 
 Stream, the meliorating effect of which is felt far inland. 
 From these causes combined the temperature of the 
 seasons ranges within moderate limits. The Spring comes 
 in with less of those fickle variations which mark its 
 advent elsewhere on this continent. The Summers are 
 not oppressive, even in the low country, or if so, for a 
 few days only. But in the Autumn nature here exhibits 
 herself in the most benig-naut mood in her most favored 
 zone. From the incoming of October to the latter part 
 of December, there is an almost uninterrupted succession 
 of bright, sunny days, during which the air is dry, crisp 
 and pure — a season equally favorable to the ingathering 
 of the crops and to active exertion of every kind. The 
 reign of Winter as respects cold and wet is short, and 
 field labor is carried on throughout that season, with the 
 exception of two or tiiree days at a time. Frost makes 
 its appearance about the fifteenth of October, and 
 sometimes there is not enough to nip the tender 
 vegetation until the end of November. From the 
 Blue Hidge to the seaboard, ice rarely forms of a thick- 
 ness to be gathered except in localities overhung and 
 deeply shaded by high southern bluffs. When snow 
 falls it covers the ground for only a few inches, and is 
 quickly dissipated by the sun. Fogs are of rare occur- 
 rence, and then mainly in the form of a belt of light 
 
GENERAL BKETOH. 6 
 
 vapor marking the course of the larger streams in the 
 latter part of Summer and during the Autumn months. 
 The average rainfall throughout the State is fifty-three 
 inches, which is pretty uniformly distributed through 
 the year. 
 
 Prof. Kerr, in his Geological Report, classes the cli- 
 mate of the different sections of North Carolina with 
 reference to their isothermal ranges, as follows: "Mid- 
 dle and Eastern North Carolina correspond to Middle 
 and Southern France, and Western North Carolina to 
 Northern France and Belgium. And all the climates 
 of Italy, from Palermo to Milan and Venice, are repre- 
 sented." 
 
 The following tables computed by Prof. Kerr, partly 
 from observations taken in all sections of the State for a 
 term of years, and partly from Blodgett, will show the 
 range and character of the climate better than any 
 description : 
 
 Mean annual temperature for the State 59° Far. 
 
 '■' summer " " " 75 
 
 " winter " " " 43 
 
 *• rainfall " " 45 inches. 
 
 MIDDLE SECTION. 
 
 Raleigh, N. C 60° 76° 44° 48° 
 
 Florence, Italy 59 75 44 27 
 
 EASTERN SECTION. 
 
 Beaufort, K C. (on the coast) 62° 78° 46° 
 
 Genoa, Italy ...61 75 47 
 
6 HAND-BOOK OF XORTJI OAIIOT.INA. 
 
 SmithviUe, N. C. (Sea Coastj 66° 80° 51° 
 
 Mobile, Ala 66 79 52 
 
 Nicolosi, Sicily 64 79 51 
 
 WESTERN SECTION. 
 
 Asheville, N. C. (In the Mountains) 54° 71° 38° 
 
 Venice, Italy 55 73 38 
 
 Bordeaux, France 57 71 43 
 
 Thus, he says, "it will be seen that the range of climate 
 in the State is the same as that from the Gulf of Mexico 
 to New York. The influeuce of this circumstance is 
 seen in the wide range of natural and agricultural pro- 
 ducts, from the Palmetto and Magnolia grand iflora to 
 the White Pine, Hemlock and Balsam Fir, and from 
 the sugar cane and rice to Canadian oats and buck- 
 wheat." 
 
 For a thorough understanding it will be necessary to 
 take a survey of the different sections more in detail. 
 It has been seen that the divisions of the State are 
 founded on natural and physical peculiarities. 
 
 Eastern Section, 
 
 The whole eastern portion of the State belongs to the 
 quaternary system, with frequent exposure along the 
 rivers, ravines, and ditches of the eocene and miocene 
 epochs of the tertiary. It consists of a vast plain, 
 stretching from the sea coast into the interior of the 
 
GENERAL SKETCH. 7 
 
 country, a distance of from one liiindred to a hundred 
 and twenty-five miles. Traver-iuLi; tliis section from 
 north to south are tracts of country which vary little 
 from a perfect level. The Wilmington and Weldon 
 Railroad has a stretch of forty miles where there is 
 neither eurve, excavation noi- embankment. From 
 east to west the surface rises bv easy gradations at the 
 rate of a little more than a foot to the mile. The rise, 
 however, is not perceptible to the traveler. But though 
 level in parts, it is in general relieved by slight undula- 
 tions. In its extreme western part, in the county of 
 Moore, it attains an elevation of above five hundred 
 feet. 
 
 The western boundary may be roughly defined by a 
 line extending from the western part of Warren, 
 through Franklin, Wake, Cumberland, Chatham, 
 Moore, Montgomery and Anson. This line marks 
 what, at an early period of the earth's history, was a 
 line of sea beach. Over this whole section the primi- 
 tive rocks are covered with a deep stratum of earth, 
 principally sand. Along the western border there is a 
 broad belt of unequal width, but generally from thirty 
 to forty miles across, where granite, slate and other 
 rocks are sparingly distributed : they are also found 
 near water-courses in the interior of this section. The 
 belt of primitive rock here mentioned extends to the 
 Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, from the Virginia 
 line to Goldsboro, and from thence to a line drawn 
 through Averasboro to the South Carolina line about 
 
8 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 where the Pee Dee enters that State. From the line 
 there indicated to the sea coast, not a stone of any size, 
 scarcely a pebl)le, except at a few points, is to be met 
 with. There is a rock peculiar to this section formed 
 by the combination of the calcareous element of sea 
 shells, and the silicious matter of sand. It is full of 
 cavities — the prints of decomposed shells — and is used 
 to some extent as mill stones. 
 
 A bed of shell limestone underlies this part of the 
 State, cropping out at intervals. It forms a good lime- 
 stone, sufficiently pure for all the common purposes 
 of building, and in quantity large enough to supply 
 a wide extent of country with quicklime. Examples 
 of this are found nine miles below Waynesboro, in 
 the northwest corner of Jones, in the northern f)art of 
 Onslow, at Wilmington, and on the northwest branch of 
 the Cape Fear to a distance of forty miles al)ove. 
 
 This section is made up of beds of clay and sand with 
 vast quautities of shells imbedded in them. The soil 
 varies in character to the extent that the one or the 
 other predominates; and to the extent that the shells 
 when intermixed with it, have undergone decomposition. 
 The upland soil is for the most part a sandy loam, easily 
 accessible to the sun's rays, easily worked, and very pro- 
 ductive in the crops there cultivated. There are, how- 
 ever, extensive areas of country where sand predomi- 
 nates to such a degree that the surface to a considerable 
 depth is a bed of white sand. Yet this kind of land is 
 the favorite habitat of the long-leaf pine. When cleared 
 
GENERAL SKETCH. 9 
 
 it yields good crops of corn and cotton for a few years 
 without manure, and always with slight help from pro- 
 per commercial fertilizers. There are other extensive 
 areas where clay enters bo largely into the soil as to form 
 a clay loam. Tiie counties on the north side of Albe- 
 marle sound — a very fertile tract of country — are ex- 
 amples of this class. The alluvial lands of this section — 
 lands always in the highest degree productive from the 
 fact that all the elements of fertility are intimately in- 
 termingled by having been once suspended in water — 
 are of unusual extent and importance. The grain 
 grown there supplies food not only for people of other 
 parts of the State, but large populations in other States. 
 There are also extensive areas where the shells of the 
 eocene era of the tertiary formation — and which have 
 been decomposed by time — crop out to the surface and 
 impart to the soil a high degree of fertility. This is the 
 case from the eastern part of Jones county to the Cape 
 Fear. The greater proportion of the good lands in 
 Jones depends upon the fact that this formation is largely 
 developed there. The rich lands of Onslow, and of 
 Rocky Point, in jN^ew Hanover, owe their excellence to 
 the same cause. Another class of land in point of fer- 
 tility equalling any in the world is that reclaimed from 
 some of the lakes of this section. To two of these the 
 process of drainage has been applied — Lake Mattamus- 
 keet, and Lake Scuppernong (Phelps). By canals dug 
 from the lake to the nearest stieam which afforded the 
 necessary fall a wide margin entirely roun'd the lake has 
 
10 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 been brouirht into cultivation. These lauds seem to be 
 absolutely inexhaustible. The cultivation of three quar- 
 ters of a century has made no change in their produc- 
 tive capacity. To the lands reclaimed from the borders 
 of marshes — so frequent near the sea shore — the same 
 remark may be strictly applied. 
 
 Another class of land remains to be mentioned which 
 will be a resource of inestimable value in time, perhaps 
 not distant. Bordering on the sea and sounds are ex- 
 tensive tracts of country designated as swamps. Though 
 so-called they differ widely in their characteristic features 
 from an ordinary swamp. They are not alluvial tracts, 
 neither are they subject to overflow. The land covered 
 by many of them lies for the greater part quite low; 
 but this remark seldom applies wholly to any of them — 
 to some does not apply at all. On the contrary many 
 of them occupy the divides or water sheds between the 
 rivers and sounds, and are elevated many feet above the 
 adjacent rivers of which they are the sources. These 
 latter are susceptible of drainage, and when reclaimed 
 have every element of the most exuberant and lasting 
 fertility.* Bay river swamp, between Pamlico and Neuse 
 rivers, and Green swamp in Brunswick and Columbus 
 counties may be mentioned as examples. The elevation 
 of the latter is. forty feet above the sea level. The work 
 of drainage is simple. From the border of the swamp 
 which is always the highest land, the bottom slopes in 
 every direction gradually, almost imperce[)tibly to the 
 centre. A canal cut through this border into the swamp 
 
GENERAL SKETCH. 11 
 
 and carried to some neighboring stream, lays bare an ex- 
 tensive belt along the entire border. The aggregate 
 territory in the State known as swamp lands is between 
 three and fonr thonsand square miles. When drainage 
 shall be properly carried out over this great territory — 
 a work which^ on account of the slight difficulties to be 
 encountered as compared with those which they encoun- 
 tered and overcame, would be deemed trifling; bv the 
 laborious North German and the indefatigable Hollan- 
 der — hundreds of square miles of land of surpassing 
 fertility will be added to the area now in cultivation. 
 
 Throughout this entire section cotton, corn, oats, sor- 
 ghum, peas, potatoes, especially sweet potatoes, are the 
 staple crops; the culture of tobacco has been lately in- 
 troduced with success. Upon the rich alluvions and the 
 reclaimed lake and swamp lands, corn, with peas planted 
 in the intervals between the corn, forms the exclusive 
 crop. Occasionally on the broad low-grounds of the 
 Roanoke, wheat is grown to a considerable extent. In 
 tlie counties on the north of Albemarle sound it is one 
 of the staple crops. On the low-grounds of the lower 
 Cape P ear rice has long been the staple crop, and during 
 recent years its culture has been extended northward 
 along the low lying lands of the rivers and sounds. The 
 upland variety of rice has been introduced within a few 
 years past with entire success. The cultivation of jute 
 also has been the subject of experiment with like suc- 
 cess, and it only needs j^roper encouragement to be 
 grown to any extent. This section is everywhere un- 
 
12 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 derlaid with marl — a mixture of carbonate of lime and 
 clay formed by the decomposition of the imbedded 
 shells — sufficient in quantity, when raised and applied to 
 the surface, to bring it to a high pitch of fertility and 
 maintain it so. 
 
 The only metallic substances that have been found 
 within this section are some of the ores of iron; the 
 bisulphuret, hydrated oxide, and sulphate, or copperas. 
 
 In the counties of Duplin and Sampson valuable de- 
 posits of phosphates have been discovered, which are 
 now being mined and ground for fertilizing purposes. 
 They are known to exist in the adjoining counties, but 
 to what extent has not been yet ascertained. From the 
 similarity of the geological conditions throughout the 
 eastern section, there is little doubt that a systematic ex- 
 ploration there will lead to further extensive discoveries. 
 
 The use of marl, on account of its lower value in 
 comparison with its bulk and consequent cost of trans- 
 portation, must be mainly, if not wiiolly, confined to the 
 section in which it is found. Phosphates, on the other 
 hand, on account of their high fertilizing power, admit 
 of transportation to any distance, and may be used any- 
 where. 
 
 Dr. Emmons remarks: ''The swamp soils of North 
 Carolina show a greater capacity for endurance than the 
 prairie soils of Illinois, notwithstanding the annual crops 
 are somewhat less per acre; and on the score of location 
 we are unable to see that the Illinois soils have the pre- 
 ference. Nor, as regards health, are our swamp soils 
 
GENERAL SKETCH. 13 
 
 more subject to malaria than the country of the prairies." 
 He refers to the remarkable fact that, " persons live and 
 labor in swamps with impunity or freedom from dis- 
 ease." This statement is fully sustained by the reports 
 of our engineers who have had charge of the construc- 
 tion of railroads in that section. 
 
 The swamps, in their natural state, afford abundant 
 pasturage. They are covered by a dense growth of reeds 
 which supply excellent food for cattle w^inter and sum- 
 mer. 
 
 That eminent agriculturist, Mr. Edmund Ruffin, of 
 Virginia, who studied this section of the State with care, 
 expressed a high appreciation of the tide-water region 
 for the cultivation of grasses. He said: ''There is no 
 better country for grasses east of the mountains. In 
 small lots I saw dry meadows of orchard grass and clover 
 that would have been deemed good in the best grass dis- 
 tricts." It is evident from the humid character of the 
 climate in that region, and from the fact that the heats 
 of summer are tempered by sea-breezes, owing to the 
 proximity of the ocean, that the conditions are such as 
 to favor the growth of this fainily of plants. 
 
 Among the resources for future use along the seaboard 
 country, peat is entitled to a prominent place. It exists 
 over hundreds of square miles in area, and to the depth 
 of many feet. At no distant day it will be extensively 
 used both as a fuel and fertilizer. 
 
 If the indications of nature are to be relied on, North 
 Carolina was plainly marked out as the land for vine- 
 
14 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 yards. In the sober uarrative of the voyage of Amadas 
 and Barlowe, made in 1584, to North Carolina, then an 
 nnbroken wilderness, the anthor tells us: "We viewed 
 the land about us, being, where we first landed, very 
 sandy and low towards the water side, but so full of 
 grapes as the very beating and surge of the sea over- 
 flowed them, of which w^e found such plenty as well 
 there as in all places else, both on the sand and on the 
 green soil, on the hills as in the plains, as well on every 
 little shrub as also climbing towards the tops of high 
 cedars, that I think in all the world the like abundance 
 is not to be found; and myself having seen those parts 
 of Europe that most abound, find such difference as were 
 incredible to be written." Upon the visit of the voy- 
 agers to tin; house of the Indian King, on Roanoke 
 Island, wine was set before them by his wife. It is fur- 
 ther mentioned that, "while the graj)e lasteth, they (the 
 Indians) drink wine;'^ they had not learned the art of 
 preserving it. Harriot, a distinguished man in an age 
 of distinguished n)en, of whom it was justly said that 
 he cultivated all sciences and excelled in all, visited the 
 same coast in I086, where he was struck with the abun- 
 dance of grape vines, and he was impressed with the 
 fact that wine might be made one of the future staples 
 of the State. "Were they," he writes, "planted and 
 husbanded as they ought, a principal commodity of wines 
 might be raised." This State has proved to be far richer 
 in this respect than it is probable even he suspected. 
 Grape vines were found in equal profusion in the origi- 
 
GENERAL SKETCH. 15 
 
 ual forest throughout the State. They often interlaced 
 the trees to such an extent that they were a serious im- 
 pediment to the work of clearing away the forest, catch- 
 ing and suspending the trees as they were felled. At 
 this day, if a tract of forest is enclosed, and cattle of 
 every kind excluded, they spring up spontaneously and 
 thickly over the land. Some of the finest wine grapes 
 of the United States, the Scuppernong, the Catawba and 
 the Lincoln, are native to this State. But it was long 
 before the bounty of nature in this regard was improved. 
 This was probably due to the fact that the State was set- 
 tled almost wholly by emigrants from the British Isles, 
 who knew nothing of the culture of the vine. It was 
 planted here and there to yield grapes for table use; but 
 it was not until within thirty years that a vineyard was 
 known in the State. Within that period several of large 
 and a great number of small extent have been planted. 
 Grapes in season are abundantly supplied for domestic 
 consumption, and shipped in hundreds of tons. The 
 wines of the established vineyards are held in high and 
 just repute. 
 
 All the cultivated fruits and berries grow here in great 
 perfection with the exception of the apple. This, though 
 by no means an inferior fruit, is yet not equal in size and 
 flavor to that of the Middle and Western sections. 
 Among the swamps the cranberry is found in profusion. 
 The melons are of every variety and of peculiar excel- 
 lence. 
 
16 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 An industry peculiar to this section is what is known 
 as the " trucking business." It consists in rearing fruits 
 and vegetables for the Northern markets. The principal 
 centres are Goldsboro and Newbern; but it is probable 
 that the farmers along the line of the Norfolk and Eden- 
 ton Railroad will become successful competitors for this 
 business. The essentials for success are found there — 
 a fertile soil and quick transportation. 
 
 Each section of the State embraces a great number of 
 trees, largely used in building and the domestic arts, not 
 mentioned here; only those are here mentioned the tim- 
 bers of which are exported beyond the State, or which 
 have become the subject of extensive home industries. 
 For a complete list of the timber trees of each section, 
 the reader is referred to the table on a subsequent page. 
 Some of them are known by different uames; the botan- 
 ical name is therefore added for the purpose of identifi- 
 cation. The trees used for shade and for the adornment 
 of pleasure grounds are omitted altogether. 
 
 In speaking of the timber trees of this section, the first 
 place is due to the long-leaf pine {Plniis australis). It 
 is the most vahiable of all trees. Apart from its pro- 
 ducts — turpentine, tar, rosin and the spirits distilled from 
 the turpentine — its uses in civil and naval architecture 
 defy enumeration. T!ie timber and its products were 
 long, and are to-day, among the chief articles of export 
 from this State. It alone has brought, and now brings, 
 ships from every port of the world to Wilmington, the 
 chief seaport town of the State. Considerable inroads 
 
GENERAL SKETCH. 17 
 
 liave been made upon these forests contiguous to railroads 
 and navigable streams. A vast reserve, however, remains 
 for the use of future generations; it still covers a wide 
 area in this section. 
 
 The cypress,, (Taxodium distichum), is next in impor- 
 tance. It is found everywhere in the swamps of t he eastern 
 part of this section. The axe has been diligently plied 
 in the cypress forest for three-quarters of a century or 
 more; its timber being among the most valuable for the 
 frame and woodwork of houses, for shingles, for fencing 
 and for water-pipes. Yet the margins of the swamps 
 only have been cleared. Beyond this margin is an 
 immense forest of these trees which has been scarcely 
 encroached upon. Its height is from sixty to one hun- 
 dred feet, with a circumference above its swollen base of 
 from twenty to thirty feet — often much larger. 
 
 The ivhite cedar {Capressus thyoides), commonly called 
 juniper, is also abundant in the swamps. For the many 
 uses to which the timber of this tree is applied, as for 
 building, for water vessels, &c., these forests have been 
 as much cut into, and for as long a time, as that of the 
 cypress; but the supply is inexhaustible. The tree is 
 from seventy to eighty feet high, with a diameter of two 
 to three feet. 
 
 The live oak [Quercus virens), so highly prized for 
 ship building, is found all along our coast, though most 
 abundant from Hatteras southward. It is commonly 
 forty to fifty feet high, and one to two feet through the 
 trunk. 
 
18 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Besides the present existing forest there are over 
 large areas of tlie swamp lands, several successive gen- 
 erations of buried forests, the timber of which is in good 
 preservation, ready to be exhumed when the growth now 
 standing shall have been exhausted. JThese buried 
 trunks of trees will in time be utilized here as they have 
 been along the coast of New Jersey and Delaware. 
 
 The main-land terminates not at the sea, but at large 
 bodies of water termed sounds. These sounds answer 
 very slightly to the sense in which that word is employed 
 by geographers. As employed by them the word sound 
 designates a strait between the main-land and an isle, or 
 a strait connecting two seas, or connecting a sea or lake 
 with the oeean. These sounds are properly narrow seas. 
 They are separated from the ocean by a barrier of sand 
 called ''The Banks," which stretches along the whole 
 coast, except at Beaufort and at the mouth of the Cape 
 Fear. Between these sounds and the ocean are a few 
 narrow passes termed inlets. 
 
 The largest of these sounds are Paralico and Albe- 
 marle; the former about seventy-five miles long, and 
 fifteen to twenty-five miles wide; the latter in length- 
 about fifty, and in breadth from five to fifteen miles. 
 These sounds abound in fish of the finest varieties, but 
 the principal fishing stations are in Albemarle sound. 
 The volume of water |)oured in at the head of this sound 
 by the Roanoke and Chowan rivers renders its waters 
 fresh, except at its eastern limit. Here the migratory 
 fishes — especially the herring, shad and rock (bass) — 
 
GENERAL SKETCH. 19 
 
 repair at the spawning season in such numbers as to rank 
 it among the best fishing grounds on the Atlanlic coast. 
 The business is conducted with an enterprise, system and 
 outlay of capital proportioned to its magnitude. The 
 seines are from a mile to a mile and a quarter long, and 
 are carried out and drawn in by steam power. From 
 eighty to a hundred thousand and sometimes two hun- 
 dred thousand and more are caught at a single haul. 
 The shad and rock are packed in ice and exported to 
 the Northern cities. The herring are cured in salt and 
 stored in barrels for the home and distant markets. 
 Along the southern coast of the State other varieties of 
 fish are taken in great quantities. The mackerel, the 
 mullet, the sheepshead, the trout, the blue fish and pig 
 fish are among those most esteemed for their flavor. All 
 kinds of shell fish are abundant and fine. 
 
 The sounds are the resort also of vast quantities of 
 water fowl, notably ducks and geese; but it is in Curri- 
 tuck sound that they are found in greatest quantity. 
 A number of small islands dot the shallow waters of 
 the eastern side of this sound, where the wild celery and 
 many kinds of grasses flourish in profusion. These are 
 the favorite haunts of the mallard, red-head and canvas- 
 back ducks. They frequent these island and shallow 
 waters in incredible mmibers. When feeding they cover 
 this part of the sound for miles; when they take wing 
 they present the appearance of a vast black cloud. 
 Hunting these fowls (which command a higii price) 
 gives profitable employment to many people. This 
 
20 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 region is the paradise of the amateur sportsman, and 
 clubs of Northern gentlemen have lodges there, to which 
 they regularly repair at the proper season for hunting. 
 
 The inlets connecting the sounds with the ocean have 
 shifted very much since the country was first settled. 
 Some that were navigable for vessels of considerable 
 size have closed; and those that remain are navigable 
 for vessels of slight burden only. The effects of these 
 changes operated formerly as a great restriction u[)on 
 the commerce of the northern half of our coast. These 
 obstructions have at length given way before the spirit of 
 enterprise and the progress of invention. A canal now 
 connects the waters of Albemarle sound with Chesapeake 
 bay, and steamers ply to every point from Newbern to 
 Norfolk. This region of country, though once locked 
 uj), is now fully laid o[)en to commerce; few indeed pos- 
 sess such ample facilities for transportation. In addi- 
 tion to this line of steamers there is another by the 
 Chowan and Black water rivers, connecting with the Sea- 
 board and Norfolk railroad. Lastly, a line of railway 
 has been constructed from Edenton to Norfolk. 
 
 The Banks, as has been said, girdle the whole coast of 
 the State, a distance of over three hundred miles. 
 Though they shoot out from the northern extremity as 
 a long narrow peninsula, they are broken in their course 
 into a number of islands. They vary in breadth from 
 one hundred yards to two miles, and in height from a 
 few feet above the tide-level to twenty-five or thirty feet. 
 Consisting as they do of pure sand, there is little culti- 
 
GENERAL SKETCH. 21 
 
 vatiou of any sort. A few stunted trees are scattered 
 over the more elevated parts, and occasionally, as at a 
 point a few miles north of Nag's Head, there are for- 
 ests of long-leaf pine covering hundreds of acres that 
 compare in size and height with any on the main -land. 
 The subsistence of the inhabitants is generally derived 
 from fishing, in which they are bold and expert. They 
 do not shrink from an encounter with the whale. In 
 the early history of the State its coast was noted as one 
 of the resorts of the whale. Lawson, who lived many 
 years in the eastern part of the State, in the early part 
 of the last century, says: *' Whales are very numerous on 
 the coast of North Carolina." A few still visit it, and 
 a season rarely passes without one or more being har- 
 pooned by the fishermen of Shackleford's Banks. 
 
 The possessions of these islanders consist mainly of 
 flocks and herds. Some proprietors own several hun- 
 dred head of sheep and large numbers of horned cattle. 
 Many own large herds of horses which roam the sands 
 in a state almost as wild as on the prairies of the West. 
 The latter receive little attention from the owners except 
 at the "penning season," when they are driven together 
 and branded with the mark of the proprietor.. Like 
 the other animals they forage at will upon the coarse 
 though abundant grasses of the salt marshes.' It is a 
 breed of great spirit and bottom. Many of them are 
 finely formed, and on account of their docility when 
 well broken, and their powers of endurance, high prices 
 are paid for them. 
 
22 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Formerly, when commerce was carried on exclusively 
 in sailing vess'jls, this coast was justly dreaded, for ship- 
 wrecks were frequent. Large })rofits were then occa- 
 sionally realized by these islanders, though at great per- 
 sonal risk, in the way of salvage on goods rescued from 
 the sea. But the introduction of steam vessels, and the 
 establishment of signal stations, have rendered naviga- 
 tion so safe that a shipwreck is rarely heard of. 
 
 Middle and Piedmont Section. 
 
 The Middle Section extends from the western boun- 
 dary of the tertiary formation or Eastern Section to the 
 Blue Ridge mountains, the western half of which, as 
 already said, is distinguished as the Piedmont Section, 
 it comprises nearly one-half of the territory of the State. 
 
 In passing from the Eastern to the Middle Section 
 there is a marked change in the general aspect of tlie 
 country in its natural and cultivated productions, and in 
 other respects. The great Atlantic plain is left behind, 
 which, on account of the uniformity of its surface, par- 
 takes of monotony, even where most fertile. Here, on the 
 contrary^ is an endless succession of hills and dales. Every 
 step brings to view some new charm in the landscape — 
 some new arrangement of the rounded hills, some new 
 grouping of the tracts of forest which still cover so large a 
 part of the country. The hills, indeed, in their gracefully 
 
GENERAL SKETCH. 23 
 
 curving outlines, present lines of beauty with which the 
 eve of taste is never satiated. These are attractions 
 which depend upon permanent features of the landscape, 
 and which, though infinitely heightened in their effects 
 by the verdure of Spring and Summer, are only brought 
 into fuller relief by the nakedness of Winter. The vari- 
 ations of surface, though less defined at first, become 
 more marked towards the west, and towards the Blue 
 Ridge the country assumes a bold and even rugged 
 aspect. 
 
 The long-leaf pine, so conspicuous in the Eastern Sec- 
 tion disappears, and is replaced by all that range of for- 
 est growth for which the State is so noted — a range in 
 which there is scarce a tree that belongs to the temper- 
 ate zone proper that is not only found, but found in 
 abundance. It' the two sections are viewed at the season 
 when the crops are growing, the contrast is striking. 
 Along with the long-leaf pine, the cotton crop, except 
 on the eastern and southern border, has nearly disap- 
 peared also. Wheat, corn, sorghum, oats, buckwheat, 
 barley and tobacco occupy the cultivated fields. In the 
 Eastern Section hay and pasture crops have not been 
 enough cultivated to impart any distinguishing aspect to 
 the country. In the Middle Section clover and other 
 grasses clothe the hills more or less; the larger bottoms 
 are laid down in meadows; and commonly the narrow- 
 flats between the hills, made by the little branches or 
 rivulets, are sown in grass and present belts of I'ichest 
 verdure. The change is seen in the streams : those of the 
 
24 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 low-land are dyed to a sable hue by decaying vegetation 
 with which the soil there is charged ; those of this section 
 are as clear and pure as they flowed from their fountains, 
 mirroring in their pools and longer reaches every object 
 on their banks. A difference in the Summer and Autumn 
 is felt in the air of the two sections. That of the low- 
 lands, though kindly and not unhealthy, disposes some- 
 what to lassitude and inaction at particular seasons; that 
 of this section is invigorating and wholesome (being 
 ke[)t in perpetual motion at that season by gentle gales), 
 and favors active exertion. 
 
 The hand of improvement is more visible in this than 
 in any section in the State. This is chiefly due to two 
 causes: 1st, Agriculture here was less dependent upon 
 slave labor than in the Eastern Section. The number 
 of slaves was less, and in many communities within its 
 limits — as those made up of the Society of Friends, or 
 Quakers — there were none. Hence agricultural indus- 
 tries which were prostrated there by the sliock of the 
 civil war — a shock from which it did not recover Ixfore 
 years had elapsed — here sustained only a [)artial dis- 
 turbance, and that for no long period. 
 
 •2d. No part of this section was occupied for any 
 length of time by hostile troops, and at the end of the 
 war its means of subsistence were comparatively un- 
 drained. A basis was left for the resumption of indus- 
 tries. To this is to be added another advantage, the 
 facility with which lands of the best class could be 
 rented after the break up of the old plantation system. 
 
 \ 
 
GENERAL SKETCH. 25 
 
 All the large proprietors after the loss of their slaves 
 had more laud than they could cultivate; the only use 
 they could make\)f it was to let it to rent. To young 
 and energetic men a golden opportunity was thus offered. 
 They went to work stimulated by the desire to redeem 
 the time lost during their service in the army, and by 
 the hope of acquiring lands of their own. But every 
 one had lost heavily; the impulse to repair those losses 
 was universal; labor, from the predominance of the 
 white race here, was not greatly inadequate to the 
 demand; hence every kind of business was pressed on 
 with spirit and zeal. The effect in a few years was to 
 obliterate all the deeper traces of the war; then the work 
 of improvement began, and has been steadily carried on. 
 This section is now dotted over with thriving villages 
 and towns. The homes everywhere indicate a high 
 degree of thrift and comfort; an unusual proportion are 
 built in modern style and tastefully painted. Nestled 
 amidst yards and gardens, enclosed with neat painted 
 palings, flanked with orchards of fruit trees, in which a 
 space is generally allotted to choice grape vines, they 
 give abundant proof of ease, plenty, and, in many 
 instances, of no small degree of luxury. 
 
 In this section nature has distributed her blessings 
 with a bounteous hand. Its salubrity, the variety and 
 value of its productions, its mineral wealth, its manu- 
 facturing facilities, mark it out as one of the most 
 desirable abodes for man, and a future centre of great 
 wealth and population. Nowhere do the conditions 
 
26 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 which are friendly to health, to the finest physical <' 
 developmentj to the successful exertion of industries of 
 every kind, and to rational enjoyment, exist in greater 
 abundance than here. Those bounties are visible only 
 in part. The earth is stored with coal, iron, gold and 
 other metals, ores and minerals. Explorations have 
 demonstrated that these exist in such quantity that 
 localities in this section will become the seats of mining 
 and manufacturing industries on a large scale when 
 population and capital shall favor their full develop- 
 ment. 
 
 Of the extent of these ores, metals and minerals lull 
 information will be given hereafter in the Hand-Book. 
 
 The descent of the slope formed by the surface of the 
 State is greatest in this section; through its entire extent, 
 from one thousand to twelve hundred feet. The rivers 
 in their eastward flow down this descent make their wa\ 
 with a lively cui-rent varied with long reaches of com- 
 paratively tranquil water. Oftentimes they force their 
 way through huge barriers of primitive rock and there, 
 occur rapids and falls which affoid the finest water 
 powers. 
 
 The force developed by the tall of these rivers in 
 their course to the sea aggregates — according to Prof. 
 Kerr, late State Geologist of North Carolina — more 
 than three million horse-powers; an amount exceeding 
 that of all the steam engines of Great Britain or the 
 United States. 
 
 These have been utilized to soiue extent by the erec- 
 tion of grist and flouring mills in every neighborhood, 
 
GENERAL SKETCH. 27 
 
 and cotton and woollen mills on some of the rivers. 
 Within the last few years the number of cotton mills 
 has largely increased. Those erected lately are spacious 
 buildings, and equipped with the best raacliinery. 
 Within the same period all or nearly all of the older 
 ones have been enlarged, and new machinery put in. 
 The day is not distant when this bianch of industry will 
 attain a great development here. In no other form 
 have investments paid heavier dividends. The fact 
 begins to be more and more recognized that .within the 
 cotton States there are advantages for the manufacture 
 of that staple that cannot be found elsewhere. Here the 
 cotton is at the door of the manufacturer, and the prime 
 cost of the material is therefore less. Wages are leSs 
 here than in the Northern States, and a lower rate of 
 wages here affords a more comfortable living than a 
 higher rate there; for the necessaries of life are cheaper, 
 and less of food, clothing and fuel are required. Less 
 fuel, too, is required for heating the mill in Winter. 
 The laborer can make substantial additions to his means 
 of subsistence from his garden, which is always allotted 
 here to the head of the family. Here there is no 
 obstruction to machinery from ice in Winter, and no 
 greater suspension of work from drought in Summer; 
 for our rivers are as long as those of New England and 
 have as many tributaries. The original cost of the site 
 and of th(! building here is very much less than the 
 same cost there. The force of these reasons cannot be 
 long resisted. 
 
28 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Woollen mills also have been established in this sec- \ 
 tion, and though this branch of manufacture is yet in its 
 infancy, the success which has attended the experiments 
 that have been made, cannot fail to invite investments 
 in this direction. Sheep husbandry cannot be said to 
 have made even a beginning in this State. Sheep are a 
 part of the domestic animals on every farm, but are 
 reared for domestic supplies of meat and wool; the sur- 
 plus only is sold. Yet the supply of wool would suffice 
 for scores of such factories as are here. No pursuit 
 would pay better than sheep husbandry in this State. 
 The natural pasturage of the Mountain Section cannot 
 be surpassed, particularly in the northwestern part of the 
 State. Some of the most valued cultivated grasses are 
 indigenous there, and all flourish with the greatest lux- 
 uriance. The quality of the goods turned out from the ! 
 woollen mills of Salem, Bethania and El kin show that I 
 the wool is adapted to the finest fabrics. I 
 
 The wide range of the forest trees of North Carolina 
 long since attracted the attention of botanists. It in-»^j 
 eludes all those employed in the useful and many of 
 those employed in the ornamental arts. Indeed, nearly 
 all the species found in the United States, east of the 
 Rocky Mountains, are found in North Carolina. Her 
 wealth in this respect will be a[)[)reciated when the fact 
 mentioned by that eminent botanist. Dr. Curtis, is 
 brought to mind, that there are more species of oaks in 
 North Carolina than in all of the States north of it, and 
 only one less than in all of the Southern States east of 
 
 \ 
 
GENERAL SKETCH. 29 
 
 the Mississippi. For the range of her forests the reader 
 is referred to the lists embraced in the Haud-Book. Those 
 only are referred to here the timber of which, or their 
 mannfactiired products, are exported from this section. 
 
 Of these the white oak (Quercus alba) is the most 
 prominent, as being in most general use and most ex- 
 tensively serviceable. It is found from the coast to the 
 mountains, but it is most abundant in the Middle Sec- 
 tion. It is valuable for frame houses, for mills and 
 dams, vehicles, agricultural implements, cooper^s ware, 
 ship building, and for all purposes where strength and 
 durability are required. Tanners prefer the bark of 
 this species of oak for preparing leather for saddles and 
 other similar objects. It rises to the height of seventy 
 or eighty feet, with a diameter of two to three feet. 
 
 The ivhite hickory (Carya tomentosa), too, is found in 
 the forests from the coast to the mountains; but that of 
 the Middle Section for weight, tenacity, strength, and 
 for its capacity for receiving a high polish, is pronounced 
 by experts to be superior to any in the world. It is 
 used for mill cogs, screws of presses, handspikes, cap- 
 stan bars, bows, hoops, spokes and handles of tools. 
 There are large establishments here for the manufacture 
 of spokes, rims and handles, which are sent everywhere. 
 The mature tree is about sixty feet high and eighteen or 
 twenty inches in diameter. 
 
 The white ash {Fraximis Americano) is found in both 
 the Mountain and Middle Sections, but is manufactured 
 for exportation chiefly in the latter. It furnishes the 
 
30 HAND-BCJOX OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 common timber used in light carriages, for the shafts, 
 frames, and parts of the wheels. Fhit hoops, boxes, 
 and the handles of many instruments are made of it. 
 It is the only material of oars, blocks of pullies, cleats, 
 and similar naval implements, in places where it can be 
 obtained. It is fifty to seventy feet high, and two to 
 three feet through. 
 
 The elm (Ulmus Americana), is found in each section, 
 though most abundantly in the Middle. For ship blocks 
 it is of the highest value; for hubs of wagon wheels it 
 is preferred to any timber. It is from thirty to fifty 
 feet high, and twelve to eighteen inches through. 
 
 The maple (^Acer saccharinum), is found throughout 
 the State, but from its superior facilities for transporta- 
 tion, the timber is chiefly obtained in this section. The 
 wood in old trunks is full of minute irregularities, like 
 knots. These, if cut in one direction, exhibit a spotted 
 surface, to which the name of hircfs eye maple is given; 
 while if cut in another direction, they produce a wavy 
 or shaded surface, called curly maj)le. It is used in 
 cabinet work, particularly inlaying mahogany. The 
 tree attains a height of fifty to eighty feet, and a diame- 
 ter of two to three feet. 
 
 The beech {Fagus ferruginea), is common here, and 
 grow\s luxuriantly; but is most abundant in the Moun- 
 tain Section, and will be reserved for particular notice 
 under that head. 
 
 The tulip (Liriodendron tulipifera) tree, or poplar — 
 the wood of which is so highly esteemed for carving 
 
GENERAL SKETCH. 31 
 
 and ornamental work, for some kinds of furniture, and 
 for coach panels — is native to all parts of the State, but 
 is not so common in the lower section as the others. It 
 is mentioned here because its lumber is chiefly cut and 
 prepared in this section. It will claim consideration 
 again under the head of Mountain Section. 
 
 Tlie persimmon (Diospyros Virginiana), is found in 
 all parts of the State; but it is here only that it is ob- 
 tained to any considerable extent. It is employed for 
 screws and many other implements. It is usually from 
 thirty to forty feet high, with a diameter of eighteen to 
 twenty inches. 
 
 The black walnut [Juc/lans nigra), is most abundant in 
 this section. It is used for furniture, for gun-stocks, 
 for hubs, and in house and ship building. It is a ma- 
 jestic tree, and grows to exceptional size in the Moun- 
 tain Section, under which head it will be referred to 
 again. 
 
 The yellow pine {Pinus mitis), is sparingly found in 
 the Eastern Section, but enters largely into the compo- 
 sition of the upland forest through the Middle and 
 Mountain Sections. Its uses are so familiar and univer- 
 sal as to need no enumeration. It is from forty to sixty 
 feet high, with a circumference of four or five, and even 
 six feet. 
 
 The mulberry {Morus rubra) tree, though not valued 
 for its timber, is so important in another respect as to 
 deserve mention. It grows in all parts of the State, but 
 is least abundant in the lower section. In the Middle 
 
32 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Section it occurs so commonly that nature may be said 
 to Iiave laid the broadest foundation for the cultivation 
 of silk there. 
 
 This does not exhaust the list, but it will serve to give 
 a clearer idea of the ti tuber resources of this section. 
 But, though the materials for this branch of manufac- 
 turing abound here, a beginning only has been made. 
 There are establishments for making wagons and pleas- 
 ure vehicles, excellent both for material and workman- 
 ship; but great numbers of these are still brought in 
 from other States. One branch of wood manufacture is 
 prosecuted here with spirit and success — that of spokes 
 and rims for carriages, and bobbins and similar imple- 
 ments used with the machinery of cotton and woollen 
 mills. These are sent off in great quantities to distant 
 parts of the United States, and to Europe and Australia. 
 
 The branch of manufacture which has been most fully 
 developed here is that of tobacco. The kind of tobacco 
 chiefly used in these factories is known as the golden leaf. 
 It is a unique product which originated in this section, 
 and is still mainly ^rown here; though its cultivation 
 has been wn'dely extended into the mountain section. 
 The effects of this industry have been striking. Vil- 
 lages and towns have grown up at short intervals within 
 a few years on the principal lines of railroad, where the 
 large warehouses and factories, the handsome churches, 
 school-houses, residences and stores give evidence of high 
 prosperity. In some of these towns almost the whole 
 business consists in prizing and manufacturing this com- 
 
GENERAL SKETCH. 33 
 
 modity into diiferent forms for the markets of the world. 
 Of the productions of the State, none are manufactured 
 at home to the same extent as tobacco. The fruits of it 
 in the general prosperity which the factories have diffused 
 around them give proof of what the State will be when 
 its various commodities shall be even partially manufac- 
 tured within its limits. 
 
 The cultivation of fruits of all kinds has been long 
 pursued in this section with skill, energy and judgment. 
 Its wonderful adaptation for fruits was early discovered, 
 and many nurseries were established for rearing the 
 young trees. Here the native fruits were perfected, 
 choice foreign kinds introduced, and new kinds origi- 
 nated. The enterprise of the nurserymen has planted 
 the finest fruit trees — as the apple, the peach, the pear, 
 the apricot and the cherry — about every dwelling in this 
 section, and widely beyond it. Nor have the garden 
 fruits — as the fig, the currant, the raspberry and the like 
 — received less attention. The supply of every kind for 
 home consumption is unlimited — that of peaches and 
 apples, such that large quantities are fed to hogs. Here, 
 too, as in the Eastern Section, the grape is an object of 
 special culture. They are grown for the table at home, 
 and for the market. There are in this section several 
 vineyards, some of which have an established reputation 
 for their wines and brandies. Grapes are, however, 
 grown mainly for the market. The genial soil and cli- 
 mate of this State enables the growers to put this and 
 other fruits in the Northern markets some weeks in ad- 
 
34 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROT.INA. 
 
 vance of the same fruits grown there, and at a season 
 when the appetite foi* fresh fruits has been whetted by 
 abstinence, and when they bring the highest price. When 
 dried, also, they are a staple article of export. The pro- 
 cess of drying was formerly effected entirely by the heat of 
 the sun. This process is still partially in use, but within 
 the last two or three years has been, in a great measure, 
 superseded by mechanical appliances. Wild berries, 
 whose bushes spring spontaneously and cover every 
 cleared spot not in cultivation, have given rise to an im- 
 portant industry here. The business of gathering and 
 drying blackberries gives employment to many persons, 
 especially children, whose services would not be availa- 
 ble on the farm. They are shipped in quantities incon- 
 ceivable by those unacquainted with this branch of trade. 
 The demand for them is large and increasing, and the 
 incomes derived from this source are in the aggregate 
 very considerable. 
 
 This section supplies with free hand much in the way 
 of comfort and profit. Wheat, oats, &c., are cultivated 
 to such extent that the country teems with small game, 
 especially partridges. Every farmer c^an, with his net, 
 with little loss of time, have his table supplied with this 
 most delicate of luxuries, and they offer boundless sport 
 to the lovers of such amusements. They are made a 
 considerable article of tiade. The quantity sent to the city 
 markets amounts to tons. The rabbit, which abounds 
 here, is also an article of trade as game, and this animal, 
 together with the otter, minx and raccoon, furnish no 
 inconsiderable amount of furs. 
 
GENERAL SKETCH. 35 
 
 The different ureas over which the cultivated crops of 
 this sectioD grow are well defined. Tobacco is the staple 
 crop in the northern counties, though the cereals enter 
 into the rotation; in the central counties the cereals are 
 the principal crops; in the southern counties cotton is 
 the staple crop, but in all of them the cereals are also cul- 
 tivated. 
 
 "It is worthy of note," says Prof Kerr, in his Geol- 
 ogy of Xorth Carolina, "that one of the two tracts in 
 the whole territory of the United States, which are abso- 
 lutely or almost free frona that scourge of rigorous and 
 extreme climates, pulmonary consumption, is located by 
 these census maps'^ — the census maps of 1870 — "along 
 the plateau east of the Blue Ridge in North Carolina. 
 One of the causes is doubtless the fact that this region is 
 sheltered by the proximity of the Blue Ridge, which here 
 reaches its extreme altitude, and stands as a protecting 
 wall against the two prevalent and weather-controlling 
 winds from the interior, those from the southwest and 
 northwest, and indeed from the north as well.'' ' 
 
 There are many watering })laces in this section which 
 have long been favorite resorts for health and recreation. 
 
 Vv^estern Section. 
 
 The Western Section is commonly called the Mountain 
 Section, a name which on account of its prominent phy- 
 sical features is strictly applicable. It lies enclosed be- 
 
36 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 tween the Smoky range on the west, and the Blue Ridge 
 on the east; on the north and south it extends to the 
 Virginia and South Carolina lines. In form it resembles 
 an ellipse. Its width is from twenty-five to fifty miles; its 
 length is about one hundred and fifty miles. It consists of 
 a lofty plateau, the general level of which is from two to 
 two thousand seven hundred feet above the level of the 
 sea. This plateau forms a base, upon which is clustered 
 together a preat number of the loftiest mountains to be 
 found in the United States east of the Rocky Moun- 
 tains. The mountains which reach a height of 6,000 
 feet can be counted by scores; the number of those of 
 an elevation but little inferior is almost countless. 
 
 On the eastern side of the plateau the mountains are 
 massed together without any of that orderly arrange- 
 ment common to most mountain systems. They are 
 scattered, indeed, in wild disorder. On the western 
 side a definite arrangement may be observed. The 
 Watauga, the Nolechucky, the French Broad, the Big 
 Pigeon and the Hiwassee flow nearly at right angles to 
 and through the Smoky range. Between each of these 
 rivers runs a chain of mountains parallel to them, and 
 forming the divide between them. The mountains are 
 clothed, with few exceptions, with trees to their tops. 
 The exceptions mark a singular caprice of nature. 
 Through these chains of mountains are found many 
 upon whose broad summits not a tree is to be seen, and 
 hence designated as Balds. They are covered to the 
 height of a horse's knee with grasses that afford the 
 finest pasturage. 
 
GENERAL SKETCH. 37 
 
 The view from these lofty summits is inconceivably 
 grand and beautiful. There is little of sternness; nothing 
 of desolation in anything that meets the eye. Nature 
 presents herself in her kindlier mood. The vast moun- 
 tains loom up on every hand, but they are clothed with 
 vegetation from base to summit. The element of color 
 is not wanting. It is ^dispensed indeed with liberal 
 hand. The lighter hues of the leaves of deciduous 
 trees about the base and sides of the mountains are suc- 
 ceeded by thedarker foliage of the pine and fir in the upper 
 tiers, and the sombre foliage of the balsam on the high- 
 est tiers. Throughout the Fall, when the color of the 
 trees is constantly changing, the different hues of the 
 almost endless variety of the forest growth array the 
 mountains in a glory that is indescribable. The view 
 from one of these summits, at one season only, stirred 
 the mind of Dr. Mitchell — a devotee of science and lit- 
 tle given to emotion — to a burst of poetic expression, as 
 when he speaks of the "green ocean of mountains raised 
 in tremendous billows immediately around,'^ referring 
 to the view from the top of the Roan. This section is 
 a land where all the elements of beauty and grandeur 
 are everywhere combined in a way to astonish and de- 
 light the beholder. 
 
 The forests of this section include most of the trees 
 of the Middle Section, and many that belong to high 
 Alpine latitudes — the same timber trees, and some that 
 are peculiar to this section. The wild cherry (Prunus 
 serotina) is found in each section, but here only does it 
 
 L 
 
38 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 acquire its full dimensious, or occur in quantity. On 
 the rich and cool declivities of the mountains it attains 
 a height of from sixty to eighty feet, and a diameter of 
 two to three feet. 
 
 The ichite jjine (Finns strobus), is found in this section, 
 of the State, and in this only. It forms peculiar and 
 handsome forests in the rich elevated valleys of Ashe 
 and Yancey. It is from sixty to seventy feet high, with 
 a })r()portional diameter. 
 
 The cucumber tree (Magnolia acummata), in this State 
 grows only on the mountains, particularly of Ashe, 
 Yancey and Burke, in moist, fertile soils of declivities 
 and on the banks of torrents. It is from sixty to eighty 
 feet high, and from four to five feet in diameter. 
 
 The hemlock (Abies Ganadensis)^ is also confined to 
 this section. It grows on the borders of torrents and 
 cold swamps, but extends down to the very base of the 
 mountains. The bark is extensively and almost exclu- 
 sively used for tanning in New England. Though in- 
 ferior to oak bark, it is said that the two united are 
 preferable to either alone. 
 
 The black birch (Betula lenta), or mountain mahog- 
 any, is found in this State only in the Mountain Sec- 
 tion. It affords a firm, com{)act, dark-colored wood, 
 much valued for furniture, and is sometimes used for 
 screws and implements requiring strength. 
 
 The ichite loalnut (Juglans cinerea), used in light cab- 
 inet work and in the hubs of carriages, is found upon 
 bottom land and river banks in the valleys of the 
 
GENERAL SKETCH. 39 
 
 Qiountains. It attains a height of fifty feet, with a 
 diameter of tliree feet or more. 
 
 The chestnut (Castanea vesca), though found sparingly 
 in tlie Middle Section, is confined chiefly to the moun- 
 tains, from Ashe to Cherokee. It is invaluable for fenc- 
 ing; the rails split out straight and easily, and are said 
 to last fifty years. It is also used for shingles and for 
 cooperage. Its usual height is from fifty to seventy feet, 
 and stocks are sometimes met with which, at six feet 
 from the ground, measure fifteen or sixteen feet in cir- 
 cumference. 
 
 The beech (Fagus ferruginea), though found in the 
 Middle Section, occurs here in greatest abundance, and 
 here only attains its proper size. It rises from fifty to 
 eighty, and even one hundred feet, with a diameter of 
 two and three feet. It is used for plane stocks, lasts, 
 card-backs and the handles of mechanical instruments. 
 
 The locust {Robinia pseudacacici), extends along the 
 mountains, from the northern to the southern boundary 
 of the State. In civil architecture this timber is not 
 extensively used in buildings, but is employed for rail- 
 road ties and sleepers when it can be had. In naval 
 architecture it is used to as great an extent as the supply 
 will admit. It is also largely used by turners instead of 
 box 
 
 The linn or liyne tree {Tllia Americana), so well adapted 
 for turners' work and so extensively used for the manu- 
 facture of wooden-ware, is common in this section. It 
 seldom exceeds forty feet in height, with a diameter of 
 twelve or eighteen inches. 
 
40 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 In respect to those timber trees found here, in common 
 with the other sections, the Mountain Section has the ad- 
 vantage of possessing an unbroken forest. In compari- 
 son with the extent of forest lands, the clearings here 
 are mere patches. 
 
 There is little hazard in saying that there is nowhere 
 in any of the States an equal area of land covered with 
 timber trees of such various kinds, and of such value. 
 The walnut, tulip trees (poplars), and oaks attain a size 
 that would hardly be credited by one who had not seen 
 them. The preservation of this magnificent forest is due 
 to the fact that it has hitherto been inaccessible to trans- 
 portation. Within the past few years much of it has 
 been brought into connection with the markets of the 
 world. One railroad line passes entirely through this 
 section, and anotlier branching off at Asheville and lead- 
 ing to the extreme southwest of the State, is in great part 
 completed. Into the northwestern part of the State 
 also a railroad has been completed and others projected, 
 of which two are partially graded. 
 
 The cultivated productions of this section are the same 
 with those of the Middle Section, cotton and rice excepted. 
 Its garden vegetables are the same, but the cabbage and 
 the Irish potato grow here to a degree of perfection that 
 cannot be excelled anywhere. Among the fruits, its 
 apples are noted for size and flavor. Peaches and grapes 
 grow well generally; but, for their highest perfection, 
 nature has made provisions by a suspension to some ex- 
 tent of her ordinary laws. Throughout the mountains, 
 
GENERAL SKETCH. 41 
 
 ill certain localities and at certain elevations, there are 
 horizontal bells where frost is never known. Such local- 
 ities are found not only in this section, but in tlie South 
 mountains and in the Brushy range. They constitute 
 an unfailing source of supply of these fruits, and in pro- 
 cess of time will be occupied by establishments for can- 
 ning fruits for the markets of the world. . 
 
 The climate of this section differs less from that of the 
 Middle Section than would be inferred from its higher 
 altitude. The difference is more perceptible in Summer 
 than in Winter. In the former season, its cool and 
 bracing air, together with its varied scenery, its mineral 
 waters — sulphur, chalybeate and thermal — made this 
 section one of the favorite resorts of the people of the 
 South and Southwest, when it could only be reached by 
 private conveyances. Since it has been penetrated by 
 railroads, the influx of health and pleasure seekers has 
 increased an hundred fold, and in future will add very 
 largely to its resources. 
 
 It is the resort, too, of people from the far North in 
 Winter. It is protected by the range of mountains which 
 form its boundaries from all the cold winds — the north- 
 east, north and northwest. The degree of cold is there- 
 fore temperate. A pinching season may come at long 
 intervals; it is, however, of short duration, being quickly 
 succeeded by weather of a moderate temperature. Such 
 seasons are not unwelcome by way of contrast. The 
 quantity of snow that ftills here very little exceeds that 
 of the Middle Section. Even in the high mountain 
 
42 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 ranges, cattle are excluded from pasturage by the snow 
 only once in about seven years. 
 
 ■ The soils of the basins of the great rivers of this sec- 
 tion, and its mountain valleys, are noted for their fertility. 
 The capacity for the production of cereals and h^y grasses 
 is equal to those of any lands. As might be inferred 
 from the heavy forest growth with which the entire sur- 
 face is covered, the mountain sides are susceptible of 
 profitable cultivation up to their summits. 
 
 Among the valleys most noted for their beauty and 
 extent are the Upper French Broad and Mills river val- 
 leys, of Henderson and Transylvania; the Swannanoa, 
 in Buncombe; the Pigeon river, Richland and Jonathan's 
 creek flat lands, in Haywood; those of the Valley river 
 and Hiwassee, in Cherokee; and portions of the Upper 
 Linville, in Mitchell. 
 
 The entire transmontanecountry is well adapted tostock 
 raising. The cultivated grasses flourish everywhere with 
 even ordinary care. But it is in the nortlnvestern coun- 
 ties — particularly in the counties of Ashe, Alleghany, Wa- 
 tauga, Mitchell, Yancey, that all the conditions are found 
 necessary for its perfect success. The soil throughout 
 these counties is a deep ri(di loam, up to the summits of 
 the mountains. The whole country is covered with a dense 
 vegetation, amongst which will be found some of the 
 largest timber in the United States, and as yet the for- 
 ests are comparatively unbroken, because they have been 
 inaccessible to market. The clearing of the timber is a 
 work of some difficulty, but when that is done the labor 
 
GENERAL SKETCH. 43 
 
 of the farmer is rewarded with the richest crops. After 
 two or three crops are taken off, the land, if suffered to 
 lie at rest, springs up spontaneously in timothy, herds 
 grass, and other rich pasture grasses; and once estab- 
 lished, the grass pcr{)etuates itself upon the land. Nor 
 is an entire clearing necessary to establish the land in 
 grass. If the undergrowth is removed, the trees 
 thinned out, and the surface stirred and sown in orchard 
 grass (Cocks foot), it flouvishes luxuriantly, even while 
 the forest trees are left standing. 
 
 Its capacity as a grazing country has long been known. 
 But formerly the cattle were left to the resources of 
 nature, which, indeed, in such a country were abundant 
 and rich. " Horses and horned cattle," says General Cling- 
 nian in one of his publications, ''are usually driven out 
 into the mountains about the first of April and brought 
 back in November. Within six weeks after they have 
 thus been put into the range, they become fat and sleek. 
 There are, however, on the top -and along the sides of 
 the higher mountains ever-green and winter grasses on 
 which horses and horned cattle live well through the 
 entire Winter. Such animals are often foaled and reared 
 there until fit for market, without ever seeing a cultiva- 
 ted plantation." Of late, attention has been turned to 
 the breeding of fine stock, and some herds of cattle and 
 flocks of sheep are found there which will compare not 
 unfavorably with those of any country. This country 
 is already penetrated by one railroad, and others are in 
 course of construction. When fairly laid open to rail- 
 
44 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 road commiiDication, it will offer — besides its rich min- 
 ino^ interests and timbers — one of the finest fields for 
 cattle and sheep breeding; and for dairy products that the 
 Union })rcsents. 
 
 Apart from its forests, nature has been prodigal to 
 this section in shrubs and flowering |)lants. It has al- 
 ways been a favorite resort of the botanists. It is a 
 field that has been assiduously cultivated by many of 
 the 'most distinguished professors of that science. It 
 was from these mountains that Bartram, the Michaux — 
 father and son — Fraser, Delile, Lyon, Nuttall, Von 
 Schweinitz, Mitchell, Gray and Curtis, drew much of the 
 material of their valuable contribution to botanical science. 
 It was here that some of the most beautiful flowers that 
 adorn the gardens of Europe and of this country were 
 first discovered. It still yields rare flowers to the ex- 
 plorer, which though not conspicuous for their beauty, 
 are deemed rare treasures by botanists. 
 
 This section has also been one of the chief sources of 
 supply of medicinal herbs. Immense quantities are 
 gathered and shipped to the Northern cities and to Eu- 
 rope. In travelling through the mountains bales ol 
 these herbs may be seen collected about the country 
 stores as bales of cotton are seen in the Middle and 
 Eastern Sections. Ginseng in great quantities is shipped 
 to China. The trade in medicinal herbs has grown into 
 a large business. 
 
 The mineral wealth of this section is varied and 
 abundant. These will be simply mentioned here, as each 
 
GENERAL SKETCH. 45 
 
 will form, in the Hand-Book, the subject of a sepa- 
 rate DOtice. Marbles of the finest quality and of vari- 
 ous colors compose whole mountains, so to speak, in 
 Macon and Cherokee. 
 
 Corundum abounds in Macon, Clay and many other 
 counties. Mica is abundant in Mitchell and Yancey, 
 and those counties yield a large part of the world's sup- 
 ply. The largest and finest sheets of it seen at the 
 World's Fair at Vienna were from the Ray Mine in 
 Yancey. 
 
 This section is rich in iron ores of the best grade. 
 That of Cranberry possesses such excellence for making 
 iron for special purposes — steam boilers for example, 
 and steel of the finest quality, such as is adapted to 
 making surgical instruments and the like — that a rail- 
 road forty miles long has been constructed through one 
 of the most rugged parts of the mountain territory to 
 reach it. Copper also is prominent among the metals 
 of this region. The most noted mine is that of Ore 
 Knob, in Ashe. It has been extensively developed, and 
 the business in all its branches is conducted with intelli- 
 gence, skill and energy. 
 
 The effect of these mining enterprises upon the pros- 
 perity of this section has been marked. Labor has 
 found profitable employment, a home market has been 
 furnished to the farmer, and there has been a general 
 appreciation of property of every kind. 
 
 The last three years have been remarkable for the 
 success with which the difficulties presented by the want 
 
46 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 of transportation in this State have been grappled with 
 and overcome. Tliese acliievemenls at once great and 
 beneficent, will make this period a mcmni-able one in 
 the history of the State. Railroads are now entering 
 the northwestern part of the State in several directions. 
 The com[)letion and connection of these, and the open- 
 ing up of this region, so rich in elements of undeveloped 
 wealth, is now regarded as the first and most imperative 
 duty of the statesmen of North Carolina. 
 
 Geological Formations, 
 
 Tiie soils of tlie Middle and Mountain Sections may 
 be treated of in one view, since they owe their origin to 
 the same cause. The rocks of this part of the State 
 were brought into the position they now occupy at an 
 early period of the earth's history; the soils that have 
 been formed upon them have resulted from their disin- 
 tegration and decay. No stratum of foreign matter 
 has been brought in from abroad in cither of these sec- 
 tions, that which has been caused by rain water rushing 
 down the sides of hills and flowing along the beds of 
 streams alone excepted. The rocks are chiefly of the 
 |)rimitive formation, granites, schists, slates, &c. The soils 
 vary in chemical composition and fertility, according to 
 the character of the rocks from which they are derived. 
 The rocks range with the sea-shore and the mountain 
 
GENERAL SKETCH. 47 
 
 chains, and ruu uniformly in a direction from northeast 
 to southwest. A brief notice of the principal forma- 
 tions of rocks is here subjoined, and the characters of 
 the soils of each discriminated in a general way. 
 
 West of the Eastern Section — in our early geological 
 reports termed Tertiary, and by the later distinguished 
 as the Qiuiternary — there occurs, in the counties of 
 Northampton, Halifax, Johnston, Nash, Franklin, War- 
 ren, Granville, Wake and Cumberland, a body of an- 
 cient primitive rock largely covered by sand — Lau- 
 rentian. Amongst these granite prevails more ex- 
 tensively than any other, and when the tertiary sand is 
 absent, there is fertile soil. 
 
 The next formation of rocks going west is the sand- 
 stones — Triassic. It commences in Granville, three or 
 four miles southwest from Oxford, and passes through 
 Orange and Wake, Chatham and Moore, Montgomery, 
 Richmond and Anson; but through a part of Moore, 
 Montgomery and Richmond, it is covered by tertiary 
 sand and clays. The principal constituent of this for- 
 mation is a fine-grained, greenish or reddish sandstone, 
 whose particles are connected together by a mixture of 
 clay and oxide of iron. This produces by its decompo- 
 sition a soil favorable to the growth of corn, oats, and 
 especially sweet potatoes ; but is not so well adapted to 
 that of wheat. 
 
 The next formation is that of the transition and slate 
 rocks — Huronian-Taconic. These occupy a large space 
 in North Carolina. The principal body of these rocks 
 
48 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 traverses the State m a northeasterly and southwesterly 
 direction immediately west of the great sandstone form- 
 ation, occu{)ying a breadth of about thirty miles. This 
 formation iucludefe the western part of Granville, the 
 eastern part of Person, the central part of Orange, more 
 than half of Chatham, nearly the whole of Randolph, 
 the whole of Montgomery (what is called sandstone 
 excepted), the whole of Stanly, the southern corner of 
 Davidson and Rowan, the northwestern part of Anson, 
 and southwestern part of Mecklenburg. The most 
 common and abundant constituent of this formation is a 
 compound of .silica and alumina; a simple argelite or clay 
 slate. This prevails especially near its two extremities; 
 in Granville and Person on its northern, and in Anson, 
 Mecklenburg and Stanly on its southern extremity. 
 The slate undergoes decomposition slowly, and has not 
 to this day covered itself with any great depth of eartl^ 
 The soil is never of a very high degree of fertility, but 
 with good cultivation excellent crops are obtained. The 
 adaptability of these lands to the growth of line yellow 
 tobacco has very much enhanced their value. 
 
 Throughout this body of slate, nowhere very thick, 
 the granite occasionally penetrates and rises to the sur- 
 face in tracts larger or smaller. In the southern part of 
 Person, in Orange, Chatham, Randolph and Davidson, 
 there are large patches of granite; and there results a 
 much higher degree of fertility in the soil. 
 
 West of the slate formation a vast body of granite 
 rock traverses the State including in its area a large 
 
GENERAL SKETCH. 49 
 
 part of the counties of Person, Caswell, Orange, Guil- 
 ford, Randolph, Davidson, Rowan, Cabarrus, Mecklen- 
 burg, Lincoln, Iredell, Davie, Stokes and Rockingham 
 — Laurentlan. Throughout this region mica, one of 
 the usual constituents of granite, is rare, and is replaced 
 by chlorite or hornblende. The whole mass of rock, 
 with a structure more or less granitic, has an earthy 
 aspect indicatinga recentorigin. In consequence itdecom- 
 poses readily and into a fertile soil. Two of the three 
 constituents of the granite — mica and felspar — furnish 
 by its disintegration valuable ingredients to the soil. 
 Both contain a considerable percentage of potash, though 
 from the refractory nature of the mica, the potash, that 
 element so essential to tobacco and the smaller cereals, is 
 chiefly derived from the felspar. When chlorite replaces 
 the mica it adds, upon the decomposition of the granite, 
 another element, magnesia, its chief ingredient; an ele- 
 ment indispensable to the healthy growth of the corn 
 plant (maize). When mica is replaced by hornblende 
 the latter supplies from its ingredients both magnesia 
 and lime, and the presence of lime is a fundamental 
 condition of fertility in all soils. And it is observable 
 that of the region occupied by this formation — which is 
 the great grain growing region of the State — the tracts 
 where hornblende predominates in their composition, as 
 in Cabarrus and Mecklenburg, are superior to the rest. 
 West of this formation are the most ancient primitive 
 rocks (Laurentian). Here every form of granite is 
 met with. The ternary compound of quartz, felspfar 
 3 
 
50 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 and mica is most common, but with endless diversities, 
 depending upon the proportion, color, size of the grains, 
 and other character of the constituent minerals. There 
 occur here also indefinite alternations of gneiss, horn- 
 blende and micaceous schists, and occasionally chloritic 
 and talcose slates. There is a great variety of soil, sub- 
 ordinate, however, to that general uniformity which 
 characterizes the same formation ; for most of the above 
 rocks are essentially granitic. 
 
 There is another body of transition slate in the west- 
 ern and northwestern part of the State, adjacent to Ten- 
 nessee (Huroidan-Taconic). It ranges along the western 
 half of the border counties, but through Yancey and 
 Mitchell shoots off a long projection, extending quite 
 across the Blue Ridge to the Catawba, in Burke, and 
 extends northerly and southerly, coincident in general 
 direction and partly in position, with the Blue Ridge. 
 
 The fertility of soils so far as it depends upon their 
 own constitution and the character of the rocks from 
 which they have been formed, is determined by other 
 circumstances : 
 
 1. Their composition ; as the principal rocks of the 
 Middle and Mountain Sections are included under the 
 term granite, this has been already explained. 
 
 2. Their susceptibility of disintegration by the action 
 of the elements. 
 
 This depends very largely upon their position; if the 
 position is horizontal, they present their surfaces only to 
 the disintegrating agents and long periods of time are 
 
GENEKAL SKETCH. 51 
 
 necessary to produce any effect. But the rocks of these 
 sections have been u[)heaved by the forces of nature and 
 laid upon their edges. They have thus been exposed 
 to weatherino; influences to their fullest extent. The rain 
 water could easily sink along the lines of stratification, 
 and the air find ready access. The result has been a 
 decomposition of the various strata to the depth of thirty, 
 fifty, and even a hundred feet; as is proven in sinking 
 wells, and illustrated in railroad cuttings. In this con- 
 dition of things super-abundant moisture is absorbed, 
 and the roots of trees and of vegetation range freely, 
 and appropriate the lime, potash, soda and other mineral 
 elements yielded by the decomposing rocks. 
 
 3. The amount of decayed vegetable or animal mat- 
 ter the soil may contain. 
 
 The uncleared land here has stood in woods for a 
 period of time it is impossible to reckon. Hence the 
 soil is charged with*vegetable matter from the annual 
 fall of leaves, from the decay of successive generations 
 of trees; and from the dying out of the annual native 
 grasses. It has too received into its bosom the remains 
 of the various forms of animal life which have peopled 
 the country from the beginning of things. When the 
 lands have been exhausted by cultivation, they quickly 
 cover themselves with trees, shrubs and grasses, and the 
 vegetable matter is soon replenished. 
 
PEOPLE OF THE STATE. 
 
 In all those things which stamp a high moral impress, 
 no people can look back upon the past with more pride 
 than those of North Carolina. From the foundation of 
 the colony they have always been noted for those traits 
 of character which give the greatest security to the State, 
 to society and the family. They have always upheld 
 the exercise of constitutional authority; the social duties 
 they have always appreciated and observed; and by none 
 have the domestic ties been more prized and cherished. 
 Industry, frugality, and social order have marked every 
 stage of their existence. Yet more, reverence for truth 
 — especially revealed truth — and a sacred regard for 
 business engagements have been ingrained in them. 
 
 An observer would be at once struck by the homo- 
 geneity of the people, and with the agreeable spectacle 
 of two races living in harmony on the same soil and 
 under the same laws. The first is rare in this age of 
 migration, and particularly in this country, but is easily 
 explained by the natural barriers to commerce which 
 excluded variety of pursuits and made the State essenti- 
 ally an agricultural community. The conservative dis- 
 position and tastes which these modes of life nurtured 
 repressed any effort to make known the resources of the 
 State, and to attract settlers. But under the stimulus of 
 
PEOPLE OF THE STATE. 53 
 
 our system of railroad transportation which has, in a 
 measure, redressed our natural disadvantages; the new 
 order of things, brought about by the war, and through 
 the necessity of cultivating smaller farms and the conse- 
 quent surplus of lands in market, a new spirit has char- 
 acterized the people and turned a general desire toward 
 immigration. 
 
 In regard to the harmony existing between the two 
 races, Gov. Jarvis, in his annual message to the Legis- 
 lature, in 1881, said: 
 
 "The two races are working together in peace and 
 harmony, v/ith increasing respect for each other. The 
 colored population, I am glad to say, are becoming more 
 industrious and thrifty. Many of them are property 
 owners and tax payers. They seem to be learning the 
 important lesson that they have nothing to rely upon 
 but their own labor. I have tried, on every opportune 
 occasion, to impress this lesson upon them, and to assure 
 them of the sympathy and hearty co-operation of the 
 white race in their efforts to make themselves good 
 and useful citizens. They have held during the past 
 two years, in the city of Raleigh, two industrial exhi- 
 bitions that were exceedingly creditable to them. I 
 attended both of these exhibitions, and made short 
 addresses, and was glad to see that the efforts of the col- 
 ored race in this direction found so much favor and 
 encouragement among the whites. I regard it as an 
 imperative duty from which the whites cannot escape, if 
 they would, to see that in all things full and exact just- 
 ice is done the blacks, and that they are not left alone to 
 
54 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 work out their own destiuy. They are entitled, by 
 many binding considerations, to receive aid and encour- 
 agement from the wliites, in their efforts to be better 
 men and women, and I have no doubt will receive it.'' 
 
 The events of the past five years have confirmed the 
 justness of this official statement. 
 
 The natural increase in our population has been 
 greater than that from natural and foreign sources in 
 most other States, and now ranks it as the fifteenth in 
 the number of its inhabitants in the Union. It in- 
 creased from 1,071,361 in 1870 to 1,399,750 in 1880, 
 and can now be safely estimated at 1,500,000. Classi- 
 fied by the census according to sex there were, in 1880, 
 687,908 males, and 711,842 females; by race, 867,242 
 whites, 531,267 colored people, 1,230 Indians and 1 
 Japanese. The aggregate population consisted of 270,- 
 994 families, living in 264,305 dwellings. The num- 
 ber of persons to a square mile was 28.81, the number 
 of families 5.58, dwellings 5.44. The number of acres 
 of land to a person 22.21, to a family 114.73. The 
 number of persons to a dwelling 5.30, to a family 5.17. 
 
 The percentage of increase from 1870 to 1880 was 
 30.06; of density of population 8 per cent. 
 
 Distributed according to topography, 421,157 of the 
 population live on the South Atlantic coast; 743,739 on 
 the interior plateaus and table lands; and 233,654 in the 
 Mountain districts. According to the same distribution 
 203,771 colored people live on the South Atlantic 
 coast ; 300,236 on the interior table lands, and 27,270 
 in the Mountain districts. 
 
GOVERNMENT AND TAXATION, 
 
 The government of North Carolina is a pure democ- 
 racy. It is based upon the will of the people as ex- 
 pressed in the Constitution, an instrument framed by 
 them in their sovereign capacity through delegates ap- 
 pointed for that purpose. The will of the people of 
 this and of each State, Avhen thus expressed, and in 
 conformity to the Constitution of the United States — 
 for the will of the people of each State is subordinate 
 to the collective will of the people of all the States — is 
 the supreme law. The State Constitution thus made is 
 the measure and test of all laws passed by the Legisla- 
 ture, and these laws must stand or fall by their agree- 
 ment or disagreement with it. 
 
 The Constitution is a short instrument but wide in its 
 scope and bearing. It contains a brief statement of the 
 fundamental principles of civil and individual liberty, 
 creates th^ different departments of government — Exec- 
 utive, Legislative and Judicial — and prescribes the pow- 
 ers of each; establishes educational, charitable and 
 penal institutions; directs who shall be liable to duty 
 in militia ; and prescribes the rights of citizenship. 
 
 The Legislature enacts laws. The Judiciary passes 
 upon them when a question arises as to their constitution- 
 
56 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 ality, and expounds them when a question is ])resented as 
 to their meaning. The execution of the law is entrusted 
 to the Executive. The Executive in this State possesses 
 no veto u[)on the acts of the Legislature. When the 
 law is once made, his duty as that of every other citizen 
 is obedience in his sphere. 
 
 The rights of citizenship is the only point for con- 
 sideration here ; and these depend upon age, residence 
 and previous citizenship. 
 
 A citizen of a foreign country can make himself a 
 citizen here by becoming a resident; declaring before 
 the proper tribunal his purpose to become a citizen ; and 
 taking the prescribed oath of allegiance. 
 
 A citizen of any other of the United States becomes 
 a citizen here by changing his residence from that State 
 to this. 
 
 All persons who are born and continue to reside 
 within this State are citizens thereof. 
 
 The chief privilege of citizenship is suffrage. The 
 Constitution ordains that, '^ every male person born in 
 the United States, and every male person who has been 
 naturalized, twenty-one years old, or upward, who shall 
 have resided in this State twelve months next .preceding 
 the election, and ninety days in the county in which he 
 offers to vote, shall be deemed an elector." 
 
 Suffrage here embraces the right to vote for every 
 officer in the State from the Governor down to constable. 
 One only exception to this princij)le exists in this State — 
 that is in the case of Justices of the Peace. These are 
 appointed by the Legislature. Logical consistency was 
 
L 
 
 GOVERNMENT AND TAXATION. 57 
 
 sacrificed in this case to secure what, in the judgment of 
 the Convention, was a point of far higher importance, 
 namely, the sound administration of justice in the 
 county, and the administration of county finances, both 
 of which are under the control of the Justices. In 
 many of the eastern counties the colored population 
 largely predominates. Newly emerged from slavery, 
 and consequently ignorant of the duties of citizenship; 
 ignorant of the law and therefore incapable of adminis- 
 tering it; themselves without property and therefore 
 without the judgment necessary to administer the finances 
 of a community ; it was deemed best to repose the power 
 of making magistrates in another body; thus guarding 
 those communities against error, whether of ignorance 
 or design, until experience and education should make 
 those colored majorities safe repositories of such power. 
 This provision of the Constitution was inspired by no 
 feeling of enmity toward the colored man ; it was a pro- 
 vision of safety as well for the colored as for the white 
 man. The provision was made impartial in its opera- 
 tion ; it applies to every county in the State, whether the 
 majority be white or black, and the object was secured. 
 No such provision was necessary in the cases of officers 
 elected by general ticket, for there the experience of the 
 white population accustomed to the exercise of citizen- 
 ship and educated to its responsibilities would counter- 
 balance the inexperience of the colored race. 
 
 Citizenship under the Constitution of North Caro- 
 lina carries with it high and important rights apart from 
 suffrage. It confers a right to an education by the 
 
58 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 State, such as will qualify the citizen for the duties to 
 he perfornied. If he he without property, it gives him 
 a right to support from the county, if incapable of earn- 
 ing it by sickness or old age. If he have property and 
 is overtaken by irremediable misfortune, it exempts from 
 execution personal property to the value of five hundred 
 dollars, and vests in the owner in fee simple the home- 
 stead and the dwellings and the buildings used there- 
 with not exceeding in value one thousand dollars to be 
 selected by him. The unfortunate have thus a secure 
 refuge in case of disaster in business. 
 
 It regulates taxation by providing that the General 
 Assembly levying a tax shall state the object to which 
 it is to be applied, and enjoins that it be applied to no 
 other purpose. It establishes an equation between the 
 property and the capitation tax by directing that the 
 capitation tax levied on each citizen shall be equal to the 
 tax on property valued at three hundred dollars in cash. 
 The capitation tax is levied on every male inhabitant in 
 the State over twenty-one and under fifty years of age, 
 which shall never exceed two dollars on the head. The 
 effect of this limitation upon the capitation tax restricts 
 the tax on each hundred dollars' worth of property to 
 sixty -six and two-thirds cents. It further directs that 
 the amount levied for county purposes shall not exceed 
 the double of the State tax except for a special purpose 
 and with the approval of the Legislature. 
 
 The rate of State tax levied for the present year is 
 twenty-five cents on one hundred dollars besides twelve 
 and a half cents, school tax. 
 
EDUCATION. 
 
 The Constitution of North Carolina, adopted in 1776, 
 ordained as a part of the fundamental law that "schools 
 shall be established for the convenient instruction of 
 youth, with such salaries to the masters, paid by the 
 public, as may enable them to instruct at low prices/' 
 As soon as the resources of the State permitted, this 
 provision of the Constitution was carried into effect. 
 Long before the civil war the system of common schools 
 in this State had attained a full development. A fund 
 of two millions of dollars had been accumulated, the 
 income from which was supplemented by annual appro- 
 priations. From 1852 to 1861 our educational progress 
 attracted general attention and admiration. This fund 
 was engulfed in the war, and the system had to be built 
 up anew from the very foundation. 
 
 The provision for State education under the new Con- 
 stitution of North Carolina, if not equal to that of some 
 other States, is yet liberal. The Constitution sets apart 
 a large extent of land, and appropriates all moneys 
 arising from certain specified sources, for establisliing 
 and maintaining free j)ublic schools in the several coun- 
 ties of the State. Further, it directs the appropriation 
 of 75 per cent., at least, of the State and county capita- 
 
60 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 tion tax to the same purpose. The moneys fr^m these 
 sources form a permanent fund for education which can- 
 not be diverted. The legislation of the last few years 
 shows a growing sense of this great interest. That of 
 the session of 1881 was a marked advance on any that 
 had gone before. In addition to the provisions speci- 
 fied above, a tax of twelve and a half cents was levied 
 on every hundred dollars worth of property and credits, 
 and the tax on the poll was correspondingly increased 
 thirty-seven and a half cents in aid of the education 
 fund. The revenue from these sources was reckoned to 
 be fully adequate to keep open the public schools for 
 four months in the year. If the tax thus levied should 
 prove insufficient to maintain one or more schools in 
 each district for the period named, the county commis- 
 sioners are required to levy annually a special tax to 
 supply the deficiency. The ages for admission to the 
 public school range from six to twenty-one years. 
 
 The organization provided for administering the com- 
 mon school system is sound and judicious. The Consti- 
 tution provides a State Board of Education which has full 
 power to legislate in relation to free public schools and 
 the educational fund of the State. Its legislation is sub- 
 ject, however, to be altered or amended by the Genera) 
 Assembly. A Su})erintendent of Public Instruction 
 presides over and directs the operations of the whole 
 system. 
 
 Corresponding to a State Board and State Superinten- 
 dent, theriB is a county Board and county Superintendent. 
 
EDUCATION. 61 
 
 The county Board is charged with the general manage- 
 ment of the public schools in their respective counties. 
 The county Superintendent examines applicants for 
 positions as teachers, visits and inspects the public 
 schools, advises with teachers as to methods of instruc- 
 tion and government, and he may, under regulations 
 prescribed, suspend teachers if incompetent or negli- 
 gent; his action in the latter case being subject to review 
 by the county Board. 
 
 The county Board of Education of each county has 
 authority to establish a teacher's institute in their county, 
 or the boards of any number of counties may join in 
 establishing one for the several counties so co-operating. 
 
 Each county is laid off into school districts, the con- 
 venience of each neighborhood being consulted. In 
 each district there is a school committee consisting of 
 three persons. It is the duty of the committee to pro- 
 vide school-houses, employ teachers, and give orders for 
 the payment of the sums due for their services, atid take 
 at a stated period a census of the children within the 
 school age. 
 
 The compensation provided for teachers of the first 
 grade is left to the discretion of the committee; that of 
 teachers of the second grade is twenty-five dollars a 
 month; that for those of the third grade is fifteen 
 dollars. 
 
 The schools for the two races are separate; the dis- 
 tricts the same in territorial limits, or not, according to 
 tihie cttovfenieutite of the imTties ccfncerned. 
 
 L 
 
62 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 The financial arrangements with respect to the school 
 fund give the most absolute security for its safe custody 
 and proper application. It is collected by the sheriff 
 and by him paid to the county treasurer. It is drawn 
 by a written order of the district committee, which order 
 is countersigned by the county Superintendent. The 
 school fund, it will be seen, is handled by none but 
 bonded officers, and paid out under the most effective 
 checks for its proper disbursement. 
 
 For the purpose of training teachers, and thus giving 
 unity to methods of instruction, and the greatest effici- 
 ency to its practical working, thirteen Normal Schools are 
 established — eight for the white and five for the colored 
 race; and an equal fund is appropriated to the Normal 
 schools for each race. Within the last few years graded 
 schools have been established in all the principal trowns 
 of the State, and the number is yearly increasing. 
 
 The provision for higher education is ample. Private 
 schools for both sexes are numerous. The principal in- 
 stitutions for the education of boys and girls are of the 
 highest order. 
 
 At the head of the institutions of learning is the Uni- 
 versity of tlie State, an institution established in pursu- 
 ance of the Constitution, and maintained in part by 
 annual appropriations. Science and learning in their 
 widest range are there taught by professors eminent in 
 their several branches. Second only to the University 
 are the denominational colleges of the State, each having 
 a corps of learned professors and tutors. 
 
RELIGION. 
 
 Tlie laws of North Carolina do not recognize any one 
 religious sect in preference to the rest; they are all ab- 
 solutely independent of the control of the State. Each 
 sect is thus on an exactly equal footing with every other. 
 The people, however, are almost entirely Protestant of 
 various denominations. 
 
 STATE DEBT. 
 
 h 
 
 The following tables contain a statement of the debt 
 of the State of North Carolina, taken from the report of 
 the Treasurer, made to the General Assembly, at its 
 
 session in 1885 : 
 
 Actual debt bearing four per cent, interest. . . $2,967,000.00 
 Prospective debt bearing four per cent. Interest 622,511.25 
 
 $3,589,511.25 
 
 The item designated as ''prospective debt^' represents 
 bonds not yet exchanged under the "act to compromise 
 the State debt.'' 
 
 Actual debt bearing six per cent, interest $2,310,000.00 
 
 Prospective debt, bearing six per cent, interest 
 (old bonds now being renewed) 485,000.00 
 
 $2,795,000.00 
 
64 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 This latter debt, $2,795,000, was incurred for the 
 construction of the North Carolina Railroad, which is in 
 great part owned by the State. The income from the 
 dividends realized by the road is not only sufficient to 
 pay the interest, but leaves a surplus which is regularly 
 funded from year to year, the aggregate of which will 
 extinguish the debt at the maturity of the bonds. This 
 debt does not now impose, nor will it in future impose, 
 one cent of taxation upon the people of the State. The 
 first amount, $3,589,511.25, therefore represents the 
 entire debt for which the property of the State is sub- 
 ject to be taxed. 
 
 The total valuation of real and personal property in 
 North Carolina is, according to the Auditor's Report for 
 1885, $209,569,096. But the valuation of property in 
 this State is known to be from one-third to one-half 
 below its real value. For the purpose of ascertaining 
 the true value of the property of the State, an addition 
 in that proportion must be made to the valuation above 
 given. Taking, however, the valuation as given in the 
 Auditor's Report, it will be seen that a tax of seven and 
 one-half cents upon the hundred dollars worth of prop- 
 erty will pay the interest upon the whole State debt. 
 
 But there exists in fact no necessity for such a tax, 
 light as it would be. The act under which the debt 
 was compromised, appropriates certain taxes therein 
 enumerated, known as privilege taxes, to the payment of 
 the interest; and by the terms of the act this appropria- 
 tion is made a part of the contract between the State and 
 
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. 65 
 
 the bondholders, and is therefore inviolable. From this 
 source the amount realized is so large, that the remainder 
 of the interest is provided by a tax of only four cents on 
 the hundred dollars worth of the property of the State. 
 
 PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. 
 
 The three Asylums for the Insane, the two Institu- 
 tions for the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind, the Or- 
 phan Asylum and the county Poor Houses constitute 
 the public charities of the State. The Penitentiary, 
 county Jails and city Police Prisons are its penal insti- 
 tutions. All are supervised by the Board of Public 
 Charities. Two of the asylums for the insane, one at 
 Raleigh and the other at Morganton, are set apart for 
 white patients, and have a capacity of six hundred and 
 seventy-nine inmates. At Goldsboro is situated the 
 asylum for the colored insane. It has a capacity of one 
 hundred and seventy-five patients. 
 
 There is an institution for the white and one for the 
 colored deaf and dumb and the blind children in the 
 State, both situated at the Capital and under the same 
 management. The pupils must be between the ages of 
 eight and twenty years to gain admission, and are edu- 
 cated and maintained while at the institution. 
 
(36 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA'. 
 
 The Orphan Asylum, at Oxford, is maintained by the 
 charity of the Masons and other benevolent ])ersons ; it 
 receives an annual appropriation of ten thousand dollars 
 per annum from the State. The inmates are clothed, 
 fed and taught the rudiments of English and some trade 
 or business. 
 
 The Board of County Commissioners is charged 
 with the duty of maintaining by taxation and of pro- 
 viding for the comfort and well ordering of the poor. 
 A competent j>ersoii, called the Overseer, has the im- 
 mediate management of the Poor House in each county, 
 and generally it is well provided and appointed. 
 
 The Penitentiary is located at the Capital and is one 
 of the most substantial buildings of its kind. The 
 number of criminals in proportion to the population of 
 the State is small, when it is remembered that a large 
 fraction of that population was once in slavery and had 
 to be educated to the laws. Of this number 10 per cent, 
 were convicted of crimes against persons. In this class 
 all grades of crime from murder to aggravated assaults 
 are included. The rest are committed for crimes against 
 property. A large majority of this class of convicts are 
 imprisoned for the crime of larceny. 
 
 The State Capitol, the Agricultural Department 
 Building, the Supreme Court Building, and all the 
 Buildings of the Public Institutions are of a substantial 
 and commodious character that reflects the general char- 
 acter of the people. The Capitol is built of massive 
 granite, and the other buildings of brick or a combina- 
 tion of brick and granite. 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES 
 
 The counties are here grouped under the heads of the 
 several agricultural regions to which each predominantly 
 belongs, or, in some cases, under that to which it is popu- 
 larly assigned. Each county is described as a whole. 
 
 The statements of areas of woodland, etc., refer to 
 the original state of things, irrespective of tilled or 
 otherwise improved lauds. 
 
 The descriptions of counties are by Prof. W. C. Kerr, 
 late State Geologist and Special U. S. Census Agent. 
 
 SEABOARD REGION. 
 
 (Embraces the counties of Currituck, Camden, Pas- 
 quotank, Perquimans, Chowan, Dare, Tyrrell, Washing- 
 ton, Hyde, Beaufort, Pamlico, Craven, Carteret, Jones, 
 Onslow, Pender, New Hanover, Brunswick, Columbus). 
 
 CURRITUCK. 
 
 Currituck couuty is bounded northward by Virginia, east- 
 ward by the Atlantic ocean, and southward mainly by Albe- 
 marle sound, and is traversed north and south by Currituck 
 sound, which occupies about one-third of its territory. Be- 
 tween this sound and the Atlantic ocean lies a narrow strip of 
 sandy soil, which in its origin is a sand-dune of the breadth 
 of from 1 to 8 miles, rising in some of its higher hillocks to 
 nearly one hundred feet, covered generally with a small growth 
 of pine, oak, hickory, dogwood, etc. The body of the county, 
 particularly the noithern section, is quite level, and has a 
 
68 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 growth of oaks, hickory and short-leaf pine, and a clay loam 
 soil, but becomes swampy near the streams. There is a nar- 
 row belt of oak and pine lands also in the middle section. 
 The narrow southern promontory which projects into Albe- 
 marle sound is for the most part sandy, and except along the 
 margin of the sounds, where it is more or less swampy, has a 
 growth of long-leaf pine. With the exception of the dune 
 hills, nearly the whole county lies below the level of 10 feet 
 above tide. 
 
 The soils of this county are much better adapted to corn and 
 rice than to cotton. The stalk of the latter grows luxuriantly, 
 but does not fruit well. Fishing is also naturally a leading 
 industry; and the county has great facilities for truck farm- 
 ing, which is rapidly acquiring importance. Of the county 
 area, 22.41 per cent, is tilled land, of which 0.78 per cent, is 
 cultivated in cotton. 
 
 The most abundant facilities exist for shipping by the sounds 
 and canals and by rail. 
 
 Population 6,476— White 4,495, colored 1,981. Area 282 
 square miles, woodland 41,119 acres, tilled land 40.455 acres. 
 Area planted in cotton 316 acres, in corn 23,310 acres, in wheat 
 101 acres, in oats 267 acres. Cotton production 139 bales, 
 average cotton product per acre 0.44 bale, 627 pounds seed- 
 cotton, or 209 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate 
 value $432,410, personal property $243,129, total $678,837. 
 State taxes $847.29, county taxes $13,662.72, school taxes 
 $2,634.03. Live stock— horses 1,098, mules 231, cattle 4,793, 
 hogs 14,372, sheep 3.123. Public schools 35, white 24, col- 
 ored 11. Churches 11. 
 
 CAMDEN. 
 
 Camden county is a long narrow strip of territory parallel to 
 Currituck. Northwestward it reaches the Dismal swamp and 
 southward Albemarle sound, and lies between two of its pro- 
 jecting arms, Pasquotank river and North river. The north- 
 ern and larger portion of this county belongs to the descrip- 
 tion of semi-swamp or oak flats, and along the main rivers, 
 and frequently for a mile of two from their margins, are gum 
 and cypress swamps. At a distance from the streams these 
 lands, as in the preceding county, are characterized by a heavy 
 growth of oak, hickory, short-leaf pine, etc. The middle por- 
 tion of the southern end of this county, along the divide 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 69 
 
 between its two bounding water-courses, has a narrow zone of 
 sandy loam soil with long-leaf pine forests. The main crops are 
 corn and cotton, with some small grains; but fishing and truck- 
 farming are also among the common and profitable industries, 
 and several thousand bushels of flaxseed are annually exported. 
 Of the county area, 26.20 per cent, is tilled land, of which 7.44 
 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Shipments are made to Norfolk by the Dismal Swamp canal 
 and by rail. 
 
 Population 6,274— White 3,791, colored 2,483. Area 214 
 square miles, woodland 65,729 acres. Tilled lands 35,870 
 acres, area planted in cotton 2,670 acres, in corn 23,663 acres, 
 in wheat 461 acres, in oats 1,008 acres. Cotton production 
 823 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.31 bale, 438 
 pounds seed-cotton, or 146 pounds cotton lint. Real prop- 
 erty, aggregate value $377,342. personal property, $203,951, 
 total $581,293. State taxes $396.71, county taxes $6, *^30. 30, 
 school taxes $2,766.64. Live stock— Horses 994, mules 286, 
 cattle 2,811, hogs 8,334, sheep 1,515. Public schools 27, white 
 16, colored 11. Churches 15. 
 
 PASQUOTANK. 
 
 Pasquotank is a long, narrow strip of territory parallel to 
 Camden county, and is of similar topographical situation and 
 agricultural features. It is bordered eastward and westward 
 by two bay like arms of the sound, Pasquotank river and Lit- 
 tle river, both of which take their rise in the Great Dismal 
 swamp. The upper and middle portions, therefore, belong to 
 the general description of swampy land and semi-swamps. 
 Near the streams there are generally strips of swamp proper,- 
 with gum, cypress and juniper forests, but farther from them 
 are semi swamps and oak and pine flats, with oak, hickory, 
 short-leaf pine, ash, maple, black g-um, and holly. These 
 lands are of great fertility. The southern end of the peninsula 
 on the sound is, as usual, sandy, piny woods. The industries of 
 the county nre the same as those of Camden. More c(>tton is pro- 
 duced, and lumbering still constitutes an iiem of consequence, 
 as also in all these Albemarle counties. Truck fanning is also 
 assuming large proportions, and the raising of early ])otatoes for 
 the northern market has recently become one of the most profita- 
 ble industries. Of the county area, 34.62 per cent, is tilled land, 
 of which 7.79 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. All these Al- 
 
70 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 bemarle counties have unlimited facilities for transportation 
 through their numerous bays, rivers, and sounds, which are 
 connected with Norfolk harbor through the Dismal swamp and 
 the Currituck canals, and also bv railway. 
 
 Population 10,369— White 4,855, colored 5,514. Area 232 
 square miles, woodland 44,345 acres. Tilled lands 51,400 
 acres, area planted in cotton 4,004 acres, in corn 28,525 acres, 
 in wheat 3,300 acres, in oats 1,930 acres. Cotton production 
 1,181 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.29 bale, 420 
 pounds seed-cotton or 140 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
 aggregate value $955,431, personal property $430,428. total 
 $1^385,859, State taxes $1,741.73, county taxes $15,674.20, 
 school taxes $4,424.80. Live stock— Horses 1,162, mules 380, 
 cattle 4,369, hogs 8,264, sheep 1,213. Public schools 39, 
 white 20, colored 19. Churches 29. 
 
 PERQUIMANS, 
 
 Perquimans county is in every respect twin to the preceding, 
 and northward it extends into the Great Dismal swamp. A 
 considerable percentage of the surface of Perquimans is occu- 
 pied by what is commonly called swamp land, though for the 
 most part it is drainable and cultivable. These swamp lands, 
 which are better described as semi-swamps and oak and pine 
 flats, are a repetition of those before described, and have a 
 similar soil, which varies from a fine gray loam to a dark 
 mucky soil of high fertility. Along the Perquimans river, 
 which is an arm of Albemarle sound, lie in a southeasterly 
 direction narrow zones of cypress swamps, beyond which, 
 jiorthward and southward, are narrow tracts of sandy soil, 
 with forests mainly of long-leaf pine. These long-leaf pine 
 tracts, which occupy the divides between the streams, project 
 in the form of promontories into the margin of the sound. Of 
 the county area, 34.15 per cent, is tilled land, of which 13.12 
 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. Shipments are by sound 
 and canal steamers and bv rail to Norfolk. 
 
 Population 9,466— White 4,795, colored 4,671. Area 245 
 square miles, woodland 61,482 acres. Tilled lands 53,544 
 acres, area planted in cotton 7,025 acres, in corn 21,910 acres, 
 in wheat 2,957 acres, in oats 1,222 acres. Cotton production 
 2,778 bales, average cotton product per acre 0,40 bale, 564 
 pounds seed-cotton, or 188 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 71 
 
 aggregate value $765,119, personal property $399,121, total 
 $1,164,320. State taxes $692, county taxes $7,494.75, school 
 taxes $3,400.16. Live stock— Horses 1,291, mules 486, cattle 
 4,908, hogs 11,362, sheep 3,002. Public schools 46, white 28, 
 colored 18. Churches 12, 
 
 CHOWAN. 
 
 Chowan county lies in the angle of the Chowan river and 
 Albemarle sound. Northward it consists of sandy, upland 
 piny woods, except narrow tracts along the river and some of 
 its tributaries, where cypress swamps of considerable extent 
 are found ; and there arc also large areas of oak flats. The 
 southern portion of the county, lying near the sound and 
 south of the Yeopim river, is characterized by a gray clay- 
 loam soil and a mixed oak and pine forest growth, and is for 
 the most part very productive. Bear Swamp, which crosses 
 the county in a northeast and southwest direction, is more pro- 
 perly a semi-swamp from 3 to 5 miles wide, very level, with a 
 gray silty soil, and the characteristic growth of such lands 
 comprises short-leaf pine, oaks, maple, ash, dogwood, occa- 
 sionally cypress and gum, and frequently a large admixture of 
 holly, which here attains the size of oaks and furnishes a supe- 
 rior cabinet wood. The agriculture of the county, as well as 
 its other industries, is quite like that of Gates. Its fisheries 
 are among the largest and most profitable in the country. Of 
 the county area 36.72 per cent, is tilled land, of which 17.16 
 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. Being surrounded on three 
 sides by navigable waters and crossed by a line of railway, 
 the countv has abundant means of transportation. 
 
 Population 7,900— White 3,633, colored 4,267. Area 150 
 square miles, woodland 44,446 acres. Tilled lands 35,234 
 acres, area planted in cotton 6,047 acres, in corn 13,877 acres, 
 in wheat 622 acres, in oats 791 acres. Cotton production 
 2,223 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.37 bale, 525 
 pounds seed-cotton, or 175 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
 aggregate value $641,996, personal property $303,585, total 
 $945,581. State taxes $891.46, county taxes $6,107.42, school 
 taxes $2,978.55. Live stock — Horses 794, mules 418, cattle 
 2,707, hogs 10,305, sheep 523. Public schools 28, white 16, 
 colored 12. Churches 16. 
 
72 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 DARE. 
 
 1 
 
 The snrfncc of Dare county is mainly water, the land, made 
 up of a succession of long, narrow .slands and peninsulas, being 
 interpenetrated throughout by great bays, sounds and naviga- 
 ble bayous. The county is bounded eastward by the Atlantic 
 ocean, westward by Alligator river and southward by Pamlico 
 sound. The larger portion, on the main-laud, is a swamp, which 
 lies but a few feet above tide level. Around the margins of 
 this portion, next the sound, are narrow tracts of a few miles, 
 in places, of drainable, cultivable land belonging to the general 
 description of oak flats, having a gray-loam soil of a close 
 texture. It is also fringed by considerable bodies of marsh 
 land next the sound, from which large crops of cranberries are 
 gathered. Roanoke island, a part of this county, lies within 
 the upper ])ortion of Pamlico sound, and is a narrow tract, 
 twelve miles in length and from two to three miles in width. 
 The upper p(»rtion is for the most part sandy, with a short-leaf 
 pine growth, intermixed with oaks, and the southern half is 
 mainly swamp and marsh. The easternmost part of the county, 
 like the corresponding portion of Currituck, is a narrow fringe 
 of sand reef, properly a dune, which, as in the former case, was 
 originally covered with a forest of short-leaf pine, oaks, hick- 
 ories, dogwood, etc., with abundance of grape-vines. These 
 have for the most part disappeared, leaving a tract of sand 
 waves, which are moving, under the impact of the trade winds, 
 constantly toward the southwest into the sound, and sometimes 
 rise to a height of more than 100 feet. There is very little till- 
 able land in the county. Its chief industry is, of course, fish- 
 ing. Of the county area, only 0.86 per cent, is tilled land, of 
 which 7.63 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Population 3,243— White 2,875, colored 868. Area 382 
 square miles, woodland 19,996 acres. Tilled lands 2,094 acres, 
 area planted in cotton 16 acres, in corn 956 acres, in wheat 25 
 acres, in oats 17 acres. Cotton production 8 bales, average 
 cotton product per acre 0.50 bale, 714 pounds seed-cotton or 
 238 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value $135,- 
 594, personal property $97,114, total $232,738. State taxes 
 $118.55, county taxes $2,868.59, school taxes $729.67. Live 
 stock — Horses 462, mules 20, cattle 1,951, hogs 3,030, sheep 
 1,754. Public schools 14, white 14. Churches 10, 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF CX)UNTIES. 73 
 
 TYRRELL. 
 
 The description of Tyrrell county may be given by simply re- 
 peating that of Washington, except that the great intersound 
 swamp exten'ls over a larger part of the county. Its northern 
 third, lying on Albemarle sound, resembles in all its features 
 the corresponding portion of Washington. No part of it rises 
 20 feet above sea-level. It is bounded on the east by the great 
 projection from Albemarle sound known as Alligator river, 
 which has a depth nearly equal to that of the sound and a 
 breadth of from three to five miles. A portion of the rich 
 border land of Lake Phelps lies within this county. In the 
 southeastern corner, along Alligator river and its tributaries, 
 and on the western side, these lands are semi-swamps and oak 
 flats, and have a gray silt and clay loam soil. Of the county 
 area, 7.98 per cent, is tilled land, of which 18.11 per cent, is 
 cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Population 4,545— White 3,110, colored 1,435. Area 376 
 square miles, woodland 57,282 acres. Tilled lands 19,225 acres, 
 area planted in cotton 3.481 acres, in corn 8,300 acres, in 
 w^heat 261 acres, in oats 781 acres. Cotton production 1,123 
 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.32 bale, 459 pounds 
 seed-cotton, or 153 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggre- 
 gate value $398,578, personal property $248,465, total $647,- 
 043. State taxes $296.82, county taxes $3,702.26, school taxes 
 $1,714.42. Live stock— Horses"404, mules 318, cattle 4,123, 
 hogs 5,914, sheep 1,475. Public schools 19, white 13, colored 
 6. Churches 10. 
 
 WASHINGTON. 
 
 Washington county lies on the southern shore of Albemarle 
 sound and Roanoke river, and extends southward into the 
 great intersound, or Alligator swamp. Only about one-half 
 its territory, next to Albemarle sound, has been brought into 
 cultivation to any extent, the southern half remaining in its 
 original condition. The cultivable portion consists mainly of 
 oak flats, having a close gray clay loam soil and a growth of 
 oak, hickory, beech, maple, and short leaf pine, with flattish 
 ridges here and there which have an intermixture of long and 
 short-leaf pine and sandy loam soils. The former are gen- 
 erally quite fertile. The southern portion of the county is 
 swampy, and is characterized by the presence of two consid- 
 erable lakes, Phelps and Pungo, which occupy the highest 
 i 
 
74 FTAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 portions of the swamp, and from which many of the streams 
 of the county take their rise. Around the margins of these 
 lakes are narrow belts or ridges of swampy, mucky land, 
 which were originally covered by heavy forests of gum, ash, 
 maple, cypress, poplar, etc. The soils are of great depth and 
 indefinite fertility. Much of the swamp land of this portion 
 of the county is peaty and worthless, except for timber. The 
 southwestern section consists partly of semi-swamps, with gray, 
 fertile loams, and partly, in the "Longacre" country, of poco- 
 sons, with a small growth of pine and scrub oaks, very flat, 
 with an ashen soil of close texture, silicious, but as impervi- 
 ous as clay. Of the county area, 13.56 per cent is tilled land, 
 of which 26.43 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Population 8,928— White 4,554, colored 4,374. Area 382 
 square miles, woodland 75,816 acres. Tilled lands 30,711 
 acres, area planted in cotton 8,117 acres, in corn 15,824 acres, in 
 wheat 647 acres, in oats 1,065 acres. Cotton production 3,524 
 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.43 bale, 618 pounds seed - 
 cotton, or 206 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate 
 value $530,031, personal property $354,225, total $884,256. 
 State taxes $754,96, county taxes $3,776.95, school taxes 
 $3,217.24. Live stock— Horses 835, mules 328, cattle 4,050, 
 hogs 9,141, sheep 1,050. Public schools 46, white 29, colored 
 17. Churches 17. 
 
 HYDE. 
 
 Hyde county is enveloped by sounds and great bay-like 
 rivers, and its middle portion is occupied by a large lake, 
 Mattamuskeet, 20 miles in length and 6 miles wide, with two 
 other lakes in its northern portion. Two-thirds of its land- 
 surface is occupied by the great Alligator swamp. A narrow 
 fringe of from 1 to 2 miles' width around the central lake is 
 the highest portion of the county, and is from 6 to 10 feet 
 above tide. It was originally covered with a heavy swamp 
 growth of cypress, gum (tupelo), maple, ash, etc. These 
 lands have been cultivated for a century, and still produce 50 
 bushels of corn to the acre without manure or rotation. This 
 ridge slopes off in every direction from the lake — eastward 
 into a tract of oak flats which extends to the sound. The 
 southwestern portion of the county within the projecting arras 
 of Pungo river, and other bays from Pamlico sound may also 
 be described ns oak flats, with a soil which, in general terms. 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 75 
 
 is a gray silty loam — an admirable wheat soil. The northern 
 portion of this county, throughout its whole extent from east 
 to west, IS a low-lying savanna or peaty cypress and juniper 
 swamp, like the Great Dismal, called Alligator swamp. Of 
 the county area 9.02 per cent, is tilled land, of which 7.81 per 
 cent, is cultivated in cotton. The productions of this county 
 are chiefly corn and wheat, to which has been recently added 
 rice. Lumbering and fishing complete the list of its industries. 
 Population 7,7G5— White 4,424, colored 3,341. Area 557 
 square miles, woodland 41,247 acres. Tilled lands 32,167 
 acres, area planted in cotton 2,513 acres, in corn 21,632 acres, 
 in wheat 1,079 acres, in oats 1,354 acres. Cotton production 
 718 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.29 bale, 408 
 pounds seed-cotton, or 136 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
 aggregate value $442,227, personal property $394,231, total 
 $836,458. State taxes $257.68, county taxes $5,029.62, school 
 taxes $^,443.44. Live stock— Horses 1,143, mules 204, cattle 
 6,451, hogs 9,210, sheep 1,728. Public schools 47, white 31, 
 colored 16. Churches 25. 
 
 BEAUFORT. 
 
 Beaufort county lies south of Washington county, on both 
 sides of the Pamlico river, which, in this part of its course, is 
 an arm of the sound of the same name, from 2 to 6 miles wide, 
 and throws oS several wide projections or bays into the county 
 on both sides. It is bounded on the east by Pungo river, 
 another broad arm of Pamlico sound, whose waters also pene- 
 trate the county in numerous wide navigable bayous, A con- 
 siderable proportion of the county is occupied by swamplands. 
 In the northern section, and across its whole breadth, lies the 
 western extremity of the great intersound swamp, which attains 
 its greatest elevation here of 40 feet above tide. In this cul- 
 minating swell, between the Roanoke and Pamlico rivers, rise 
 numerous tributaries of these rivers and of the sounds. The 
 central portion of this part of the swamp belongs to that class 
 of soils described as "pocoson," and is of very low fertility. 
 Along the courses of the streams, as they flow out from this 
 swell, are considerable marginal tracts of semi-swamp and oak 
 flats, which are very productive. There are also belts of cypress 
 swamp near Pamlico river and the other streams on both sides, 
 and south of the swamp, in the middle as well as along the 
 western edge of the. county, the land is mostly a level piny 
 
76 hand-book: of nokth Carolina. 
 
 woods, with a light sandy soil. In the eastern portion of the 
 county, and on both sides of the Pamlico river, both along the 
 banks of this river and of the before-mentioned projections, are 
 large tracts of oak flats and semi-swamp, which are among the 
 most productive soils of the region. Near the mouth of Pungo 
 river occurs one of the largest prairies or natural meadows, 
 Savannas^ in the State, embracing an area of 1,200 or 1,500 
 acres. It is treeless and fringed by short leaf pine and oak 
 forests, and has a tine, close, gray sandy soil, as impervious as 
 clay. Its subsoil is of the same character, but is more clayey, 
 and is of a slightly yellowish color. Marl is found in various 
 parts of the county, but is little used. Of the county area, 
 10.99 per cent is tilled land, of which 27.01 per cent is culti- 
 vated in cotton. 
 
 Population 17,474— White 10,022, colored 7,452. Area 620 
 square miles, woodland 224,330 acres. Tilled lands 43,625 
 acres, area planted in cotton 11,785 acres, in corn 20,225 acres, 
 in wheat 374 acres, in oats 1,395 acres. Cotton production 
 6,021 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.51 bale, 729 
 pounds seed-cotton or 243 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
 aggregate value $1,410,036, personal property $837,706, total 
 $2,248,342. State taxes $1,899.59, county taxes $14,627.70, 
 school taxes $5,957.47, Live stock — Horses 1,456, mules 654, 
 cattle 10,109, hogs 21,245, sheep 5,257. Public schools 62, 
 white 36, colored 26. Churches 27, 
 
 PAMLICO. 
 
 Pamlico county is bounded on the east by Pamlico sound, 
 and is enveloped by two of its great arras, Pamlico and Neuse 
 rivers. Another of these arms. Bay river, with its numerous 
 bayous, penetrates the central portion of the county, and 
 nearly its whole border is deeply indented by smaller projec- 
 tions from the sound. A large part of the county consists of 
 swamp lands with extensive oak and beech flats. These soils 
 are very rich. Cotton is a leading crop in this county. There 
 is a narrow belt of sandy, piny woods crossing the county 
 diagonally from the southeastern angle at Wilkinson's Point to 
 Durham's creek in the northwestern corner. Of the county 
 area, only 5.65 per cent, is tilled land, of which 25. 20 per cent, 
 is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Population 6,323— White 4,207, colored 2,116. Area 470 
 square miles, woodland 86,574 acres. Tilled lands 16,989 
 
DESCKIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 77 
 
 acres, area planted in cotton 4,585 acres, in corn 6,381 acres, 
 in wheat 285 acres, in oats 378 acres. Cotton production 
 3,226 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.49 bale, 693 
 pounds seed-cotton, or 231 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
 aggregate value $326,115, personal property $184,531, total 
 $510,646. State taxes $369.47, county taxes $7,309.57, school 
 taxes $2,149.37. Live stock — Horses 571, mules 180, cattle 
 3,425, hogs 7,971, sheep 1,582. Public schools 40, white 33, 
 colored 17. Churches 15. 
 
 CRAVEN. 
 
 Craven is a large, straggling county, stretching 60 miles 
 along the lower reaches of the Neuse river, which passes 
 through its centre and drains its entire area. The physical 
 description of its territory, especially the southern and eastern 
 sections, is identical with that of the two preceding counties. 
 It consists largely of swamps, pocoson, and oak flats. The 
 section lying north of the Neuse river belongs for the most 
 part in its agricultural features to the second subdivision, or 
 long leaf pine belt, having considerable tracts of pine flats and 
 long-leaf pine ridges, with a soil often very sandy and unpro- 
 ductive. Near its upper margin it is penetrated by consider- 
 able tracts of swamp and semi swamp lands, which project 
 southward from Pamlico river and form properly the western 
 extension of Bay River swamp. Along the southern shore of 
 Neuse river the soil is mainly a clo«ie gray loam. The Great 
 Doxer Pocoson, occupying more than 100 square miles in its 
 southwestern angle, is elevated 60 feet above tide in its cen- 
 tral part, and is very flat and sterile for the most part, but has 
 strips of oak and pine flats radiating in all directions from the 
 centre along the numerous streams. Of the county area 9.68 
 per cent, is tilled land, of which 25.25 per cent, is cultivated 
 in cotton. 
 
 Population 19,729— White 6,664, colored 13,065. Area 820 
 square miles, woodland 197,135 acres. Tilled lands 50,853 
 acres, area planted in cotton 12,838 acres, in corn 19,001 acres, 
 in wheat 235 acres, in oats 333 acres. Cotton production 5,782 
 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.45 bale, 642 pounds 
 seed-cotton, or 214 pounds f^otton lint. Real property, aggre- 
 gate value $1,625,960, personal property $638,046, total 
 $2,364,206. State taxes $2,5^6.92, county taxrs $34,679.08, 
 school taxes $7,076.37. Live stock— Horses 1.063, mules 528, 
 cattle 743, hogs 9,542, sheep 2,302. Public schools 63, white 
 28, colored 35. Churches 30. 
 
 I. 
 
78 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA, 
 
 CARTERET. 
 
 Carteret county occupies a long strip of country south of 
 Craven county and of Pamlico sound, and is bounded south- 
 ward by the Atlantic ocean. It is traversed east and west 
 through the middle by a succession of swamps, the largest of 
 which, occupying its eastern peninsular projection, is called 
 the Open Ground Prairie swamp. This is a peat swamp, quite 
 barren in its middle parts, but fringed around its margin with 
 oak flats and gray silty soil. There is also a line of sand 
 islands (sand dunes) along the coast, and inland, parallel to 
 the coast, are several ridges of long-leaf pine, sandy hinds. 
 The highest part of the county is only 37 feet above tide. 
 Carteret has the advantage of the best harbor on the coast of 
 this State. Of the county area, 6.90 per cent, is tilled land, 
 of which 16.33 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Population 9,784— White 7,107, colored 2,677. Area 407 
 square miles, woodland 67,211 acres. Tilled lands 17,984 
 acres, area planted in cotton 2,936 acres, in corn 5,156 acres, 
 in wheat 418 acres, in oats 107 acres. Cotton production 1,014 
 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.35 bale, 492 pounds 
 seed-cotton, or 164 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggre- 
 gate value $466,403, personal property $243,587, total $709,990. 
 State taxes $615.13, county taxes !S5,624.83, school taxes 
 $2,497.12. Live stock— horses 1,060, mules 106, cattle 5,512, 
 hogs 4,206, sheep 1,504. Public schools 33, white 24, colored 
 9. Churches 17. 
 
 JONES. 
 
 The great tract of swamp land which lies between the Neuse 
 river and the Atlantic ocean and extends through a consider- 
 able portion of the two preceding counties projects westward 
 into Jones county, where it reaches its highest elevation of 40 
 feet, and is crowned by a chain of small lakes of from 1 to 
 3 or 4 miles diameter on the summit, on the border of Jones 
 and Carteret counties. The northern border of the county is 
 occupied by a portion of the great Dover pocoson, which pro- 
 jects into it from Craven. In its middle and southern sections 
 lies a great part of the great White Oak swamp, the central 
 portion of which is also a pocoson; but it is margined about 
 with fringes of canebrake lands, white-oak flats and cranberry 
 marshes, as well as by considerable tracts of swamp lands cov- 
 ered with oak, cypress, gum, poplar, ash, etc. Trent river 
 
DESCKIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 79 
 
 flows through the centre and, with its tributaries, drains almost 
 its entire area. Along this river on both sides are considerable 
 bodies of long-leaf pine sandy lands. There are also along the 
 main river, as well as its tributaries, narrow strips of oak flats 
 and occasional gum and cypress swamps. The county resem- 
 bles, therefore, very closely the two last described in physical 
 features and in products and industries. Of the county area, 
 21.47 per cent, is tilled land, of which 15.83 per cent, is culti- 
 vated in cotton. 
 
 Population 7,491— White 3,213, colored 4,279. Area 389 
 square miles, woodland 134.598 acres. Tilled land 53,458 acres, 
 area planted in cotton 8,463 acres, in corn 19,425 acres, in wheat 
 429 acres, in rye 245 acres, in oats 455 acres. Cotton produc- 
 tion 4,078 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.48 bale, 687 
 pounds seed -cotton or 229 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
 aggregate value $520,269, personal property $99,045, total 
 $619,314. State taxes $223.63, county taxes $6,072.49, school 
 taxes $3,285.47. Live stock— Horses 710, mules 536, cattle 
 3,433, hogs 10,298, sheep 2,675. Public schools 66, white 22, 
 colored 44. Churches 13. 
 
 ONSLOW. 
 
 The identical terms used in the description of the preceding 
 county might be repeated for Onslow. Nearly one-half of the 
 White Oak swamp lies in its northern section, and from it flow 
 most of the streams by w^hich the county is drained. The best 
 agricultural lands of the county lie along the margin of this 
 swamp. A great part of it is drained southward into New 
 river, which traverses the entire length of th& county from 
 north to south. This river, for one-half of its length, is a broad, 
 navigable bay, from 1 to 2 miles wide, and is famous for its 
 fine oysters and fish. On both sides of it are large tracts of 
 upland piny woods, with a gray sandy soil, which are admira- 
 bly adapted to the production of cotton. Nearer the sea-coast 
 and its fringe of sounds the soils are more sandy, and are cov- 
 ered with long-leaf pines as their principal growth, a similar 
 large tract occupying its northwestern section. There are 
 numerous narrow fringes of cypress swamps along the various 
 streams. A portion of the southwestern side of this county is 
 penetrated by the Holly Shelter pocoson. The productions of 
 this county are similar to those of the preceding. Of the county 
 area, 13.59 per cent, is tilled land, of which 11.86 per cent, is 
 cultivated in cotton. 
 
80 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Shipping is done by way of New river, which is navigable 
 to the middle of the county. 
 
 Population 9,829— White 6.600, colored 3,229. Area 645 
 square miles, woodbind 212,866 acres. Tilled lands 56,120 
 acres, area planted in cotton 6,658 acres, in corn 23,259 acres, 
 in oats 96 acres. Cotton production 2,841 bales, average cot- 
 ton product per acre 0.43 bale, 609 pounds seed cotton or 203 
 oounds cotton lint. Real properly, aggregate value $668,745, 
 personal property $900,114, total $1,568,859. State taxes 
 $200.31, county taxes $4,292.90, school taxes $2,975.42. Live 
 stock — Horses 755, mules 566, cattle 6.543, hogs 18,760, sheep 
 5,364. Public schools 65, white 40, colored 25. Churches 19. 
 
 PENDER. 
 
 Pender county, like the preceding, is bounded in part on 
 the south by the Atlantic ocean, with its fringe of sounds, 
 marshes, and dunes, and is drained southward by the waters of 
 the Northeast Cape Fear river. Holly Shelter pocoson occu- 
 pies a large part of the southeastern section, and from it flow 
 numerous creeks into the above-mentioned river, while others 
 flow directly into the Atlantic. The central portion and larger 
 part of this great pocoson, which contains about 100 square 
 miles, is quite barren, but around its margin, especially toward 
 the river, are considerable tracts of white-oak flats, canebrake, 
 and swamp lands, with their characteristic growths and soils. 
 In the northeastern section lies the half of another similar 
 pocoson nearly as large, called Angola bay, and in the the cen- 
 tre of the western half of the county is a third but much 
 smaller swamp of the same general character. The western 
 side of the county for the breadth of from six to eight miles 
 belongs to the region of upland piny woods, the principal 
 growth being long-leaf pines, with an undergrowth of oaks, 
 hickory, dogwood, etc., and a sandy soil; but some of it ap- 
 proaches the character of the regular "sand-hills," with pine 
 and oak flats here and there. Along the streams are gener- 
 ally alluvial ^^elts or swamps and oak flats, which are the corn 
 lands of the county. A savanna of several square miles is 
 found in the upper end of the county, which merges north- 
 ward into a barren pocoson of still greater extent. Marl 
 abounds in all parts of the county, and Eocene limestone is 
 found along the principal river above named. These add 
 greatly to its agricultural advantages. 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 81 
 
 The cotton product is inconsiderable; the remaining pro- 
 ducts are corn, rice, potatoes, lumber and naval stores. 
 
 Of the county area, 6.71 per cent, is tilled land, of which 
 3.83 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Cotton and other products are shipped to Wilmington and 
 Norfolk b}"^ rail, or to the former by the two Cape Fear 
 rivers, which form the boundaries east and west. 
 
 Population 12,468— White 5,509, colored 6,959. Area 889 
 square miles, woodland 287,700 acres. Tilled lands 38,156 
 acres, area planted in cotton 1,463 acres, in corn 16,550 acres, 
 in wheat 7 acres, in oats 183 acres. Cotton production 835 
 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.57 bale, 813 pounds 
 seed-cotton, or 271 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggre- 
 gate value $939,111, personal property $326,304, total $1,263,- 
 415. State taxes $422.91, county "^taxes $7,689.90, school 
 taxes $3,922.42. Live stock— Horses 665, mules 401, cattle 
 6,446, hogs 16,465, sheep 5,369. Public schools 62, white 24, 
 colored 38. 
 
 NEW HANOVER. 
 
 New Hanover is one of the smallest counties in the State, 
 and consists of a narrow triangular wedge between the Cape 
 Fear river on the west and the Atlantic coast on the east, with 
 its narrow fringe of sounds, marshes, and dunes. The mar- 
 gins of the streams and sounds are bordered in many places by 
 narrow strips of oak and pine flats with a gray silty soil. The 
 central portion of the county, as well as the dunes along the 
 shore, are sandy and unproductive; but there are tracts of 
 alluvial and swamp-land river bottoms along the Cape Fear 
 which produce large crops of rice. The county contains the 
 largest city in the State, Wilmington (population nearly 
 20,000). It is also the most important seaport, and has a 
 large foreign as w^ell as inland trade in lumber, naval stores, 
 and cotton, both by means of its railways and navigable rivers. 
 Of the county area 6.35 per cent, is tilled land, of which 1.92 
 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Population 21,376— white 8,159, colored 13,217. Area 182 
 square miles, woodland 39.603 acres. Tilled lands 7,396 acres, 
 area planted in cotton 142 acres, in corn 2,008 acres, in oats 86 
 acres. Cotton production 66 bales, average cotton product 
 per acre 0.46 bale, 663 pounds seed-cotton, or 221 pounds cot- 
 ton lint. Real property, aggregate value $3,709,967, personal 
 
82 HAND-BOOK OF NOETH CAROLINA. 
 
 property $1,594,603, total $5,304,372. State taxes $8,785.24, 
 county taxes $25,550 02, school taxes $14,574.36. Live Stock 
 —Horses 661, mules 187, cattle 1,989, hogs 2,485, sheep 123. 
 Public schools 24, white 9, colored 15. Churches 31. 
 
 BRUNSWICK. 
 
 Brunswick county lies on the west side of the Cape Fear 
 river, and touches the Atlantic on the south. Its central and 
 western portion is occupied by the great pocoson known as 
 Green swamp, which, with its many projections, covers nearly 
 half of the territory of the county. This swamp is bordered 
 by wide tracts of canebrakes, and contains extensive areas of 
 gum, cypress and juniper swamps, which have been for half a 
 century the centre of a large lumber trade. The various 
 streams which flow from this swamp to all points of the com- 
 pass are bordered by oak flats, tracts of semi-swamp, and often 
 by canebrakes, and in the body of it are numerous hummocks 
 or flat ridges having a silty soil and a growth of short-leaf pine 
 and small oaks. Between the arms of the swamp, on the nar- 
 row divides, and particularly in the southern portion of the 
 county, near the seashore, are patches of long-leaf pine lands 
 with sandy soils, and elsewhere of level piny woods, valuable 
 for lumber and naval stores. Along the Cape Fear are large 
 bodies of alluvial lands of unsurpassed fertility, which are among 
 the best rice soils in this country. Waccamaw lake occupies the 
 highest part of Green swamp, and covers an area of about 40 
 square miles. Naval stores and luml>er are, of course, the princi- 
 pal interests, agriculture beiujr of subordinate impcjrtance, and 
 limited mainly to the cultivation of rice, of which its product is 
 more than double that of any other county in the State. Of 
 the county area, 3.46 per cent, is tilled land, of which 2.14 
 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Population 9,389— White 5,337, colored 4,052. Area 814 
 square miles, woodland 304,722 acres. Tilled lands, 18,006 
 acres, area planted in cotton 385 acres, in corn 4,915 acres, in 
 wheat 8 acres, in oats 240 acres. Cotton production 244 bales, 
 average cotton product per acre 0.63 bale, 903 pounds seed- 
 cotton or 301 pounds cotton lint. Real property aggregate 
 value $639,682, personal property $326,777, total $966,459. 
 State taxes $388.38, county tnxes $5,235.37, school taxes 
 $2,995.10. Live stock— Horses 319, mules 185, cattle 7,742, 
 hogs 13,177, sheep 5,568. Public schools 56, white 37, col- 
 ored 19. Churches 9. 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 83 
 
 COLUMBUS. 
 
 Columbus county lies farther inland, and contains a larger 
 proportion of upland piny woods soil than Brunswick. It is 
 penetrated through all its parts by narrow belts of gum and 
 cypress swamp and considerable tracts of oak and pine flats. 
 The average soil of its upland piny woods is of moderate fer- 
 tility, well adapted to the growth of cotton, but the richer 
 swamp and gray-loam lands are devoted principally to corn. 
 Brown marsh and White marsh are two large bodies of swamp 
 in the eastern side of the county, and Gum swamp and others 
 of less extent are found in the south and west. The produc- 
 tion of cotton, potatoes and rice divides with lumber and naval 
 stores the interest of its people. Marl is found in several parts 
 of the county. Of the county area 6.69 per cent is tilled lancf, 
 of which 5.52 per cent, is cultivated in cotton.- 
 
 Population 14,439— White 8.926, colored 5,513. Area 895 
 square miles, woodland 357,014 acres. Tilled lands 38,293 
 acres, area planted in cotton 2,153 acres, in corn 15,723 acres, 
 in wheat 38 acres, in oats 267 acres. Cotton production 930 
 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.44 bale, 627 pounds 
 seed cotton or 209 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggre- 
 gate value $843,317, personal property $823,158, total $1,666,- 
 475, State taxes $1,060.56, county taxes $6,857.21, school taxes 
 $5,833.44. Live stock — Horses 599, mules 492, cattle 9,290, 
 hogs 27,243, sheep 11,143. Public schools 83, white 54, colored 
 29, churches 27. 
 
 LONG-LEAF PINE REGION. 
 
 (Embraces the following counties and parts of coun- 
 ties: Gates, Hertford, Bertie, Northampton, Halifax, 
 Nash, Edgecombe, Pitt, Greene, Martin, Wilson, John- 
 ston, Wayne, Lenoir, Duplin, Sampson, Cumberland, 
 Harnett, Moore, Richmond, Robeson and Bladen). 
 
 GATES. 
 
 Gates county lies between the Chowan river and the Dismal 
 swamp, of which it includes a considerable section. The 
 body of the county consists of level piny uplands, with a 
 
84 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 sandy loam soil. It has a narrow strip of very sandy, long- 
 leaf pine land near the Chowan river, and also in the south- 
 eastern corner of the county. Along the Chowan river and its 
 tributaries are tracts of cypress swamp from 1 to 2 and 3 miles 
 wide. Near the smaller streams are narrow tracts of pine and 
 oak flats having a gray clay loam soil. Marl is found in the 
 banks of the Chowan river and in the southern end of the 
 county. Of the county area, 22.50 per cent, is under tillage, 
 of which 11.69 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Population 8,897— White 4,973, colored 3,924. Area 339 
 square miles, woodland 101,616 acres. Tilled lands 48,821 
 acres, area planted in cotton 5,707 acres, in corn 21,946 acres, 
 in wheat, 708 acres, in oats 1,210 acres. Cotton production 
 1,863 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.33 bale, 465 
 pounds seed cotton, or 155 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
 aggregate value $579,187, personal property $483,762, total 
 $1,062,949. State taxes $692.73, county 'taxes $3,573.18, 
 school taxes $3,203.26. Live stock — Horses 1 358, mules 
 3,888, cattle 5,713, hogs 14,429, sheep 3,160. Public schools 
 39, white 25, colored 14. Churches 16. 
 
 HERTFORD. 
 
 Hertford county lies on the northern border of the State, 
 and is bounded eastward by the Chowan river. The soils are 
 for the most part of the general region of upland piny woods 
 lands, but near the water courses there are considerable tracts 
 of oak and pine flats and alluvial land. Along the margin of 
 the Chowan and some of the other water-courses are fringes of 
 gum and cypress swamp. Marl in abundance underlies the 
 surface. Besides the culture of cotton and corn, there are the 
 flsh, lumber and naval-stores industries. Of the county area, 
 22.28 per cent, is tilled land, of which 27.24 per cent, is culti- 
 vated in cotton. Cotton, lumber, and other products are 
 shipped by steamer and rail to Norfolk. 
 
 Population 11,843— White 5,122, colored 6,721. Area 376 
 square miles, woodland 119,330 acres. Tilled lauds 53,625 
 acres, area planted in cotton 14,605 acres, in corn 25,521 acres, 
 in wheat 817 acres, in oats 1,800 acres. Cotton production 
 6,360 bales, average cotton product per acie 0.44 bale, 621 
 pounds seed cotton, or 207 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
 aggregate value $1,068,598, personal property $753,617, total 
 $1,822,215. State taxes $1,301.50, countv taxes $7,117.00, 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 85 
 
 school taxes $0,072.91. Live stock — Horses 1,395, mules 593, 
 cattle 4,421, hogs 14,529, sheep 2,149. Public schools 56, 
 white 30, colored 26. Churches 15. 
 
 BERTIE. 
 
 Bertie county lies south of Hertford, in the angle between 
 Roanoke and Chowan rivers, and consists for the most part of 
 level piny uplands, having a sandy loam soil; but the northern 
 part of it is largely pine flats, having an infertile ash-colored, 
 fine sandy soil. The southern part, near the Roanoke river, 
 and along its chief tributary, the Cashie, are wide tracts of 
 level oak and pine lands, which are very productive. The 
 Roanoke river through almost the whole lenoth of this county 
 is bordered by a tract of alluvial lands from 3 to 6 miles wide, 
 subject to annual overflows, and covered with heavy forests of 
 cypress, maple, a<5h, &c., which are among the most fertile of 
 the continent. In the middle region, on and near the Cashie 
 and its tributaries, are considerable bodies of valuable swamp 
 and semi -swamp lands. Cotton, corn, potatoes, fish and lum- 
 ber, make up the list of industries uf this county. Marl is found 
 the southern and middle sections. Of the county area, 18.68 in 
 per cent, is in tilled land, of which 23.62 per cent, is culti- 
 vated in cotton. 
 
 Population 16,399— White 0.815, colored 9,584. Area 689 
 square miles, woodland 184,070 acres. Tilled lands 82,377 
 acres, area planted in cotton 19,455 acres, in corn 37,735 acres, 
 in wheat 309 acres, in oats 2,403 acres. Cotton production 
 7,290 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.37 bale, 534 
 pounds seed-cotton, or 178 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
 aggregate value $1,444,183, personal propertv $732,734, total 
 s2,176,917. State taxes $1,792.59, county' taxes $7,387.85, 
 school taxes $6,947.31. Live stock— Horses 1,845, mules 1,011, 
 cattle 9.015, hogs 23,219, sheep 5,768. Public schools 79, 
 white 46, colored 33. Churches 21. 
 
 NORTHAMPTON. 
 
 Northampton county is situated between the Virginia border 
 and the Roanoke river. Its soils belong to the general region 
 of level piny uplands, merging toward the western limit into 
 oak uplands and a more hilly surface, with an elevation of 150 
 
86 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 feet above sea-level. Its numerous streams have general 
 fringes of oak flats, alluvions, or gum and cypress swamps, 
 and the Roanoke river has in its extensive "bottoms" some of 
 the best corn lands in the State. Of the county area 27.09 per 
 cent is tilled land, of which 37.51 per cent, is cultivated in 
 cotton. 
 
 Population 20,033— White 7,987, colored 12,045. Area 557 
 square miles, woodland 144,779 acres. Tilled lands 96.565 
 acres, area planted in cotton 36,219 acres, in tobacco 36 acres, 
 in corn 45,224 acres, in wheat 1,725 acres, in oats 4,805 acres. 
 Cotton production 13,616 bales, average cotton product per 
 acre 0.38 bale, 537 pounds seed-cotton, or 179 pounds cotton 
 lint. Real property, aggregate value $1,780,607, personal 
 property $980,420, total $2,716,027. State taxes $1,429.09, 
 countv taxes $8,054.74, school taxes $8,266 53. Live stock- 
 Horses 2,358, mules 979, cattle 6,5?.8, hogs 22,089, sheep 2,606. 
 Public schools 56, white 26, colored 30. Churches 18. 
 
 HALIFAX. 
 
 Halifax county lies between the Roanoke river on the north 
 and Fishing creek, one of the confluents of the Tar river, on 
 the south. The eastern and larger part of this county belongs 
 to the normal type of upland piny woods, the western third 
 to the oak uplands. Long-leaf and short-leaf pines are com- 
 monly mingled with a subordinate growth of oaks, hickory, 
 dogwood, etc. The surface is generally level or a little rolling, 
 with small, often abrupt, hills and ravines near the streams. 
 The soil is a gray, sandy loam, with a yellow to brown sub- 
 soil. The creeks and larger streams nearly all flow southward 
 into the Tar river, the water-shed, according to a curious topo- 
 graphical law previously referred to, lyif^g quite close to the 
 south bank of the Roanoke. The western section belongs in 
 large part to the oak uplands region, having its characteristic 
 gray, yellow, and reddi.sh clay loam and sandy loam soils and 
 rolling surface and predominant oak forests, with an intermix- 
 ture of short-leaf pine. The crops of this section are largely 
 grains (corn, wheat, etc.) and tobacco. The bulk of the cot- 
 ton product is made in the eastern section. 
 
 The streams in the eastern section have oftcm narrow, swampy 
 tracts of gum and cypress along their margins, but there are 
 extensive alluvial areas or bottoms on the larger rivers, espe- 
 cially the Roanoke, whose bottoms are of unsurpassed fertility. 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 87 
 
 In the great bend of Scotland ISTeck are some of the finest 
 cotton lands of the State. Marl is abundant in the middle 
 and eastern sections. Halifax is one of the most prosperous 
 cotton counties, and produces very large crops of grains be- 
 sides, chiefly of corn, of which the product is nearly half a 
 million bushels. Of the county area 32.12 per cent, is tilled 
 land, of which 33.18 Der cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Population 30,300— White 9,137, colored 21,163. Area 682 
 square miles, woodland 178,508 acres. Tilled lands 130,219 
 acres, area planted in cotton 43,206 acres, in corn 44,790 acres, 
 in wheat 1,300 acres, in oats 4,497 acres. Cotton production 
 16,661 bales, average cotton product per acr§ 0.39 bale, 549 
 pounds seed-cotton, or 183 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
 aggregate value $2.448, 140, personal property $1,117,318, total 
 $3,565,458. State taxes $2,539.40, county taxes $19,936.73, 
 school taxes $11,119.81. Live stock — Horses 2,313, mules 
 1,650, cattle 9,987, hogs 23,372, sheep 2,552. Public schools 
 62, white 24, colored 38. Churches 40. 
 
 NASH. 
 
 The general topographical and agricultural features of Nash 
 county correspond quite closely to those of Halifax, to which 
 its situation is similar. It lies south of that county, and also 
 on the borders of the oak uplands, to which the western part 
 of it belongs. It is drained for the most part by the Tar river 
 and its numerous tributaries, along which are narrow strips of 
 alluvial soil, with oak forests and occasional cypress swamps. 
 The divides between these streams through the middle and 
 eastern portions of the county belong to the region of level 
 upland piny woods, the growth being a mixture of long-leaf 
 and short-leaf pine, with oak, hickory, dogwood, etc. These 
 soils are well adapted to the culture of cotton, and are of aver- 
 age fertility. The soils in many places in the western section 
 are red or yellowish clay loams. This county lies largely 
 within the area of the most productive cotton section of the 
 State; the corn and potato crops are also important. Marl is 
 abundant in the eastern part, but has not been extensively 
 used. Of the county area 21.60 per cent, is tilled land, of 
 which 31.33 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Population 17,731— White 9,417, colored 8,314. Area 595 
 square miles, woodland 193,247 acres. Tilled lands 82,238 
 acres, area planted in cotton 25,768 acres, in tobacco 27 acres. 
 
88 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 in corn 32,490 acres, in wheat 3,787 acres, in oats 3,875 acres. 
 Cotton production 12,567 bales, average cotton product per 
 acre 0.49 bale, 696 pounds seed-cotton, or 232 pounds cotton 
 lint. Real property, aggregate value $1,798,295, personal 
 property $831,630, total "$2>29, 925. State taxes $900.54, 
 county taxes $11,031.38, school taxes $7,598.45. Live stock — 
 Horses 1,445, mules 1,274, cattle 6,485, hogs 21,674, sheep 
 5,879. Public schools 82, white 46, colored 36. Churches 19. 
 
 EDGECOMBE. 
 
 Edgecombe fs a typical county of the long-leaf pine region. 
 It is traversed through its middle portion by the Tar river, and 
 is drained bj' its numerous tributaries. The soils are charac- 
 teristically gray sandy loams, with a yellow to brown subsoil, 
 and belong to the region of level piny uplands. Along the 
 borders of the various streams are frequent and extensive tracts 
 of alluvial lands, and on some of them occur cypress and gum 
 swamps. This is one of the leading cotton counties of the 
 State, and on the percentage cotton map it will be seen to 
 occupy the centre of one of the zones of greatest production. 
 It stands second among the counties of the State in its product 
 of cotton, and its corn crop is also among the largest. The 
 long-leaf pines, which were once found abundant over the 
 whole surface of this county (and region) have been thinned 
 until they are a subordinate element, so that the remaining 
 forests aie mainly of short-leaf pine and oak. 
 
 Both commercial fertilizers and the native marls have been 
 more largely used than elsewhere in the State, and, in connec- 
 tion with compost, most effectively, so that Edgecombe has 
 long been foremost in this special agriculture of the east. Of 
 the county area, 36.62 per cent, is tilled land, 39.27 per cent, 
 of the latter being cultivated in cotton. It has the advantage 
 of both river and railroad transportation. 
 
 Population 26,181— White 7,968, colored 18,213. Area 567 
 square miles, woodland 125,083 acres. Tilled lands 132,875 
 acres, area planted in cotton 51,880 acres, in corn 46,235 acres, 
 in wheat 2,422 acres, in oats 9,589 acres. Cotton production 
 26,250 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.51 bale, 720 
 pounds seed-cotton or 240 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
 aggregate value $2,731,791. personal propertv $1,762,750, total 
 $4,495,541. State taxes $3,905.44. Live stock— Horses 1.821, 
 mules 2,612, cattle 5,705, hogs 22,100, sheep 2,720. Puolic 
 schools 57, white 20, colored 37. Churches 36. 
 
DESCKIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 89 
 
 PITT. 
 
 The description of Edgecombe county applies, with scarcely 
 a change, to this county also. The only mentionable differ- 
 ence is that it contains perhaps a larger proportion of swampy 
 lands, both along the Tar river and its main tributaries and 
 the two Contentn'^'as. The l)ody of its area is the normnl level, 
 upland, piny woods, with their usual soils and forests. It is 
 also one of the best cotton counties, and its grain crop is larger 
 in proportion than that of most of the cotton counties, exceed- 
 ing 500,000 bushels. Its product of rice and potatoes is also 
 of considerable importance. Marl is abundant, and is used 
 with the best results, as in Edgecombe. Of the county area, 
 24.57 per cent, is tilled land, and 30.15 per cent, of the latter 
 is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Population 21.794— White 10,794, colored 11,090. Area 
 657 square miles, woodland 217,222 acres. Tilled lands 
 103,302 acres, area planted in cotUm 31,147 acres, in corn 
 46,482 acres, in wheat 3,787 acres, in rye 284 acres, in oats 3, 301 
 acres. Cotton production 14,879 bales, average cotton product 
 per acre 0.48 bale, 681 pounds seed cotton, or 227 pounds cot- 
 ton lint. Real property, aggregate value $1,903,191, personal 
 property $1,299,087, total $3,202,278. State taxes $2,223.22, 
 county taxes $11,602.29, school taxes $10,520.01. Live stock 
 —Horses 2,628. mules 1,593, cattle 9,809, hogs 32,571, sheep 
 2,683. Public schools 95, white 54, colored 41. Churches 36. 
 
 GREENE. 
 
 The small county of Greene, adjoining Pitt on the south, 
 and drained by the Contentnea (which crosses it through the 
 middle) and its numerous tributaries, has the same general fea- 
 tures, both as to its natural characteristics and as to the devel- 
 opment of its agriculture, as Edgecjmbe county, but there are 
 considerable areas of sandy pine lands and pine flats in the 
 eastern angle and in the southern section. Its streams are also 
 for the most part bordered by narrow fringes of alluvial land 
 and of gum and cypress swamps. It has also along the courses 
 of some of its tributaries considerable tracts of semi-swamp 
 land, characterized by a dark gray loam of great fertility, 
 notably Lousin swamp, near the southern border. Like tRe 
 preceding counties, Greene finds marl and compost essential 
 to successful cotton farming. There are still considerable 
 
90 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAJROLINA. 
 
 areas of pine and cypress timber in the county. Of the 
 county area, 45.05 per cent, is tillerl land, of which 33,63 per 
 cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Population 10,037— White 4,653, colored 5,385. Area 357 
 square miles, woodland, 83,433 acres. Tilled lands 75.084 
 acres, area planted in cotton 16,988 acres, in corn 35,148 acres, 
 in wheat 3,638 acres, in rye 394 acres, in oats 1,738 acres. 
 Cotton production 8,030 bales, average cotton product 'per 
 acre 0.47 bale, 673 pounds seed-cotton, or 334 pounds cotton 
 lint. Real property, ao-gregate value $1,075,559, personal 
 property $635.865, 'total $1,701,434. State taxes $1,034.83, 
 county taxes $10,673.80, school taxes $5,363.44. Live stock- 
 Horses 1,096, mules 909, cattle 1,675, hogs 13,939. sheep 643. 
 Churches 35. 
 
 MARTIN. 
 
 Martin county is bordered on the north by the very tortuous 
 course of the Roanoke river, the tributary waters of which for 
 the most part drain it northward into that river. The larger 
 part of its territory belongs to the region of level piny uplands, 
 having a gray sandy loam soil. The higher ridge land, near 
 the south bank of the Roanoke river, has a soil lighter and 
 more sandy, and is characterized by a considerable admixture 
 of long-leaf pine, and the average proportion of oaks and 
 short-leaf pine. etc. Along the Roanoke and some of its 
 tributaries there are extensive bottoms or alluvial lands, and 
 about the head streams of its tributaries considerable tracts of 
 swamp land. 
 
 The agriculture of the county corresponds in its main feat- 
 ures to that of Edgecombe and the adjacent counties, but its 
 soils are less productive, and its agriculture is less advanced 
 partly because of its large and profitable lumber industry in 
 the great cypress swamps of the Roanoke. Marl is abundant 
 and is used to a moderate extent. Of the county area 18.38 per 
 cent, is tilled land, of which 33.67 is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Population 13,140— White 6,661, colored 6,479. Area 483 
 square miles, woodland 175,116 acres. Tilled lands 56,377 
 acres, area planted in cotton 13,444 acres, in corn 34,309 acres, 
 in wheat 940 acres, in oats 1,447 acres. Cotton production 
 6,383 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.47 bale, 678 
 pounds seed-cotton, or 336 pounds cotton lint Real property, 
 aggregate value $1,177,891, personal property $694,453, total 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 91 
 
 i$l, 872,343. State taxes $977.64, county taxes $10,905.05, 
 school taxes $5,430.62. Live stock — Horses 1,189, mules 805, 
 cattle 5,563, hogs 18,197, sheep 2,960. Public schools 59, 
 white 35, colored 24. Churches 22. 
 
 WILSON. 
 
 Wilson county lies on the western border of the long-leaf 
 pine belt, and its soils belong almost exclusively to the region 
 of level upland piny woods, and correspond to those of Edge- 
 combe. This county is traversed by numerous streams, the 
 most notable of which is the Contentnea, along which, as well 
 as its tributaries, are found considerable tracts of alluvial land 
 and swamps (gum and cypress). In all respects the agricul- 
 ture of this county repeats that of Edgecombe both as to prac- 
 tice and as to results. It will be seen, by reference to the cot- 
 ton percentage map, that this territory also belongs to the 
 region of highest production. Marl is found in the eastern 
 half of the county. Of the county area, 27.12 per cent, is 
 tilled land, of which 36.33 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Population 16,064— White 8,655, colored 7,409. Area 376 
 square miles, woodland 114.530 acres. Tilled lands 65,255 
 acres, area planted in cotton 23,706 acres, in corn 27,288 acres, 
 in wheat 2,804 acres, in oats 1,590 acres. Cotton production 
 13,049 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.55 bale, 783 
 pounds seed-cotton, or 261 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
 aggregate value ift^l, 980, 206, personal property $1,463,224. total 
 $3,443,430. State taxes $2,055.47, county taxes $12,553.09, 
 school taxes $9,896.04. Live stock — Horses 1,388, mules 
 1,505. cattle 3,472, hogs 20,463, sheep 2,246. Public schools 
 68, white 40, colored 28. Churches 25. 
 
 JOHNSTON. 
 
 Johnston countv lies on the upper waters of the Neuse river 
 and its larger tributaries, which traverse it in a southeast 
 direction, and consists for the most part of level and gently 
 rolling piny uplands, with a few small bodies of more sandy 
 and barren pine lands. It lies on the western margin of the 
 long-leaf pine region, its southeastern half being characterized 
 in its general features by the same soils and growth as| the 
 average of that belt, while along the northwestern margin the 
 
92 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 lauds are more hilly and the piny belts are alternated along 
 the streams and more hilly portions with oak and pine forests 
 and gravelly loam soils. There are tracts of quite sandy soil 
 in the eastern section, while in the middle section are large 
 bodies of pine flats. Johnston is one of the most prosperous 
 counties, as besides its large cotton crops the grain product 
 reaches nearly 500,000 bushels, and its crop of potatoes exceeds 
 200,000 bushds. Of the county area 23.68 per cent, is tilled 
 land, of which 30.88 pf^r cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Population 23,461— White 15,096, colored 7,645. Area 689 
 square miles, woodland 29,966 acres. Tilled lands 104,407 
 acres, area planted in cotton 32,193 acres, in tobacco 36 acres, 
 in corn 45,045 acres, in wheat 3,711 acres, in rye 324 acres, in 
 oats 3,176 acres. Cotton production 15,151 bales, average cot- 
 ton product per acre 0.47 bale, 672 pounds seed cotton, or 224 
 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregnte value $2,641,- 
 219. personal property $1,337,465, 1:otal $3,978,684. State taxes 
 #1,971.22, county taxts #14,999.78, school taxes $10,696.48. 
 Live stock— Horses 2,076, mules 1,891, cattle 9,900, hogs 
 40.373, sheep 8,684. Public schools 95, white 67, colored 28. 
 Churches 46. 
 
 WAYNE. 
 
 Wayne county lies eastward of Johnston county, south of 
 Wilson county, and west of Greene, on the wat^-rs of the 
 Neuse, which crosses its mfddle portion and drains ajmost the 
 whole of it directly and by its tributaries. This county resem- 
 bles in all respects the adjoining counties already described. 
 Along the Neuse river and some of the other streams are con- 
 siderable bodies of alluvial land and semi swamp, and not 
 infrequently fringes of cypress and gum swamp Along the 
 south bank of the Neuse is a narrow zone of pine barrens, con- 
 forming in its Lreneral trend to the curves of that river, and 
 having a breadth of from 1 to 3 miles. Both this county and 
 Johnston have still considerable areas of turpentine and timber 
 lands. 
 
 The cotton and grain products of Wayne county are large, 
 and those of rice and potatoes are considerable. There is an 
 abundance of marl, and it has been used very profitably in 
 former years; but latterly, as in the cotion region generally, 
 commercial fertilizers have usurped the place of nearly all 
 others. Of the county area 31.74 per cent, is tilled land, of 
 which 26.29 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
DESCKIPTIONS OF C()lTNTrt:.S. 93 
 
 Population 24,951— White 12,827, colored 12,124. Area 601 
 square milos, woodland 188,130 acres. Tilled lands 122,102 
 acres, area plnnted in cotton 32,103 acres, in tobacco 198 acres, 
 in corn 44,409 acres, in wheat 7,041 acres, in rye 819 acres, in 
 oats 1,779 acres. Cotton production 14,558 bales, average 
 cotton product per acre 0.45 bale, 645 pounds seed-cotton, or 
 215 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggreorate value 
 .^2,805,805, personal property $1,678,279, total $4,484,084. 
 State taxes $2,955.69, county taxes $11,879.26, school taxes 
 $12,167.20 Live stock— Horses 2.280, mules 1,720, cattle 
 6,542, hogs 30,122, sheep 2,420. Public schools 80, white 42, 
 colored 38. Churches 56. 
 
 LENOIR. 
 
 Lenoir county lies on the lower course of the Neuse, east of 
 Wayne. The northern half consists of level piny uplands of 
 the same character as those of the counties adjoining it on the 
 north, having narrow tracts of swamp land along its water- 
 courses, while in its western and northern parts there are wide 
 tracts of level semi swamp lands, which are characterized by a 
 dark, fine gray loam of great fertility. The southern half of 
 the county, south of the Neuse, is characterized generally by a 
 more sandy soil, and on the higher divides between the streams 
 by narrow zones of pine barrens. The water-courses in this 
 half of the county are also bordered by cypress and gum 
 swamps, and to some extent by oak and pine flats. Shell marl 
 (blue), chalk marl, and green sand are all found in this county, 
 one or the other in almost every neighborhood. Of the county 
 area 28.72 per cent, is tilled land, of which 22.82 per cent, is 
 cultivated in cotton. Means of transportation are furnished 
 by steamboat and railroad to Newbern, Wilmington and Nor- 
 folk. 
 
 Population 15,344— White 7,277, colored 8,067. Area 457 
 square miles, woodland 122,571 acres. Tilled lands 83,943 
 acres, area planted in cotton 19,150 acres, in corn 29,838 acres, 
 in wheat 5,067 acres, in rye 685 acres, in oats 1,060 acres. 
 Cotton production 8,235 bales, average cotton product per 
 acre 0.43 bale, 612 pounds seed-cotton, or 204 pounds cotton 
 lint. Real property, aggregate value $1,551,067, personal 
 property $836,91-9, total $2,387 986, Slate taxes $1,530.76, 
 county taxes $12,745.38, school taxes $6,987.32. Live stock 
 —Horses 311, mules 1,023, cattle 3,189, hogs 17,101, sheep 
 1,771. Public schools 65, white 36, colored 29. Churches 31. 
 
94 HAN])- BOOK OF NOKTH CAKOLINA. 
 
 DUPLIN. 
 
 Duplin count)' lies southward of the two preceding counties, 
 and partakes of their general topographical and agricultural 
 features. It is drained by Northeast Cape Fear river, which 
 flows southward through its middle section, and both this and 
 the numerous tributaries are bordered by belts of alluvial and 
 often swampy lands. Near its northern and eastern borders are 
 two small pocosons, and within its southern section lies one- 
 half of the great Angola Bay pocoson, an almost impenetrable 
 jungle of the average character of pocoson lands, with fringes 
 of rich swamp lands on the streams that issue from it. This 
 pocoson is flanked on the westward toward the Northeast Cape 
 Fear river by a fringe of fertile white-oak flats and semi- 
 swamp lands. Between the tributaries of the river, on the 
 divides, are several tracts of sandy pine hills, which are very 
 unproductive. The cotton lands, which are of limited extent, 
 are the level piny woods of the usual description; but corn is 
 a more valuable crop, and the product of potatoes and rice 
 is of considerable importance. The county has still valua- 
 ble resources in timber and turpentine lands. Marl (blue and 
 white) is abundant, though but little used. Of the county 
 area, 13.03 per cent, is tilled land, of which 13.93 per cent, is 
 in cotton. 
 
 Population 18,773— White 10,587, colored 8.186. Area 832 
 square miles, woodland 288,505 acres. Tilled lands 69,314 
 acres, area planted in cotton 9,654 acres, in corn 36,813 acres, 
 in wheat 1,031 acres, in rye 422 acres, in oats 433 acres. Cot- 
 ton production 4,499 bales, average cotton product per acre 
 0.47 bale, 663 pounds seed-cotton or 221 pounds cotton lint. 
 Real property, aggregate value $964,428, personal property 
 $645,106, total $1,609,534. State taxes$l, 057.00, county taxes 
 $5,932.73, school taxes $5,824.10. Live stock— Horses 1,781, 
 mules 644, cattle 9,664, hogs 30,179, sheep 7,371. Public 
 schools 68, white 37, colored 31. Chuiches 32. 
 
 SAMPSON. 
 
 Sampson county lies in the middle of the long leaf pine 
 belt, and much the larger part of its territory represents the 
 average character of the soils and forests of that belt. It is 
 drained by South river, one of the principal tributaries of the 
 Cape Fear, whose streams divide its territory into north and 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 95 
 
 south lying belts or zones — flattish swells, the higher portions 
 of which are characterized by sandy soils and forests predomi- 
 nantly of long-leaf pine. In places near the southern and 
 western margins, and again near the northern end, there are 
 tracts which are quite sandy and approach the character of 
 pine barrens. There are also extensive pine flats, especially on 
 the waters of Six Runs, with here and there considerable 
 bodies of pine and oak flats. 
 
 The corn crop of the county is much more important than 
 that of cotton, reaching nearly 500,000 bushels, and the crops 
 of potatoes and rice are both unusually large. There are also 
 large bodies of virgin pine timber, still valuable both for tur- 
 pentine and for lumber. Marl is abundant, and is used with 
 the best results in some sections, chiefly the northern. Of the 
 county area, 18.95 per cent, is tilled land, of which 13.13 per 
 cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Population 22,894— White 13,347, colored 9,547. Area 964 
 square miles, woodland 874,576 acres. Tilled lands 116,892 
 acres, area planted in cotton 15,346 acres, in tobacco 28 acres, 
 in corn 53,951 acres, in wheat 1,249 acres, in rye 409 acres, in 
 oats 654 acres. Cotton production 6,291 bales, average cotton 
 product per acre 0.41 bale, 585 pounds seed-cotton, or 195 
 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value $1,399,638, 
 personal property |835,769, total $2,235,407. State taxes 
 $612.62, county taxes $9,538.92, school taxes $6,849.61. Live 
 stock— horses 1,973, mules 1,270, cattle 10,239, hogs 37,802, 
 sheep 8,934. Public schools 85, white 51, colored 34. 
 Churches 26. 
 
 CUMBERLAND. 
 
 Through the middle of Cumberland county, from its western 
 margin, on the Moore county line, to the Cape Fear river, 
 which crosses the eastern side of the county, lies a broad, 
 irregular zone of pine barrens with a very sandy and unpro- 
 ductive soil and an almost exclusive growth of long-leaf pine. 
 On both sides of this zone, along the northern and southern 
 sections of the county, with unimportant exceptions, and in 
 the section eastward of the Cape Fear river, the soils belong to 
 the class of gray sandy loams of the average upland piny 
 woods. Near the river, on both sides, are large tracts of semi- 
 swamp and oak and pine flats, which are very productive. 
 Many of the streams which flow from the central pine barrens 
 
!)H HAND-HOOK OF NOKTH CAROLINA. 
 
 of the county contain narrow fringes of gum and cypress 
 swamp, and the swampy tracts along the river often contain a 
 considerable percentage of cypress. The turpentine and lum- 
 ber interests arc vstill important. Of the county area 8.63 per 
 cent, is tilled land, of which 16.98 per cent, is cultivated in 
 cotton. 
 
 Population 23,836— White 12,594, colored 11,242. Area 982 
 square miles, woodland 294,178 acres. Tilled lands 54,238 
 acres, area i)lanted in cotton 9,210 acres, in corn 32,677 acres, 
 in wheat 1,1 11 acres, in rye 1,513 acres, in oats 1.509 acres. Cot- 
 ton production 3,905 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.42 
 bale, 603 pounds seed-cotton, or 201 pounds cotton lint. Real 
 property, aggregate value 8^2.114,598. personal property 
 $1,068,386, total $3,182,984. State taxes v^l,564.98, county 
 taxes 819,222.50, school taxes $11,082.35. Live stock- 
 Horses 1,482. mules 1,322, cattle 8,078, hogs 25.220, sheep 
 7,620. Public schools 89, white 54, colored 35. Churches 57. 
 
 HARNETT. 
 
 Harnett county lies on both sides of the Cape Fear river, on 
 the northwestern margin of the long-leaf pine belt. Near the 
 river, and for several miles on both sides, its surface is quite 
 hilly in its upper portion, and here the soil is of the interme- 
 diate character described as oak and pine sandy and gravelly 
 hills. On the tops of the ridges and river hills these soils are 
 gray sandy loams; but on the slopes they approach the charac- 
 ter of clay loams, and are covered mainly with forests of oak 
 and short leaf pine. The body of the county belongs strictly 
 to the long-leaf pine belt, and has the general characteristics 
 of that region. The western section, as well as a narrow belt 
 in the middle, near the south bank of the river and some por- 
 tions of the south side, partakes :n part of the character of the 
 pine barrens. Near the river, and along its principal tributa- 
 ries from the west, and in the angles between these and the 
 river, are wide tracts of gray, clayey, silty lands (oak and pine 
 flats) and occasional narrow strips of gum and cypress swamp. 
 Cotton production is the principal industry of the county, but 
 grain, lumber and turpentine are also important products. Of 
 the county area, 10.96 per cent, is tilled land, of which 22.01 
 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Population 10,862— White 7,092, colored 3,770. Area 601 
 square miles, woodland 175,096 acres. Tilled lands 42,173 
 

 DESCKIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 97 
 
 acres, area planted in cotton 9,281 acres, in tobacco 33 acres, 
 in corn 21,244 acres, in wheat 2,393 acres, in rye 489 acres, in 
 oats 1,202 acres. Cotton production 3,627 bales, average cot- 
 ton product per acre 0.39 bale, 558 pounds seed cotton or 186 
 pounds cotton lint. Real property, ags^regate value, |698,821, 
 personal property $328,979, total $1,027,800. State taxes 
 $267.10, county taxes $4,589.18, school taxes $3,096.56. Live 
 stock — Horses 746, mules 751, cattle 5,696, hogs 13,773, sheep 
 5,953. Churches 22. 
 
 MOORE. 
 
 Moore county lies on the western margin of the long-leaf 
 pine belt. Its middle and southern portion belongs largely to 
 the class of lands called pine barrens or "sand hills." The 
 northern part of this triangular territory partakes more of the 
 character of the oak uplands agricultural division, being very 
 hilly and broken, with sandy and gravelly soil on the higher 
 ridges, having a mixed oak and pine growth, and on the slopes 
 of the hills partaking of the character of clay loams. 
 
 Near the middle (a little north of east), as well as in the 
 southwestern region, and in the eastern one. are considerable 
 bodies of level and rolling upland piny woods. These are the 
 best cotton soils. The tributaries of the Cape Fear, which 
 rise along the southeastern section of the county, are fringed 
 with gum, cypress and juniper swamps, and on many of the 
 streams, large and small, are patches, and sometimes consider- 
 able tracts, of alluvial "bottom" lands. The agriculture of 
 the county is divided between cotton and grain crops; but the 
 lumber and turpentine interests are quite important, and there 
 are yet large turpentine forests untouched. 
 
 Of the county area, 13.32 per cent, is tilled land, of which 
 12.91 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Population 16,821— White 11,485, colored 5,336. Area 807 
 square miles, woodland 281,934 acres. Tilled lands 68,780 
 acres, an^a planted in cotton 8,882 acres, in tobacco 70 acres, 
 in corn 27,934 acres, in wheat 11,242 acres, in rye 1,512 acres, 
 in oats 7,924 acres. Cotton production 3,988 bales, average 
 cotton product per acre 0.45 bale, 639 pounds seed-cotton, or 
 213 pounds cotton lint. Real propfrtv. aggregate value 
 $1,339,793, personal property $825,975," total $2,165,768. 
 State taxes S884.58, school taxes 5,667.03. Live. stock- 
 Horses 1,850, mules 1,414, cattle 9,739, hogs 16,587, sheep 
 18,019. Public schools 95, white 60, colored 35. 
 
98 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 RICHMOND. 
 
 Richmond county also lies on the border of the long-leaf 
 pine belt, its eastern and southern portions, forming not less 
 than three-fourths of its territory, belonging to the latter, while 
 its western and northern parts, lying along and near the Great 
 Pee Dee river, belong more properly in their agricultural features 
 to the zone of oak and pine sandy hills, being quite hilly, and 
 in Pome places rugged. The slopes of the hills on the river 
 front and its tributaries are quite steep and broken, and have 
 a clay loam soil, which is covered by oak and short-leaf pine 
 forces. In the northwestern corner, on the Pee Dee and its 
 tributaries, are wide tracts of level gray loam soils, originally 
 covered with heavy oak forests. Through the eastern portion 
 of the county, in a north and south direction, lies a consider- 
 able tract of pine barrens, which is very sandy and unproduc- 
 tive. The streams which drain the southeastern section of the 
 county (one-third of its territory) flow into Lumber river, and 
 are margined through their whole course by alluvial tracts and 
 cypress swamps, the divides between these parallel and south- 
 flowing streams being occupied by level upland piny-woods 
 tracts having a gray sandy loam soil of fair productiveness. 
 Cotton is the chief single interest, but the ])roduct of grain is 
 large, and the turpentine and lumber interests are still impor- 
 tant. Of the county area, 14.24 per cent, is tilled land, of 
 which 33.48 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Population 18,245— White 8,141, colored 10,104. Area 826 
 squaremiles, woodland 216,096 acres. Tilled lands 75.268 acres, 
 area planted in cotton 25,198 acres, in corn 29,502 acres, in 
 wheat 3.751 acres, in rye 942 acres, in oats 3,571 acres. Cot- 
 ton production 12,754 bales, average cotton product per acre, 
 0.51 bale, 720 pounds seed-cotton, or 240 pounds cotton lint. 
 Real property, agjjregate value $1,345,748, personal property 
 itr970,717, total $2,416,460. State taxes $1,329.37, county 
 taxes $11,032.29, school taxes $6,319.59. Live stock— Horses 
 1,246, mules 1,502, cattle 5,946, hogs 12.067, sheep 2,657. 
 Public schools 72, white 43, colored 29. Churches 32. 
 
 ROBESON. 
 
 The soils of Robeson county are mainly those of the ordi 
 nary level piny woods, but there are belts of gum and cypress 
 swamp along nearly all of its water-courses, those on the two 
 
* DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 99 
 
 main streams being quite large. The county is drained by the 
 upper waters of Lumber river, which enters the Atlantic 
 through the State of South Carolina at Georgetown, On the 
 higher divides between the streams the soil is sometimes quite 
 sandy, in some places reaching the character of pine barrens. 
 The lands are chiefly devoted to the culture of cotton and 
 corn, but the value of the potato and rice crops is quite con- 
 siderable. Turpentine and lumber are also large interests. 
 Marl is found abundantly in the lower half of the county. Of 
 the county area, 15,50 per cent, is tilled land, of which 30,96 
 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. Shipments are made by rail 
 to Wilmington, 
 
 Population 23,880— White 11,943, colored 11,938. Area 
 1,039 square miles, woodland 383.093 acres. Tilled lands 
 103,055 acres, area planted in cotton 31,607 acres, in corn 
 49,961 acres, in wheat 875 acres, in rye 1,548 acres, in oats 
 3,814 acres. Cotton production 8,846 bales, average cotton 
 product per acre, 0,41 bale, 583 pounds seed-cotton, or 194 
 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value $3,451,355, 
 personal property $1,078,311, total $3,539,566, State taxes 
 $947,63, county taxes $11,897.37, school taxes $9,577.74. 
 Live stock — Horses 1,834, mules 3,058, cattle 9,953, hogs 
 33,083, sheep 8,475, Public schools 133, white 67, colored 55. 
 Churches 53. 
 
 BLADEN. 
 
 Bladen county lies south of Cumberland, and, like it, on both 
 sides of the Cape Fear river. It has narrow zones of pine 
 barrens running parallel to the river courses nearly the whole 
 length of the county, and it also abounds in cypress swamps 
 and alluvial "bottoms" along its streams. There are also 
 large bodies of level piny woods. Marl is found in the bluffs 
 of the river. On many of the streams are extensive bodies of 
 gum and cypress swamps. This county has a very limited 
 agriculture, the chief crop being corn; and very little cotton 
 is produced, turpentine and lumber being still among the chief 
 interests. Of the county area, only 5.79 per cent, is tilled 
 land, of which 4,36 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Population 16,158— White 7,598, colored 8,560, Area 1,036 
 square miles, woodland 397.337 acres. Tilled lands 37,990 
 acres, area planted in cotton 1,618 acres, in corn 31,556 acres, 
 in wheat 109 acres, in oats 863 acres. Cotton production 688 
 
100 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 bales, average cotton product per acre, 0.42 bale, 603 pounds 
 seed-cotton, or 201 pounds cotton lint. Ileal property, aggre- 
 gate value $1,052,601, personal property $665,905, total 
 $1,718,506. State taxes $388.38, county taxes $5,235.37, 
 school taxes $2,995.13. Live stock— Horses 718, mules 679, 
 cattle 8,937, hogs 21,368, sheep 5,686. Public schools 58, 
 white 26, colored 32, Churches 26. 
 
 OAK UPLANDS, OR METAMORPHIC REGION. 
 
 (This region embraces the followiDg counties and parts 
 of counties: Warren, Franklin, Vance, Granville, 
 Wake, Durham, Orange, Chatham, Montgomery, Anson, 
 Union, Stanly, Davidson, Rowan, Cabarrus, Mecklen- 
 burg, Iredell, Catawba, Lincoln, Gaston, Cleveland, 
 Rutherford, Randolph, Guilford, Alamance, Person, 
 Caswell, Rockingham, Stokes, Forsyth, Davie, Yadkin, 
 Surry, Wilkes, Alexander, Caldwell, Burke, McDowell, 
 and Polk). 
 
 WARREN. 
 
 Warren county lies on the northern border of the State, and 
 is bounded in part by the Roanoke river, the tributaries of 
 which drain about one-half of its territory, the southern half 
 being drained by the Tar river. Through the middle of the 
 county, along the divide between these rivers, lies a wide, 
 level, and undulating tract, with forests of oak and short-leaf 
 pine, hickory, dogwood, etc, having generally a soil of the 
 class of gray and yellowish gravelly and sandy loam, and fre- 
 quently belts of red clay loam. Northward and southward the 
 land becomes more hilly, and near the streams the soil is more 
 clayey and often reddish in color. Many of these streams are 
 bordered by narrow strips of level bottom land. The tribu- 
 taries of the Tar on the southern side are separated by wide 
 tracts of nearly level oak uplands, and are bordered by exten- 
 sive bottoms. This portion of the county is also less broken 
 than the northern. The agriculture of the county is divided 
 between the production of cotton, tobacco, and the cereals ; 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 101 
 
 but the vine and the peach flourish, especially in the northern 
 and western sections lying within the hill country. The west- 
 ern border of the county rises to an elevation of 500 feet, so 
 that there is abundant water-power developed by the fall of its 
 numerous streams, many of which leave its territory at an ele- 
 vation of less than 200 feet. Gold mining has been a profita- 
 ble industry in the southern corner of the county and the 
 neighboring parts of Halifax, Nash, and Franklin. 
 
 Of the county area, 25.84 per cent, is tilled land, of which 
 25.76 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. Transportation to mar- 
 ket is furnished by railroad to Raleigh, Norfolk, and New 
 York. 
 
 Population 22,619— White 6,386, colored 16 233. Area 507 
 square miles, woodland 140,528 acres. Tilled lands 83,864 
 acres, area planted in cotton 21,603 acres, in tobacco 1,759 
 acres, in corn 28,457 acres, in wheat 5,098 acres, in oats 5,559 
 acres. Cotton production 7,778 bales, average cotton product 
 per acre 0.36 bale, 513 pounds seed-cotton, or 171 pounds cot- 
 ton lint. Real property, aggregate value $1,198,012, personal 
 property $585,277, total $1,783,289. State taxes $574.06, 
 county taxes 811,459.33, school taxes .$4,301.35. Live stock — 
 Horses 1,561, mules 422, cattle 7,736, hogs 12,104, sheep 3,019. 
 Public schools 62, white 30, colored 32. Churches 23. 
 
 FRANKLIN 
 
 Franklin county lies south of Warren, and corresponds very 
 nearly in all its agricultural and topographical features with 
 the description of that county. The eastern, and especially 
 the southeastern sections contain a considerable proportion of 
 long-leaf pine as a constituent of the forests. This county is 
 drained by Tar river and its tributaries. The middle portion 
 belongs to the region of oak and pine gravelly and sandy hills, 
 and the western end rises into the oak uplands. The large 
 cotton product of this county is of recent date, but here and 
 in the adjoining counties it has greatly increased in the last 
 dozen years. The western half is largely devoted to the cul- 
 ture of tobacco. Of the county area, 25.99 per cent, is tilled 
 land, of which 34.60 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Population 20,829— White 9,476, colored 11,353. Area 526 
 square miles, woodland 146,604 acres. Tilled lands 87,492 
 acres, area planted in cotton 30,274 acres, in tobacco 118 acres, 
 in corn 32,642 acres, in wheat 8,362 acres, in oats 5,560 acres. 
 
102 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Cotton production 12,938 bales, average cotton product per 
 acre 0.43 bale, 609 pounds seed-cotton, or 203 pounds cotton 
 lint. Keal property, aggregate value |il,803,778, personal 
 property $739,724, total $2,543,502. State taxes $757.24, 
 county taxes Sl4,854.06, school taxes .^6, 995. 26 Live stock — 
 Horses 1,695, mules 954, cattle 7,896, hogs 16;il4, sheep 5,641. 
 Public schools 91, white 37, colored 54. Churches 43. 
 
 GRANVILLE. 
 
 Granville county lies on the Virginia border west of the two 
 preceding counties, and is drained partly toward the north by 
 the tributaries of the Roanoke and partly (in its middle region) 
 by the Tar and in its southern portions by the ISTeuse. In its 
 central and higher portions, where it is 500 feet above tide, 
 it is comparatively level and rolling, and has for the*most part, 
 a gray gravelly loam soil, with here and there small tracts of 
 red clay. Among the most productive soils is a level body of 
 oak and hickory land in the northern section with a dark grav- 
 elly-loam soil. Smaller tracts of similar character occur near 
 the middle, and also on the southern border. The southern 
 portion of the county, along the divide between the waters of 
 the Tar and Neuse rivers, is another comparatively level bench 
 of land, belonging mainly to the class of gray sandy loams, 
 derived in large part from the underlying Triassic rocks (red- 
 sandstone). These alternate with gray-gravelly loams. The 
 forests are of oaks, hickory, and dogwood, intermingled with 
 short-leaf pine. The principal agricultural product of this 
 county is the gold-leaf tobacco, which is the largest crop in 
 the State — more than 4,500,000 pounds. 
 
 The gray and light-colored granite soils of the eastern, mid- 
 dle and western sections, as well as the last-named (Triassic) 
 soils, are noted for the high grade of tobacco which they pro- 
 duce. This is also a large grain-growing county, its aggre- 
 gate reaching nearly 750,000 bushels. Of the county area 
 32.61 per cent, is under tillage, of which 4.52 per cent, is cul- 
 tivated in cotton. 
 
 Population 31,286— White 13,603, colored 17,683. Area 695 
 square miles, woodland 161,089 acres. Tilled lands 145,036 
 acres, area planted in cotton 6,559 acres, in tobacco 8,941 acres, 
 in corn 42,608 acres, in wheat 14,428 acres, in oats 14,344 
 acres. Cotton production 2,535 bales, average cotton product 
 peracreO.39 bale, 552 pounds seed-cotton, or 184 pounds cotton 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 103 
 
 lint. Real property, aggregate value $1,864,196, personal prop- 
 erty $1,310,926, total $3,175,122. State taxes $1,179.10, county 
 taxes $17,117.03, school taxes $7,682.40. Live stock — Horses 
 3,767, mules 923, cattle 8,359, hogs 16,470, sheep 7,831. 
 Public schools 61, white 28, colored 33. Churches 42. 
 
 VANCE. 
 
 For description of this county see Granville. 
 
 Real property, aggregate value $1,124,169, personal prop- 
 erty $750,727, total $1,874,896. State taxes $1,812.19, county 
 taxes $13,339.23, school taxes $5,154.12. Live stock— Horses 
 1,414, mules.370, cattle 4,460, hogs 8,496, sheep 2,235. Pub- 
 lic schools 43, white 18, colored 25. Churches 15. 
 
 WAKE. 
 
 Wake county in which the capital of the State is situated, 
 is one of the largest counties in the State, and shows the 
 largest product of cotton. It is drained by the tributaries of 
 the IN^euse, and lies on the eastern margin of the oak uplands, 
 Its southern and eastern sections partaking of the agricultural 
 features of the oak and pine gravelly hills, the forests being 
 made up of long-leaf and short-leaf pines, oaks, hickories, 
 dogwoods, etc. The northern portion of the county, as well 
 as the western, is quite hilly and broken in surface, especially 
 along the streams, and the soils are predominantly gray and yel- 
 low sandy and gravelly loams, with occasional areas of red-clay 
 soils. Cotton is the chief crop of the county, but the northwest- 
 ern section adds to this industry the production of tobacco. The 
 culture of corn is also a large feature in its agriculture, and in 
 this crop Wake also stands first, exceeding 600,000 bushels, 
 which, with the small grains added, would nearly reach 800,- 
 000 bushels. In elevation and surface features Wake resembles 
 the counties last described, the levels ranging between 300 and 
 500 feet above the sea. 
 
 The product of cotton has greatly increased in this county 
 (more than fourfold), as well as throughout this region and the 
 State, in the last decade, and the fact is mainly due here, as 
 elsewhere, to the increased consumption of commerical fertili- 
 zers. Of the county area 26.30 per cent, is tilled land, of which 
 38.19 Der cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
104 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Population 47,939— White 24,289, colored 23,650. ArGa 932 
 square miles, woodland 240,004 acres. Tilled lands 150,899 
 acres, area planted in cotton 59,916 acres, in tobacco 230 acres, 
 in coin 53,172 acres, in wheat 14.783 acres, in rye 211 acres, 
 in oats 13,948 s^cres. Cotton production 30,115 bales, average 
 cotton product per acre 50 bale, 717 pounds seed cotton, or 
 239 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value $6,127,- 
 145, personal property $4,482,044, total $10,609,189. State 
 taxes $5,312.38, county taxes $39,717.10, school taxes $29,- 
 961.29. Live stock— Horses 2,711, mules 2,963, cattle 11,033, 
 hogs 31,153, sheep 7,329. Public schools 166, white 87, col- 
 ored 79. Churches 75. 
 
 ORANGE. 
 
 Cotton is beginning to enter largely into the agricultural in- 
 terests of Orange county, and the product now is five times as 
 large as it was in 1870. The upper half of this county is de- 
 voted, in large part, to the culture of tobacco, and the whole 
 of it to the production of grain crops, of which the aggregate 
 exceeds 550,000 bushels. It is traversed in a northeast and 
 southwest direction through its middle region by chains of 
 slate hills. Its levels I'e between 400 and 800 feet above sea- 
 level, the average elevation being about that of the State, viz, 
 640 feet. Its southeastern section is drained by the tributaries 
 of the Cape Fear river, and has a low, undulating tract of 
 land, with gray and yellow sandy and clay loam soils and 
 mixed oak and pine forests. The larger part of this county is 
 characterized by oak forests and red clay soils, with an inter- 
 mixture in the poorer sections and on the slaty hills of short- 
 leaf pine. The region described as slate hills is characterized 
 mainly by a gray gravelly loam soil. Of the county area, 
 19.81 per cent, is under tillage, of which 6.40 per cent, is de- 
 voted to cotton. The Universitv is located in thi=; county. 
 
 Population 23,098— White 14,555, colored 9,143. Area 652 
 square miles, woodland 130,549 acres. Tilled lands 82,667 
 acres, area planted in cotton 5,290 acres, in tobacco 2,323 acres, 
 in corn 28,542 acres, in wheat 18,358 acres, in oats 12,243 
 acres. Cotton ])roduction 1,919 bales, average cotton product 
 per acre 0.36 bale, 516 pounds seed-cotton, or 172 pounds cot- 
 ton lint. Real property, aggregate value $1,249,375, personal 
 property, $745,682, total' $1,995,057. State taxes 401.95, 
 county taxes $9,044.02, school taxes $4,(537.90. Live stock — 
 Horses 1,818, mules 676, cattle 5,896, hogs 12,094, sheep 7,018. 
 Public schools 55, white 21, colored 34. Churches 31. 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 105 
 
 DURHAM. 
 
 For description of this county, see Orange. 
 
 Real property, figgregate value |1, 809, 840, personal prop- 
 erty $2,203,209. totnl $4,013,049. State taxes $1,770.23, 
 county taxes $11,160.99, school taxes 18,708.78. Live stock- 
 Horses 1,327, mules 741, cattle 4,741, hogs 8,592, sheep 2,904. 
 Public schools 58, white 33, colored 25. Churches 29. 
 
 CHATHAM. 
 
 Chatham county lies contiguous to the long-leaf pine belt, 
 and includes a small strip of it along the southern edge. It is 
 drained by the waters of the Cape Fear river, the main afflu- 
 ents of which unite near its southeast corner. The principal 
 of these. Deep river, has on both sides extensive bottomlands, 
 covered with oak and short-leaf pine forests, which are very 
 productive. A large part of its surface is hilly and broken, 
 especially near the rivers, and in the middle and northeastern 
 sections these hills rise to an elevation of from 660 to 700 feet 
 above the sea, attaining, in a few cases, the elevation and des- 
 ignation of small mountains; the average elevation is 500 feet. 
 The soils are for the most part those of the oak uplands, gen- 
 erally sandy, gray to yellowish loams, alternating here and 
 there with belts of red-clay soil. Toward the southern borders 
 occur the sandy and gravelly oak and pine hills. With the 
 exceptions noted, the forests consist mostly of oak, hickory, 
 etc. Along the eastern margin of the county is a wide, level 
 tract of oak and pine lands, with a gray clay loam soil of Tri- 
 assic origin. Only a minor portion of Chatham, in the south- 
 ern and eastern parts, is devoted to the culture of cotton, grain 
 crops constituting its predominant agricultural interest. Its 
 corn product exceeds 550,000 bushels, and the total grain crop 
 exceeds 800,000 bushels. Its fac.lities for manufacturing are 
 unsurpassed. Two large and two other considerable rivers 
 cross its territory with a fall of from 300 to 400 feet, and de- 
 velop a force of more than 40,000 horse-power. Of the county 
 area, 22.55 per cent, is tilled land, of which 11.30 per cent, is 
 cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Facilities for transportation are ample, both by railway and 
 river. 
 
 Population 23,453— White 15,500, colored 7,953. Area 826 
 square miles, woodland 212,312 acres. Tilled lands 119,185 
 
106 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 acres, area planted in cotton 13,478 acres, in tobacco 141 acres, 
 in corn 43,087 acres, in wheat 28,930 acres, in oats 19,861 acres. 
 Cotton production 5,858 bales, average cotton product per acre 
 0.43 bale, 618 pounds seed-cotton or 206 pounds cotton lint. 
 Real property, aggregate value $2,134,276, personal property 
 11,083,930, total'$3,218,206. State taxes $483.67, county taxes 
 $14,384.14, school taxes $7,839.41. Live stock— Horses 2,951, 
 mules 2,165, cattle 13,423, hogs 25,798, sheep 22,742. Public 
 schools 122, white 71, colored 51. Churches 74. 
 
 MONTGOMERY. 
 
 In its topographical features Montgomery county may be de- 
 scribed in nearly the same terms as Chatham. Several low 
 chains of mountains or high ranges of slate hills cross its terri- 
 tory in a direction nearly north and south. The county is 
 drained by the Yadkin river and two of its chief tributaries, 
 the Uwharrie and Little rivers. Its territory, therefore, is quite 
 broken in surface. Its soils are mostly sandy and gravelly 
 loams, with occasional tracts of red clays. Along its eastern 
 border, and particularly in its southeastern corner, there are 
 large bodies of valuable timber, as it here touches the long- 
 leaf pine belt; the lands are of the common character of this 
 border region, and its soils are generally lean. Cotton is quite 
 a subordinate interest in comparison with grains. Of the 
 county area, 14.77 per cent, is tilled land, of which 14,11 per 
 cent, is cultivated in cotton. The water-power of its rivers is 
 very great, the Yadkin having a fall wiihin the county of more 
 than 200 feet and a force per foot of above 350 horse-power. 
 There are many valuable gold mines, both vein and placer. 
 
 Population 9,374— White 6,857, colored 2,517. Area 489 
 square miles, woodland, 179,473 acres. Tilled lands 46,209 
 acres, area planted in cotton 6.519 acres, in tobacco 54 acres, in 
 corn 18,090 acres, in wheat 9,197 acres, in oats 7,852 acres. 
 Cotton production 2,989 bales, average cotton product per 
 acre 0.46 bale, 654 pounds seed-cotton, or 218 pounds cotton 
 lint. Real property, affgrcgate value $700,683, personal prop- 
 erty $422,897, total" $1,123,580. State taxes $214.11, county 
 taxes $9,508.07, school taxes $2,969.85. Live stock — Horses 
 972, mules 762, cattle 4,658, hogs 11,991, sheep 6,113. Public 
 schools 53, white 34, colored 19. Churches 29. 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 107 
 
 ANSON. 
 
 Anson county lies on the southern border of the State, and 
 is bounded on the east by the Pee Dee river. About one-third 
 of its territory, in the southeastern portion, belongs to the 
 long-leaf pine belt, with its characteristic soils and forests. 
 The northwestern and northern sections of the county consist 
 of slate soils (gray, gravelly clays), occupied by forests of oak, 
 short-leaf pine, hickory, dogwool, etc. The river hills near the 
 Pee Dee have a sandy and gravelly loara, becoming more red and 
 clayey on the lower slopes. There lies across the middle, in a 
 northeast and southwest direction, a low, nearly level tract, 5 
 or 6 miles wide, of brown yellow, and gray sandy and clay 
 loara soils, derived from the clays and sandstones of the Trias. 
 These lands are naturally quite productive, but are much worn, 
 and have been devoted mainly to the culture of cotton, which 
 is the most important industry of the county, although the 
 corn crops are quite large. Of the county area 35.31 per cent. 
 is under tillage, of which 32.05 per cent, is in cotton. 
 
 Population 17,994— White 8,790, colored 9,204. Area 545 
 ■square rniles, woodland 149,000 acres. Tilled lands 88,293 
 acres, area planted in cotton 2*^,296 acres, in corn 29,121 acres, 
 in wheat 5,909 acres, in oats 8,999 acres. Cotton production 
 11,857 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.42 bale, 597 
 pounds seed-cotton, or 199 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
 aggregate value $1,333,706, personal property |691,833, total 
 $2^025,539, State taxes $755.33, county taxes $15,697.06, 
 school taxes $5,327.11. Live stock — Horses 1,106, mules 
 1.621, cattle 4,295, hogs 7,853. sheep 2,360. Public schools 
 61, white 22, colored 39. Churches 34. 
 
 UNION. 
 
 The southern portion of Union county, which lies on the 
 South Carolina border, is penetrated to a distance of seve.ial 
 miles by sinuses of long-leaf pine (sandy lands) on the level- 
 backed divides between the streams. This portion of the 
 county is drained southward into the Pee Dee through South 
 Carolina. 
 
 The soils of a larger part of the county are of a slaty origin, 
 and are j^Tay gravelly and sandy for the most part, with occa- 
 sional areas of red clays. The forests are mixed pine and oak, 
 hickory, etc. The soils of a narrow belt along the west side 
 
108 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 are granitic. The cotton product belongs mainly to the south- 
 ern half, the-northern portion being devoted to small grains, 
 of which it produces large crops — a total of nearly 500,000 
 bushels. Of the county area 23.54 per cent, is tilled land, of 
 which 22.75 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Population 18,056— White 13,520, colored 4,536. Area 557 
 square miles, woodland 176,245 acres. Tilled lands 83,913 
 acres, area planted in cotton 19,090 acres, in corn 28,877 acres, 
 in wheat 12,464 acres, in oats 14,357 acres. Cotton produc- 
 tion 8,336 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.44 bale, 621 
 pounds seed-cotton, or 207 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
 aggregate value $1,868,867, personal property $1,208,017, total 
 $3,016,884. State tnxvA $939.04, county taxes $10,763.22, 
 school-taxes $7,682,37. Livestock — Horses 1,772,. mules 2,034, 
 cattle 8,038, hogs 20,848, sheep 10,315. Public schools 102, 
 white 73, colored 29. Churches 26. 
 
 STANLY. 
 
 Stanly county lies on the west side of the Yadkin river, 
 and is bounded on the south by the Rocky river, one of its 
 largest tributaries. Its soils are derived from the clay and 
 chlorite slates of the great central slate belt of the State, and 
 are gray and gravelly loams or red clays, according as the 
 underlying rock is of the former or of the latter description. 
 The forests are of oak and short- leaf pine. Its surface is quite 
 broken near the rivers. The southwestern corner of the 
 county is characterized by broad and comparatively level 
 tracts of gravelly land, covered with extensive short-leaf pine 
 forests, with a subordinate growth of oaks. The cotton pro- 
 duct is of about equal value with that of the grains, of which 
 the total exceeds 400,000 bushels. The slate lands of this 
 region produce heavier wheat than any other soils, reaching 
 65 and even 70 pounds to the bushel. Of the county area 
 21.21 per cent, is tilled land, of which 10.02 per cent is culti- 
 vated in cotton. 
 
 Transportation is by wagon to railroads of the adjacent 
 counties. 
 
 Population 10,505— white 9,166, colored 1,339. Area 432 
 square miles, woodland 119,148 acres. Tilled lands 58.628 
 acres, area planted in cotton 5,878 acres, in corn 22,426 acres, 
 in wheat 16,465 acres, in oats 10,975 acres. Cotton production 
 2,475 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.42 bale, 600 
 pounds seed-cottou, or 200 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 109 
 
 aggregate value $1,116,133, personal property $715,430, total 
 $1,831,553. State taxes $163.62, county taxes $12,932.67, 
 school taxes $3,984.78. Live Stock — Horses 1,641, mules 
 1,033, cattle 6,463, hogs 12,165, sheep 7,725. Public schools 
 63, white 54, colored 9. Churches 27. 
 
 DAVIDSON. 
 
 This county lies midway of the breadth of the State and of 
 the midland division, and on the northern border of the cotton 
 belt. The average elevation is about 800 feet above sea-level 
 — the northern end 1,000 and the southwestern 600 feet, but is 
 interrupted by ranges of hills which are 900 feet in height and 
 upward. The county is bounded on the west by the tortuous 
 course of the Yadkin river, whose numerous tributaries drain 
 almost its entire surface, one of which, Abbott's creek, tra- 
 verses its middle section from north to south, while a multitude 
 of smaller streams flow in a generally southwest course into the 
 river. Both the river itself and these tributaries are generally 
 bordered by tracts of bottom lands with a rich alluvial soil, 
 covered by heavy forests of oak — largely white oak. There are 
 considerable tracts of red -clay soil scattered through various 
 portions of the county, which are covered with heavy oak for- 
 ests. The eastern and northern margins, which lie along the 
 elevated divides and swells between the greater rivers, contain 
 mixed oak and ])ine forests, and have a soil which is generally 
 a gray and yellow gravelly or sandy loam. A clay subsoil is 
 found throughout the county. The cotton product of David- 
 son county is small, and is limited to its southern end. Its 
 wheat crop is the largest in the State, and its total grain pro- 
 duct is only less than that of Rowan, amounting to 850,000 
 bushels. The southern half of the county lies within the great 
 gold belt, and numerous mines of gold and quite a number of 
 copper and silver have been opened. The slate hills of the 
 south end are notable for their deposits of gold gravel, or 
 placers. Of the county area, 31.39 per cent, is tilled land, of 
 which only 3.33 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Transportation is by rail to Charleston, Norfolk and New 
 York. 
 
 Population 20,333— White 16.341, colored 3,992. Area 564 
 square miles, woodland 142,673 acres. Tilled lands 113,314 
 acres, area planted in cotton 3,779 acres, in tobacco 484 acres, 
 in corn 36,983 acres, in wheat 32,195 acres, in oats 16, 924 acres. 
 
110 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Cotton production 1,553 bales, average cotton product per acre 
 0.41 bale, 585 pounds seed-cotton or 195 pounds cotton lint. 
 Real property, af^gregate value $1,790,837, T»ersonal property 
 $1,030,511, total $2,827,348. State taxes $318.64, county taxes 
 $11,746.04, school taxes $0,910.79. Livestock— Horses 6,918, 
 mules 1,443, cattle 9,225, hogs 19,498, sheep 12,342. Public 
 schools 97, white 72, colored 25. Churches 33. 
 
 ROWAN. 
 
 Rowan county lies on the west bank of the Yadkin river and 
 south of its principal tributary, the South Yadkin, nnd resem- 
 bles very closely in its agricultural and topographical features 
 the county of Davidson, above described. Its entire surface 
 is drained by the tributaries of the Yadkin, which traverse its 
 territory in a northeasterly course. Its middle and northern 
 sections, which lie for the most part above the level of 800 feet, 
 rising at one point above 1,000 feet, are characterized by an 
 abundance of red clay soils and heavy oak forests, interspers('d 
 with hickory, walnut, etc., only the higher parts of the water 
 sheds between the streams showing any growth of pine (short- 
 leaf), and having gray and yellow sandy loam soils. The 
 southeastern corner of the county, amounting to one-third of 
 its territory, is quite broken, and is traversed by low ranges jf 
 mountains or high hills, which rise in places to a level of a 
 thousand feet and more above the sea. These consist geologi- 
 cally, for the most part, of ledges of granite. The hills of 
 this region have a light gray and yellow sandy loam soil. 
 
 The culture of cotton has greatly increased in the past de- 
 cade, but still occupies a secondary place in the agriculture of 
 the county, most of its territory being better adapted to the 
 growth of corn and small grains, of which the total is the 
 largest in the State, being more than 875,000 bushels. The 
 upper portion produces also a considerable quantity of tobacco. 
 Of the county area, 30.59 per cent is tilled land, of which 
 12.34 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. There are many gold 
 mines in this county, mostly in the southern part, and several 
 copper- veins. 
 
 Population 19,965— White 13.621, colored 6,344. Area 4S2 
 square miles, woodland 117,870 acres. Tilled lands 94,378 
 acres, area planted in cotton 10,645 acres, in tobacco 216 acres, 
 in corn 38,963 acres, in wheat 24,195 acres, in rye 253 acres, in 
 oats 17,751 acres. Cotton production 4,381 bales, average cot 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. Ill 
 
 ton product per acre 0.41 bale, 585 pounds seed-cotton, or 195 
 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggrecrate value $2,468,474, 
 personal property $1,302,081, total $3,770,555. State taxes 
 $847.49, county taxes $7, 674. 05, school taxes $10,845.35. Live 
 stock— Horses 3,087, mules 1,502, cattle 7,593, hogs 16,230, 
 sheep 5,875. Public schools 130, white 68, colored 62. 
 Churches 49. 
 
 CABARRUS. 
 
 Cabarrus resembles Rowan county in its general features, 
 both topographical and agricultural. It is drained by the 
 upper waters of the Rocky river, one of the chief affluents of the 
 Yadkin, and abounds in water-courses, which traverse its ter- 
 ritory from northwest to southeast, dividing it into narrow 
 zones or flattish swells, the higher parts of which are compar- 
 atively level and are covered with a growth of oaks and pines 
 and have a characteristic gray to yellow loam soil, while along 
 the borders of the streams there are numerous and often exten- 
 sive tracts of alluvial bottom lands, which, as well as large 
 tracts of red clay and dark gravelly loam soils, are covered 
 with heavy forests of oak, hickory, walnut, poplar, maple, etc. 
 Along the eastern margin of the county lies a narrow belt of a 
 few miles in breadth of slate hill-land, in the forests of which 
 the short-leaf pine predominates. The soils of this tract are 
 much less productive than the average of the county. Cotton 
 enters as a large element into the agriculture of this county, 
 and divides almost equally the attention of its population with 
 grain crops, of which it produces more than half a million 
 bushels. Of the county area, 33.97 per cent, is tilled land, of 
 which 23.90 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. Gold and cop- 
 per mining also come in for a considerable share of attention. 
 
 Population 14,964— White 9,849, colored 5,115. Area 370 
 square miles, woodland 86,297 acres. Tilled lands 80,439 acres, 
 area planted in cotton 19.224 acres, in corn 26,831 acres, in 
 wheat 17,550 acres, in oats 7,592 acres. Cotton production 
 7,467 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.39 bale, 552 
 pounds seed-cotton, or 184 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
 aggregate value $1,676,606, personal property $1,047,398, 
 total $2,724,204. State taxes $658.88, county taxes $11,195.27, 
 school taxes $6,026.14. Live stock — Horses 2,235, mules 1,531, 
 cattle 5,986, hogs 11,314, sheep 3,946. Public schools 107, 
 white 64, colored 43. Churches 39. 
 
112 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 # 
 
 MECKLENBURG. 
 
 Mecklenburg county lies on the southern border of the State, 
 and is bounded westward by the Catawba river. The elevation 
 varies between 600 and 900 feet, the average being about 700 
 above the sea. This is one of the largest and most ])roductive 
 as well as one of the most populous counties in the State. The 
 production of cotton constitutes the principal feature of the agri- 
 culture of the entire county, having increased more than three- 
 fold in the last ten years; before the war the culture of cotton 
 did not reach northward beyond the middle of the county. A 
 considerable portion of the territory of this county belongs to |ft 
 the class of red clay lands wh:ch were originally covered with W 
 heavy forests of oak, pine coming in as a constituent of the 
 forests only on the summits of the ridges and divides between 
 the streams, where the soils are gray and yellowy sandy loams. 
 The higher portion of the county, which lies along the water- 
 shed between the Yadkin and the Catawba iu a north and 
 south direction, belongs, in the main, to the latter class of soils, 
 but has here and there small tracts of red clay. Of the county 
 area, 36.36 per cent, is under tillage, and of this 30. 85 percent, 
 is in cotton. This county shows a large ))roduct of cotton, 
 ranking third in this respect; and also produces corn and the 
 small grains on a large scale, aggregating 800,000 bushels. 
 Gold and copper mining are important industries in several 
 sections of the county. 
 
 Charlotte being an important railroad centre, the county has 
 ample facilities for shipment in every direction. 
 
 Population 34,175— White 17,922, colored 16,253. Area 576 
 square miles, woodland 115,649 acres. Tilled lands, 134,028 
 acres, area planted in cotton 41,343 acres, in corn 41,285 acres, 
 in wheat 12,295 acres, in oats 12,949 acres. Cotton production 
 19,129 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.46 bale, 660 
 pounds seed-cotton or 220 pounds cotton lint. Renl prop- 
 erty, aggregate value |4, 700, 698, personal property $1,762,660, 
 total $6,463,358. State taxes $4,066.25, county taxes $41,- 
 702.80, school taxes $16,223.42. Live stock— Horses 2.533, 
 mules 3,160, cattle 7.326, hogs 2,210, sheep 4,821. Public 
 schools 195, white 91, colored 104. Churches 53. 
 
 IREDELL. 
 
 Iredell is a county of rolling uplands, and lies on the waters 
 of the Catawba on the west, and of the Yadkin on the east, 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 113 
 
 being muinly drained by the latter. It is divided in a north- 
 westerly and southeasterly direction by the course of the tribu- 
 tary streams into broad, flattish, elevated zones, the summits 
 of which have generally a gray and yellow loam soil, with, 
 mixed oak and pine forests and occasional tracts of red clay 
 oak-covered soils, while along the streams, which abound in 
 alluvial bottoms, forests of oak, walnut, hickory, etc., pre- 
 dominate. One of these high swells or divides lies along and 
 (juite close to the course of the Catawba river, and has an ele- 
 vation of 900 feet in its southern portion, rising to 1,000 feet 
 and upward at its northern limit. The average elevation of 
 the county is but little below 1,000 feet above sea-level. 
 
 The cotton crop has increased tenfold since 1870, and is con- 
 fined mainly to the southern half, this form of agriculture hav- 
 ing only recently passed beyond the middle of the county. 
 The northern section produces tobacco as its chief market 
 crop, but corn and the small grains occupy the larger portion 
 of the tilled surface of the county, and aggregate more than 
 800,000 bushels. Of the county area 26.53 per cent, is tilled 
 land, of which 11.49 per cent, is cultivattd in cotton. Trans- 
 portation is by rail, east, west, and south. 
 
 Population 22,675— White 16,752, colored 5,928. Area 595 
 square miles, woodland 153,039 acres. Tilled lands 101,018 
 acres, area planted in cotton 11,603 acres, in tobacco 465 acres, 
 in corn 39,264 acres, in wheat 17,476 acres, in rye 359 acres, in 
 oats 17,488 acres. Cotton production 4,657 bales, average cot- 
 ton product per acre 0.40 bale, 573 pounds seed-cotton, or 
 191 pounds r^otton lint. Real property, aggregate value 
 $2,452,780, personal property $1,361,416, total $3,814,196. 
 State taxes $1,033.55, county taxes $19,584.87, school taxes 
 $8,754,36. Live stock— Horses 2,711, mules 2,015, cattle 
 8,285, hogs 15,759, sheep 8,771. Public schools 171, white 
 95, colored 76. Churches 56. 
 
 CATAWBA, 
 
 Catawba county lies on the northern border of the cotton 
 belt and on the margin of the Piedmont division of the State. 
 It is bounded northward and eastward by the Catawba river, 
 and has its western end on the foot-hills of the South moun- 
 tains. As to its middle, southern, and eastern parts, it resem- 
 bles the county of Iredell, from which it is separated by the 
 Catawba river. Through the middle region of it, and in a 
 
114 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 northeast and southwest direction, is a broad belt of oak and 
 hickory forest with a red chiy soil, while that of the western 
 section is a light to yellow sandy loam. The streams of this 
 county, all of which flow into the Catawba, are occasionally 
 bordered by considerable tracts of alluvial lands, and along 
 the course of the Catawba are extensive bottoms. These and 
 the red lands of the county are very productive. In the south- 
 eastern corner, as well as along the northwestern border, are 
 mountain spurs which rise to an elevation of 1,500 feet and more 
 above sea-level. A broad, flattish plateau crosses the county 
 in a northwest and southeast direction between these moun- 
 tain spurs, which, for the most part, is characterized by sandy 
 and gravelly loams, and its oak forests are intermingled with 
 much pine. 
 
 The culture of cotton has been introduced into the county 
 since 1870, and has become the money crop. The larger part 
 of its territory is still devoted to grain, of which more than 
 half a million bushels are produced. Tobacco has been added 
 to the list of its products within a few years, nearly half of 
 the county being well adapted to the better grades of this 
 crop. Of the county area 26.46 per cent is tilled land, of 
 which 7 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. Transportation is 
 by railroad, cast, west, and south. 
 
 Population 14,946— White 12,469, colored 2,477. Area 445 
 square miles, woodland 110,328 acres. Tilled lands 75,350 
 acres, area planted in cotton 5,175 acres, in tobacco 49 acres, 
 in corn 21,248 acres, in wheat 15,054 acres, in oats 7,506 acres. 
 Cotton production 2,012 bales, average cotton product per 
 acre 0.39 bale, 555 pounds seed-cotton, or 185 pounds cotton 
 lint. Real property, aggregate value $1,604,699, personal 
 property $1,093,615, total $2,698,314. State taxes $638.25, 
 county taxes $7,481.52, school taxes $5,919.26. Livestock — 
 Horses 2,000, mules 1,401, cattle 7,779, hogs 13,263, sheep 
 6,888. Public schools 71, white 55, colored 16. Churches 33. 
 
 LINCOLN. 
 
 Lincoln county lies south of Catawba county and west of the 
 Catawba river, and its features, agricultural and topographical, 
 are those of that county, and may be described in nearly the 
 same terms. Its territory is drained by the parallel courses of 
 the numerous tributaries of the South Fork of the Catawba, 
 which traverses its middle section, and the average elevation 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. , 115 
 
 is nearly 1,000 feet above sea-level. In its middle portion is a 
 north and south zone, several miles in breadth, of red-clay soils, 
 with oak and hickory forests. For the rest, its forests are 
 mixed oak and pine, and its soils are gray and yellow gravelly 
 loams. The eastern side of the county is quite hilly near the 
 river. 
 
 Only within the last few years has the culture of cotton 
 entered to any considerable extent into the agriculture of this 
 county, and it already holds the leading rank. Of the county 
 area, 28.37 per cent, is under tillage, and of this 13.89 per cent, 
 is in cotton. The manufactures of the county, especially in 
 iron and cotton, have always been consideraole. 
 
 Railroads cross the county in two directions, furnishing am- 
 ple means of transportation. 
 
 Population 11,061— White 8,180, colored 3,881. Area 295 
 square miles, woodland 20, 293 acres. Tilled lands 53,571 acres, 
 area planted in cotton 7,442 acres, in corn 19,338 acres, in 
 wheat 10,159 acres, in oats 6,313 acres. Cotton production 
 2,945 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.40 bale, 564 
 pounds seed-cotton or 188 pounds cotton lint. Real propertv, 
 aggregate value $1,288,450. personal property $719,376, total 
 $2,007,826. State taxes $608.84, county taxes $5,105.61, school 
 taxes $4,480.97. Live stock— Horses 1,188, mules 1,379, cat- 
 tle 5,036, hogs 9,605, sheep 4,344. Public schools 44, white 
 35, colored 9. Churches 27. 
 
 GASTON. 
 
 Gaston, a small county, lies on the southern border of the 
 State, and is bounded eastward by the Catawba river, whose 
 tributaries drain its entire surface. In the southern section are 
 several small mountain chains and spurs, the highest of which, 
 King's mountain, reaches an altitude of nearly 1,700 feet above 
 sea level. Most of the county is quite broken, and partakes 
 of the character of the Piedmont division. It is characterized 
 by mixed forests of oak and pine and by gray and yellow 
 gravelly soils of moderate fertility, with occasional areas of 
 red-clay soils. In the northwestern section are the largest 
 tracts of oak and hickory forests, with their corresponding 
 red-clay soils. 
 
 Of the county area, 25.57 per cent, is under tillage, and of 
 this 18.38 per cent, is in cotton. The product of cotton has 
 increased sixfold in the last ten years. 
 
116 , HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 There are many valuable beds of iron ore in the county, and 
 the manufactures of cotton, and formerly of iron, have attained 
 considerable importance. It is one of the oldest iron manu- 
 facturin*; reoions of the south, some of its furnaces datino- 
 back nearly one hundred years. In water-power it has supe- 
 rior advantages. It has also several noted gold mines. 
 
 Population 14,254— White 10,188, colored 4,066. Area 364 
 square miles, woodland 97,548 acres. Tilled lands 59,569 
 acres, area ])lanted in cotton 10,949 acres, in corn 24,078 acres, 
 in wheat 11,506 acres, in oats 6,699 acres. Cotton production 
 4.588 bales, average cotton product per acre, 0.42 bale, 597 
 pounds seed-cotton or 199 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
 aggregate value $51,795,486, personal property !$1,037,372, total 
 $2,832,858. State taxes ;$467.58, county taxes $12,762.34. 
 school taxes $6, 139.23. Live stock— Hor§es 2,011. mules 1,743, 
 cattle 5,098, hogs 10,255, sheep 4,905. Public schools 74, 
 white 54, colored 20. Chuiches 82. 
 
 I! 
 
 CLEVELAND. 
 
 Cleveland county is situated on the southern border of the 
 State, and lies westward of Gaston county. Its northern end 
 rests upon the summit of the South mountains, at an elevation 
 of nearly 3,000 feet above sea-level, and its upper half belongs 
 properly to the Piedmont division. It is drained by several 
 large tributaries of the Broad river, which rise in this chain 
 and cross the county southward into South Carolina. Its agri- 
 cultural and topographical features are very similar to those of 
 Catawba county, to which its territory is contiguous. Its 
 soils consist of alternating tracts of red or reddish clay and 
 gray and yellow gravelly loams (chiefly the latter), and have 
 their corresponding forests of oak and of oak mingled with pine. 
 This county produces cotton throughout its territory even up 
 to the flanks and on the slopes of the South mountains, 
 although this form of agriculture is the growth of a decade, 
 the product having increased twelvefold in that time. The 
 production of grain exceeds 500,000 bushels. Of the county 
 area 28.88 per cent, is tilled land, of which cotton occupies 
 22.43 per cent. Gold mining is also a familiar industry, placers 
 being common in the north and vein mines in the south end. 
 
 Population 16,571--White 13,700, colored 2,871. Area 464 
 square mi!es, woodland 129,115 acres. Tilled lands 85,752 
 acres, area planted in cotton 19,238 acres, in corn 31,339 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 117 
 
 acres, in wheat 11,110 acres, in oats 10,959 acres. Cotton 
 production 6,126 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.33 
 bale, 453 pounds seed-cotton, or 151 pounds cotton lint. 
 Real property, aggregate value $2,353,268. ))ersonal property 
 $945,984, total $3,299,252. State taxes So99, county taxes 
 $15,255.33, school taxes $5,078,44. Live stock— Horses 1,345, 
 mules 2,050,- cattle 7,006, hogs 9,878, sheep 5,936. Public 
 schools 90, vv^hite 69, colored 21. Churches 43. 
 
 RUTHERFORD. 
 
 The topographical features of Rutherford county may be 
 described in the same terms as those of Cleveland, v^^hich 
 bounds it on the east. Like that, it is traversed from its 
 northern limit, in the South mountains, by the parallel south- 
 erly courses of several large tributaries of the Broad river. Its 
 northern half is, in many places, quite rugged and mountain- 
 ous (being properly a part of the Piedmont division), and its 
 northwestern corner rests on some of the summits of the Blue 
 Ridge at an elevation of nearly 4,000 feet. Its soils and its 
 agriculture correspond in all their features to thoso of Cleve- 
 land county, and its cotton product has increased seventeen 
 fold since 1870. Gold mining is also an industry of some im- 
 portance, especially in the northern section, where placers are 
 abundant and extensive on the flanks of the South mountains 
 and in the beds of the streams at their base. Of the county 
 area, 19.18 per cent, is tilled land, of which 15.16 per cent, is 
 planted in cotton. 
 
 Transportation is by wagon to the railroads of adjacent 
 counties, and thence to Charlotte, Wilmington and Charleston. 
 
 Population 15,198— White 11,910, colored 3,288. Area 520 
 square miles, woodland 180,192 acres. Tilled lands 63,825 
 acres, area planted in cotton 9,679 acres, in tobacco 38 acres, in 
 corn 32,783 acres, in wheat 8,683 acres, in rye 689 acres, in oats 
 6,166 acres. Cotton production 2,079 bales, aveiage cotton 
 product per acre 0.21 bale, 306 pounds seed cotton or 102 
 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value $1,118,- 
 401, personal property $437,256, total $1,555,657. State taxes 
 $218.07, county taxes $19,158.10, school taxes $4,261 98. Live 
 stock— Horses 1,253, mules 1,486, cattle 7,080, hogs 10,651, 
 sheep 5,714. Public schools 99, white 76, colored 23. 
 
118 HAND-BOOK OF NOKTH CAROLINA. 
 
 RANDOLPH. 
 
 The southern portion of Randolph county for a few miles 
 from its border partakes in part of the character of the long- 
 leaf pine bolt, but for much the larger part of its territory it 
 belongs strictly to the oak upland region, its surface being 
 quite hilly and broken, and near the western margin there are 
 several small mountains. Through its middle region, from 
 northwest to southeast, is an elevated ridge or divide between 
 the waters of the Deep river and the Yadkin which has an 
 altitude of from 700 to 900 feet above the level of the sea. 
 The western and southern sections of the county are character- 
 ized by the occurence of sharp ridges and hills of slate, with 
 light-gray, sandy, gravelly soil; but the upper portion is much 
 less broken, and consists of broad, iiattish swells, which con- 
 stitute the divides between the upper waters of the Haw, Deep 
 and Uwharrie rivers, the latter being one of the tributaries of 
 the Yadkin. The soils of this portion of the county are, for 
 the most part, gray, gravelly loams, alternated here and there 
 with red clay lands. Cotton is produced in only a small part 
 of the southern half of the county, the production of small 
 grains (700,000 bushels) constituting its principal agricultural 
 feature. Of the county area, 20.44 per cent, is tilled land, of 
 which only 0.65 per cent, is planted in cotton. There are sev- 
 eral noted gold mines in this county. 
 
 Transportation is furnished by the North Carolina railroad, 
 which crosses the upper corner of the county. 
 • Population 20,836— White 17,758, colored 3,078. Area 701 
 square miles, Woodland 237,999 acres. Tilled lands 91,693 
 acres, area planted in cotton 595 acres, in tobacco 45 acres, in 
 corn 35,338 acres, in wheat 29,443 acres, in oats 13,524 acres. 
 Cotton production 295 bales, average cotton product per acre 
 0.50 bale, 708 pounds seed cotton, or 236 pounds cotton lint. 
 Real property, aggregate value $2,062,800, personal property 
 .$1,080,650. total $3,143,450. State taxes $396.89, county 
 taxes $19,519.98, school taxes $5,236.24. Live stock — Horses 
 3,183, mules 1,679, cattle 12,393, hogs 22,925, sheep 2,330. 
 Public schools 124, white 104, colored 20. Churches 52. 
 
 GUILFORD. 
 
 Guilford county lies in the middle of the midland plateau, 
 and near its highest part, on the water-shed between the Cape 
 Fear and Dan rivers, which crosses its territory nearly mid- 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 119 
 
 way in a west and east direction at an average elevation of 
 between 800 and 1,000 feet above tide. In its physical char- 
 acteristics and its agricultural features this county may be 
 taken as a typical average of this region. This elevated swell 
 of laud between the water-courses, with its projections at 
 right angles between the main tributaries of the above men- 
 tioned rivers, is characterized by quite a uniform forest 
 growth and soil, both of which may be taken as representative 
 of these features for the major part of the midland division. 
 Its forests consist mainly of oaks of various species and hick- 
 ory, with a subordinate growth of shorl-leaf pine scattered 
 quite uniformly over most of its area. Along its river aud 
 creek bottoms, which are in many parts of the county exten- 
 sive, and in the southeastern section of the county — even on 
 the uphinds — are heavy forests of oak, intermingled with 
 hickory, wahint, poplar, maple, etc. These lands have gen- 
 erally a reddish clay loam soil. The soil of the higher aud 
 broad -backed ridges and swells is quite uniformly a yellowish 
 sandy and gravelly loam, underlaid by a yellow and red clay 
 subsoil. The cotton zone bar ly touches the southern border, 
 the chief crops of the county consisting of grains (of which 
 the aggregate exceeds thret^- quarters of a million bushels) and 
 tobacco, the product of which is nearly half a million pounds, 
 grown mostly in the northern half of th'> county. Of the 
 county area 28.10 per cent, is tilled land, of which only 0,22 
 per cent, is planted in cotton. Gold, copper, and iron are 
 found in many places, and have been mined on a considerable 
 scale chiefly before the war. 
 
 Transportation is east, west and north by rail to Richmond, 
 Norfolk and New York. 
 
 Population 23,585— White 16,885, colored 6,700, Area 682 
 square miles, woodland 108,071 acres. Tilled lands 126,722 
 acres, area planted in cotton 283 acres, in tobacco 910 acres, in 
 corn 39,790 acres, in wheat 27,743 acres, in rye 354 acres, in 
 oats 20.774 acres. Cotton production 114 bales, average cot- 
 ton product pel* acre 0.40 bale, 573 pounds seed-cotton, or 
 191 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value 
 $2,930,158, personal property $1,654,690, total $4,584,848. 
 State taxes $1,320.52, county taxes $17,515.30, school taxes 
 i$10,729,93. Live stock— Horses 3.464, mules 1,111, cattle 
 11,876, hogs 17,831, sheep 1,167. Public schools 124, white 
 89, colored 35. Churches 77. 
 
120 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 ALAMANCE. 
 
 This counfy is drained by the upper waters of the Cape Fear 
 river, and one of its principal tributaries, the Haw river, crosses 
 it from the northwestern to the southeastern corner. The soils 
 of this county are largely fertile red-clay loams, with oak and 
 hickory foicsts. Slate hills, which rise to the elevation of low 
 mountain chains, occupy the southern end of the county, and 
 have oak and pine forests and thin, sandy loam soils. The 
 northern portion consists of alternating tracts of gray sandy 
 loams and red clays. The cotton belt barely touches the south- 
 ern edge of the county. The upper end is devoted to the pro- 
 duction of tobacco, and the whole of it to grain crops, of which 
 the yield is Im uje. 
 
 The manuf. cturing facilities of the county are very great, 
 and, in number of cotton-looms and spindles, Alamance stands 
 first of all the counties in the State. There are also gold de- 
 posits, both vein and placer, in the middle and southern sec- 
 tions. 
 
 Of the county area, 25.50 per cent, is tilled laud, of which 
 0.29 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. Transportation is east 
 and west by rail. 
 
 Population 14,613— White 9,997 colored 4,616. Area 445 
 S(|uare miles, woodland 71.239 acres. Tilled lauds 72,621 acres, 
 area planted in cotton 211 acres, in tobacco 1,688 acres, in corn 
 24,628 acres, in wheat 18 661 acres, in oats 9,618 acres. Cot- 
 ton production 91 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.43 
 bale, 615 pounds seed cotton or 205 pounds cotton lint. Real 
 property, aggregate value $1,715,239, personal property, $1,- 
 501,981* total $3,217,220. State taxes $547 39, county taxes 
 $15,656.59, school taxes $7,952.88. Live stock— Horses 2,423, 
 mules 688, cattle 6,301, hogs 12,522, sheep 6,527. Public 
 schools 68, white 47, colored 21. Churches 37. 
 
 PERSON. 
 
 Person county lies outside of the cotton belt, and belongs to 
 the bright tobacco zone. Near the middle of it rise several 
 low mountain ridges of granite and slate, with oak and pine 
 forests. These attain an altitude of about 1,000 feet (the gen 
 eral elevation being from 600 to 700 feet"), and have a thin 
 gravelly and sandy soil, while the other sections are alternately 
 of this character and of red clay soils of greater fertility. To 
 
\ 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 121 
 
 the latter class belong especially the northwestern and south- 
 eastern sections. The chief agricultural interest is the pro- 
 duction of tobacco of a high grade, in which industry this is 
 one of the leading counties. To this crop the light sandy soils 
 are peculiarly adapted. In tobacco product Person county is 
 fourth in rank. Of the county area 27.91 per cent, is tilled 
 land, of which only an insignificant portion is planted in cot- 
 ton. 
 
 Transportation is by wagon to the railroad in adjoining 
 counties, and so to Richmond and the other markets. 
 
 Population 13,719— White 7,306, colored 6,513. Area 401 
 square miles, woodland 96,011 acres. Tilled lands 71,634 
 acres, area planted in cotton 2 acres, in tobacco 5,868 acres, in 
 corn 19,372 acres, in wheat 8,974 acres, in oats 9,831 acres. 
 Cotton production 1 bale, average cotton product per acre 0.50 
 bale, 711 pounds seed-cotton, or 237 pounds cotton lint. Real 
 property, aggregate value $1,005,824, personal property $813,- 
 638, total $i;819,450. State taxes $466.19, county taxes $12,- 
 037.83, school taxes $5,035.49. Live stock— Horses 1,874, 
 mules 786, cattle 5,985, hogs 12,468, sheep 6,236. Public 
 schools 41, white 19, colored 22. Churches 29. 
 
 CASWELL. 
 
 C'aswell county duplicates the features of Person, both agri- 
 culturally and topographically, except that the mountains are 
 wanting. The larger part of its territory is devoted to the 
 production of bright yellow tobacco, while grain crops occupy 
 a comparatively subordinate position, atid are produced prin- 
 cipally along the river and creek bottoms which abound in the 
 northern and eastern sections of this county. The northeast- 
 ern section consists largely of red clay lands, with oak and 
 hickory forests, while the lighter tobacco soils occupy most of 
 the southern and western portions. Caswell ranks third 
 among the tobacco counties in aggregate product. Of the 
 county area 32.07 per cent, is tilled land, of which 0.01 per 
 cent, is planted in cotton. 
 
 Transportation is furnished by the Richmond and Danville 
 railroad and a branch of it. 
 
 Population 17,825— White 7,169, colored 10,656. Area 407 
 
 square miles, woodland 76,200 acres. Tilled lands 83,545 
 
 acres, area planted in cotton 6 acres, in tobacco 10,174 acres, 
 
 in corn 25,663 acres, in wheat 10,841 acres, in oats 14,441 
 
 6 
 
122 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 acres. Cotton production 4 bales, average cotton product per 
 acre 0.67 bale, 951 pounds seed-cotton, or 317 pounds cotton 
 lint. Real property, aggregate value $1,328,963, personal pro- 
 perty $1,000,582, totaf $2,329,544. State taxes $1,175.97, 
 county taxes $8,764.67, school taxes $6,134.49. Live stock- 
 Horses 1,756, mules 895, cattle 3,853, hogs 10,073, sheep 1.742. 
 Public schools 65, white 31, colored 34. Churches 35. 
 
 ROCKINGHAM. 
 
 Rockingham, like the two preceding, is a border county, 
 and belongs to the same famous bright tobacco belt. It is 
 traversed in a northeasterly course by the waters of the Dan 
 river, and its southern section is drained by the upper tribu- 
 taries of the Cape Fear (Haw) river. The northwestern cor- 
 ner of this county, constituting about one-third of its terri- 
 tory, near the Virginia line and north of the Dan river, con- 
 sists for the most part of elevated flattish ridges and swells 
 having gray, yellow, gravelly loam soils, while the southern 
 and eastern two-thirds of the county consist of alternating 
 belts of these loams and of red clays. Besides tobacco, in 
 which this county ranks second, large crops of grain are pro- 
 duced — upward of 600,000 bushels. Dan river, with its tribu- 
 taries, furnishes abundant water power, and the former stream 
 is navigable in a small way for flat boats. A bed of semi-bitu- 
 minous coal, 3 feet in thickness, and of good quality, outcrops 
 in the eastern section, but it has been but little mined. Of 
 the county area 20.79 per cent, is tilled land, of which only 
 0.01 per cent, is planted in cotton. 
 
 Shipments are made by rail to Danville, Richmond, and 
 other markets. 
 
 Population 21,744— White 12,431, colored 9,313. Area 582 
 square milos, woodland 138.200 acres. Tilled lands 77,439 
 acres, area planted in cotton 5 acres, in tobacco 9,332 acres, in 
 corn 25,175 acres, in wheat 11,298 acres, in rye 301 acres, in 
 oats 15,200 acres. Cotton production 3 bales, average cotton 
 product per acre 0.60 bale, 855 pounds seed-cotton, or 285 
 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value $1,903,- 
 114, personal property $1,304,908, total $3,268,022. State 
 taxes $1,538.09, county taxes $24,299.70, school taxes $8,273.77. 
 Live stock — Horses 1,899, mules 1,057, cattle 6,387, hogs 
 13,047, sheep 4,724. Public schools 94, white 56, colored 38. 
 Churches 35. 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 123 
 
 STOKES. 
 
 Stokes is another border county, and belongs also to the 
 bright tobacco belt. It is drained by the upper tributaries of 
 the Dan, and belongs to the Piedmont division of the State. 
 Its surface is for the most part quite rugged and broken, con- 
 taining the terminal spurs and ridges of the Brushy moun- 
 tains, which here attain an elevation of more than 2,500 feet 
 above the sea. The general elevation is above 1,000 feet. 
 The forests of this county and of the Piedmont region gener- 
 erally contain an added element, the chestnut, on elevated 
 ridges and mountain slopes, and the proportion increases with 
 the elevation. A new species of oak also makes its appear- 
 ance, the chestnut oak, which occupies the crests and upper 
 slopes of the poorer stony and gravelly ridges of the whole 
 mountain region. The proportion of sourwood {Oxydendron) 
 also increases to such an extent in the Piedmont region as to 
 become a marked characteristic of its forests, and is indicative 
 of a scant soil. It is worthy of note that, with the extinction 
 of the herbage which originally mantled the soil and kept it 
 moist, the chestnut has almost disappeared in half a century 
 from the upper midland counties, and is dying out slowly in 
 the Piedmont region. 
 
 The soils of this county resemble those of Rockingham, 
 being predominantly yellow and gray gravelly loams, with 
 occasional red clay belts, the former well adapted to the pro- 
 duction of the higher grades of tobacco, which constitutes the 
 chief element of its agriculture, and in the total product of 
 which this county stands fifth. Its manufacturing facilities 
 are great but undeveloped, and it is rich in iron ores. Its 
 agriculture has the advantage of the presence of several lime- 
 stone beds, and there are also outcrops of semi-bituminous 
 coal in the southeastern section. Of the county area 17.52 
 per cent, is tilled land, of which only 0.02 per cent, is planted 
 in cotton. 
 
 Transportation is by wagon, and occasionally by flat boats 
 on the Dan river. A railroad from Greensboro is nearly fin- 
 ished to the border. 
 
 Population 15,353— White 11,730, colored 3,623. Area 476 
 square miles, woodland 131,483 acres. Tilled lands 53,369 
 acres, area planted in cotton 13 acres, in tobacco 4,690 acres, 
 in corn 19,969 acres, in wheat 9,374 acres, in rye 1,195 acres, 
 in oats 8,408 acres. Cotton production 7 bales, average cotton 
 product per acre 0.54 bale, 768 pounds seed-cotton, or 356 
 
 k 
 
124 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 pounds cotton lint. Real property, a»greorate value $825,704, 
 personal property $458,588, total $1,279,392. State taxes 
 $253.38, county ta.xes $5,607.27, school taxes $4,081.11. Live 
 stock— Horses 1,240, mules 1,075, cattle 5,307, hogs 11,317, 
 sheep 4,438, Public schools 75, white 56, colored 19. Churches 
 22. 
 
 FORSYTH. 
 
 Forsyth county lies west of Guilford, and is bounded on the 
 west by the Yadkin river. Through its middle portion is a 
 broad swell or plateau, the divide between the waters of the 
 Yadkin and Dan, with an elevation of from 1,000 to 1,200 
 feet, and having forests of oak, dogwood, sourwood, pine, etc. 
 Its soils are light, gray loams. The tributaries of the Yadkin, 
 which drain the southwestern section, abound in bottom lands 
 of great fertility, and have heavy oak forests interspersed with 
 hickory, walnut, poplar, etc., while the middle, northern, and 
 eastern sections are characterized largely by gray sandy loam 
 soils with forests of oak and pine. This county shows an in- 
 creasing product of the better and medium grades of tobacco, 
 but it prod'ices chiefly grain crops — an aggregate of more than 
 500,000 bushels. Of the county area 25.39 per cent, is tilled 
 land, of which cotton occupies only 0.03 per cent. 
 
 Transportation is by rail to Greensboro and to the other 
 markets beyond. 
 
 Population 18,070— White 13,441, colored 4,629, Area 364 
 square miles, woodland 91,053 acres. Tilled lands 59,157 
 acres, area planted in cotton 16 acres, in tobacco 1,693 acres, in 
 corn 20,920 acres, in wheat 13.590 acres, in rye 492 acres, in 
 oats 11,780 acres. Cotton production 10 bales, average cot- 
 ton product per acre 0.63 bale, 891 pounds seed-cotton, or 297 
 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value $2,136,- 
 413, personal property $1,957,240, total $4,193,653. State 
 taxes $2,907.63. Live stock— Horses 2,021, mules 714, cattle 
 4,997, hogs 10,519, sheep 3,606. Public schools 73, white 54, 
 colored 19. Churches 44. 
 
 DAVIE. 
 
 The small county of Davie lies in the angle between the 
 Yadkin and the South Yadkin rivers, and resembles in its gen- 
 eral features the preceding county. It also corresponds with 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 125 
 
 that county in its agricultural productions. In the southern 
 half of this county the soils belong largely to the class of red 
 clays, and are covered with heavy oak forests, while the mid- 
 dle and northern portions have a mixed growth of oaks and 
 pines and a liefht-gray, sandy and gravelly soil. This section 
 of the county is mainly devoted to the culture of tobacco. The 
 river hills, flanking both the Yadkin and its chief tributaries, 
 are quite broken, and have a productive gravelly loam soil and 
 forests predominantly of oak. The elevation of the surface 
 ranges from 700 to 1.000 feet, the average being about 850 feet 
 above sea-level. The culture of cotton has recently entered 
 the southern and western townships. The grain crop is quite 
 large, exceeding 650,000 bushels; and latterly, also, tobacco 
 has been cultivated to a considerable extent in the north and 
 west sections, the soils of a large part of its territory being well 
 adapted to the higher grades. There are several valuable iron 
 ore deposits in the county. Of the county area, only 32.05 per 
 cent, is tilled land, and the proportion of cotton planted is 
 1.33 per cent, of the latter. 
 
 Transportation is furnished by the Western North Carolina 
 railroad, which crosses the adjacent county of Rowan. 
 
 Population 11.096— White 7,770, colored 3,326. Area 289 
 square miles, woodland 63.566 acres. Tilled lands 59,272 acres, 
 area planted in cotton 790 acres, in tobacco 1,205 acres, in corn 
 22,125 acres, in wheat 13,244 acres, in rye 444 acres, in oats 
 13,366 acres. Cotton production 302 bales, average cotton 
 product per acre 0.38 bale, 546 pounds seed-cotton or 182 
 pounds cotton lint. Real property, agcrregate value $909,380, 
 personal property 8565,153, total 81,474^533. State taxes 
 $377.25, county taxes ^6,619.49, school taxes $3,771.79. Live 
 stock— Horses 1,618, mules 965, cattle 3.715, hogs 9,368, sheep 
 3,400. Public schools 43, white 28, colored 15. Churches 26. 
 
 YADKIN. 
 
 Yadkin county lies immediately north of Davie, in the bend 
 of the Yadkin river, which bounds it northward and eastward. 
 It is traversed in a nearly east and west course by the Brushy 
 mountains, which here drop down into low spurs and swells, 
 the average elevation of the county being probably not greater 
 than 1,200 feet. Its soils and forests are like those of Davie 
 county. Its agricultural interest is divided between the pro- 
 duction of tobacco and grain crops, the product of the latter 
 
126 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 nearly reaching half a million bushels. Cotton culture has 
 invaded its southern border to a small extent within a few 
 years. There are several iron mines in the county, but they 
 have been little worked, as they are too far from market. Of 
 the county area, 23.51 per cent, is tilled land, of which 0.16 
 per cent, is planted in cotton. 
 
 No railroad has vet reached the county. 
 
 Population 12,420— White 10,876, colored 1,544. Area 351 
 square miles, woodland 89,582 acres. Tilled lands 52,816 acres, 
 area planted in cotton 87 acres, in tobacco 425 acres, in corn 
 21,735 acres, in wheat 10,190 acres, in rye 821 acres, in oats 
 11,289 acres. Cotton production 26 bales, average cotton pro- 
 duct per acre, 0.30 bale, 426 pounds seed-cotton, or 142 pounds 
 cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value, $855,630, per- 
 sonal property $452,416, total $1,318,046. State taxes $199.78, 
 county taxes $17,455.20, school taxes $3,482.44. Live stock — 
 Horses 1,412, mules 885, cattle 5,267, hogs 10,275, sheep 3,630. 
 Public schools 59, w^hite 48, colored 11. Churches 17. 
 
 SURRY. 
 
 Surry is a north border county, contiguous to the Blue Ridge, 
 and belongs to the Piedmont section of the State. The Yad- 
 kin river is its southern boundary. Its western section is quite 
 mountainous, and there are small mountains in the middle, so 
 that its surface is quite broken, and its average elevation is 
 nearly 1,400 feet. Its soils and forests are like those of the 
 neighboring counties, Stokes and Forsyth, the high slaty ridges 
 and mountains, as well as much of the rolling surface, having 
 a light gray, sandy loam soil and forests of oak and pine, with 
 sourwood and chestnut, while the better tracts of reddish clay 
 loams have a predominant growth of oaks, hickory, poplar, 
 etc., with little or no pine. 
 
 The agriculture of the county is like that of Stokes, tobacco 
 of the better grades being the chief market crop, but of greatly 
 less value than the grain product, which exceeds 500,000 
 bushels. The water power of the county is notable, a number 
 of large tributaries of the Yadkin crossing its territory with a 
 fall of several hundred feet. This is a feature common to the 
 whole Piedmont region. There are several cotton factories and 
 iron mines and forges in the county. Of the county area, 22.65 
 per cent, is tilled land, of which only an insignificant portion 
 is cultivated in cotton. 
 
DESCEIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 127 
 
 Population 15.302— White 13,227, colored 2,075. Area 476 
 square miles, woodland 188.631 acres. Tilled lands 69,011 
 acres, area planted in cotton 3 nrres, in tobacco 2. 136 acres, in 
 corn 25,334 acres, in wheat 9,823 acres, in rye 3,027 acres, in 
 oats 9,199 acres, in buckwheat 71 acres. Cotton production 
 1 bale,' average cotton product per acre 0.33 bale, 474 pounds 
 seed-cotton or 158 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggre- 
 gate value $1,118,660, personal property $499,082, total $1,- 
 617,742. State taxes $308.93, county taxes $9,136.64, school 
 taxes $5,130.60. Live stock— Horses 1,501, mules 831, cattle 
 6,116, hogs 12.222, sheep 6,532. Public schools 86, white 68, 
 colored 18. Churches 16. 
 
 WILKES. 
 
 Wilkes county lies west of Surry, and differs from it only in 
 being more mountainous and rugged and having a greater 
 average elevation — not less than 1,500 feet. Its northern mar- 
 gin rests on the summits of the Blue Ridge (at an elevation of 
 from 8,000 to 4,000 feet), its southern on the Brushy moun- 
 tains (from 2,000 to 2,500 feet above sea level), and its whole 
 surface is carved into a succession of mountain ridges and nar- 
 row intervening valleys by the Yadkin and its numerous tribu- 
 taries. Its agriculture and its forests may be described in the 
 same terms as were those of Surry, except that, with the in- 
 crease of elevation, the growth of chestnut increases, and a new 
 forest element enters, to a small extent, in the white pine (P. 
 Htrobufi), both in the South mountains and on the flanks of 
 the Blue Ridge. Along the margin of the Yadkin river and 
 its larger tributaries are frequent and wide tracts of sandy and 
 clay bottom lands. In various parts of the county are small 
 areas of reddish clay soil, but much the larger part of it shows 
 the average oak upland soil, yellow or gray sandy loam. The 
 lighter soils are well adapted to the highest grades of tobacco, 
 the culture of which begins to enter largely into its agricul- 
 ture. Of the county area 20.10 per cent, is tilled land, of 
 which only 0.13 per cent, is planted in cotton. The water 
 power of the county is very large, the sources of its multitude 
 of rivers having an elevaiion of from 2.000 to 3,000 feet above 
 tide, and their mouths less than 1,000 feet. 
 
 Population 19,181— White 17,257, colored 1,924. Area 626 
 square miles, woodland 268,834 acres. Tilled lands 80,513 
 acres, area planted in cotton 107 acres, in tobacco 110 acres, in 
 
128 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 corn 34,865 acres, in wheat 9,515 acres, in rye 5,236 acres, in 
 oats 8,240 acres, in buckwher.t 218 acres. Cotton production 
 29 hales, average cotton product per acre 0.27 bale, 387 pounds 
 seed-cotton, or 129 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aofrre- 
 gate value $913,942, personal property $517,535, total $1,431,- 
 477. State taxes $193.35, county taxes $3,840.02, school taxes 
 $6,507.88. Live stock— Horses 1,867, mules 947, cattle 9,760, 
 hocrs 19,104, sheep 10,642. Public schools 80, white 72, col- 
 ored 8. Churches 27. 
 
 ALEXANDER. 
 
 Alexander, one of the smallest counties in North Carolina, 
 lies south of Wilkes, and is separated from it by the chain of 
 the Brushy mountains. A large part of this county is traversed 
 or penetrated by spurs and high ridges thrown off southward 
 from that range, many of which rise to the elevation of 2,000 
 feet, and its territory is drained southward by the tributaries 
 of the Catawba. The southeastern section, as well as the mid- 
 dle, is characterized largely by oak forests, with red-clay soils, 
 the higher divides and ridges and spurs showing a large ad- 
 mixture of pine and chestnut and a more open, light colored, 
 and sandy soil. The northern, western, and northeastern sec- 
 tions are quite broken and mountainous. The culture of cot- 
 ton has entered the territory of this county within the last few 
 years, though its product amounts to but a few scores of bales. 
 Tobacco is cultivated to some extent on the lighter soils, but 
 corn and wheat are the principal products. It has ample, but 
 undeveloped, water-power, and it has iron-ore beds of consid- 
 erable extent, as well as a great variety of other minerals. Of 
 the county area, 26.51 per cent, is tilled land, of which 1.49 
 per cent, is planted in cotton. 
 
 Population 8,355— White 7,458, colored 897. Area 245 
 square miles, woodland 82,690 acres. Tilled lands 41,572 
 acres, area planted in cotton 617 acres, in tobacco 28 acres, in 
 corn 16,789 acres, in wheat 6,376 acres, in rye 760 acres, in 
 oats 7,503 acres. Cotton production 182 bales, average cotton 
 product per acre, 0.29 bale, 420 pounds seed-cotton, or 140 
 pounds cotton lint. Real propertv, agorregate value $650,034, 
 personal property $329,409, total $979,443. State taxes $102.49, 
 county taxes $2,663.66, school taxes $2,915.83. Live stock — 
 Horses 912, mules 944, cattle 4,221, hogs 7,632, sheep 4,614. 
 Public schools 48, white 40, colored 8. Churches 25. 
 
 I 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 129 
 
 CALDWELL. 
 
 Caldwell county lies upon the flanks of the Blue Ridge, and 
 extends southward beyond the Brushy mountains, a smaller 
 and parallel ran^e 2,000 feet and more in altitude. It is drained 
 by the upper tributaries of the Catawba river and of the Yad- 
 kin, the larger of which rise in the summits of the Blue Ridge 
 and its culminating region in Grandfather mountain, which 
 touches the elevation of nearly 6,000 feet above the sea. This 
 mountain throws off a number of long, heavy spurs down to 
 the middle of the county, and is traversed midway in a direc- 
 tion parallel to the other two chains by the Warrior mountains, 
 so that its surface is for the most part quite broken and rug- 
 ged; but the different chains are separated by extensive open 
 valleys, and there is a great area of river and creek bottoms. 
 The lands in the middle and southern sections generally have 
 a red clay or yellow sandy loam soil of more than medium fer- 
 tility, while its higher regions, on the ridges and spurs of the 
 mountains, are frequently slaty ledges, with gray sandy and 
 gravelly soils of medium to low quality. Its forests are pre- 
 dominantly of oak in the middle section and of pine and oak 
 in the southern and northern — that is, in the more mountain- 
 ous regions, while, in the latter section, white pine, hemlock 
 and chestnut constitute a considerable element of the forest 
 growth. The chief crops are grain, but tobacco culture has 
 been recently introduced, and for a few years past a few bales 
 of cotton have been raised in an experimental way. Of the 
 county area, 13.10 per cent, is tilled land, of which 0.07 per 
 cent, is cultivated in cotton. Of minerals the county contains 
 gold and iron, the former in both placers and veins. 
 
 Transportation is furnished by the Western North Carolina 
 railroad, which crosses the neighboring counties south, and a 
 narrow-gauge road is finished to the centre of the county. 
 
 Population 10,291— White 8,G91, colored 1,600. Area 495 
 square miles, woodland 151,637 acres. Tilled lands 41,512 
 acres, area planted in cotton 80 acres, in tobacco 75 acres, :n 
 corn 17,315 acres, in wheat 8,211 acres, in rye 684 acres, in 
 oats 3,886 acres. Cotton production 12 bales, average cotton 
 T>roduct per acre 0.40 bale, 570 pounds seed-cotton or 190 
 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value $752,146, 
 personal property $473,387, total $1,225,533, State taxes 
 $201.82, county taxes $4,310 71, school taxes $3,135.04. Live 
 stock — Horses 1,088, mules 953, cattle 5,111, hogs 11,517, sheep 
 5,332. Public schools 45, white 37, colored 8. Churches 24. 
 
130 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 BURKE. 
 
 Burke county lies westward of Caldwell on both sides of the 
 Catawba river, which traverses its middle section and drains 
 its entire territory. Its southern flank lies upon the crests of 
 the South mountains, which here reach an elevation of over 
 3,000 feet above the sea and send off spurs in a northerly and 
 northeasterly direction almost to the middle of the county. 
 The northern end is elevated upon two of the most massive 
 spurs of the Blue Ridge, Linville and Table Rock, which here 
 rise to an elevation of nearly 4,000 feet; and from this are 
 thrust out numerous long and rugged spurs and ridges in a 
 southeasterly course. A large part of the territory of this 
 county, therefore, is mountainous, and the average elevation is 
 not less than 1,300 feet. In its middle section are consider- 
 able tracts of red-clay soils, with forests predominantly of oak, 
 hickory, etc., while the remainder of the county is character- 
 ized in this respect by mixed forests of oak, pine, chestnut, 
 etc., with white pine in the mountains of the south and north. 
 The river and creek bottoms are very extensive and fertile, and 
 have light-colored clays, loams, and sandy soils. In the mid- 
 dle section, on both sides of the river, the uplands usually 
 have a red-clay soil and oak forests. The other parts of the 
 county have soils of a lighter color, yellowish to gray loams, 
 and forests of the usual mixed character of the region — oak, 
 pine, chestnut, sourwood, dogwood, etc. Placer gold mines 
 are numerous in the South mountains, and there are several 
 vein mines on the north side of the county. Cotton and tobacco 
 have been added to the list of cultivated crops within a few 
 years, but grain forms the chief crop, and has an aggregate 
 yield of 400,000 bushels. Of the county area, 13.59 per cent. 
 is tilled laud, of which 1.78 per cent, is planted in cotton. 
 
 Transportation is by rail, east and west. 
 
 Population 12,809— White 10,088, colored 2,721, Area 489 
 square miles, woodland 129,089 acres. Tilled lands 42,545 
 acres, an^a planted in cotton 752 aci'es, in tobacco 58 acres, 
 in corn 22.613 acres, in wheat 10,016 acres, in rye 1,054 acres, 
 in oats 3,455 acres. Cotton production 361 bales, average 
 cotton product per acre 0.48 bale, 684 pounds seed-cotton, or 
 228 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value 
 .1p670,983, personal property .1^535,782, total $1,006,765. State 
 taxes $254.73, county taxes $13,548.65, school taxes $3,426.21. 
 Live stock— Horses 1,249, mules 968, cattle 5,005, hogs 7,822, 
 sheep 4,126. Public schools 61, white 48, colored 13. 
 Churches 22. 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 131 
 
 Mcdowell. 
 
 McDowell county lies on the eastern flank of the Blue Ridge 
 near its hiffhest parts, which exceeds in this region an eleva- 
 tion of 5,500 feet, and its whole territory may be described as 
 mountainous. Its average elevation is more than 1,500 feet, 
 and it is for the most part drained by the headwaters of the 
 Catawba river. The southern and broader end of its triangu- 
 lar territory is traversed east and west by the South mountains, 
 a long eastward projection or spur from the Blue Ridge. 
 Along the course of the Catawba river and some of its chief 
 tributaries are wide tracts of sandy and alluvial bottoms, 
 which are very productive. The hilly and mountainous tracts 
 have the usual variety of gray and yellowish oak uplands soils 
 of medium fertility and mixed forests of oak, pine, chestnut, 
 etc. Reddish clay loam soils, with a preponderant oak forest, 
 are found in patches here and there in the middle and south- 
 eastern sections. A large proportion of the soils of the county 
 are well adapted to the better grades of tobacco, and the agri- 
 culture of the county "has the great advantage of an abundance 
 of limestone in the northern and middle sections. Gold min- 
 ing in the South mountains has long been an important indus- 
 try, several mica mines having been opened, and some atten 
 tion is given to lumbering. There is a large amount of valu- 
 able timber on the slopes of the Blue Ridge and in the mount- 
 ain coves, which must become the foundation of important 
 manufactures, and then there is an indefinite amount of water 
 power. Iron ores of low grade are abundant. Of the county 
 area 9.98 per cent, is tilled land, of which 0.07 per cent, is 
 planted in cotton. 
 
 Transportation is by rail, east and west. 
 
 Population 9,836— White 7,93G, colored 1,897. Area 545 
 square miles, woodland 122,129 acres. Tilled lands 34,798 
 acres, area planted in cotton 23 acres, in tobacco 100 acres, in 
 corn 17,675 acres, in wheat 6,397 acres, in rye 1,360 acres, in 
 oats 1,690 acres. Cotton production 9 bales, average cotton 
 product per acre 0.39 bale, 558 pounds seed-cotton, or 186 
 "pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value i$629,014, 
 personal property $179,260, total $808,274. State taxes 
 $189,29, county taxes $10,559.85, school taxes ^2,630.84. 
 Live stock — Horses 800, mules 710, cattle 5,125, hogs 5,013, 
 sheep 3,125. Public schools 49, white 38, colored 11. 
 Churches 22. 
 
132 HAND-BOOK OF NORTPl CAROLINA. 
 
 POLK. 
 
 Polk is the southernmost of the Piedmont counties, lying 
 upon the border of South Carolina, and of thr> cof'on belt, 
 which barely enters its southeastern corner. Three-fourths of 
 the territory of the county is very mountainous, as it is bounded 
 westward by the Blue Rid^e, and its western and northern 
 sections are penetrated by heavy and I'^ng spurs, thrown out 
 from that range, of equal height or greater. It is cro'^sed from 
 west to east and nearly its entire territory is drained by the 
 waters of Green river, one of the principal tributaries of the 
 Broad. Along this river valley, as well as on some of the tribu- 
 taries, are wide s-retches of bottom lands of clay and sanrlj' 
 loams. The middle part of the county is a '^omewhat broken 
 plateau of 1,000 feet elevation, and has a gravelly and slaty 
 soil of a light color and loose texture and low fertility, and 
 inferior forests of pine, oak, and chestnut The southeastern 
 section is of the same character. A large part of the uplands 
 and of the moyntain slopps in the west and north has forests 
 largely of oak and a yellowish or gray loamy soil of good 
 quality. In the higher parts, exc^^pt where the soil is of the 
 better grades, chestnut and chestnut oak are abundant. The 
 principal agricultural pursuit is the production of grain crops, 
 cotton being a new crop to the region, and as yet little culti- 
 vated. There are several gold mines in the middle and south- 
 ern sections. Of the county area 12.78 per cent, is tilled land, 
 of which 7.83 per cent, is planted in cotton. Produce is ship- 
 ped south by rail. 
 
 Population 5,062— White 3,918, colored 1,144. Area 257 
 square miles, woodland 72,813 acres. Tilled lands 21,027 
 acres, area planted in cotton 1,646 acres, in corn 10,032 acres, 
 in wheat 1,896 acres, in rye 606 acres, in oats 877 acres. Cot- 
 ton production 362 bales, average cotton product per acre 
 0.22 bale, 312 pounds seed-cotton, or 104 pounds cotton lint. 
 Real property, aggregate value $508,683. personal property 
 $333,817, total $842,500. State taxes $82.50, county taxes 
 $5,844.62, school taxes $2,358.25. Live stock— Horses 387, 
 mules 431, cattle 2,768, bogs 4,565, sheep 1,714. Public 
 schools 33, white 22, colored 11. Churches 18. 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 133 
 
 THE TEANSMONTANE REGION. 
 
 (Embraces the following counties: Alleghany, Ashe, 
 Watauga, Mitchell, Yancey, Madison, Buncombe, Heu- 
 dersoD, Transylvania, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain, 
 Graham, Clay and Cherokee.) 
 
 ALLEGHANY. 
 
 Alleghany county is situated on the Virginia border, and 
 is bounded southward by the curves of the Blue Ridge. In 
 its middle section is a parallel and higher chain. Its entire 
 surface is drained northward into the New and Kanawha rivers, 
 this, with the two following counties, constituting the New 
 River plateau or basin, the only part of the State drained by 
 the Ohio, It lies on the northeastern end of the long, narrow, 
 elevated transmontane plateau, and has an average elevation 
 of not less than 2,800 feet. Its forests are of oak, chestnut 
 and pine, with an admixture of white pine in the coves of the 
 Blue Ridge and between that and the Peach Bottom range. 
 Its soils are the common gray and yellow upland loams. Along 
 the banks of the New river and its principal tributaries, espe- 
 cially Little river, are considerable tracts of bottom lands. Its 
 agriculture is divided between the production of grains and 
 grasses and cattle raising. Its products of buckwheat and rye 
 are next to the largest in the State. Of the county area, 26,15 
 per cent, is tilled land. 
 
 Population 5,486— White 4,967. colored 519. Area 276 
 square miles, woodland 74,859 acres. Tilled lands, 46,198 
 acres, area planted in cotton none, in corn 7,201 acres, in 
 wheat 1,760 acres, in rye 3,121 acres, in oats 1,933 acres, in 
 buckwheat 755 acres. Real property, aggregate value $407,340, 
 personal property $125,392, total $532,732. State taxes $38.10, 
 county taxes $2,663.66, school taxes $2,915.83. Live stock- 
 Horses 1,150, mules 150, cattle 4,822, hogs, 3,600, sheep 5,067. 
 Public schools 33, white 29, colored 4. Churches 14. 
 
 ASHE. 
 
 Ashe county lies in the northwestern corner of the State, ad- 
 joining the States of Virginia and Tennessee, its southeastern 
 edge resting upon the summits of the Blue Ridge mountain 
 
134 HAND-BOOK, OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 chain. It is very ruggeci and mountainous, the spurs of the 
 Smoky mountains being thrust out almost across its entire ter- 
 ritory and reaching at various points an elevation of nearly 
 5,000 feet, giving an average elevation of 3,500 feet above tide. 
 It is drained by the two forks of New river, which meet in its 
 northeast corner. Its forests, soils, and agriculture resemble 
 those of Alleghany county. Grass and cattle count for much 
 in this region, and rye and buckwheat are its common crops, 
 as well as of Alleghany and the whole transmontane plateau. 
 In the former (rye) this county shows the largest product in 
 the State, and in the second it is nearly equal to the best. 
 White pine and hemlock, as well as poplar, sugar maple, wild 
 cherry, and walnut, become important constituents of the for- 
 ests in many places. Of the county area 29,65 per cent, is 
 tilled land. 
 
 Population 14,437— White 13,471, colored 966. Area 370 
 square miles, woodland 166,973 acres. Tilled lands 70,207 
 acres, area planted in cotton none, in tobacco 60 acres, in 
 corn 15,616 acres, in wheat 5,473 acres, in rye 4,685 acres, in 
 oats 3,357 acres, in buckwheat 818 acres. Real property, ag- 
 gregate value $759,123, personal property $580,775, total $1,- 
 339.898. State taxes $161.94, school taxes $3,863.95. Live 
 stock— Horses 2,544, mules 468, cattle 12,005, hogs 12,508, 
 sheep 13,236. Public schools 86, white 80, colored 6. Churches 
 12. 
 
 I 
 
 WATAUGA. 
 
 Watausra county occupies the whole breadth of the narrower 
 part of the transmontane plateau, being bounded for the most 
 part northwestward by the Smoky range and southeastward 
 by the Blue Ridge. It is traversed in a northerly course by 
 two massive cross-chains connecting the summits of the Blue 
 Ridge and Smoky mountains, the Rich mountains and the 
 chain of Hanging Rock and B'^ech. Its averajje elevation 
 would about equal that of Ashe county — 3,500 feet. Its whole 
 surface is rugged and mountainous, with the exception of a 
 few limited tracts along the two principal rivers, where con- 
 siderable valleys open out, with occasional stretches of bottom 
 lands. The soils and forests, as well as the predominant agri- 
 cultural features of this county, are like those of Ashe county. 
 There is great abundance of chestnut in its forests, and on the 
 Rich mountains there are great quantities of linden (Tilia). 
 Its high lerels and benches are the best grass lands in the 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 135 
 
 State, and in consequence cattle-raising enters largely into its 
 agriculture. It also produces corn and small grains in consid- 
 erable quantities, including wheat, rye, and buckwheat, the 
 county leading in the last-named crop. Of the county area, 
 18.89 per cent, is tilled land, of which very little is cultivated 
 in cotton. 
 
 Population 8,160— White 7,746, colored 414. Area 370 
 
 square miles, woodland acres. Tilled lands 44,753 
 
 acres, area planted in cotton 10 acres, in corn 8,227 acres, in 
 wheat 2,957 acres, in rye 2,387 acres, in oats 1,828 acres, in 
 buckwheat 951 acres. Cotton production 3 bales, average 
 cotton product per acre 0.30 bale, 429 pounds seed-cotton, or 
 143 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value 
 $771,975, personal property $423,522, total $1,195,497. State 
 taxes J$96. 18, county taxes ^3,427.04, school taxes $3,171.67, 
 Live stock — Horses 1,516, mules 515, cattle 7,099, hogs 7,924, 
 sheep 8,941. Public schools 44, white 42, colored 2. Churches 
 19. 
 
 MITCHELL. 
 
 Mitchell county is a continuation of the southern Appalach- 
 ian plateau, and with Yancey, the next county described, oc- 
 cupies the basin of the Nolechucky or Toe river, which drains 
 the highest masses and summits of the Blue Ridge and Black 
 mountains. On its norihern border the Smoky mountains 
 reach an elevation of 6,400 feet, while the Blue Ridge, which 
 forms its southeastern boundary, has an elevation ranging from 
 3,000 to nearly 6,000 feet. Its surface is for the most part 
 very mountainous, and has an elevation which would probably 
 reach an average of 3,000 feet above the sea. 
 
 The mountains of this county, as well as those of the other 
 parts of the plateau, are generally covered with heavy forests 
 of oak, chestnut, and pine, with a mixture here and there in 
 the coves and on the higher slopes of -white pine, hemlock 
 {Ahies Canadensis), and black birch, while the lower slopes are 
 covered with linden (two species), sugar maple, poplar, wal- 
 nut, cherry, ash, etc. 
 
 The soils of this county vary in their texture and composi- 
 tion, and belong to the general region of oak uplands soils, 
 being for the most part gray and yellow gravelly and sandy 
 loams, with occasional strips of red lands. The mountains 
 here, as in the two preceding counties, are generally covered 
 to their summits with a fertile soil and heavy forests, the ex- 
 
136 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 ception being some of the higher dome-like masses of the 
 Smoky mountains (notably the Roan), which are bald upon 
 their summits, and are,. in fact, simply prairies. The average 
 elevation of this county above the sea will exceed 3,000 feet. 
 Its agriculture resembles that of the two preceding counties, 
 the conditions being well adapted for the most part to cattle- 
 raising, as well as to the production of grain crops. Tobacco 
 culture has recently been introduced, but mica mining is the 
 most important and profitable industry, while along its north- 
 ern border are some of the finest iron-ore beds known. The 
 first southern mica mines were opened here in 1868. Of the 
 county area, 12.46 per cent, is tilled land, of which 0.05 per 
 cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Population 9,435— White 8,932, colored 503. Area 401 
 square miles, woodland 105,586 acres. Tilled lands 31,975 
 acres, area planted in cotton 15 acres, in tobacco 77 acres, in 
 corn 11,894 acres, in wheat 3,374 acres, in rye 1,358 acres, in 
 oats 3,990 acres, in buckwheat 378 acres. Cotton production 
 6 bales, average cotton product per acre, 0.40 bale, 570 pounds 
 seed-cotton, or 190 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggre- 
 gate value $364,037, personal property $119,485, total $483,523. 
 State taxes $165.38, county taxes $3,494.02, school taxes 
 $2,655.40. Live stock— Horses 1,094, mules 321, cattle 3,521, 
 hogs 6,810, sheep 3,964. Public schools 40, white 37, colored 3. 
 Churches 48. 
 
 YANCEY. 
 
 The description of Mitchell, the preceding county, applies 
 to Yancey. It completes with that the basin of the Toe river 
 or Nolechucky, one of the main affluents of the Tennessee river. 
 The massive spur of the Black mountains rises in the middle 
 of its southern end and projects northward almost to its centre. 
 This spur reaches an elevation in its middle portion of nearly 
 7,000 feet, and is the highest mountain east of the Mississippi 
 river. Between this mountain spur and the Blue Ridge is a 
 deep, narrow valley, in which rises and flows South Toe river, 
 while on its westward flanks rises, in a similar gorge, Caney 
 river, another of the confluents of the Nolechucky. The county 
 is bounded on the southwest by a cross-chain from the Blue 
 Ridge to the Smoky mountains, the northwest Black moun- 
 tains, which, through a considerable part of its course, reaches 
 an elevation of 5,000 feet and upward. The whole territory of 
 this county, therefore, is exceedingly rugged and mountainous, 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 137 
 
 and the larger part of its surface is adapted onlj^ to grazing; 
 but in the valleys and troughs between the mountain spurs and 
 ranges are considerable stretches of undulating and hilly hind 
 and occasional tracts of considerable extent of bottom laud, 
 which are very productive in corn and small grains. The cul- 
 ture of tobacco has also penetrated into this county within the 
 last few years. The tilled land occupies 19.65 per cent of the 
 county area. The timbers and soils are similar to those of 
 Mitchell county, and mica mining holds here a similar place of 
 importance. Above 5,000 feet the principal growth on the 
 Black mountains is two species of fir, AMes Fraseri and A. nigra 
 (spruce). These trees are also found on the summits of the 
 Roan and Grandfather, and farther west on the Balsam moun- 
 tains. Lumber mills have multiplied very rapidly in the great 
 forests of the last three counties, and enormous quantities of 
 cherry, walnut, ash, sugar-maple and poplar lumber have been 
 manufactured and exported in the last year. 
 
 Population 7,694— White 7.369, colored 325. Area 276 
 square miles, woodland 109,776 acres. Tilled lands 34,703 
 acres, area planted in cotton, none, in tobacco 84 acres, in corn 
 11,200 acres, in wheat 3,940 acres, in rye 1,290 acres, in oats 
 3,657 acres. Real property, aggregate value $259,441, personal 
 property $238,590, total $498,031. State taxes $110.53, county 
 taxes $5,084.46, school taxes $2,017.04. Live stock — Horses 
 1,077, mules 595, cattle 4,824, hogs 7,326, sheep 4,338. Pub- 
 lic schools 37, white 35, colored 2. Churches 12. 
 
 MADISON. 
 
 Madison county, with Buncombe, Henderson and Transyl- 
 vania, make the plateau or basin of the French Broad the 
 largest of these natural subdivisions of the plateau. It is 
 bounded northward by the Smoky mountains. Its territory is 
 also very rugged and broken, being not only surrounded by 
 heavy, massive chains of mountains, but crossed and cut up by 
 heavy spurs of those principal chains. Its soils, forests and 
 agricultural productions are like those of the preceding coun- 
 ties, except that bright yellow tobacco has recently become its 
 most important crop, and already nearly reaches a million 
 pounds per annum. It has also a larger proportion of white 
 pine in its forests, and its iron-ore deposits are extensive and 
 valuable. Of the county area, 19.66 per cent, is tilled land, 
 of which 0.02 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 I. 
 
138 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Population 12,810— White 12,351, colored 459. Area 457 
 square miles, woodland 157,618 acres. Tilled lands 57,490 
 acres, area planted in cotton 12 acres, in tobacco 1,626 
 acres, in corn 17,816 acres, in wheat 7,702 acres, in rye 816 
 acres, in oats 4,238 acres. Cotton production 4 bales, average 
 cotton product per acre 0.33 bale, 474 pounds seed-cotton, or 
 158 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aogregate value 
 $714,477, personal property $482,970, total $1,197,741. State 
 taxes $455.91, county taxes $13,762.76, school taxes $3,870.47. 
 Live stock — Horses 1,496, mules 1,037, cattle 7,455, hogs 
 12,027, sheep 7,152. Public schools 49, white 48, colored 1. 
 Churches 20. 
 
 BUNCOMBE. 
 
 Buncombe county occupies the middle portion of the French 
 Broad valley. Its eastern border lies upon the summits of the 
 Blue Ridge and the Black mountains, and its western upon the 
 summits of the cross-chain called the Newfound mountains. 
 The valley of the French Broad here is a wide, open basin, 
 with considerable tracts of undulating and hilly land and 
 moderately mountainous tracts, while along its margin on 
 every side are heavy mountain spurs. The forests and soils 
 are of the usual familiar description, and the agriculture re- 
 sembles in its main features that of the Piedmont division, 
 consisting chiefly of the production of grains, of which the 
 total is 650,000 bushels, and to a moderate (but rapidly in- 
 creasing) extent of tobacco. Cattle-raising occupies a subor- 
 dinate position. The tilled lands occupy 19.75 per cent, of 
 the county area. The crossing of two great railroad lines at 
 Asheville, in the centre of the county, gives it a commanding 
 commercial position, and it is the centre of a great summer 
 travel. The average elevation of the French Broad plateau is 
 about 2,500 feet. 
 
 Population 21,909— White 18,422, colored 3,487. Area 614 
 square miles, woodland 226,454 acres. Tilled lands 77,628 
 acres, area planted in cotton 1 acre, in tobacco 947 acres, in 
 coin 29,108 acres, in wheat 17,501 acres, in rye 2,966 acres, 
 in oats 6,967 "cres, in buckwheat 575 acres. Real property, 
 aggregate value $2,598,483, personal property $1,112,974, total 
 $3,711,457. State taxes $1,579.42, county taxes $29,569.44, 
 school taxes $9,006.18. Live stock — Horses 2,782, mules 
 1,495, cattle 12,363, hogs 11,981, sheep 8,888. Public schools 
 94, white 80, colored 14. Churches 62. 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 139 
 
 HENDERSON. 
 
 Henderson county is a continuation southward of the French 
 Broad valley described in Buncombe county, and its topo- 
 graphical features are very similar, except that there are 
 broader areas of comparatively level and undulating lands, 
 but of less fertility, the soils being predominantly light jrray 
 gravelly loams, and its forests being mixed growths of oak 
 and pine, with hemlock and chestnut. Near the water courses, 
 in the mountain coves, are found walnut, cherry, maple, and 
 occasionally white pine. The chief productions of this county 
 are corn and small grains, the culture of tobacco being very 
 recently introduced, and then only to a very small extent. 
 There is a large aggregate surface of bottom lands in the 
 county, those on the French Broad being very extensive and 
 fertile. Of the county area 17.18 per cent, is tilled land, of 
 which 0.03 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 
 
 Transportation is southward by rail. 
 
 Population 10,281— White 8,893. colored 1,388. Area 351 
 square miles, woodland 106,441 acres. Tilled lands 38,595 
 acres, area planted in cotton 10 acres, in tobacco 29 acres, in 
 corn 16,407 acres, in wheat 2,598 acres, in rye 3.734 acres, 
 in oats 2,908 acres, in buckwheat 107 acres. Cotton pro- 
 duction 4 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.40 
 bale, 570 pounds seed-cotton, or 190 pounds cotton 
 lint. Heal propertv, aggregate value $991,049, personal 
 property |402.938, total $1,393,987. State taxes $448.58, 
 county taxes $15,680.85, school taxes $3,520 28. Livestock 
 —Horses 1,070, mules 478, cattle 5,672, hogs 7,070, sheep 
 7,175. Public schools 53, white 42, colored 11. Churches 24. 
 
 TRANSYLVANIA, 
 
 Transylvania county occupies the upper portion of the val- 
 ley of the French Broad, and lies along the flanks of the Blue 
 Ridge and on the southern border of the State, It is bounded 
 westward by a heavy cross^chain from the Blue Ridge to the 
 Smoky mountains, the Balsam mountains, which rises through- 
 out a considerable ])art of its course above 6,000 feet. This 
 county is therefore the most elevated portion of the plateau of 
 the French Broad. It is mostly mountainous and rugged, 
 with spurs and knobs of mountains thrust out from the cross- 
 chains which bound it. There are very extensive tracts of bot- 
 tom lands along the tortuous course of the French Broad, 
 
140 HAND-BOOK OP^ NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 reachinor often a breadth of 1 or 3 miles, which are very fer- 
 tile and produce immense crops of corn. The larger portion 
 of the county, however, is only adapted to grazing. Its for- 
 ests resomble those of the plateau generally, but contain a 
 larger intermixture of white pine, as well as of hemlock, sugar 
 maple, walnut, and cherry. The tilled lands occupy 7.35 per 
 cent, of the county area. 
 
 Population 5,340— White 4,823, colored 517. Area 382 
 square miles, woodland 77,815 acres. Tilled lands 17,967 acres, 
 area planted in cotton none, in corn 0,762 acres, in wheat 
 869 acres, in rye 3.289 acres, in oats 257 acres. Real property, 
 agcrregate value $421,357, personal property |182.008, total 
 $603,365. State taxes $80.76, county taxes $6,712.50, school 
 taxes $1,621.57. Live stock — Horses 651, mules 321, cattle 
 5,077, bogs 6,497, sheep 5,003. Churches 12. 
 
 HAYWOOD. 
 
 Haywood county occupies the plateau or basin between the 
 parallel cross chains of the Newfound and the Balsam moun- 
 tains which lie at right angles to the main chains (the Blue 
 Ridge and Smoky) at an average distance from each other of 
 about 50 miles. 
 
 This basin is drained by the waters of Pigeon river, one of 
 the tributaries of the French Broad, which enters it beyond 
 the Smoky mountains in Tennessee. This county is hemmed 
 in on all sides by high mountain chains of 3,000, 5,000 and 
 6,000 feet and more above the sea. Its territory is exceedingly 
 broken and rugged; yet there are considerable tracts of open, 
 moderately hilly lands along the water courses, and occasional 
 wide stretches of fertile bottoms, especially on the upper con- 
 fluents of the river and near the middle of the basin. The 
 average elevation is above 3,000 feet. 
 
 The soils are of the ususal description, and are above aver- 
 age fertility. It is one of the best grazing sections, and pro- 
 duces all the grain crops of the region, including rye and 
 buckwheat, but, as j^et, little tobacco. The mountains are 
 clothed to their summits with forests of a great range of spe- 
 cies. On the lower slopes and in the rich coves, besides the 
 usual characteristic oaks, hickories, cucumbers, poplar, chest- 
 nut, etc., are found in abundance walnut, black locust, cherry 
 and ash, and a little higher sugar maple, linden, black birch 
 and beech, and on the highest ranges two species of fir. Since 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 141 
 
 the advent of the raih-oacl lumbering is rapidly becoming an 
 important industry. The tilled land occupies 10.87 per cent, 
 of the county area. 
 
 Population 10,271— White 9,787, colored 484. Area 582 
 square miles, woodland 115,632 acres. Tilled lands 40,474 
 acres, area planted in cotton none, in tobacco 100 acres, in 
 corn 17,254 acres, in wheat 10,054 acres, in rye 757 acres, in 
 oats 4,099 acres, in buckwheat 633 acres. Real property, 
 aggregate value $1,061,105, personal property $513,581, total 
 $1,574,686. State taxes $309.05, county taxes $9,531.88, school 
 taxes $3,712.98. Live stock— Horses 1,729, mules 675, cattle 
 8,588, hogs 10,794, sheep 7,643. Public schools 57, white 47, 
 colored 4. Churches 21. 
 
 JACKSON. 
 
 Jackson county is quite similar to Haywood in its topogra- 
 phical and agricultural features, but is more rugged, and has 
 less open bottom and valley land. It occupies the basin of 
 the Tuckasegee river, a tributary of the Tennessee, lies west 
 of the Balsam mountains, is bounded by the Cowee cross-chain 
 on the west and extends south to the Blue Ridge, and includes 
 a high plateau beyond it of nearly 100 square miles, with an 
 elevation of from 3,500 to 4,000 feet above sea level. The 
 county is well adapted to the production of grass. The soils, 
 forests, and productions are like those of Haywood. Mica is 
 mined in the county in many places, and gold is found on the 
 plateau south of the Blue Ridge. Of the county area 8.4 per 
 cent, is under tillage, and of this 0.06 per crnt. is in cotton. 
 A railroad has been recently graded across the county. 
 
 Population 7,343— White 6,591, colored 752. Area 532 
 square miles, woodland 136,317 acres. Tilled lands 28,606 
 acres, area planted in cotton 16 acres, in corn 12,793 acres, in 
 wheat 4,217 acres, in rye 1,583 acres, in oats 1,521 acres, in 
 buckwheat 175 acres. Cotton production 6 bales, average cot- 
 ton product per acre 0.38 bale, 534 pound.«: seed-cotton, or 178 
 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value $479,079, 
 personal property $224,126, total $703,205. State taxes 
 $121.40, county taxes $5,504-82, school taxes $1,988.65. Live 
 Stock— Horses" 1,042, mules 540, cattle 5,821, hogs 9,146, 
 sheep 4, 907. Public schools 36, white 33, colored 3. Churches 9. 
 
142 HAND-BOOK (:>F NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 MACON. 
 
 Macon county occupies the valley of the Tennessee river, 
 wli'ch flows through its centre from beyond the Georgia bor- 
 der, on the south, toward the Smoky mountains. This is a 
 wide, open valley, along which are considerable bodies of com- 
 paratively level and hilly lands, with extensive bottoms along 
 the river and its principal tributaries, recalling in its general 
 features the basin of the French Broad, though much less ex- 
 tensive. The county is better adapted to the cultivation of 
 grains and has a larger area capable of such cultivation than 
 the neighboring counties; but a large part of its territory is 
 very mountainous, being hemmed in on all sides by high moun- 
 tain ranges. Along; its western side lies the massive chain of 
 the Nantehaleh mountains, with its numerous heavy, ragged 
 spurs, and on the western margin is a deep canon, drained by 
 the river of the same name. There are two notable plateaus 
 in the south end of the county on the summit of the Blue 
 Ridge, one on the headwaters of the east fork of the Tennes- 
 see, and the other on those of the Nantehaleh, both of them 
 ranging from 3,500 to 4,000 feet in altitude. 
 
 The larger part of the area of the county is, therefore, 
 better adapted to grazing than to anything else. The soils 
 and forests are like those of the counties above described. 
 The tilled land comprises 9.46 per cent, of the county area. 
 The culture of tobacco has been recently introduced to a small 
 extent, and mica mining is carried on extensively. There are 
 also considerable deposits of iron ore, and the only extensive 
 or profitable corundum mine in this country is found here. 
 The beautiful red marble is found on the Nantehaleh river. A 
 railroad has been recently graded across the northern end of 
 the county. 
 
 Population 8,064— White 7,395, colored 669. Area 539 
 square miles, woodland 170,170 acres. Tilled lands 32,630 
 acres, area planted in cotton none, in tobacco 46 acres, in corn 
 14.423 acres, in wlieat 5,565 acres, in rye 1,823 acres, in oats 
 1,621 acres. Real property, aggregate value $582,911, per- 
 sonal property |339,874, total $922,785. State taxos $256.79, 
 county taxes $6,335.68, school taxes $4,323.60. Live stock — 
 Horses 1,322, mules 786, cattle 6,918, hogs 11,020, sheep 
 7,492. Public schools 44, white 40, colored 4. Churches 35. 
 
143 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 
 
 SWAIN. 
 
 fv. nf Macon and Jackson, along the 
 
 SwaL n county lies north of Macon ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^ 
 
 waters'^ of the Tennessee nver ana o ^^^ ^^^^^, ^^^^,. 
 
 Smoky ..mountain, on the north ^^i^^ ^^ wu.h the exception 
 
 n7Hnn i^n elevations of nearly 6,7UU leei.^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ 
 
 of some ^ open vailey ^^,^' near its centre, along the before- 
 mentioneu liver and its tributaries, the territory of thiscounty 
 is exceedingly rugged and broken. . The proportion of culti- 
 vable laud is very small. It is heavily timbered, even to the 
 highest summits of the Smoky mountains, with the prevalent 
 mountain forest growths. The higher levels of the Smoky 
 mountains, about 5,000 feet above sea-level, are covered with 
 forests of firs, while the more elevated coves abound in white 
 pine and hemlock, and its deep gorges and lower slopes with 
 maple, poplar, linden, hickory, chestnut, buckeye, walnut, 
 magnolias and cherry. The summits of the high mountains 
 furnish fine natural pasturage, and grazing has always been 
 the chief industry. The approach of the railroad, which has 
 been graded through its middle section, will speedily develop 
 an extensive lumber interest. The tilled land occupies 4.86 
 per cent, of the county area. 
 
 Population 3,784 — White 3,234, colored 550. xlrea445 square 
 miles, woodland 107,825 acres. Tilled lands 13,828 acres, area 
 planted in cotton none, in corn 6,809 acres, in wheat 1,473 
 acres, in rye 515 acres, in oats 757 acres. Real property, 
 aggregate value $390,997, personal property $112,235, total 
 $503,222. State taxes $115.86, county taxes $4,666.29, school 
 taxes $1,291.65. Live stock — Horses 548, mules 199. cattle 
 3,210, hogs 4,375, sheep 3,192. Churches 9. 
 
 GRAHAM. 
 
 Graham county, lying south of the Tennessee river, is 
 bounded on the west by the Smoky mountains and on the south 
 by a high cross-chain called Long Ridge. It resembles Swain 
 county very closely in its physical as well as its agricultural 
 features. Its forests are a continuation of those of Swain, ex- 
 cept that the mountains here do not reach the elevation neces- 
 sary to produce the fir. There is some open valley and hilly 
 land on the Cheowah river and its tril>utaries, which drains 
 most of its surface. Its population is small, and its agricul- 
 ture little developed, as there are no accessible markets. Its 
 
144 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Sffvjl ^''^^'' '''" ^^P^^^'' ^^ becoming the basis of tl- rivinc. 
 industries as soon as the projected RabSn Gap and Kn/'x^lle 
 
 c:nr^ f^l^:^:^^''- ^^- ^^"^^ '-^ ^cupi^ ;,:^;!:: 
 
 Population 2,335-White 2,123, colored 212. A rea 307 
 ^^tfa^^e^^ifPesT woodiana^ft,":^^^^^^^^^^ lands 8,2^2 acres, 
 
 area planted in cotton none, in corn 4,2^^^P^?s, :' in wheat 
 718 acres, in rye 566 acres, in oats 628 acres. Real property, 
 agsfregate value $216,685, personal property 5^82,268, total 
 $298,953. State taxes |42.95, county taxes $2,915.95, school 
 taxes .^760. 56. Live stock— Horses 333, mules 115, cattle 2,592, 
 hogs 4,285, sheep 2,643. Public schools 13, white 13. 
 Churches 7. 
 
 CLAY. 
 
 The small county of Clay, lying on the southern border, 
 touches the State of Georgia, and is bounded on the east by 
 Macon county, which it resembles very closely in all its feat- 
 ures, physical and agricultural, and in its development. It is 
 drained in a westerly direction by the Hiwassee river, which 
 takes its rise in the Blue Ridge, in Ueorgia. Its eastern sec- 
 tion lies upon the high plateau of the upper Nantehaleh river, 
 and on the north lies the chain of the Koneteh mountains. A 
 large part of its territory is very mountainous. It has fine, 
 open valley lands on the river and its tributaries. Its south- 
 ern section is hilly, somewhat mountainous, with fair agricul- 
 tural capabilities. Both gold and mica are found, but have 
 not been mined on any considerable scale. The tilled land 
 occupies 12.45 per cent, of the county area. 
 
 Population 3,316— White 3,175, colored 141. Area 189 
 square miles, woodland 60,606 acres. Tilled lands 15,063 
 acres, area planted in cotton none, in tobacco 25 acres, in corn 
 7,810 acres, in wheat 3,282 acres, in rye 854 acres, in oats 1,230 
 acres. Real propertv, aggregate value $201,459, personal 
 property $134,986, total $836,445. State taxes $86.45, county 
 taxes $3,003.27, school taxes $980.81. Live stock— Horses 
 556, mules 466, cattle 3,300, hogs 4,536, sheep 3,475. Churches 
 14. 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF COUN^TIES. 145 
 
 CHEROKEE. 
 
 Cherokee county occupies the extreme western corner of the 
 State, of 'vhich it includes the whole breadth, at Jhis^point 
 less than 20 miles, ii is bounded in part on the nortn oy tuo 
 Smoky mountains, and touches the States of Tennessee and 
 Georgia on the west and south. For the most part it resemoles 
 Clay county in its soils and agriculture. The valley of the 
 Valley river is open and comparatively level, with extensive 
 bottoms and bordering hilly lands. This valley is nearly 20 
 miles long and from 3 to 5 miles broad, and contains a large 
 proportion of fine agricultural lands. The forests resemble 
 those of the neighboring counties, and have been sufficiently 
 described. Its agriculture is divided between the culture of 
 grains and grasses and cattle-raising, and mines of gold, iron 
 and soapstone have been opened and wrought for many ye irs. 
 The iron-ore deposits are of great extent, and there is a great 
 variety of colored marble on Valley and Nantehaleh rivers 
 which needs only transportation to become valuable. The 
 tilled lands occupy 9.51 per cent, of the county area. 
 
 Population 8,183— White T,796, colored 386, Area 470 
 square miles, woodland 149,156 acres. Tilled lands 28,603 
 acres, area planted in cottun, none, in tobacco 42 acres, in corn 
 14,507 acres, in wheat 4,317 acres, in rye 1,126 acres, in oats 
 1,534 acres. Real property, aggregate value $529,925, per- 
 sonal property $425,538, total $955,463. State taxes $106.40, 
 county taxes $7,879.34, school taxes $2,029.83. Live stock- 
 Horses 959, mules 460, cattle 6,381, hogs 8.241, sheep 7,016. 
 Public schools 25, white 24, colored 1. Churches 21. 
 
MINERALS. 
 
 Iron Ores. 
 
 The ores of iron are very widely distributed in this 
 State, their occurrence being not only coextensive with 
 the area of the Arch^an (or Azoic) rocks, but extending 
 over a part of the Mesozoic, and even into the Quater- 
 nary. And these occurrences include all the j)rincipal 
 kinds of ore —Magnetite, Hematite, Limonite and Side- 
 rite, and most of their varieties and mndiiications. But 
 as many of these forms occur in association or close 
 proximity, it will avoid confusion tr) consider them by 
 districts — to grou}) them geograf)hically. We begin 
 with the most easterly occurrences. 
 
 Limonite Ores of the East. — The clayey, sandy and 
 earthy accumulations of the Eastern Section, which ha\e 
 been previously described as Quaternary, contain in 
 many places a rough, brown ore, more or less earthy, or 
 sandy, either in beds two to three, or four feet in thick- 
 ness, or more frequently in sic ets, or layers of irregu- 
 larly shaped lumps or nodules. One of the most con- 
 siderable of these deposits occurs in the southern end of 
 Xash county near the Wilson line. It lies on the mar- 
 
IRON ORES. 147 
 
 gin of Toisnot swamp. The thickness is two to three 
 feet, anr] its extent horizontally about fifty yards by one 
 hundred and fifty. It is known as the Blomary Iron 
 Mine, from the fact that iron had been made from this 
 ore in a Catalan forge, a few miles south, during the war 
 of 1812. Iron was also made here during the Confed- 
 erate war in a furnace erected on the spot. 
 
 An analysis gives ii'on 42.73. This analysis places 
 the ore among the best of its class. 
 
 A second deposit, reported to be abundant in super- 
 ficial nodules and irregular lumps, is found in the south- 
 ern part of Duplin county, near Wallace, on the farm of 
 D. T. Boney. 
 
 Another bed of the same chaiacter and appearance, 
 except in the size of the nodules, which are rather small, 
 occurs in a field about two miles north of Rocky Point, 
 in Pender. 
 
 Hematites of Halifax and Granville. — On the hills 
 fronting the Roanoke, less than a mile below Gaston, 
 are several outcrops of hematite ore. There are two 
 principal beds, of which the lower only has been opened. 
 The ore is granular for the most part, and of the variety 
 known as specular, but contains a considerable percent- 
 age of magneiic grains disseminated through it. The 
 principal b(d is about twenty inches thick at the surface. 
 It gave on analysis 63.76 per cent, of iron, and 0.09 of 
 phosphorus. 
 
 About five miles southward from the above locality the 
 same bed makes its appearance on the farm of Mr. 
 
148 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Hines; here, however, it is highly magnetic, fine grained 
 and dense, although still showing the decidedly slaty 
 structure of the first of the Gaston beds. At this point 
 it is reported as three to four feet thick. 
 
 These ores are of conspicuous purity and obviously 
 adapted to the manufacture of the higher grades of iron 
 and of steel. And there is evidentl}^ a range of ore 
 beds here of considerable extent. 
 
 Iron Ores of Johnston and Wake. — There is, accord- 
 ing to Dr. Emmons, "a large deposit^' of limonite four 
 miles west of Smithfield. 
 
 Another "bluff" of limonite is referred to by Em- 
 mons as found at Whitaker's, seven miles southwest of 
 Kaleigh, in Wake county. 
 
 Iron Ores of Chatham and Orange, — One of the best 
 known and most important iron mines of this region is 
 on the borders of Harnett, the Buckhorn Mine. It is 
 about seven miles below the forks of the Cape Fear, on 
 a hill nearly tw^o hundred feet high, overlooking the 
 river from the left bank. It is massive at the outcro}), 
 and breaks out in large angular blocks. Some parts of 
 the bed are slightly magnetic. The thickness is about 
 thirty-six feet at this point, and diminishes to twenty at 
 the lower quarries, two hundred to three hundred yards 
 distant. 
 
 The ore is properly described as specular. The char- 
 acter of this ore is very like that of the Iron Mountain, 
 Missouri, and its extent and mode of occurrence strongly 
 suggest the Pilot Knob. It is at least equal to either of 
 
 i 
 
FRON ORES. 149 
 
 these notable iron ore deposits in quantity, and is equally 
 pure, and has the advantage of both in the presence of 
 large percentages of manganese, and the capacity to pro- 
 duce spiegeleisen without admixture of other ores. 
 
 About one mile north of the Buchhorn lline is a 
 small vein about one foot thick, of a highly magnetic 
 ore. An analysis of fhis ore, by Mr. C. E. Buck, gave 
 56.57 per cent, of iron and 1.51 of titanic acid. 
 
 Besides the localities already mentioned, a number of 
 additional outcrops of ore have been noted, mostly mag- 
 netic; one, for example, two miles north of Buckhorn 
 (at Dewar's), yielding 57.77 per c^nt. of iron (no 
 phosphorus or sulphur), and three or four others in a 
 southwest direction, for ten miles, to the head waters of 
 Little river. 
 
 Near Haywood, in the angle formed by the junction 
 of the Haw and Deep rivers, in the red sandstone of the 
 Triassic, there has been opened a series of parallel beds 
 of a red-ochreous earthy ore, on the lands of Dr. Smith. 
 The only bed exposed at the time of my visit was twenty 
 to twenty-five inches thick, dipping southeast with the 
 sandstone, 20° to 30°. The ore has a rough likeness to 
 the ^'Clinton ^' or ^'Fossil'' ore of New York, &c., and 
 the '^Dystone" of Tennessee, but has a much coarser 
 and more irregular texture. The ore is partly limonite, 
 but seems to be largely changed to red hematite. 
 
 This ore makes its appearance again about a mile from 
 Sanford, some twelve miles distant, where it was opened 
 and worked to some extent during the late war. Only 
 
150 HAND-BOOK OF NORTJl CAROLINA. 
 
 one bed is exposed here, which is about twenty inches 
 thick. The ore is easily dug and shoveled from the bed 
 and crumbles into a heap of very coarse, reddish-brown 
 gravel, a rough sort of shot ore. 
 
 The next ores demanding attention are the Black 
 Band and Ball ore, or '' kidney ore" of the coal meas- 
 ure. These are earthy and calcareolis carbonates of iron, 
 imbedded in the l>lack carbonaceous shales which enclose 
 the coal, or interstratify with the coal itself. These ores 
 seem to be coextensive with the coal on Dee{) river, 
 outcropping everywhere with it, and at several places 
 outside of its limits. 
 
 Emmons also speaks of another seam of argillaceous 
 carbonate as occurring at the depth of two hundred and 
 thirty feet in the shaft at Egypt, and four occurrences 
 of it are indicated as ball ore in the Egypt section. 
 Emmons says of this argillaceous carbonate: "It con- 
 tains 33 per cent, of metallic iron ; the surface ores be- 
 ing altered contain 50 per cent.;" and he describes it as 
 occurring 'Mn balls, or in continuous beds." About the 
 Gulf it occurs in rounded flattish masses, five or six to 
 eight or ten inches in diameter. They are dense, un- 
 crystalline and heavy, of a light gray to drab color, and 
 are pretty thickly distributed in parallel layers of one to 
 two or three feet thickness. An analysis of Prof. 
 Sch^effer, as given in Admiral Wilkes's report to the Sec- 
 retary of the Navy in 1858, is as follows: Protoxide of 
 iron, 40 per cent.; silica, 13; earthy matter 13; carbo- 
 naceous matter, 84. This is evidently a black band ore. 
 
IRON ORES. 151 
 
 Tlie seam of blach band between the main coal beds 
 in the Egypt shaft, is stated by Wilkes to be sixteen 
 inches, the lower one to consist of two thicknesses of 
 three feet each, separated by a thin seam of coal between. 
 An analysis by Schseffer for Wilkes gives only 17 per 
 cent, of iron, and 4i^ of carbonaceons matter; specific 
 gravity 2.12. 
 
 The Evans vein is about six miles north of the Gulf, 
 on the Graham road. It is six feet thick. This ore is 
 a hematite. 
 
 But the most noted iron locality in Chatham county 
 is known as Ore HUL The ore is limonite, with the ex- 
 ception of one vein near the top and back of the hill, 
 which is a hematite (in part s[)ecular), and much resem- 
 bling the Evans ore. There is much of this ore on the 
 surface in scattered fragments, indicating a vein of con- 
 siderable extent, which, however, had not been exposed. 
 Most of the other veins have been opened, but the pits 
 and tunnels were so much filled and fallen in that no 
 accurate measurements could be taken. But it was easy 
 to see that two or three of them were very large — ten, 
 fifteen feet, and upwards. 
 
 This ore was worked on a considerable scale during 
 the American Revolution, and again during the late 
 civil war, and the iron is reported to have been of good 
 quality; and it is obviously an ore very readily smelted. 
 The presence of the hematite vein and the proximity of 
 the ball ore, which was successfully used as a flux in the 
 last working of the furnace, furnish admirable condi- 
 tions for advantageous iron manufacture. 
 
162 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. * 
 
 A fiue quality of magnt'tic ore, dense, metallic aud 
 very pure, is found on the east side of Haw river and 
 about two miles distant, at the loot of Tyrrell's moun- 
 tain on the farm of Mr. Snipes. The vein has not been 
 fully exposed, but is reported to be three or four feet. 
 
 A very fine micaceous hematite is found near the 
 mouth of Collins' creek a few miles above, in Orange 
 county. It has not been explored, but surface fragments 
 are reported to be. abundant. 
 
 But the most notable ore bank yet opened in this 
 county is that at Chapel Hill. It is a very dense, steel- 
 gray hematite (specular in part), with slight magnetic 
 indications. The vein is found on a hill one mile north 
 from Chapel Hill, and more than two hundred feet 
 above the creek at its base. The vein [)roper is seven 
 to ten feet at the main shaft, and suddenly enlarging 
 near the summit of the hill, just bey:)nd the second 
 shaft, to twenty-five and thirty feet. The hill top is 
 covered with angular fragments of the ore of all sizes, 
 up to more than one hundred pounds weight. 
 
 There is a second vein of the same character, five or 
 six feet thick, crossing the main vein near the first shaft. 
 The ore becomes poorer as the vein is followed beyond 
 the summit of the hill northward, until at the distance 
 of one hundred and fifty yards beyond the upper shaft, 
 the quartzite predominates and the ore becomes poor. 
 This mine is at the terminus of the State University 
 Railroad, and lias all the transportation facilities that 
 are desirable, 
 
IRON ORES. 153 
 
 There are surface indications ou the neighboring hills, 
 both north and south, for several miles, which show that 
 this vein has a considerable extension; and in fact it may 
 be considered as a continuation of the hematite veins of 
 Deep river. And a magnetic ore makes its appearance 
 about twenty miles northeastward, three miles beyond 
 the upper forks of the Neuse river in the southeast cor- 
 ner of Orange county, on Knapp of Reeds creek, on the 
 farm of Mr. Joseph AVoods. The ore-bed outcrops at 
 one point for a few rods, where it appears to be about 
 three feet thick, and has a strike N. 40° E., and dips at 
 an angle of 70° to the northwest. 
 
 At Mt. Tirzah, in the southeast corner of Person, 
 near the Orange line, there is a vein of hematite (specu- 
 lar), from which iron was made to some extent during 
 the war. The vein is descril)ed as about six feet thick. 
 The specimen sent to the Museum indicates a very fine 
 ore, resembling that at Buck horn. 
 
 The ores of Montgomery and Randolph belong pro- 
 perly (geologically) to the Chatham range; they are 
 found in the same great slate belt (Huronian) that con- 
 stitutes the most notable feature of the middle region of 
 the State, both geologically and mineralogically. The 
 best known of these ores is found near Franklinsville, 
 Randolph county. And another vein has been o[)ened 
 near Ashboro, both of specular hematite. Some of the 
 strongest and most highly prized iron obtained during 
 the war came from this locality. It was all devoted to 
 the manufacture of shafts and other machinery for the 
 
ir)4 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROT.TNA. 
 
 steam rams (iron-clads) and the like. Dr. Emmons de- 
 scribes an occurrence of hematite of apparently consid- 
 erable extent seven miles southwest of Troy, in Mont- 
 gomery county; he says it is free from sulphur and a 
 very pure ore. Another occurrence of ore — magnetite — 
 is noted by him four miles north of Troy. 
 
 Iron Ores of Guilford County. — One of the most re- 
 markable and persistent ranges of iron ore in the State 
 crosses the county of Guilford in a northeast and south- 
 west direction, passing about ten miles northwest of 
 Greensboro, near Friendship. It extends from the head 
 waters of Abbott's creek, in Davidson county, entirely 
 across Guilford to Haw river, in Rockingham, a distance 
 of some thirty miles, making its appearance on nearly 
 every plantation, and indeed almost every hillside in the 
 range. The ore is granular magnetite, and is every- 
 where titaniferous. There is a second, but much more 
 interrupted, range of ore parallel to the one just de- 
 scribed and lying a few miles to the northwest. 
 
 The length of the outcrop, air-line measure, is twenty- 
 eight miles. 
 
 There is another ore belt running parallel with the for- 
 mer and at a distance of three miles from it. This is called 
 the Highfield or Shaw outcrop. Beyond Haw river the 
 two belts approach each other, and are believed to unite 
 in Rockingham county. The ore-bed is full six feet 
 across, solid ore — a very green, chloritic, mica slate, rock 
 ore. In a run of eight hundred yards, there are appar- 
 ently two hundred thousand tons above water level, in the 
 
J RON ORES. 155 
 
 one six-foot bed. The out-crop runs along the top of a 
 hill about one hundred feet above the bottom of Haw 
 river valley. 
 
 Dr. Lesley mentions beds of ochre of various sizes, 
 "as one of the constituent elements of the whole form- 
 ation. The largest exhibition of ochre which I saw, is 
 on the L. Soraers plantation on Brushy creek. Here an 
 ochre bed twenty feet thick rises, nearly vertical, out of 
 a gully in a hillside covered with small pieces of fine, 
 compact ore. The whole aspect of this place gives an 
 impression of an abundance of ore beneath the surface, 
 but no openings on the beds which have furnished these 
 fragments have been made." 
 
 This Guilford range of ores has not been traced to its 
 termination in either direction, and doubtless other val- 
 uable beds will be discovered; and there are already 
 indignations that there are outcrops of the same kind of 
 ore as far northeast as Caswell county. 
 
 There are also other iron ore localities in Rockingham, 
 whicii do not belong to this range; for example, near 
 the Virginia line in a northeast direction from Madison ; 
 and again two miles below the mouth of Smithes river 
 (Moreheud's Factory), there is a bed of red hematite iron 
 ore, about ten inches thick at the outcrop. 
 
 L'on Ores of Mecklenburg and Cabarrus. — No iron 
 mines of any extent liave been worked in these coun- 
 ties, but ore has been found in a number of localities. 
 Some explorations have been made in the southern part 
 of Mecklenburg at the same time, in the Sugar Creek 
 
156 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 neighborhood. Numerous blocks of a remarkably pure 
 granular magnetic ore were found scattered over several 
 acres of surface of an old field, and along the public road ; 
 and several trenches were cut, which exposed two or 
 three veins of one to three and four feet in thickness. 
 Some twelve or fifteen miles north of Charlotte, in the 
 Hopewell neighborhood, a very notable quantity of sur- 
 face fragments of large size are found in an old field and 
 skirt of woods adjacent. This is a specular ore in a 
 gangue of quartzite, not unlike the Chapel Hill ore. 
 
 Iron Ores of Gaston, Lincoln and Cataioba. — In these 
 counties is one of the most extensive ore ranges in the 
 State. The ores are predominantly magnetic, with a 
 variable percentage of hematite. The direction of this 
 range of ore-beds is coincident with the strike of the 
 slates, and is about N. N. E. from King's monntain on 
 the southern l)order of the State, to Anderson niountain, 
 near the Catawba river, in Catawba county. To Mr. G. 
 B. Hanna, who has lately made an examination of 
 many of the beds for the Survey, I am indebted for sev- 
 eral valuable observations. He states that for a consid- 
 erable part of the range there are two parallel beds, the 
 more westerly l)eing generally the larger and more pro- 
 ductive, their thickness running from four feet (and 
 sometimes as low as two feet) to twelve; the interval of 
 twelve to twenty feet between them being occupied by 
 talcose and chloritic slates, with a little (M'e in layers. 
 The ore has been generally mined in a very rude and 
 wasteful fashion, the operations seldom penetrating be- 
 
IRON ORES. 157 
 
 yond water-level, fifty or sixty feet, and generally lim- 
 ited to surface openings. The range naturally divides 
 itself into two groups of beds, the northern and south- 
 ern, the one lying mostly in Lincoln and the other iu 
 Gaston. The most considerable of the Lincoln beds and 
 the one which has been longest and most extensively 
 wrought is known as the Big Ore Bank. This is sit- 
 uated seven or eight miles north of the Carolina Cen- 
 tral railroad, and, as is usual with the outcrops of these 
 beds, is on a hill or broad ridge. There are several beds 
 evident, but the scattered and partially filled openings 
 do not furnish the means of arriving at a satisfactory 
 notion of their exact relations. The quantity of ore, 
 however, seems to be very great, the thickness of the 
 beds at some places being estimated at about eighteen 
 feet. Several furnaces and a number of forges have 
 been suj^jplied with ore from this point for a long period. 
 Following the compass course of the out-crops, about N. 
 20° E., a succession of ore-beds is encountered at inter- 
 vals of one or two miles, to the southeastern base of 
 Anderson mountain — the Brevard ore bank, the Rob- 
 inson ore bank, the Morrison ore bank, whicii last ex- 
 tends into Catawba county. The thickness of the beds 
 is given by Mr. Hanna in the general statement quoted 
 above, as ranging from four to twelve feet. The quality 
 of iron manufactured from this range of ore beds has 
 always been good; and all the furnaces on this part of 
 the range were put in blast after the war, for the pur- 
 pose of supplying a high grade charcoal iron for the 
 northern market. 
 
158 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Limestone tor fluxing is found convenient in the range 
 of beds which accompanies these slates, one to two miles 
 to the west from King's mountain to a point several miles 
 beyond Anderson mountain. 
 
 A few miles northwest of the last named mountain is 
 a bed of limonite five or six feet thick. 
 
 Several miles further, in a northwesterly course, seven 
 miles southwest of Newton, there is a series of ore de- 
 posits known as the Forney Ore Bank, whose minerahjgi- 
 cal character and geological relations are entirely different 
 from those of the ore beds ot^ Lincoln county. The ore 
 is a remarkably pure magnetite, heavy, black, metallic; 
 and non-granular, for the most part. The iron manu- 
 factured from it in the forges of the neighborhood, par- 
 ticularly at Williams's, was in much request before and 
 during the war, being very malleable, tough and strong. 
 All the blooms which could be procured at the naval 
 works in Charlotte during the war were used for the 
 manufacture of shafts for iron-clads and bolts for the 
 cannon of the coast forts. 
 
 At a point six or seven miles northeasterly from this, 
 is the Barringer Ore Bank, which is some two miles 
 southeast from Newton. This ore is of the same charac- 
 ter and geological relationships as the last. The ore is 
 of the best quality, and ihe distance from railroad is only 
 about two miles. 
 
 There is also another deposit in Lincoln county which 
 does not belong to the seiies of beds above described, ft 
 lies about two miles east of Lincolutou on the plank road. 
 
IRON OTlE«. 
 
 159 
 
 and is traceable some hundreds of yards through the 
 forests by the surface fragments, which are widely scat- 
 tered. The ore is limonite. 
 
 The lower part of the great iron range under consid- 
 eration is mostly found in the southern half of Gaston, 
 as the upper was mainly limited to the northern part of 
 Lincoln. These ore beds appear to constitute a double 
 parallel range, the divisions much more widely separated 
 than in Lincoln. The Yellow Ridge Ore Bank, on the 
 most southerly outcrop, at the western base of King's 
 mountain, seems to belong to the eastern division. The 
 bed here, which has been extensively wrought, and was 
 penetrated to a depth of one hundred and twenty feet, 
 is reported by Mr. Hanna and others to be sixteen feet 
 thick (occasionally forty), with a steep westerly dip. 
 Hanna says of the ore: "It is notably magnetic, but 
 more highly peroxidized than that class of 'gray ores' 
 generally.'' At the western base of Crowder's moun- 
 tain, in a northeasterly course, on this range, is the Ful- 
 enwider ore bed. 
 
 There are other beds or veins of iron ore on the east 
 side of Crowder's mountain, one of which is about a 
 mile distant, but no openings have been made here. 
 
 There are three notable ore beds on the w^estern divis- 
 ion of this part of the range, on the lands known as the 
 '' High Shoals." They are the Ferguson, the Ellison and 
 the Cosfner ore banks. The first is the most southerly. 
 It is a granular magtietic ore, with much iron pyrites, 
 which has been superficially changed to limonite. This 
 
160 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 bed has been long workecl, but the sulphur has always 
 lowered, more or less, the quality of the iron made from 
 it. The Ellison ore bank is about a mile northeasterly 
 on the range. This has been worked for a great while, 
 and has furnished an immense amount of ore. Its quality 
 is very high. 
 
 The Cosfner Ore Bank is about three miles in a north- 
 erly course, on the same line, and one mile east of the 
 furnace (*^ Long Creek ''). The rock is granitic and sye- 
 nitic, and one wall is a bed of crystalline limestone, 
 twelve feet thick. The ore is a very dense, metallic and 
 sub-crystalline magnetite, and is very free from impuri- 
 ties, and the bar iron made from it is very tough and 
 strong. The vein is ten to twelve feet thick, and it is 
 reported by the miners who last penetrated it, at a depth 
 of over one hundred feet, to be above twenty feet thick. 
 
 There are two other important ore beds on this tract, 
 '*High Shoals,'^ but they do not belong to the regular 
 range of ore beds which we have been considering, being 
 out of their line to the west, and of a very different 
 character. The ore nearest to the line of the deposits 
 last described is the 31ountain Ore Bank. The vein is 
 four to eight ^^et thick, associated with a heavy quartz 
 vein, in a quartzo-argillaceous slate, and has a strike N. 
 35*^ E., and which does not vary more than 1° to 5° 
 from the vertical (towards the west). It is remarkably 
 pure, and will no doubt become valuable in the manu- 
 facture of spiegeleisen. The second vein, the Ormond 
 Ore Bank, is in the slate belt also, and is probably a 
 
IROa OKES. 161 
 
 vein. The vein is reported to be eight to fifteen feet 
 thick. This ore is mauganiferous like the last, and is a 
 hematite, which is partly hydrated and linionitic, (tur- 
 gite?). 
 
 There are five furnaces on this range of ores. 
 
 Iron Ores of Yadkin^ Surry and Stokes. — The ores of 
 this region occupy a relation to the Pilot and Sauratown 
 mountains, similar to that of the Gaston and Lincoln 
 ores to the King's mountain range. They are found 
 along the base and among the spurs and foothills of the 
 range. And like them too, these deposits divide them- 
 selves into two groups, geographically, one in Stokes and 
 the other in Surry and Yadkin. They are all magnetic 
 and granular. 
 
 Another ore bed and two forges (Hyatt's), are found 
 on the west side of Ararat river, near the mouth of Bull 
 Run creek. A third ore bed, which has been worked 
 for many years, known as Williams^s, is four miles 
 northwest of Rock ford. The iron made from the ores 
 of Surry has a good reputation in- the region ; they are 
 apparently very pure. On the south side of the river, 
 there is a series of ore beds running from the river in a 
 southwesterly course to Deep creek, nearly across the 
 county of Yadkin. 
 
 This range of ore beds extends southward across the 
 South Fork of Yadkin river into Davie county, where 
 the ore still preserves the same characteristics as in the 
 above mentioned counties. One, the Rogers ore bank, 
 is eight feet thick, and has been worked on a cousidera- 
 
162 HAND-BOOK OF NOETH CAROLINA. 
 
 ble scale; and an excellent iron was smelted in the fur- 
 nace at Danbnrv daring the war. Another bed reported 
 to be ten feet thick has been opened about half a mile 
 east of the last, and two beds (one of them four feet 
 thick, the other not opened), have been discovered at 
 different times within three hnndred and six hundred 
 yards of it, on the west. The ores are all magnetites, 
 with sometimes a small admixture of hematite. 
 
 The purity of these ores is conspicuous. Phospho- 
 rus is wholly wanting. Some samples contain a small 
 peiTcntage of pyrites. Manganese appears as only a 
 trace in the analyses, but it must exist in larger propor- 
 tions in some parts of the bed, as spiegeleisen is occa- 
 sionally an accidental product: There are other outcrops 
 of magnetic ore in the count v, a notable one on the south 
 side of tlie Sauratown mountains, among the head waters 
 of Town Fork of Dan river. 
 
 Iron Ores of Burke, Caldwell, &g. — There are many 
 valuable beds of limonife in a ranu^e extending; in a 
 northeast direction from the northeastern foothills of 
 the South mountains into the Brushy mountains, from 
 Jacob's Fork of Catawba river, near the eastern border 
 of Burke, across the Catawba, and by way of Gunpow- 
 der creek, to the waters of Middle Little river near the 
 eastern border of Caldwell; and beyond, near Rocky 
 creek, in Alexander, and even on the northern slopes of 
 the Brushy mountains in Wilkes, the same ores occur, 
 being undistinguishable in appearance, and of identical 
 lithological relations, 
 
IROS ORES. 163 
 
 There is a bed near the town of Hickory, reported to 
 be five or six feet thick ; and three miles west at Propst's 
 are a number of pits from which a quantity of ore was 
 obtained during the war; and at the distance of six 
 miles, on the lands of Mrs. Townsend, a bed was opened 
 some thirty years ago, and the ore, in considerable quan- 
 tities, smelted in the Shuford furnace in the neighbor- 
 hood. 
 
 Iron was also made on Gunpowder creek, Caldwell 
 county, thirty or forty years ago, from a similar series 
 of limonite beds. The quantity of ore is reported as 
 larue. The beds on Middle Little river, twelve miles 
 southeast of Lenoir, were worked nearly fifty years a«fo, 
 and the ore hauled seven miles to Beard's furnace, on 
 the Catawba river. The ourcr(»ps are traceable on the 
 slopes of Mclntyre's mountain and Bald mountain, near 
 Mr. White's, on Miry branch, for a distance of two to 
 three miles, the outciop on the former being about three 
 or four feet, and on the latter eight or ten; and it is re- 
 ported that at some poiius the thickness is more than 
 double the above figures. There is every surface evi- 
 dence of abundance of ore. Being a mountainous re- 
 gion, timber for fuel is abundant, and water-power also. 
 
 A bed of superior magnetic ore occurs on Warrior 
 creek, not far from Patterson, Caldwell county, and 
 within a mile of the bend of the Yadkin i-iver. It is 
 traceable hundreds of yards by large surface fragments 
 of a fine grained, heavy, metallic ore, remarkably free 
 from rocky admixtures; and a similar ore is reported as 
 
164 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 occurring in large mass a few miles west on MuHierry 
 creek. Another very fine ore, a shining metallic, slaty 
 hematite, of groat purity, is found a few miles above on 
 the spurs of the Blue Ridge, flanking the Yadkin river, 
 in a cove known as Rich lands. 
 
 In the same neighborhood, on the farm of Mr. J. 
 Curtis, on the banks of the Yadkin river, seven or 
 eight miles above Patterson, is a heavy ledge of titanif- 
 erous iron ore. The exposure is not less than twelve to 
 fifteen feet thick, and the surface is covered witli heaps 
 of angular fragments of all sizes, up to a hundred pounds 
 or more. 
 
 Some ten or twelve miles northeast of this point, on 
 the flanks of the Blue Ridge, near Cook's Gap, in the 
 edge of Watauga county, occurs another outcrop of the 
 specular (martite) schist of Richlands. The bed at this 
 locality, which is called Bui! Ruffin, is reported to be 
 three or four feet thick at the outcrop. 
 
 In McDowell county there are several beds of limon- 
 ite. These are mostly aggregated along the top of Lin- 
 ville mountain, southern part, and the western slope, 
 near the foot, and in the spurs, of the southern end. 
 These Linville limonites made an inferior iron when 
 worked alone, but mixed with the magnetite and hema- 
 tites of the region, they would become available for the 
 manufacture of good metal. 
 
 The limestone beds of the same belt, in North Cove 
 and along the flanks of Linville, are conveniently loca- 
 ted for furnishing a flux, and the forests of these moun- 
 tains will furnish indefinite quantities of fuel. 
 
IRON ORES. 165 
 
 Ore mountain, one mile west of Swaunanoa Gap (and 
 therefore just over the Buncombe line), is named from 
 the occurrence on its flanks of a bed of limonite, which 
 doubtless belongs to the iron ore range of Linville. The 
 bed is not well exposed, but three or four feet of thick- 
 ness are visible on the steep escarpment, and large 
 masses which have broken off are fallen down to a lower 
 point on the slope. 
 
 Iron Ores of Mitchell and Ashe. — In Mitchell county 
 is found one of the most remarkable iron ore deposits in 
 North America. It lies on the western slope of the 
 Iron mountain (a part of the Great Smoky range), in 
 the northwest corner of the county, three miles from the 
 Tennessee line, and about a mile from the rapid torrent 
 of Elk river, the principal affluent of the Watauga. 
 It has been Jong known as the Cranberry ore bank, 
 from Cranberry creek, which flows at the foot of the 
 steep mountain spurs, on which it outcrops. 
 
 The ore is a pure magnetite, massive and generally 
 coarse granular, and exhibits strong polarity. The 
 length of the outcrop is about fifteen hundred f^^t, and 
 the breadth two to eight hundred. 
 
 The softness and toughness of this iron is very re- 
 markable, and its tensile strength, as tested by the 
 United States Ordnance Department, ranks with that 
 of the best irons known. The blooms from the Cran- 
 berry forges have been extensively used in Baltimore 
 for boiler iron, and commanded fifteen dollars a ton 
 above the market. In quality it is unsurpassed by any 
 
lt)6 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAliOJ.INA. 
 
 iron in the world. And in regard to quantity, the bed 
 much exceeds the great deposits of Missouri and Mich- 
 igan, and at least equals anything in the Champlain 
 region. So that it has not probably an equal in this 
 country. 
 
 There are other magnetic ore beds in the neighbor- 
 hood of less extent. One is said to occur along the face 
 of the same (Iron) mountain between one and two miles 
 eastward ; and s<^veral others at the distance of six to 
 ten miles in a southeast direction. Northwestward also, 
 beyond the State line and within a few miles of it, is a 
 number of ore beds, mostly magnetic — one limonite; 
 indeed it is evident that there is an extensive range of 
 iron ores in this region which are of the highest quality, ■ 
 and must one day attract a large capital for their devel- 
 opment. Deposits of ore are also found in other parts 
 of the county ; but like the last named, they are known 
 only by their out-crops. One of these is a bed of mag- 
 netite, on the lower slope of Little Yellow mountain, at 
 Flat Kock. The ore is quite like the C.'ranberry, of 
 equal purity apparently, and strongly polaric. Some 
 large blocks are found on the surface, weighing several 
 hundred pounds. 
 
 A bed of limonite occurs three or four miles north- 
 west of Flat Rock, recognizable by a profusion of sur- 
 face fragments, but no ex()hn'ations have been made. 
 On Rock creek, beyond Bakersville, at the foot of the 
 great Roan mountain, are also several beds of magnetic 
 ore, of which hand specimens resemble the Cranberry 
 
IRON ORES. 1(37 
 
 ore, and the geological associations are also the same. 
 Of the size of the beds I have no definite information. 
 
 In Ashe connty, in the northwest corner of the State, 
 there are some important ore deposits, on the waters of 
 North Fork or New river. They lie chiefly north and 
 northeast of Jefferson, on Horse creek and Helton 
 creek. 
 
 On Helton, six or eight miles east of the last, are still 
 larger deposits of very pure magnetic ore, which has 
 been long used in the forges of the neighborhood. The 
 ore is a coarse grained and very |)ure magnetite, one of 
 the beds of which is reported to be eighteen feet in thick- 
 ness and another nine feet. This is manifestly an iron 
 region, and worthy of a thorough investigation. 
 
 Iron Ores of the French Broad. — There are several 
 localities on the western slopes of the Black mountain, 
 on the head waters of Ivy, in the eastern edge of Mad- 
 ison, where magnetite is found in considerable surface 
 fnasses, though no explorations have been made. A bed 
 also of titaniferous iron occurs here near the public 
 road, and about midway between Asheville and Burns- 
 ville. 
 
 On Bear creek below Marshall, neai' the French 
 Broad, there are suri'ace fragments of magnetite in horn- 
 blende slate, but no vein or bed has l>een exposed. On 
 the eastern Fork of Big Laurel there is a large outcrop 
 of a slaty granular niagnetite at Mrs. Norton's, and neai* 
 ejewel Hill a bed or vein of sj)ecular hematite in a i-e<l- 
 dish felspathic gneiss, the (jre said to Ixj abundant. 
 
168 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 About five miles west of Asheville a bed of limonite of 
 several feet thickness has been opened. 
 
 In Haywood county, there is a larger massive out- 
 crop of granular magnetite; it is in the northeastern 
 part of the county, on Wilkins's creek. The bed is no 
 doubt large from the boldness of the outcrop, which 
 projects in large masses al)ove the surface. 
 
 There are aiso magnetites and hematites in various 
 localities of Jackson and Macon counties, some of which 
 are represented in the Museum by very fine specimens, 
 and the deposits are reported to be extensive, but as no 
 iron has been made in those counties, there has been no 
 occasion for their development. 
 
 Iron Ores of Cherokee. — There is no other county in 
 the State which contains so much iron ore as Cherokee. 
 It is all, however, of one species — limonite. The mar- 
 ble beds of Valley river and Notteley river are every- 
 where accompanied by beds of this ore. The breadth 
 of this iron and marble range is two to more than three 
 miles. 
 
 About one mile north of Murphy the quartzite forms 
 a high ridge, having two beds of limonite, one on either 
 flank, that on the northwest very fine and twenty-five 
 five feet thick. 
 
 At one-half mile below Murphy there seem to be 
 four limonite beds with a small outcrop of the quartzite, 
 the marble occupying the middle term of the section. 
 
 These beds of ore are traceable northwards to within 
 two miles of the Valley River beds, near Mrs. Hayes's. 
 
COAL. 1G9 
 
 The quantity of ore in this ecu uty is therefore immense, 
 and is very widely distributed, and the forests of the 
 mountain slopes furnish unlimited supplies of fuel, while 
 the marble is at hand everywhere for fluxing. 
 
 Spathic ore (siderite) is found in many of the mines 
 of Cabarrus, Rowan and Davidson, and in some of them 
 in large quantities. At the Cosby mine, in Cabarrus, 
 an immense heap of it has been thrown out in mining 
 for copper, and it is contaminated by the presence of 
 copper pyrites. — Condensed from Kerrs Geology of 
 North Carolina. 
 
 Coal. 
 
 The coalfields of North Carolina are referred by Dr. 
 Emmons and Prof. Kerr to the triassic system. 
 
 There are, says the latter, in this State two narrow 
 fringes of an eroded and obliterated anticlinal, which 
 belong to this system; the smaller, or Dan river belt, 
 from two to four miles wide, following the trough-like 
 valley of that stream (about N. 65° E.), for more than 
 thirty miles, to the Virginia line; the other, the Deep 
 river belt, extending, in a similar trough, five to fifteen 
 miles wide (and depressed 100 to 200 feet below the 
 general level of the f'ountry), from the southern bound- 
 ary of the State, in Anson county, in a N. E. direction 
 
170 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 to the middle of Granville county, within fifteen miles 
 of the Virginia line. 
 
 The most important and conspicuous member of the 
 series is a large body of black shales, which encloses 
 seams of bituminous coal, two to six feet. This coal 
 lies near the base of the system in both belts, and is 
 underlaid on Dan river by shales, and on Deep river by 
 sandstones and conglomerates; the latter constituting the 
 lowest member (^f the series, and being in })iaces very 
 coarse. 
 
 The black shales near the base of the system contain 
 beds of fire clay and black band iron ore, interstratified 
 w^ith the coal. 
 
 Emmons reports, in the Deep river coalfield, five 
 seams of coal, separated by black slates, shales, black 
 band iron ore and fire clay; and, in general, he finds a 
 remarkable similarity to the coal deposits of the carbon- 
 iferous formation. 
 
 The coal with its shales outcrops along the northern 
 margin of the belt at various points, for more than 
 fifteen miles, and many shafts having been sunk to and 
 through the main seam, which is the upper one, it is 
 ascertained to be very persistent in all its characteristics 
 and associated beds. 
 
 The area of this coaltiehl is given by P^mtnons as 
 about 300 square miles. The quality of the coal is also 
 discussed by him and by Admiral Wilkes, and various 
 analyses are published ; the three following by the latter, 
 of samples from different parts of the field : 
 
COAL. 171 
 
 Carbon 60.7 59.25 84,5G 
 
 Volatile matter 32.7 80.50 7.42 
 
 Ash 5.3 10.21 7.80 
 
 Sulphur 1.3 
 
 100.0 99.99 99.87 
 Specific gravity 1.28 1.41 1.49 
 
 The first analysis (by Schseffer) represents the coal at 
 the Egypt shaft, the second, by Prof*. Johnson, the out- 
 crop at Farmville, and the third, by the same, the 
 Wilcox seam. Wilkes says, in his report to the United 
 States government: "The three upper seams of the 
 bituminous coal are well adapted for fuel, cooking, gas 
 and oil. It is a shining and clear coal, resembling the 
 best specimens of Cumberland. It ignites easily and 
 burns with a bright, clear combustion, and leaves a very 
 little purplish gray ash. It swells and agglutinates, 
 making a hollow fire." " It yields a shining and very 
 porous coke, and is an excellent coal for making gas or 
 for burning." '' The dry or debituminized coal" exists 
 in " but small quantities in the basin," and "contains 
 less than one quarter of the volatile matter that the 
 bituminous coal contains." 
 
 In regard to the value of the Chatham coal for gas 
 making, the reports of the superintendents of the gas 
 works of Norfolk and Portsmouth are highly favorable, 
 " both as to the quality of the gas produced and the 
 quantity which a given amount of coal yielded." 
 
 It is worth while to mention here also the bituminous 
 shales, which show themselves in so strong force above 
 
 h 
 
172 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 the coal in the Egypt section. Dr. Emmons estimated 
 the thickness of the oil-bearing strata at seventy feet, 
 and pronounced them capable of yielding thirty per 
 cent, of their weight in kerosene oil. So that here is an 
 inexhaustible resource for fuel, over and above that 
 furnished by the coal seams. 
 
 The following extract is from the report of Dr. H. 
 M. Chance on the exploration of the Deep river coal- 
 field, made by order of the Board of Agriculture during 
 the years 1884-'86: 
 
 "This formation is divided into an upper and lower 
 series by the addition of a middle member composed of 
 dark slates and gray sandstones carrying beds of coal, 
 black-baud, fire-clay, layers and balls of carbonate of 
 iron, impure limestone, and beds of highly bituminous 
 or carbouaceous slate and shale." 
 
 WORKABLE AREA. 
 
 "The most promising area is that extending from 
 Farmville on the east to the Tysor (adjoining the Gulf) 
 place on the west. 
 
 "The length of the outcrop included between these 
 limits is between four and five miles. Under the most 
 favorable conditions we are not warranted in assuming 
 the thickness of workable coal at more than five feet — 
 three feet for the upper and two feet for the lower bed. 
 If the dip of the coal continues as found at Egypt (423 
 feet in 1,500 feet) over the whole area, the coal could 
 probably be worked to a vertical depth of, say 1,100 
 
I 
 
 COAL. 173 
 
 feet, which places the limit along a line parallel to the 
 outcrop and about three-quarters of a mile distant from 
 it. Assuming the length of the outcrop at four and a 
 half miles, the area is then 2,160 acres. If 2,500 tons 
 per acre could be mined from the lower bed and 4,000 
 tons from the upper bed, we have for the available 
 tonnage: 
 
 Upper, or "Big" bed 8,640,000 tons. 
 
 Lower, or "Little" bed 5,400,000 " 
 
 Total 14,040,000 tons. 
 
 ^' This is the most favorable showing that can be made, 
 and is doubtless far in excess of the actual workable con- 
 tents of this area, for no allowances have been made for 
 those areas ruined by trapdykes, and for areas in which 
 the coal is thin or even absent, nor for areas over which 
 the coal is faulted or is too impure to ship. I believe 
 that these irregularities will reduce the area by at least 
 one-half, or say 1,100 acres. It will also be safer to 
 estimate the yield of the lower bed at 2,000 tons and 
 the upper -bed at 3,500 tons per acre. The available 
 tonnage so calculated would then be: 
 
 Upper, or "Big" bed 3,850,000 tons. 
 
 Lower, or " Little " bed 2,200,000 " 
 
 Total 6,050,000 tons. 
 
 "Even if this calculation is still too large, and we cut 
 it down to one-half (3,000,000 tons), the amount is suf- 
 
174 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 ficient to sustain a daily output of 500 tous for twenty 
 years. If this coal cost the consumer only fifty cents 
 per ton less than other coal, the resulting economy would 
 amount to one and a half million dollars ($1,500,000) 
 saved to manufacturers and other consumers throughout 
 the State. In addition to this, probably a much larger 
 amount would be saved by reason of the reduction in 
 price of other coals, resulting from competition. In 
 addition to these benefits, the profits made by the oper- 
 ators, the railroads transporting it, and the employment 
 afforded a large number of miners and laborers, should 
 not be underestimated. 
 
 "Again, three million tons of coal, at an average price 
 of $3.50 per ton, cost over ten million dollars ($10,500,- 
 000). If this amount of money can thus be kept in the 
 State, instead of being paid out to the owners of mines 
 in other States, the commercial value of this coalfield to 
 the State can hardly be overestimated." 
 
 On Dan river the coal first shows itself, says Prof. 
 Kerr, on the surface about three miles east of German- 
 ton, being imperfectly exposed in a ravine. The coal 
 is about three feet thick. Some six to seven miles 
 further east, at Stokesburg, there are outcrops of three 
 seams in succession, the upper about three feet thick, 
 with a heavy body of bituminous shales; the other two 
 were not well enough exposed for measurement, but 
 they were explored by a very intelligent gentleman 
 who reports one of them as much thicker than the 
 top seam. The black shales and slates cro}) out at 
 
GOLD. 175 
 
 various points about the town of Madison, and 
 near Leaksville a slope was driv^en some sixty feet 
 on the coal seam which is here three feet thick, 
 and with a dip of 34°, and considerable quantities were 
 mined during the war. It is classed as a semi-bitumi- 
 nous or dry coal. The outcrops show that the coal is 
 continuous tlirough the whole length of the belt in this 
 State, which is about thirty miles. 
 
 The report of Dr. Chance on the Dan river coal dif- 
 fers widely from the above in respect to the extent, quan- 
 tity and quality of the coal there. It is not likely that 
 these points will be definitely settled until another 
 exploration is made. 
 
 I 
 
 Gold. 
 
 The gold of North Carolina, says Dr. Emmons, be- 
 longs to four different geological positions: 1. The loose 
 quartz grit beneath the surface soil; 2. In stratified lay- 
 ers, which are cotemporaneous with the rock; 3. In con- 
 nection with seams and joints of the rocks, and proba- 
 bly also diffused in the mass; 4. In regular veins asso- 
 ciated with quartz, and the sulphurets of iron and cop- 
 per. 
 
 The principal counties in which it has been found in 
 sufficient quantity for exploitation are, Dr. Genth says, 
 Franklin, Nash, Granville, Alamance, Chatham, Moore, 
 
176 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH , CAROLINA. 
 
 Guilford, Davidson, Randolph, Montgomery, Stanly. 
 Union, Cabarrus, Rowan, Mecklenburg, Lincoln, Gas- 
 ton, Catawba, Caldwell, Burke, McDowell, Rutherford, 
 Polk, Cleveland, Cherokee, Jackson, Transylvania and 
 Watauga. 
 
 It is generally more or less alloyed with silver, vary- 
 ing from pure gold on the one side to pure silver on the 
 other. Near the surface it is usually associated with 
 limonite, and at a greater depth of the deposits with 
 pyrite, chalcopyrite, galenite, zincblende, tetradymite, 
 arsenopyrite, rarely with altaite and nagyagite. 
 
 Copper. 
 
 Dr. Genth, the eminent mineralogist, says in regard 
 to copper ores : 
 
 "Copper ores have been found in nmny localities 
 throughout the State, in the veins of the old gneissoid 
 rocks, as well as in the more recent slates, and even in 
 the triassic formation. 
 
 "The principal ore is chalcopyrite or copper pyrites; 
 and there is every reason to believe that many of the 
 mines require only a fuller development to enable them 
 to furnish large quantities of valuable ores. 
 
 " Many of the gold veins are associated with pyritic 
 ores, and in fact almost all the North Carolina copper 
 mines in the central counties have first been worked for 
 gold, and there are hardly any mines in Guilford, Ca- 
 
COPPER. 177 
 
 barrus aud Mecklenburg counties occurring in the gneis- 
 soid and syenitic rocks which do not show strong indi- 
 cations of copper ores. 
 
 " The general character of these mines is that about at 
 water level, the so-called brown gold ores are replaced 
 by quartz richly charged with iron pyrites more or less 
 mixed with copper pyrites, the latter increasing as the 
 mine dee[)ens, and in many places becoming the only or 
 the predominating ore, and forming a regular copper 
 vein. 
 
 " The ores either became poor in gold or the latter 
 could not be extracted by the ordinary process, then 
 chiefly in use in North Carolina — Chilian mills and 
 arrastras — therefore many valuable mines were aban- 
 doned, mostly before a larger and paying quantity of 
 copper ores had been reached. 
 
 " The principal mines which promised to change into 
 copper mines are in Guilford county, the Fisher Hill, 
 the North Carolina, the McCuIloch, Lindsay, Gardner 
 Hill, Twin Mines, etc.; in Cabarrus county, the Ludo- 
 wick, Boger, Hill, Phoenix, Orchard, Vanderburg, 
 Pioneer Mills, etc., and in Mecklenburg, the McGinn, 
 Hopewell, Rudisill, Cathay Mines, etc. 
 
 " The cupreous minerals observed in the mines are, 
 near the surface, small quantities of native copper and 
 cuprite, the latter sometimes in beautiful needles, the 
 so-called chalcotrichite, nialachite, rarely azurite, chryso- 
 colla and pseudo-malachite, and in some of the mines 
 chalcocite and barnhardtite; all resulting from the decom- 
 
178 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 position of chalcopyrite or copper pyrites, which forms 
 the principal ore. Siderite or carbonate of iron often 
 forms an important gangue rock." 
 
 There are, says Emmons, several veins of copper ore 
 in the northeast part of Person county. At the Gillis 
 mine the metal which the vein carries is known as the 
 vitreous co[)per ore, which yields, when properly dressed, 
 about sixty per cent, of copper. Two shafts have been 
 sunk upon the vein ; in the south shaft it is eighteen 
 inches, in the north about five feet. The vein carries in 
 addition to the vitreous copper, silicate of copper, green 
 carbonate, red and black oxides of copper, the latter 
 rare. Dr. Emmons expressed the opinion that this 
 part of Person and the adjoining part of Granville 
 would prove a mineral district of considerable impor- 
 tance. 
 
 Silver, Lead, Zine. 
 
 From Dr. Genth's Report : — 
 
 '' I shall consider these three metals under one head, 
 as they are always associated. 
 
 " Silver is a rare metal in North Carolina. With the 
 exception of the silver alloyed with gold, varying from 
 one or two to about twenty per cent., in the gold from 
 veins and gravel deposits of the granitic and gneissoid 
 rocks, very little silver has been found in the veins of 
 these strata. 
 
OTHER USEFUL MINERALS. 179 
 
 "The oi)ly real silver mines of North Carolina are ore 
 beds of zincblende, mixed with galenite, in the argilla- 
 ceous and talcose slates. The type- of these is the old 
 Washington mine, now Silver Hill, in Davidson county, 
 which was discovered in 1838. Near the surface is 
 formed a bed of carbonate of lead, having in many 
 places films and plates of metallic silver disseminated 
 throughout the mass of the ore. These ores were easily 
 reduced, and produced handsome returns to the owners. 
 This was, however, but of short duration. The undecom- 
 posed ores, which were a very fine grained mixture of 
 brown zincblende and argentiferous galenite, were soon 
 reached, and presented great difficulties in the extraction 
 of the precious metals." 
 
 Recently, says Prof. Kerr, they have been discovered 
 in several of the western counties. 
 
 Other Useful Minerals. 
 
 MICA. 
 
 A great many mines of this mineral have been opened 
 in the last twelve years in some of the western counties 
 of the State, in the archsean rocks. It is found in 
 ledges (veins) of very coarse granite. Many of the 
 })lates of mica are of remarkable size, reaching three and 
 even four feet in diameter. It is used chiefly in the 
 manufacture of stoves, and the mining of it is a very 
 profitable and rapidly growing industry. 
 
180 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Mica miuing has been carried ou most extensively in j 
 Mitchell, Yancey, and Macon counties ; in Jackson, 
 Haywood and Buncombe, &c., to a less extent. One 
 mine in Mitchell yields a ton of marketable mica a 
 month; and this region furnishes the bulk of this min- 
 eral to tlie world's markets. The as!:gregate product of 
 these mines has been over 250,000 pounds, worth about 
 half a million dollars. 
 
 CORUNDUM 
 
 Has been found in large quantities in several counties 
 west of the Blue Ridge, and is now extensively mined. 
 Several valuable rubies and sapphires have been ob- 
 tained, among them a crystal of 312 pounds, which is 
 in the cabinet of Amherst College, Massachusetts. 
 
 The principal use of this mineral is in the manufac- 
 ture of the finer kinds of emery, for which purpose it 
 has no equal. 
 
 CHROMIC IRON. 
 
 Small quantities of chrome are found associated with 
 some of the iron ores of the State, the lead v/hich crosses 
 Guilford county for example. But it is also found as 
 chromic iron, in coai'sely crystalline masses, often of 
 considerable size and in the form of very irregular veins, 
 or pockets, in the chrysolite beds of Jackson, Yancey, 
 Mitchell and Watauga counties. The most considera- 
 ble deposits are two, one near Webster, and the other 
 five mih^s fi'oiu ]>nrnsville, on Jack's creek, at Hamp- 
 ton's. 
 
OTHER USEFUL MINERAL-S. 181 
 
 MANGANESE. 
 
 From Dr. Genth's Report: 
 
 " Pyrolusite, psiloraelane and wad are found in small 
 quantities in many places in this State, but nowhere in 
 abundance, so far as known. They are generally asso- 
 ciated with iron, gold and silver ores. There is a very 
 promising vein, or bed of psilomelane in Caldwell 
 county, five miles west of Lenoir. It is found in irre- 
 gular and rounded masses imbedded in light colored 
 gneissic slates, some of the masses being ten, fifteen and 
 twenty inches thick, and occupying a breadth of three 
 or four feet of the strata. There is also a small seam in 
 the town of Danbury, Stokes county, and laminated 
 masses of one-half to one inch thick occur in the Buck- 
 horn iron ore beds, and there are hand specimens in the 
 Museum from Nash county and several other points. 
 
 "Manganese is found associated with the iron ores in 
 various parts of the State. At Buckhorn it is found as 
 a silicate and probably in the form of knebelite. Beds 
 of manganese garnet are of common occurrence and 
 often of great thickness. There is a series of such beds 
 associated with the King's mountain slates of Gaston, 
 Lincoln and Catawba, which are superficially changed 
 to black oxide." 
 
 Several veins of the black oxide, of considerable 
 extent, says Prof. Kerr, in a recent report, have been 
 
 found. 
 
 KAOLIN, 
 
 Says Prof. Kerr, ''is found abundantly almost from one 
 end of the State to the other, from Edgecombe and 
 
182 HAND-B(JOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Robeson to Macon; valuable for china and other wares, 
 for paper making and for firebrick. A curious fact 
 may be mentioned here which I came upon recently, 
 that the first mineral export from North Carolina, if 
 not from America, more than two hundred years ago, 
 was kaolin, from the mica mines of Mitchell to Macon; 
 for it happened that at that time all Europe was wild 
 in the search for the earth out of which china ware was 
 fabricated, the Asiatics and Asiatic traders having care- 
 fully concealed their art from the outside barbarians of 
 Europe. This mineral, therefore, bore a high value; 
 and there is none better found in Europe to-day than 
 that which the Indians '' packed '' from the Smoky 
 mountains to the coast, under the name IJnakeh, their 
 name for the Smokies (meaning white), still called, in 
 places, Unaka in Mitchell, and Unakoi in Cherokee. 
 These Indians were not miners, but this kaolin or white 
 earth had been exposed like snow banks in huge dumps 
 and open cuts by an ancient mining people, the Mound 
 Builders, a thousand or two years ago, who obtained 
 here the mica which is found so abundantly among the 
 remains of those people, all over the Northwest to the 
 great lakes." 
 
 One of the largest beds of kaolin is found near Greens- 
 boro, a few miles south. 
 
 FIRE CLAY. 
 
 The vast tertiary and quaternary tracts of the eastern 
 section, says Prof. Kerr, abound in beds of potter's clay, 
 fire clay, &c. 
 
OTHER USEFUL MINERALS. 183 
 
 Dr. Emmons, in his report, refers particularly to one 
 locality. He says: Clay for fire brick is abundant in 
 Gaston county. It is free, I believe, entirely from lime 
 and the alkalies, potash and soda. It extends through 
 the county. It is inexhaustible in the vicinity of King's 
 mountain, and appears at numerous places between the 
 Ironworks and Dallas, as well as at numerous places in 
 and about the latter place. 
 
 AGALMATOLITE 
 
 Is found in the southwest corner of Chatham. This is 
 a large deposit belonging to the Huronian series, which 
 has a quite extensive range: occurring in Montgomery 
 and parts of Chatham. It is popularly called soapstone, 
 and has the soapy feel of that mineral, but contains only 
 3.02 per cent, of magnesia. This substance has been an 
 article of trade to New York, on a large scale and for 
 many years. It is used in the manufacture of paper — 
 wall paper especially — soaps, cosmetics, pencils, &c., and 
 for various adulterations. 
 
 WHETSTONE. 
 
 Among the silicious argillytes so abundant in the 
 Huronian strata, there are frequent beds of uovaculite 
 or whetstone. One of the best localities is a few miles 
 west oi Chapel Hill, from which these stones have been 
 carried in all directions. Other quarries are found in 
 Person county, near Roxboro, in Anson, not far from 
 Wadesboro, in Montgomery and adjoining counties, on 
 the great Huronian belt, and in fact almost every section 
 
184 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 of the State has its own (juarries, which either do or 
 might supply the local demand, at least in part, and as 
 to articles of* the commoner grades. 
 
 MILLSTONE AND GRINDSTONE GRITS, &C. 
 
 The sandstone of the State is, in many places, well 
 adapted to the purposes of grindstones, and during the 
 war, while the foreign supply was cut off, they were 
 largely so used. The Anson county quarries furnish a 
 very fine grindstone and whetstone grit. 
 
 The conglomerates of the triassic series, which are 
 associated with and replace the sandstones above men- 
 tioned, have been long and widely used for millstones. 
 They have been principally obtained from Moore county, 
 on McLennan's creek, where they are obtained of excel- 
 lent quality; and they have been distributed from this 
 point over a large number of the intervening counties, 
 to the Blue Ridge. Some of these stones have been in 
 use for fifty years; and they are occasionally found to 
 be nearly equal to the French buhr-stone. 
 
 The coarse porphyroidal granites and gneisses which 
 are scattered over so large a part of the State are, how- 
 ever, the most common material for mill stones. And 
 in the eastern section the shell rock is often partly or 
 wholly silicified, forming a sort of buhr-stone, as in 
 Georgia, and is well adapted to the same uses. In Madi- 
 son county, in the Huronian slates in Laurel river, there 
 is an irregularly laminated whitish quartz, occurring in 
 large veins, which is used for millstones, which are re- 
 ported to be a good substitute for buhr-stone. 
 
OTHER USEFUL MINERALS. 185 
 
 GRAPHITE. 
 
 This miueral is quite widely distributed iu North 
 Carolina, both in the Huronian and Laurentian forma- 
 tions. There are very fine hand specimens in the 
 Museum from a number of counties, Person, Yancey, 
 Catawba, Cleveland, Burke and others; and there are 
 beds of a more or less imj)ure, slaty and earthy variety, 
 in several sections of the State, the principal of which 
 are two: one in Gaston, Lincoln and Catawba, as a con- 
 stant associate of the argillaceous and talcose slates and 
 shales which belong to the King's mountain slates; and 
 the other in Wake county. The former may be seen at 
 various points crossing the public roads and cropping 
 out in the gullies. At Sigmond's not far from Catawba 
 station, in Catawba county, the bed was opened many 
 years ago, and several barrels mined; and within the last 
 year or two a considerable amount of trenching and ex- 
 ploration has been made, and several parallel beds are 
 reported, three feet and more in thickness. In Cleve- 
 land county there are several outcrops also, of a thin 
 seam of a few inches; one of them is near McBrier's 
 Spring. 
 
 But the Wake countv beds are the most extensive, as 
 well as the best known graphite beds in the State. They 
 extend in a northeast and southwest direction for a dis- 
 tance of sixteen or eighteen miles, passing two and a 
 half miles west of Raleigh. There are two beds appa- 
 rently, forming a sharp anticlinal. The thickness is two 
 to three, and occasionally four feet. The eastern (and 
 
186 HAND-BOOK OF NOKTH CJAROI.INA. 
 
 longitudinally the most extensive) bed is nearly vertical, 
 dipping sometimes east, but mostly west, at an angle of 
 70° to 90°; it was opened at a number of points many 
 years ago, and is wrought to considerable extent at pres- 
 ent. It is a bed of quartzitic and talco-argillaceous 
 slates, which are more or less graphitic — from about 
 twenty or thiity to sixty per cent. 
 
 A large bed of a similar character is reported from 
 Alleghany county, and a sample sent, which shows 12.38 
 per cent, of graphite. 
 
 Many of the Archiean gneisses of tlie middle and 
 western regions of the State contain graphite, along with 
 or replacing the mica. 
 
 LIMESTONE. 
 
 From Mitchell's Geology: 
 
 Ijimestone has been discovered at three points in the 
 primitive rocks in Stokes county; at one on the bank of 
 the Yadkin, three miles below Rockford, in Surry, and 
 at several places in the southeastern part of Buncombe 
 and Henderson. Small nodules and masses also have 
 been found about Lincolntou, encouraging a further 
 search, in the hope that larger bodies may be discovered. 
 The limestone of King's mountain is in a small tract 
 of later primitive, bearing an intimate resemblance to 
 the country around Charlotte, and like that rich in veins 
 of gold. 
 
 We have at some points a simple accumulation of 
 shells, forming a good limestone sufficiently pure for all 
 the common purposes of building, and of wdiich it 
 
OTHER USEFUL MI^EUALS. 187 
 
 might be expected that it would supply a large extent 
 of country with quicklime. Such is that nine miles 
 below Waynesboro, in the northwest corner of Jones, in 
 the northern part of Onslow, at Wilmington, and on 
 the northwest branch of the Cape Fear to the distance 
 of forty miles above. 
 
 Small nodules of compact limestone, and masses of 
 loose texture are found in the upper part of Wake, in 
 Anson, and elsewhere. 
 
 Says Prof. Kerr : 
 
 Tliis mineral is not as abundant in North Can^lina as 
 in many States, constituting, as has been seen, but an 
 insignificant j)roportion of the mass of its rocky strata. 
 And yet its distril)ution is such, and such are its rela- 
 tions to existing and abundant means of transportation, 
 that it is accessible to the greater portion of the State. 
 That j)arL of the eastern region south of the Neuse river 
 is abundantly su[)plied with Eocene or shell limestone, 
 and to the noithern half of that section both this source 
 of supply is open, and the oyster shell heaps of the 
 sounds and bays round to Norfolk. 
 
 The middle region of the State lies under the disad- 
 vantage of being dependent on railroad transportation 
 for this most important agricultural necessity, and its 
 source of supply is chiefly the same as for the east, 
 together with the two narrow limestone belts, the one 
 extending from Gaston to Stokes (the outcrops beitig 
 intermitted between the Catawba and Yadkin), and the 
 other lying wholly in McDowell county, so far as it 
 
188 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 appears this side of the Blue Ridge, and along the up- 
 per valley of the French Broad, beyond that range. 
 
 MARBLE. 
 
 As elsewhere stated, there are several ranges of beds 
 of crystalline limestone in the middle and western 
 regions. The first belonging to the King's mountain 
 belt, contains so far as yet known, very little marble that 
 may be considered available for the purposes of orna- 
 mental architecture, or regarded as better than other 
 common building stones. In the extreme west, how- 
 ever, in Macon and Cherokee, the limestone range, both 
 on Nantehaleh and Valley rivers, contains beds of very 
 fine marble of various colors, white, pink (or flesh col- 
 ored), black, gray, drab and mottled. It is capable of 
 a very fine polish, and will one day (when the difficul- 
 ties of transportation shall be overcome) acquire a high 
 value in architecture, as well as in other ornamental arts. 
 In this last connection some of the serpentine beds may 
 be mentioned as likely to come into use, and so to ac- 
 quire a market value. 
 
 TALC. 
 
 From Dr. Geuth's Report : 
 
 Foliated talc, of a white or greenish white color, is 
 found in many of the chrysolite beds, west of the Blue 
 Ridge, at Shooting Creek, Clay county, Franklin, Ma- 
 con county, Webster, Jackson county, Hampton, Min- 
 ing Creek, Yancey county, Bakersville, Mitchell county, 
 and other localities; in sheets of three-quarters to one 
 
OTHER USEFUL MINERALS. 189 
 
 inch in thickness and of a somewhat columnar structure, 
 near Pilot mountain, Surry county; fibrous talc, with 
 silky lustre, and of a white or green color, also compact, 
 crystalline white talc, with a splintery structure on Val- 
 ley river, Cherokee county, and also in Macon county. 
 Talc slate and coarse soapstone are found in many local- 
 ities throughout the State. 
 
 SERPENTINE. 
 
 Dr. Olmsted, in his report, in speaking of the mag- 
 nesian minerals of Wake county, says: '^Serpentine, 
 though not strictly marble, is sometimes sawn into slabs 
 and polished and sold under the name of green marble. 
 It is by no means an uncommon mineral, but is not 
 often found so beautiful as at the foregoing local ity.'^ 
 The locality referred to is a little north of the black 
 lead formation, and within twelve miles of Raleigh. 
 
 Dr. Genth says that " the massive are found in many 
 localities. The best appears to come from the neighbor- 
 hood of Patterson, Caldwell county. It has a dark 
 greenish black color and contains fine veins of the yel- 
 lowish green fibrous and silky chrysolite, and admits of 
 a fine polish ; greenish gray massive serpentine, also 
 with seams of greenish and grayish white chrysolite, is 
 found in the Baker mine, in Caldwell county, at which 
 place is also found the variety picrolite. Dark green ser- 
 pentine, has been observed in the neighborhood of Ashe- 
 ville, in Forsyth and Wake counties. A grayish or 
 yellowish green serpentine occurs in the chrysolite beds of 
 
190 HAND-BOOK OF NORTPT CAROLINA. 
 
 Macoii, Jackson, Yancey, Mitchell and other counties. 
 It results from the decomposition of the chrysolite. 
 
 BARYTE. 
 
 In Prof. Olmsted's report is found the following 
 notice of the vein found in Orange county: ''On the 
 farm of Mr. Latta, three miles south of Hillsboro, is a 
 fine vein of a mineral called sulphate of barytes, or 
 heavy spar. This substance is not very uncommon, but 
 it is rare to meet with it of such purity and elegance as 
 at this place. It is beautifully white and shining. It 
 enters, as an ingredient, into the finest kinds of porce- 
 lain ware; it is used in certain chemical preparations, 
 and is employed by the painter in forming certain water 
 colors. 
 
 The following general notice is from Dr. Genth's re- 
 port : "Baryte is found in small white tabular crystals, 
 with pyromorphite and manganese ores at the McMakin 
 mine, Cabarrus county. The laminated and coarsely 
 granular white variety at the Cosby mine, and Orchard 
 vein, in Cabarrus county; a vein of the coarsely lamin- 
 ated, grayish, white baryte, at the Latta mine, near 
 HilJsboro, Orange county. It occurs coarsely granular, 
 and has the appearance of white marble, at Col. Walk- 
 up's, Union county.- A vein of very white compact 
 and granular baryte, of from seven to eight feet in 
 width, has been found at Crowder's mountain ; west of 
 the Blue Ridge, a vein eight feet in width, of the white 
 granular variety, exists at Chandler's, nine miles below 
 
OTUER USEFUL MINERALS. 191 
 
 Marshall, in Madison county, where it is white and 
 grayish wiiite, and of a granular structure, with small 
 patches of laminated baryte, and again on Elkin Creek, 
 Wilkes county." 
 
 MARLS. 
 
 Mar! is very abundant in twenty-five counties in 
 North Carolina, very widely distributed, and of several 
 kinds, the principal of wliich are four, viz.: Green-sand, 
 Eocene, Miocene and Triassic. Tlie former has gener- 
 ally l)Ut a small percentage of carbonate of lime, 5 to 
 80; the s(r()!id usually 40 to 95; the third, 20 to 60; 
 and the fourth generally less than 50. The last is of 
 little consequence as a fertilizer, because of the very 
 limited extent of its outcrops, and it is scarcely used 
 where abundant. These marls are more extensively 
 exposed than elsewhere in the northwestern part of 
 Wake county and in the edge of Orange, between Mor- 
 risville and Durham. There are frecpient outcrops of a 
 bed of marl and impure limestone, two to four feet 
 thick, over a territory of fifteen or twenty square miles, 
 the nearly horizontal strata coming to the surface in 
 ravines and gullies, and exposed in ditches, wells, &c. 
 Near Brassfield turnout, on Mr. W. Rochell's place, is 
 an exposure of nearly four feet of alternate thin beds of 
 compact, light gray and red arenaceous limestone, with 
 strata of uncompacted brick-red, marly clay between. 
 The upper indurated strata contain more than 90 per 
 cent, of carbonate of lime, and the lower about 60 per 
 cent., and both require to be burned before they arc 
 available for agricultural uses. 
 
192 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Green-sand Marl — occurs throughout the southeast- 
 ern region of the State between the Neuse river and the 
 Cape Fear. It coraes to the surface, as stated, along the 
 banks of the Cape Fear and Livingston's creek, on 
 Black river, and South river, on the Neuse river and 
 its tributaries about and below Kinston, along the Con- 
 tentnea, and Moccasin, and at a few points even as far 
 north as the Tar river. 
 
 Eocefie Marl. — The marls of tlie next formation, 
 which are always found overlying the preceding, when 
 the two occur together, arc either a calcareous sand, pass- 
 ing in })laces into a friable sandstone, coarse or fine, or a 
 line calcareous clay, or a conglomerate shell limestone, 
 more or less compacted and occasionally seraicrystalline. 
 They are composed of comminuted shells, corals and 
 other marine exuviae. A number of samples of these 
 marls, representative of the Cape Fear region, have 
 been analyzed and found to possess a chemical constitu- 
 tion not different from ordinary limestones, the percent- 
 age of carbonate of lime ranging from about 90 to 95. 
 
 Miocene Marl. — These are commonly known as shell 
 marls or blue marls. They are found in limited patches 
 or " beds," and are scattered over a much wider territory 
 than either of the preceding, and being nearer the sur- 
 face, and so, more accessible, have been much more ex- 
 tensively used, and are consequently much better known. 
 They are found throughout a large part of the eastern 
 region, from South Carolina to Virginia; in fact, they 
 occur in all the counties of eastern North Carolina^ ex- 
 
OTHEK USEFUL MINERALS. 193 
 
 cept those lying between, and north of the great sounds, 
 and two or three small outcrops have been observed in 
 Chowan, and in the northern part of Currituck. The 
 western boundary of these beds is very nearly repre- 
 sented by a line parallel to and three or four miles west 
 of the Wilmington and Weldon railroad, from Halifax 
 to Goldsboro. Southward, the inland boundary is found 
 to be generally but little west of a line connecting the 
 latter point and Lumberton, that is, a line parallel to 
 the coast and about sixty-five miles distant from it. 
 
 The area included within the above limits is about 
 one-fourth of the State — a much larger territory than 
 the whole State of Massachusetts, or New Jersey. These 
 marls are valuable not only for the lime they contain, 
 they have also various other valuable ingredients. 
 
 The question is often asked whether there are any 
 minerals in the eastern section of the State; the answer 
 ] is, the mineral wealth of that section, in the form of 
 marl, is worth ten fold more than that of all the rest of 
 the State beside, great and various as that is. If the 
 money spent in gold getting alone, which is not less than 
 twelve or fifteen millions since 1820, had been spent in 
 marl getting, the State would be worth more than double 
 its present aggregate valuation. For at the rate already 
 given, that sum would have marled three millions of 
 acres — more than the total surface now in cultivation; 
 that is it would have produced a result at least equal to 
 the adequate marling (at the rate of ten tons to the 
 acre) of every acre now in cultivation, leaving out of 
 9 
 
194 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 the calculation the interest, that is, the results of the 
 increased production during several decades of years. 
 
 \ 
 
 I 
 
 PEAT AND MUCK. 
 
 Peat and muck abound in the eastern portion of this 
 State, and are so. widely distributed that a large propor- 
 tion of the farms, and almost every neighborhood have 
 their own local supply within easy reach. But the inex- 
 haustible source of this material for the region, is the 
 great swamps which extend through the whole of the 
 seaboard region, from the extreme southern border to 
 the Great Dismal, which extends across the Virginia 
 border. A considerable part of these areas designated 
 as "The Swamp Lands,'^ is simply covered by a peaty 
 accumulation — a series of true peat bogs, of which the 
 peat is from two or three, up to ten, fifteen and even twenty 
 feet thick. Of such peat beds there are hundreds of 
 square miles, which must one day become an important 
 resource for fuel as well as manure. 
 
 ASBESTOS. 
 
 This is, says Prof. Kerr, one of the commonest asso- 
 ciates also of the chrysolite beds heretofore mentioned, 
 and it occurs also quite widely in the Laurentian rocks 
 of the middle and western parts of the State. One of 
 the best known localities in the State is that near Bakers- 
 ville, in Mitchell county; in fact it occurs in two or 
 three places in that vicinity. It is long, fibrous, white 
 and readily reduced to a pulp, or mass of fine lint. An 
 equally fine article is brought from the southern part of 
 
OTHER USEFUL MINERALS. 195 
 
 Jackson county. It is also found near Tryon moun- 
 tain, in Polk county. Another well known local- 
 ity is in Caldwdl county, near the Baker mine. This 
 is associated, like many others, with a serpentine rock. 
 Specimens have been exhibited also from Ashe and from 
 Yancey. This mineral occurs in many places from War- 
 ren to Jackson county. 
 
 SOAPSTONE. 
 
 This is a very common mineral in North Carolina, 
 both in the form of the impure, greenish, massive, or 
 slaty rock (potstone), used for grave stones, and for 
 chimney and furnace hearths and linings, and in the 
 form of a pure massive white steatite. The most exten- 
 sive beds of this mineral are found in Cherokee and 
 Macon, in immediate association with the marble range 
 and accompanying it throughout its whole extent, on 
 Nautehaleh river. Valley river and Notteley. An an- 
 alysis of this rock, as it occurs at Jarretf s, on Naute- 
 haleh, gave 23.71 per cent, of magnesia, which is about 
 the percentage for pyrallolite. The variety rensselaerite 
 is found in Forsyth county, and probably also in the 
 South mountains in Burke county. 
 
 PYRITE. 
 
 Pyrite is one of the most common minerals of North 
 C^arolina. It is not only found in globular crystalline 
 masses in many of the marl beds of the eastern counties, 
 but many of the gneissoid rocks and slates contain it in 
 considerable quantities, and besides it is found in almost 
 
196 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 every mine of the State. In the gold mines the associ- 
 ated pyrite is generally auriferous. Cubical crystals 
 occur at Hickory, Catawba county, Asbury mine, Gas- 
 ton county, Soapstone quarry, twelve miles northeast of 
 Statesville, Silver Hill, Gold Hill and many other locali- 
 ties. Combinations of cubes and octahedra are found 
 at Clegg's mine, Chatham county, and in the Guilford 
 county gold and copper mines; the pyritohedron, often 
 in combination with cubical and octahedral planes, is 
 found at the Stewart mine, in Union county, Cambridge 
 mine, Guilford county. Long Creek mine, Gaston county, 
 Rudisill mine, Mecklenburg county, &c. Large veins 
 of compact pyrite occur in Gaston county. 
 
 Building Stones. 
 
 There exists the greatest abundance of material for 
 architectural and engineering uses, over a large part of 
 the State. Granite and gneiss are among the commonest 
 rocks throughout its whole length, except in the coast- 
 ward region, where it is overlaid by the Tertiary and 
 Cretaceous beds. And the sand stones of the Triassic, 
 red and gray, as well as those of the Huronian, are 
 available over considerable areas; while the shell lime- 
 stones of the Eocene furnish a very fair building mate- 
 rial to the sandy and alluvial coast region; and the 
 crystalline limestones and marbles of the west supply an 
 
PRECIOUS STONES. 197 
 
 ornamental building stone of great variety and beauty. 
 A particular notice of the marbles of the State, which are 
 of every variety of tint, will be found elsewhere. 
 
 Seventy-nine specimens of building stones have been 
 sent from the State to the New National Museum at 
 AVashington. These embrace granite of every variety 
 (the beautiful Sotch granite included), gneiss, soapstone, 
 talc, limestone, marble, firestone, limerock, sandstone of 
 various shades and texture, syenite and porphyry. 
 
 Precious Stones 
 
 DIAMOND. 
 
 This rare gem has been repeatedly found in North 
 Carolina, and the following occurrences have been well 
 established. In every instance it was found associ- 
 ated with gold and zircons, sometimes with monazite 
 and other rare minerals in gravel- beds, resulting from 
 gneissoid rocks, but it has never been observed in the 
 North Carolina itacolumite, or any debris resulting from 
 its disintegration. The first diamond was found in 1843 
 by Dr. M. F. Stephenson, of Gainesville, Georgia, at the 
 ford of Brindletown creek. It was an octahedron, 
 valued at about one hundred dollars. Another from 
 the same neighborhood came into possession of Prof. 
 Featherstonehaugh, while acting as United States Ge- 
 ologist. 
 
198 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 The third diamond, at Twitty's Mine, Rutherford 
 county, was observed in 1846, by General Clingman, in 
 D. J. Twitty's collection, and has been described by 
 Prof. Shepard. Its form is a distorted hexoctahedron, 
 and its color yellowish. 
 
 The fourth came from near Cottage Home, in Liucohi 
 county, where it was discovered in the spring of 1852, 
 and was recognized by Dr. C L. Hunter. It is green- 
 ish and in form similar to the last, but more elongated. 
 
 A very beautiful diamond was found in the summer 
 of 1852 in Todd's branch, Mecklenburg county. It 
 was nearly of the first water and a perfect crystal. It 
 was in possession of the late Dr. Andrews, of Charlotte. 
 Dr. Andrews informed me, says Dr. Genth, that a very 
 beautiful diamond of considerable size, like a small chinc- 
 apin, and of black color, had been found at the same 
 locality, by three persons, while washing for gold. In 
 their ignorance, believing that it could not be broken, 
 they smashed it to pieces. Dr. Andrews tested the hard- 
 ness of a fragment, which scratched corundum with 
 facility, proving it to be a diamond. A very beautiful 
 octahedral diamond of first water was found many years 
 ago at the Portis Mine, Franklin county. There is a 
 report that a second one has been found in the same 
 locality. 
 
 BERYL. 
 
 Occurs in six-sided prisms, sometimes doubly termi- 
 nated, from about half an inch in thickness, and from one 
 to six inches in length. Their color is yellowish and bluish 
 
PKECIOUS STONES. 199 
 
 green — small pieces of the latter color are sometimes trans- 
 parent, and might be cut for gems (aquamarine); asso- 
 ciated with orthoclase, muscovite, tourmaline, &c., at 
 Ray's Mine, on Hurricane mountain, Yancey county; 
 one imperfect yellowish green crystal, of abouj; one and 
 a half inches in length, has been found at Buchanan's 
 mica mine, three and a half miles east of Bakersville, 
 in Mitchell county; one bluish green crystal, implanted 
 in quartz, has been found at Captain Mills' gold mine, 
 in Burke county. 
 
 ZIRCON. 
 
 Abounds i n the gold sands of Burke, McDovvel 1, Ruther- 
 ford, Caldwell, Mecklenburg, and other counties, in very 
 minute yellowish brown and brownish white, sometimes 
 amethystine, pink and blue crystals with many planes; 
 large grayish brown crystals of zircons are found so 
 abundant on the south side of the Blue Ridge, near 
 Green river, that General Clingman easily obtained, in a 
 few weeks, 1869, one thousand pounds of crystals. It 
 is rarely found associated with chrysoberyl, at Ray's 
 mine. Hurricane mountain, Yancey county. 
 
 GARNET. 
 
 Is widely distributed throughout the State and a constant 
 constituent of many of the mica and hornblende slates, 
 in which it occurs in minute dodecahedral and trapezo- 
 hedral crystals of a brownish or brownish red color; it 
 also occurs in many of the talcose and chloritic slates; 
 larger trapezohedral crystals of a brownish red color are 
 
200 HAND-BUOK OP^ NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 frequently met with in the mica mines of Mitchell anrl 
 Yancey counties; imperfect clodecahedral crystals at 
 Weaver's, Janestown, Rutherford county, and in talcose 
 slate in Rockingham and Cherokee counties. The most 
 beautiful and perfect crystals are large trapezohedra, of 
 a brownish red color, from Burke, Caklwell and Catawba 
 counties. Some of these are transparent, and, when cut 
 show a peculiar play of colors. Large crystals and 
 crystalline masses of a reddish brown garnet', are found 
 near Franklin, Macon county, and on Toe river, Mitch- 
 ell county. Pyrope, of good color, has been observed in 
 the sands from gold washings in Burke and McDowell 
 counties. The massive manganese garnet is abundant at 
 Janestown, Rutlierford county, at Buckhorn, Chatham 
 county, near Moore's Mills, Stokes county, near Gold 
 Hill, in Cabarrus county, near Brevard's Forge, one and 
 a half miles from the Vesuvius furnace, and near Mac- 
 pelah church, Lincoln county, near High Shoals, Gaston 
 county, and near Madison, Rockingham county. 
 
 AGATE. 
 
 Rough specimens of this form of quartz are very com- 
 mon, for example, in Cabarrus, near Harrisburg and 
 Concord, and in Mecklenburg; and occasionally a hand- 
 some gem has been found among them. But a year or 
 two ago some very fine specimens of moss agate were 
 discovered near Hillsboro. It is found in Granville 
 county also, and elsewhere. 
 
PEECIOUS STONES. 201 
 
 OPAL. 
 
 A number of gems of this species have been found in 
 the State. Within the last twelve months a large num- 
 ber have been picked up in Concord, Cabarrus county, 
 some of them of much beauty and^high market value. 
 
 HIDDENITE. 
 
 From a late publication of Professor Kerr: 
 
 Hiddenite is an emerald-green gem, quite as handsome 
 and as highly valued as the emerald proper, or the dia- 
 mond. It is found in no other spot on the earth's sur- 
 face save one, in the eastern edge of Alexander county. 
 The mineral species to which this variety belongs is 
 spodmnene, which, as ordinarily found, has as little 
 claim to be considered a gem as a common crystal of 
 felspar. 
 
 A considerable amount of work has been done in 
 mining for the gem by Mr. Hidden. The crystals are 
 found, not in veins, but in nests or pockets, of which 
 perhaps a dozen have been found within a depth of 
 thirty-five feet. There pockets contain, besides hidden- 
 ite, emerald, quartz, rutile and other crystals. The value 
 of some of these other minerals has exceeded that of hid- 
 denite. Emeralds have been found worth $1,000 each. 
 
 Mr. Hidden writes: "The mine has never supplied 
 twenty-five per cent, of the amount ordered by the trade; 
 only lately I made a 1 1,300 sale of three emeralds and 
 hiddenites to a gem collector. We continue to find em- 
 eralds, beryls and hiddenite; also many interesting asso- 
 
202 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 dated minerals. The hiddenite is the least common amonof 
 them.'^ "This is the only strictly American gem," and it 
 may be added, it is strictly a North Carolina gem. He re- 
 ports that " it is already recognized as a gem of the highest 
 ra7ikJ' 
 
 A company has been organized with a capital of 
 $200,000, with a view to larger and more systematic 
 operations, and thirty hands are employed. A shaft has 
 been sunk thirty-six feet, and a tunnel cut two hundred 
 and sixty feet, mostly through rock. The largest emer- 
 ald found is efght and a half inches long and weighs 
 nine ounces. 
 
 This inaugurates in the State an industry entirely new 
 to this country. There have been a few sporadic efforts 
 heretofore, at several diiferent places and times, at min- 
 ing for sapphires and rubies, and a number of very 
 respectable gems have been picked up, but nothing like 
 a regular business of this sort has been yet established 
 anywhere in this country. Hiddenite may be set down 
 as the thirteenth species of gem found in North Caro- 
 lina. 
 
 EMERALD, 
 
 A beryl, is found mostly in the mica mines of Mitchell 
 and Yancey; an 8-inch section of one, two feet long and 
 seven inches thick, is in the Museum, from a mine near 
 Bakersville, and a block one foot long from another, 
 which must have weighed hundreds of pounds. 
 
 Aquamariney beryl, also, of a different color. 
 
PREOIOUS STONES. 203 
 
 RUBY. 
 
 Ruby — Coruudum, found as a gem in Clay and Ma- 
 con, may also be found in other corundum localities in 
 Jackson, Mitchell, Iredell, Gaston, &c. The largest 
 crystal of ruby corundum in the world (twenty inches 
 by seven) from Macon, was burned up the other day at 
 Amherst, in Shepard's magnificent collection, together 
 with a larger luimber of rare and fine North Carolina 
 minerals than existed elsewhere. 
 
 Ruby — Spinal, deep color, Jackson; found last year 
 in some gravel sent by mail, rough, imperfect, but sug- 
 gestive. • 
 
 SAPPHIRE. 
 
 Sapphire, corundum — Found as above; a number of 
 very pretty gems have been picked up. 
 
 Sapphire, kyanite — Best are found at Swannanoa Gap 
 and top of Black mountain; the common sort in Mitch- 
 ell, Gaston and other counties. 
 
 Rock Crystal, false diamond, California diamond — 
 iVbundant in this State. 
 
 In addition, it is worth while to mention that speci- 
 mens of opalescent quartz, occur in Cabarrus and else- 
 where; also malachite, carneliau, jasper, chalcedony, 
 rutile, tourmaline, chrysolite, lazulite and smoky quartz ; 
 so that our list of native gems is certain to be extended, 
 and very considerably, too, whenever extensive mining 
 operations are resumed. 
 
 Of the entire list of real gems, nine have been found 
 as such in this State; and of the minerals which consti- 
 
204 HAND-BOOK OF NOKTH CAROLINA. 
 
 tute these gems, all but one occur here; so that it is not 
 improbable that we may complete the list as soon as 
 mining industries take root among us. 
 
 And of minerals which furnish the semi-gemSy a ma- 
 jority also occur in this State. This fact is explained, 
 just as the other broader fact, of the occurrence of so 
 wide a range of mineral species. It is due to the prev- 
 alence of the older rocks, which make U}) almost the whole 
 of North Carolina, geographically, outside of the over- 
 mantling sands and gravels of the east. 
 
 Mineral Waters, 
 
 From Prof. Kerr's Report : 
 
 Both Chalybeate and Sulphur waters are of common 
 occurrence in the State and in all sections of it, the for- 
 mer eminently so. Alum waters are also of frequent 
 occurrence. In the eastern section, the abundance of 
 peat and muck insures the prevalence of carbonated 
 waters, which are continually dissolving the iron oxides 
 frona the ferruginous Quaternary earths, and in their 
 issue in springs at the foot of the slopes and in the 
 ravines, they come charged with this element, which is 
 deposited in a flocculent ochrtous precipitate, along the 
 course of the streams. In the granitic and slaty regions 
 of the middle and west, the presence of iron and alum 
 is due to the decomposition of the iron pyrite, so widely 
 diffused in the gneisses, granites and slates. 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 205 
 
 ''Simple Chalybeate springs, where iron is dissolved 
 by the agency of fixed air/' says Dr. Olmsted in his 
 report, "are common in almost every part of this 
 region (the ipiddle section). Such waters are well fitted 
 to relieve the langour induced by a warm climate, and 
 are, perhaps, more salubrious for frequent and constant 
 use, than the stronger and more complicated mineral 
 waters." 
 
 There are numbers of mineral springs in the middle 
 and western parts of tlie State whi(;h are noted for the 
 efficacy of their waters in various forms of disease; 
 among these the Sulphur Springs of Catawba, Cleve- 
 land and Haywood are of high repute. 
 
 ''In the lower part of Buncombe," (now Madison) 
 says Dr. Mitchell, "are the Warm Springs, with a tem- 
 perature of 104°. They rise on the bank and in the 
 bed of the French Broad, give out considerable quanti- 
 ties of nitrogen, but contain very little mineral matter 
 of any kind." 
 
 Mining in North Carolina in 1885 
 
 The auriferous area of North Carolina in a general 
 way embraces nearly one-half of the State; the produc- 
 tive area is much less, containing a little more than 
 twelve thousand (12,000) square miles. 
 
206 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Warren county on the northeast, Moore county on 
 the southeast, and the Tennessee line, mark approxi- 
 mately the east and west boundaries of the gold field ; it 
 extends on the north into Virginia, and on the south 
 into South Carolina, and comprises the best known and 
 most productive part of the Appalachian gold belt. 
 
 GEOLO(iICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE MINES. 
 
 The best known mines are on the central belt of 
 granite (using the word in a general way), stretching 
 across the State in a northeast and southwest direction 
 with a width of ten (10) to twenty-five (25) miles; the 
 towns of Greensboro and Charlotte are nearly on its 
 axis; this area is commonly regarded by geologists as 
 among the oldest on the American continent. This area 
 is tentatively classed as 
 
 LOWER LAURENTIAN. 
 
 To the east is a large body of slates, generally argil- 
 laceous, but frequently departing from that type, with a 
 width varying from fifteen (15) to fifty (50) toiles; this re- 
 gion also abounds in mines, but it has been less explored. 
 The loi'mation is Upper Laurentian and Huronian, the 
 latter predominating. 
 
 To the west is a still larger area, tiiade up for the 
 most part of gneissoid and schistose formations, and 
 extending nearly or quite to the Tennessee border; this 
 area, too, has a large number of gravel aiid vein mines. 
 This part of North Carolina is commonly held to be 
 Upper Laurentian. 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 207 
 
 Warren, Franklin and Nash Counties. 
 
 The extreme northeast deposits occur in Warren, 
 Franklin and Nash counties, and cover, so far as ex- 
 plored, an area of about one hundred (100) square miles, 
 being fifteen (15) miles long in its northeast and south- 
 west axis, and five (5) to seven (7) miles wide. 
 
 The Thomas mine one and one-half (IJ) miles north- 
 east of Ransora^s Bridge, is the extreme northeast point 
 worked, so far as known to the compiler; the area to 
 the southwest extends beyond Peach Tree creek, and 
 nearly to Tar river. It is probable that the auriferous 
 area is considerably more extended than these limits 
 would indicate, but the productive area is practically 
 confined in these boundaries. 
 
 The formation is described by Emmons as Taconic, 
 and by Kerr as Upper Laurentian, and consists of 
 gneisses and mica schists for the most part; it is rich in 
 ferruginous minerals, whose peroxidization and altera- 
 tion have extended very far below the surface, making 
 a deep red, tenacious clayey soil. The whole area bears 
 evidence of great surface disturbance and rearrangement 
 of the superficial material — possibly of several rear- 
 rangements. The bed rock lies from fifteen (15) to 
 twenty-five (25) feet deep, and is itself much peroxidized 
 and altered. 
 
 A conspicuous phenomenon is the great abundance of 
 quartz seams from a line to one and one-half (1 J) inches 
 thick. These commonly run with the bedding, but some- 
 times across both the course and dip. They are generally 
 
208 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 called veins, and are mostly of sugary or granular quartz, 
 often seamed and filled with oxide of iron, and always 
 soft and easily crushed. Other seams are of glassy quartz, 
 and frequently of even greater width, but are held to be 
 unproductive. 
 
 Gold appears originally to have been in these narrow 
 seams of sugary quartz, which, in the usual process of 
 weathering, have been broken down and into fragments 
 widely distributed over and in the soil, and gradually 
 concentrated on the bed-rock in favored sinks or chan- 
 nels. It is by no means certain, however, that the gold 
 was originally confined to these seams, for it is quite in 
 accordance with the analogies of its occurrence elsewhere 
 in the Carolinas and Georgia that the entire ''country'^ 
 matter of gneiss, etc., may also have the precious metal 
 sparingly distributed within it, and from which it has 
 also been concentrated. 
 
 Occasional masses of the ^^ country" show a curious 
 alteration, during which apparently the basic matter has 
 been removed, and only the quartz left in a very soft and 
 crumbly condition — an example of a process of "silici- 
 fication," which is very marked in some parts of the 
 Appalachian gold belt, and which has seemingly resulted 
 in charging the entire mass with gold. I was unable to 
 learn to what extent such material occurs in this belt, 
 nor its value, but some examinations and assays would 
 indicate it to be suitable material for exploitation. 
 
 For fifty or sixty years the richer areas, and those 
 which are most easily accessible, or which lie most con- 
 
MINING IN NUETH CAROLINA. 209 
 
 venient to the water, have been worked till exhausted or 
 uo longer profitable. Remunerative work of this char- 
 acter will gradually cease. Operations on a more exten- 
 sive scale, by true hydraulic methods, have also been 
 attempted, and probably will, in the future, be carried 
 out on still larger plans. 
 
 A vast amount of gravel has been accumulated by such 
 work, most of which is gold-bearing, and some of which 
 might be milled with a small profit. 
 
 Assays of such material indicate contents of $2.07 to 
 $3.10 per ton. 
 
 A detailed and exact study of this section has never, 
 so far as I am aware, been attempted, and hence anything 
 like a full representation of its resources is necessarily 
 inadequate. 
 
 THE PORTIS MINE 
 
 has been the most exploited, and, from operations here, 
 the entire district may be best understood. 
 
 This mine lies in the northeast corner of Franklin 
 county, and quite near to both Nash and Warren coun- 
 ties. The mining tract contains 938 acres, and is equipped 
 with a plant of hydraulic apparatus. The mill has re- 
 cently been enlarged to 15 stamps, and a still further 
 addition of 35 is contemplated. The mill is also pro- 
 vided with an Aldeu crusher, and concentrators. 
 
 The mine is situated on a hill 108 feet above Shocco 
 creek, from which the water for work is derived. 
 
 A large amount of preparatory work was performed 
 in the latter part of 1885, and it is believed that the 
 
210 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 work of 1886 will be vigorously pushed, with a corres- 
 })onding increase in the production. 
 
 The hydraulic methods, now largely used in South 
 Carolina, and still more largely in Georgia, point out 
 the general line of solution of the mining problem here, 
 A lift of water of 100 or even 200 feet, is now a mere 
 trifle to the mining engineer, and in addition with a 
 pressure which is equivalent to a head of 50 or 100 feet 
 at the point at which the water is used. 
 
 This column of water applied to a body of surface 
 material rapidly "dissolves" the softer part of it, and 
 washes it away, depositing its precious contents in the 
 sluices; if these sluices be given a slope of even four 
 (4) inches in twelve (12) feet, the current itself will read- 
 ily bear away the quartz, partly pulverizing it, and de- 
 livering it at some suitable point in the mill-house for 
 stamping. The work is almost wholly automatic; the 
 outlay for the plant is not excessive, and the expense of 
 maintenance is small; the cost of treatment per ton is 
 surprisingly low. 
 
 The application of this mode of treatment is entirely 
 feasible, and, in the judgment of the writer, is the only 
 one economically applicable. 
 
 The remarks on the Portis apply to the others for the 
 most part, the best known of which are indicated in the 
 following list : 
 
 The Thomas mine, one and one-fourth (1}) miles 
 northeast of the Portis, contains 450 acres. 
 
 The Kearney is two and one-half (2J) miles north- 
 west of the Portis. 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 211 
 
 The Arrington, two (2) miles southeast of the Portis, 
 ill Nash county, contains 2,000 acres. 
 
 The Taylor is five (5) miles southwest of the Portis. 
 
 The Mann, with 1,000 acres, is six (6) miles south- 
 west. 
 
 The aggregate of tlie regular employees is twenty-five 
 (25) persons; possibly as many more give a part of their 
 time, otherwise unoccupied, to crude mining work. 
 
 The southeast extension of the Upper Laureutian is 
 overlaid l)y the Quaternary, a little to the south of 
 Raleigh, and no gold mines are known beyond this 
 point. 
 
 THE HURONIAX. 
 
 In Moore county, has two (2) belts, one ten (10) miles 
 northwes«t of Carthage, and one-fourth (J) mile west of 
 the Red Sandstone, and the other eight (8) miles further 
 west, in the northwest part of the county, and probably 
 connected with the most eastern of the Montgomery 
 county belts. 
 
 The Bell mine is the only mine worked in the for- 
 mer: the immediate country is a silicious talcose schist, 
 slightly mineralized; several narrow belts occur on this 
 property, with finely disseminated iron pyrites, which is 
 commonly auriferous, as shown by several assays, viz: 
 $1.44 to $5.02 per ton; the latter figure is probably 
 much above the average. 
 
 The vein worked will probably be found to be one of 
 these belts tnore highly charged with gold — in other 
 words, a bedded vein; its mass is a talco-chloritic schist 
 
212 HAND-BOOK OB^ NOUTJI CAROLINA. 
 
 very silicious and mucli altered ; in many places the 
 talco-chloritic matter has become almost entirely silicions 
 in seams, and in such cases is generally enriched. 
 
 These seams, reddish to greenish in color, are usually 
 quite persistent in the direction of the strike, but vary 
 in width from one-eighth (J) to three (3) and four (4) 
 inches; the width of the ore body varies from three (3) 
 to six (6) feet, and averages fully four (4) feet. 
 
 As an ore body the material is unique, and commonly 
 does not give in its external appearance any indication 
 of its value; it has almost no sulphurets. 
 
 The rich quartz seams assay from thirty ($30) to 
 thirteen hundred ($1,300) dollars per ton, while the entire 
 vein matter will average from twelve ($12) to fifteen 
 ($15) dollars per ton. Assays of strict averages give 
 $14.47 and $14.34 on the seventy-five (75) foot level. 
 
 The vein has been sunk upon to the depth of one hun- 
 dred and ten (110) feet, the last ten (10) being an incline 
 in the vein itself. This body has been opened on at in- 
 tervals for nearly 800 feet, and more or less work has 
 been done on the surface along this distance, but the pro- 
 ductive part, which has been worked in depth is about 
 one hundred and thirty (130) feet long. 
 
 The gold is unusually ^Meafy," and often occurs as a 
 very thin plating on the surface of the schists. 
 
 Six (6) miles northeast of the Bell and one (1 ) mile north 
 of Deep river, and possibly in the same geological hori- 
 zon is the 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 213 
 
 CHICK MINE. 
 
 The body of ore has been sunk upon to a slight depth, 
 but without much judgment, and so slightly explored 
 as to be practically unknown. 
 
 The external indications of copper are especially 
 marked, and the entire body is seamed and stained with the 
 blue and green cupric carbonates, which give the surface 
 material an appearance of richness much beyond the 
 reality; s:) far as examined, this results from the altera- 
 tion of the black sulphuret of copj)er (chalcocite). 
 
 Many assays of the material run from $2.65 per ton 
 for gold and silver and a trace of copper, to $18.17 for 
 gold and silver with 17^^ per cent, of copper. 
 
 THE PHILLIPS TRACT, 
 
 two and one-half (2J) miles northeast of the Chick, is 
 
 quite similar, but has hardly been touched, and its real 
 value is practically unknown; twenty (20) feet is the 
 greatest depth reached. 
 
 The second belt alluded to in the northwest part of 
 Moore county is extremely interesting mineralogically 
 as well as economically. 
 
 This group of mines, embracing nine (9) well-known 
 localities, is comprised in a space two (2) miles wide 
 from northwest to southeast, and six (6) miles long from 
 northeast to southwest; these boundaries, however, are 
 not the actual limits of the aurifer'ous area, but only of 
 the productive part. 
 
 The formation is talco-chloritic schist, but everywhere 
 very silicious, and traversed by lenticles of quartz, some- 
 
214 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 times con form iDg approximately to the bedding, but 
 more frequently across it. The surface of the whole 
 country, particularly to the eastward, is strewn with 
 quartz, which probably came from the long weathering 
 of the strata bearing these lenticles. The veins so-called 
 are simply "bedded veins," and are the richest parts of 
 the auriferous strata. In entering this area the 
 
 BROWN MINE 
 
 is met on the northwest edge, on the road from Moffitt's 
 to Richardson's mills, and one and one-half (1 J) miles 
 southwest of the latter. It was worked for three hun- 
 dred (300) yards and forty (40) to fifty (50) feet deep; 
 the dip is very flat; the ore body is three (3) feet wide, 
 but the "pay streak" was a narrow seam of quartz; the 
 surface bears witness to a considerable production. 
 
 THE BAT ROOST 
 
 is one and one-half (IJ) miles northeast of the Brown. 
 
 THE SHIELDS 
 
 is two (2) miles south, and adjacent to the east edge of 
 the belt. It has been occasionally operated for years, 
 but its history is not well known. 
 
 THE CAGLE MINE, 
 
 one (1) mile south of- the Shields, is also on the east edge 
 of the belt; the mining tract embraces five hundred 
 (500) acres, mostly on the east side of Cabin creek. 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 215 
 
 This mioe is entered by two (2) underlay shafts in the 
 vein, the deeper being one hundred and sixty (160) feet 
 on the incline. 
 
 The ore body is a quartzose-talcose schist, with a small 
 amount of disseminated iron pyrite, and a trace of cop- 
 per pyrite; the vein is estimated to be from two (2) to 
 nine (9) feet thick. The assays made by the writer have 
 run $5.33, $6.20, $27.19 and $39.88 per ton, the latter 
 being exceptional, as the average ore is of a rather low 
 grade; the ore body is large and the material abundant. 
 The plant of machinery consists of 20 stamps. 
 
 Unlike most of the mines of this belt, the work is 
 wholly underground. 
 
 THE CLEGG MINE. 
 
 A tract of thirty (30) acres, one-fourth (^) miles west, 
 on the opposite side of Cabin creek, is made up of the 
 same kind of schists, but the ore body is larger, i. e., 
 the entire formation is ore, but at the same time much 
 lower in grade; above the level of the running water of 
 the neighborhood it is much altered and peroxidized, 
 and quite soft — too soft for perfect security in mining. 
 
 It is worked by open cuts, and can readily be picked 
 and shovelled out. The milling is done by a ten (10) 
 stamp battery. 
 
 THE MORRELE MINE 
 
 is one-fourth (J) mile southwest on the east side of 
 Cabin creek. 
 
216 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 THE BURNS AND ALRED MINE 
 
 or Burns mine, as it is more commonly called, has 
 seventy-five (75) acres, and is the best example of this 
 class of deposits. 
 
 The ore was milled for forty (40) years by the old- 
 fashioned North Carolina methods, by Chilian and drag 
 mills, and with unusual success; with so much success, 
 indeed, as finally to tempt an ambitious promoter of 
 mining schemes to iiitroduce a new and untried kind of 
 ^'process" machinery, which, as a matter of course, 
 failed, and to the injury of the good name of the mine 
 and of the neighborhood. 
 
 Though this mining tract proper is of sinall area, a 
 considerable body of mining territory is generally 
 worked in connection therewith, the whole aggregating 
 250 acres. Cabin creek, a bold and deep stream, courses 
 around the west and northwest edges of this tract. 
 
 It is difficult to say what is ore, and what is not, in 
 this area, for it is everywhere auriferous, though not 
 everywhere capable of being operated economically. 
 The formation is a very silicious-talcose schist, some- 
 what chloritic. 
 
 The best known localities iu this tract are Moody 
 Hill, near the east boumkry, and Brown Hill, toward 
 the western. The former has been worked most exten- 
 sively, and iu both places the mining has been almost 
 entirely by "open cut." The selection of places for 
 exploitation has been almost exclusively determined by 
 the results of mill runs of the ore, or by panning, and 
 
 % 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 217 
 
 while this way of work has been wasteful in some 
 respects, it was probably the best method available. 
 
 The cuts are scattered about promiscuously, without 
 much evident connection or relation, and are usually 
 very irregular in outline. The cut most largely worked 
 has, for its so called foot-wall, a very silicious schist 
 alternating with chloritic schists, while the hanging- 
 wall is more chloritic and less quartzose; the bedding 
 dip northwest 40° to 50°. 
 
 Here an ore body twelve (12) feet thick has been ex- 
 ploited, assaying |5.17 per ton, but it is quite certain 
 that the material will not average so much in the long 
 run, though working averages of $3.00 may probably 
 be depended on, and, at long intervals, schists of very 
 high grade have been found and may be expected at any 
 time. 
 
 This belt extends one (1) or two (2) miles further 
 south. 
 
 Montgomery County. 
 
 The western gold belt of Moore county probably is 
 connected with the southeast belt of Montgomery, but 
 the relations of these belts have been so little studied 
 that no certain statement to this effect can be made. 
 
 The formation of this county, like that of the western 
 part of Moore, is Huronian, but the silicious-talcose 
 schists, with a few exceptions, change about the middle 
 of the county into clay slates, thin-bedded and gray to 
 greenish in color. 
 
 10 
 
218 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 This county abounds in ^' gravel^' and in vein mines, 
 but the veins are of a bedded character. 
 
 Three (3), and perhaps four (4), well-defiened belts 
 of auriferous territory are known. These belts are from 
 four (4) to eight (8) miles wide, and extend nearly or 
 quite across the county from northeast to southwest. 
 
 The most easterly belt embraces the Swift creek and 
 the Sara Christian gravel mines, the Carter and Reynolds 
 vein mines, the Wood gravel and the Moore vein mines. 
 Of these, only the Sam Christian has gained more than 
 local fame, and is the only one at present worked. 
 
 The gold in this mine occurs in ancient "channels," 
 in gravel of a thickness of one (1) to three (3) feet, and 
 sometimes covered with soil to a depth of thirty (30) 
 feet. It is rarely found in dust or grains, but generally 
 in nuggets of five (5) pennyweights and upwards into 
 the thousands. 
 
 I cannot learn that any record of the yield of this 
 mine has ever been kept. 
 
 This property of 1,286 acres has been worked in two 
 (2) places, "Dry Hollow" and the old "Sam Christian 
 cut," but other channels are known to exist. 
 
 The method of work pursued in this mine consists in 
 a simple removal of the soil resting on the gravel, fol- 
 lowed by a careful washing of the gravel in sluices and 
 rockers. When the soil is shallow, it is often removed 
 by simple digging; ot'^erwise it is washed away by a 
 powerful hydraulic stream. The harvest periods are 
 vorv intermittent and uncertain, since n lono- time is re- 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 219 
 
 (jiiired to remove the superficial matter in order to reach 
 the gravel, and a few days or even hours will often suf- 
 fice for obtaining a large reward for weeks or even months 
 of unrewarded toil. 
 
 The obvious method of treatment is the hydraulic, but, 
 unfortunately, the locality is on an elevation of 190 feet 
 — a matter which, of itself, is not a serious obstacle. 
 There is, however, a very scanty supply of water in the 
 gulches, which cut the hills, and the most careful hus- 
 banding of the supply suffices only for a very moderate 
 amount of work, and chiefly in the winter and spring. 
 A survey has been made from this mine to the Yadkin 
 river, three (3) miles distant, at Swift Island Ford. 
 This supply would iuruish an abundance of water. 
 
 The second and parallel belt is four (4) to six (6) 
 miles northwest, and comprises a line of "graveF^ mines 
 on the northwest of the Uwharrie mountains, and 
 between it and the Uwharrie river. The localities 
 within the knowledge of the compiler are the Bright, 
 Ophir, or Davis, Spanish Oak Gap, Dry Hollow, Island 
 Creek, Deep Flat, Pear Tree Hill, Tom's Creek, Har- 
 bin's, Bunnell Mountain, Dutchman's Creek, and the 
 Worth mines, the latter being near the junction of the 
 Uwharrie river and the Yadkin. 
 
 The Bright, Dry Hollow, the Worth, and the Bun- 
 nell Mountain are the best known, but only the Bright 
 and the Bunnell Mountain have been worked of late. 
 
 I believe that these gravel mines do not extend 
 further north than Barnes's creek, near the north line of 
 the county. 
 
220 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 The supply of water is entirely inadequate for the 
 working of these properties, and the tailing ground is 
 not always favorable; moreover some mechanical diffi- 
 culties, caused by the admixture of clay with the gravel, 
 have prevented an extensive exploitation of them. 
 
 It may be mentioned, in this connection, that at the 
 Bright mine there is also a massive formation, several 
 hundred feet v/ide, quite like that of the Russell. 
 
 These localities are but a very short distance from the 
 easternmost of the next northwest belt. 
 
 The more prominent mines of this third belt are the 
 Steele, the Saunders, Henderson, Coggins, Morris 
 Mountain, Russell, or Peebles, Little Russell, McLean's 
 Creek, and Beaver Dam. 
 
 The first three named carry chiefly argentiferous or 
 auriferous galena; the Coggins, Morris Mountain, and 
 both the Russells are bedded ore masses; the last two 
 of the list are gravel mines. 
 
 This formation passes into Randolph county, and 
 embraces a prominent group there. 
 
 The Steele and Saunders are near the eastern edge of 
 the belt, just to the east of the Uwharrie river. The 
 former has been the most worked; the ores were largely 
 free milling at the outset, but, at the depth now worked, 
 have passed into galena and blende, with a small pro- 
 portion of copper pyrite, all argentiferous and aurifer- 
 ous ; the vein (a bedded one) is seven (7) feet wide, 
 with a ^^ pay streak " of ore apparently three (3) feet 
 thick. 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 221 
 
 THE SAUNDERS 
 
 is simply the northeast exteDsion of the Steele, and they 
 are separated only by the accident of ownership ; the entry 
 shafts are barely one hundred and fifty (150) feet apart. 
 
 Very little work has been done at these mines for 
 some years, but they are likely to be vigorously worked 
 this year. 
 
 The Henderson, two (2) miles west of the above, at 
 Eldorado post office, also a bedded vein, has been sunk 
 upon only a few feet, and not much is known of its 
 value; the mineral matter is blende, galena, copper 
 pyrites and iron pyrites. 
 
 THE COGGINS MINE, 
 
 one and one-half (IJ) miles northwest of the Steele, 
 is a recent discovery (1882), and has been sunk upon 
 less than fifty (50) feet ; the work has not been suffi- 
 ciently extended to give thoroughly satisfactory informa- 
 tion of the ore bodies; so far as exploited, there appear 
 to be two (2) bodies separated by a barren body of a 
 few feet in thickness; in reality, the ore bodies are au- 
 riferous slate, with a comparatively barren body of like 
 character between. The schists course N. 40° E., and 
 dip steeply to the N. W.; the thickness of the worka- 
 ble beds is variable, but will probably average together 
 not less than twenty (20) feet, and it is by no means cer- 
 tain that the explorers have found either the hanging or 
 foot walls, using these terms freely. 
 
 The body was originally chloritic-argillaceous schist, 
 but is now largely altered and peroxidized. 
 
222 HAND-BOOK OF NOKTH CAROLINA. * 
 
 The ore, as a rule, assays very low, but the size of the 
 bodies, the softness of the ore, and the cheapuess of 
 treatment, combine to make this, property very promis- 
 ing. Nothing beyond exploratory work has been done 
 here yet, and the machinery used is of the crudest sort. 
 
 THE MORRIS MOUNTAIN MINE, 
 
 a tract of 350 acres, one (1) mile nearly west of the 
 Coggins, is also known as the Davis or Dutton mine; 
 some bodies of the slates here occasionally [)rospect well, 
 and at rare intervals the slates are plentifully sprinkled 
 with free gold, but I am not aware that any large work- 
 able body has yet been discovered. 
 
 THE BEAVER DAM .MINE, 
 
 at Flaggtown post office, three (3) miles southwest 
 from Morris Mountain, and two (2) northeast of the 
 junction of Beaver Dam creek and Yadkin river, con- 
 tains a mining tract of 800 acres, one-half (J) of which 
 is claimed to be underlaid by gravel. This gravel is 
 from two (2) to four (4) feet thick, and overlaid by an 
 alluvial deposit five (5) to fifteen (15) feet deep. 
 
 Numerous seams of quartz everywhere course tlirough 
 the formation and are probably the largest source of the 
 gold, but there is probably also a considerable amount 
 due to the breaking down of the slates themselves. 
 
 A massive body of chloritic schist exists, assaying 
 moderately in gold, but, so far as I am aware, never 
 worked. With these exceptions nothing resembling 
 vein matter has ever been found. 
 
 Ml 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 223 
 
 The supply of water afforded by the Beaver Dam 
 creek is ample for extended operations, and hydraulic 
 work is the only feasible method here; mechanical diffi- 
 culties only prevent successful exploitation. 
 
 The "graveP' is mixed with a tenacious clay, which 
 seriously hinders the recovery of the gold; if this me- 
 chanical difficulty could be overcome, continuous and 
 profitable work would probably result. 
 
 THE RUSSELL OR PEEBI^ES MINE 
 
 is near the north boundary line of the county. 
 
 Here an enormous body of sulphuretted ore is avail- 
 able; the amount of iron pyrite is not large, and will 
 probably not exceed three (3) per cent. 
 
 The ore body is made up of silicious talcose schists 
 alternating with silicious schists, the whole much altered. 
 Jt is exclusively worked by "open cuts," and immense 
 bodies of low grade ore are open to the day. 
 
 The assays of the ore range from $2.07 per ton to 
 122.86, and, at very rare intervals and in extremely 
 small quantity, into the thousands; as a whole the range 
 of values is low. 
 
 RIGGINS HILL AND THE LITTLE LEAD 
 
 are o[)en cuts in other ore bodies on the same property. 
 The mine was re-equipped in 1885, and has had a 
 successful run of three (3) months. Seventy-five (75) 
 men are employed. 
 
224 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 THE UWHARRIE (FORMERLY GRAVES) MI^E, 
 
 two (2) miles south of Lassiter's mills in Randolph 
 county, and quite near the Russell, has a similar forma- 
 tion. 
 
 Kaiidolpli County, 
 
 like Montgomery county, abounds in mines. ' 
 
 Only the following wei'e worked in 1885: the Saw- 
 yer, Jones, Winslow, Lafflin or Herring, Jones or Key- 
 stone, Davis Mountain, Winninghaju, Slack, Graves 
 and Hoover Hill ; only the last has been extensively 
 worked, the former were only prospected. 
 
 All these mines are in "slate," but the relation of 
 these belts has not been carefully studied; probably in 
 their southwest extension they are continuous with the 
 two (2) western belts of Montgomery county. 
 
 Some of these are deserving of special mention. 
 
 The Winningham and Slack are two and one-half 
 (2 J) miles south of Ashboro, the Davis Mountain four 
 (4) miles southwest of Ashboro ; the Sawyer five (5) miles 
 northwest ; here the ore body is massive and consists of 
 several parallel beds of silicious-talcose schist in an ad- 
 vanced stage of disintegration, and sometimes forming 
 a body of fine sand loosely coherent. These schists are 
 auriferous, and the workable bodies are sufficiently near 
 each other to be worked simultaneously. 
 
 This property formerly had a good record. 
 
 The Winslow is five (5) miles southwest of Ashboro; 
 little work was done there, although it is equipped 
 with ten (10) stamps. 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 225 
 
 The Joues or Keystone, the Lafflin or Herriug, and 
 the Delft are quite similar in character, and a descrip- 
 tion of the 
 
 JONES 
 
 will a{)proximately indicate the character of the others. 
 
 This mine, or rather tract of mining land, compris- 
 ing 293J acres, is twelve (12) miles sontheast of Thomas- 
 ville, and not far from the Davidson line. The entire 
 country is a soft and rather silicious-talcose schist, with 
 a chloritic tendency. The weathering, to a depth of 
 forty (40) feet, and possibly more,' has effected a peroxi- 
 dization of the ferruginous constituents, so that it has 
 become a mass of reddish clay. At the same time dis- 
 integration has proceeded so far that the mass can be 
 readily picked to pieces. The more deeply colored earth 
 is generally the richer, but gold is universally present 
 over the whole country. The mining, however, is con- 
 fined to certain well-known channels or belts, which are 
 more richly charged. 
 
 The presence of the gold is probably most largely due 
 originally to the presence of iron pyrite, which, through 
 peroxidization, has liberated the precious constituents; 
 but it cannot be overlooked that, in the more valuable 
 belts, fine sand (quartz) is more abundantly distributed, 
 and in such a manner as to point to a natural association 
 of the quartz and gold. 
 
 Occasional '' horses'' of strata are found charged with 
 finely disseminattd iron pyrite, and yet unaltered to any 
 extent, and still solid and firm; these, whatever their 
 
226 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA . 
 
 contents, are commonly avoided, from the comparative 
 difficulty both of mining and milling. 
 
 The work is almost entirely open to the day. The sur- 
 face is everywhere cut into gulches, which allow easy and 
 cheap entry by open cut into the bodies of ore, and at 
 the same time facilitate easy transportation by gravity 
 cars to the mill. 
 
 The disintegrated soil allows of mining at a marvel- 
 ously cheap rate, frequently not exceeding fifteen (15) 
 cents per ton delivered at the mill. 
 
 The treatment so far made use of is that by stamp 
 battery, and is apparently the best available. If the 
 supply of water were ample, and with sufficient head, 
 there might also be a hydraulic treatment of certain 
 parts of the surface. 
 
 The assays have run $2.07 per ton, |3.11, $3.61, 
 $4.65, $6.20 and $28.92. The last is exceptionally rich, 
 and the second is nearer the average. Bodies of high 
 grade material are occasionally found, but they are very 
 limited in extent. 
 
 The primary condition of success with such low grade 
 mine stuff is the handling of large quantities, and for 
 this a very large amount of water is needed. 
 
 The water supply is deficient, consisting chiefly of the 
 natural flowage of one (1) small branch, and of accumu- 
 lations in dams during the rainy season. 
 
 The Uwharrie, a bold stream, is only two (2) miles 
 distant, but at a lower level. No grave obstacles pre- 
 vent the lifting and flowing hither of its waters. 
 
 The mill is equipped with ten (10) stamps. 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROIilNA. 227 
 
 THE HERRING OR LAFFLIN MINE 
 
 has a Howland pulverizer. This mine is thought to 
 have a better natural supp'ly of water than the others. 
 
 THE HOOVER HILL MINE, 
 
 now operated by a London company under the name of 
 the "New Hoover Hill Gold Mining Company, Lim- 
 ited/' com])rises 250 acres. It is seventeen miles a little 
 east of south from High Point. 
 
 This mine has had a curious history, in tlie early 
 days of mining the yield was large, and the profits some- 
 thing fabulous. This prosperity continued while the ore 
 lasted, which had been subjected to weathering, and was 
 easily treated. Since that time, and during the treatment 
 of the compact and unaltered ore, its history has been 
 one of failures till the year 1884. It finally came into 
 the hands of a London company, which did little to re- 
 deem its record for two (2) years. The company, dis- 
 heartened, was on the point of going into liquidation, 
 but concluded to make one more effort, which, under the 
 present skillful superintendent, William Frecheville, 
 proved entirely successful. 
 
 The '^country," which apparently is an altered schist, 
 very hard and compact, is traversed by belts which abound 
 in quartz seams, ranging from a line to a foot in thick- 
 ness. While the seams show no traceable regularity in 
 the respective belts, the belts themselves show a marked 
 persistence. It was the outcrop and upper part of these 
 seams which originally gave such largo returns. It was 
 
228 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 the prediction of Mr. Frecheville that the shoots which 
 were so rich above would also be productive below, and 
 his forecast was correct. The splendid returns of the 
 last two (2) years have fully justified all efforts to put the 
 mine again on a working basis. 
 
 There are several of these belts; the principal one is 
 the "old Briols Shoot, '^ which is entered by the Briols 
 and the Gallimore shafts. This is the body most largely 
 depended on. At no great distance from this shoot are 
 six (6) other belts lying quite closely together, and worked 
 from the Hawkins shaft, which has reached a depth of 
 135 feet. This shaft will be sunk deeper in 1886. 
 
 ''In the Hawkins part of the mine, the No. 1 and the 
 No. 2 ore bodies have fluctuated considerably as to size 
 and grade during the year, but, on the whcje, have pro- 
 duced well. Tfiey have recently been cut off by cross 
 courses of green-stone. In the case of the No. 1 ore 
 body, we have drifted through the green-stone and secured 
 the ore body on the other side; and in the case of No. 2, 
 we are sinking an incline from the bottom of the No. 2 
 slope through the green-stone, and will recover the ore 
 body on the other side." 
 
 The old Briols shoot, which gave renown to the mine, 
 is now down 300 feet. The suj)erintendent says: "We 
 are drifting at 290 feet, but we are not far enough ad- 
 vanced to allow us to judge of the character of the chute 
 of ore at that deptli. At the 230 feet level it is about 
 80 feet long by from 18 inches to 10 feet wide, and worth 
 $8 to |10 per ton. The Briols shaft is being sunk 
 deeper.'^ 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 229 
 
 The mill was erected by Beckett & McDowell, and 
 coDtaius four (4) five-stamp batteries, with other appli- 
 ances suitable to the work. 
 
 "7,635 tons of ore were crushed in 1885, producing 
 168,400; '^ * * for the year ending September 30th, 
 1885, a profit was made of £6,698.6.2, of which £6,000 
 was distributed in dividends. Seventy to ninety men 
 were employed." 
 
 The occurrence of the gold is invariably associated 
 with the quartz seams, though these sometimes occur 
 without enriching the ore body; iron pyrite is generally 
 present to the extent of three (3) per cent.; it is gener- 
 ally found on the sides of the quartz seams, between 
 them and the accompanying gangue. 
 
 Al^ THE WILSON KINDLEY MINE, 
 
 one-half (J) mile southwest, no work was done: the for- 
 mation is similar to that at Hoover Hill. 
 
 Allusion was made to the Graves or Uwharrie mine, 
 in immediate connection with the Russell, and under the 
 head of Montgomery county. 
 
 Stanly County. 
 
 The most west of the Montgomery belts is supposed 
 to continue into Stanly county, where, as might be sup- 
 posed from the examples given, and of the wide distri- 
 bution of gold, there are numerous localities which have 
 earlier or later received attention at the hands of the 
 miner; of these no one was worked uninterruptedly in 
 1885, though a little desultory work was accomplished 
 
230 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 at Rock Hole and Hog creek in gravel raining, and at 
 the Parker, Crowell and Barringer mines. 
 
 Among the more noted mines are the Haithcock and 
 the Hearne, two (2) miles northeast of Albemarle. 
 
 Little is now known of these exactly, but the amount 
 of underground work indicates satisfactory return ; like 
 most mines of the section, they w'ere apparently aban- 
 doned when the water level was reached, and the char- 
 acter of the ore changed. 
 
 The Hearne, in its northeast extension, is the Haith- 
 cock; the course of this vein is nearly northeast and 
 southwest, and at its northeast end runs into and merges 
 with the Lander, which has a course N. about 70° E. ; 
 the Hearne and Haithcock are two (2) to foui- (4) feet 
 wide; the Lander is six (6) feet. 
 
 Both veins are evidently filled most largely with 
 quartz, but the characteristics of these ore bodies as a 
 whole cannot now be ascertained; their old reputation is 
 ^ood . 
 
 THE PARKER MINE 
 
 is at Bilesville, ten (10) miles southeast from Gold Hill. 
 This property of three or four acres has given enormous 
 returns, and the amount of nuggets found is marvellous; 
 a vast extent of work has been done to find the 'S'ein," 
 but I am not aware that anything like a vein has been 
 discovered; it is [)robable that the surface is an intricate 
 network of quartz seams; the whole surface strongly 
 suggests the Portis mine, and like that locality invites a 
 hydraulic treatment, for which, however, water is not 
 convenient. 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 231 
 
 THE CROAVELL MINE 
 
 is in the same neighborhood. The vein is bedded, 
 aud the ore body is four (4) to seven (7) feet thick; fre- 
 quently the whole l)ody will pay to mill; the '^ pay 
 seam '^ is much narrower, and often becomes only a line 
 in thickness; the ore cannot readily be differentiated 
 from the surrounding country, for the schists are the 
 same, only auriferous to a working degree; they are tal- 
 cose with a marked chloritic tendency, and in altering 
 become quite silicious; they contain finely disseminated 
 iron pyrite, which by peroxidation stains the entire body 
 red and brown. The greatest depth is one hundred and 
 twelve (112) feet. 
 
 Ore assays are: $8.00 per ton, $10.40, $23.76, and 
 $169.77. 
 
 The western strip of mining territory in Stanly county 
 is adjacent to Gold Hill, and is comprised in the belt 
 stretching from Davidson county to Union county. 
 
 The mineral localities in this belt in Stanly county 
 are not less than twenty (20) in number, but few of 
 them have more than a local reputation. 
 
 THE BARRINGER, 
 
 four (4) miles southeast of Gold Hill, has been too 
 little explored to allow of a correct classification; enor- 
 mously rich pockets with ore in small amounts assaying 
 from three hundred ($300) dollars and upwards have been 
 found, but nothing is known of their number or extent ; 
 in truth, the very extent of the " finds ^^ has plunged 
 the mine into litigation fatal to successful work. 
 
232 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Union County. 
 
 It is not known that the central belt of Stanly county 
 continues into Union, for the mines of this county, with 
 two (2) or three (3) exceptions are readily traceable in 
 alignment with Gold Hill, Silver Hill, Silver Valley, 
 Conrad Hill and other mines of the Davidson county 
 belt. 
 
 This magnificent stretch of seventy-five (75) miles 
 contains most of the noted and productive mines of the 
 State; it is in the extreme west of the slate region, and 
 in immediate proximity to the so-called "granite area," 
 which forms the backbone of the State. It embraces a 
 great number of precious metal mines, where the gold 
 and silver are associated with other valuable metals, e. 
 g., copper^ lead and zinc — associations, which are not so 
 often met with outside of this belt. 
 
 This belt commences at Conrad Hill, near the Three- 
 Hat mountain, about the middle of the eastern bound- 
 ary of Davidson county, and runs through it in a direc- 
 tion nearly S. 40° W., to the southeast corner of Rowan 
 and the adjacent corner of Stanly, through the eastern 
 part of Cabarrus, and the western part of I^nion, nearly 
 to the South Carolina line. 
 
 The mines of Union county are nearly all comprised 
 in this belt, and are near the western edge of the county, 
 adjacent to Mecklenburg; all are in slate, but are not 
 far remote from the granite. 
 
 The whole extent from Cabarrus county to South 
 Carolina is, with scarcely a break, crowded with mines, 
 
MINTING IN NOKTH CAROLINA. 233 
 
 which, in the early days of mining, were the best known 
 along the entire belt. 
 
 The ores found are readily classified into auriferous 
 and argentiferous galena, auriferous iron pyrite and 
 auriferous slates, but sulphurels are never absent from 
 the latter. Copper ores are of incidental occurrence at 
 several of the mines, but have not hitherto been found 
 in quantity in this county. 
 
 No mines are now worked on a notable scale, but sev- 
 eral have been operated in a desultory manner, chiefly 
 the Davis, Phiffer, Lewis, Hemby, Harkness, Howie, 
 Washington and Crump. 
 
 The Howie, the Wyatt, the Washington and the Pen- 
 man together form the 
 
 "grand union gold mines.^' 
 They comprise an area of 1,941 acres. 
 
 THE WASHINGTON, 
 
 eight (8) miles a little south of west from Monroe, is 
 the most southerly of the important mines in this 
 county ; the last mining work was at the depth of eighty 
 (80) feet ; the mine material is a hard clay slate, with a 
 small per cent, of disseminated iron pyrite; the ores are 
 reputed good. 
 
 THE WYATT 
 
 is one-fourth (|) mile west of the above, and is probably 
 part of the same vein. 
 
234 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 THE HOWIE 
 
 is one and one-fourth (IJ) miles northwest of the Wash- 
 ington ; it has been exteosively worked and to a depth of 
 more than three hundred (300) feet. 
 
 The ore is quite like that from the Washington, hut 
 more quai'tzose, and -has numerous seams of quartz, 
 which generally are associated with the richer ores. 
 
 The yield of this mine has been estimated at $750,000. 
 
 The ore body is more thau one (1) mile long, coursing 
 N. 60° E., and has been worked for nearly one-half (J) 
 mile of that distance; the vein is four hundred (400) 
 feet wide. 
 
 The schists are altered down to the level of standing 
 water, and peroxidized, and the ore to that point is soft 
 and easily treated; below the water line the ore is ex- 
 tremely hard. Hulphurets (iron pyrite) to the extent of 
 one (1) per cent, are generally present in all the material 
 mined. 
 
 8oft ores assay |2.05, $9.02, |15.32, $21.32, $43.06. 
 
 Hard ores run from $2.62 per ton to $34.17, and as 
 high as $310.51. Large bodies of the rubbish pile con- 
 tain $3.26, tailings $3.53. 
 
 Other parts of the tract show large bodies of soft clay- 
 like auriferous material, which has been successfully 
 treated; the whole formation is apparently auriferous, as 
 well as the so-called veins. 
 
 The ''Big Survey " lands come in between the Howie 
 and the Davis, two and one-half (2J) miles to the north- 
 east. The corporation owning this intervening tract has 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 235 
 
 done little to encourage mining, and there is in conse- 
 quence scanty knowledge of its value in minerals. 
 At this point, 
 
 THE DAVIS LINE, 
 
 a remarkable series of mines commence, four (4) of which 
 lie in regular succession from Southwest to northeast, 
 viz.: the Davis, Phiffer, Lewis, and Hemby. For the 
 distance of one and a half (IJ) to two (2) iniles the 
 course of this deposit is a series of shafts, for the most 
 part shallow, but occasionally sunk as deep as one hun- 
 dred and fifty (150) feet — e. g., the Davis. The whole 
 deposit has been enormously rich, especially the Phiffer, 
 where, on Mint Hill, an open cut has been excavated 
 one hundred (11)0) feet in diameter, and fifty (50) feet 
 deep. None of these are worked systematically. The 
 Lewis has two (2) and possibly more veins; the Hemby 
 has several — three (o) different series are reported. 
 Assays are $8.30 per ton to $34.53. 
 
 .MOORE HILL 
 
 is situated one (1) mile soutfiwest of the Davis, and 
 
 FOLGER HILL 
 
 a half {-}) mile west ; this mine has been worked to a 
 depth of ninety (90) feet. 
 
 THE HARKNESS 
 
 is a half (J) mile east of the Lewis; its greatest depth 
 is one hundred and twenty (120) feet, where a fine quartz 
 vein was found, showing free gold abundantly. 
 
236 HAND-BOOK (^F NOKTH CAROLINA. 
 
 These deposits are in clay slate, with a chloritic or 
 talcose tendency; the gold is in a free state for the most 
 part, with a small proportion of sulphurets, and occa- 
 sionally of galena. 
 
 One half (^) mile northeast is the 
 
 SMART. 
 
 This mine has been worked to a depth of seventy (70) 
 feet, and a fine body of galena was reported to have 
 been uncovered. 
 
 THE CRUMP MINE 
 
 near by is four (4) miles from Stout's Station, on the 
 Carolina Central Railroad. 
 
 This mine was in active operation till the middle of 
 the summer of 1885, when the buildings and machinery 
 were destroyed by fire; it is now filled with water. It 
 is noted for its remarkable pockets and splendid nug- 
 gets, in which form the gold usually comes. 
 
 Davidson County. 
 
 The mining work of this county was almost sus- 
 pended in 1885, although several mines had been ac- 
 tively at work in previous years. 
 
 THE CONRAD HILL 
 
 mine is situated about seven (7) miles nearly east of 
 Lexington. This locality has had a double history by 
 reason of a divided ownership; the veins at their out- 
 crop, and for a moderate depth to the east of the north 
 and south dividing line, belonged to the old ^^Morehead 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 237 
 
 estate/' and to the west of this line to another party. 
 The old description and designation of " Conrad Hill " 
 of thirty (30) years back apply to the former, the later 
 use of the name to the westerly tract. The mine is now 
 operated by the Conrad Hill Gold and Cop])er Com- 
 pany, of Baltimore. 
 
 The '^ country" of the mine is composed of quartz- 
 itic-argillaceous schists, though they resemble and are 
 described as ta loose. 
 
 There are seven (7) veins in this mining district, pos- 
 sibly eight ((S), of which only five (5) outcrop, or if the 
 others do the same, the evidence is obscure or obliter- 
 ated. 
 
 Six (6) of the veins have been worked. All are bold 
 and very marked in their characteristics, and of more 
 than usual width, ranging in thickness from two (2) to 
 eight (8) and, at points, to fifteen (15) feet; all are free 
 from dislocation or other disturbances. 
 
 Five (5) of these, called north and south veins, course 
 N. 10° to 15° E., and dip westerly; two (2), designated 
 east and west veins, run N. 60° to 80° E., and dip 
 southwardly. 
 
 The vein matter is quartz, the mineral matter yellow 
 copper pyrite (chalcopyrite) with various copper min- 
 erals resulting from alteration, such as cuprite, mala- 
 chite, melaconite, etc.*, and always auriferous; chalybite 
 is a common accompaniment; the mine matter is remark- 
 ably destitute of all distinctive iron minerals, chalybite 
 excepted ; even iron pyrite is rarely met with. In the 
 
238 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 upper zones the sulphurets were, for the most part, 
 altered or peroxidi/ed, but in the lower /ones not nineli 
 (^hanged. 
 
 Financial derangements have brought about a discon- 
 tinuance of all mining work for the present, but during 
 the later and prosperous years the work was carried on 
 by careful and systematic methods. The general course 
 of metallurgical treatment is outlined below: 
 
 The mine mattei' was pai'tly sorted out underground, 
 and still further hand cobbed and picked in the sheds; 
 the richer ore was sciU at once to tlic copper works; the 
 residues after passing through a Blake crusher were jig- 
 ged, and the best material added to the richer mine stuff 
 above alluded to; the poorest material from the jigs was 
 rejected, the medium grade sent at once to the stamp 
 battery and amalgamated as usual; the tailings from the 
 battery were partly concentrated by buddies and blank- 
 ets, and the concentrates sent to the copper works. 
 
 At the outset the richer copper minerals were, after 
 roastiug, smelted in a shaft furnace for matter from 
 which, after re-smelting, a black copper was obtained 
 and refined. 
 
 This material, however, was not suited to this treat- 
 ment, as the uecessary basic matter was lacking to make 
 a proper flux, and smelting was superseded by the wet 
 method under the Hunt & Douglas patent. 
 
 In this process the crushed ore, after roasting, was 
 subjected to a bath of protochloride of iron and leached; 
 the copper was precipitated from the liquor by metallic 
 
MINING IN NORTH OAROI.INA. 239 
 
 iron and refined. The residues, now mostly peroxides, 
 were seut back to be milled, amalgamated and, to a 
 slight extent, concentrated again. The final products 
 were gold bullion and refined ingot copper. 
 
 The greatest depth reached in this later work was 
 four hundred (400) i'eet. 
 
 SILVER VALLEY 
 
 mine is twelve (12) miles a little south of east from 
 Lexington, and five (5) miles a little east of north from 
 Silver Hill. 
 
 The ])revailing formation is a silicious argillaceous 
 schist. The contents of the vein is a milk-white and 
 very barren looking quartz, which disclosed no mineral 
 matter of value till a depth of sixty (60) feet was 
 reached, though the upper part was not destitute of 
 auriferous brown ore. 
 
 The presence of galena was suspected twenty-five (25) 
 years before, and a great deal of prospecting work was 
 undertaken to find it, but the shaft was sunk in the 
 slates a long way to the west of the present shaft, where 
 the galena disseminated in the schists seemed most prom- 
 ising. 
 
 The vein now described was found in 1880, and was 
 reached only by a shrewd guess. 
 
 The outcrop of quartz is sometimes twenty (20) ieat 
 wide, but the vein below is five (5) to twelve (12) feet 
 thick, with ore seams five (5) inches to five (5) feet ; the 
 vein runs a little east of south to west of north, and di]^*^ 
 
240 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 westerly at au augle of about 45°; the average width is 
 thought to be twelve (12) feet. 
 
 It is laminated in structure, and has alternate bands 
 of ore and slaty matter. The ore is sometimes massive, 
 and sometimes so disseminated or mixed with the quartz 
 that it will not dress down to more than one-fourth (J) 
 to one-eighth {^). 
 
 The massive ore is cobbed out and hand-picked; the 
 mixed material is milled in a twenty (20) stamp mill, 
 and concentrated in buddies, blankets and launders, and 
 latterly, by Rittinger tables. The latest recorded con- 
 centrating work is indicated in analyses IV and V, 
 though better work has been claimed. 
 
 Analysis I more nearly represents the common run 
 of the slightly cobbed ore, and No. Ill the massive ore; 
 No. II is exceptional, and yet often met with. 
 
 The possibility of concentrating the mine stuff into 
 a smelting product fairly free from zinc is shown in No. 
 V, but the losses, as concentration has hitherto been 
 practiced, are enormous. 
 
 The large per cent, of zinc has hitherto been the only 
 difficulty in the way of an extensive employment of the 
 valuable resources of this mine. 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 241 
 
 ANALYSES : 
 1. II. III. IV. V. 
 
 Poor concen- Rich concen- 
 
 Gold Trace. $ 4.13 Trace. $ 4.13 $ 4.13 
 
 Silver $13.30 150.15 $32.45 . 9.58 38.06 
 
 Total $13.30 $154^8 P^-45 $13^71 $42.19 
 
 per cent. per cent, per cent, per cent. per cent. 
 
 Lead 15.89 55.25 38.80 11.18 47.62 
 
 Zinc 31.44 11.24 32.00 27.70 12.68 
 
 The gold is far from being uuiformly diffused, for the 
 presence of a little iron pyrite makes a considerable dif- 
 ference in the gold contents. 
 
 THE WAR1> 
 
 mine, two (2) miles east of Silver Valley, has been sunk 
 upon to a depth of eighty (80) feet; there are four (4) 
 nearly parallel veins. This property has also a large 
 amount of surface suitable for hydraulic treatment. 
 
 It received a very favorable notice from Prof. Km- 
 mons, the former geologist of North Carolina. 
 
 SILVER HILL 
 
 mine is five (5) miles a little south of west from Silver 
 Valley, and ten (10) miles southeast of Lexington. It 
 was at the outset known as the Washington mine, and 
 is described in Emmons's report under that name; it 
 has also been called the Davidson mine. 
 
 The country is an indurated clay slate, very silicious. 
 
 There are two (*2) nearly parallel veins ten (10) to 
 twenty-five (25) feet apart, and two (2) subordinate 
 veins of less importance and apparently of limited ex- 
 11 
 
242 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 tent, with some subordinate ore bodies, whose relations 
 are not known. 
 
 The upper part to the depth of one hundred and sixty 
 (160) feet has been carefully described by Emmons; of 
 the lower part few records exist." The mine is entered 
 by six (6) vertical, and by one (1) inclined shaft, but the 
 main vertical shaft at the depth of 160 feet is changed 
 to an underlay shaft in the east vein ; the west vein below 
 the 200 foot level is entered from the east vein by cross 
 
 CMltS. 
 
 The unaltered ore consists of galena and blende, 
 always argentiferous, and to a slight extent auriferous. 
 
 The upper zone of ore in all the veins has undergone 
 the usual transformations and peroxidization, with the 
 result of leaving the gold and the silver in part free. 
 
 At the first the real character of the ore was not sus- 
 pected, and the outcrop was worked for gold chiefly, 
 with silver as an incidental. At a greater depth some 
 of the most remarkable specimens of lead carbonates, 
 phosphates, arsenates, and sulphates, etc., were obtained 
 with interesting forms of native silver. These gave 
 place to galena and blende before th« depth of eighty (80) 
 feet was reached, though even down to 160 feet the oxi- 
 dized ore occurred in some quantity. At the depth of 
 one hundred (100) feet the ores took on their normal un- 
 altered character as shown in assays V, VI, and A^II. 
 The average composition of the ores at the depth of two 
 hundred (200) feet according to Prof. Oenth, at one time 
 the company's chemist, was : 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 243 
 
 Galena 21.9 percent. 
 
 Copper pyrite 1-8 
 
 Blende 59.2 " " 
 
 Iron pyrite 17.1 
 
 Gold and silver 025 " " 
 
 Total 100.025 per cent. 
 
 Or, 
 
 Lead 18.97 per cent. 
 
 Zinc 39.68 " " 
 
 Copper 1.19 
 
 Average silver of 200 assays 7j ounces, gold small. 
 
 The mine has been worked to depth of 725 feet on 
 the underlay shaft, which is equivalent to a vertical 
 depth of 600 feet. 
 
 Little is known of the ore bodies at this depth, though * 
 the chimney is know to exist in both veins, probably 
 with smaller dimensions than in the levels above 200 
 feet; the ore is massive, and carries apparently fully as 
 large a per cent, of zinc; its relative value in the pre- 
 cious metals is not known. Nos. V, VI and VII indi- 
 cate the general character of the ore in depth. 
 
 The later exploitation of this mine was in the shallow 
 part. An inclined shaft was sunk in 1878, cutting 
 through some outlying bodies to the east of the old 
 workings, and with the intention of cutting the back 
 vein at the depth of 160 feet; a considerable body of 
 *' carbonates" was uncovered, but the grade was too low 
 for profitable work. See Nos. I, II. Nos. Ill and IV 
 are analyses of the iron pyrite. 
 
 The difficulties of treating this ore, as alluded to in the 
 notice of Silver Valley, whose ores it resembles, are so 
 
244 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 great, as to have precluded the use of them for general 
 metallurgical purposes, for wliich, were zinc absent, they 
 would be valuable. 
 
 ANALYSES : 
 
 Carbonates. Iron pyrite. 
 
 I. II. III. IV. 
 
 Gold I 8.78 $2.07 |3.10 .110.34 
 
 Silver.... 17.23 3.96 4.13 2.18 
 
 Total. ^26.01 _$6.03 $7.23 $12.52 
 
 Lead 3.8 per cent. 31.94 percent. .67 percent. 
 
 Zinc 27.28 per cent. 2.08 percent. 
 
 COMPACT GALENA. 
 
 V. VI. VII. 
 
 Gold I 4.14 $ 6.20 $ 4.13 
 
 Silver... 2.75 9.17 9.55 
 
 Total.J_6.89 $15.37 US.QS 
 
 Lead 22.94 per cent, 56,72 percent. 12.57 percent. 
 
 Zinc 7.14percent 34.29 per cent. 
 
 THP] wp:lborn 
 
 mine, two (2) miles west of Silver Hill, has reached the 
 depth of sixty (60) feet; ores, sulphurets, galena, and 
 blende; assays for gold and silver are $7.60, $10.88, 
 $13.90, $19.26, $39.20. 
 
 THE SYMONS 
 
 mine is two (2) miles west of Silver Hill in the Cross 
 neighborhood. The shaft is down forty (40) feet; the 
 mine material is good brown ore. The machinery con- 
 sists of a five (5) stamp mill. 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 245 
 
 THE DAVIDSON OR EMMONS COPPER 
 
 mine is now operated by the Consolidated Gold and 
 Copper Mining Co., of Baltimore. 
 
 It is situated two (2) miles southeast of Silver Valley. 
 
 It was extensively worked for copper down to 1872, 
 when it was abandoned ; it was reopened in the fall of 
 1886. 
 
 It is entered by two (2) shafts 680 feet apart, respec- 
 tively 416 and 300 feet deep. The vein is six (6) feet 
 wide and well defined; it is filled with quartz and slate, 
 with chalcoj)yrite; the percentage of copper is not large, 
 but the ore is readily susceptible of concentration to a 
 high grade. The schists are deep green in color, and of 
 a silicious and chloritic character, strikingly like those of 
 Gold Hill. 
 
 The ore is valued chiefly for its copper constituent, 
 and is not regarded as carrying much gold. 
 
 THE CID 
 
 mine, one and one- fourth (IJ) miles northeast of the 
 Emmons, is apparently in the same horizon, and the 
 description of the one answers to that of the other, 
 though it has been too little worked to allow of any 
 statement of its permanency; the shaft is down one hun- 
 dred (100) feet. 
 
 The other mines in this slate belt will be discussed 
 under the heads of their respective counties, e. g.^ Gold 
 Hill, McMakin, and others. 
 
246 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 The granitic axial area of North Carolina, extending 
 from the northern boundary of the State southwest into 
 South Carolina, has also a large number of mines. 
 
 The ore yielded by these mines is always auriferous, 
 and occasionally also cupriferous ; they are not known 
 to carry more than trifling amounts of either lead, zinc, 
 nickel or silver, the latter, where occurring, being asso- 
 ciated and alloyed with gold. 
 
 In Griiilford County, 
 
 the north extremity of this belt, the only mines at work 
 are the Fisher Hill and the North State (McCullough). 
 
 The former is seven (7) miles south of Greensboro, 
 and is operated by the Fisher and Willis Hills Mining 
 and Smelting Co. It comprises a tract of 800 acres. 
 The vein is extremely flat. The deepest shaft is down 
 106 feet, and a fine body of ore has been uncovered at 
 the depth of seventy-five (75) feet, whose width is ten 
 (10) inches to four (4) feet; already the explorations 
 have exposed it to a length of fifty (50) feet ; it is brown 
 ore and sulphurets, milling $30 per ton. 
 
 A second series of shafts, four (4) in number, have 
 been sunk to the northwest on Willis's Hill, 150 rods 
 distant from Fisher Hill ; at the depth of 50 feet good 
 pockets of brown ore have also been uncovered. 
 
 The milling plant consists of ten (10) stamps, with all 
 necessary appliances for long continued and successful 
 work. 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 247 
 
 THE NORTH STATE MINE, 
 
 under the North State Gold and Copper Mining Co., is 
 two (2) miles south of Jamestown. 
 
 The vein runs nearly northeast and southwest and 
 dips eastward nearly 45°. The shaft is down nearly 
 o50 feet; the vein is four (4) to eight (8) feet wide. In 
 the lower levels, where the work is most largely pur- 
 sued at present, the ores are mostly sulphurets, some- 
 times massive, but more generally scattered in a quartz- 
 ose gangue, and require a cobbing or other concentrat- 
 ing. The ores carry a small per cent, of copper, and are 
 commonly of a good grade. They are shipped for treat- 
 ment to the Davis Chlorination Works at Salisbury. 
 
 The mill has twenty (20) stamps. 
 
 THE HODGINS HILL 
 
 mine, one (1) mile north of Fisher Hill, 
 
 THE LINDSAY, 
 
 two hundred (200) yards southwest of the North State, 
 and 
 
 THE JACK HILL 
 
 to the north, both continuations of the North State, are 
 all idle. 
 
 THE DEEP RIVER MINE, 
 
 two (2) miles south of the Lindsay, is unworked, as is 
 also 
 
 THE FENTRESS, 
 
 or N. C. copper mine, two (2) miles northeast of the 
 Fisher Hill; this mine has been worked to a depth of 
 
248 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 310 feet, and at one time produced a high grade of cop- 
 per sulphuret ; it is believed that a large body of like 
 character remains. 
 
 lu Davidson County, 
 
 the mines in the slate belt, e. g., Conrad Hill, Silver 
 Hill, have already been described. 
 
 The only important mines in the granite belt are the 
 Lalor, Eureka and the Black. 
 
 TiIE I.ALOR, 
 
 (formerly Allen) mine, is two miles south from Thoraas- 
 ville. It is not now operated. 
 
 It is entered by three (3) shafts, the deepest of which 
 has reached a depth of 165 feet on the underlay. 
 
 The vein is reported of good width, and carries a fair 
 percentage of copper. 
 
 The lowest grade brown ore \s reported to assay $20, 
 and the highest grade sulphuret $190. 
 
 THE EUREKA MINE, 
 
 one-half (J) mile west, is also idle. The depth of last 
 workings was 125 feet; the vein is of good width; the 
 ore is quite like the Lalor ore. Assays, $25.19, $41.47, 
 $46.51, $73.55, up to $1,890. 
 
 THE BLACK MINE 
 
 is immediately adjacent to the Eureka ; the vein is 
 small, but the ore has a high reputation. 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROI.INA. 249 
 
 Rowan County, 
 
 The only mines in this county at work in 1885 were, 
 Gold Hill (Randolph, Old Field and Hunnicut veins), 
 Dunn's Mountain, Holtshauser and Gold Knob. 
 
 The Yadkin (Davis) Chlorination Works-were supplied 
 from several mines along this belt. 
 
 No work of importance was done in 1885 at the 
 
 Dunn's mountain mine, 
 
 four (4) miles southeast of Salisbury. The operations 
 were chiefly confined to clearing out old shafts, in the 
 expectation of extended works in 1886. Of the three 
 (3) veins on the property only the '^ office vein " has been 
 operated; this vein has turned out some very good mill- 
 ing ore ; the mine material from the other veins was 
 from such a depth that only sulphuretted ores could be 
 expected, and they are slightly cupriferous. 
 
 AT THE EEIMER MINE, 
 
 six (6) miles southeast of Salisbury, no work has been 
 done since the burning of the plant in February, 1884. 
 The depth of this mine is 150 feet. The chimney of ore 
 was nearly 400 feet long, and four (4) to eight (8) feet 
 wide. 
 
 At this depth the material was largely iron pyrite 
 (pyrrhotite), of moderate value. Assays of ore were 
 $11.32, $36.00, $126.77. 
 
 THE YADKIN (OR DAVIS) CHLORINATION WORKS, 
 
 one and a half (IJ) miles south of Salisbury, was in 
 active operation in 1886. Heretofore the ore supply 
 
250 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROI.INA. 
 
 has been taken from its own mines — the Yadkin and the 
 Reimer — but the destruction of the concentrating ma- 
 chinery of the latter has compelled the manager to seek 
 a supply from other sources. The works have chiefly 
 been run on material from the North State, the Rudisill 
 and the Saint Catharine. 
 
 The establishment is operated under the Meares chlo- 
 rination patent, the marked feature of which is chlorina- 
 tion under pressure. 
 
 The essential points of this method are in outline — 
 the crushing of the ore to pass through a forty (40) to 
 sixty (60) mesh screen, roasting in reverberatory furnaces 
 of the common type, chlorination in a tightly-closed 
 revolving Freiberg barrel, leaching of the chlorinated 
 mass, and filtration of the auriferous liquor through a 
 filter of fine charcoal to eliminate and absorb the gold, 
 the careful burning of the charcoal and melting of the 
 ashes containing the gold. 
 
 The barrel is an iron cylinder lead-lined; the chlori- 
 nation is accomplished by chloride of lime and sulphuric 
 acid, the pressure being effected by the chlorine gas, which 
 is liberated. 
 
 AT THE DUTCH CREEK MINE 
 
 a very little work was performed, though the resources 
 are promising. 
 
 This group of mines is on the waters of Dutch second 
 creek, ten (10) miles east of Salisbury, on the Stokes 
 ferry road. The superintendent reports twenty-two 
 (22) veins on the property, two being copper- bearing. 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 251 
 
 The maiu development is on Hill, Tiptop and Katie 
 veins, which afford a good supply of brown ore down to 
 the water level and are in width from one (1) foot up- 
 wards, and, where the Hill and Tiptop cross, eighteen 
 (18) feet wide. The shafts are down 110 feet. The 
 adits and levels aggregate 1,000 feet. The ore varies in 
 value from |10 to $30. The copper veins are down 
 respectively fifty (50) and forty (40), and are three and 
 a half (3 J) to four (4) feet wide. The ore is of good 
 grade, both as to copper and gold. 
 
 THE GOLD KNOB MINE 
 
 was slightly prospected in 1885, and no force was kept 
 constantly at work. A five (5) stamp mill is run in 
 connection with the mine. Sixty (60) feet is the great- 
 est depth reacijed in any of the veins, of which there are 
 eleven (11) on the various tracts owned by the company. 
 Tlie production was very small. The ore is abundant, 
 and heavily sulphuretted,assayiug |20.68,$26.62,$27.38 
 and $108.55. 
 
 THE ATLAS AND BAME 
 
 were not in operation in 1885. 
 
 IN THE GOLD HILL DISTRICT, 
 
 the only work done in 1885 was in the Gold Hill mine 
 on the Randolph or western vein, and in the Old Field 
 vein, and in the Hunnicut vein. 
 
 THE HUNNICUT VEIN 
 
 was leased during the greater part of 1885 to a local 
 company of miners, and the work was pushed very vig- 
 
252 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 orously till the expiration of the lease. A fine body of 
 ore was raised and milled in a Howland raill attached 
 to the mine. 
 
 A little work was done in the Randolph shaft (740 
 feet) and on the 280 foot level, and in the Old Field 
 vein at 130 feet, but the ore was not milled. This mine 
 is now controlled by a London company, and the home 
 business of the company has not been favorable; conse- 
 quently the work has not been pushed at the mine. 
 
 This, the most noted mining district in North Caro- 
 lina, is fourteen (14) miles southeast of Salisbury in the 
 southeast part of Rowan county, and extends southwest 
 into Cabarrus, and to a slight extent into the northwest 
 part of Stanly. It is situated on the narrow plateau of 
 a low lying northeast and southwest ridge. The num- 
 ber of veins is commonly estimated to be ten (10); this 
 group with its connections is one and one-half (1 J) miles 
 long from northeast to southwest, and two-thirds (f) of 
 a mile wide from northwest to southeast. 
 
 The district is one (1) mile east of the* granite, and is 
 in close contact with a diorite group on its east. 
 
 The prevailing type of formation is chloritic argil- 
 laceous schist, the chloritic element being more marked 
 at the northeast end, and the argillaceous at the south- 
 west. 
 
 The striking characteristics of this district are the 
 great permanency of the veins both in depth and extent, 
 and their freedom from disturbances, and the variety and 
 richness of the ores. 1 believe there were no bold out- 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 253 
 
 crops, and in some cases (e. g. the Randolph) they were 
 so obscured and covered, that they were only discovered 
 by accident, and at a comparatively late date in the his- 
 tory of the mines of the State. 
 
 The more noted veins are the Randolph, Earnhardt, 
 Hnnnicut, Open Cut copper vein on the vStandard prop- 
 erty, the Trautman gold vein, and the McMakin silver 
 vein. But closely associated with each large vein are 
 outlying bodies, which may also be independent veins, 
 e. g. the Old Field body, which is between the Earn- 
 hardt and Hnnnicut, and is made up of several nearly 
 parallel — six (6) — bodies of ore, which are very narrow 
 and intercalated with slates. 
 
 THE RANDOLPH, 
 
 almost, if not quite, the extreme northwest vein of the 
 group, has been worked more or less for a length of 
 1,500 feet, and to a depth of 740 feet ; there are three 
 (3) principal shoots of ore extending to the greatest 
 depth to which the mine has yet been worked. The 
 Randolph shaft (740 feet) passed through the Texas 
 shoot, and just cuts the north edge of the Big Sulphur 
 shoot, and is but a few feet distant from the Randolph 
 shoot. 
 
 Little exploratory work has been done at the bottom 
 of this shaft, and little can be said of the shoots, or the 
 quantity or the value of the ore ; at this depth the ores 
 are entirely sulphuretted, mostly iron pyrite, but with 
 enough copper pyrite to give a copper contents of two 
 (2) per cent. 
 
254 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 THE BARNHARDT A^EIN, 
 
 400 feet east of the above, has been equally exploited 
 to a shallow depth, and down to 100 feet; below 100 
 feet the works have extended only 400 feet along the 
 vein; the ores are like those of the Randolph, but less 
 cupriferous. 
 
 Both of these veins will probably afford a large quan- 
 tity of ore, which can be treated advantageously only by 
 a preliminary concentration. 
 
 THE OLD FIELD VEIN, 
 
 to the southwest of the main workings of the Barn- 
 hardt, and quite near to them, consists of a series of 
 strings (veins) of ore intercalated with the schists; these 
 seams are frequently of great richness, but the gold 
 ^' jumps'^ from one seam to another so often as to give 
 some embarrassment in mining. 
 
 The depth of 130 feet has been reached. 
 
 The body of cupriferous mineral still further south- 
 west on the 
 
 STANDARD PROPERTY 
 
 was worked mostly by open cut. The vein consists of 
 several narrow belts of talcose schists charged with min- 
 eral matter, altered to gossan in the upper zone, and 
 sulphuretted in depth ; this body is sometimes sixty (60) 
 feet wide at th-e depth of twenty (20) to forty (40) feet, 
 but at greater depths the ore body tends to concentrate, 
 and becomes only thirty (30) feet. 
 
 The deepest workings were eighty-four (84) feei. 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 255 
 
 THE TRAUTMAN GOLD VEIN 
 
 is the least known of the more prominent ore bodies. 
 
 Down to twenty (20) feet the ores are an auriferous 
 porous quartz with limonite; twenty (20) to sixty (60) 
 feet down a mixture of hematite with highly ferrugin- 
 ous quartz, with a little crystallized pyromorphite, 
 cerussite and other lead minerals; lower down auriferous 
 pyrite and quartz. The ores are frequently rich in gold. 
 
 THE MCMAKIN MINE 
 
 is the extreme southwest of the vein of this system, and 
 like the Trautman mine, is mostly in Cabarrus county. 
 
 It has been exploited by pits for several hundred 
 yards, but the deep workings have extended over a 
 linear distance of about 200 feet. The lowest level is 
 111 feet distant. In addition to the main body of ore 
 there is d ^^ small or w'est^' outlying vein eleven (11) to 
 fourteen (14) feet distant. The outcrop was hematite, 
 dolomite, and various manganese ores, the latter disap- 
 pearing at twenty (20) feet; lower down plumbago, 
 cerussite, pyromorphite and other plumbiferous matter 
 appeared, and at sixty (60) feet the unaltered minerals 
 came in, viz.: blende, galena, iron pyrite, copper pyrite, 
 and highly argentiferous tetrahedrite — blende predom- 
 inating with a slight admixture of galena and tetra- 
 hedrite. 
 
 At greater depths blende gradually disappears, and 
 tetrahedrite becomes more abundant. The width of the 
 vein at 75 to 100 feet ranged from four (4) to ten (10) 
 feet. 
 
256 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH (CAROLINA. 
 
 The importance of such rich galena will be manifest, 
 when good metallurgical establishments shall be at work 
 in this section. 
 
 It may be well here to call attention to the large 
 number of veins in the southeast part of Rowan county, 
 and the adjacent parts of Cabarrus and Stanly counties. 
 To the industry of T. K. Bruner, Esq., Dr. Rumple 
 and J. J. Newman, Esq., we .owe good maps and 
 sketches of this part of Rowan county. These and the 
 data prepared by Mr. Bruner show more than a hun- 
 dred mineral localities here, and as many more in the 
 adjacent parts of Cabarrus and Stanly counties. Of 
 most of these we know little, as the surface of the 
 country is so rugged as to make exploration difficult, 
 but there is little doubt that these hidden stores will 
 some day play an important part in the developed re- 
 sources of North Carolina. 
 
 Cabarrus County. 
 
 There is at present less activity in mining in this 
 county than in former years; the only mines now oper- 
 ated, of the sixty (60) or seventy (70) in this county, are 
 the Phoenix, North Barrier, Joel Reed, Rocky River, 
 the Reed and the Clay. 
 
 Nearly all the mining localities are within two to four 
 miles of the east boundary of the county, and lend them- 
 selves with facility to an arrangement by mining dis- 
 tricts, of which there are four (4) of importance, viz.: 
 
 1st. The Gold Hill group. 
 
 2d. " Rocky River group. 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 257 
 
 3d. '* Phoenix group. 
 
 4th. '' Pioneer Mills group. 
 
 Of these the first two (2) are in the slate formation, 
 previously described as the Davidson county belt; the 
 third and fourth are in granite; all are near the contact. 
 
 The mines in the Gold Hill group have been for some 
 years entirely neglected. 
 
 THE JOEL REED MINE, 
 
 near Concord, has been operated only at intervals, and 
 no great depth has been reached, but the returns have 
 been amply remunerative for the amount of work given 
 to it. 
 
 THE QUAKER CITY MINE 
 
 is down eighty (80) feet. The ores were sulphuretted 
 and refractory, and operations were suspended. The 
 mill was on Buffalo creek, three (3) miles from the 
 mine. 
 
 THE PHCENIX MINE, 
 
 seven (7) miles a little south of east from Concord, has 
 been worked for many years with great vigor and skill, 
 both in the mining department and in the metallurgical 
 establishment connected with it. 
 
 The mine is entered by four (4) underlay shafts, one 
 to a depth of 365 feet ; from this shaft levels have been 
 driven both northeast and southwest, and a good body 
 of ore developed, three (3) to three and a half (3J) feet 
 wide. Assays show this to be of good quality, separa- 
 ting easily into two (2) grades— the best ^40 to S67.14, 
 and the poorer $10 to $16.88. 
 
258 HAND-BOOK OF NOKTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Hardly any sloping has been done below the 250 
 foot level, and the reserves are as large as at any time 
 in the past. 
 
 The chlorination works are of the capacity of eight 
 (8) tons per day. The plant was constructed to work 
 under the Meares' patent, but so many changes have 
 been made, that it can now hardly be designated by that 
 name. The establishment is quite complete, consisting 
 of a battery of ten (10) stamps, two (2) Frue vanners, 
 four (4) horizontal rotary furnaces for roasting, four (4) 
 barrels for chlorinating, leaching and precipitating tanks. 
 The ores are generally cupriferous to a slight percentage, 
 and a small amount of cement copper is produced aftei- 
 the removal of the gold. 
 
 THE NORTH BARRIER MINE 
 
 has been worked to a depth of seventy-five (75) feet, 
 but operations have been confined to mere explorations. 
 
 THE TUCKER MINE 
 
 has not been worked to any extent since the preparation of 
 the Hand-Book of 1883, and the statements there made 
 will apply now, though there is more and better ma- 
 chinery there now. 
 
 THE ROCKY RIVER MINE, 
 
 of 350 acres, is ten (10) miles southeast of Concord, 
 and one (1) mile from Bost's mill. 
 
 The mine is consolidated from the Jake Shin and the 
 Tom Shin mines. 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 259 
 
 There are seven (7) veins in this tract, of which only 
 three (3) have been worked to any extent. 
 
 Five (5) shafts have been sunk ranging from thirty - 
 eight (38) to fifty-five (55) feet in depth ; veins range in 
 width from two (2) to five (5) feet. There is frequently 
 sufficient galena in the ore to enrich it appreciably in its 
 precious metal contents. 
 
 The ores are from fair to high grade, assaying '$17.05, 
 m>05, 148.66, $67.70, $62.94. 
 
 THE REED MINE 
 
 is ten (JO) miles southeast of Concord. 
 
 There are four (4) veins on the property besides allu- 
 vial deposits. The gravel or surface part of this mine 
 is not worked at present, but for some months one of 
 the veins has been drifted on, and a splendid chimney 
 of quartz has been developed, whose richness is apparent 
 to the most casual observer ; the work at present is at 
 the depth of sixty (60) feet. 
 
 This mine was the first to give celebrity to the gold 
 fields of the Appalachian Range, though probably not 
 the first to yield gold. The first nugget was found here 
 in 1799 ; the largest nugget, twenty-eight (28) ibs avoir- 
 dupois, was unearthed in 1803; regular mining work 
 comoienced some years later, and for a period of forty 
 years continued to send forth its golden stream. 
 
 The proportion of large nuggets has not been paral- 
 leled on this side of the country, though the Sam Chris- 
 tian has had a similar history, as also the Parker mine. 
 The Reed, unlike them, has large underground resources. 
 
260 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 THE CLAY MINE, 
 
 Dear Piooeer Mills and twelve miles southeast of Con- 
 cord, has been operated at intervals only, but with fair 
 returns for the work expended. 
 
 THE ALLEN FURR MINE, 
 
 twelve and one-half (12J) miles southeast of Concord, 
 shows a large amount of massive iron pyrite with a lit- 
 tle galena; the size of the block would seem to confirm 
 the general belief that the vein is a wide one — four (4) 
 to eight (8) feet. Depth of workings fifty (50) feet; the 
 material is very refractory, and this fact coupled with its 
 high contents in pyrites (including a trace of copper py- 
 rite) and its rather low tenor in gold and silver, makes 
 the problem of its treatment a difficult one. 
 
 Assays |48.10, |35.27, $7.37, 17.24. 
 
 The Salisbury Watchman enumerates about fifty (50) 
 other mining localities in this county. 
 
 Meckleiil)urg' County. 
 
 Five (5) mines are in operation in this county — the 
 Henderson, the Frazier, the Baltimore & North Caro- 
 lina (Ray), the St. Catharine, the Rudisill and the Harris 
 or Surface Hill. 
 
 THE HENDERSON, 
 
 eight and one-half (8J) miles northwCvSt from Charlotte, 
 has been simply prospected and some of the ores shipped ; 
 no great depth has been attained, and there is no machin- 
 ery for treating the ores. 
 
 Assays have been $72.98, $64.H7, $14.35. 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 261 
 
 THE FRAZIER MINE 
 
 has been worked to a depth of eighty (80) feet and a 
 vein of good ore uncovered one (I)* to one and one-half 
 (IJ) feet wide; at, this depth the ore is largely free mill- 
 ing, though unaltered sal[)hurets begin to appear in 
 quantity. The ore was treated at the Rudisill mine mill. 
 Assays: |1 86.68, $50.27. 
 
 THE BALTIMORE AND NORTH CAROLINA PROPERTY 
 
 is also known as the 
 
 RAY MINE. 
 
 There are five (5) veins on this tract of 360 acres, of 
 which only one is now worked — the Ray vein. It is 
 situated nine miles southeast of Charlotte, and near the 
 Carolina Central railroad. 
 
 This vein is entered by six (6) shafts, the deepest of 
 which is about 150 feet; the ores are now heavy sul- 
 phurets containing some copper. 
 
 The total length of veins on this property is about 
 four (4) miles. The south vein has been sunk upon to 
 a depth of sixty (60) feet, and the Phifer Grove vein 
 forty (40). In neither of these had the works penetrated 
 below the level of free ores. 
 
 This mine is fully supplied with machinery and all 
 milling appliances. The battery has ten (10) stamps. 
 Assays, $20.95, $31.82, with generally a good per cent, 
 of copper. 
 
 The lowest point reached in the 
 
262 HAND-BOOK OF NOKTH CAROLINA. 
 
 ST. CATHARINE 
 
 is 350 feet, and the work has been carried on with great 
 vigor for some years. Both of the veins have been 
 worked. The ores now are almost exclusively sulphurets, 
 but they invariably carry a large amount of free gold. 
 
 As soon as brought to the surface they are cobbed and 
 hand-sorted into a high grade of shipping ore for smelt- 
 ing works, and of a low grade for mill treatment on the 
 grounds. The machinery consists of a ten (10) stamp 
 battery, with two (2) Frue vanners for concentrating the 
 tailings. The concentrates are generally sufficiently rich 
 to justify shipping. 
 
 The products are a high grade bullion and a high grade 
 of smelting ores and concentrates. 
 
 THE RUDISILL, 
 
 one (1) mile southwest of Charlotte, has been sunk upon 
 400 feet. 
 
 The "Bush HilP' end of the mine, adjacent to the St. 
 Catharine, was reopened in the latter part of 1885, but 
 the work is not advanced enough to justify any conclu- 
 sions as to the value of the vein here. 
 
 Much of the mining work has been done in the shal- 
 lower levels of the old part of the mine above the two- 
 hundred (200) foot gallery, where, at present, high grades 
 of sulphurets are found in quantity. 
 
 Concentration by cobbing and hand-picking is prac- 
 ticed to obtain a grade of smelting ore, and the residue 
 is milled, and occasionally the tailings are concentrated 
 on Frue vanners or other machinery. 
 
MINING IN NORTH QAROLINA. 263^ 
 
 The milling is done by a Wiswell mill, a recently 
 introduced machine. Electro-galvanic action is some- 
 times employed in connection with it, but this feature of 
 the reduction has not been successful here thus far. 
 
 Ores assay: $6.20, $11.47, $21.79, $30.42, $39.66, 
 S61.43, $91.89, $129.18, $178.39. Entire shipments 
 will average $100 to $175 per ton. 
 
 THE HARRIS MINE 
 
 is ten (10) miles nearly east of Charlotte. The stretch 
 of mining property upon which this mine is situated is 
 known to have rich gravel. Surface Hill, one of these 
 localities, is famous for its rich nuggets, and occasional 
 pockets of ore are found of extreme richness. The 
 locality is badly situated in point of water supply; other- 
 wise the rich gravel would be worked. 
 
 Of the numerous mines of this county not now worked, 
 the following brief notices may be made. 
 
 THE MCGINN MINE, 
 
 five (5) miles northwest of Charlotte, has three (3) veins, 
 two (2) carrying the gold ores usually found in this sec- 
 tion, the third having rich copper as well as gold ores. 
 The copper vein has been mined to a depth of 165 feet, 
 and a remarkably rich chimney of copper ores exploited. 
 The more prominent of the two (2) gold veins (the 
 Jane) has been penetrated to a depth of 150 feet, and 
 worked with some success as deep as the machinery 
 could command the water. 
 
264 BAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Ore assays liave been $4.37, $12.50, with 4.^^ per 
 ceut. of copper, $15.72, $6.82 with 7-1% per cent, of 
 copper, $82.77, $114.36, $137.93. 
 
 The Jane vein runs at itssonth end into the 
 
 CAP PS HILL PROPERTY, 
 
 where it is joined Iw the prominent vein known as the 
 
 CAPPS VEIN. 
 
 The system has been worked to a depth of nearly 200 
 i'eet, but the hiter work was performed above the 130 
 foot level. 
 
 The fJane vein has furnished good bodies of ore, 
 but the reputation of the property has been founded 
 mainly on the Capps vein. This vein is unusually large, 
 and has given three large chimneys of ore, besides sev- 
 eral smaller bodies. It is among the largest producers 
 of the county if not indeed the largest, being credited 
 with a yield of $2,000,000. 
 
 Two (2) of the chimneys are known to reach the 
 depth of 130 feet, but that level had not been suffi- 
 ciently extended to cut the third. 
 
 At this depth the ores are mostly heavily sulphuret- 
 ted, and a large dump of rich iron pyrite is accumu- 
 lated. 
 
 Assays $7.10, $56.35, $96.37, $133.00, $133.76. 
 
 THE CLARK MINE 
 
 has been worked to a depth of seventy (70) feet. There 
 are two (2) veins. 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 265 
 
 The ores assay, $8.34, |16.7r>, $33.25, $67.25, $74.71, 
 1126.69, $164.44. 
 
 THP: SMITH AND PALMER MINE 
 
 has not been worked to any notable extent since the pre- 
 paration of the Hand-Book of 1883. Shaft down 100 
 feet, and levels driven ; ores assay, $4.66, $15.51, $72.34, 
 1149.59. 
 
 THE FERRIS (FAIRES) MINE, 
 
 six (6) miles northeast of Charlotte, is a prominent min- 
 ing property, with three (3) veins. 
 
 The assays of ores, $20.14, $10.34, $28.94, $44.32, 
 $111.16, $128.66, $220.54 and $512.94. 
 
 THE SIMPSON MINK 
 
 yields quartz ores, with little sulphurets. No work has 
 been done here fur fonr (4) years. Assays of represen- 
 tative lots have been $3.79, $4.75, $7.37, $29.97, $70.87. 
 As a rule the ores of this mine are of low grade, but 
 the vein is large, and (capable of yielding large amounts 
 of milling material. 
 
 THE STEPHEN WILSON MINE 
 
 has ten (10) vrell-defined veins; it yields ores of values 
 indicated as follows: $4.52, $11.37, $36.56, $51.50, 
 $97.53, $261.76, $355.96. 
 
 THE BLACK MINE 
 
 has a vein of the richest sort of brown ore, and large 
 lots of it have milled $50 per ton ; assays of the same 
 have i^:m $50.16, $62.00, $488.12. 
 12 
 
266 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Other mines in the county are: 
 
 The Arlington Guarantee, five (5) miles west of Char- 
 lotte. 
 
 The Carson, Sam Taylor, Tayhorn, southwest of 
 Charlotte. 
 
 The B. F. Wilson and R. McDonald, one and one- 
 half (1 J) miles southeast. 
 
 The Davidson group, 1 mile west — a very prominent 
 series. 
 
 The Trotter, 
 
 The Dunn, nine miles west, with three (3) veins, one 
 (1) with copper. 
 
 The Hipp and Todd are near the Frazier. 
 
 The Chapman is to the northwest. 
 
 The Huntersville, sixteen (16) miles north of Char- 
 lotte, has been explored to a depth of twenty-three (23) 
 feet, found to carry some good ore. 
 
 The Hunter, Crosby & Rogers are twelve (12) to 
 seventeen (17) miles northeast of Charlotte, towards 
 Pioneer Mills ; these three (3) mines carry copper as well 
 as gold. 
 
 The Nowell, the Pharr and other mines are near by. 
 
 The Johnson, Stinson, Maxwell and Rhea are seven 
 (7) to nine (9) miles east of Charlotte. 
 
 The Alexander is five and one-half (5J) miles north- 
 east, and the Caldwell six (6) miles. 
 
 The farm of the Elliott Bros., five (5) miles south of 
 Charlotte, has several veins, one of which is rich in a 
 very high grade of copper ore. 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 267 
 
 The Nolau, Meaus, Bennett, Cathy, the G. C. Cathy, 
 Sloan, Gibson, McCorkle, and several others are within 
 easy reach of Charlotte. 
 
 The Trediwick is seven (7) miles east, one and one- 
 half (1 J) miles southwest of the latter mine, and in the 
 vicinity of Sardis church is a group of veins, of which 
 only one has received a name — the Hunter — and only 
 two (2) have been explored enough to afford any useful 
 information ; the two veins are about fifty (50) rods 
 apart. No great depth has ever been reached in these 
 veins, although the ores have generally been of good 
 grade. 
 
 None of the metallurgical establishments about Char- 
 lotte have been successful, and none is now at work. 
 
 THE GNEISSOID FORMATION 
 
 extends westward from the granite area into Tennessee; 
 the character of this area was outlined in the introduction. 
 
 Crastoii County. 
 
 The only mines at work are the King's mountain, 
 Diiffie, and the Rhodes. 
 
 THE king's MOUNTAIN MINE 
 
 near the village of the same name, is now in the hands of 
 a new company, which, during 1885, merely tested some 
 bodies of ore hitherto little known. The main part of 
 the mine is still filled with water. 
 
 The main shaft of this mine has reached the depth of 
 332 feet. The vein (or front and back vein, as it is 
 
268 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 commonly spoken of) is of great thickness, sometimes 
 reaching to forty (40) feet : the front vein has generally 
 been the richer; assays rnn from $3.55 to fll.84, 
 116.79 and $45.94. 
 
 The vein is in limestone; its great width, the ease 
 with which it is worked and milled, and the small 
 amount of sulphurets (about three (3) per cent.) com- 
 bine to make even the low grade material profitable ore 
 to treat. The mill has forty (40) stamps. 
 
 A yield of f 750,000 is attributed to this mine. 
 
 THE CALEDONIA (OR CROWDER's MOUNTAIN MINE) 
 
 is three (3) miles southeast of King's niountain mine, 
 and on the east side of the mountain. This body of 
 land comprises 1500 to 1600 acres. 
 
 The veins are simply parts of the formation more 
 highly auriferous. There are several of these belts on 
 this extensive property. The gold seems to be associated 
 in the gneisses or schists with a small percentage of iron 
 pyrite, and to a less extent with copper pyrite. 
 
 THE PATTERSON MINE, 
 
 of like character, is one-fourth i^) mile northeast of the 
 above. 
 
 Neither of these mines has been operated for several 
 years. 
 
 One-half (J) mile still further northeast is the 
 
 CROWDER's MOUNTAIN BARYTES MINE, 
 
 (or Stamford Manufacturing Company's mine). A very 
 small amount of barytes was shipped in 1885. 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 269 
 
 THE DUFFIE MINE 
 
 is near Mouut Holly on the Lincolnton railroad. It 
 has been worked to a depth of 150 feet. A large body 
 of sulphurets is found in this mine, assaying: $5.79, 
 112.95, $8.31 to $47.37. 
 
 THE ROBINSON MINE 
 
 adjoins the Duffie, and is of a similar character. 
 
 THE RHODES' MINE, 
 
 on the south fork of the Catawba, near Dallas, has been 
 worked a very little in 1885. 
 
 There is no vein properly, but the whole body of mi- 
 caceous schists or gneisses, now much altered, is aurif- 
 erous. 
 
 THE LONG CREEK PROPERTY 
 
 has three (3) veins — Long creek, Dixon'and Asbury. 
 The ores of these mines are generally of low grade. 
 Assays of Long creek ores are: $4.14, $10.34, $21.94, 
 $821.84. 
 
 Other mines in this county on same formation are the 
 Oliver, Rhyne and Burrell Wells. 
 
 . Lincoln County. 
 
 No mines were worked in this county in 1885. 
 
 There are but few gold mines in this county. Prom- 
 inent among those which have been worked are the 
 FToke and the Burton. 
 
270 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 THE HOKE, 
 
 four (4) miles from Lincoluton, has been opened to a 
 depth of 110 feet, and drifted upon for some length. 
 Ores assay $17.09 to S95.32. 
 
 THE GRAHAM MINE, 
 
 four (4) miles northeast from Iron, has been prospected 
 to the depth of thirteen (13) feet, by pits along about 
 100 feet of the outcrop; the vein is thirty (30) inches to 
 forty-two (42) inches thick. Assays $18 to $35, and 
 $89.74; the ores always contain a little copper, and 
 occasionally the material becomes a veritable copper ore. 
 
 Catawba County. 
 
 The Shuford was the only mine worked. This mine 
 is slightly south of east from Catawba Station, four and 
 one-half (4J) miles. 
 
 The mining tract contains 425 acres, but the mining 
 part embraces only twenty (20); this area is covered 
 with auriferous quartz, and the soil is also auriferous ; 
 the underlying schists or gneisses are penetrated with 
 seams and veins of quartz, generally gold-bearing. The 
 mine is of that class which can only be worked by 
 hydraulic methods, at least as a preliminary; its essen- 
 tial features are those practiced in Georgia, viz.: the 
 washing down of the soil by a stream of water under 
 a heavy pressure into sluices where a part of the gold is 
 saved, and thence to a mill (stamp- battery) where the 
 quartz is subjected to crushing and amalgamation. The 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 271 
 
 supply of water is always the most important considera- 
 tion in work of this nature; at the Shuford the supply is 
 not so large as could be desired. 
 
 Later work has been almost exclusively devoted to 
 the veins in depth — work which is conducted after the 
 usual modes of underground mining. 
 
 THE A, D. SHUFORD MINE, 
 
 three-fourths (J) of a mile to the southeast, was not 
 worked in 1885, nor were there any operations within the 
 writer's knowledge in any other localities in this county- 
 
 Davie Coiiuty. 
 
 In the gueissoid formation in Davie county are sev- 
 eral localities where gold has either been mined or found 
 in some quantity. The only prominent mine is 
 
 THE BUTLER (OR COUNTY LINE) MINE, 
 
 eight (8) miles southwest of Mocksville. No work is 
 done there at present. The only assays of ore are $8.27 
 to $8.75 per ton, but occasional masses are met with 
 much richer. 
 
 CALLAHAN MOUNTAIN 
 
 was worked a generation ago; results are unknown. 
 
 THE ISAAC ALLEN MINE 
 
 is one (1) mile northwest of Mocksville. 
 
 There are deposits of gold in Clarksville Township, 
 seven and a half (7 J) miles northwest of Mocksville; 
 also seven (7) miles northeast, in Fulton Township. 
 
272 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 THE BARNES MINE 
 
 is eight (8) mile.s west of Taylorsville. 
 
 Ashe Count. V. 
 
 THE COPPER KNOB MINE 
 
 (formerly Gap Creek) is situated in the southeast part of 
 Ashe county, and fourteen (14) miles southeast of Jef- 
 ferson; the tract contains 210 acres; the deepest under- 
 ground work is 135 feet; the vein is twenty (20) inches 
 to forty-two (42) inches wide. This mine has afforded 
 the finest kind of peacock co})per ore, and is sometimes 
 more valuable for its copper constituent than for the 
 precious metal. 
 
 It is one of a i^roup of mines, but none of the others 
 have been explored, with the exception of Rich Knob, 
 two (2) miles distant. Assays are as follows: $60.27, 
 $10.88, S166.37 and copper 37^^^^ P^'' ^e»t-» '"^^l .45 and 
 copper ^^Y^'^ P^^ cent. 
 
 Dressed ore has been obtained carrying gold and sil- 
 ver $79.75 and copper 37^^^^ per cent. 
 
 This mine has not been operated for four (4) years, 
 and is so deeply in legal difficulties that no prediction 
 can be made respecting its future course. 
 
 Caldwell County. 
 
 The mining work done here in 1885 was extremely 
 desultory, and the results very small ; it consisted of 
 gravel mining exclusively. 
 
 There are but few veins in Caldwell, at least that are 
 known to the general public. 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 273 
 
 Twelve (12) miles north of Morganton, and on the 
 northeast side of Johns river, is the 
 
 BAKER MINE. 
 
 Two well-known veins are c^n this property — a gold 
 vein and a galena vein. 
 
 The gniches leading up to this mine were rich and 
 extensively worked, and are still worked on a small 
 scale. 
 
 The galena vein is reported to carry a large amount of 
 galena, rich in gold and silver. 
 
 Other mines in this neighborhood are the Michaux, 
 Pack's Hill and Corpening. 
 
 Burke, McDowell, Rutherford aucl Cleveland Counties. 
 
 The gravel area of the Upper Laurentiau, where these 
 counties come together, is fifteen (15) to twenty (20) miles 
 long from northeast to southwest following the general 
 direction of the mountain ranges, and from ten (10) to 
 fifteen (15) miles wide. It barely touches the northwest 
 corner of Cleveland county. 
 
 The Polk county deposits, some twenty-five (25) miles 
 southwest, form probably the extension of this area. 
 
 Gold occurs over the intervening space in Rutherford 
 county, but little is known of its vahie for raining pur- 
 poses. 
 
 Almost everywhere in the limits indicated gold is 
 found, but not always in paying quantities, for there are 
 belts within the large belt. Of these narrow belts in the 
 broad belt of these four (4) counties there are three (3) 
 
274 HAND-BOOK OF NOKTH CAROLINA. 
 
 fairly well-defiued (for exact limits cannot be g;iven 
 wlierp the entire formation is auriferous). 
 
 THE FIRST OR RUTHERFORD BELT 
 
 is in the extreme northeast part of that county, and just 
 touches the county of Cleveland ; it is on the head-waters 
 of the First Broad ; this belt is four (4) miles long and 
 one (1) to two (2) miles wide; Golden Valley is the cen- 
 tral point. 
 
 Two and one-half (2J) miles to the northwest is the 
 famous 
 
 BURKE COUNTY BELT, 
 
 with Brindletown for its main point. This belt is pro- 
 bably not more than one and one-half (1 J) miles wide; 
 it commences, as far as paying gravel indicates a com- 
 mencement, at Bailey^s creek six (6) miles southwest of 
 Morganton on the road to Rutherford ton, and continues 
 parallel to the main chain of the South mountains, and 
 on the spurs projecting out of its northwest side, for ten 
 (10) or twelve (12) miles to the head-waters of Cane 
 creek. 
 
 THE THIRD OR MCDOWELL BELT 
 
 is four (4) miles to the west, and has for its centre Hunt's 
 mountain and Nichols^ mountain; it is probably two (2) 
 miles wide. 
 
 It is situated on the head- waters of North Muddy 
 creek, and of the Second Broad river, and is for the most 
 part on the east of the road from Marion to Ruther- 
 fordton . 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 275 
 
 This region, in common with the whole of the Caro- 
 linas and Georgia, has undergone extensive alterations 
 and decomposition, and subsequent wearing or drifting 
 down, by which the gold has been left in the surface 
 soil, and more largely in the bottoms of streams both 
 ancient and modern. The old streams and sinks receiv- 
 ing the ancient drift and wash are the richest deposi- 
 tories. 
 
 They are usually of no great length or breadth, but 
 oftentimes quite numerous. 
 
 It will readily he understood that the operations of 
 the past, when little capital was employed and little ap- 
 paratus, were necessarily confined to such deposits as lay 
 near water, or to which water could be easily brought. 
 
 The greater part of these accessible places was long 
 ago exhausted, and the work of the future will be on 
 those deep-lying gravels, which require expensive dig- 
 ging to remove the overlying soil, or else a heavy and 
 powerful stream of water to wash it away. The possi- 
 bilities of remunerative work from the washing of 
 gravel alone are growing less, and the attention of the 
 chief operators is directed to a combination of the 
 hydraulic and mill treatment. This surface to a great 
 depth is altered and softened, and readily yields to water. 
 The veins will not generally allow of exploitation one 
 by one, as in ordinary mining, as they are too narrow, 
 but a treatment of the entire ore channel as a whole is 
 fr^uently ap[)licable. When the conformation of the 
 ground admits, and the gulches are deep enough, the 
 
276 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 whole formatioD including many seams (or veins) of 
 quartz may be easily undermined to a great depth, and 
 the whole mass washed down into sluices, and thence to 
 mill for battery treatment and amalgamation of the au- 
 riferous quartz and hard masses. 
 
 This combination is already employed at several locali- 
 ties, and will no doubt ultimately be largely extended. 
 
 Occasionally, veins of moderate width or even narrow 
 seams can be profitably exploited in the comnum way 
 by adits from the gulches entering at points so low as to 
 make expensive hoisting and draining plants unneces- 
 sary ; gravity tramways can often be constructed to 
 place the ore in the mill-house with scarcely any hand- 
 ling. 
 
 The surface in this belt is very rolling, if not moun- 
 taiuous, and aftbrds opportunities for novel combina- 
 tions at once efficient and economical. 
 
 The foregoing statement respecting the occurrence of 
 the auriferous bodies applies very generally to all the 
 localities, though all have minor diflPerences. 
 
 IN THE FIRST OR RUTHERFORD BELT, 
 
 the best known localities are: the Grayson — gravel and 
 vein mine of 250 acres; it has several distinct veins of 
 low grade auriferous quartz. 
 
 THF LAWSON SMAK'T MINK, 
 
 gravel, of oOO acres, is one (1 ) mile north. 
 
MINING IX NORTH CAEOIJNA. 277 
 
 THE GAMBLE MINE, 
 
 gravel, is two (2) Qiiles southwest; 126 acres are in the 
 
 tract. 
 
 THE MCCURRY MINE, 
 
 near the Lawson-Sniart, has both gravel and veins. 
 None of these are now operated to any extent. 
 In the second or 
 
 BURKE BELT, 
 
 the following are the most noted mines: 
 
 THE HANCOCK MINE, 
 
 near (xlen Alpine. This is worked as a gravel mine. 
 THE GLEN ALPINE, 
 
 near the hotel of that name, is also a gravel mine. 
 
 THE CAROLINA QUEEN, 
 
 one (1) mile southwest of the Springs, is both vein and 
 gravel. The last work was upon the veins; there is a 
 battery on the premises. 
 
 .]. C. MILL.S, 
 
 at Briudletown, is in tiie very heart of the most produc- 
 tive part of the belt. His mining tract contains 2,500 
 acres. This large stretch embraces auriferous deposits of 
 vaiious kinds; gravel is abundant, and there are many 
 veins easily exploitable. The mining here is very skill- 
 fully done, but to a far slighter extent than its resources 
 warrant. Mr. Mills has made some effort to exploit the 
 veins as w^ell as the gravel. 
 In the 
 
278 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 THIRD OR MCDOWELL BELT, 
 
 the only localities now at work are those of the Vein 
 Mountain Company and the Granville Company. 
 
 THE VEIN MOUNTAIN COMPANY 
 
 are at work on their property of 6,000 acres at Nichols' 
 mountain, eleven (11) miles south of Marion, and at 
 Hunt's mountain, four (4) miles northeast of Nichols' 
 mountain. 
 
 Water is brought to Vein mountain in the company's 
 ditch from the upper branches of the Second Broad river. 
 
 The gulches about this mountain, though worked for 
 forty (40) years, still yield their rich contents. 
 
 So far, only hydraulic wori^ has been done, but not to 
 the extent which this important locality would justify. 
 During the last three (3) years many veins have been 
 discovered and prospected. Within a few months a ten 
 (10) stamp mill has been erected to treat the quartz from 
 these veins and from the gravel. The supply is a|)par- 
 ently abundant for a still larger plant. 
 
 The quartz assays: $2.18, $4.13, $6.20, $10.33, 
 $13.43, and occasionally above $25. 
 
 THE NORTH OR HUNTSVILLE MOUNTAIN 
 
 tract has been less prospected, but abounds in rich gravel. 
 A difficulty in supplying this area with water has pre- 
 vented the vigorous prosecution of the work here. An 
 increased supply in 1885 admitted of some new work, 
 and resulted in the discovery of some unexpected and 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 279 
 
 very rich gravel. The veiii.s on this tract have never 
 been fully examiDed. 
 
 Very little work was done at the Hard Bargain tract, 
 one-half (J) mile west of Nichols^ n^ountain. 
 
 AT THE GRANVILLE MINE, 
 
 two (2) miles northeast of Nichols' mountain, a little 
 work was done in" the latter part of 1885, under the 
 Marion Bullion Company. 
 
 Polk County. 
 
 In Polk county the only work done in 1885, outside 
 of petty gravel-washings, was accomplished by the Col- 
 linsville Mining Company, near Sandy Plain, in the 
 southeast part of the county. Vein mining is carried 
 on at several mines controlled by the company, and the 
 ore was treated in the company's mill at Collinsville. 
 
 AT THE DOUBLE BRANCH MINE 
 
 very little work was done. The quartz is rich and will 
 assay well— $2.07, $9.30, $33.77 and $466.28. 
 
 About twenty (20) localities are known in this county, 
 extending fifteen (15) miles in a direction nearly across 
 the belt. 
 
 THE PRINCE MINE 
 
 is four (4) miles south of the Double Branch. It is 
 purely a surface mine, and the work is entirely hydraulic. 
 Other localities are the Patty Abrams, Wetherbee, 
 Red Springs, Tom Arms, Splawn, Ponder, Riding, L. 
 A. Mills, Carpenter, Hamilton, Neal and Maclntire. 
 These all had a good reputation in the palmy days of 
 
280 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAKOLINA, 
 
 mining, while the deposits contiguous to water lasted ; 
 but at present none can be worked on a large scale with- 
 out a larger supply of water than can be afforded from Si 
 the vicinity of theiiiines. A sufficient supply could be 
 obtained only from the North Pacolet, in the southwest 
 part of the county, by a ditch twenty (20) miles long. 
 
 The geology of this county is like that of Burke, 
 McDowell and Rutherford, previously described, but 
 being much flatter it is lacking in those natuial advan- 
 tages for cheap mining. 
 
 Granville and Person Counties. 
 
 The area of auriferous and argentiferous copper mines 
 of these counties is so remote from the well known 
 mining region, that its connection with any belts cannot 
 be fully established; its geological associations are simi- 
 lar to those of the eastern belt of Montgomery and the 
 western of Moore. 
 
 The district is from five (5) to seven (7) miles long, 
 from northeast to southwest. 
 
 Six (6) localities in this district are well known, viz: 
 The Big America mine, the Copper World, the Hollo- 
 way, the Gil lis and the Yancey. 
 
 THE BIG AMERICA MINE, 
 
 in Granville county, one (1) mile from the Person line, 
 and two (2) miles south of Virginia, has reached a 
 depth of 65 feet; the shaft is an underlay and is in the 
 body of ore; a drift has been run in the vein for 75 ' 
 feet. The ore body is from one (1 ) to four (4) feet wide, 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. -281 
 
 consisting of bornite, malachite, etc. ; verylittle chalcopy- 
 rite is found. Several carloads of ore have been ship- 
 ped to northern smelting works, ranging in contents: 
 copper 21.27 per cent., and silver $4.95, to copper 50.5 
 per cent. 
 
 The ore is reported free from arsenic, antimony, etc. 
 
 THE COPPER WORLD, 
 
 one (1) mile southwest in Person county, is down 112 
 feet, and has a small l)ut valuable vein of bornite, etc., 
 of high value in copper, and with a good tenor in silver. 
 
 THE HOLLO WAY, 
 
 near by, has two (2) veins, explored respectively 20 and 
 16 feet deep. The former shows a two and one-half 
 (2J) feet vein of copper glance, etc., assaying 20 to 28 
 per cent, for copper, and with some silver; the latter is 
 not deep enough to justify any statement. 
 At the 
 
 GILLIS MINE, 
 
 five (5) miles southwest of Blue Wing, little has been 
 done. The vein is 18 inches to 5 feet wide, with a nar- 
 row but exceedingly rich streak of chalcocite, chryso- 
 colla, etc. ; this ore is readily dressed, and reaches a high 
 contents in copper. 
 At the 
 
 BUCKEYE, 
 
 a perpendicular shaft has been sunk 30 feet, and a good 
 showing made. The ore is bornite, etc. 
 
282 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 THE YANCEY 
 
 hats been idle for more than a year. 
 
 The ore is of like character, assaying as follows : 
 Copper 48.17 per cent., gold and silver $9.94; cop- 
 per 26.16 per cent., gold and silver $8.01 ; copper 31.14 
 per cent., gold and silver $2.62. 
 
 This has never been investigated and is little known. 
 
 COPPER. 
 
 None of the copper works of the State are now in 
 operation. j 
 
 THE ORE KNOB 
 
 establishment in Ashe connty has been idle for three (3) 
 years. The low and falling price of copper discouraged 
 further work, though the ore body at the depth of 400 
 feet is still of fair average contents, and can by sorting, 
 etc., be brought up to a good smelting mixture. The ^ 
 plant is large and extensive, and fitted for the produc- 
 tion of ingot copper of high grade. 
 
 The copper works at Conrad Hill, and the incidental 
 copper production at the Phoenix Mine 'Chlorination 
 Works in Cabarrus county, have been described previ- 
 ously. 
 
 The localities now at work which can furnish copper 
 ores are: the Person and Granville county mines, the 
 Davidson or Emmons mine in Davidson county. Gold 
 Hill in Rowan county, and the Phoenix mine in Cabarrus. 
 
 Several allusions to copper mines have been made in 
 the course of this article, but no others are now at work. 
 
MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 283 
 
 SILVER, LEAD AND ZINC. 
 
 No mines yielding these metals are now at work, ex- 
 cept that silver is an incidental associate of gold in every 
 mine in the gold belts. 
 
 The chief localities from which these metals may be 
 expected have already appeared in the notices of Silver 
 Valley, Silver Hill, McMakin, Smart and Baker mines. 
 
 Uaston County. 
 
 ORMOND IRON ORE BANK. 
 
 This ore deposit is 30 miles south of west from Char- 
 lotte, and two and one-half (2J) miles from Wootton's 
 Station on the Atlanta Railroad, and one-half (J) mile 
 from that road, with which it is connected by a special 
 branch. 
 
 This mine is one of several owned or controlled by 
 the Carolina Mining Company, among which are the 
 Yellow Ridge, Ellerson, Costner and others. 
 
 THE ORMOND 
 
 has been examined twice underground by the writer. 
 
 The deepest workings are 140 feet, and it has been 
 exploited by levels for a length of 100 feet. 
 
 The ore body is reported to be from eight (8) to six- 
 teen (16) feet wide, which is an underestimate, for in the 
 level alluded to the width rose in one place to thirty (30) 
 feet, and never fell below ten (10). 
 
 The vein carries ore of two (2) kinds ; towards the 
 hanging wall, and filling from one-third-to one-half 
 {s ^^ i) the crevice, is peroxide of iron pulverulent and 
 
284 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 crumbly, so as to lose its consistency as soon as ex- 
 tracted; it has received the name of "Powder Ore;'' it 
 often has a nucleus of solid ore. The analyses of this 
 ckvSS of ore were for four (4) shipments. 
 
 Silica 0.43 per cent. 
 
 Alumina 78 " 
 
 Peroxide of iron 93.82 
 
 Lime 45 " 
 
 Magnesia 18 " 
 
 Phosphoric anhydride 028 " 
 
 .427 
 
 per 
 
 cent 
 
 .257 
 
 
 
 97.190 
 
 
 
 .56 
 
 
 
 .24 
 
 
 
 .076 
 
 
 
 68.03 
 
 
 
 .036 
 
 
 
 Iron 65.57 " 
 
 Phosphorus 013 " 
 
 Toward the foot wall is a still larger body of compact 
 ore, of deep reddish brown color, approxiuiating to Tur- 
 gite in couiposition ; it is locally called '' Block Ore." 
 The analyses of three (3) shi[)ments are shown below : 
 
 Silica 0.78 
 
 Alumina 1.41 
 
 Peroxide of iron ..97.17 
 
 Lime 488 
 
 Magnesia 11 
 
 Phosphoric anhydride 053 
 
 Iron 68.01 
 
 Phosphorus 023 
 
 PRODUCTION OF NORTH CAROLINA IN PRECIOUS METALS. 
 
 The ascertained production for 1885 was $125,866.17 
 
 To this may be added for unreported product 15,000.00 
 
 Note. — The Phoenix mine ehlor. works and a few of the smaller 
 mines declined to report, and were extremely reticent. The amount 
 produced there will aggregate $15,000. and may reach ^2.5,000. 
 
MINING IN NOJiTH OAROJ.INA. 285 
 
 Gold and silver contents in ores shipped from the State 
 and not included in the above $ (5,900.00 
 
 Total $147,766.17 
 
 Note. — The value of lead, lime and copper in the at)ove ore shipments 
 may have amounted to *1,600. 
 
 KESTME. 
 
 Nun)ber of men regularly employed 698 
 
 Number of men employed at intervals (estimated) 100 
 
 Number of stamps 459 
 
 Chilian and other similar mills 17 
 
 Smelting establishments 1 
 
 Chlorination works 3 
 
 Designolle reduction works 1 
 
 Respectfully submitted, 
 
 GEORGE B. HANNA, 
 
 United Staie.^ Assay Office, Charlotte, N. C. 
 
MANUFACTURES. 
 
 Manufacturing Facilities. 
 
 Extracts from paper read before the General Assem- 
 bly by W. C. Kerr, State Geologist, in Jannary, 1881 : 
 
 "The circumstances which commonly determine the 
 character and location of factories are a demand for their 
 products, abundant and cheap raw materials, the neces- 
 sary power (or the means for its generation), and avail- 
 able capital. It is unnecessary to add to this category 
 skilled labor, because the fore-mentioned conditions 
 usually suffice to attract or create the necessary skill ; 
 and this is true also, in general, of the capital required, 
 unless there be abnormal, hindering conditions. 
 
 '^Now, it can be shown that all the necessary condi- 
 tions exist in North Carolina for successful and profit- 
 able enterprise in many, and in some most important 
 branches of manufacture. 
 
 "Consider, first, the most important of the above 
 named manufacturing facilities, viz. : abundant and 
 cheap power. 
 
 WATER POWER. 
 
 " The aggregate water power of the State is about 
 3,500,000 horse-powers, and this force is distributed 
 
MANUFACTURING FACILITIES. 287 
 
 over the entire area of the State (with the exception of 
 a few seaboard counties), and is thus brought into juxta- 
 position with whatever raw materials or other advan- 
 tageous conditions may be found in any part of its terri- 
 tory. This is equal to the total power, water and steam, 
 employed by all the manufacturing industries of Great 
 Britain, the foremost manufacturing nation, and con- 
 siderably exceeds that of the United States. Estimated 
 in another way, it is equal to the power which would be 
 produced by the combustion of nearly 4,000,000 tons of 
 coal per annum. 
 
 "This power is due to an average annual rainfall of 
 upwards of fifty inches, and an average elevation of 640 
 feet. Allowing 75 per cent, for evaporation, we have a 
 residuum of about 46,000 tons to be discharged by the 
 rivers. And a consideration of the greatest importance 
 in estimating the availability of this power, is, that the 
 rain-fall is nearly equally distributed through the months 
 of the year, being as follows: For January, 4.5 inches; 
 February, 5.3; March, 4.0; April, 3.9; May, 4.9 ; 
 June, 4.3; July, 4.9; August, 6.1; September, 4.5; 
 October, 3.3; November, 3.4 ; December, 3.7. 
 
 "If the whole of this force were employed in cotton 
 manufacturing, it would be adequate to turn 140,000,000 
 spindles. All the cotton mills in the United States con- 
 tain not quite 11,000,000. The water power of North 
 Carolina would manufacture three times the entire crop 
 of the country, whereas all the mills in operation on the 
 continent only spin one quarter of it. Putting the crop 
 
288 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 of" this State at 400,000 bales, she has power enough to 
 manufacture fifty times that quantity. 
 
 ''The manufaeture of cotton has been taken for illus- 
 tration, because all the conditions of it are so well 
 known, the raw materials are at hand in unlimited 
 amount, and on terms which give a great advantage to 
 the domestic manufacture, and the market is everywhere ; 
 and especially because the staple is produced in five- 
 eighths of the territory of the State, and the water power 
 of eight-ninths of it (all east of the Blue Ridge) is 
 within seventy-five miles of the cotton fields: and these 
 advantages are enhanced by a most favorable climate, a 
 varied and elasti<' agriculture, capable of furnishing 
 foot! supplies to any extent to meet the local demand, 
 and by the presence of not only ample power for such 
 other affiliated and ancillary industries as might be de- 
 veloped along with this, but also of abundant raw ma- 
 terials for these other industries, as will appear presently. 
 
 "And as to the wide distribution of this power, just 
 now, as well as previously referred to as an enhancement 
 of its value, a few data from different sections will suf- 
 fice to illustrate it. Not to dwell on details, such as for 
 example, the fall of the streams, as far east as Carteret 
 county, below Newbern, to an extent of forty feet, and 
 the like descent of the waters of Brunswick, Beaufort 
 and other seaboard counties, we will confine ourselves to 
 certain aggregates, distributed through the territory of 
 the State above and west of the limit where the streams 
 emerge from the hill country into the great coast cham- 
 
MANUFACTUKING FACILITIES. 289 
 
 paign, at an elevation of about one hundred feet above 
 the sea. Beginning with the Roanoke river, the dis- 
 charge of which at Haskins' Ferry, some fifty miles 
 above Weldon, is 170,000 cubic feet per minute, we have 
 a force of 335 horse powers for each foot of fall, or an 
 aggregate, for the part of the river lying in this State, of 
 70,000 horse powers. 
 
 "Tar river has not been measured, but its force above 
 the Wilmington and Weldon railroad is not less than 
 eight to ten thousand horse powers. The ISTeuse near 
 Raleigh gives a force of twenty-two horse powers per 
 foot, which will make for the whole river and its tribu- 
 taries above Goldsboro, about the same aggregate as the 
 Tar. The power employed in all the mills at Lowell, 
 Mass., and at Lawrence is nine thousand, and the popu- 
 lation of these towns is fifty and forty thousand respec- 
 tively; this is an indication of the possible value of 
 these rivers to the future development of the State, and 
 these streams, draining onlv the lower section of the hill 
 country, are less favorably situated for manufacturing 
 purposes, and so have received almost no attention. 
 
 "Haw river, the next in order as we go west, is the 
 only stream in this quarter of the State which has re- 
 ceived anything like adequate appreciation; it turns more 
 spindles than any other river in the State. The force of 
 this stream is not less than forty thousand horsepowers; 
 and that of Deep river, above its confluence with the 
 Haw, is nearly as much, and the total of these and of 
 the Cape Fear, with its other principal affluents, will not 
 13 
 
290 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 be less than one hundred and thirty to one hundred and 
 forty thousand horse powers, as previously stated. Srni- 
 ley's Falls alone gives a force of 15,000. 
 
 "Leaving out smaller intermediate rivers, the Yadkin, 
 measured near Salisbury, at the railroad bridge, dis- 
 charges 155,000 cubic feet per minute, which gives two 
 hundred and ninety- four horse powers per foot, or, for 
 the whole stream to the southern border of the State, 
 with its fall of 1,000 feet from Patterson, two hundred 
 and fifty-five thousand horse powers, a force capable of 
 turning all the 10,000,000 spindles in the United Slates. 
 Its tributaries would add at least 20 per cent, to this 
 estimate, giving a grand total of more than 800,000. 
 The Catawba, above the State line, with its chief tribu- 
 taries, will give more than two hundred and fifty thou- 
 sand horse powers, the fall at Mountain Island alone 
 reaching not less than 1 2,000. 
 
 "Broad river, with its tributaries out of Cleveland, 
 Rutherford and Polk counties, and a fall for most of 
 them of five hundred feet and u|)wards, will give an 
 aggregate of sixty to seventy-five thousand horse powers. 
 
 " Passing beyond the Blue Ridge, the French Broad 
 at Asheville measures one hundred and twenty-five, and 
 at Warm Springs one hundred and seventy horse powers, 
 which gives for this part of the river, from Asheville to 
 the State line, 100,000. At Brevard, in Transylvania, 
 it measures forty-eight, which adds 10,000, and the trib- 
 utaries like the Swannanoa, Ivey, Laurel, &c., add 5,000 
 each, so that the French Broad may be set down at 175,- 
 000 horse powers. 
 
MANUFACTURING FRAGILITIES. 291 
 
 " The Nolechucky, in Mitchell county, measures near 
 the State line, 190 horse-powers; so that we shall have 
 for this hydrographic basin, between the Black, the 
 Roan and the Grandfather, not less than 150,000 horse- 
 powers. New river and its affluents in Watauga, Ashe, 
 and Alleghany, will give about 120,000. The Tennes- 
 see, at Franklin, gave 40 horse-powers per foot; and 
 this with the Tuckasegee, Oconal u ftee and Nantehaleh, 
 which will average 25,000 each, and the Tennessee, 
 with a fall of an addditional 500 feet below the conflu- 
 ence of its main tributaries, will make a total for this 
 basin of not less than 150,000 horse-powers. Pigeon 
 river was not measured, but it differs little in power 
 from the Tennessee above its confluence with the Tucka- 
 segee, and will give, with its much greater fall to the 
 State line, a probable aggregate of sixty to seventy-five 
 thousand. And for the Hiwassee, the same estimate 
 will hold. 
 
 "If these approximate low wate7' estimates of only a 
 score of the larger rivers, be summed, they amount to 
 one and one half million horse-powers, leaving out of 
 the count a thousand smaller streams of 500 to 1,000 
 horse-powers each. 
 
 " The distribution of the water power may be illus- 
 trated in another way, by estimating its amount for a 
 given territory in different parts of the State. Take, 
 for example, Chatham county in the east and Wilkes in 
 the west: the amount of force available in the former 
 may be approximated by taking that of ite principal 
 
292 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 streams, thus: Haw river will give 25,000 horse-pow- 
 ers; Deep river, below Carbonton, 10,000; Cape Fear, 
 6,000; Rocky river, 3,000; New Hope, 1,000; total 
 45,000. For Wilkes the sura of the forces of all its 
 dozen considerable rivers and as many more large 
 creeks, added to that of the Yadkin, will give a total of 
 not less than 70,000 horse-powers/' 
 
 8TEAM POWER. 
 
 The abundance of wood furnished by our forests and 
 wooded portions of almost every farm will make it, on 
 account of its cheapness, the fuel for steam power and 
 for ordinary heating purposes for many years to come. 
 Saw mills get their motive power from waste lumber. Cot- 
 ton gins, grist mills, and what may be generally termed 
 plantation mills, are all run by steam produced from 
 wood cut near them. In the interior, where there is no 
 railway or water transportation, all the small factories, 
 such as wagon factories, foundries, plow factories, &c., 
 have their machinery moved by steam made from wood. 
 Wood can be bought at prices ranging from seventy-five 
 cents to three dollars per cord, delivered, and until the 
 supply is perceptibly diminished, or freight rates on coal 
 are reduced very considerably, it will be relied on to cre- 
 ate the power needed. 
 
 The estimate of wood used for domestic purposes made 
 by the census office is 7,434,690 cords, valued at |9,- 
 019,569. 
 
COTTON t^ACTORIES. 293 
 
 The completioD of the Western North Carolina 
 Raih'oad across the Blue Ridge to the Tennessee line at 
 Paint Rock, has opened the East Tennessee coal fields 
 to people living along the line of this road and its 
 connections. Good bituminous coal is delivered at 
 stations along these lines at about five dollars and fifty 
 cents per ton. 
 
 The coal from the Chatham mines, on Deep river, 
 when worked, is sold at a price even less than this, but 
 the supply is not regular. 
 
 In no part of the State, where there is an eligible 
 location for purposes of manufacturing, and where the 
 raw material is cheap, abundant and accessible, is there 
 any want of the means necessary for generating the 
 needed power, whether this power is natural or created. 
 
 Cotton Factories. 
 
 Cotton manufacturing ^as long been an established 
 industry in North Carolina. Though generally pros- 
 perous, it advanced cautiously until within the last six 
 or eight years, within which time it has been doubled. 
 
 In 1870 the census reported thirty-three establish- 
 ments, with a capital of $1,030,900, operating 618 looms 
 and 39,897 spindles. 
 
 In 1880 the census states the number of establish- 
 ments to be forty-nine, an increase of sixteen over that 
 
294 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 of 1870, with a capital of $2,855,800, an increase of 
 $1,824,900; 1,790 looms, an increase of 1,172; and 
 92,385 spindles, an increase of 52,488. 
 
 The actual number of completed mills in the State, 
 ascertained by reports from mill owners made to the 
 Department of Agriculture, a list of which is subjoined, 
 is eighty. These mills operate 4,519 looms and 200,333 
 spindles. It will be seen that, within the past sixteen 
 years, the number of establishments has more than 
 doubled. The number of looms has increased six hun- 
 dred and fifty-five per cent., and the number of spindles 
 four hundred per cent. Since the census report of 1880 
 the number of looms and spindles has more than doubled. 
 
 There are no accessible statistics by which a compari- 
 son of products can be made, but the large increase in 
 looms will add greatly to the money value of the total 
 product. Number 14 is the average yarn spun. The 
 cloths, bags and bagging woven are of excellent quality 
 and rank as leading standard goods in the markets. All 
 these mills, except about twelve, are operated by water 
 power. While good water powers will always be favorite 
 investments, the low rates at which coal is and will con- 
 tinue to be delivered at stations along the lines of railway 
 that run through the cotton belt, and' where raw material 
 for manufacture can be bought at factory doors, will 
 modify the almost exclusive use of water as a motive 
 power, and will aid in building mills in localities that 
 are supplied with the other governing facilities for man- 
 ufacturing. 
 
COTTON FACTORIES. 295 
 
 The amount of capital invested in cotton factories in 
 the State by other than native citizens is inconsiderable. 
 
 The opinion of the best-informed and most experi- 
 enced manufacturers is to the effect that the proven, 
 undeniable advantages of making at least the coarser 
 fabrics where the material for them is grown, and where 
 a favorable climate, light taxes and cheap labor are aux- 
 iliary conditions, will maintain the rate of increase of 
 the past five years. 
 
296 
 
 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROJANA. 
 
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WOOLLEN MILLS. 299 
 
 Woollen Mills. 
 
 There were according to the census of 1870 fifty -two 
 estabh'shments for the manufacture of wool, operating 
 ninety-seven looms and 2,806 spindles. This enumera- 
 tion embraced not only mills of considerable size, but 
 also the small carding establishments. Since then the 
 number of these has probably diminished, as the census of 
 1 880 reported only forty-nine as the total number of such 
 establishments. There has been, however, a substantial 
 improvement in the mills themselves, both in their capac- 
 ity for doing more work and better work, and also in num- 
 ber. The subjoined list of woollen mills will show 
 thirteen mills now running, with 131 looms and 4,466 
 spindles. The supply of domestic wool is ample and 
 convenient, and there is a ready sale at home and abroad 
 for all the products of the factories. Blankets of excellent 
 quality and fine cassimeres are made by the Forsyth, 
 Catawba, Rockingham and Surry county mills. All 
 the mills are run by water power except the Fries, Lash 
 and Shortridge mills, in which steam is used. Until 
 sheep raising becomes more of a specialty, and ceases 
 to be a mere branch of general agriculture, there is no 
 reason for believing that the increase of woollen manufac- 
 tures will more than keep pace with that of population. 
 
300 
 
 HAND-BOOK OF NOETH CAROLINA. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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TOBACCO FACTORIES. 301 
 
 Tobacco Factories 
 
 The enterprise of the people of North Carolina since 
 tlie civil war has been trammelled by a want of capital. 
 This has debarred them from entering upon undertak- 
 ings of great magnitude, or, if attempted, they have been 
 prosecuted at great disadvantage. Our cotton factories, 
 in their increase, show what may be done by energy, 
 skill and industry, under the most straitened circum- 
 stances. Without external aid all have gone on increas- 
 ing, and many have become imposing establishments. 
 The manufacture of tobacco was attended to a less extent 
 with this disadvantage. This business did not require 
 the same amount as cotton manufacturing. It could, 
 indeed, be entered upon and prosecuted with a very 
 moderate caoital. In this field of manufacture the en- 
 terprise of the people of the State has been most strik- 
 ingly exhil)ited. The increase in tobacco factories during 
 the decade included between the census of 1870 and 
 1880 is not far from double. The number in 1870 was 
 110; the number now is 218. The increase in the value 
 of the property embarked in the pursuit is still greater. 
 A recent sale of an interest in one of these factories will 
 5how this increase — an extreme case it may be, but 
 nevertheless, an actual one. An interest in a factory in 
 Durham recently sold for a sum but a fraction less than 
 the whole capital invested in the business in 1870. 
 These factories are widely distributed through the State; 
 
302 
 
 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 aud property of every kind has been enhanced in value, 
 the sum of comfort has been increased through the em- 
 ployment of women and children, and the general pros- 
 perity promoted wherever they have been established. 
 The following table will show their number and location : 
 
 TOBACCO FACTORIES IN NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 COUNTIES. 
 
 .2 
 S 
 
 o 
 OS 
 
 ft, 
 
 o 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 CD 
 
 .2 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 u 
 
 • r-l 
 
 O 
 
 COUNTIES. 
 
 JV 
 
 s 
 
 o 
 
 r* 
 
 P^ 
 
 O 
 O 
 
 o 
 
 08 
 X! 
 O 
 
 H 
 
 •2 
 
 o 
 
 -t-» 
 
 1 
 
 o 
 
 \lamauce 
 
 6 
 4 
 
 1 
 3 
 5 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 "i 
 
 2| 
 21 
 1 
 
 ■i[ 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 Mecklenbui'g 
 
 
 o 
 
 Buncombe 
 
 McDowell 
 
 1 
 
 
 Caldwell 
 
 New Hanover 
 
 2 
 
 Caswell 
 
 Orange 
 
 2 
 1 
 
 23 
 1 
 6 
 8 
 
 22 
 4 
 2 
 4 
 
 
 Catawba 
 
 Person 
 
 9 
 
 Cleveland 
 
 Rockingham 
 
 1 
 
 Craven 
 
 Rutherford 
 
 Rowan 
 
 
 Davie 
 
 7 
 3 
 10 
 41 
 5 
 9 
 1 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 Davidson 
 
 Stokes 
 
 
 Durham 
 
 Surry 
 
 
 Forsyth 
 
 Vance 
 
 
 Granville 
 
 Wake 
 
 1 
 
 Guilford 
 
 Wilkes 
 
 
 Hertford 
 
 Wilson 
 
 1 
 
 Iredell 
 
 Yadkin 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 
 
 10) 
 9 
 
 ^7 
 
 ?j fi 
 
 Manufactures of Wood, 
 
 By the census enumeration of 1880, there were 776 
 establishments, with a capital of $1,734,217, employing 
 2,938 men, receiving $447,431 wages. The products in 
 part were 241,822,000 feet of lumber, 13,340,000 laths, 
 
MANUFACTURES OF WOOD. 303 
 
 8,707,000 shingles, 1,253,000 spool and bobbin stock. 
 The value of logs $1,490,616, mill supplies $86,523, 
 and the total value of all products was $2,672,796. 
 Most of these establishments are saw mills. Almost 
 in every village there are carpenter shops, furniture and 
 wagon factories, with capacities suited to the wants of 
 the communities supplied. 
 
 Raleigh, Wilmington, Newbern, Salisbury, Company 
 Shops and Laurinburg have car shops, where railway 
 cars for passengers and freight are made on the most 
 approved models, and of most substantial and beautiful, 
 material drawn from the woods of the State. In all 
 the cities and larger towns are builders and contractors 
 who own and operate extensive factories. The hard 
 woods have laid the foundation for extensive manufac- 
 tures. There are spoke and handle factories at several 
 points in the middle section of the State, where these 
 woods are the predominant and almost unimpaired 
 growth, which ship their products to all parts of this coun- 
 try and Europe. At Hickory and at Salem there are 
 extensive wagon factories that ship their work to all 
 parts of the Union. Wilson, Goldsboro, Carthage, Fay- 
 etteville and Raleigh, have important buggy and car- 
 riage factories; and at Winston, Raleigh, Statesville, 
 Lexington, Durham, Bush Hill and High Point, there 
 are factories for the manufacture of shuttles and bobbins 
 of dogwood and persimmon. 
 
 There is at Newbern a factory for manufacturing- 
 plates and dishes of gum wood. It is the only factory 
 of this kind. Its capacity is 80,000 plates per day. 
 
304 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROTJNA. 
 
 Four huDdrerl and fifty sweet gum logs forty-eight inches 
 long are used per week, and four large flats are kept 
 running to float in the logs. Engines with 200 horse 
 power drive the machinery, and the faclory is run on 
 full time to keep up with its contracts. The capital in- 
 vested is $20,000, and the amount paid in wages is 
 about $21,000. 
 
 The most valuable cabinet woods, such as walnut, 
 cherry, maple and birch, have been felled in large quan- 
 tities far in the interior and shipped abroad. Buyers 
 from the North and West have made large purchases of 
 these trees during the past year in the mountain counties. 
 Since the display of unknown and almost incredible 
 wealth of the State in its various woods, at the Atlanta 
 Exposition, there has been a very active and growing 
 demand for them. The supply is ample for shipment 
 beyond the borders of the State for years to come, and 
 it offers certain profits to enterprising and skillful work- 
 men who will build their workshops near it. 
 
 Iron Manufactures 
 
 Tfie census of 1880 puts down twenty manufactories 
 of iron and steel in North Carolina, with a capital 
 of $759,400. As long as it took five or six tons 
 of coal to convert two tons of ore into iron, the 
 
PAPER FACTORIES. 305 
 
 transportation of fuel was so heavy and expensive that 
 it put manufacturers in the State at a disadvantage, and 
 made it profitable to miners to ship their ores where they 
 had facilities to the great iron-making centres. But now, 
 when under the present improved system of manufacture, 
 one ton of coal makes a ton of iron, the advantages are 
 reversed, and the fuel will be brought to the ore beds. 
 The introduction of cheap coal, and the completion of 
 the Western North Carolina railroad and the East Ten- 
 nessee & Western N. C. road to the Cranberry mines, 
 will build up furnaces and manufactures, and make them 
 among our most impoitant industries. 
 
 There are large machine shops, railroad shops, found- 
 ries, agricultural implement works, in all the cities 
 and large towns, and in every village and at most of the 
 country stores blacksmiths ply their trade. 
 
 Paper Factories. 
 
 There are five paper mills in the State — Buffalo, in 
 Cleveland county; Lincolnton and Longshoals, in Lin- 
 coln county; Salem, in Forsyth county; and Falls of 
 Neuse, in Wake county. 
 
 The daily capacity of the first three is about three 
 tons each, and the products are French folios, bristol 
 boards, writing paper, blotting, book and newspaper, 
 manilla, wrapping and colored cover papers. 
 
306 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 The capacity of the Falls of Neuse mills is oue ton 
 heavy paper per twelve hours, and 1,500 pounds light 
 paper. Its products are book, Nos. 1 and 2; news, Nos. 
 1 and 2; nianilla and wrapping, No. 1. The water 
 power is excellent. 
 
 The capacity of the Salem mill is two tons per day. 
 
 The supply of poplar and soft old-field pine has already 
 attracted the attention of manufacturers of paper pulp, 
 and, as the material has beeu tested and found satisfac- 
 tory, and is to be had at almost nominal cost, there is 
 little doubt that its manufacture will be one of the new 
 industries. A company for this purpose has been organ- 
 ized at Newbern, and the product made from cypress 
 stock for fineness and length of fibre has no equal. 
 
 Flouring and Grist Mills, 
 
 Mills of these sorts are, as a rule, of limited capacity, 
 and are run to grind the wheat and corn grown in the 
 neighborhood and brought to their doors. But little of 
 the grain converted into meal or flour is sent away to 
 market, and when they have supplied the communities 
 for whose apparent convenience they were built, the mill 
 wheels stop. A few large mills — some run by steam and 
 others by water power — make excellent meal and flour 
 for the large provision markets, and their brands have 
 wide reputation. 
 
RICE MILLS. 307 
 
 At the last Mechanics' Institute Fair, held in Boston, 
 wheat, corn, flour and meal grown and ground in North 
 Carolina attracted especial attention, and were pronounced 
 the best on exhibition. The wheat was plump and full, 
 and weighed from four to five pounds above the commer- 
 cial standard, and the flour produced from it was white 
 and smooth and rich. 
 
 The corn of the State is hard flint corn, heavier than 
 the western corn, and better. It makes a white, sweet 
 meal, and is largely bought by millers to mix with West- 
 ern corn in grinding, to give the meal color and body. 
 Formerly these mills were run almost entirely by water 
 power, and there is still a strong feeling among dealers 
 and consumers in favor of water-ground meal. This, 
 however, will not continue long. Improved machinery, 
 driven by steam, produces a meal that defies detection; 
 and cheap portable engines, and mills that can be placed 
 wherever it is wished, will make convenience overcome 
 prejudice. 
 
 Rice Mills. 
 
 The increased and growing production of both golden 
 seed or lowland and white or upland rice has furnished 
 in abundance raw material for rice mills, and they have 
 increased in number and capacity during the past year. 
 There are now in oj)eration four mills. 
 
308 HAND-BOOK OF iNOKTH CAROLINA. 
 
 The Carolina Rice Mill, daily capacity, 1,000 bushels, Wilmington. 
 Newbern " " " " 500 " Newbern. 
 
 Washington " " " " 500 " Newbern. 
 
 Goldsboro " " " " 468 " Goldsboro. 
 
 The products of these mills are clean rice and what are 
 termed by-products, rice flour and rice polish. Rice 
 flour is the skin covering the grain, between it and the 
 chaff. It is a slightly brow^nish meal, about the appear- 
 ance of "wheat middlings," and is a rich, strong food 
 for horses, cattle and hogs, })roducing fat rapidly. It 
 contains about thirteen and a half per cent, of fat. Rice 
 polish shows about half this amount of fat. This is 
 made by subjecting rice cleaned of hulls and skins to 
 very rapid friction. The fine particles turned off are 
 the polish. It is a whiter and finer meal than the flour. 
 
 Fertilizer Factories . 
 
 There are six fertilizer factories in the State. In 
 1883 there was but one. Two are situated near Wil- 
 mington, one in Goldsboro, one in Raleigh, one in Dur- 
 ban), and one in Tarboro. 
 
 The Navassa Guano Company's works, near Wil- 
 mington, on the West bank of the Cape Fear river, in 
 Brunswick county, are very extensive, and their mills, 
 offices and storage houses, make up a village in them- 
 selves. 
 
FERTILIZER FACTORIES. 309 
 
 The tracks of the Wilmington and Weldon, Wil- 
 mington, Columbia and Augusta, and Carolina Central 
 railroads pass their grounds, and with their wharf con- 
 veniences supply necessary transportation. The com- 
 pany was organized in 1869, with a paid up ca])ital of 
 $200,000. The works have been improved, and their 
 capacity increased from time to time, until their annual 
 capacity has reached 15,000 tons. There are large 
 double chambers for making sulphuric acid, and a single 
 for muriatic acid. The basis of their products is the 
 Navassa and South Carolina phosphate rocks. From 
 the beginning the enterprise has been highly successful. 
 
 The Acme Manufacturing Company, at Cronly, 17 
 miles from Wilmington, has built a neat manufacturing 
 village for the operatives employed in its works. The 
 milPs acid chambers and warehouses are models for the 
 purposes of their construction. The capacity of the 
 factory, with the machinery now run, is fifty tons of 
 ammoniated fertilizer per day. The output can be con- 
 siderably increased in the present buildings by the addi- 
 tion of a few more machines. 
 
 The Raleigh Oil and Fertilizer Factory was built in 
 1884. It is well arranged and commodious, and has a 
 capacity of sixty tons per day, which can be increased 
 to one hundred tons. 
 
 The factory at Tarboro will have a capacity of . 
 
 The Durham Fertilizer Company has a capacity of 
 thirty-five tons ammoniated fertilizer per day. Its 
 facilities are ample. 
 
310 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 French Brothers have a mill at Rocky Point, and the 
 North Carolina Phosphate Company lias one at Castle 
 Haynes and one at Raleigh, for grinding the conglom- 
 erate rock, found on the lower Cape Fear, in which 
 phosphatic nodules, sharks' teeth, shells, &c., are bound 
 together by a cement of f^arbonate of lime. 
 
 Pine Leaf Manufactory. 
 
 The manufacture of the pine leaf into a material to 
 be used in the arts is, so far as known, pursued only in 
 this State. The works are built at Cronly, a station on 
 the Carolina Central railroad, seventeen miles from 
 Wilmington. 
 
 The daily product is fifteen hundred pounds of pine 
 leaf hair and curled pine straw, sold to furniture and 
 carriage manufacturers for stuffing cushions, chairs, 
 sofas, &c., while the latter is used exclusively for mat- 
 tresses, and is so prepared as to preserve the balsamic 
 odor, for which medicinal virtues are claimed. 
 
 In the process of manufacture an oil is distilled, called 
 Pinoleum, that is considered valuable for its curative 
 properties. 
 
 The mattresses are sold largely for hospital purposes, 
 and a large trade for all the products of the factory has 
 been established in the Northern States and Canada. 
 
MILL STONES. 311 
 
 Carders, looms aud spinners have been added, and the 
 fibre is converted into (;arpets and mattings which will 
 be both useful and healthful. 
 
 The natural color is brown, like the dried straw, but 
 the fibre takes and holds dyes as well as any fibre, and 
 better than most, and can be bleached nearly white. 
 
 Mill Stones, 
 
 There are in Moore county, near the Raleigh and 
 Augusta Air-Line railroad, two mill and mill stone 
 factories in operation. The material used has been pro- 
 nounced by competent authority as unsurpassed for 
 stones for grinding corn, and is abundant. It has been 
 used in flouring mills, and occasionally found to be 
 nearly equal to the French buhr-stone. 
 
 The North Carolina Mill Stone Company, at Parke- 
 wood, employs forty men and turns out fifteen portable 
 mills and ten mill stones per month. The value of the 
 annual product is $60,000. Mills have been shipped 
 into more than half the States and into Canada. 
 
 The Little River Millstone Quarry is situated on 
 Little river, six miles from Manly, on the. Raleigh and 
 Augusta Air- Line railroad. Five experienced work- 
 men are employed, and a mill is turned out every three 
 weeks. Mills complete or mill stones are manufactured 
 of 30, 33 and 36 inches, and have been widely sold in 
 the State. 
 
312 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Cotton Seed Oil Mills. 
 
 There are nine cotton seed oil mills in the State : 
 
 Tlie Fayetteville Oil Mill, capacity 20 tons per day. 
 
 Acme, Wilmington 10 " " " 
 
 Charlotte 20 " " " 
 
 Tarboro 20 " " " 
 
 Raleigh 60 " " " 
 
 Washington, J. E. Meyers " " " 
 
 GoldsboroOil Cotnpany, capacity 20 " " " 
 
 Newbern Oil Mills, capacity 30 " " " . 
 
 Elizabeth City Oil Mills 12 " " " 
 
 The cultivation of cotton has grown to such an extent 
 as to make the seed sufficient in quantity to attract the 
 attention of cotton seed oil manufacturers. If the sta- 
 tistics are correct 180,000 tons of seed were used by the 
 mills in the United States in 1881. The cotton crop of 
 the State is estimated at 400,000 hales, and allowing 800 
 pounds seed per bale, the cotton seed of this State w^ould 
 furnish nearly all the mills in operation in the United 
 States. The regular growth of the industry would seem 
 to indicate that it is profitable. Of the uiills in this 
 State, one was built in 1880, three in 1882, and five within 
 the last three years. It is generally agreed that if the 
 raw material, the seed, can be bought at reasonable 
 prices, there is no more certain manufacturing enterprise. 
 The .'^upply of seed is large enough, but whether the 
 farmers will sell them at prices which the manufacturer 
 
COTTON SEED Oil. MILLS. 313 
 
 can afford to pay for them is the problem that is to be 
 worked out. The mills are owned by prudent and suc- 
 cessful men, and unless the difficulties referred to are 
 insurmountable they will become an established branch 
 of our manufactures. 
 
 14 
 
AGRICULTURE. 
 
 The P'arms in North Carolina 
 
 ACRES OF LAND IN FARMS IN NORTH CAROLINA, 
 ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS OF 1880. 
 
 COUNTY. 
 
 IMPROVED, 
 
 UNIMPROVED. 
 
 The State 
 
 6,481,191 
 
 15,882,367 
 
 Alamance 
 
 Alexander,. 
 
 Alleghany 
 
 Anson 
 
 77,799 
 48,985 
 74,747 
 90,061 
 117,174 
 44,887 
 85,504 
 40,563 
 19,399 
 99,602 
 44,496 
 90,514 
 47,405 
 36,757 
 22,472 
 89,885 
 78,080 
 
 129,269 
 
 97,680 
 
 75,278 
 
 192,787 
 
 Ashe 
 
 Beaufort 
 
 169,988 
 
 228,538 
 
 Bertie 
 
 Bladen 
 
 202,533 
 310,501 
 
 Brunswick 
 
 307,680 
 
 Buncombe 
 
 241,940 
 
 Burke 
 
 Cabarrus 
 
 Caldwell 
 
 Camden 
 
 140,623 
 
 110,129 
 
 160,174 
 
 66,901 
 
 69,660 
 
 Carteret 
 
 Caswell 
 
 Catawba., 
 
 147,249 
 141,593 
 
FARMS IN NORTH CAROI^INA. 
 
 315 
 
 COUNTY. 
 
 Chatham.. .. 
 Cherokee ... 
 
 Chowan 
 
 Clay 
 
 Cleveland .. 
 Columbus .. 
 
 Craven 
 
 Cumberland 
 Currituck... 
 
 Dare 
 
 Davidson. .. 
 
 Davie 
 
 Duplin 
 
 Edgecombe. 
 
 Forsyth 
 
 Franklin.,.. 
 
 Gaston 
 
 Gates 
 
 Graham 
 
 Granville .. 
 
 Greene 
 
 Guilford .... 
 
 Halifax 
 
 Harnett 
 
 Haywood .. 
 Henderson . 
 Hertford . . 
 
 Hyde 
 
 Iredell 
 
 Jackson 
 
 Johnston . .. 
 Jones 
 
 UNIMPROVED. 
 
 126,940 
 30,668 
 36,052 
 17,691 
 87,691 
 39,031 
 52,392 
 59,639 
 41,170 
 2,553 
 
 129,664 
 66,810 
 73,061 
 
 136,015 
 79,350 
 90,118 
 70,672 
 49,984 
 8,551 
 
 150,127 
 75,942 
 
 148,392 
 
 137,245 
 42,927 
 52,132 
 45,445 
 55,857 
 33,153 
 
 112,365 
 32,853 
 
 107,585 
 53,605 
 
 302,306 
 152,041 
 
 49,180 
 
 71,954 
 176,248 
 363,443 
 199,199 
 314,948 
 
 56,846 
 
 23,436 
 209,331 
 
 85,607 
 307,473 
 135,422 
 135,773 
 175,132 
 130,673 
 107,702 
 
 53,892 
 240,186 
 
 86,828 
 208,261 
 217,754 
 186,107 
 118,170 
 114,818 
 130,261 
 
 42,772 
 211,716 
 140,413 
 315,235 
 139,324 
 
316 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 COUNTY. 
 
 1 
 
 IMPROVED. 
 
 Lenoir 
 
 Lincoln 
 
 McDowell 
 
 Macon 
 
 Madison 
 
 Martin 
 
 Mecklenburg. 
 
 Mitchell 
 
 Montgomery . 
 
 Moore 
 
 Nash 
 
 New Hanover 
 Northampton. 
 
 Onslow 
 
 Orange 
 
 Pamlico 
 
 Pasquotank.. . 
 
 Pender 
 
 Perquimans . . 
 
 Person 
 
 Pitt 
 
 Polk 
 
 Randolph 
 
 Richmond 
 
 Robeson 
 
 Rockingham . 
 
 Rowan 
 
 Rutherford.. ., 
 
 Sampson 
 
 Stanly 
 
 Stokes 
 
 Surry 
 
 85,809 
 57,523 
 38,795 
 39,370 
 69,087! 
 57,030j 
 
 146,243' 
 42,572| 
 48,117 
 70,922 
 85,685 
 7,715 
 99,885 
 56,768 
 86,401 
 17,525 
 51,770 
 38,699 
 54,433 
 76,797' 
 
 107,255 
 21,762 
 
 100,888 
 76,067 
 
 120,480 
 84,188 
 
 110,178 
 66,698 
 
 121,469 
 61,279 
 57,393 
 81,690 
 
 UNIMPROVED. 
 
 128,034 
 112,832 
 126,993 
 178,679 
 164,488 
 184,883 
 147,164 
 108,687 
 192,952 
 294,240 
 214,716 
 
 43,057 
 172,763 
 215,932 
 190,192 
 
 90,397 
 
 46,464 
 290,654 
 
 63,994 
 141,884 
 227,150 
 
 77,052 
 292,996 
 235,990 
 403,842 
 211,458 
 174,553 
 205,612 
 396,479 
 155,775 
 168,780 
 201,616 
 
FARMS IN NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 317 
 
 COUNTY. 
 
 IMPROVED. 
 
 UNIMPROVED. 
 
 Swain 
 
 Trausvlvania 
 
 Tyrrell 
 
 Union 
 
 Wake 
 
 Warren 
 
 Washington. . 
 
 Watauga 
 
 Wayne 
 
 Wilkes 
 
 Wilson 
 
 Yadkin 
 
 Yancey 
 
 14,275 
 
 20,636 
 
 19,801 
 
 86,428 
 
 161,272 
 
 87,183 
 
 31,695 
 
 69,999 
 
 123,629 
 
 100,151 
 
 66,027 
 
 60,070 
 
 45,689 
 
 108,466 
 
 80,219 
 
 60,293 
 
 216,832 
 
 316,814 
 
 168,553 
 
 77,360 
 
 139,993 
 
 195,664 
 
 292,205 
 
 118,885 
 
 138,011 
 
 113,790 
 
 GROSS NUMBER OF FARMS. 
 
 The total number of farms in North Carolina is, ac- 
 cording to the census of 1880, 157,609. 
 
 CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO ACREAGE. 
 
 The number of farms under 3 acres is 277 
 
 " " 3 and under 10 acres 13,314 
 
 " '* 10 and under 20 " 34,148 
 
 " " " " 50 and under 100 " 34,007 
 
 •' " 100 and under 500 " 61,806 
 
 " " 500 and under 1,000 " 5,063 
 
 " " 1,000 and over 1,721 
 
 CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO TENURE. 
 
 The number of farms occupied by owners is 104,887 
 
 The number of farms rented for fixed money rental is 8,644 
 
 The number rented for shares of produce is 44,078 
 
318 
 
 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 CLASSIFICATION OF FARMS OCCUPIED BY OWNERS. 
 
 The number of farms so occupied under 3 acres is 128 
 
 " " " 3 and under 10 acres 2,141 
 
 " '■ " 10 and under 20 acres 3,851 
 
 " " '• 20 and under 50 acres 13,973 
 
 " " " 50 and under 100 acres 25,929 
 
 " " " •' 100 and under 500 acres 52,810 
 
 " " " 500 and under 1,000 acres 4,447 
 
 " '• " 1,000 and over 1,608 
 
 FARMS PAYING A FIXED MONEY RENT. 
 
 Under 3 acres 23 
 
 3 acres and under 10 921 
 
 10 acres and under 20 1,553 
 
 20 acres and under 50 3,023 
 
 50 acres and under 100 1,305 
 
 100 acres and under 500 1,639 
 
 500 acres and under 1,000 145 
 
 1,000 acres and over 35 
 
 FARMS PAYING RENT IN SHARES. 
 
 Under 3 acres 126 
 
 3 acres and under 10 4,211 
 
 10 acres and under 20 7,910 
 
 20 acres and under 50 17,152 
 
 50 acres and under 100 6,773 
 
 100 acres and under 500 7,357 
 
 500 acres and under 1,000 471 
 
 Over 1,000 acres 78 
 
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 319 
 
 Agricultural Population 
 
 The ceDsiis of* 1880 shows that three- fourths of the 
 population of the State were engaged in agriculture; 
 one seventh in professional and personal service ; one 
 fifteenth in manufacturing, mining and mechanical ope- 
 rations ; and one thirtieth in trade and transportation. 
 
 Agricultural and Horticultural 
 Societies. 
 
 There are several agricultural societies in the State, 
 and their transactions and annual meetings are produc- 
 tive of much good in bringing together the farmers and 
 in competitive exhibitions of the products of their skill 
 and labor. Prominent among these are : 
 
 The State Agricultural Society, annual fair held at 
 Raleigh. 
 
 District Grange, fair held at Woodlawn. 
 
 Western North Carolina Agricultural Society, annual 
 fair held at Asheville. 
 
 Dixie Agricultural Society, annual fair held at Wades- 
 boro. 
 
 Edgecombe Agricultural and Mechanical Society, fair 
 held at Tarboro. 
 
320 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA, 
 
 Carolina Fair Association, fair held at Charlotte. 
 
 New Garden fair, held at New Garden. 
 
 Cnmberlaud County Agricultural Society, fair held at 
 Fayette vi lie. 
 
 Roanoke and Tar River Agricultural Society, annual 
 fair held at Weldon. 
 
 Eastern Carolina Agricultund and Mechanical Society, 
 annual fair held at Rocky Mount. 
 
 Sampson County Agricultural Society, annual fair held 
 at Clinton. 
 
 North Carolina Industrial Association (col.), annual 
 fair held at Raleigh. 
 
 There is also a prosperous State Horticultural Society, 
 whose annual fairs become more and more attractive. 
 Annual fair, moveable. 
 
 Ensilage 
 
 The experiments made in the eastern and piedmont 
 sections to preserve forage crops in silos have been uni- 
 formly satisfactory. Large quantities of corn, peas, &q., 
 have been kept for more than a year in good condition. 
 Ensilage is growing in favor, and will form an impor- 
 tant factor in stock raising and dairying. It supplies 
 those sections not specially adapted to growing grass 
 with what completely supplies' this deficiency, and ren- 
 ders it certain that little if any hay will hereafter be 
 
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. 321 
 
 brought into this State. In fact, with the advantages 
 of a mild climate daring winter, long growing seasons 
 and a bountiful, cheap, nutritious and varied produc- 
 tion of forage, there is every reason to believe that stock 
 raising will be as remunerative here as in any ])ortion of 
 the Union. 
 
 Agricultural Products. 
 
 A statement of the agricultural products of the State 
 will be found on the following pages. The table, how- 
 ever, embraces only the principal products. 
 
 An examination of the census tables will show the 
 notable fact that almost every crop produced in the 
 United States is found in one region or another of this 
 State, so that the widest diversification of industries is 
 practicable. 
 
322 
 
 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 PRINCIPAL AGRICUIiTURAL PRO- 
 
 COUNTIES. 
 
 The State. 
 
 Alamance . 
 Alexander 
 Alleghanj' . 
 
 Anson 
 
 Ashe 
 
 Bladen 
 
 Brunswick. 
 
 Buncombe., 
 
 Burke 
 
 Cabarrus 
 Caldwell . 
 Camden.., 
 Carteret.. 
 
 Caswell 
 
 Catawba ... 
 Chatham . 
 Cherokee. 
 Chowan ... 
 
 Clay 
 
 Cleveland .... 
 
 Columbus 
 
 Craven 
 
 Cumberland. 
 
 Currituck . 
 
 Dare 
 
 Davidson . 
 
 Davie 
 
 Duplin 
 
 INDIAN CORN. 
 
 Beaufort 11,785| 
 
 Bertie 19,455; 
 
 893,153 
 
 389,598 
 
 211 
 617 
 
 28,296 
 
 1,618 
 385 
 
 752 
 
 19,224 
 
 30 
 
 2,670 
 
 2,936 
 
 6 
 
 5,175 
 
 13,478 
 
 6,047 
 
 19,238 [ 
 2,113 1 
 
 12,838 
 9,210 
 
 316 
 16 
 
 3,779 i 
 
 790 
 
 9,654 
 
 Edgecombe .51,880 
 
 Forsyth 
 Franklin. 
 Gaston .... 
 Gates 
 
 16 
 
 30,274 
 
 10,949 
 
 5,707 
 
 Graham 
 
 Granville 6,559 
 
 Greene 16,988 
 
 Guilford 283 
 
 Halifax 432,206 
 
 11,857 
 
 Acres. ! Bales. I Acres. Bushels. I Acres. Bushels 
 
 6,021 
 
 7,290 ! 
 683; 
 
 244 
 
 4 
 2,012 
 5,858 
 
 2,223 
 
 6,126 
 
 930 
 5,782 
 3,905 
 
 139 j 
 
 8! 
 
 1,553! 
 
 302 i 
 
 4,499 i 
 
 26,2501 
 
 10, 
 
 12,9.38! 
 
 4,588 1 
 1,863 
 
 2,535 
 
 8,020 ; 
 
 114 
 16,661 
 
 24,628 
 16,789 
 
 7,210| 
 29,121! 
 15,6161 
 I 
 20,225 1 
 37,735' 
 21,556 
 
 4,915 
 29,108] 
 
 22,613 
 26,831 
 17,315 
 23,663 
 5,156 
 
 25,663 
 21,248 
 43,087 
 14,507 
 13,877 
 
 7,810 
 31,339 
 15,723 
 19,001 
 
 32,677 
 
 23,310 
 956 
 .36,983 
 22,125 
 36,813 1 
 
 46,235 1 
 20,920 
 32,642 
 24,678: 
 21,946 
 
 4,222 
 42,608 
 25,148 
 39,790 
 44,790 
 
 305,8741 
 212,382 i 
 122,587 1 
 306,139 
 277,027} 
 
 286,211 i 
 345,091 
 188,208 i 
 
 46,329! 
 490,544 1 
 I 
 325,6561 
 381,321 
 274,4951 
 294,4471 
 
 41 ,458 j 
 
 361,641 
 358,210 
 558,281 
 227,650 
 143,156 
 
 113,462 
 390,281 
 136,546 
 218,256 
 282,423 
 
 324,819 
 11,205 
 549,9061 
 438,595! 
 330,4371 
 
 433,214; 
 335,164, 
 338,2.39 
 373,472 
 170,642, 
 
 66,992 i 
 515,1591 
 173,4211 
 619,185- 
 437,321 
 
 9,618 
 7,603 
 1,9.33 
 8,999 
 3,357 
 
 1,396 
 
 2,403 
 
 362 
 
 240 
 
 6,967 
 
 3,838,068 
 
 14,441 
 7,566 
 
 19,861 1 
 
 1,534 j 
 
 7911 
 
 1,230 
 
 10,999 
 
 207 
 
 333 
 
 1,609 
 
 9,.589 
 11,780 
 5,560 
 6,699 
 1,210 
 
 628 
 14,344 
 
 1,738 i 
 20,774 
 
 4,497 
 
 48,869 
 61,762 
 19,365 
 72,454 
 37,955 
 
 18,436 
 
 20,517 
 
 3,795 
 
 2,262 
 
 62,679 
 
 21,76M 
 
 54,519 
 
 30,592 
 
 8,864 
 
 1,122 
 
 101,398 
 64,236 
 
 120,341 
 
 11,657 
 
 6,888 
 
 7,607 
 
 62,211 
 
 2,517 
 
 4,426 
 
 13,791 
 
 2,734 
 
 230 
 
 122,063 
 
 139,126 
 
 6,132 
 
 94,021 
 95,304 
 45,812 
 60,244 
 10,016 
 
 3,914 
 110,690 
 
 16,772 
 129,723 
 
 41,771 
 
PRINCIPAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. 323 
 
 DUCTS OF NORTH CAROLINA, 
 
 TOBACCO. I WHEAT. 
 
 icres. Pounds. ! Acres. I Bushels. Acres, j Pounds. ' Acres. Bushels. 
 
 10,846: 5,609,191 61,953 285,160 
 
 979 502,676 j 
 
 473; 140,340, 
 
 1,489 1,163,852 1 
 
 4,308 
 
 21 1,649 
 
 86; 16,861 
 
 413 206.965 
 
 149' 
 760 
 
 3,121 
 179 
 
 4,685 
 
 16 
 
 33 
 
 261 
 
 1271 
 
 2,966 
 
 1,054; 
 
 75 
 
 684 
 
 5 
 
 85 
 
 53, 
 
 1811 
 
 63 1 
 
 1,126 i 
 
 ] 835 
 
 1,201 642,042 
 
 438 251,1081 
 
 42 19,963; 
 
 58 i 7,727 
 
 7; 2,780 1 
 
 854 
 
 210 
 
 128 
 
 79 
 
 1,.513 
 
 15 
 
 629 300,203 
 17 2,901 
 
 444 
 422; 
 
 139 
 
 492 
 
 229 
 
 64 
 
 36 
 
 566 
 
 ! 64 
 
 19,214' 394' 
 
 i 3541 
 
 I 1231 
 
 57,208} 26,986,213 646,829: 3,391,393 
 
 619 
 
 2,445 
 
 1 7,038 i 
 
 574! 
 33,8091 
 
 94 i 
 191: 
 
 756 
 
 616 
 
 12,707 
 
 4,0091 
 355 
 
 2,855 
 
 301 
 
 2641 
 
 346 
 
 7831 
 
 328 
 
 4,781 
 
 3,562 1 
 
 875' 
 
 301, 
 
 847 1 
 
 4,.343 
 
 1,688' 
 
 28 
 
 8 
 
 11 
 
 60 
 
 947 
 
 58 
 14 
 
 75 
 
 695,013 
 
 11,799 
 
 ■2M9 
 
 4,880 
 
 11,064 
 
 5,263 
 
 554 
 
 1,040 
 
 2,502 
 
 475,428 
 
 20,079' 
 
 3,239: 
 
 25,384 i 
 
 1; 
 
 10,174 
 
 49 
 
 141 
 
 42 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 251 
 
 23 
 
 15 
 
 6i 
 
 303 
 
 4,336,664 
 
 26,388 
 
 49,837 
 
 8,411 
 
 398 
 
 5,771 
 5,122 
 .3,860 
 2,732 
 
 1,414 1 
 
 1,986, 
 1,931 
 
 711 
 
 1,968 
 961 
 265 
 
 2,126; 
 
 360 ! 
 1,909; 
 1,725, 
 
 520; 
 
 484 
 
 1,205: 
 
 16 
 
 3 
 
 1,693 
 
 118 
 
 4 
 
 8,941 
 
 8 
 
 910 
 
 21 
 
 260,538 
 
 633,339 
 
 4,6.55 
 
 550 
 
 822,788 
 
 58,932 
 
 2,180 
 
 620 
 
 I 
 
 1,095 i 
 
 4,606,3581 
 
 1,955; 
 
 422,716; 
 
 8,487 1 
 
 18,661 
 6,376 
 1,760 
 5,969 
 5.473 
 
 374 
 309 
 
 109 
 
 8 
 
 17,501 
 
 10,016 
 
 17,550 
 
 8,211 
 
 461 
 
 418 
 
 10,841 
 
 15,054 
 
 28,900 
 
 4,317 
 
 022 
 
 3,282 
 
 11,110 
 
 38 
 
 235. 
 
 1,141 
 
 101 
 
 25 
 
 32,195 
 
 13,244 
 
 1,031 
 
 2,422 
 13',590 
 
 8.362 
 11,566 
 
 718; 
 
 718^ 
 14,428 
 
 3,638 
 27,743, 
 
 l,300i 
 
 82,163 
 35,338 
 10,291 
 25,846 
 39,407 
 
 2,736 
 
 2,189 
 
 521 
 
 70 
 
 84,974 
 
 49,338 
 
 84,656 
 
 42,513 
 
 4,428 
 
 2,090 
 
 58,137 
 104,770 
 122,760 
 
 47,898 
 4,.3,57 
 
 13,093 
 
 55,983 
 
 223 
 
 1,533 
 
 7,494 
 
 892 
 
 167 
 
 174,671 
 
 71,127 
 
 0,292 
 
 16,712 
 
 77,082 
 
 45,504 
 
 62,860 
 
 4,187 
 
 2,919 
 
 90,764 
 
 19,3*>2 
 
 127,214 
 
 9,236 
 
324 
 
 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 PRINCIPAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS 
 
 COUNTIES. 
 
 Harnett 
 
 Haywood.... 
 Henderson 
 Hertford ... 
 Hyde 
 
 INDIAN CORN. 
 
 Acres. Bushels. 
 
 9,281 3,627 
 
 Iredell .... 
 .Jackson .. 
 .Johnston 
 
 Jones 
 
 Lenoir 
 
 Lincoln.. 
 Me Dowel 
 Macon.... 
 Madison. 
 Martin..., 
 
 10 
 
 14,60.5 
 
 2/yi3 
 
 II, (lo::! 
 
 16 
 
 32,19:1 
 
 8,463; 
 19,1.50 
 
 7,442 
 23, 
 
 4 
 
 6,360 
 
 718 
 
 1,657 
 
 6 
 
 15,151 
 
 4,078 
 
 8,235 1 
 
 2,945 
 
 9 
 
 Mecklenbiirjj 
 
 Mitcliell 
 
 Montgomery 
 
 Moore 
 
 Nash 
 
 New Hanover. 
 Northampton 
 
 Onslow 
 
 Orange 
 
 F'amlieo 
 
 I^asquotank 
 
 Pender 
 
 Perquimans 
 
 Person 
 
 Pitt 
 
 Polk 
 
 Randolph .... 
 Richmond.... 
 
 Robeson 
 
 Rockingham. 
 
 12 
 13,144 
 
 41,3431 
 
 6,519! 
 
 8,882j 
 25,768 
 
 142 
 
 .36,219 
 6,658. 
 5,290! 
 4,585 
 
 4,004 
 1,463 
 
 7,025 
 
 3 LI 47 
 
 1,646 
 
 595 
 
 .35,198 
 
 21 ,607 
 
 4 
 
 6,383; 
 
 19,129 
 
 6 
 
 2,989 
 
 3,988 
 
 12,567 
 
 66' 
 
 1.3,616! 
 
 2,841 i 
 
 1,919! 
 
 2,226 
 
 21,244 
 17,254! 
 16,407 
 25,521 
 2 i, 6.32 
 
 39,264' 
 12,793 
 45.045 
 19,425 
 29,838 
 
 19,338' 
 17,6751 
 14,423 i 
 17,816i 
 24,209 
 
 41,285 
 11,8941 
 18,090 j 
 27,934 
 .32,490 1 
 
 2,008 1 
 45,224 
 2.3,259: 
 28,.542| 
 
 6,-381 1 
 
 1,181 
 
 28,525 
 
 835 
 
 16,5.50 
 
 2,778 
 
 21,910 
 
 1 
 
 19,372 
 
 14,879 
 
 46,482 
 
 3621 
 
 295 
 
 12,754 
 
 8,846 
 
 Rowan 
 
 Rutherford. 
 
 Sampson 
 
 Stanly 
 
 Stokes 
 
 ■J 
 10,645 
 
 4,381 
 
 9,6791 
 
 2,079 
 
 15,346 
 
 6,291 
 
 5,878 
 
 2.475 
 
 Surry. 
 
 Swain. 
 
 13 
 
 10,632] 
 35,3381 
 29,.502 
 49,961 
 25,175 
 
 38,963 
 32,783 
 53,951 
 22,426, 
 19,969 j 
 
 25,334' 
 
 6.809 
 
 Acres. Bushel 
 
 180,4.58! 
 314,446 
 227,411, 
 236,088 
 243,623! 
 
 588,220 
 188,.521 
 428,996 
 186,9541 
 274,010} 
 
 313,907' 
 265,9.34 
 222,855 
 
 348,858 
 227,445 
 
 539,385! 
 209,131 
 210,-521 
 302,196 
 295,619 
 
 15,9371 
 431,581: 
 185,0191 
 366,640' 
 107,95O| 
 
 348,119 
 1.59,064 
 292,8.50' 
 241,523' 
 ■158,166 
 
 139,315 
 477,168 
 277,974 
 360,128 
 392,767 
 
 597,5191 
 394,062 
 486,768 
 271,877. 
 338,781 1 
 
 397,143- 
 100,543' 
 
 1,202 
 4,099 
 2,908 
 1,800 
 1,3.54 
 
 17,488! 
 
 1,521' 
 
 3,176: 
 
 455! 
 
 1,060] 
 
 6,313! 
 1,690] 
 l,62l! 
 4,2.38 
 1,447' 
 
 12,949 1 
 .3,990! 
 
 7,852 i 
 7,9241 
 
 .3,875! 
 
 86 
 
 4,805: 
 
 96! 
 
 12.243 
 
 378, 
 
 1,930! 
 183 
 1,222 
 9,821 
 3,30i ! 
 
 877! 
 
 1.3,.524 
 3,.57li 
 2,814] 
 
 15,200' 
 
 1 7,751 i 
 6,166! 
 
 (i-54l 
 
 10,975 
 
 8,408 
 
 9,199 
 
 757. 
 
 7,640 
 35,831 
 23,087 
 14,512 
 18,400 
 
 129,42ii 
 
 9,440 
 
 29,958 
 
 5,426 
 
 12,217 
 
 44,939 
 13,111 
 12.209 
 38^816 
 11,229 
 
 94,35<; 
 40,845 
 50,248 
 48,744 
 30,135 
 
 601 i 
 45,769 
 
 1.280 
 86,268 
 
 4,845 
 
 17,43S 
 2,209 
 13,921 
 56,920 
 29.40<^ 
 
 5,786 
 
 88,380 
 
 32,279 
 
 22,845 
 
 139.260 
 
 142,121 
 
 31,971 
 
 6,297 
 
 72,22;-! 
 
 72,3! II 
 
 70,737 
 4,.30l 
 
PRINCIPAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. 325 
 
 OF NORTH CAROLINA.— Continued. 
 
 Acre^i. Pounds. Acres. Bushels, j Acres. | Pounds. 
 
 394 
 
 830! 
 
 1,016 i .304,671 
 
 m' 19,672 
 
 .5211 118,7771 
 
 208 1 95,559 
 
 1 1,230; 
 
 2 545 1 
 
 
 
 11 
 
 3,150 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 .315 
 
 260,068 
 
 159 
 
 92,565 
 
 276.174' 
 
 2^ 8101 
 
 392 248,6221 
 
 3 2,090 : 
 
 161 
 
 110,067 
 
 
 
 38 
 .303 
 
 17,460 
 181,393 
 
 
 
 1 
 441 
 
 (i09 
 240,086 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 48 
 
 757 
 
 3,7.34 1 
 
 112 
 
 14 
 
 .359 
 1,583 
 324 
 245 
 685 j 
 
 28 
 
 1,360 
 
 1,823 
 
 816 
 
 78 
 
 1..3o8 
 
 130 
 
 1,512 
 
 85 
 
 Ob 
 31 
 39 
 
 1,257' 
 
 4,383 
 
 16,351 
 
 .334 
 
 1.33 
 
 1..581 
 7,878 
 1,032 
 1,210' 
 2,460 
 
 155 
 5,016 
 8,734 
 4,641 
 
 151 
 
 403 
 9,021 
 
 425 
 3,954 
 
 336 
 
 32 
 100 
 
 29 
 
 465 
 
 21 
 
 :•,<( 
 
 1 
 
 45 
 
 15 
 
 100 
 
 46 
 
 1 ,(526 
 1 
 
 10 
 77 
 54 
 70 
 
 Acres. Bushels. 
 
 9,510 
 
 .39,5161 
 
 4,087] 
 
 2,160 
 
 .M7 
 
 242,714 
 
 4,801 
 
 12,881 
 
 250 
 
 13,500 
 
 6,085 i 
 
 30,541 1 
 
 9,154! 
 
 807,9111 
 
 211! 
 
 2,291 
 29,647' 
 14,370 
 15,724! 
 
 7,562 
 
 448 
 
 65 
 
 208 
 
 2,323 
 12 
 
 20,484 1 
 7301. 
 1,178,732; 
 1,.520| 
 
 2,393 
 10,0.54^ 
 
 2,598 
 817' 
 
 1,079 
 
 17,476 
 4,217 
 3.711 
 429 
 5,067; 
 
 10,159 
 
 6,.397 
 
 5,5» i5 
 
 7,702 
 
 940 
 
 12,295 
 3,374 
 9,197 
 
 11,242 
 3,787 
 
 1,725 
 
 18,358 
 285 
 
 10,957 
 
 .56,587 
 
 12,295 
 
 6,891 
 
 8,949 
 
 88,056 
 21,801 
 25,111 
 2,588 
 32,800 
 
 65,94vi 
 32,903 
 27,038 
 40,192 
 6,2.54 
 
 66,767 
 19,725 
 39,702 
 45,413 
 27,560 
 
 14,193 
 
 96,00<". 
 2,101 
 
 13 
 
 98 
 
 
 
 3,300 
 
 22,453 
 
 14 
 
 46 
 
 3 
 
 690 
 
 7 
 
 2K 
 
 30 
 
 259 
 
 1 
 
 400 
 
 2,957 
 
 25,511 
 
 13 
 
 86 
 
 5,868 
 
 3,012,387 
 
 8,974 
 
 51,935 
 
 284 
 
 l,.391 
 
 3 
 
 598 
 
 3,787 
 
 22,664 
 
 606 
 
 2,680 
 
 4 
 
 931 
 
 1,896 
 
 9,516 
 
 148 
 
 729 
 
 45 
 
 11,101 
 
 29,443 
 
 137,104 
 
 942 
 
 2,.3.38 
 
 6 
 
 1,305 
 
 3,751 
 
 19,994 
 
 1,548 
 
 3,952 
 
 2 
 
 577 
 
 875 
 
 6,153 
 
 301 
 
 1,.381 
 
 9,332 
 
 4,341,250 
 
 11,298 
 
 71,187 
 
 253 
 
 1,134 
 
 216 
 
 115,251 
 
 24,195 
 
 138,278 
 
 68!t 
 
 2,438 
 
 38 
 
 12,908 
 
 8,683 
 
 39,085 
 
 409 
 
 2,086 
 
 28 
 
 14,352 
 
 1,249 
 
 7,970 
 
 89 
 
 497 
 
 8 
 
 1,7.3.'=. 
 
 16,465 
 
 70,070 
 
 1,195 
 
 5,023 
 
 4,690 
 
 2,131,161 
 
 9,374 
 
 .55,284 
 
 3,027 
 
 10,482 
 
 2,136 
 
 905,250 
 
 9,823 
 
 42,04(i 
 
 .515 
 
 2,2.59 
 
 11 
 
 1,166 
 
 1,473 
 
 6,57s 
 
326 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 PRINCIPAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS 
 
 COUNTIES. 
 
 Transylvania , 
 
 Tyrrell , 
 
 Union 
 
 Acres. Bales 
 
 3,481 
 19,090 
 
 Wake 59,916 
 
 Warren 21,603 
 
 Washington ' 8,117 
 
 Watauga i 10 
 
 Wayne ! 32,103 
 
 Wilkes 107 
 
 Wilson 23,706 
 
 Yadkin 
 
 Yancey 
 
 1,123 
 8,336 
 
 30,115 
 
 7,778 
 
 3,524 
 
 3 
 
 14,558 
 
 INDIAN CORN. 
 
 Acres. Bushels.! Acres. Bushel 
 
 9,762 154,769 
 
 8,300 108,839 
 
 28,877 338,520 
 
 53,172 
 28,457 
 15,824 
 8,227 
 44,469 
 
 13,049 , 27,288 
 
 26 1 21,735 
 
 11,200 
 
 612,869 1 
 293,773! 
 217,6311 
 148,2041 
 466,432 
 
 29 i 34,8651 480,089- 
 
 299,9571 
 343,0701 
 205,659 i 
 
 257 
 
 781 
 
 14,3.57 
 
 13,948 
 5,.559 
 1,065 
 1,828 
 1,779, 
 
 8,240 
 
 1,590; 
 
 ll,289i 
 3,6571 
 
 2,870 
 
 7,022 
 
 101,719 
 
 98,962 
 46,090 
 13,427 
 23,205 
 18,60f) 
 
 .55.360 
 13,682 
 79,443 
 43,631 
 
PRINCIPAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. 327 
 
 OF NORTH CAROLINA.— Continued. 
 
 RICE. 
 
 EYE. 
 
 TOBACCO. 
 
 WHEAT 
 
 
 Acres. 
 
 Pounds. 
 
 Acres. 
 
 Bushels. 
 
 Acres. > 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 Pounds. ! 
 
 Acres. 
 
 Bushels. 
 
 i 
 
 3,289 
 
 
 16,043 
 
 1 
 10 
 
 3,853 
 
 869 
 
 261 
 
 12,464 
 
 14,783 
 
 5,098 
 
 647 
 
 2,957 
 
 7,041 
 
 9,515 
 
 2,804 
 
 10,190 
 
 3,940 
 
 
 3,760 
 
 2,067 
 
 503 
 
 237,515 
 
 
 12 
 
 211 
 39 
 
 68 
 
 2,387 
 
 819 
 
 5,236 
 
 73 
 
 821 
 
 1,290 
 
 
 67 
 
 1,109 
 
 189 
 
 380 
 
 18,850 
 
 2,922 
 
 17,569 
 
 522 
 
 3,723 
 
 7,647 
 
 9 
 
 ■ 
 
 230 
 
 1,759 
 
 4 
 
 23 
 
 1981 
 
 110 
 17 
 
 425! 
 84! 
 
 3,467, 
 
 94,354 1 
 
 992,256 
 
 G85 
 
 7,210 
 
 102,979 
 
 33,211 ' 
 
 8,745 
 
 177,5951 
 
 33,898' 
 
 1 
 
 49,783 
 72,341 
 
 1 
 
 
 37,888 
 
 
 
 87 
 
 60,873 
 
 5,564 
 22,247 
 
 567 
 
 294,*26i 
 
 37,195 
 37,696 
 
 6 
 
 1,800 
 
 21,115 
 48,762 
 
 
 
 21,452 
 
 
 
 
WOODS AND TIMBERS. 
 
 The area of land covered with woods and timbers 
 now standing in each of the counties of the State, as 
 far as reported in Uale^s Woods and Timbers of North 
 Carolina, will be found m the table hereto annexed : 
 
 COUNTIES. 
 
 Alexander. 
 
 Anson 
 
 Ashe 
 
 Bladen 
 
 Brunswick. 
 Camden .... 
 
 Caswell 
 
 Chatham... 
 Cherokee... 
 
 Clay 
 
 Cleveland.. 
 Columbus .. 
 Currituck ., 
 Davidson... 
 
 Davie 
 
 Edgecombe 
 
 Forsyth 
 
 Gaston 
 
 Gates 
 
 Graham. .. 
 Granville .. 
 
 Greene 
 
 Halifax 
 
 Haywood... 
 
 Iredell 
 
 Jackson .... 
 Johnston... 
 
 Lincoln 
 
 Macon 
 
 WOODED AREA. 
 
 One half. 
 One third. 
 Seven tenths. 
 Nine tenths. 
 Two thirds. 
 One half. 
 One iialf. 
 One third. 
 Four fifths. 
 Five sixths. 
 Six tenths. 
 Two thirds. 
 Three fifths. 
 Two thirds. 
 One third. 
 One half. 
 One third. 
 Three fifths. 
 Three fourths. 
 Seven eighths. 
 Six tenths. 
 One half. 
 Six tenths. 
 Four fifths. 
 One half. 
 Five sixths. 
 Two thirds. 
 Two thirds. 
 Five sixths. 
 
 COUNTIES. 
 
 WOODED AREA. 
 
 Madison iThree fourths. 
 
 Mitchell Three fourths. 
 
 Montgomery ....Three fourths. 
 
 Moore {One half. 
 
 Northampton... One half. 
 
 Onslow Six tenths. 
 
 Orange One third. 
 
 Pamlico Nine tenths. 
 
 Pender Two thirds. 
 
 Perquimans One fourth. 
 
 Person |One eighth. 
 
 Pitt Three fourths. 
 
 Polk Three fourths. 
 
 Randolph |Five sixths. 
 
 Richmond jTwo thirds. 
 
 Robeson Two thirds. 
 
 Rockingham ....jOne third. 
 
 Rowan lOne third. 
 
 Rutherford Three fourths. 
 
 Sampson Six tenths. 
 
 Surry jThree fourths. 
 
 Swain iFive sixths. 
 
 Tyrrell Seven tenths. 
 
 Union |One third. 
 
 Vance One tenth. 
 
 Warren One half. 
 
 Wayne 'Four tenths. 
 
 Wilson Six tenths. 
 
 Yadkin lOne half. 
 
TAR, PITCH AND TURPENTINE. 
 
 329 
 
 The United States census for 1880 gives the amount 
 of merchantable pine — long-leaf pine [Pinus austrolis) — 
 standing in fifteen counties as follows: 
 
 COUNTIES. 
 
 XO. FEET. 
 
 COUNTIES. 
 
 Bladen 288,000,000 
 
 Brunswick 141,000,000 
 
 Chatliam 448,000,000 
 
 Colnmlnis 288,000,000 
 
 Cumberland 806,000,000 
 
 Duplin 21,000,000 
 
 Harnett 486,000,000 
 
 Johnston 563.000.000 
 
 Moore j 504,000,000 
 
 NO. FEET. 
 
 New Hanover... 96,000,000 
 
 Onslow 34,000,000 
 
 Robeson 864,000,000 
 
 Sampson 602,000,000 
 
 Wake 48,000,000 
 
 Wayne 40,000,000 
 
 Total 5,229,000,000 
 
 TAR, PITCH AND TURPENTINE. 
 
 For a long period this State has been the principal 
 source of supply of these products. 
 
 According to the census of 1870, there were pro- 
 duced in that year 3,799,499 gallons of spirits of tur- 
 pentine, 456,141 barrels of rosin and 300 barrels of tar. 
 The census of 1880 gives 6,279,200 gallons of spirits of 
 turpentine, 663,967 barrels of rosin and 80,000 barrels 
 of tar. 
 
 The total value of the crop of naval stores was not 
 far from $8,000,000. 
 
330 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 From the line of the Caroliua Central and Raleigh & 
 Augusta Air Line, there were shipped in 1885 182,000 
 barrels of rosin and 39,000 barrels of spirits. 
 
 From Wilmington 344,713 barrels of rosin; 70,012 
 barrels of spirits; 65,874 barrels of tar; 43,701 barrels 
 of crude turpentine. 
 
 From Fayetteville about 12,000 barrels of spirits of 
 turpentine and 40,000 barrels of rosin. 
 
 From Newbern 10,000 barrels of spirits and 2,000 
 barrels of tar. 
 
SILK CULTURE, 
 
 The following notice of silk culture is from the hand 
 of Mr. Edward Fasnach, of Raleigh, North Carolina, 
 who speaks from a practical knowledge of the business. 
 
 Among the undeveloped resources of North Carolina 
 there are probably none deserving of more thoughtful 
 consideration than silk culture. 
 
 The mulberry, which supplies the food for the silk 
 worm, is indigenous, and grows in great abundance in 
 almost every section of the State, and it attains its fullest 
 development with scarcely any cultivation. Nor is the 
 silk-giving quality of its leaves less noticeable, for, 
 wherever North Carolina grown silk has been put to a 
 test, it has been found of most excellent quality, and 
 equal to the best French and Italian. 
 
 There is no branch of agriculture that oifers so gen- 
 erous a reward for so little capital invested as silk cul- 
 ture. The making of a crop, from the hatching to the 
 gathering of the silk, be the crop small or large, will 
 consume but six weeks^ time. Moreover, the otherwise 
 unemployed members of the family, as the w^omen, the 
 children, the aged, and even infirm, can here find profit- 
 able occupation. Nor is silk culture limited to the farm 
 
332 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 or country, but where there is a room and food for the 
 silk worm available, whether it be in town or city, silk 
 can be raised. It is computed that there are 270,994 
 families in North Carolina; now, if only 10,000 would 
 make a small crop each year of two hundred to three 
 hundred pounds of silk, the aggregate income would 
 amount to between one and two millions of dollars. 
 Three-fourths of the silk in France is the production of 
 small crops, from two hundred to four hundred pounds. 
 It is a source of great wealth to that natif)n, and con- 
 tributes more than any other branch of industry to the 
 general prosperity of the people. The French call silk 
 culture une de nos gloires industrielles {ow^ of our indus- 
 trial glories). 
 
 Our endless tracts of cheap and uncultivated lands, so 
 well adapted to the growth of the mulberry, and our 
 mild and equable climate, present strong inducements to 
 French and Italian colonies of silk growers, with whom 
 the culture of silk has become an hereditary occupation. 
 
 The rapid progress and fast increasing production of 
 the American silk manufactories cannot but have an 
 encouraging influence upon silk culture in this country. 
 The raw silk imported, duty free, last year, amounted to 
 about twelve millions of dollars. 
 
 The prices for cocoons and raw silk have of late years 
 verv much fluctuated. While the cocoons sold in 1876 
 at $3.00 per pound, they are selling to-day at $1.25. 
 These are the extreme figures; the average price may be 
 fairly stated at $1.50 per pound. 
 
SILK cui/ruRE. 333 
 
 Two hundred mulberry trees will grow very well ou 
 two acres of land. A good medium-sized tree will yield 
 oue hundred and fifty pounds of leaves, which will give 
 30,000 pounds of leaves on two acres. As it takes sev- 
 enteen pounds of leaves to make one pound of fresh 
 cocoons, 30,000 pounds will give 1,765 pounds of fresh 
 cocoons. 
 
 The 1,765 pounds of fresh cocoons will make 588 
 pounds of dried cocoons. 
 
 A ready market for these cocoons can be found in 
 Philadelphia through the. medium of the Department of 
 Agriculture. 
 
 The expenses of cultivating two acres in trees, feeding 
 the worms, &c., may be stated as follows: 
 
 1 grown person first ten days $ 10.00 
 
 2 boys or girls " " " 6.00 
 
 3 grown persons second ten days 20.00 
 
 5 boys or girls " " " 15.00 
 
 3 grown persons third ten days 30.00 
 
 16 boys or girls " " " 38.00 
 
 I 129.00 
 
 If a few dollars for food is added, a few days work 
 for pruning and cultivating the trees, and a few sundries, 
 it would cover all the expenses, which would not exceed 
 $160. 
 
FISHING INTERESTS, 
 
 The North Carolina fisheries are the most important 
 on the South Atlantic coast. They yielded in 1880 four 
 times as much food fish and employed three times as many 
 persons as they did in 1870, and yet, south of Albemarle 
 sound, they are practically undeveloped on account of 
 lack of shipping and refrigerating conveniences. The 
 means of shipment are increasing every year, however, 
 and, with this advantage, the enter[)rise of the people 
 along the coast will build up, at various points, a large 
 trade in fish, such as Wilmington, Beaufort, Newbern 
 and Washington now have. 
 
 The principal commercial fisheries are the herring, 
 shad, bluefish, mullet, Spanish mackerel, sturgeon, men- 
 haden, bass, trout and oyster. 
 
 The large rivers and brackish sounds of North Carolina 
 are visited annually by immense numbers of shad and 
 herring, and in spring and early summer the fishing is 
 extensive in many portions of the State. The princi})al 
 fisheries, however, are near the junction of the Roanoke 
 and Chowan rivers, at the head of Albemarle sound, and 
 in the Neuse and the Tar rivers. In the herring fish- 
 eries the State ranks first on the list, with 16,520,000 
 pounds, netting the fishermen $142,847. The quantity 
 
FISHING INTERESTS. 336 
 
 of shad taken in 1880 was 3,221,263 pounds, being a 
 little below the Maryland catch, but the price realized is 
 so much greater that the value of the catch is more than 
 double that of the Maryland fishery, because the shad 
 are marketed before fishing begins there. The sea fish- 
 eries, when compared with those of the more northern 
 States, are of little importance, though, in the bays and 
 sounds between Beaufort and Wilmington, many follow 
 fishing for a livelihood, and secure annually large quan- 
 tities of the various species. The mullet fisheries of 
 North Carolina are second only to those of Florida, the 
 catch in 1880 amounting to 3,868,000 pounds, valued at 
 $80,500. 
 
 The catch of bluefish, striped bass and trout, will 
 average about a million pounds eacii per annum, and the 
 run of these fish increases rather than diminishes. 
 
 Spanish mackerel are becoming more common along 
 our shores. The Census Bulletin of last June estimates 
 the number caught at ten thousand pounds, but this 
 must be far under the real catch. Half that weight was 
 caught during the past summer, by gentlemen fishing 
 for sport at Beaufort and Morehead City, and these 
 points represent a small area of the fishing grounds. 
 The largest sturgeon and the best are caught and ship{)ed 
 from North Carolina waters, aggregating a million 
 pounds in weight. 
 
 The Menhaden fisheries have variable success, ac- 
 cording to the run of the fish. In some years the 
 waters are alive with them, and the fishermen cannot 
 
336 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 haudle them for number, iu other years the run is small, 
 and the seasons work unfavorably to the fishermen. In 
 1868 the catch was 50,000 pounds at Manteo, Dare 
 county. It fell off during the next two years, but has 
 increased annually since, and there are now three fish 
 oil mills at Beaufort that are supplied from these fish- 
 eries. Formerly a few were used for food, and the rest 
 were thrown away. 
 
 There are the usual varieties of game fish and other 
 fish that do not come under the head of commercial fish, 
 found ill the streams and ponds of all sections of the 
 State. 
 
 The following summary represents the statistical re- 
 view of the North Carolina Fisheries : 
 
 Persoijs employed 5,274 
 
 Fishing vessels 95 
 
 Fishing boats 3,714 
 
 Capital dependent on the fishery industries $506,561 
 
 Pounds of sea products taken (including oysters). . .11,357,300 
 
 Value of same $280,745 
 
 Pounds of river products taken 20,892,188 
 
 Value of same $546,950 
 
 Total value of products to the fishermen $827,695 
 
 The Oyster Survey. 
 
 The oyster beds of the State have grown in favor 
 during the last few years, and consequently their product 
 lias greatly increased to supply the demand. The New 
 
THE OYSTER SURVEY. 337 
 
 river oyster has a great local reputation, and is preferred 
 by connoisseurs to the oysters of Virginia and Mary- 
 land. It sells for a uniform price. The total yield 
 is 200,000 bushels. 
 
 Under a resolution of the General Assembly, the 
 Board of Agriculture is now conducting an examination 
 of the oyster area of the State. The survey is made 
 under the direction of Lieut. Francis Winslow, U. S. 
 Navy, whose experience and learning will give the re- 
 sults of the work great scientific as well as economic 
 value. 
 
 The proposed plan of work is to extend the examina- 
 tion from Morehead City to the southward. To then 
 extend operations from Morehead to the northward 
 through Core, Pamlico, Albemarle and Currituck sounds. 
 
 So far the investigation has proceeded fairly well not- 
 withstanding the inclement season of the year and the 
 delays incidental to preparation and to all tentative op- 
 erations. The survey of Bogue Sound has been com- 
 pleted and that of the White Oak river is well under 
 way. The indications are that about 15,000 acres 
 of bottom in Bogue Sound can be turned into oyster 
 ground; or, in other words, an area now unproductive 
 can probably be made to yield an annual crop worth 
 over ^300,000. 
 
 15 
 
338 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 German Carp. 
 
 Carp culture was begun and carried on by the Board 
 of Agriculture for the purpose of introducing a valua- 
 ble food fish. In process of time it was found that about 
 twenty-live hundred ponds were established in the State. 
 These being generally distributed, young carp became 
 accessible and cheap in every section. The Board hav- 
 ing accomplished its object, the culture of carp was or- 
 dered to be discontinued. 
 
 In 1877 the Department began the propagation and 
 culture of iish in the inland waters of the State. The 
 work was <lone under the direction of Mr. S. G. Worth, 
 Superintendent of Fish and Fisheries, who released over 
 25,000,000 shad fry in the tributaries of Pamlico and 
 Albemarle sounds, and the rivers flowing into South 
 Carolina. The hatchery at Avoca, on Albemarle sound, 
 was furnished with the most approved apparatus. 
 
 About a million Califoinia salmon and mountain troiit 
 were distributed in the waters of the western part of the 
 State. The work of artificial propagation has been sus- 
 pended. 
 
 Fish Oil Mills. 
 
 At Beaufort, on Beaufort harbor, are three Fish Oil 
 Mills for expressing the oil and making fish scrap for 
 fertilizers of the menhaden and refuse and unmarketable 
 
FISH OTf> MILLS. 339 
 
 fish. The offal of fish has been utilized as a fertilizer 
 for years past on the plantations contiguous to the large 
 fisheries on the sounds and rivers. This waste, at the 
 Albemarle fisheries alone, thus used, is estimated at 
 3,000 tons per annum. When to these figures is added 
 the refuse from the Pamlico and the smaller sounds and 
 the rivers that empty into them, the aggregate of ferti- 
 lizing material is seen to be very large. The analysis of 
 this refuse shows a high result. Tl)e immense schools 
 of menhaden on the coast and in the sounds attracted 
 attention a numl)er of years ago and desultory attempts 
 to take them were made, but on account of extravagant 
 equipment, want (►f business management and proper 
 acqnaintancp with the modes of fishing in these waters, 
 they were, as a ruh^, unsuccessful. 
 
 An old fisherman gives the following account of the 
 visits of the menhaden to the eastern waters: "They 
 first make their appearance in June and remain until 
 December; they generally come into the shore on the 
 northern coast of the cape, running south along the 
 beach and entering the inlets and rivers. In the first of 
 the season they may l)e seen, in moderate weather, five 
 or six miles at sea, in larj?e schools half a mile in lengtfi, 
 j apparently floating upon the surface of the water. They 
 \ always make their ap[)earance from the tiorth and leave 
 the coast by the same route. Some are seen in the 
 sounds and rivers all the year. When the second large 
 run occurs in the fall they appear in immense numbers. 
 This is sometimes in November and in other seasons in 
 December. Many schools may be seen at one time. 
 
340 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 They seldom come near the coast in high winds and 
 rough seas, or if they do they swim so h:)wthat they are 
 not seen from land. Their appearance is certain, and 
 they are about the same in abundance every year at the 
 spring run, but the fall and winter runs vary somewhat, 
 the number in some seasons being very much smaller." 
 
 The Sources (►f material for the manufacture of com- 
 mercial fertilizers are sought for to keep pace with their 
 use, and as these fish are especially valuable for produc- 
 ing ammonia, the demand for them will increase from 
 year to year. The points to which preference will be 
 Sfiven for the establishment of factories are those where 
 they will be found in greatest abundance. On the east- 
 ern waters of the State are man}'- such points, notal)ly 
 Roanoke Island. It is almost equally accessible to Albe- 
 marle and Pamlico sounds, the great headquarters of the 
 menhaden, and near the great fisheries where a large sup- 
 ply of offal can annually be had. It has nnlimited 
 facilities for the transportation of its products by sea and 
 by land from Edenton, Elizabeth City, Newbern, Wash- 
 ington and Morehead City. 
 
 Indications are that fishing for material for fish oil 
 mills will become one of the steady and {>rofitable pur- 
 suits of the eastern section. 
 
 In 1880 there was a fish oil factory at Manteo, on 
 Roanoke Island. During the summer of 1882 the three 
 now in operation in Carteret county, near Beaufort, were 
 established. In one of these engines with 48 horse 
 power are used in running machinery and pumps. There 
 are seventeen cooking tanks, holding twenty barrels of 
 
FISH OIL MILLS. 341 
 
 fish each, two presses, four curbs, two pumps and a 
 hoisting engine for unloading boats. Two acres of 
 ground are covered with boards for drying scrap. The 
 scrap house is 40x60 feet. The factory is 50x60 feet, with 
 sljeds and eng-iues and boiler houses attached. There is 
 a good d'»ck 40x60 feet, with twelve feet of water. A 
 steamer and sail vessels and boats are used for catching 
 fish, which are taken in purse nets. The number of 
 hands employed is thirty-three, and the capacity of the 
 works is six hundred barrels of fish per day. 
 
 Of another establishment the daily capacity is five 
 hundred barrels of menhaden. The fish are mostly 
 caught with purse seines, but large quantities are bought 
 from fishermen, who use the ordinary hauling seines and 
 set-nets. During the fishing season there are employed 
 at the works, on the seines and on the freight boats, from 
 thirty-five to fifty men, at wages ranging from $17.00 to 
 $40.00 per month. In addition to the regular emph^v^s, 
 there are seventy-five or one hundre<l men engaged in 
 catching fish in their own nets, whic^h they sell Jo this 
 establishment. 
 
 There is another steam factory, with hydraulic presses, 
 in operation, but its capacity hn<- not been ascertained. 
 
 There are also four small works, with caldrons for 
 cooking the fish and hand presses for pressing the oil from 
 them. 
 
 This industry will give employment from the first of 
 April to the last of November to four hundred men, at 
 good wages, and will yield $150,000 per annum when 
 there is a good catch of fish. 
 
NEWSPAPERS IN THE STATE. 
 
 Stanly Observer \ibeniarle. 
 
 Courier Ashboro. 
 
 Citizen .. Asheville. 
 
 Advance Asheville. 
 
 Blue Ridge Baptist Asheville. 
 
 MouNTA in Voice Bakers vi lie. 
 
 Western Democrat Bakersville. 
 
 Gazette Carthage. 
 
 Times {Jiiad bourn. 
 
 Univkksity Monthly , (,'iiapel Hill. 
 
 Bud Clayton. 
 
 Obsehver Charlotte. 
 
 Home- Democrat Charlotte. 
 
 Methodist Advance Charlotte. 
 
 Church Messenger Charlotte. 
 
 EvENi NG Chronicle Cha riot te. 
 
 Caucasian Clinton. 
 
 Times Concord. 
 
 Register Concord . 
 
 Current Dallas. 
 
 The College Student Dallas. 
 
 Monthly Davidson College. 
 
 Recorder Durham. 
 
 ToBA(?co Plant Durham. 
 
 Reporter Durham. 
 
 Times Durham. 
 
 Reporter and Post Danbury. 
 
 Enqiirer , Kdenton. 
 
NEWSPAPERS IN THE STATE. :\4'\ 
 
 Carolinian Elizabeth City. 
 
 Falcon Elizabeth City. 
 
 Economist Elizabeth City. 
 
 Bladen Bulletin Elizabethtown. 
 
 Observer and Gazette Fayetteville. 
 
 News Fayetteville. 
 
 Weekly Franklinton. 
 
 Gazette Gastonia. 
 
 Enterprise Germanton. 
 
 Messenger Goldsboro. 
 
 Argus ^ Goldsboro. 
 
 Gleaner Graham. 
 
 Patriot ... Greensboro. 
 
 Workman G reensboro. 
 
 New North State G reensboro. 
 
 Central Protestant Greensboro. 
 
 Reflector Green v i 1 le. 
 
 Democratic Stanj)a rd Green ville. 
 
 Gold Leaf . . Henderson . 
 
 Southern Woman Henderson. 
 
 IPress Hickory. 
 
 Western Carolinian Hickory. 
 
 Highlander Highlands. 
 
 Enterprise High Point, 
 
 Observer Hillsboro. 
 
 News Kernersville. 
 
 Free Press..... Kinston. 
 
 Cadet LaGrange. 
 
 Exchange Laurinburg. 
 
 Dan Valley Echo Leaksville. 
 
 Topic Lenoir. 
 
 Chronicle Lenoir. 
 
 Dispatch Lexington. 
 
 Press Lincolnton. 
 
 Times Louisburg. 
 
 Rattlf:r Lonisbnrg. 
 
344 FT AND- BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 RoBESONi A N Lu m berton . 
 
 Bugle Marion. 
 
 Chronicle Milton. 
 
 Advertiser Milton. 
 
 Times Mocksville. 
 
 P]nquirer and Express Monroe. 
 
 ^Star Morganton. 
 
 News Mt. Airy. 
 
 Bulletin Murphy. 
 
 Index Murfreesbora, 
 
 Journal Newbern. 
 
 Free Will Baptist Newbern. 
 
 People's Advocate Newbern. 
 
 Enterprise New ton . 
 
 Torchlight Oxford. 
 
 Orphans' Friend Oxford. 
 
 Oak Leaf Oak Ridge, 
 
 Record Pittsboro. 
 
 Home Pittsboro. 
 
 Roanoke Patron Potecasi. 
 
 N Ews and Obs erver Ra leigh . 
 
 Evening Visitor Raleigh. 
 
 Register Raleigh. 
 
 State Chronicle Raleigh. 
 
 Biblical Recorder Raleigh. 
 
 Christian Advocate Raleigh, 
 
 Christian Sun — Raleigh. 
 
 Spirit of the Age Raleigh. 
 
 North Carolina Teacher. Raleigh. 
 
 North Carolina Farmer Raleigh. 
 
 St. Mary's Muse Ral eigh , 
 
 Times Reidsville. 
 
 Doll A r Weekly Reids vil 1 e. 
 
 Rocket Rockingham. 
 
 Spirit of the South Rockingham. 
 
 Reporter Rocky Mount 
 
NEWSPAPERS IN THE STATE. 345 
 
 Tar River Talker Eocky Mount. 
 
 Enterprise Rutherford College. 
 
 Person County Courier • Roxboro. 
 
 Banner Rutherford ton. 
 
 People's Press Salem. 
 
 Carolina Watchman Salisbury. 
 
 Herald Salisbury. 
 
 Democrat Salisbury, 
 
 Telegraph Snow Hill. 
 
 Democrat Scotland Neck. 
 
 Aurora Shelby. 
 
 New Era Shelby. 
 
 Herald Smithfield. 
 
 Landmark Statesville. 
 
 American Statesville. 
 
 Christian Advocate Statesville. 
 
 Pamlico Enterprise Bayboro. 
 
 Southerner Tarboro. 
 
 Sentinel Tarboro. 
 
 Guide Tarboro. 
 
 Trinity Magazine Trinity. 
 
 Montgomery Vidette Troy. 
 
 Anson Times Wadesboro. 
 
 Intelligencer Wadesboro. 
 
 Gazette Warrenton. 
 
 Gazette Washington. 
 
 Watchtower Washington. 
 
 Reveille Washington. 
 
 Banner Washington. 
 
 Progress Washington. 
 
 News Weldon. 
 
 News Waynesville. 
 
 Star Wilmington. 
 
 Review Wilmington. 
 
 North Carolina Medical Journal Wilmington. 
 
 North Carolina Presbyterian Wilmington. 
 
346 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Post Wilmington. 
 
 Journal Wilmington. 
 
 Africo-Americo Presbyterian Wilmington. 
 
 Advance Wilson. 
 
 Mirror Wilson. 
 
 Zion's Landmark Wilson. 
 
 Union Republican Winston. 
 
 Sentinel Winston. 
 
 Twin City Daily Winston. 
 
 Pilot Winston. 
 
 Progressive Farmer Winston. 
 
 Student Wake Forest. 
 
COMMERCIAL FACILITIES, 
 
 Railroads in North Carolina in 1886. 
 
 Albemarle and Raleigh, between Williamston and Tarboro. 
 
 Alma and Little Rock, bet. Alma and Little Rock. 
 
 Abbottsburg and Newburg, bet. Abbottsburg and Newburg. 
 
 AsHEViLLE AND SPARTANBURG, bet. Asheville, N. C. and Spar- 
 tanburg, S. C. 
 
 Atlanta and Charlotte Air- Line, bet. Charlotte, N, C, and 
 Atlanta, Ga. 
 
 Atlantic and North Carolina, bet. Goldsboro and Morehead 
 City. 
 
 Atlantic, Tennessee and Ohio, bet. Charlotte and Statesville. 
 
 Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley, bet. Bennettsville, S. C, and 
 Dalton, N. C. 
 
 Carolina Central, bet. Wilmington and Shelby. 
 
 Chadbourn and Conwayboro, bet. Chadbourn, N. C, and 
 Conwayboro, S. C. 
 
 Cheraw and VVadksboro, bet. Cheraw, S. C, and Wadesboro, 
 N. C. 
 
 Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta, bet. Charlotte, N. C, 
 and Augusta, Ga. 
 
 Chester and Lenoir, bet. Lenoir, N. C, and Chester, S. C. 
 
 Clinton and Warsaw, bet. Clinton and Warsaw. 
 
 Danville, Mocksville and Southm^estern, bet. Danville, 
 Va., and Leaks vi lie, N. C. 
 
348 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH « AROLINA. 
 
 East Tennessee and Western N. C, bet. .Johns'on City, 
 Term., and Cranberry, N. C. 
 
 Elizabeth City and Nokfolk, bet. E lenton, N. C, and Nor- 
 folk, Va. 
 
 Halifax and Scotland Neck, bet. Halifax and Hill's Ferry. 
 
 Jamesville and Washington, bet. .Jamesville and Washing- 
 ton. 
 
 Hamlet and Gibson, bet. Hamlet and Gibson. 
 
 LouiSBURG AND Franklinton, bet. Lonisburg and Franklin- 
 ton. 
 
 Milton and Sutheulin, bet. Milton, N. C, and Sutherlin, Va. 
 
 Nashville and Rocky Mount, bet. Nashville and Rocky 
 Mount. 
 
 North CaroliNx\, bet. Goldsboro and Charlotte. 
 
 Northwestern North Carolina, bet. Greensboro and Salem. 
 
 North Carolina Midland, bet. Goldsboro and Smithfield. 
 
 Oxford and Henderson, bet. Oxford and Plenderson. 
 
 Petersburg, bet, Petersburg, Va., and Weldon, N. C. 
 
 Piedmont, bet. Greensboro, N. C, and Danville, Va. 
 
 Pittsboro and Moncure, bet. Pittsboro and Moncure. 
 
 Raleigh and Augusta Air-Line, bet. Raleigh and Hamlet. 
 
 Raleigh and Gaston, bet. Raleigh and Weldon. 
 
 Seaboard and Roanoke, bet. Portsmouth, Va., and Weldon, 
 N. C. 
 
 Tarboro Branch, bet. Rocky Mount an 1 Tarboro. 
 
 University, bet. University Station and Chapel Hill. 
 
 Wilmington and Weldon, bet. Wi'mington and Weldon. 
 
 Wilmington, Columbia and Augusta, bet. Wilmington, N, 
 C, and Columbia, S. C. 
 
 Western North Carolina, bet. Salisbury and Paint Rock and 
 Jarrett's. 
 
 Wilson and Fayettp:ville, bet. Wilson and Fayetfeville. 
 
 ^^ BD 7^^ 
 
INLAND STEAMBOAT NAVIGATION. 349 
 
 Inland Steamboat Navigation. 
 
 There are eleven hundred miles of inland steamboat navigation in 
 North Carolina. 
 
 Ocean steamers of larire burden come into Wilmington and Bean- 
 fort, and the Old Dominion and Clyde lines of coastwise steamers 
 come to Newbern, Elizabeth ('ity and Washington via the Albe- 
 marle and Chesapeake Canal. The sounds are navigated bv a large 
 fleet of light-draft and last steamboats that furnish abundant means 
 of transportation for passengers and freight between the numerous 
 points where they touch. 
 
 Steamboats run up tlip Chowan and Black water to Franklin, Va., 
 and up the Meherrin to Mnrfreesboro; up the Roanoke to Halifax ; 
 up the Neuse to Kinston; up the Trent to Trenton; up the Cape 
 P^ear to Fayetteville ; up the Tar to Tarboro ; up the Scuppernong 
 to Creswell ; up the Alligator to Fairfield; up the Cashie to Wind- 
 sor; up the Perquimans river to Belvidere; up the Little river to 
 Woodville; up the Pascjuotank many miles above Elizabeth City; 
 up North river to Indian township, and up Contentnea and Swift 
 creeks to the head of navigation. 
 
POPULATION. 
 
 The IbllowiDg statement shows the population and 
 area of each county in North Carolina, according to the 
 census of 1880. 
 
 In the column entitled " colored '^ are included the 
 very few Chinese, Japanese and Indians. 
 
 Population. 
 
 COUNTIES. 
 
 The State 
 
 Alamance .. 
 Alexander.. 
 Alleghany .. 
 
 Anson 
 
 Ashe 
 
 Beaufort 
 
 Bertie 
 
 Bladen 
 
 Brunswick., 
 Buncombe .. 
 
 Burke 
 
 Cabarrus.... 
 Caldwell.... 
 
 Camden 
 
 Carteret 
 
 Caswell 
 
 Catawba 
 
 o 
 
 T3 
 
 a; 
 
 1,399,750 867,242 532,508 
 
 4,616 
 
 897 
 
 519 
 
 9,204 
 
 966 
 
 7,452 
 
 9,584 
 
 8,560 
 
 4,052 
 
 3,487 
 
 2,721 
 
 5,115 
 
 1,600 
 
 2,483 
 
 2,677 
 
 10,656 
 
 2,477 
 
 14,613 
 
 9,997 
 
 8,355 
 
 7.458 
 
 5,486 
 
 4 967 
 
 17,994 
 
 .S790 
 
 14,437 
 
 13,471 
 
 17,474 
 
 10,022 
 
 16,399 
 
 6,815 
 
 16,158 
 
 7,598 
 
 9,389 
 
 5,337 
 
 21,909 
 
 18,422 
 
 12,809 
 
 10,088 
 
 14,964 
 
 9,849 
 
 10,291 
 
 8,691 
 
 6,274 
 
 3,791 
 
 9,784 
 
 7,107 
 
 17,825 
 
 7,169 
 
 14,946 
 
 12.469 
 
 cr 
 
 48,580 
 
 430 
 300 
 300 
 500 
 450 
 720 
 720 
 900 
 950 
 620 
 400 
 400 
 450 
 280 
 520 
 400 
 370 
 
352 
 
 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 COUNTIES. 
 
 Mitchell 
 
 Montgomery ., 
 
 Mot)re 
 
 Nash 
 
 New Hanover. 
 
 Northampton.. 
 
 Onslow 
 
 Orange 
 
 Pamlico 
 
 Pasquotank .. .. 
 
 Pender 
 
 Perquitnans .. .. 
 
 Person 
 
 Pitt 
 
 Polk 
 
 Randolph 
 
 Richmond 
 
 Robeson 
 
 Rockingham .. 
 
 Rowan 
 
 Rntlierford 
 
 i^ampson 
 
 Stanly , 
 
 Stokes 
 
 Surry 
 
 Swain , 
 
 Transylvania .. 
 
 Tyrrell 
 
 Union 
 
 Wake 
 
 Warren , 
 
 Washington 
 
 Watauga 
 
 Wavne 
 
 Wilkes 
 
 Wilson 
 
 Yadkin 
 
 Yancey 
 
 Population. 
 
 o 
 
 9,435 
 9,374 
 16,821 
 17,731 
 21,376 
 20,032 
 9,829 
 23,698 
 6,3-23 
 10,369 
 12,468 
 9,466 
 13,719 
 21,794 
 5,062 
 20,836 
 18,245 
 23,880 
 21,744 
 19,965 
 15,198 
 22,894 
 10,505 
 15,353 
 15,302 
 3,784 
 5,340 
 4,545 
 18,056 
 47,939 
 22,619 
 8,928 
 8,160 
 24,951 
 19,181 
 16,064 
 12,420 
 7,694 
 
 
 o 
 O 
 
 8,932 
 
 503 
 
 6,857 
 
 2,517 
 
 11,485 
 
 5,336 
 
 9,417 
 
 8,314 
 
 8,159 
 
 13,217 
 
 7,987 
 
 12,045 
 
 6,600 
 
 3,229 
 
 14,555 
 
 9,143 
 
 4,207 
 
 2,116 
 
 4,855 
 
 5,514 
 
 5,509 
 
 6,959 
 
 4,795 
 
 4,671 
 
 7,206 
 
 6,513 
 
 10,704 
 
 11,090 
 
 3,918 
 
 1,144 
 
 17,758 
 
 3,078 
 
 8,141 
 
 10,104 
 
 11,942 
 
 11,938 
 
 12,431 
 
 0,313 
 
 13,621 
 
 6,344 
 
 11,910 
 
 3,288 
 
 13,347 
 
 9,547 
 
 9,166 
 
 1,339" 
 
 11,730 
 
 3,623 
 
 13,227 
 
 2,075 
 
 3,234 
 
 550 
 
 4,823 
 
 517 
 
 3,110 
 
 1,435 
 
 13,520 
 
 4,536 1 
 
 24,289 
 
 23,650 ' 
 
 6,386 
 
 16,233 1 
 
 4,554 
 
 4,374 
 
 7,746 
 
 414 
 
 12,827 
 
 12,124 
 
 17,257 
 
 1,924 1 
 
 8,655 
 
 7,409 
 
 10,876 ; 
 
 1,544 
 
 7,369 1 
 
 325 
 
 S 
 
 a* 
 
 CO 
 
 240 
 570 
 800 
 520 
 80 
 510 
 640 
 670 
 860 
 240 
 800 
 2-20 
 400 
 820 
 300 
 720 
 860 
 950 
 550 
 450 
 470 
 840 
 380 
 500 
 500 
 420 
 330 
 320 
 640 
 950 
 450 
 350 
 460 
 500 
 700 
 350 
 320 
 400 
 
POPULATION. 
 
 ;^5i 
 
 Population. 
 
 COUNTIES. 
 
 Chatham 
 
 Cherokee 
 
 Chowan 
 
 Clay 
 
 Cleveland 
 
 Columbus 
 
 Oaven 
 
 Cumberland .. 
 
 Currituck 
 
 Dare 
 
 Davidson 
 
 Davie 
 
 Duplin 
 
 Edgecombe ... 
 
 Forsyth.. 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Gaston 
 
 Gates 
 
 Graham 
 
 Granville 
 
 Greene 
 
 Guilford 
 
 Haliliix 
 
 Harnett 
 
 Haywood 
 
 Henderson ... 
 
 Hertford 
 
 Hyde 
 
 Iredell ........ 
 
 Jackson 
 
 .Johnston 
 
 Jones 
 
 Lenoir 
 
 Jjincoln 
 
 McDowell 
 
 Macon 
 
 Madison 
 
 Martin 
 
 Mecklenburg:. 
 
 o 
 
 23,453 
 
 8,182 
 
 7,900 
 
 3,816 
 
 16,571 
 
 14,439 
 
 19,729 
 
 23,836 
 
 6,476 
 
 3,243 
 
 20.333 
 
 11,096 
 
 18,773 
 
 26 181 
 
 18,070 
 
 20,829 
 
 14,254 
 
 8,897 
 
 2,335 
 
 31,286 
 
 10,037 
 
 23,585 
 
 30,300 
 
 10,862 
 
 10,271 
 
 10,281 
 
 11,843 
 
 7,765 
 
 22,675 
 
 7,343 
 
 23,461 
 
 7,491 
 
 15,344 
 
 11,061 
 
 !),836 
 
 8,064 
 
 12,810 
 
 13,140 
 
 34,175 
 
 
 15,500 
 7,796 
 3,633 
 3,175 
 
 13,700 
 8,926 
 6,664 
 
 12,594 
 4,495 
 2,875 
 
 16,341 
 7,770 
 
 10,587 
 7,968 
 
 13,441 
 9,476 
 
 10,188 
 4,973 
 2,123 
 
 13,603 
 4,652 
 
 16,885 
 9,137 
 7,092 
 i>,787 
 8,893 
 5,122 
 4,424 
 
 16,752 
 6,591 
 
 15,996 
 3,212 
 7,277 
 8,180 
 7,939 
 7,395 
 
 12,351 
 6,661 
 
 17,922 
 
 7,953 
 
 386 
 
 4,267 
 
 141 
 
 2,871 
 
 5.513 
 
 13,065 
 
 11,242 
 
 1,981 
 
 368 
 
 3,992 
 
 3,326 
 
 8,186 
 
 18,213 
 
 4,629 
 
 11,353 
 
 4,066 
 
 3,924 
 
 212 
 
 17,683 
 
 5,385 
 
 6,700 
 
 21,163 
 
 3,770 
 
 484 
 
 1,388 
 
 6,721 
 
 3,341 
 
 5,923 
 
 752 
 
 7,465 
 
 4,279 
 
 8,067 
 
 2,881 
 
 1,897 
 
 669 
 
 459 
 
 6,479 
 
 16,253 
 
 a 
 
 s 
 
 CO 
 
 800 
 500 
 240 
 
 160 
 420 
 750 
 900 
 900 
 200 
 270 
 600 
 300 
 670 
 500 
 340 
 420 
 340 
 360 
 250 
 750 
 300 
 680 
 680 
 540 
 740 
 360 
 340 
 430 
 600 
 920 
 670 
 450 
 420 
 270 
 440 
 650 
 45(> 
 500 
 68(» 
 
SIIOUIXC Nl'MBKIl ACIiKS OK LAND, VAIAK OF I.AM), > 
 
 MAK OF TOWN J.OTS, A(;(;l{EOAIl-; VAI.l K OF I.AM. AND t,,WN LOTS, NTM I'.KR A Nl) VAMK OF HORSIS, MULES, .lACKS, IENNiej^^ GOATS, CATfLF. 
 
 ._ ^.^^«'r>v AKD 1>1tt, 
 
 t ^ " ' ' - -^-'i' 11 Ml -> -l-Vf 1.-^, -■• • _ , . - - , -, -^ *^, »-A I I L.r., 
 
 lIO(;S A>l) SIIKKP, VALUE OF FARMING UTKNSII-S, MONKY ON HAND, SOLVKNT CREDITS, STOCK LV LNCORPORATED (X>MrANIES, OTHER PERSONAL PROPERTY AND RAILROAD FRANCHISE 
 ACiOREGATE VALITE OF ALL PERSONAL I'KOPFRTV. AM) AfJOUECiATE VAU.'E OF RKAL AND PERSonai, |.i.,„.krtY IV THE STATE — Reprinted from the Report o( the -Vfrfc Auditor for fisrdi uenr 
 
 ending November 30, 1 88."). 
 
 lUithiMfoni!.";!.' 
 
 Snmu8on 
 
 stnnly 
 
 stokOM 
 
 Smi-y. 
 
 Swnin 
 
 TmuBylvftiiia..,. 
 
 Tvn-ell 
 
 IT'nion 
 
 Vnnoe 
 
 Wake 
 
 Wan-on 
 
 Washington.... 
 
 WalallKil 
 
 Wftvno 
 
 Wilkf» 
 
 Wilson 
 
 Yadkin 
 
 Yancey 
 
 Tolnl 
 
 Iii:«-J8 
 
 K0l^2i 
 
 2(aiiK7l 
 
 1124ir>9i 
 
 1414 
 
 ; .ViH7:i 
 
 xnr&i»; 
 
 2»2Jiri-.i 
 
 (il2714fll 
 
 2711 
 
 ■24(&J4 
 
 IIH-.34121 
 
 IMWJul 
 
 11980121 
 
 
 ; lliUiVl 
 
 438966 
 
 !ll(IT.^>' 
 
 .wniHi 
 
 Mi 
 
 ' -ZIMW 
 
 7.'.79;«i| 
 
 l:i!H9 
 
 77107.il 
 
 ISIIJ 
 
 ; 21Km5 
 
 180>.i:»7 
 
 tni!4(>s, 
 
 28(118115; 
 
 2281) 
 
 1 .israsTi 
 
 ,1928117; 
 
 inssl 
 
 9139421 
 
 18«7 
 
 ; 2l'.mc7 
 
 I4.1U4G9, 
 
 HtW-i 
 
 1!«II2(I6| 
 
 
 ■JHG8I) 
 
 8;!in;o 
 
 x>in7 
 
 aviictii 
 
 1412 
 
 1 1684U 
 
 2.^:1124 
 
 iai7( 
 
 2.'.)441 
 
 H177 
 
 1 2S,4C.S,7S!1 
 
 lll2,:l27,84cl'S 
 
 24,«27,».')9'S 1 
 
 .'l',,ll.v,,r,7!); 
 
 l!2,37.-. 
 
 Il231l!l 
 
 21 W4 
 
 I.->I922 
 
 75(Hi8| 
 
 37(1 
 
 19l>.'»7 
 
 1711777 
 
 2(i('>a 
 
 
 !W»r2' 
 
 422 
 
 2X1 i;l 
 
 4;i7&-. 
 
 328 
 
 2:16 1(1 
 
 7l>fcS7i 
 
 51o 
 
 174(1.'. 
 
 laijlii 
 
 172(1 
 947 
 
 lHi847 
 4)«2!i; 
 
 8.'iTr>4 
 
 l.KI.'i 
 
 l(i;t4.!4 
 
 inirKii 
 
 Msr. 
 
 .-..•.744 
 
 ^efullti 
 
 ,'.«5 
 
 32-22!l 
 
 $ll,:i2.-.,724 
 
 iU.i'iii 
 
 $ 5.1i4)i.s43 
 
Pender, D,oyo 0,010 x x^,«^^ 
 
 Perquimans. 4,687 4,606 . . 9,293 
 
 Person, 8,193 6,958 .. 15.151 
 
 •^iit 13,052 12,466 1 25,519 
 
 4792 1,108 2 5,902 
 9,l'.83^ "'^" 
 
 x^ew til 
 Pasquotu- 
 Surry 
 Wayne 
 
 Total 15 
 
 [There is ono GWftaman in W 
 
 county who is nob enumerated in 
 
 above list. This is one of foRTjuR's i, 
 
 uraoes.— Editor 1 ' 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 V '*•*' 
 
 ^ 
 

 ^^-; 
 
014 417 845 2 •