THP: ORlvOON NATUIL\UST. 39 



concerning the ancienls in this local- The "mines" consist of a series of 

 ity. It has been a fruitful source for excavations situated on a small hill- 

 wild speculations in theory as to its side and are about two acres in extent, 

 origin. TLio.se whose minds are in- The ground was covered with flint 

 clined toward the single standard of stone fragments and clay. The 

 our monetary basis have woven ground at present is very uneven 

 theories regarding the undoubted ex- owing to the presence of mounds and 

 istence of gold in Spanisli times and pits due to work of excavating. Some 

 was mined extensively by them, of the pits are fifteen feet deep. In 

 while olheis who lean toward the these pits and on the mounds of diit 

 double standard of our monetary basis and stones grow trees, some of which 

 have woven equally fascinating stories are not of recent growth, being eigh- 

 of how silver mining was carried on teen inches in diametei. We find no 

 by the French and Indians in tlie trace at all of mineral bearing rocks 

 days of Jesuitism. And so it goes, anywhere about there, even parties 

 with nothing positive in the minds of dreaming of vast finds of precious 

 the people relating to the remains metal have digged pits in various 

 which are so familiar to them. parts of the excavated area. One pit 



So it was when I first saw them and being near loo feet deep with the same 

 visited them, as everyone who visits negative result, no mineral bearing 

 here is immediately constrained to do. rocks have ever been found. 

 But I did not go until I was prepared Upon closer investigation I found a 

 to thoroughly investigate for myself great many fragments of the flint 

 the remains and the surrounding showed signsof workmanship. I found 

 country, being rather inclined to it to be of an excellent quality for 

 doubt that the supposed people who working purposes. In the small 

 caused these excavations were the fields near the excavations stone relics 

 real people and that the real people of most all descriptions and stages of 

 had an object and purpose for making woikmanship are to be found in abun- 

 the excavations, veiy remote from that dance. 



a.scribed to them. Accordingly, bent Out of a iew hundred specimens I 

 upon searcli and investigation I at have seen and .secured from that lo- 

 last visited them and the country sur- cality about 90 per cent are of the 

 rounding theiu, which is a strip of same kind of stone as that found at 

 hilly, wooded land of about sixsquaie the site of excavation. "Blanks" are 

 miles area. Lying to the north of to be found in abundance. Most of 

 this "grove," as it is called, is a the relics found, however, show a de- 

 suiall stream or creek known as North gree of workmanship rather inferior 

 fork of Spring river. The Grove con- to those found in other localities not 

 sists of a series of small stony hills and far distant, indicating to my ruind a 

 ravines covered with a comparatively class of people somewhat more inferior 

 recent growth of "black jack," and than their neighbors, 

 other scrubby timber growths. The opinion I formed after an inves- 



