DADE COUNTY. 213 



Mineral Springs. — Near Trenton is a sulphur spring, and 

 several chalybeate springs in various portions of the county. 



Caves. — Dade abounds w^ith caves. One mile and half 

 west of Trenton is a large cave, known as the Saltpetre 

 cave. Wauhatchee cave is very extensive. 



Minerals. — The mineral resources of this county are im- 

 mensely great. Bituminous coal abounds in the Raccoon and 

 Lookout mountains. Dade is destined to furnish the State 

 with coal. Iron ore of excellent quality, and other valuable 

 minerals, exist in various sections. A very pure variety of 

 plaster is found on the plantation of Col. Robert H. Tatum. 



Character of the People. — In this county, the refine- 

 ments of polished society do not exist. Isolated from the 

 world, the people seem to care for nothing except the supply 

 of their immediate wants. Hospitality is eminently their cha- 

 racteristic. The stranger is greeted with a hearty wel- 

 come, and his conversation listened to with evident signs of 

 pleasure. 



Market. — Chattanooga is the market. 



Roads. — For a mountain country, the roads are fair. 



Manufactures, Mills. — In the Lookout valley, 3^ miles 

 S. of Trenton, are iron works, which manufacture 400 pounds 

 of iron per day. The ore is very fine, and the establishment 

 supplies the whole Lookout valley with iron, as well as Wills 

 valley in Alabama. Fifteen hands employed. Capital in- 

 vested $2000. Saw-mills, three ; grist-mills, five. 



Religious Sects, Education. — There is a great variety 

 of religious sects. Several kinds of Baptists, Christians, Me- 

 thodists, Universalists, Cumberland Presbyterians. Pious and 

 educated ministers are much needed. Education is at a 

 low ebb. 



Antiquities. — On the farm of Col. Perkins there is a stone 

 fort, inclosing three or four acres, of which the Indians were 

 unable to give any account. More than fifty mounds are in 

 the county, and many of the rude cabins in which the red 

 man once lived, are still standing, and are occupied by the 

 farmers. 



Early Settlers. — This county is mostly settled by per- 

 sons from Tennessee. 



