109 Remarks on the Gold Mines of Virginia. 



buy or sell a mining interest, unless he can, in honor and conscience, 

 declare that he believes it can be profitably carried on. 



So far as I have had opportunity to observe the gold mining region 

 of Virginia, I am convinced, that in several places (and it is proba- 

 ble their number will be increased) the explorations may be prose- 

 cuted with advantage, while in other cases they will prove losing 

 concerns. The small proprietors of land should not be encouraged 

 to abandon their regular industry for gold hunting, and even when 

 capitalists associate for these objects, (which is certainly the more 

 proper course,) prudent men will be slow to pledge more than they 

 can lose without embarrassment, certainly without ruin. 



In recurring again to the mines of Busby and Moss, I have to re- 

 mark that the land, (consisting as I am informed, of one hundred and 

 eighty three acres — fifty three to Busby's, and one hundred and 

 thirty to Moss', lying in tracts nearly contiguous,) is well wooded 

 with valuable timber, and well watered for the purposes of mining 

 or of agriculture. The soil is thin, like most of that in the gold re- 

 gion ; but the physical features of the country are favorable to mi- 

 ning operations, the surface being formed in gentle swells ; and good 

 roads may be constructed at a moderate expense. At Moss' mine, 

 about one thousand bushels of ore have been raised. It is due to 

 the gentlemen charged with the management of these mines to say, 

 that I have been most favorably impressed by their intelligence, zeal, 

 and candor ; and 1 with pleasure acknowledge my obligations to them 

 for their uniform kindness, and judicious and useful co-operation du- 

 ring this investigation. 



I am not willing to omit a deserved commendation to the master 

 miners, both here, and at several other mines which 1 have visited ; 

 comparing them with persons of their profession with whom I was 

 formerly conversant, in some of the most important mining districts 

 of England, I am justified in saying that they appear deserving of 

 confidence. 



Mr. Forrest Shepherd, a gentleman who has had much acquaint- 

 ance with the gold mines of Virginia, being present at the examina- 

 tion whose result is given above, and being requested by me to aid 

 in the processes, states in a published letter, that at Moss' vein he 

 saw the ore broken from the rock — that he counted every fragment, 

 and broke portions in numerous places from these same fragments in 

 order to obtain a fair average. This ore, he states, was pounded 



