Gold Mines of Georgia. 



17 



Fig. 21, is a representation of the process by which gravel is 

 obtained by boats from the beds of the rivers. A man forces his 

 shovel into the gravel near one end of the boat, and when he thinks 

 he has it deep enough walks to the other end, bearing down the han- 

 dle, and thus loosening the gravel so that it may be hoisted into the 

 boat by an assistant, who also works a shovel on the other side. In 

 this way a boat and two men make five loads per diem. I have 

 known a load to yield 6 dwts. although the average is much less. 



Shelton^s Gold Mine. — This mine is on the waters of the Soquee 

 a branch of the Chattahoochie river, and with ranges of lots in the 

 fifteenth district, forms the dividing ridge between the Soquee and 

 Tallulah, a branch of the Savannah river. The Oaky mountain is 

 to the north of 35 about a mile, and from the top of it Clarksville 

 can be distinctly seen ; it is probably the highest peak in this ridge, as 

 there are no others intercepting a view of the Apalachian termina- 

 ting ridges. The large branch running through 35, terminates at the 

 base of the Oaky mountains, and is supplied by the springs that issue 

 from it and the neighboring elevations. The surface of the lot is ve- 

 ry uneven, as may be seen on inspecting the sections attached to the 

 plan. One corner of the lot appeared to be eight hundred feet above 

 the level of the branch. The geological arrangement of the rocks 

 is not ascertained. Gneiss predominates; there are strata of mica 

 and talcose rocks, and fragments of quartz are abundantly scattered 

 over the surface, indicating veins. The bottom described by the dot- 

 ted lines, is alluvial and fit for cultivation ; on the smaller branches, 



Vol. XXIV.— No. 1. 3 



