GOLD-MINES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 335 



and many others in Virginia, may be profitably 

 wrought, is certain, provided that, in all cases, good 

 judgment, sound economy, competent skill, adequate 

 machinery j and strict fidelity, combine their salu- 

 tary influence ; otherwise the result may be calam- 

 itous, and the discovery of the precious metal in 

 Virginia prove a curse instead of a blessing. There 

 can be no reason, however, for believing that these 

 interests will be abandoned. They will be pursued 

 with sobriety, and, in many instances, with success. 

 The enterprises are still in their infancy; expe- 

 rience will, in this case, as in other cases, prove the 

 best instructress : in all probability, many rich gold 

 deposites and gold veins remain to be discovered 

 both in Virginia and in other states, and our coun- 

 try may confidently expect, from its own territory 

 here and elsewhere, sufficient supplies of gold for 

 its coinage, for the demands of the arts, of orna- 

 ment, and of use, and not, improbably, for exporta- 

 tion." 



GOLD-MINES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



These are situated in the southern part of the 

 state, near the borders of South Carolina, and some- 

 what westward of the centre. The river Pedee 

 flows through the gold region, which is spread over 

 a space of not less than 1000 square miles. It in- 

 cludes the counties of Montgomery, part of Anson, 

 and Muhlenberg, Cabarrus, and a corner of Rowen 

 and Randolph. Throughout this district, gold may 

 often be found in a greater or less abundance at or 

 near the surface of the ground, enclosed in a dense 

 mud of a pale blue or yellow colour. In low 

 grounds it is found about eight feet below the sur- 

 face ; on elevated tracts it lies on or near the sur- 

 face ; but usually it is about three feet below the 

 surface. The prevailing rock, according to Profes- 

 sor Olmstead, is argtllite : others say it is talcose 

 slate, which crosses the state in numerous beds, 



