336 GOLD-MINES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



forming a zone twenty miles in width, and embra- 

 cing beds of other rocks. 



The principal mines are the " Anson mine," on a 

 branch of Rocky River ; " Reed's mine," in Cabar- 

 rus, occupying the bed of Meadow Creek; and 

 " Packer's mine," on a small stream four miles 

 south of the River Yadkin. At Reed's mine, a few 

 years ago, a mass of gold was dug up by a negro 

 which weighed twenty-eight lbs. avoirdupois. It 

 is not uncommon to meet with masses weighing 

 600 pennyweights. The " mines" are generally 

 rented out, and worked for a half, a third, or a 

 fourth of the gold found, according to its produc- 

 tiveness. At Reed's mine, the average product is 

 only sixty cents a day to each labourer. In the 

 gold region, the uncoined gold is the common cir- 

 culating medium. Every man, almost, carries about 

 with him a goose-quill or two of the particles, and 

 a small pair of scales, in a box like a spectacle-case 

 The value is soon ascertained by weighing; and 

 Professor Olmstead states that he saw a pint of 

 whiskey paid for by weighing off two and a half 

 grains of gold. The gold is generally bought up 

 by the country merchants, who pay about ninety 

 cents a pennyweight. Much of this is bought by 

 jewellers ; some goes into the banks ; but the great- 

 er part goes into the United States' Mint. 



Previous to 1820, but 43,689 dollars worth of 

 American gold had been received at the Mint ; and 

 tire first notice of North Carolina gold on the rec- 

 ords of the Mint occurs in the year 1814, when a 

 quantity was received to the amount of $11,000. It 

 continued to be received till the year 1824, avera- 

 ging about $2500 yearly. In 1824, the amount re- 

 ceived was $5000; in 1825, $17,000; in 1826, 

 $20,000; in 1827, $21,000 ; in 1828, $46,000; in 

 1829, $128,000; and during the same year, the 

 amount from South Carolina was $3500, and that 

 from Virginia $2500. Indeed, this was the first 



