GOLD-MINES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 335 
and ma:ny others in Virginia, may be profitably 
wrought, is certain, provided that, in all cases, good 
judgment, sound economy, competent skill, adequate 
machinery, 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 prevaihng rock, according to Profes- 
sor Olmstead, is argillite : others say it is talcose 
slate, which crosses the state in numerous beds> 
