| From the Carolina Watchman (Salisbury, N. C.) |
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| August 5, 1861 |
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| Deep River Coal |
| As the coal of the Deep River region is
now about to be brought into notice, it may not be inappropriate to
make some explanations concerning it, and the operations being carried
on there. |
| All bituminous coal contains more or less
sulphur, and this sulphur increases in quantity the nearer you
approach the out-crop; hence the best and purest coal is obtained from
deep shaft workings. There is but one shaft as yet in the Deep River
region -- it is at Egypt, and persons purchasing coal should be
particular in inquiring if it came from Egypt, if they wish to obtain
the best quality mined, so far. |
| So many exaggerated statements have gone
forth as to making of oil and iron in that region, that I took the
trouble to examine into what had been done, and to observe what is
likely to be done. At the Farmville place, a great mass of machinery,
&c., has been put up, but so far as the making of oil, it was a
failure -- only one barrel having been made in a week. This result was
the fault of the works and their management, not the black band iron
ore. A good quality of oil can be made and profit accrue to the
operator, if a different style of works were put up, and it is now
worth the attention of our people. |
| At the Tysor place, where I had seen
announced in the paper that vast quantities of iron had been made, I
found several changes from the original plan of the works -- changes
which have resulted in nothing but loss but as now they have returned
to the original old plan of a Catalan forge, something may be done
when the works are completed. |
| At Ore Hill, ten miles North of Deep
River, a furnace is being put up, and will be at work in about two
weeks. The ore at this place is very superior, and was used during the
revolution. |
| At Egypt, a very superior quality of coal
is being taken out, and one hundred tons a day can easily be taken out.
The only drawback is the unfinished state of road. {the
Western RR} |
| I make these statements because I learn a
quantity of our-crop coal has gone to market, and given some
dissatisfaction, and that the plain, simple truth as to what is doing
on Deep River may be known. |
| Fayetteville Observer |
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