Our second day in this interesting section of Chatham County was devoted to a ride and ramble through the Iron regions, 
including the remarkable spot called "Ore Hill," or "Iron Mountain." In this excursion we were again favored with the pleasant company 
of Wm. McClane, Esq. (McLean), whose love of the sciences of Geology and Mineralogy has led him to explore nearly every foot of the 
ground in that section, and whose practical knowledge had enabled him to trace their rich deposited through all their ramifications of 
hill and valley.
	Leaving the Gulf, on the Gulf and Graham Plank Road, half a mile brought us to the line of the outcrop of the coal, and immediately 
afterwards a vein of iron ore presented itself. Six miles further we came upon a vein of pure oxide or iron, very abundant and rich, the 
ore being scattered profusely over and under the surface, and extending for miles on each side of the road. We stopped and broke up with 
a hammer many pieces of the ore, bringing off some of the richest specimens.
	Five miles beyond this, we turned off the Plank Road, (which by the way is very well constructed,) and proceeded to the left hand a 
mile or two to Ore Hill. This is an immense conical eminence, several hundred feet high, about half a mile from its base to its summit, 
and thence extending west nearly two miles in flat table land. At its Western extremity is the Mineral Spring known formerly as the 
hickory Spring, and more recently as the Mount Vernon Spring, a place of considerable resort for many years past, considering the 
limited accomodations for company.
	We were satisfied with ascending the hill to its summit. Its surface is covered with ore, and there are several pits, of the depth 
of 10 to 20 feet, each, which were opened and worked during the Revolutionary War, but have ever since been neglected. In these pits 
are presented to view immense masses of the ore, from which the exterior was chiseled off and worked up at the Foundry on Tick creek, 
nearby, the ruins of which are still visible. The hill, and to an unknown extent beyond it, is literally full of ore, and it can scarcely 
be too much to say, that there is enough to make all the iron that North Carolina can want, for rail road or other purposes, for ages 
to come. The ore at this point differes in kind from that passed on the road, being of the description called red Haemetite, a very 
valuable variety, and when mixed with the pure oxide, making a very strong iron. In breaking it, a rich and very fine vermillion powder 
is left on the hammer, and evidence of its kind and quality.
	We descended the hill at a different point from that of ascent, but still there lay the iron ore, constantly tempting to the use of 
hammer in breaking it up for examination, and for speciments to bring off. Reaching the base of the hill, we returned to the Gulf by a 
different rout, so as to pass other veins of iron and coal. Two miles from the hill, we saw a vein of ore, and two miles further another.
	When nearer Deep reiver at Evan's (now Stuart's) mill, we came upon the outcrop of coal and a vein of iron ore, whose course we 
pursued about 5 miles to the Gulf. In several places we saw pits opened both to the coal and iron. On P.G. Evan's late plantation, the 
coal is anthracite, not pure at the surface, but supposed to be below. On Wilcon's and Palmer's the same description of coal is found. 
It is not so valuable, even when pure, as the bituminous, but it preferable for parlor use.
	This coal out-crop is all in a straight line with that at the Gulf, Egypt, Taylor's, Farmersville, and Hornesville. From Farmersville 
we had followed it about 20 miles; but Mr. McClane (McLean) had explored it for nearly 30 miles, and has only postponed the further pursuit 
towards South Carolina till a convenient season.
	We said it was a straight line, but there is one remarkable variation. A mile or two about the Gulf occurs a trap dike, wher the seam 
of coal turns off towards the river at right angles, for a half mile, then resumes its former course for one and one-fourth miles, then 
back to its original line, and thus resumes its place in the regular formation.
	We had thus traveled on this day around a circumference of above 25 miles, abounding with coal and iron and fire clay. Near by, also, 
are soap stone mines, which our Friend Robt. A. Stuart, Esq. is grinding into powder finer than the finest flour, having a contract with 
a New York company for 1500 barrels of such powder. What the New Yorkers do with it is a matter of conjecture only, but doubtless it is 
used for some purpose of adulteration, and come back to us at the South in some material increased ten fold in value by the operation. 
Messrs. Haughton have also discovered on their lands a Mineral Paint, that is said to be very valuable. A specimen of it was exhibited 
at our last County Fair. There are also found in various contignous places, grit of the best quality for corn mill stones, sand stone 
for grind stones, (of which we saw a very fine one at Mr. Daniel Campbell's on Crawley's creek,) and abundance of excellent brown stone 
for building purposes.
	There is abundant and cheap water power also in all that region; and the farm lands are not often excelled for native richness of 
soil or for beauty of situation and adaptability for improvement. As may be supposed, such a country is more thickly settled than the 
sand-hills of Cumberland, with an intelligent and comparatively wealthy population. The Gulf, and Carbonton, and Egypt, are at present 
small villages; but one or more of them is probably destined to grow into importance when the rich treasures of that region begin to be 
developed.
	Timber.-During the whole of our previous rides, we had an eye to the kind and quality of timber through which we passed. But we had 
so far found none of that great size which will be wanted for the U.S. Arsenal in this place, should that become one for construction of 
gun carriages and other ordinance stores. Parting with regret from our friend Mr McClane on Thursday evening, we crossed at the Gulf into 
Moore county, on Friday, and fell into the care of messrs Peter M. & Daniel Campbell, of that county, who accompanied us ten or twelve 
miles to Crawley's Creek and McLennon's Creek, where in the course of long rambles on foot through their forests, we had ample occasion 
to cry Eureka! On these streams we found White Oak trees (the description principally wanted) Red Oak and Pine, measuring from 13 to 15 
feet in circumference. There were besides, immense popular, hickory, gum, and maple trees; many of every description straight and without 
a limb for 50 or 60 feet from the ground. We heard also of equal or even superior timber on New Hope and Lick Creeks and our friend and 
companion continued his explorations up Deep River into Randolph county, wher he found very fine timber, though generally not of the 
largest size; and where also he found abundance of iron ore, of the magnetic and specular varieties, which are among the more valuable 
kinds. We regretted that we were obliged to give up the excursion at Carthage, and to return home to business.
	We need scarcely sum up the conclusions to which this trip has brought us. Those who have done us the honor to read can anticipate 
them. We feel prouder of our State, which possesses so much wealth, and hope to feel prouder of our people, who will not, like unprofitable 
servants, suffer that wealth to lie buried. We look forward to the day when this part of North Carolina will rival the great State of 
Pennsylvania in industry, enterprize, internal improvements, agriculture, commerce, manufactures, wealth population, and the political 
power and personal influence which these bring with them. Let every patriot North Carolinian put forth his energies to speed the coming day. 
Especially let every citizen of the Cape Fear section determine to have a share of the honor and profit of the great achievement. Fay. Obs.

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Last up-dated August 30, 2022