verte76
Blue Crack Addict
That's another problem, the fact that outsiders who've gone into Appalachia with job offers and such have historically been rip-offs. Well, probably not everyone, but too many people have been. But, that's the reason there are cheapo gem mines in western North Carolina. When gem quality rubies were discovered in those mountains, the people got together to keep some big shot New York business people out. The New York people wanted to buy the mines and use them in their businesses. The locals managed to buy the land to keep the outsiders out. They used to let average visitors come in and look for gems, and that's how I got the gem quality rubies for a ring I have. Unfortunately this mine was closed two years ago. Bummer.