Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-11-19
D o CO N z " r.

(Conchded.3

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS
Within twelve months past several dis
coyeries have been made near the Mime a
Burton. Valuable lead mines have likewise
been discovered, about two hundred miles
M the river Merimak some OF the mine
raj have seen which is Of good Zsiality.
Tn short the country for twelve or hlteen
miles round the Mine Burton, exhibits
strong appearances of mineral In all the
small creeks minerals found washed down
from the hills, and il isnot uncommen to
find in the drauehts leading TO the creeks
and rivers, and in gullies made by the
spring rains, mineral in pieces from ten TO
fry pounds weight brougst down by the
torrents :: Some hundreds have been col
lected in this way. No country yet known
furnishes greater indications Of an mex
haustible quantity of lead mineral, and SO
easily obtained. One motive to render the
mining business generally advantageous is,
thar every farmer may bs miner, and
when unemployed on his farm, may BY
few weeks labour, almost at his OWE door
dig as much mineral as will furnish his ia
mily with all imported articles. From
view of the lead mines in Upper Loulsl-
ana, it may be seen that nothing is wanting
but an Increase of population to augment
their produce toa surprising degree. 1t
is slso evident that there are valuable dis
coveries yet to be made. 1t may therefore
be a matter of consideration with the 60
vernment whether the donation OF four "a
cres in super6ce to the discoverer OF mines
would not be advantageous TO be continued
The Spanish government has also allow
ed the inhabitants to work on public lands,
free from any kind of tag. A continuation
of this privilege will exhaust bolh the mines
and timber. without the least advantage to
the public. On the other hand if heavy
imposition is imposed, it may discourage
the mining business vet the man who can
with his pick and shovel make his thirty,
forty, and sometimes his hundred dollars
per month, may well afford to pay small
tax to government.
The country about the mines is broken,
but not mountainous. and furnishes the
besto land for cultivation, and streams Of
water sufficient forall kinds of water works
Grand river rises ten miles south west of
the Mine a Burton, and in its course forms
nearly three parts Of a circle round the
mines, and LOSSES lis name IN the Fouch;
Ranault, which is navigable to the Missis-
sippi They ante Ten miles north
OK the Mine Burton, and it is re-
markable that in forming this circle, It's
distance from the mines does not exceed
fourteen miles in any one place. 1t also
furnishes both land and water, Of superb
or quality, sufficient Tor or hundred IA
miles.
Thus situated the time cannot be far
distant, when this country will furnish
lead sufficient, not only for the consump-
ton OF the United States, but all Europe,
if moderate encouragement is given by the
government, and protection -gainst the
Usage Indians, who yearly plumber the
inhabitants.
The mines OR the waters Of ST. Francis,
are capable Of furnishing vast Quantities
oflead The Nine la Mott, has been
STYLED the Sold Mine as descriptive OF It's
wealth; and if under proper management
weald verify the observations.
From the annexed estimate, it Will be
found that the gross produce Of all the
mlnes now occupied, amounts to thirty SIX
thousand five hundred dollars. The wbols
number Of workmen employed, including
miners, smeiters, wood cutters and car,
ters, has not exceeded one hundred and
ff men, of which number one hundred
andtwsnty may be supposed to work four
months, and the remaining thirty the year
round Prom this calculation il would be
found thai each man employed in the bust.
ness averages forty three dollars per month.
To this may be added the increased va
lue on one hundred and twenty thou.