Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1804-11-30

a ne prospect OF OUtaMinS tnWehSe
quantities Of mineral from the old mines
is at present very Aattering, and there
is not the least doubt Of their being e.
qualiy extensive as the mine a Burton.
The present workings, with the old,
include about one hundred acres Of land.
The mines are elevated, and may be ea-
silly drained to the the depth Of an hum
bred feet. ---.,
In the year 1929, grant for four
hundred acres Of land was obtained, and
surveyed in 1890, but includes no part
Of the workings; therefore the: mine,
with the adjacent lands, excepting that
concessions may be considered as pub
lie property.
No smelling furnace has as yet been
erected at this place, except a French
one,- most of the mineral being trans
ported to the Mine Burton to be smsl-
ted. The greatest number ofhands en-
ployed at the old mines, at any one time
since the late establishment, has not
exceeded twenty 1--WE or thirty; and
those only for few months. 1t is not
improbable that the space between the
old mines and the Mine Burton may
produce mineral in great abundance as
either Of the mines. The Foche RAJ
uault is navigable within miles of this
mine. ..., ...
4. Mine Ranault, situated miles n.
Of the Mine Burton, on creek of the
same name. Little can be said relative
to this mine, it not having been wrought
for more than seven years: but from in-
formation and the extent Of the diggings,
a large quantity of mineral was drawn
from il. !: It was discovered and opened
by Mr.. Ranault, about the year i724-5,
with an expectation of finding silver ore.
The country near the mine is hilly and
broken. 1t is supposed that Ranault's
concession, granted by the king of
F1ance, if ever it should be brought
forward, will comprehend the mine.
The mineral drawn from these mines,
is Of good quality, generally found in
lime stone rock, in regular veins and is
said to be inexhaustihle. know Of no
reason why they have been so long ne
elected, unless I attribute it to the dis
covery of mines nearer. the settlements
and small number of workmen to carry
them on. As they are within 10 miles
Of Navigation, by the Fouehe Ranaalt,
great expectations of their utility to the
public may Justly beentertained. e.
S. Mine a Maneto, or American
mines, on Grand River, was disceve-
red and opened. in the month Of Octo-
Der, 1899. by the Americans settled on
Grand River is situate twelve miles
east south east of the Mine Burton.
The appearance Of the mines being very
Aatterins, plan was. executed by
Messrs. Vale & Pratt, ofSs. Gene vieve,
to dispossess the Americans Of the privi-
lege allowed in such cases, of four A.
eres in superdce as a compensation to
the discoveries Of mines. In 1905, Mr..
Pratt Brought forward two concessions,
one for himself of one Thousand acres,
the other in the name Of his soma n1i--
nor, for eight hundred acres. In con-
sequence OF these concessions the Anne.
ficans have been. excluded from the
mines. l----
The Mine Maneto, from its fat POI
sition, will not admit of deep mining,
the water rises at the depth Of fifteen
feet, and the situation is such, II can
not be drained. mineral is found
within two or three feet of the surface
of the earth, in asoft, grey limessone
rock in small particles.-The rock lies
in a horizontal position, in sheets of
five or SIX inches thickness. Two or
three layers of this rock are found one
under the other; between each is lay
er, either Of clay or mineral. one or two
inches thiek-most commonly mineral.
In places where the rock will admit of
sinking eight or ten feet, the mineral is
found in thin fakes, covered with an
iron coiored rust. Before the mineral
can be snelted, it requires to be poun-
ded and washed; after passing through