The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1825-10-27
MISCELLANY.


published by Cabs Il Seaton, part of a dis
eussion on the sabject ofthe Copper Mines
of Lake Superior, which occurred in the
Senate towards the close Of the last Ses-
sion. 1t will be found equally interesting
and instructive. tRepub.
"The Senate proceeded TO the conside-
ration ofthe bill authorizing the President
of the United Sites 10 appoint Commits
sioners to treat with the Chippewa Indi-
ans, for the rightof discovering and work
ing certain valuIhle Copper Mines, sup
posed to be on the south side of Lake Su-
perior; and approphating the sum Of ten
thousand dollars to defray the expense of
treating with the said Indians. The bill
having been read
Mr.. BESroN said, that the existence of
Copper Mines OH Lake Superior was a fact
of historical notoriety, attested by all trav-
ellers in that region for a century and
halfpast. They were seen in 1859 by the
monk La Hontan; in l72I, by the Jesuit,
Father Charlevoix; in I77l, by Henry; and
in 1850, by Sir Alexander Mckenzie.
Each Of these travellers published an ac-
count of these mines, and their descrip-
tons have excited the attention of the first
mineralogists of Europe. Some years be-
fore the commencement ofcur Revolution,
mass of silver ore was found in the same
region, carried to England, and gave rise
to mining company, of which the Duke
Of Glocester was the head. They caused
a gallery. to be opened in a hill on the
south side Of the lake, but finding nothing
but copper, the operations were discontin-
ued; for it was 10 object in the then condi-
ton of the country and state of transporta-
ton, to carry copper from Lake Superior
| to London.
In the year 1900, at the time when the
Government Of the United Statcs contem-
plated an augmentation of tho Navy, re-
solution, adopted in both Houses Of Con-
gress, authorized an examination to be
made of these mines, by competent a
gent; but the policy of the Government
changing soon afterwards, the examina-
ton was attended with few results.
In 1907, Mr.. Gallatin deemed these
mines of such value as to be enumerated
by him among the sources Of our national
| wealth.
In 1920, they were visited by Governor
Cass, of Michigan, and Mr.. Schoolcraft,
mineralogist, and report oftheir dscove-
ries made to the Secretary Of War. A
knowledge Of this fact, Mr.. b. SAID, had
induced him, at the session of 1922, to
lay resolution upon the table Of the Sen
ate, calling upon the War Department to
furnish all the information which the De-
partment contained upon this subject. In
compliance with that resolution, report
had been received, and published among
the documents of 1923, giving full and
satisfactory information upon the extent
and value of these mines.--Their report
has been confirmed, by letter from Gov.
Cass, lately printed among our document,
and by another from Mr.. Schoolcraft,
(which was read, and the fineness and pu-
rity of the metal had been proved by the
prcfer Of mass of so pounds weight,
which had been lately deposited in the Lii
brary Of Congress. But the superior fine
ness of this metal is not mere matter Of
opinion. II has been tested in the Mint Of
Utrecht, by the Inspector General Of that
Mint, upon the request Of our late fellow
citizen, Gov. Eustis, Of Massachusetts
That distinguished citizen, anxious TO be
useful to his country, had possessed him
self of specimens Of this copper when at
the head of the War Department, and car
ried them with him afterwards on his en-
bassy to Holland. The report Of the In
spcctor is to be found in all the principal
European works upon the subject Of mine-
ralogy. IL says
"The examination Of the North Ameri-
can copper, in the sample received from
his excellency the Minister, by the opera
tons of the coppel, and the test BY fire, has
proved that il does not contain the smallest
particle OF silver, gold, or any other metal.
Its color is a clear red. II Is peculiarly quail
fled for rolling and forging, and its excel
lence is Indicated by its resemblance to the
copper usually employed by the English