The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-07-14
COMMUNICATIONS.
To he Editor Of tAs Madisoniam.


New York Gazette on the subject Of Gold Mining
in Virginia trust, sir, that II your inten-
lion TO turn this subject to political account Sure
! am, you could have had no such purpose in men
toning the employment Of foreign capital In our
mines. | will, therefore, trouble you with these
lines, from which you will see, (if thought worth
reading,) what field is open for foreign as well as
domestic capital in this branch Of industry, even in
the county Of Buckingham, Va. OF the balance Of
the gold region shall not speak, Of any mines
which have not visited except that from The infor
nation Of others, may safely remark, that il Buck
ingharn does not contain the very best mines in this
country, they are certainly not inferior 10 any.
The following mines have seen, and will speak
Of as they may be examined in one or two days, by
any person visiting the county, to wit; The Morton;
The Booker the Alcinda, or Eidridgei The Fond and
Nicholas, and Tie ayers.
The M1rioa mine has been opened by shafts and
odits about one hundred feet deep-several veins
cut-and the ores have been worked on small
scale, but with profit, for some three years The
motive power used in propelling the machinery, is
the water derived from small creek which was en-
tirely insufficient, during most Of the last summer, TO
do anything The veins are not very large, so far
as opened; but they are sufficiently numerous and
productive to justify the application Oft considerable
capital and steam power which is in contemplation
by the proprietor. The present machinery consists
of CHILEAN mill and stamps for crushing the rock,
with the ordinary washers for separating the gold
from The sands. This mine promises WELL by good
working, with proper machinery; but too little is
done at present.
The Booker mine went into the hands Of COM
pany In the fall Of 1886, and some thirty or forty
thousand dollars were expended in the preparation
Of machinery upon very large scale, Ito be pro-
PEELED by two steam engines and in sinking shaft
which was unfortunately located and failed But
this plan was changed last fall-acheaper one adopt
ed-and machinery, propelled by one Of the Engi-
neers has been recently put to work. The vein has
been opened fifty feet deep and their prospects
appear very fattering. The vein is large and the
ore productive. The machinery consists Of stamps
and washers which the superintendent is increasing
in number, with full confidence, it is said, OF pro-
ducng an abundance OF good ore, and making the
establishment very profitable There Is itlie DOUBT
that the Company will realize handsome profit
with proper management, Notwithstanding the ex
penses incurred, delay, &c,
V The Akiada mine-has been opened by the sinking
Of two shafts, probably fifty feet deep. The vein is
the largest have SEEN and is said 10 be the largest
known in this country. The ores yield we'll though
not much, perhaps, to the given quantity, as those
of the Booker They are easy of access, and may
be raised in any quantity required, at smaller ex-
pense than is common in small veins This is an
immunity which the larger possesses over smaller
veins generally. Like that Of Mortons, small creek
aords the only motive power applied in crushing the
ores A few stamps and washers were in operation
part Of last summer but recently Chian mill has
been added and the ore is worked to profit to the
extent Of the power applied But the proprietors,
is said intend using steam with the prospect OF I'M
doubted success. Certainly, fair field is open for
large and profitable operation on this mine. The
abundance of ore would insure safety atleast
The Ford and Nicholas mine has been opened by
shaft to the depth Of seventy or eighty feet The
believed be good but has not, yet, been
pnt to the test of machinery. The Proprie,ors are
raising ore, and putting up machinery to be propen
ed by steam ch it is expected will be ready for
operation in few weeks The vein may be said to
be large one the tolerably easy Of access !;
and may be had in sufficient quantity do profta-
Bile business upon good capital. A proper invest
ment in this mine could hardly fail to be good one
and might turn out to be very profitable.
The Ayers mine has been opened some thirty or
forty feet deep, and we'll defined vein, recently
found, containing good ore. Some parts of il are
said to be uncommonly rich. Butthe magnitude of
this vein has not been so fully ascertained as those
ofthe mines above mentioned The proprietor has
put into operation few stamps and workers, a
small stream of water near the vein, which serve
rather to test the ore, than work the mine fair
return might well be expected from the expenditure
Of capital to operate on this mine in proper man.
ner
These remarks are intended as mere notice of
the mining property in Buckingham, which have
seen, and cannot be expected to do any thing like
Justice to the mines respectively. For more might
be said probably of any one than have said Of all
and the description be defective might, however,
add, that a large amount of geld has been washed
from the surface about the veins OF the Morton,
Booker, Alcinda and Ayers mines.
Besides those above named, there several pros
poets, as they called in this county, which may
hereafter attract more Of the public attention. But
you will see, Mr.. Editor that there is abundant room
for profitable employment both Of foreign and do.
nestle capital and skill in this species of enterprise
and industry.
think il probable there has not been more money
expended on all the five mines above noticed, than
has often been done In opening and exploring sin
gle one, in Mexico or South America, and with pros
poets less fatering than those exhibited by The least
promising ofthefve. The long and regular pursuits
oiFhe Peopie Oh those countries In INNING ana thelr
thorough knowledge ofthe business, enables them to
appreciate what we might think bad prospects, Our
mines in Virginia worked without scientific di-
rection, or the application of adequate or ma
chinery; and, yet they mostly produce abundantly,
and exhibit the fairest prospects 10 attract the public
notice or confidence.
The Gazette states that, I" II is fact generally
known, that miners who have come from the mines
of South America and in Europe, pronounce the
States to be more abundant in gold, than any other