The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-09-06

is believed, taken from this vicinity, and il is
in weight about the same az mentioned by Mr.
Schoolcraft. Il weighs between two and three TONS
That gentleman states that several other masses Of
virgin copper had been found upon this river; and
one of the specimens, analysed at the university Of
Leyden, proved il to be native copper in state Of
uncommon purity. East and west OF the Ontona-
gon, west among the Porcupine hills, and east IN a
direct line from The copper rock Of the Ontonagon,
copper ore, almost entirely pure, was discovered
forty years ago.
The existence Of copper ore was discovered upon
the shores of Lake Superior by the earliest travel
lers in that region. Baron La Hoptan, as long
ago 1859, describes the copper mines on the
shore Of the lake; "the metal Of which was SO fine
and plentiful, that there not seventh part lost
fom the ore." Charlevoix, in l72i said that large
pieces of copper were found in some places on the
banks Of the lake, and around some OF the islands,
which were the objects of superstitious worship
among the Indians.
In 1866, Captain Carver procured masses of me-
tallic copper on the shores of Lake Superior, and
states that virgin copper was found in great plenty
on the Or s0 SoPPss
venlurers s'dug considerable body Of "copper" out
Of the auvial earth upon the banks of the Ontona
gon river and together with lump Of silver ore Of
eight pounds weight, conveyed il to Montreal, and
thence shipped il to England, where the silver
was deposited in the British Museum, after an an
yoc VI portlOu VI ~, W WhsShu WuS
to contain sixty per cent Of silver" These adven-
turers were connected with company formed in
England for the purpose of working the copper
mines of Lake Superior, at the head Of which was
the Duke Of Gloucester. They built vessel six
miles above the Falls Of st. Mary, facilitate their
operations upon the lake, and spent considerable
sum of money in explorations for copper and in the
mining operations which were authorized on the
banks of the Ontonagon. After returning from the
Canadian shore of the lake, where silver ore was
discovered, the adventures coasted westward but
found nothing ill they reached the Ontonagon,
where, besides the detached masses of copper al
ready mentioned, they "found much Of the same
metal mbedded in stone"
The difficulty Of furnishing food for the hands
necessary to work the mines, the expense of con-
veying the ores to Montreal, and the neglect or
want Of proper preparations for carrying on the
mining operations, induced an abandonment Of the
British enterprise.
These obstacles and difficulties no longer exist.
They have been vanquished by steam navigation,
by the increasing multiplicity Of sailing vessels on
| all the lakes, by the cheapness of transportation
from Lake Superior to the Atlantic, by the facility
of supplying provisions to miners, and by the
modern improvements in all the sciences connected
with the business of mining, coming, and develop
| ing the mineral wealth of nations.
| All the examinations and explorations Of late
days have shown the Ontonagon, and the contgu-
GUS country, well the region Of Copper harbor
TO abound In valuable copper and other ores, and
fully justify all the reasonable and hopeful anticpa-
tons Of those engaged in mining operations in thai
region.
| These explorations were resumed or continued
| by General Cass and Mr. Schoolcraft, in 1920
The Ontonagon was the principal scene Of their
examinations. They discovered the pure copper
as well the ores in their most intrnsically valna
BILE state. Mr.. Schoolcraft, in his report to the
War Department, recommended mineralogca
survey of the Ontonagon and the contiguous coun
| try, expressing the confident opinion that they
would be found to abound in copper ores, and il
pure copper, adding to the value Of the mines. DR.
Houghton, the geologist Of the State Of Michigan
with the aid of the lights Of past discoveries for
century has, it is believed, been enabled fully &c
confirm what had previously been said ofthe Onton
| agon country.
1 The Elm river, east of the Ontonagon, has beer
also discovered to be rich in copper ores; and the
Keweena Point is now established to abound IN
| them.
| Tie locations made for 'sthe Ontonagon Mining
Company" have been principally made under thu
direction of Mr.. Kinzie, one Of its members--a gen
tleman Of great enterprise and activity, native O
this country, and familiar with its features, as wei
as with its aboriginal inhabitants.
| Without, therefore, dcrogating from any of thu
other individuals or companies engaged in mi
ning--for they are all making laudablc exer
tons for themselves and for the country-I fee
assured that ''the Ontonagon Mining Company
possesses locations and other advantages, which
promise the best results to the members individually
and to the government, from the practical operations
which are in progress under its auspices. | only
regret that any may have taken place II
the mineral region, to excite towards the company
the resentment and injustice Of your regular CORES
pendent.