The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-09-24

exploration, or, 10 use the current phrase Of the
region, prospecting" II can only be done advan-
tsgeously, present, by following the bed Of some
stream that precipitates along the mountain ridges.
Surveyors, too, will find il exceedingly difficult to
run their courses and measure their distances. Such
il the great disturbance Of the magnetic needle that
the ordinary compass will be of little value. .sThe
solar compass"-an invention of Judge Burt, of
Macomb county, Michigun--is invaluable in this
respect, and will do honor to the inventor, and the
State Of which he is a citizen "The needle is used
with this compass only when the sun is obscured by
clouds: when the sun Shines the needle is screwed
last; ana the time then consumed in obtaining the
true meridian is not longer than that ordinarily taken
by needle to settle, while it 10 infinitely moro cor
rect" II Consists chiefly of three arcs--one of
which 10 graduated to the ecliptic another to the
complement Of latitude, and the third TO the suns
deciination; whereby, il the latter be known, the
others are known, viz: the suns declinaton and
the apparent time, and consequently the magnetic
variation; or, IL the SUMS decnation only be known
then the latitude and the others are known; or il
the time be known, the others be ascertained by
an almost instant adjustment" We extract this de-
scription from the report made in 164l by Bella
Hubbard, esq, then assistant State geologist
AT the time we visited the mineral region, but two
companies were in actual operation, viz - the Lake
Superior Copper Company, and the Pittsburg Com
pany. The former had procured, by actual entry
on the soil, come seven locations each Of three miles
square; and had asccrtained, by careful exploration
at least eight well-defned veins on them They had
extensively explored and worked but one, situate
on Eagle river, about Is miles west of Copper har
bor The latter were working in vein on their To-
cation Immediately east of the pckets Of the garr-
son at Copper harbor, or Fort Wilkins. We Wis
tied both of the above companies locations, and dis
covered that neither had begun to work their veins
or "leads" according TO regular, scientific and prac-
tcal mining operations, but were rather probing
their veins to determine their character. The ope-
rations at Copper harbor were simply blasting Of
the rocky strata, in which vein of valuable black
oxide Of copper, varying from to % inches, was
found. short ravine had been excavated and the
work had proceeded in point nearly TO the depth
Of the water level of the little lake called Fanny
Hoe, lying directly to the south of Fort Wilkins,
and not many feet elevated above that Of Lake
Superior, nor one-fourth Of a mile from the
shore. The ore in this vein is rich, yielding
from 60 TO so per cent, and can be easily
fuxcd. Should the company discover the vein on
the south side Of the Lake Fanny Hoe, in lofty
hill that rises Immediately from its shore, and the
ore be abundant and equally rich with what they
have already obtained; and should they skilfuy,
economically, and industriousy work it, it must
prove valuable. During our visit to the works of
this company, a second vein, lying west few rods
from the other, and situate the strip Of land be.
tween the two lakes, was discovered, which has
given It additional values but not great, we should
think, If either both the veins should be found
to run under or redppear on the south side of Lake
Fanny Hoe; which latter it was believed, is the fact
One of the original members Of this company sold
out on the day we were there, his interest, at
great advance on the actual investment he had made
soldier also acquainted with mining operations,
in excavatng the foundations for house outside Of
the pickets, having perceived various boulders of
black oxyde of copper thrown up, and profting by
his knowledge both OF the mineral, and of the fact
that such boulders found in any considerable num-
bers generally indicate the proximity Of vein, had
quietly pursued his private researches till he had
discovered richer vein than the which had been
opened; and on the same day of our visit, for the
information given he received from the company a
reward Of $1,000, which they had previously offer
ed to any one who would discover such, the COM
pany having dug and proved the vein.
"The Lake Superior Copper Mining Company"
we are informed, have disposed Of several OF their
valuable leases, and are directing their attention
principally to the vein at Eagle river, where they
have at present large number of hands under the
direction of Col. G. II, Gratiot their agent, with
whom is associated Mr. Columbus C. Douglass,
lately connected with the geological corps Of this
State. The shafts or pits, three in number, which
had been sunk to different depths through the las,
winter, were filed with water from the surface when
we visited them, and were not at the time worked,
the hands being employed in other and more imme-
diately necessary labor, designed to prepare the
way for regular systematic mining operations in the
coursc of the ensuing summer and fall. The vein
has been traced nearly two miles, as il crops out on
the surface at an average width of 10 feet WIDEN
ing it descends At the depth of Is feet il is as.
certaned to be 20 feet and believed to he still wider
Il consists Of amygdaloidnl trap, cacareous spar,
&C., with native copper and silver intersperscd II
is devoid of poisonous Ores and is easy to drill and
blast The native copper and silver be separated
from the rock by crushing and washing; mill for
which the company were about to build, having
water-powcr sufficient for it, as well as for saw
mill, which has been erected since our visit, for a
samping-mill now IN operation, and for furnace
which is much needed, and about to be built
According to an analysis made Of the ore Of this
vein last fall the rock yields 10 per cent Of metal
and ton Of it gives 244 80 lbs metallic copper and
Equal to 1881 lbs of silver, worth go
per To-. 1866 40
And 20 lbs. OF copper, worth II cents
per de-. Observation-Disclosures. 80 AZ
In value per ton Of the ore. -. S4O4 sd
This sample was taken from the middle Of the
vein, where DIR. II. /. Jackson, who made the
analysis says, in his report TO the Hon. David Hen
shaw of Boston. there is moro silver than should
be regarded as fair average Of the mines contents
We have seen subsequent report, which states that
a sample of SO lbs. Of ore, averaging little below
medium quantity, was ground up and assayed. On
being sifted, II yielded IL A. 16ths copper and silver
IN pieces mixed with the rock. This being well
washed, was reduced 10 8 l3.16ths; and, assayed,
gave equal to 25 2-16hs lbs of silver per ton and
1857 lbs of copper per ton. The pure sed ore and
rock being well washed and assayed, gave 4-l6ths
lbs silver and $50 lbs copper per ton; which makes
S566 silver, and 1921 copper=$799 per ton. The |
rock ore yielded at the rate SS7 25 silver and $40
Is per ton--exclusive Of the large |
Jumps and sheets Of copper. Different assays have |
been made Of small portions, which have been found
exceedingly rich, but far beyond anything that the
rock ore might be nationally expected TO yield as
an average. We have learned by letter from |
friend in the region, 1.-THE Rev. Mr.. j. Barnard who
recently visited this mne,) that Dr. Jackson OF Bos-
ton, now experimenting, exploring and analy1ing,
Of some ore, the refuse or cuttings from which spe-
cimens had been picked, and it yielded at the rate
OF SlS9 per ton. No ono, however, can visit the
region without being convinced that both time and
funds are necessary to render the mine an available
source OF wealth; and that much, very much, as to
their profits, will depend upon the skill, economy
facility, and industry with which the company will
conduct their mining operations No company
need expect treasures TO flow in upon them with
out industry, ugaty, and skill in conducting their
operations. DIR. Houghton,s caution ia rnost inst