The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-07-29

various sizes and forms, occupied by miners, geolos
gists, spectators, voyageurs, visters, &c.
The only tenement on the island Is a miserable
log-cabn, in which General Stockton, for the want
of better quarters, is compelled 10 keep his office.
The room which he occupies, is only about eight
feet square-just large enough 10 admit narrow
bed for himself a table, and two or three chairs.
In this salt-box of a room, he - compelled 10 trans
act all the business relating 10 the mineral lands en-
braced within this important agency. As many as
a dozen men at time are pressing forward to his
"bee gum" apartment, endeavorng to have their bu-
sness transacted
The Office of the surveyor of the mineral lands
in charge of Mr. Gray, at this agency, is st worse
adapted to the transaction of public business. lie
is compelled to occupy the garnet of the log-cabin
with a hole cut through the logs in the gable TO
serve as a window. In this garrett he is obliged
! to have all his draughtng performed, subject TO the
constant interruption of parties wishing TO see plans
of the mineral lands II would seem almost impos-
sble under such circumstances, for the officers To
avoid making Mistakes yet, by dnt of unwearied
labor and attention TO their official duties, they have
conducted their affairs with accuracy and despatch
| highly crcditable to them.
| The government has been fortunate in the selec'
| ton of its agents in the mineral region of Lake
Superior. To untiring industry, punctuality, and
close attention to business, they unite, IN high de-
gree, the bland, mild, and patient bearing OF gem
tlemen.
Gen. Stockton's labors are severe and perplexiDg.
He is continually beset by crowds of applicants for
locations, all anxiously pressing forward to secure
leases for copper-mnes-among whom arc found
some utterly reckless osal principles of justice and
equity who endeavor TO bend the agent into com
phance with their unjust and unreasonable demands
such as wishing him to supersede prior locations
for their benefit, or to grant locations evidently IN
| tended To cover town sites, beyond the bounds OF
his agency, where no mineral exists, which he has
no authority to grant and because he has, in every
instance of the kind, resisted their unreasonable APP
| plications, he has not escaped making few enc
mics among such persons, who are collecting to-
geiher 10 abuse and mlsrcpresent him. Considering
| the crnmped quarters furnished him by the govern
ment and the great rush of people upon him from
all quarters, under the excitement of copper fever
raging at its height, and many anxious to Obtain
exclusive advantages, it is surprising how he has
succeeded well he has done in giving such gen.
era satisfaction. His official duties discharged
with promptitude fidelity, frmness, and impair
TALLY, which creditable to the public service
He seems peculiarly fitted, both by habit and ma
ture, for the discharge of the responsible duties in
voyed in the administration of an agency establish
ed in wild and uninhabited country, being trav-
ersed at present by bands of people in search Of
mineral treasures as diversified in character, dispo-
stons, &c, the various sections of country from
| whence they come--many of whom are by no
means scrupulous as TO the means for promoting
their own interest--who probably suppose they can
! play the same game in the copper mineral region
that practsed in the early leasings of the lead
mineral districts Of Illinois: that is, seize upon gov
eminent lands, work and raise mineral ore, cheat
the government, and sell rights, where they have
never had n claim
| 1t is enough to say that while such men as Gen.
Stockton, Major Campbell, and Mr. Gray, remain
in Office the southern shore of Lake Superior, all
such desperadoes will be completely foiled and dis
| appointed The frauds committed on the govern
mient in the working of the ead-mines, cannot be
repeated in the copper mineral region of the United
States. When frauduently -inclined Adventures
| find they cannot make the faithful officers of gov
eminent stationed in this quarter swerve from the
strict and impartial discharge Of their duty, they
will probably unite for the purpose Of operating
upon government to procure their removal and en-
deavor TO get men in their places likely to act
| as plant tools in promoting their selfish ends
The agency being on narrow small island, half
a mile from the main land, makes il very inconve-
nient. The island does afford sufficient timber
for fre-wood, and in winter is isolated by ice, &c
IL should by all means be removed to the main
shore, and placed near Fort Wilkins which is nearly
two miles distant on the main land, or removed up
TO Eagle Harbor, which is a far preferable and
more convenient site for the agency.
There Is no question but the great range of trap
rockks sgnnng parallel with the southern shore Of
with many valuable veins of copper ore; but 10 find
them and develop them, must be the work of
| time. Tho impeneirabe stunted forest seems
| to be little else than thick universal hedpe
formed by the horizontal interocked limbs Of dwarf
white ccdars, lntermingled with tamarack, birch
ana maple Persons who attempt so penetrate
through them, without being protected by a mail of
dressed buckskin, have their clothes soon slit and
| torn from their bodies in shreds.
Dr. Houghton says, so considerable is the attrac-
ton of the trap-rock for the needle that on many
places, when surveying over its ranges, he cannot
rely upon it and is compelled to run his lines by the
sun and stellar observations.
80 far as practicable mining operations have pro-
tha fnun
the result:
AT Eagle river several locations are being worked
superintendent by Col. Gratot and on which from
~ TO 80 men are employed.
AT Agate Harbor another company have this sea-
son commenced operations under the direction of
Mr. Larned, of New York, in whose service from
10 to 20 laborers find employment.
AT copper Harbora company from Pittsburg are
working vein of black oxide of copper, under the
superintendent Of DR.. Petit who has from 30 to 40
hands employed under him. Besides these. there
are other small parties at work in various directions
So that 1t would appear that mining in the United
States copper mineral lands has fairly commenced
UP to this time, the returns made 10 the agency
by TWO OF the above comprehensive Eagle River
alias Boston Company, and the Pittsburg Company
amount to the following quantities of ore The for
mer have raised 100000 lbs. of ORE worth not less
than SIPS per ton. The latter company have raised
oo.o lbs of the black oxide copper ORE the value of
which do not exactly know.
Other companies are organizing for mining mr.
poses and will probably commence operations the
present, or early in the next season.
Inc country still in the possession of the Chippe-
wa Indians, embraced between the northwestern part
OF the lake and the British frontier, along Pigeon
river, might be easily obtained from them by treaty
And, 1t poor in mineral wealth. it is a very rich soil
and good agricultural country; and by its acquisition
we should at once extend and square out our pos
sessions and settlements to the British frontier,
which should be protected by detached forts, ex-
tha Iaka If ~
Woods. According to the present Indian boundary,
1t is made TO pass along the waterne of the lake
shore, from Pigeon river, around Fond du Lac; and
when some distance east and south Of the lake.
strikes straight line west to the Mississippi. The
United States, by being cut off by this wnter-line
from all landing sites for harbors or Notifications for
one ortwo hundred miles Of the western and northern
shore of the lake, will be subject to great inconven-
ence
The number of persons at present exploring or