The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-08-02
THE COPPER REGION.

government and Individuals and mining companies
therein. A further examination Of the imperfect
data at our command, has more fully impressed us
with the great national Importance OF our interests
involved in proper management of the mineral
and commercial source of wealth TO the government
and individual citizens, embraced in this almost las
YETI unknown section Of country. We, therefore,
do not deem it necessary to apologize to the public
for pursuing the subject at greater length, are
persuaded that at least majority Of the people OF
the Union know as little of these hidden treasures
we knew when chance directed our reading in
that direction.
During tina extra session Of the Senate, in March
last, resolution adopted by that body
calling upon the Secretary of War ito trans
nit to the Senate, its present session. the report
made by John Stockton, superintendent of the min
eral lands on Lake Superior, with the map accom-
panying the same" In consequence of this call,
Governor Marcy submitted, on the l7th, a report
of the officer in charge of the Ordnance Bureau,
with the map and all the papers referred to in the
resolution, accompanied with the following letter."
oppNANoE orTioE
Washington, March II, 1915
Sra; have the honor transmit herewith the papers
being the report made by John Stockton superintendent
OF the mineral lands Of Lake Superior together with the
g. ~ Sanders and A. b. Gray and referred by him. with
request that they may be considered part his report
These papers are the originals there not being
make copies ofhem Of the map which is also sent
The resolution Is herewith returned.
lam, sir, with great respect your obedient servant
q. TALCOTT.
Lieutenant Colonel Ordnance.
Hon w L. MARCY, Secretary OF War.
Many Of these communications from Mr.. Stock
ton, &C., enter more fully into detail than any
previously published, although that is rather a
geographical than geological sketch Fortunately,
1t is well adapted for popular reading, and we
therefore draw it largely this evening. Mr..
Stockton says, that on an analysis by DIR. Haughton,
the State geol2gist of Michigan, and DR.. McClin-
took, the asssyer of the mint at Philadelphia speci-
mems of the copper found in the district yielded
as follows;
Having found leisure since the receipt of yonr letter
from Lake Superior TO which 1t refers il affords me
great pleasure to transmit the result:
''lN0 parts Of the ore contains Of
''Metallic copper 1000
Oxygen 1850
"Carbonc acid, SC $50 W. ~ carb. acid
"They say that the mass Of the ore is pero1d. of cop.
per producing rich blue color with aqua ammonia, which
the p,oorde fails to DO The blue carbonate copper
stutes but snail portion of the specimen and seems to
dip into its interior The cahonates always contain
portion Of water and you will therefore find the est.
mated with the carbonic acid 90 being the absent
parts; and no trace OF sulphur having been discovered,
they assumed to have been the carboc the blue
carbonate, and the water necessarily associated with it.
send you the pure metallic copper preciptacd from
solution Of 90 grains parts of the ore ii weighs grains
parts, and is therefore equal TO 20 Parts in 100
value the ore by rendering the Smelling much easier and
nsuiihg better article when smeted" Dated February
1, lSi5.
From the report of Mr.. ]. B. Campbell, Gone of
the United States assistant agents for the mines,
dated Chicago, December 4, 1874, and describing
the country between the portage of Keweena
point to the river Brue, and thence to the Missis-
sipp river, via the ST. Crox we extract as follows
The severity Of the weather ateness Of the season
prevented thorough examination the country be.
tween the portage OF Point keweena ontonsgon
could have wished, but | find the mineral veins which
passed under my observation equal to those Point Kewee
ma in apparent richness The mouths 81 most Of the rivers
throughout this distance Of coast (.5 niles are closed
throughout the summer months Cat low stages waer by
shifting sands which roman during low periods Of
aud removed during the spring and autumn reshps so
as to admit the barges small size Alter
ing these distinctions however many OF the afford
sufficient for small boats for distance of from Ave To-
twelve miles inland The soil upon the coast and Tor die
lance of two to three miles into the interior is geneall
sandy and of Indifferent character After passing this
lance the country assumes greater elevation die timber
maple principally and the soil becomes good quality
for cultationthe prevailing character sandy loan
ceptng where the ranges of tpprock where 1t be-
Of superior quality and produces well as far as ex.
perments have been made.
The valleys Of most Of these small rivers have bottoms
oil considerable extent; and the slight examinations which
lowing to want Of mel enabled to make presented
evidences OF superior caste.
The ranges Of edmentay rock upon the northern slope
give evidence Of valuable deposes of copper
The veins OF greater length than those Of Rev eena
point The usual quartz vein sonel occurs with native
COPPER distributed IN small masses ibyonshort md 5re
quentlg ofgreat richness,
Nothing observed upon the ontonesoh or dis.
ipruftn a.
but its superior soil and mineral features give the region
high value The small experiments made by Mr. james
Paul an early pioneer in growing wheat corn potatoes
&c during the past season the valley Of this river
be very valuable as an agricultural district in addition
its mineral dcposes."
Ion ,ir,r-Thc valley of this river has been explored
for " sh st sss and re- soil excellent ell
This river washes the kasc of the Porcupne noun
tans and in its nom sonth to north passes
red sandrocks and states which upon the traphs Of
those ranges Some few ysp Of copper ares we're found
features to those in the eastern section Of the mineral
trict
The country embraced between this river and the Mon
trea shows similar features to that betw Portage
the Ontonsgon excepting that the soil Of the valleys be-
tween the ranges Of the Porcupine mountains Of upc
ror quality mostly being ccmpesed of disintearned tran
and red sand ucks The entire distance from the
to the Montreal the mineral veins found frequently
presenting rich surface Appearances but time re-
qured to speak more fully Of this region Tbs veins gem
orally have greater length tas far could be ascertain
ed and appear better in the congoneraes and send
rocks than those noticed further the east
doubt but that this will be fonaS Ia be VALUABLE section OF
the mineral country The rivers between the Ononaeon
and the Montreal "a distance of 20 miles, head the
coast and make rapid descent the lake
igable for any thing but small boats bark
The Montreal river enters the lake from the southeast
has width of 20 to 30 yards its mouth and cuts
through the red sand rock TO the height Of 100 feet above
the lake 80 rods from its entrance and the pTecpa
ted rocks with fall Of 40 feet The entrance quite
shallow, and II is difficult Tor the smallest boats to make
h6rbor excepting calm weather After pdssig orerthe
bar there is good harhor for large barges AT Two miles
distance from the coast the river breaks through the ranges
OF trap and congonerate rocks in its from the
and forms two successive falls of 90 feet esch For
distance of two miles below, the river winds its way
through cliffs OF congomerac and sand rocks frequently
rising to the height OF 200 feet The Average width Is
about 90 yards for distance OF Eve miles abote is mouh
and for distance of FIVE miles further the bottoms
qucnty quite large and consist Of good soil with heavy
growth of elm, ash, maple, BIG. s-.
THE veins copper discovered in the valley Of this
river many Of them large, and carry stone OF
compact quartz with native copper distributed in small par
tclcs through il; in many instances the vein stone the
width Of two feet The majority of the veins however
vary from 20 ~ inches with similar general as
those described beforethe native copper aud the green
carbonate frequently appearing in considerable quantities.
The explorations already made indicate that the copper
veins continue towards the head OF the lake without any
apparent dminution in value
Bad river twelve miles of the Montreal contains
with the execution of the Ontonagon the valuable