The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-08-01

Lang and interesting letter which we published on
Tuesday evening" from one ofour regular correspond
snts, who is now on a trip from New York TO Lake
SUPERIOR in which he gave us description OF Its
neeuliar and striking scenery, and made some re-
marks upon the copper lands in its vicinity, and up
=, the agents of the United States who have been
.h,rOed with the care of the mineral lands belonging
- the government. This letter drew forth areply
in our last evenings paper; but we declined the pub
rc,tion of the whole communication, for the
which we then stated. The writer of that article
cbarged the United States agent with many acts of
encouragement and even malversation of Office;
and as we were aware that government was
about to appoint commission to visit the country,
and investigate the conduct of the agents, deem
ID il most advisable to refer to another tribunal (for
the present, at least, full inquiry into these mat.
ers In the mean time, new scene was opened
before vs. We were scarcely aware of the exist
snce Of these mineral resources much less of their
extent But our curiosity is now being aroused.
The public documents connected with them have
been politely placed in our possession, and we shall
n,spare an article for the "Unon" for the purpose OF
calling the attention of the country TO this very inter-
esting subject The lead-mines belonging to the Uni
led States in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, &C., have
been longer known and are better understood than
the copper region. They have been worked to
considerable extent, and their produce is so album
dant, that they not only supply our own market
with lead but afford large export for the consump
ton of foreign nations. Perhaps no mines in the
world are equal 10 those of the belt on both sides of
the Mississippi
The copper region is probably more important
than the lead-mines. 1t is supposed by some geolo-
gis,s to extend from Lake Superior to Texas cross
ing the Mississippi diagonally at lower point than
the lead-mines, and forming a vein of from thirty
TO forty miles Of average width The ore is said to
be unusually rich. In some places it is mixed with
veins Of silver, so abundant that the precious metal
alone is sufficient to pay all the expenses of work.
ing the ven--the ore itself making a yield Of
GO or 10 per cent. of copper An immense
boulder of this metal is deposited in the public
yard between the War and Navy Departments, and
is well worthy the inspection of all curious obser-
yers who happen to visit Washington. 1t weighs
more than 3 700 lbs and is so rich in the metal,
that plate of copper is smoothed off on its surface
Ike the copper-pate of the engraver. 1t trans
ported to Washington from the banks of the On
onagon river, about forty miles from the Eagle river,
The two principal points where the richest ore
has yet been developed, on Eagle river, and near
Copper Harbor, on Lake Superior. But the richest
portion Of the copper region, far it is explored,
is reputed to be Isle Royale, in Lake Superior,
much nearer the Canada side than our own; but the
boundary line runs north of the island so that
it falls within the limits of the United States. Isle
Royale is estimated TO be about thirty miles in length,
and five miles broad-singularly rich in copper,
which is constantly cropping out on the surface.
The department has decided that no patents should
be granted, and no leases taken on this singular ISL
and.
Two large companies have been formed for leas-
ing and working the mines in the Lake Su
perior Copper Region--the one which ope-
rates in New York, and the other in Boston. So
valuable have shares become in some cases that
gentleman in Boston, who is said to own about
eighty shares, has been offered more than 5000
for single share. The supervision of these
mines is devolved on the Ordnance Bureau, (Col
Ialcott,) attached, of course to the War De-
parment. Some important regulations have been
legislation will be required from Congress- The Sec
retary of War grants the permits to applicants go
upon the lands; and upon presenting certificate
from the agent of the United States that the tract
has not been previously occupied, lease may be
granted for three years, upon condition of paying
per cent of the nett proceeds of the metal after is
| melted from the ore. If the lease be renewed for
another three years, the is extended to 10 per
cent The leaseholders were originally confined
to the smelling of the ore in the neghborhood of the
mines, but it was found that, owing to the want of
fuel, and other appliances, it was best to transport
the ore 10 New York or Boston. The secretary
yielded at last to the application-the government
still receiving its 6 per cent. OF rent, in the metal it
self, free of al! expense Transportation.
On the 2lst of March last, it was determined by
the Secretary of War to grant no more permits
which would authorize selection of more than
one square mile; and between that time and 18th ult.
seven hundred and sixty such permits were issued
F 1t was then determined to stop the further issue
The cause Of this is expressed in the printed crcu
ar from the Secretary of War, which we have al
ready published. 1t states that, "should locations
be made pursuant to the permits already issued
from this department, to select lands in the Lake
Superior mineral district the quantity required to
satisfy them would exceed one million one hundred
thousand acres. It isapprehended that the whole
region open for location may not contain this guam
a'y ofmineral lands. Explorations and surveys of
these lands have been ordered, and it has been de
ermlned to suspend the further issue Of permits
until the results shall be made known, The APP
phcations for permits received at the depart
ment subsequent to the I7th instant, will be
led in the office; and if the disclosures Of the exam
nations shall warrant the further issue Of permits
or the Lake Superior region, they will be consider
ed IN the order in which they have been shall be
received 1t is not expected that the results of the
examinations and surveys to ascertain the probable
quantity OF mineral lands in this region, and to
make the locations pursuant to the permits already
issued, can be completed for some time to come"
1t seems that Walter Cunningham, the first SUI
Perlntendent of these ands kept no record of the
permits he granted or of the selecton If tracts IN