Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-09-11
LAKE SUPERIOR COPPER REGION.

The New York Courier has the following in
torestng article, from the penof aphysician, who
is well knownas gentleman of scientific acquire
ments and as we'll informed and intelligent man:
| am addressing you from that part of Lake
Huron which is often designated as part of the
river issuing from the Sault St. Marie. SO i'm
perceptbly do they glide into each other that it is
very difficult TO distinguish at what precise point
the river ends or the Lake begins. group of
innumerable islands is collected here, dotnng the
surface in every direction,-of all shapes-al
dlmensions-all appearance;-we have been sail
ing amidst them till they have seemed to inter-
pose barriers to our further progress, but some
point or headland rounded, and the way for our
onward Journey opens again far beyond.
| am returning from my tour to the Mineral
Region, in and about which had been wander
ing for the last two or three weeks, and whatever
of anticipation or of romantic expectation may
have been formed before my visit, have found
realized and substance and confirmation given
to them.
A more remarkable counry-onc possessing
more peculiar features, both of the wild and the
useful, is not to be encountered, even in our own
widespread country. had heard strange and
improbable and extraordinary statements of its
mineral treasure, and was an especial unbeliev-
er, but personal examination has given them
confirmation which has alike gratifed and sur
prsed me.
| had every facility for visiting all, or nearly
all, of the localities whose mineral operations
have actually commenced, and found that in some
of them very extensive labor had been perform
ed. At the mouth of Eagle river, aperpendicu-
lar shaft had been sunk to the depth of one hun
dred and eighty feet, and horizontal shafts branch
off from this, at different points, to a distance
nearly equal. Ii is an adventure TO be remem-
bered, to make descent into this work-thc sub
terranean treasure house.
The first mine that visited convinced me that
copper, especially the pure or native copper, eX-
listed in large quantities., and visits TO mine after
mine in succession established this belief. Eve
rywhere were perceptible the evidences of the
increasing diffusion of the metal. Where a cav
ty existed in the rock, would be found mass or
boulder of native copper. Every fssurc and
Ecrevice was lined with it. The more solid por-
tions are perforated by veins and strings of the
pure native copper. The whole of the rock for
nation seems to be tied together by this metal
Nor is this the only treasure in the mines that
visited, and like statements are heard from those
who visit other mines.
In all quarters striking indications of Silrcr ex-
st-the pure native silver appears in contact with
the copper without any alloy. have curious
specimen, which saw taken out of the mime
1t is small mass or boulder of native copper,with
bottom of native silver as twcre soldered to ii.
saw the famous piece of copper, of which so
many newspaper accounts have been published.
1t lies in the bottom of a shaft about forty-fvc
feet below the surlace-when found it was imbed.
ded in the solid tap rock. 1t has length of a.
bout thirteen feet, by nine in depth, and varies
from four to eight inches in thickness, and looks
like an immense slab standing on its largest edge.
Its weight is estimated at thirteen tons, consisting
of pure malleable copper, without any admiNtmo