Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-09-10
LAKE SUPERIOR COPPER REGION.

eStiDg article, from the pen of physician, who is
well known as gentleman of scientific acquire
mcnts and as well informed and intelligent man :
am addressing you from that part OF Lake HUI
ron which Is often designated part of the river
issuing from the Saut st. Marie. So impercepti-
bly, do they glide into each other that it is very diff
fcult to distinguish at what precise point the river
ends or the Lake begins. A group of innumeTable
islands is collected here, doting the surface in every
drecton,-of all shapes-all dmensons-all APP
pearances;--we have been sailing amidst them till
they have seemed to inerpose barriers to our further
progress but some point headand rounded land the
way for our onward journey opens again far beyond
am returning from my to the Mineral Re
gion, in anc.;.bont which had been wandering for
the last two or three weeks, and whatever of anti
cpation or OF romantic expectation may have been
formed before my visit, have found realized and a
substance and u confirmation given to them.
| more remarkable country-one possessing more
peculiar features, both of the wild and useful is not
to be encountered, even i'll own widespread
country. had heard strange and improbable and
extraordinary statements of its mineral treasure
and was an especial unbeever. but personal eXa-
mination has given them confirmation which has
, alike gratified and surprised me-
had every facility for visiting ALL or nearly all
OF the localities whose mineral operations have ac-
tually commenced, and found that in some Of them
very extensive labor had been performed. At the
mouth of Eagle River, a perpendicular shaft has
been sunk to the depth Of $50 feet, and horizontal
shafts branch off from this, at different points, to
distance nearly equal. 1t is adventure to be re-
membcred, TO make descent into this work-this
subterranean treasure house.
| The first mine that visited convinced me that
copper, especially the pure native "copper" existed
in large quantities, and visits to mine after mine in
| succession established the belief. Every where
were perccpibe the evidences of the increasing diff
fusion of the metal Where cavity existed in the
rock, would be found mass or boulder of native
copper. Every fssure and crevice was lined with
it. The solid portions perforated by veins
and strings of the pure native copper. The whole
of the rock formation seems to be tied together
with this metal. Nor is this the only treasure in
all the mines that visited, and like statements are
heard from those who visited other mines.
In all quarters striking indications of silver exist
the pure native silver appears in contact with the
copper without any alloy. have curious speci-
men, which saw taken out Of the mine. 1t is
small mass of boulder or native copper, with but
ton of native silver. as it We're soldered to it.
saw the famous piece of copper, of which so
many newspaper accounts have been published. 1t
lies in the bottom of shaft about 45 feet below the
surface-when found it imbedded in the solid
trap rock. 1t has length of about 3 feet by i'm
depth, and varies from TO Is inches in thickness,
and looks like immense slab standing on its
largest edge. Its weight is estimated at 3 TONS
consisting of pure mallcabe copper, without any adj
mixture of rock or any foreign substance, and what
IS more remarkable, it lies directly the shaft
| saw a great many other masses of pure copper
varying In weight from one to several tons.
1t is wonderful TO visit the various localities and
see what large amount of copper has been already
raised, and at every step in their progress, indca
tons of richer returns are to be found.
But vast amount of deception exists with re-
gard to the golden returns of mining operations,
and too much Of speculative cast is given to the
labor, that TO many the results will be disastrous
The sail up Lake Superior will ever repay rich
return in exhibitions OF the picturesque and beau-
ful in natural scenery. The coast indented with
the most beautiful bays and harbors-the points and
headlands jutting out in every direction, covered
with the most luXurlant foliage, rising in high
and preci pitous ridges
The shores had a very primitive appearance
There is scarcely house the whole distance be-
tween the Sault st. Marie and Copper Harbor
There very few inhabitants, even of the forest
The soil is unprcductve, and the climate unfavora-
bic to the pursuits of griculture-cerainly So as
far the valuable of agricultural products
are concerned. This, with the scarcity of game
which exists but in small quantities. make preca-
rious enough the means of subsistence. The min
ing region will probably never become much of an
agricultural one. 1t has its value in another
way. Soil and climate, are both adverse. When
a better order of management of the mineral trea-
sure exists. rich indeed will be the returns
The Lake will always be resort of pleasure,
travel, and for the improvement of kealth during
a few months in summer Then the climate is de-
lightful, and the atmosphere, nvigorating and brac
ing from its stimulating properties, mparts an un,l-
sual degree Of vgor and elasticity to the SYSTEM
The whole country is remarkably healthy, miasma
not existing and, singular as it may SEEM persons
suffering under pulmonary diseases, derive great
and immediate benefit from few weeks residence
in this country.
My own health has greatly improved. though ex-
posed to all the vcisstudes of travelling, as they
exist in this Infant Empire have known no such
thing as cold since left home.
The Time is not far distant when patients la
boring under pulmonary affections will be sent to
improve their health by simmer residence on The
shores IF Like Superior, instead of winters so
journ in Texas or Florida
Nor arc the accounts OF the excessive cold of this
! -oc~,,, I'LL rioI NNl,o,, ,,o ..o-,,S.,,~tur ~,
/ the Hudson River has indicated cold of Is or 20
degrees below zero, it has not here gone below 6 or
| 3. This is owing to the vicinity of the waters of
| this vast Lake which remain unfrozen during the
severest winters. Hydrometc observations show a
remarkable equilibrium in the atmosphere which is
always very dry, and the changes very slight.
! Yours, &C.
IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.
We have observed going the rounds of the pa
pcrs, statement Of a curious discovery, said to
have been made known TO the Royal Society of
Great Britain, by Professor Auk1and-viz: that he