The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-28

There will no doubt, during the next season, b
business enough for all these, and a steamboat i
addition, which II Is anticipated will be taken owe
the portage al the Saut this winter. Is il not tim
then for Congress 10 do something for the presen
increasing commerce of this great inland sea- in tn
way Of making appropriations for erecting seyera
light houses at the entrance of Copper harboi, OF
Grand island, at White Fish Point, &C., which ar
SO much required for the future safety Of vosse
nat eating the lake. The interest OF the govern
ment, rs well as many Of the States, and hundred
OF mining companies will all be Jeopardized by III,
failure OF Congress TO give this matter their promp
attenton during the present session. s1e
The mineral lands bordering this great lake
have within the short period Of two years becom,
the scene Of immense attraction, of capitalists AND
spectators Of all grades and must from tho richness
] of the copper aud syer mines already discovered
continue heneefor~ard 70 attract not only tho aten-
ton OF capitalists Of the States, but those from
abroad. Some litte caution ought, however, to ID
given 10 those who might be overcome in their great
Zeal To realize fortunes, not 10 allow the copper and
silver mania 70 Affect their bcusr Judgments, and
hence become bankrupts instead az piilIionairss.
! Col ID, u. McNar, stcrling ksptuckisn and On
intsndent Of the mineral ands and IL calculated 70
render important services 70 the country, and fus
tics 10 the psopsis.sss Of the lsnds itis hard that
great dihcultiev WI onsuc IN consequences or the
large number Of permits which granted and
layed before the lands were surveyed. The num-
made are about 700--one hundred Of which were
made the applications Of persons in the country.
There number Of leased tracts, and several
hundred locations made, that have not and will not
be worked according 10 the stpustons Of the leases
and permits, il being the object of the lessees and
holders Of locations To form stock companies, and
dispose Of their scrip, without any intention on
their part TO carry out The views and expectations
Of the government. In this way, the leases, &c,
would continue to pass from one company to anoth-
| J..E.. Ia. L.. Il. a.
realize particle Of profit from the mines. Ii would,
therefore, be a wise policy for the government TO
dispose OF all It's mineral lands In the
that other public lands sold, reserying the same
per centage of which may be dug al present
And in the event of failure to do this some rigid
rule should be adopted by which lessees and hold
ers Of locations would either be compelled TO use
all diligent to raise ores, otherwise forfeit
their leases. II no such rule is adopted IL will be
understood that lessess may hold their leases for
the term of three years without working them.
When certain companies fail to comply with their
contracts, the mineral agent should be required TO
notify them that such lease has been forfeited, so
that the same may be released by others more
terprsing. This course will be the means Of pre-
venting endless disputes and litigation. The boun-
daries Of location should Ito prevent dsputos) also
be made to correspond with surveys of the general
land Office, which would lessen the expenditures
to very considerable amount
A brief account of a few Of the mining companies
may not be unacceptable TO your readers. may
add that all the locations on Kewyweenon point,
from the lake shore TO many miles in the interior,
as well as those high up on the Ontenogan river,
are regarded extremely rich and valuable.
The Pittsburgh and Boston Copper Harbor Mi
ming Company" includes in its possessions leases
No. A. embracing the extent Of this beautiful harbor;
No j. lying west of and Looming the "Lake Superior
Copper company " Eagle river, and No. 6, ten
miles further west, and is superin,ended by DIR.
VIM. Petit one of the best fnanclers and busiHess
in the country, who has charge Of all the inter-
ests of the company. Three four shafts and
several adits and drifts have been sunk in different
places to develop OF their lodes in the vicinity
Of Fort Wilkins, where the black oxyde Of copper
abounds, which yields very nearly an average of
20 per cent and - in proper state TO be converted
into that valuable article Of commerce. blue vitrol.
While in the process merely Of opening the mines,
the company have raised and shipped upwards of
seventeen tons Of this pure oxyde; besides, they
have large quantity on hand ready for smelling,
which is not pure enough for shipment Mr.. Mat
Rieio Staples, OH experienced mining captain from
Cornwall, superintends the mines near the fort,
and has employed under him forty men. On lease
No. 5, Eagle river, the company has one large
vein, rich in copper, interspersed with silver, cut
ting through a mountain several hundred feet In
height from its summit to its base, disappearing
beneath its base, and undoubtedly extending down
wards indefinitely, as all true veins do. circum-
stance which adds immensely to the value Of this
mine is the fact that all that part above the base of
the mountain, and which includes more than can
probably be worked for centuries can be drained
almost without expense. Upwards of eighty tons
Of this ore has already been taken out of the mine;
and thirty miners, under the superintendent Of
Mr.. Richard Jennings, a very superior and energetic
mine captain from Cornwall, are now engaged in
taking the ore out IN immense quantities, with out
any interruption from water, and without any fear
or apprehension of foul air. The company has on
the same location other veins Off similar character
ard quite valuable. DR.. Shepherd whose scen-
tiic and geological knowledge is so well known
throughout the country has made very interest
ing and correct report of the company and country
in general which has been soon will be, published.
All necessary buildings have been erected for the
accommodation of the miners, and the company In
tend erecting the ensuing year stamping mills and
furnaces for smelling the ore.
The 'Lake Superior Copper Company" partic-
ularIy known the Eagle River Company, have
the most extensive works. and more men employed
than any other company. The amount OF ore re-
ported TO have been raised up to the LIST of Novem-
ber is 705, 900 pounds, worth from to 10 per cent
Of copper, besides having silver interspersed. The
whole number of shares of the company 10 but
about | 200. The stock is estimated at very high
price Colonel Charles II. Gratiot is the supcrin-
tendent of the company
The Isle Royale Mining Company is the only
one which has declared dividend, having dlstribu-
ted twenty-five per cent. on the capital invested
Its interests are somewhat identified with the Pits
The eagle Harbor Mining Company" raised, to
the LIST of December $4,000 pounds of ore.
There are many other companies known, such as
the New York, the Albion, and the Bohemian also
locations, such as Saunders and others, which are
rich in "copper" silver, and sulphurets all Of which
as have been informed by intelligent men well ac-
quainted with the English mines, would, among
the English capitalists conversant with mines, COM
mand any amount Of capital for proving and ex-
ploring so almost certain are they to prove pro-
ductive.
The first explorers and settlers of Lake Superior
were the French fur-traders about the middle Of the
l7h century. They made their first position at what
! is now called L'Ance-hen the ebay Therese." A
year or two aflerward about 1860, Marquette
penetrated to the Apostle islands, the presen, posi-
lion Of Laponte, then, as now, considered the can
trail root of the Chippewa nation, its metropolis.
Long before the conquest of Canada by the Eng
lish they spread themselves over the whole coun-
try on both sides of the lake far into the northwest
After the conquest one of the first Englishmen TO
penetrate beyond the Saut ST. Marie, was Alexander
| Henrv uhnse narrative off fifteen years residence