The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-01-08
COPPER

Not hong since, the newspapers were full
OF articles relating to this metal. Copper
mines, copper ore, copper mining, copper
discoveries, and copper specilations, met we
everywhere. Masses Of native copper, pure
enough for rolling, and large enough almost
to furnish metal to copper the bottom of No
abs ark, which measured eighty-one thou
sand tons according to DR.. Adam Clarke,
were every now and then turning up to the
enrichment of the owners, and the astonsh-
ment Of the American public The locus in
guo Of all this mineral magniicence was the
copper region on Lake Superior
What now has become Of all the copper
and all the speculations' They are but sell
dom heard Of in the newspapers; these being
devoted now to chronicling the wonderful
accounts from the golden region Of California,
Of which we have so far done our share. Ev-
erybody nowetalks Of gold, dreams Of it, or
digs for it; and all the baser and unpretend-
ing metals are seemingly left to take care Of
themselves
But copper, though now it can create no
sensation and scarcely any interest in the U.
States, is nevertheless yet capable Of produ-
cling them in England. The English papers
give an account Of very rich mine discov-
cred three years ago in 81 the new settled COL
ony of South Australia" II is called the
Burra Burra mine, and is in latitude % deg
40 min. south, and longitude l39 deg, min.
west Those engaged in mining have been
very successful, and still greater success is
anticipated A company with a capital of
R12, 900 sterling, in very short time cleared
g73, O0O--six hundred per cent. on the in
vestment. 1t is related, too, as proof of sue
cessful operation, that eight miners earned
nearly FIVE guineas week each during a
period Of nine weeks, and that Cornishman
"a skillful miner, Of course-cleared $50
in two months
This, in England, is considered wonderful;
but what would be said to it in California;
Five guineas week, and. R25 in month !
This would be considered as an absolute
waste Of time there, where five guineas would
be regarded as but an indifferent days work,
and 925 would scarcely pay for months
board, at the price ofprovisions at the latest
accounts.
At Burra Burra they have built village,
containing four hundred inhabitants, (miners)
who have worked shafts and galleries equal
ling one and halfmiles in length--the deepest
shaft being ia feet-and have raised copper
ore, said to be pure red oxide ofcopper, TO the
value Of ESQ, 900 sterling, at g25 the ton.
This is going soberly and Systematically
10 work, and in very different manner from
California mining, if mining that can be call
ed, which, as yet, has not gone beyond de-
sultory, superficial digging. The gold-seeker
digs awhile in one spot, and if he finds no
gold he goes to another, and seeks in all d.
rections until he does find. But in time this
irregular process will resolve itself into sys-
tenn, and then the gold-producing capability
Of the soil will be fairly tested. And if the
gold holds out in California, we expect to
hear not only Of villages, but of large towns
| being erected within year from this time,
in region which, but a short time ago,
seemed 10 be abandoned almost to the wild
beasts and the wild men of the Wilderness
the Indians. Globe { Vashington.)