The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-11-25
Eagle HarbOr Copper Mines.

1t is probab, known to but few, that within year
past, several of prominent citizens have turned
their attention to the copper region Of Lake Superior
having in view the procuring from that the
copper required to carry the extensive rolling mills
now in operation in this town.
We understand that a ma jortv of the stock Of the
Eagle IIarbor Mining Company, is now owned hy
several Of citizens and controlled by them and
that the present indications that it is of the
most valuable locations in that section.
The Company own a tract ot land three miles
SQUARE on Lake Superior at Eagle 1iaIb0r, which is
said be the Only good ha Dor the lake, and they
have surveyed and laid village the han bor,
which is rapidly filing up and from its harbor flc Ii
ties must become Of the most important CONNER
cial points on the Lake.
Bui the great value of the property consists M lis
copper, Of which many VEINS already opened, CIV
ing indications Of exhaustess stores of this valuable
metal. The company last spring sent out DR.. a. $
Blake If this village, their resident agent at Ea
gle narbor, to take charge OF their interests; aud
those Who know the Dr., will be satisfied that u there
is mineral wealth there BE- extracted, il viii, in all
human probability, be brought to light. We are in
for1ned that lhc DIR. has discovered aud opened an
ancient g,ins section II, of the location, d'scov
ernr a vein Of copper seven feet wIdc, and which is
pronounced by the miners and Others competent To
udre in such matters be the greatest face ndi
cation ever in that region, and exceeding that Of
the famous Cliff Mine at its commencement. DR.
Blake has commenced mining operations at tins lace
and at the last accounts pene ating INTO the shalt
worked by the miners o! old.
1t is be>opd all question, that the country about
Lake Super ior was resortcd ages ago tor copper
by people having some know ledge of the arts, and
the traces of their labors everywhere apparent.
Ia many instances, their pits and shaft some OF them
through the solid rock the depth of sixty and
enty feet, have been opened, bringing 10 light the
tools and implements with which they worked, among
them chisels of hardened copper, art which is
lost, and corresponding with those found in the an
cient Egyptian monuments. In one aucieni eNcaya
ton which was covered with trees five hundred yca,s
old growing over it, found mass OF pure copper
OF many tons weight, resting on sklds Of black OAK,
and showing the marks Of fire upon it. Probably,
they were unable break it pieces, and owing TO
its great weight, could not remove 1t cnire. These
ancient pits and excavations filled up with dirt
ana rubbish, with trees hundreds of years old grow
ing over them, showing that they must have been
worked and abandoned ages ago, and l,y race pro-
badly extinct.
we are informed that in the pit opened by DIR.
Blake on section II, above alluded to, large birch
tree. two hundred years old, was growing directly
over it, and that in clearing it out he has found the
stone hammers, wedges, and wooden shovels, which
were used by the ancient miners, and has IN his pos
session quite museum of the implements oi his an
Gent predeces ssors in the mining business.