New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-07-14
THE COPPER REGION.
Mines and Mining on Lake Superior.


EAGLE HARBoR, L. s.. Monday, June %
Ihave been some four weeks in the Cop
per regions of Lake Superior, and have collected
few items in regard to miners and mining in this
country which will place at your disposal. That
this part of Michigan is rich in veins OF native cop
per is now fixed fact; and that, with all the dis
advantages incident to a new business, in new
country, shut out from civilization and the rest
of mankind for six months in the year, these
veins may be worked proftaSly, has been abun-
dainty demonstrated by at least one or two ofthe
many companies now mining here. Other COM
panies hope to show similar results soon.
have visited a large number of the mines on
Keewenaw Point, from which have obtained my
information by personal inspection and from par
ties on the spot. In regard to Others rely on the
statements of gentlemen ofintelgencs and repu-
ted integrity.
The chief mines of this region, as far as may be
Judged by actual results, in the Boston and Pits
burgh better known as the Chf This is one of the
Pioneer Companies, having commenced operations
as early as 1885, though very little was done in the
way of active mining till the following year.
Since then, about 5000 tuns of copper have been
consisting of masses and barrelwork and the other
half stamp-work. may as well here explain that
what is called Mass Copper consists of sheets or
pieces too large to be packed in barrels and
weighing from few hundred pounds up to many
tuns. Masses have been taken from the Cliff
vein estimated to weigh 20 or 80 tuns, mostly OF
solid copper, varying in thickness from few
inches to two or three feet. Such masses cannot
be removed from the level or drift until divided
into pieces of few tuns, weight. These masses
are cut into portable size by the use of a chisel
from one half to three -fourths Of an inch in width,
one man holding the chisel while another strikes
with heavy sedge. This operation costs from
Sc TO SO per square foot of surface cut through.
Barrel work consists OF such pieces OF copper as
are too small to be shipped separately. These
small masses are dressed with hammer in order
to free them as much as possible from the adher-
ing vein-stone. Stamp-work includes the main
portion of the vein-stone, carrying small per-
centage of "copper". This stuff is taken from the
vein and calcined, then put under the stamp
heads and pulverized, after which the fine partl-
cles of copper are separated from the puyerized
rock by washing, when the copper is barreled up
and sent to market.
The Cliff Company have sunk three shafts to
the depth of 400 feet each nteTsected by drifts or
levels at distances Of ten fathoms apart. The
aggregate length of these drifts is nearly 5000
feet. The most OF the ground thus opened has
been stopped out Stopping signifies the removal or
taking down of the ven-stone after the mine has
been opened, the miners working upward from the
levels. The present force at the Cliff is 800 men,
and the product 20 tuns per month. Capt. Jen-
nings, the manager here, is now running eleven
heads Of stamps which crush 80 tuns of reck per
month. and intends to add nine more stamps i'm
medately, which will nearly double his present
stamping force without adding materially to the
expense Of the operation. The stamping, pump.
ng, raising copper, &C., are all done by steam
power
There is quite an extensive system of UNDER
ground railroad at this mine, as well as several
Others in this region. Miniature railroads, with
little trucks, capable of carrying four or FIVE tuns
of copper or vein-stone, being extended through
the various levels in the mine and also on the sur
face, for the more easily handling Of the copper.
/ learned from Capt. Jennings that they have
nearly two miles of this kind of road at the Cliff.
The stock of this Company is held principally
in Boston and Pittsburgh and is divided into 5000
shares, on which SIS 80 per share has been paid
up, and the stockholders have received three annu-
al dividends of so each and one Of $li during
the last four years. The present year the Com
pany have erected a sixty.horse engine which.
with buildings and fixtures will cost about $40.
0C0; and they contemplate building railroad
from the mine to Eagle River distance of about
three miles, for the transportation Of their COPPER
to market and supplies 70 the nine. The brilliant