Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-04-21
Hli5rrllnnrnus.
For the wAtrhman and state Journal
THE MINERAL RE SOURCES
OF VERMONT.

post is the richest Of any New
England State, and propose briefly
10 examine the authority on which
the statement is made. Ii true, il
calls loudly upon her Legislature TO
make a sufficient appropriation for a
thorough, practical, Geological Sur
vey- of the Stale. A Survey hes
been. or is being made, we believe,
but its practical results thus far protc
lis inefficiency. Such survey may
add little, perhaps nothing, 10 sci
ence, aud were this the object in
view, we would not urge its uecessl-
! lily but the fact that II will still fur
iher deveIope the hidden treasures of
her bulls and mountains, makes the
question one of importance To her as
a State, and shoIld he a subject Of
interest to her people, since by such
a survey, acces: ions may be made to
her wealth. and consequently to the
prosperity OF her citizens.
The mineral resources of a State.
in The general acceplaiion Of the
term, include no, only her beds Of
Ore, but quarries of Stone. And to
both these sources of wealth in Yer
mont every year is adding new dis
coverles-many of them, at present
made 10y chance, and operated al
profit that commands the capital of
the Atlantic cities as an investment
Her facilities for transportation tn
the western States and sea. board
place her in favorable position 10
+ compete with the Atlantic States in
: all her branches Of industry. What
she loses IN " nsporta,Ion, she more
than redeens IN her ability To lessen
The expenses incident 10 other opera
I lions Hence, nou, OF ihoss hepns-
lis OF Mineral and Stone, that few
years since would not pay for work
ing, may now be operated TO adyan-
iage, and be made 10 pay large
} per Ct. 10 their possessors.
That mineral deposits, the exist
ence of which has been known Tor
years have not been thoroughly tested
would appear from the fact that the
Copper of STAFFORD, although once
worked, has been abandoned for some
years,-while in the opinion ot sci
j. entfc men, the sinking Of shaft To
the depth of one hundred aud fifty
TO two hundred feet, as is done in
the Lake Superior region. might pay
4 well on the investment. Copper i.
found here, not only in connection
!, with Iron as psriles, but native
Tins deposit is now worked for Cop
u peras alone, a large amount of which
a Is manufactured every year from the
ore dug while the mine was wroueh
for Copper. Surface Mining proved
d unproductlve here, as il does every
where.
!. Ia Mining, as in Quarrying, il has
: been fully demonstrated IN Europe
as well as IN our own country, tha-
> the deeper the shaft the better ihs
!, quality, and IN the former more pro-
1 ducuve This deposi, is the out
ID crop OF VEN supposed TO extenC
for several miles, aud in the town o
o Corlnth bed of equal probabl,
:, richness exists.
= The deposit of Galena at Thot
" ford, IL an evidence that we ma
"a look nearer home THAI the Westerr
States md Territories. for an arlIcl,
that enters largely into the arts ant
: manufactures. This deposit ha
been worked To some extent, bu
like the Copper OF STAFFORD. has, W,
2 believe, been abandoned.
The Iron deposits of Brandon
and Plymouth show us that tn
Mountains Of Vermont are g iro
ribbed" and that these deposits ar
worked al a profit. is demonstrates
by the furnaces they support, aad IN
manufactures they send forth. lro
has also been found in Troy, Col
chester, Puiney, S,ockbridge, and a
Roxbury in the later place, in tn
ionm OF Magnetic or Chronic Iron.
Tin has been discovered at Roy
alton under circumstances tina
strongly indicate its presence i
veins. This is one of the rarcr min
erals OF our country, and any local.
" where il may be found deserve
the attention of a practical Geologis
This, SO far as we know, is the onl
instance where this valuable metz
has been found in the State.
Native Gold has been found q
Bridgewaier, in quartz, specimens ,
which have been exhibited riyalin
in richness the gold-bearing quar-
Of California. How extensive I'll
'sH deposit may be, or whether in III
aggregate the quartz is sufficient
NJ rich 10 pay for working, has not y
's,- been proved. Native Gold has ais
= been found in Somerset.
. II. IL Graphite or Plumbago, Argentine
Ih, Gus Galena, and Sieaiiie or SoaI
stone have all been found in vario,
sections Of Vermont, Inviting inquil
into their extent and capahiIi,y OF b.
ing worked TO advantage and profit
The Slate Of Vermont has recei'