Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1855-11-21
VISIT TO A COPPER NINE.

above Ontanagon. en- the river of that
name
Down, down we went, and in more
than one instance the rounds which sup
ported us were worn through till less
than half an inch of wood remained. but,
scraping and scratching, clutching at the
ladder round, and grasping the candle,
which every moment seemed likely to be
stuck by the great drops of water which
constantly fell from over head, we had
no time to speculate upon the strength Of
our frail foothold, but foot at step sank
deeper and deeper into the bowels of the
earth, and the blackness of everlasting
night which fills them. We had gone
down perhaps 60 feet. and the remaining
ladder was some few feet 10 the left of the
one we were upon. On reaching the last
rourd, rather long stretch to the left,
sort of poking in the dark after foot
hold, for your candle will not light your
feet in such an atmosphere, found the next
ladder. We came on in safety and struck
the landing 80 feet below, with indescrib-
able pleasure.
Here were miners at work with picks,
drills and chisels, the atmosphere filled
with smoke of blast in some one of the
many passages through the mine, max
ing the darkness darker than ever. Can
dies fastened to the ragged sides or roof
of the passage by the clay plaster, and
their hats ornamented in like manner,
gave barely light enough to see where to
strike. Here would be seen a brawny
arm holding big chisel which was
slowly, very slowly, cutting its way
through mass of solid copper weighing
90 tons, or more, perhaps-too heavy to
raise 10 the surface and on that huge
block of metal, which had been thrown
down by the force, perhaps, of ten kegs
of powder. sat this man, where he had
been for over thirty six working hours,
holding that stout chisel, with two 9TH
ers striking alternately, hour after hour,
blows of tremendous power, about once
second. And how much, think, you,
is done by this kind Of labor ? A square
foot of surface, by the hardest kind of
work which human muscle can perform,
in twelve hours, is all that can be acom-
plished. No wonder copper costs. L
believe cOppermining to be the severest toll
which the human frame can be made to
endure There is no other mining known
which can compare with it, and l am
told the men never live to. be old. Crop
ing after our leader through gangs of
men in all directions, we were instructed
in metallic formations, and lectured TO
most interestingly in trappean ranges,
and such illustrations of their contents
made OF as the wealth of the Indies could
furnish no college with above ground.
On the first level of the Minnesota, we
saw laid bare in the rock, SO feet below
the surface, solid slab of copper full 50
feet long, and at least ten feet wide. Its
thickness of course can only be mere
speculation but it must weigh over sew
enty tons and if six inches thick, on an
average double that weight. Yet cop
per is daily laid bare in this mine foot
thick. Till they get behind the mass
and blow it from the rock, it is impossi'
bic to get at its actual thickness.
Crawling, sliding, creeping, and by
every other method save walking, candle
in hand, now in mud, now on Jagged
rocks, head first, we followed cur polite
conductor, who, with pick would knock
at om ragged roof in most reckless
manner to point out "epedote" or " con-
glomerate" or '' trap to his class, who
perhaps would have been full as well sat
isfed, if he had displayed less anxiety to
initiate their craniums with metalliferous
knowledge, at the risk, according to my
ignorant comprehension, of the tumbling
down of some beautiful fragment Of tap
weighing few tons, to bury us alive, or
crush us out of existence. After an ex-
animation of metal in and out of the
rock, at our present depth, we made the
descent of 80 feet farther, and our explo-
rations at the 10 feet were as Interesting
as heretofore. Our ideas of the immense
wealth of this mine, prepared as we
had been by the stories We had heard,
fell short of the picture presented below
Years upon years must roll away before
the metal can be exhausted and if the
character Of copper continues in masses,
the profits must be enormous. We had
nov been in the dark regions about three
hours, and had twisted ourselves by crab
like conlortions through passages 7CO feet
in length, had seen practical mining in
all its methods, save blasting, and that
We mad heard, quite satisfed+o have en-
, gagements at the moment in another di-
reciion so preferring to 80 up rather
; than sill farther down, we carefully fol-
/ lowed our conductor up through diff,
ferent shaft from the one we descended,
, and gladly reached the cheerful sunlight
once more, highly delighted with our un-
derground tour.