The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-02-09

IHE COffEh IN lELESlO IN ' llkblNlA
a friend has called our attention to letter
which appears in the Nashville True Wing,
dated Hillsville, Carroll CO., Va, December
TO- 1854, in relation to the Copper Mines now
being opened and worked in that region. We
subjoin the more pertinent portion of it, with
the remark that the Wing endorses the relia-
bility of the writer:
came to Virginia, having some friends en-
gagged in developing the recently discovered
copper mines in this county, with very little
faith in the success of the enterprise, having
been led to believe by persons interested in
the Tennesse copper mines, that there was no
copper any where to be found in the United
States except at the Lake Superior mines and
at Ducktown. was determined. however,
to see for myself and accordingly visited what
is familiarity known as the Early Property"
found that the company at work here had
driven tunnel into the mountain about two
hundred feet, and had reached the main vein
of black oxide and green carbonate of copper,
and were taking out and preparing for market
about eighteen tons per week, with six hands
Mt profit of about three hundred dollars per
week to each hand.
next visited the Dalton property, owned
by another company, where they had reached
another vein by sinking shafts to the depth
of about thirty feet, and was informed by the
miner who had charge Of the work. that they
were taking out ore that contained from 20
to 25 per cent of copper.
| next visited the paint Bank, or Carter
property, owned and worked by company
in which learn some of your prominent citi
zens have an interest. ! found them taking
out large quantity of very fine black oxide
Of copper, and learned that they had already
sent to market considerable amount at very
remunerating prices.
went from the Paint Bank" to Delphia,
the head quarters of the /. l.. Yarnel Mining
Company, who have large interest in some
ten or eleven miles of the main lead or vein,
the whole of which has not been tested but
the surface indications on which are certainly
superior to anything yet discovered in this
country. Here | found our friend Richard.
son, from McSinnville, Tennessee, the agent
of this last named company, who having
erected comfortable quarters and in tie true
uliq style left the latch string hanging out, /
tarried with him several days, during which
time had the pleasure Of visiting, in compa-
ny with HIM and Capt. Gill, (the English mi
ner who has charge OF the mining operations
all the mines which the company had opened,
and the tracts of land on which, to use mi
ner's phrase they had "cut copper"
This property is beyond doubt the richest
that has vet been discovered in the United
States and Capt. Gill, who has had extensive
experience in mining in this country aud
Europe, says it possesses advantages for cheap
and profitable working over any lie has seen
in this or any other country.
They have stripped the vein on one piece of
property, and found it to be 10 feet wide!
thing unprecedented in the history of mining
operations.
They have cut copper on ten or twelve
pieces Of property, but on some of them so
near the surface that the ore is not rich,
owing to its exposure to the air and water
They have five mines ready for working, and
will soon commence shipping ore.
But am making this letter too lengthy
will be able to give you some statistics of
the mining operations in this region on my
return to Tennessee. For the present will
merely remark, that the quantity and rich
ness of the ore in these mines, their peculiar
formation enabling the miner to get rid Of the
water by tunneling without extra expense,
their accessibility and vicinity to market, the
transportation of the ore costing from eight to
ten dollars per ton less than from Ducktown,
give them, in my estimation, very decided
advantages over any other mines yet discov-
cred. Yours DC,