Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-01-07
Lake Superior Copper Mines.

idea occurred to me, that some facts in regard
to the Copper Mines of that Region, might not
be uninteresting, to some at least of your nu-
merous readers
During late trip through this magnificent
Lake, had the pleasure of visiting several OF
the Copper Mines on its shores, but more par
ticularly those situated on and near the Ontona-
gon River. This is the largest River entering
bic for small Boats, some fifteen, or twenty
miles from its Mouth, and serves as q valuable
thoroughfare for several mines in floating Copper
to, and supplies from, the Lake. At this point
is the beautiful and fourishing village of On
tonagon, already containing three Church
es, large and elegant house for a high
School, a Printing-oflice, two or three Public
houses, some eight or ten Stores, with Mechan-
les of all kinds, Post-ofices, &C., &C., and is
destined to be one of the most important points
on the Lake. Although Nature has not formed
a natural harbor at this point, the enterprising
people, aided by a small appropriation from
Government, have succeeded in building two
prominent piers over the sand bars formed by
the River to the deep waters, forming safe,
and beautiful harbor for all Boats to enter,
and discharge, and receive freight, at all times
with perfect safety.
These mines eslst ION the great minerel range
extending several hundred miles along the
Southern shore of the Lake. The most impor-
tant and extensive of these, is the Minnesota
mine, employing some eight hundred men, most
ly cornish men from England, some six hundred
are actual Miners, the balance working on the
surface.
The monthly production of this mine for the
last six months up to September LIST, has reached
two hundred tuns per month, on an average, a
large share of which is in masses of native cop
per, weighing from, say, three hundred, to
eight thousand pounds each, and will yield
about eighty, to ninety per cent, pure ingot
Copper, the remainder in Barrel, and Stamp
work of nearly equal purity | will here give
the weights of several masses from the marks
on the same (as all are weighed and marked)
2-6400-6794 -8200-7900-7 045
1000 some of which are irregular as taken from
the vein, Others square blocks cut from the
Great Mass.
But to get anything like correct idea Of
the Modus Operandi" of Copper mining one
needs to don the miners garb, and with candle
in hand descend the ladders into the bowels Of
the earth. Our exploring party consisted Of
myself and friend, two ladies in the Bloomel
costume, (Which is by the way very appropriate
dress for that purpose, and the very Gentlemanly
mining Captain, as our guide. Our descen
was, think down shaft number five, nearly
perpendicular mostly on ladders, but OCCASIONAL,
letting ourselves down some twenty feet by
rope. The work consists in sinking shafts
drifting, or driving levels, and stopping. Afte
descending several shafts and following levels tt
the depth of some two hundred feet we arrives
at the Notorious Mass, which, when discovers
last February, was estimated at five hundre
tuns, land has since proved much larger) an
was only separated from the main body in tn
walls by blast of thirty kegs of Powder. 0
ais separated Mass there still remains some tw
hundred tuns, with men constantly emitting fror
it, blocks in sufficient size to be raised by thei
powerful hosting Steam Engines. From thi
mass cuttings have been made on all sides, vary
ing in depth from two to six feet of pure COZ
per. The manner of cutting is with chisels an
sledges, three men to each cut. After leaN
ing this mass we made our descent down othe
shafts, and through levels, sometimes crawlin
on all four, until we reached the greatest dept
of the mine which is five hundred and sixtee
feet
In traversing these levels we find Rail Road
with cars, or teams, as the miners term then
for conveying the copper, and copper bearir
: rock, to the hosting shafts, where large ire
bucket is let down, filed and drawn to the SUI
n face.
These Rail Roads remind one of the 90 unde
n ground Rail Roads" we occasionally read o
= In every direction through the mines drill, vii
f an occasional blast in the distance, not until
is the rumbling of distant thunder. AS we we
q in the mine about noon we saw now and the
u a company of miners slipping their hot tea, al
taking their cold lunch, as is their usual Gu
tom, after which, smoking the pipe apparent
l. as happy as any other class of men. The
IS mines are worked day and night, summer ar
+ winter, one set of men by day, another by nigh
+ Our ascent was less perpendicular, particular
for the last three hundred feet, through numb
e three, shaft in which is a six inch caliber pun
re for taking the water from the mine, which
l. also worked by an engine. The copper exis
: in regular defined veins, and usually betwe
a regular walls of Trap Rock. The shafts
g this mine number from one to nine, all on
p line, extending near one fourth of a mile, al
', all connected underground by drifts, and shaft
which affords perfect ventilation and free Gu
D. rent of air,
# After remaining in the mine five hours, wi
C. very little delay at any one point, and witho
e, exploring more than one half its extent, ,
S. once more emerge into day light, with appetit
lie well calculated to do ample justice to nj
m cut of roast beef.
Of In this immediate vicinity are other impo
tant mines, among which are the Rocklan
~ National Nebraska, Superior, Ridge and Talte
,f all in fourishing condition, and destined e
: long no doubt, to become dividend payil
N mines. Most of the mines on the range are y
= in their infancy and only need the combined
"a forts of enterprise and capital to develope
:. untold amount of wealth which is there depC
- tied.
9 On this lake are numerous lines of Steam,