Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1859-12-03
HouaHroN, Portage Lake, Mich,
November llth. 1889.

bell I'm hOusekeeper now and monarch
Of all survey" and I'll eat aud I'll sleep just
as long al l please
Well From the way my pen has run toto
rejoicings, you may suppose this is all / have
come to tell you. But no wish to say that
I've been down into Copper Mine Our Wis
its had heretofore been only at the surface, where
we had watched the raising of the excavated
rock at the shalt houses, as the immense copper
buckets came slowly from those mysterious
depths at the bidding of the steam engine, and
where we listened with a sort Of awe to the ex-
plosions Of the "villainous salt-pere" as it rent
and shook the earth beneath our feet
Our party upon this excursion consisted Of
four ladies, and two gentlemen, one Of them
Mining Engineer and Geologist, whose expana-
nevertheless in constant requisition. We had
resolved upon entering the Portage Mine as it
is the drye5t here and besides it is not at pre-
sent being wrought, and we should be free from
the deaiening noise aud the smoke of blasting.
Our feet eucased in thick boots we gaiIy as
cended the rocky hillside, about half a mile, to
the residence Of tie .nnlng captain, who was
to accompany us upon our somewhat perilous
expedition. Here we left our fnery." and
donned the caps provided for US, but not The
other hdbiiiments, much to our subsequent re-
gret for we were much embarrassed by our
own apparal within the mine, and our obstinacy
might have cost US our lives
A short walk brought us to a doorway in the
side of the HILL which looked like the entrance
to suberraneau root-house. This was the
mouth of the adit or passage leading to the
second level of the mine. Here we were each
provided with lighted candle and bowing our
heads, we entered the dark and narrow path be-
tween the rocks. In anticipation of our visit
boards had been laid over the muddiest parts,and
the shafts and wines leading below had been
carefully covered. (Winzes are merely Open
ings for the admission of light and air.) Oc-
casonally we came to caverns of considerable
extent where masses of copper had been TAX
en- out, and then again we had to stoop to avoid
contact with the Shiny rocks. In this way we
proceeded in straight line, for over thousand
feet, and at No. 3 shaft, we determined to de-
scend. These shafts descend almost perpen-
dcularly and are each seventy feet in depth.
They are planked upon the lower side for sever
al feet in width, to offer a smooth surface to
the ascending aud descending buckets, and at
Que side of the ladder u little over a foot in
width. upon which we were to trust our precious
SpI trn IL.
rungs OF the ladder were muddy aud cold aud
here and there one or two were missing and we,
holding fast by both hands, swung our feet in
the darkness until we secured IA standing place
again, knowing full well that the fall would he
fatal. At last we found ourselves at the third
level-l3O feet below the surface Of the earth,
and here were immense caverns, where every
sound reverberated, and our voices seemed un-
earthly, and whose larthest recesses the light of
our candles was unable to penetrate. We
walked to each extremity of the level aud pock-
eted some specimens" from the remotest niche.
Our feet were aching from their contact with
the jagged rocks and we we're trembling from
excitement and fatigue, but with undaun,ed
courage we resolved to ascend by the shafts iu-
stead by the adit. Ladder after ladder was
slowly climbed,until almost breathess, we emerg-
ed into the open air and then such laugh as
was had, as blinking like so many owls in the
sunlight, we scanned each others outer man
and woman Our clothing so wet aud soiled,
our noses so red, and our hands so begrimmed
with mud and melted tallow, we lavshed COM
pliments around to the extent of our capacities.
The workmen engaged on the Portage mine
are now at work just above the shaft we had
ascended last, taking out masses of pure cop
per from depth of four or five feet. The
whole ground is so filled with the metal that
when lots are bought in Houghton, you only
have deed of fifteen feet in depth, as the ori-
gInal proprietors desire to retain the privilege
OF mining beneath you. One person in exra-
waiting for a cellar, unearthed mass of cOpper. |
some four hundred dollars in value. Immense
quantities Of it are shipped from this vicinity |
and we often see 100000 worth upon single |
scow, floating entry-ward.
The quantity of Dry Goods and Provisions
brought mere is astonishing numbers of our
dealers have stocks 10 the value of S75. 900 |
aud S8O,OOO. The consumption of that indis-
PensabIe article, tobacco is so great as to be
worthy OF mention Last year about EIGHT tons
were here chewed and smoked and now with
increased population the quantity will he pro-
portonately greater Here | congratulate the |
ladies' that this item does not come into the |
catalogue with silks and laces
The weather here is cold already, and the
whole autumn has been an unusually stormy
one We have had several SHOWS, and although |
The ground is bare at present, winter is close
At hand and one by one the steamboats, are
bidding US a seven months goodbye. After
.he close of navigation, weeks must elapse be-
ore any mail can reach us. Letters and papers
should be directed to US via Wausau, Wis, as
hey will reach US much earlier than by the
Did Green Bay route. We dread exceedingly
'ur long isolatoni gentlemen can reach the
world upon snow-shoes, but we ieminines must
emain here until Spring shall unlock the icy
etters | WonId write von NJ crraotor Ionc.,L ,e