Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1859-10-15
BIichigan Correspondence.
HoUGHToN, PoRrAGE LAKE, MICH,
la,ta,,l,ar Dgth 1870

H..
September 26th, 1853. )
can imagine how you will
gaze at the post-mark on this letter, and wond-
er who your new correspondent may be-
Then See you glance at the initials at its close
and hear you exclaim, "Ah ! only another re-
mCval." Yes, that is oil and so sudden has
that removal been, it seems like some jugglers
trick with its hay, presto, change and here we
are u the midst Of mining country, surround
ed by a set of people with whom we were new
or before brought into contact, aud with the
screaming steam-whistle, the cattering stamp
works, aud the carpenters hammer Increasingly
ringing in our ears. Portage Lake is merely
all arm of Lake Superior, and not, as we had
supposed, body of water emptying into it
through river; and Hou ghton, the town of
which we DOW are residents is fourteen miles
from the ENTRY" where a sand bar lies across
from shore to shore, preventing the ascension
Of the larger boats to the town. This is now
being cut away, aud iu few days time large
steamers may unload at our wharves, which are
constantly arriving and departing.
1t was midnight when the good North Star"
transferred us from its saloonto the little crowd
ed Princess" which had been lying there for
two days awaiting our arrival, as we had been
detained by the equnioctial storm. When
first we entered that cabin, with its sufucating
atmosphere, its nauseating smell, and its motley
set of occupants, mostly Irish and Chippewus,
my spirits quickly sank to zero; but the Capt.
assured US that in two hours we would be at
Houghton and whispering TO myself that |
never saw the time could not live two hours,
/ nerved myself to endurance. The night was
cool and foggy; only at .ong intervals could we
catch a glimpse OF the wooded banks it seemed
we might almost touch and the moon in vain
essayed 10 light US on our way. Slower and
slower glided the boat, and denser grew the
foy. AT last she stopped. The Captain, lantern
10 hand appeared at the door, and told us he
dared not proceed, and we must make ourselves
as comfortable as circu astances would admit.
So tie settees at the cabin side were turned
down onto the floor, showing us inside mattress
ses pillows and blankets, and into these coffin
like berlhs, we women and children were cramm-
ed, glancing obviously at soiled blankets and
uncased pillows, but too tired and sleepy too
grumble. Then began an infant concert be-
tween haibreed and an Irish one. The In
dim mother, silent and unmoved looked down
upon her blessed OffSpringi but the Irish mother
raised her baby high in her arms, pouring forth
a torrent Of baby talk. She called it everything
comical, she praised its music she boasted Of its
lungs. 1t was too funny and could no long
er restrain my rsibles. Everybody joined in
the laugh, and we, who had so lately looked SO
haggerd and despairing now could scarcely
calm ourselves to sleep.
Morning bad dawned when / awoke and
wrapping myself in shawl stepped out onto
the deck. The misty wreaths coiled up the
high hlll-sides, and soon the sunshine pierced
the gloom; the engine was again in motion,
and at eight O'clock we reached the busy bust
ling town. We found its location very beauti-
fuL but the soA Is poor and rocky. The land
arises gradually from the waters edge for about
mile, and at or near the SUBMITS OF these are
situated the copper mines. The excavaed rock
Is brought down TO the stamp.works, in cars,
over tram road, and one of these roads pusses
directly before the door of the Isle ROYAL
House where we are boarding. The rock is
calcined over pile Of burning wood, then TAX
en- to The siamping-works where IL is pulveriz-
ed aud washed, the copper falling to the bottom
of the yats 1t is lhen barrelled and Skinned
below. Masses of pure copper are also obtain
ed here, and small quantities Of silver.
Across the Lake, at the Pewabic works. is a
man who is washing the refuse matter issuing
from the building He uses regular Caliror-
nia rocker, and is clearing $50 per day by his
labor. The machinery at the Pewabic is the
finest in the country, and the hour spent there
was one Of exceeding interest.
1t is only five days since my arrival here but
have visited already three mines, and explored
considerable tract of country There are
five little steamboats, plying here almost in
cessantly, and ono Of them crosses and recrosses