The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-12-14
Hunterdon Copper Mines.

Hunterdon Copper Mines.
A weeks soiourn in the mining dis
trict will well repay the student Of ge-
ology and miperalogy, as in no section
Of our country can he find more clearly
defined proofs to sustain the great
truths which these sciences teach.
The existence of copper here was
known long before the War Of indie
pendence, and some imperfect attempts
were made to produce it A shaft and
some Of he implements that we're used
at this early period are yet to be seen
at a short distance from Pennington.
Outcroppings of d lode Of rich grey ore
are to be found for distance Of several
m les in extent, and the workings Of
the Hunterdon Copper Company have
clearly demonstrated that the lode is
regular, well defined ard inexhapsti-
bic. for many years at least.
| have, with a companion. been spcn.
ding the largest part Of the present
month, examining this copper region.
and Investigating, with very great in
terest, the mines, machinery and man-
agement Of this Company, which is
now enga red in working with most sat
isfactnry results, the same ground that
was abandoged by the Pennington
Copper Company, about which 50
mach noise was made some few years
ago
The history of thi corporation, le.
Pennington Copper Company, is full Of
interest and Instruction, and stands
pre-eminent az monument Of the most
stupid management and Abandonment
that can be found in the whole mining
operations of this country.
Under questionable superinten-
dence a large sum of money was ex-
pended in sinking shafts, drifting. en-
tending galleries and erecting buildings
and machinery. The main shaft, well
timhered, was sunk to a depth Of two
hundred and ten feet, crossing the main
lode at one hundred feet below the
surface.
From the. main shaft, drifts were
started at fifty seventy, one hundred.
one hundred and sixty, ana two han
dred feet below the su face: these were
driven to the main lode, and levels eX-
tend upon the course Of the same
which at one hundred feet present q
body Of copper ore of about eight feet
breast. A vast amount Of labor was
performed in preparing the grounds
and on the fifty feet level the stopping
was commenced, and from the appear
ance of this gallery large amount Of
fine ore must kave been taken out
\ large amount Of money was squan
dered in sinking unnecessary shafts and
In useless underground workings
But he fatal mistake was made by
the managers attempting. without suf
ticient means or practical knowledge,
to smelt their ore. The necessary fur
naees were built md thousands Of dol
lars were expended in ill-advised and
| abo"tive experiments, that only result
ed in burning up and destroying thou.
sands OF dollars worth Of fine copper
The non success Oft hese experiments
in smelling and the depreciation of The
stock in the market, caused an aban-
donment of the works and a dissolil-
ton of the Compuny, which took place
after all the dead work had been COM
pleted, and with almost an inexhaust-
able supply Of rich ore in sight, that
could have been pro6tably mined and
sent abroad for market, and would have
given fine return on the capital in
vested.
This property, with all its machine
ry, IMPROVEMENTS, mining rights, &c.,
was sold for a mere song, and after
LAYING idle for a number of years, was
purchased by the HInferion Copper
Company. The principal member oil
which. ain told, resides in New
York.
This Company, upon the geological
survey and report of Professor Mon
troville Wilson Dickson, NJ D., d
Philadelphia, which was fully concur
red in by Profess RS Hitchcock, Of Am
herst, Mass, and Shepherd. Of New
Haven, Conn, decided to resume the
work in the diggings abandoned by
the former Company, instead Of open
ing new ground and the result ha;
proved that they were very wise in com
ing to this decision, and also very for
tunate in securing the services Of Pro.
fessor Dickerson as Geoogist, under
whose direction the work has 5eeneoD.
tinued The success which they arr
meeting with must be very gratifying
to the parties interested, and clcarl,
shows the great advantage Of employ
ing practical knowledge aad practica
mining experience, in all enterprises o
this kiad.
The Mining Engineer, Captain Gil
rodo) to whose kindness and polite,
ness we are much indebted, brings /
mining experience of fifteen years il
the larger copper mines Of Cuba, ane
| the arrangement Of machinery for hoist
ing, crushing, and preparing the or
/ for market, as well as for clearing am
yentilating Of the mines, aud bis higl
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