New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-09-15
THE ACTON COPPER MINES.

Correspondence Of The n. Y. Tribune.
AcIos, Canada East Sept. 3 1900
Acton liz township situated about fifty miles north
east from Montreal The face Of the county IS hilly
not TO cay mountainous The rocks that appear here
aud there throughout the township are the common
grey mountain rocks. In Acton, jnst half a mile
10 the South OF the Acton Station OF the Grand Trunk
Railway, a copper mine has been discovered. The
road to it is marthy piece of or 1und ano 1t ls
crossed by one or two low mounds of yellow saad At
the end Of the read hill rises to the hight Of about 100
feet above the marsh, and descends TO manh on the
other side. II stands on base of quarter Of mile
in width ADD for nearly half Of the dstarce, con-
posed of subcrystane mague6ian Limestone, dipping
to the n w. with inclination varying from thirty
10 forty degrees. This seems to be continuation OF
formation Of copper ore, found near the St. Liwrenc
River, in the vicinity Of Quebec and runningin
south east direction through Upton, Ascot ald Ia
yeYpees II has been stated that indications OF the
uyri,ous aud vaIiegqted suphurstes observed ia
any localities on the south side OF the ST. Lawrencc
River, usually in the vicinity OF certain banis OF
dOomte, serlentine, soapstone aud othtr maghes h9
rocks which in various forms chsrlctsrZe group OF
etra lying 81 the top Of the Hudson River formation,
and ire sf cted by unduations ranging through the
country fIOm Point Levi 10 Like Champliin.
The eXisence Of copper ore IN this tOSn5hp, was
discovered by one IL. p Merrill, about the year 1876,
but at that time il wss not considered worth working
then seen, and in many localities II lie now seed,
before any excavation has b,en made, the surface pre-
sents an accumulation of blocks of co per These
masses consist of variegated sulphuTae5 Of "copper" IN
teJmDgled with limestone and sllcOus matter with
ont anything ike vein stone, and evidently constitute
bed suborC mate 20 the limestone, whose strike was
about norh-east, with dip to the northwest, ut an
angle of al out forty degrees The limestone ~ these
o,alres holds little patches aad seams OF yane-
gated ore and yellow pyrit.s, with stains OF blue ana
green carbonate otcopper.
Previous TO 1883 nothing was done toward opening
these valuable veins and patches Of ore aud the untold
wealth which il there concealed i'll the earth, remained
unknown until a small excavation was made win PICK
and shovel upon land belonging to Mr. Cushing where
copper ore was found to exit in great abundance NJ
Cnsbiug about the fret Of 1852 made an arrangement
for working the mine upon bis property, aud under 1t
Mr Lewis Sleeper of Quebec, 0umenced operations
in the month Of September OF the same year. MI
Sleeuers laBora thus far, have been very 81 cess
full After abouttwO months time spent IN excaving,
be housed far from 300 tuus Of the ore, wmch con
tanned about 30 per cent of pure metal, making us
vaue about 1000 with bat little expense IN mining
aE6 carrying the ore 10 market.
Other mines than that Of Mr. Cushings are now be-
ing OpeLed not far ON his with moderate expense
and large prolts. This township has become one o.
great interest within short time 10 the dndd Au
people in Us vicinity Many Of the INDECENT OF every
al aud sex are fockDg in, seeking employment III the
nues. Some Of them are compelled to return 10 tneiT
Uierable homes discouraged and do"n-hearteuj Wuns
OberR with old black p pe IN their mouth5 ana an
iron Ter in their hands are secm1gy happy ~ ihti
fortune, one W after another VITA me Oa iiuses '
ore IRON Ijs bed.
There are pow about TWO hundred men employed IN
and about Mr CashiBgf mine, in quaTying, breaking
up sud putting tue ore into barrels. The contractor
do snt te.1n 20 care of Whll or Hge the person II
he EMPLOYS: there are about % many women anu
children ~ work ne meu-al French Canadians.
Large quantities Of tie ore bave been sent 70 Boston
where IL was bmu,ted and also found to contain aISe
proportion Of tilver. But the owner having become
drsasfed with the Company there discontinued send
iug H. and now sends II 10 England.
Tie mania for mite hunting, induced by the openue
Of the mine in Acton, has extended very rapmiy
through the townships OF Lower Canada, and az ths
date there are buIdreds of eager scar, hers ranging
over hills aud through valleys m search VI somH hPos
where hey can pitCh their tent and org their fortune
from the earth. ,.....r
Some have represented that IN certain localities snVer
has been discovered IN considerable guam tlee Du' ~
81 0ugh vet 20 iu,use much expense In deghR iAe orc
q here have reported that gold he's been louuu SeI
mems Of ~ nj h tate been shoRn 10 the P'Ovnch sur
ye,or al Montreal who gave IL as ms opinion te'l wy
were az rich az any iJu1t ia California bHt u s'en5
that ibo later class Of individuals want 20 I'll 9l aiu
81 AN i1duCcmeut to the purchase they mot di'o''o
"A valuable gold mine on the preule7s. .,,.
Tie chances al this place Acton Tor lhiNil m'n,l
are good. let any enl5rprislng ui'n come iioio u
take hold of he working Of The mines III uc nv, .
ypsv aud in earnest ana there IL not the ctet uou.
thai he can do we'll The copper ore IN tls 10 amy y
intNhaustabei IL appears IN different places in h'lt
auce for miles ABOUND, aud 20 ~ appear inc's u a. -
tined 10 DO a source Of iucalculabe wealth - our oa
madam ptiphbors who are already becoming very
proud Of their discovery. Tho per csniago oil pure
conner re .dy taken ont of the mines shows thrm 10
DO ore valuable lhaD thoee at Lake Superior CNI''