Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-04-15
Life at the Copper Mines-Present Condition
Of the Lake Superior Operatives--Their Busl.
ness and their Amusements.

A correspondent Of the Boston Euening Tran
scyipt has Just visited the copper mines of Lake
Superior, and writes pleasant description of
life among the miners. We copy few pass
ages:
MINING TOWN.
In the frst place, let me try to give you some
little idea of q mining "location." These "lo.
cations" are villages or towns, as 1t were, In
themselves, varying in size to the number of
men employed at the mine. The houses, par
ticulsrly those of recent date al Q two and
half stories in height, plain, neat and comfort
able On some Of the older locations there are
l1g cabins and shsnt o. in all stages of decrepi-
tude These houses are scattered around gen.
orally, as the facetious inebriate's milk was,
"loose," and with but very little regard to looks,
although in some cases, the agents being men
of taste, have had on eye to symmetry and the
general appearance of the location. Situated
at some little distance from the miners' houses
are the houses occupied by the mining captain,
the pbyaician aud the agent, the latter's being
usually of considerable pretensiohs as to size
and style. The common houses are occupied by
families, many OF whom keep boarders. The
families usually remain upon location as long
as they can get work and give satisfaction; the
floating population being principally unmarried
men, who are constantly changing from one
mine to another
THE MINES.
The routine of each days work is pretty much
the came; 30 let US rice in season for the blowing
of the whistle at A "a Am, which summons
the men to their duties. First let US go with the
cautain while he attends to delivering ''supplies''
to the different parties of miners. "Supplies" in
this case does not mean "provisions, but pow
der, fuse, candles, drills, ETC., which are obarg-
ed to the miners who do their work by contract,
at go much per fathom If "sloping," and per
foot If "drifting;" of this more anon. Having
received their supplies, during the delivery Of
which you will have observed the ease with
which Cornish man murders the kings Eng
lisb, the miners depart for their places of labor
under ground. Then the surface men are d.,
rected where to work by the captain, who is q
sort of ompiscient being, and the labor of the
day commences During the day the cap
tain makes his round Of inspection under ground,
sometimes accompanied by the agent. AT l2M.,
the whistle is blown for dinner, and then num-
bers of grim and dirty-looking men may be seen
trudeipg to their homes and boarding. houses !,
from which all emerge at the sound of the
whistle, to resume work, fortified by pipes of all
lengths, in all stages of blackness, and filled
with tobacco of unqueetionable quality.
4l 7 THE woRKMEN OFF DUTY.
The miners, when not at work, amuse them.
selves, some by reading and paying visits to the
vi lagos of neighhoring mines, some by drinking
beer aud occasionally quarrelling; some are at
work about their houses or called to the stores
tol procure their household necessares. In the
evening the dance-houses and beer-shops re
ceiye their usual number of callers, and the
stereotyped fights occur, though it is very sci.
dom that any Of these little "pleasantries" re-
suit seriously. There is a great deal Of human
nature to be seen amongst the laboring men Of
this region, and Dickens would find subjects
here that he would delight to work up In one of
his graphic pen and ink sketches. @
a. "a SOCIETY AND AMusEMRNrs.
The agents, clerks, merchants or traders; and
The resident physicians, form what would be
called the "society'' of the place. How do we
amuse ourselyes2 ss question you would nat.
urally ask. In various ways. AT the hotel
there are two excellent billiard tables, and We
have some fret rate players here. Then there
are little social meetings, where mirth and
iollity have to make up for the ab.
sence Of ladies. We take an coca
sional drive amongst our friends, and
pass an evening very pleasantly at
whist and euchre, accompanied by the inevit-
able and eternal "pipe." We have few musi
| Gal geniuses amongst US, and when they can be
got together music and song run riot. l mind
| me of evenings passed at the house OF one Of
the agents, who is pastionately fond Of music,
and whose performances on the piano would
shame many Of our professed musicians, while
| | have literally feasted upon music and drank
oceans Of melody. When seated at tue piano,
nv friend seems to be Music personifed, and,
| al ill ,la g. k...-