National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-04-09
The Vermont Copper Mines. in YER
shire.


ground, or rather ledge, gladly &C.
cepted the invitation of Capt. Pol
lard, the general superintendent %
the mines, to go in.
The next morning accompanied
by Capt. Pascoe, who is mining
manager, we went to the mouth of
the tunnel about 100 rods from the
main road.
Seated in all iron box car about
2 l 2 feet wide and about 6 feet long
drawn by small French horse who
had lamp attached to his collar to
light him through, we were drawn
on nearly level track until we had
entered about 1900 feet where we
found a large number of men en-
gagged in Stopping, that is blowing
out the rock OH the sides of the
tunnel, and following the vein Of
ore, which here Is down at an angle
of about % degrees. The tunnel is
about 800 feet below the surface
most of the way. Many of the
miners wear lamps attached to their
caps by hooks, which are literally a
light to their feet.
At about 900 feet from the en-
trance and about 800 feet below the
opening above is a steam engine of
about % horse power, which is used
to draw up the ore from side shaft
or stope which is sunk about 500
feet from the track at an angle of
about "a degrees, down which runs
/ two tracks. At The bottom of this
Shaft is found some very rich ore.
The cars are drawn up by wire
rope about one inch in diameter
which is wound around "A large drum
and as "a loaded car is drawn up an
empty Que is lowered.
The men are mostly Engli,hmen,
who have been brought up in the
! business,
We remained in the mites nearly
half a day, conVersing freely with
the men, many Of whom we found
to be very Intelligent and well read
some ldtticr ANXIOUS to fool Yam
kce.' Inquiiing of one how he
could keep the powder in the hole,
overhead to blast. he replied they
wet it a little. But on asking how
he made it burn he acknowledged
he could not tell. But as a class
they are very civil and communi-
catiVe.
The company is now taking on
about G000 tons u year, averagin!
abont 10 per cent pure copper.
Most of the blasting is done 10y
contract.
| Following out a ear lead Of or
We watched its decent down trad
some 0or 60 rods while at the sam,
time an empty car is drawI mp.
The spec d is regulated by a MAJ
at the brake at TIE upper end. \
the lower end OF the track the or
is dumped into the cohbing house
where it is broken by men and boy
into pieces about the size of hen
egg. 1t is then shovclcd into a lon,
trough and washed 10y running wat
or. From then ce it is taken to tn
roasting beds near 10y where it i
laid on layers Of wood i'll piles abou
> rods loug and | tod wide am
about e feet high; these piles ar
then covered something like "A cod
PIT and the ore roasted, which Opera
tiCn takes about two weeks, an,
separates the sulphur. The burn
ing sulphur from these beds is de.
tructive To NcgctdtionS of al kind
. near hy. From the roasting bed
it is taken 10y horse ears to Ill
smelling works near the mai
road. Here we were shown arouu
by Capt. w. II. Long, the superb
tendcnt of the furnace. They ha,
six furnaces aud three stacks and Il
ore is dumped directly from the ca
into the furnaces which are coI
structcd on new principle, the i
vention Of Mr.. Long. by which -
he fine ore dust is saved, making
saving OF about $1,000 II year.
= The fuel used is mostly Coke fro
VI Nova Scotia, with "A little charcos
II takes about one pound of fuel
y melt six pounds of ore. The ore
V rctind 10y smelling to about 30 ~
i cent copper. The company inter
> to commence next summer makii
pig copper which will be al out .
per cent pure metal. At the iu
mace buildings is another steam g
u CINE of about 80 horse power " hi,
blows the furnace and drives Il
!, machinery for the carpenters shop
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