National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-12-24
Il. W. COPH.
The Coz NTH Copper Mine.

AHc SoI nun copper -Nn!e.
While passing near this mine the
other day we took OCCASION to visit
it, and found the genial and accom-
modatlng superintendent Of the
mine--Mr. I. A. ChaSe-rpadv to
show Us around. and with him we
descended into the mine, through
tunnel 300 feet in length, and then
down the shaft which is sunk on
the dip of The vein at an angle of
about A. degrees. At the bottom
We found the miners busily at work
drilling and blasting the one from
its solid bed i'll the rocks, and among
them representatives of almost ev.
cry nationality on the globe. To
us the air seems Il little close, and
the smoke from 50 many lamps
and the occasional blasting con.
fines the range of our vision, aided
only by tie ckering blaze of the
little lamps, to ~ very small compass.
But the miners are at home here
and evidently enjoy themselves
at their work as well as do people
who work above ground.
The mine has been opCncd about
$50 feet on the course of the vein,
and the shaft is sunk 200 feet on
the dip Of the vein. From the bot
tom the ore is conveyed to the sur.
face in cars drawn by mules, the
track, or tranway, running il, Il
zigZag course on account of the
steepness of the incline. The com.
pany intend, during the coming
year to do away with this method
Of raising the ore by employing
steam power. They now employ
20 hands, aud their monthly eX-
penscs, including ireights. amount
to $500. The niue is not worked
to its full capacity, only about Ia
tOus of ore per month being taken
out, which averages per cent
pure copper.
The company started four years
ago with Il working capital of onl ,
$1,000; and the working of tn,
mine has paid all expenses thus far
with no assessments on the capital
stock. This success with SO small
Il working capital is due to the goo,
management of those in charge, Il
well as to the richness Of the veil
which was struck on the remova
OF Il few inches of dirt on the sur
face. There WAS only one buildin!
on the property four years ago
Now there are eleven dwellings,
dressing house, blacksmith shol
ore houses, office, etc. The in
rOvements are worth ut lcas
10000.
The only difficulty in the way {
the prosperity this enterprise is TIA
high cost of ireighIs. The ore mus
he drawn |! miles by tcamG to I'll
railroad station at bradford, an
then the railroad corporations tai,
n good share Of the profits t,
treighting ii To market.
This is one of the cuterpris,
that calls for increased railroad Il
cilities, and # the proposed nilroi
from Montpelier to Wells River TIN
ills section could be- built, this, ~
several other mnrs near by, won
hc worked to their fullest cIpacit
giving employment To several hui
dpd men.
Aud while speaking of railroa
we will say that we think the gro
greed and sclilShness of some of o
railroad corporations should !
ccivc some check, aud their ayali
he kept within bounds, either
competing lines, OF by some 9th
means. Railroad communication
Of incalculable advantage to ~
section when the roads are condt
ted With some regard to the ncco
mediation Of the public. But VIII
the managers transform thcmscl,
into lceches ani suck the very !
blood out of every enterprise til
depends for SUCCESS npon a distP
market then ,liey h,crinc q ptiisa'