Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-11-12
AN ISLAND OF SILVER.

A whole Island of silver ON the
North shore of Lake superior
Out-The Most Remarkable Dis
cOvery of the Age.
We have before alluded to the Silver
Island of the North Shore of Lake Su-
perior, in the British Possessions, just
below Thunder Cape, and some fifteen
miles beyond Fort William. The island
is quite small in dimensions--say l00x40
feet-a small part at one end is about
eight feet above the lake level This
island was entered by the Montreal Min
ing Company, as part of the track EN-.
bracing l08,000 acres; and the island
was subsequently purchased of them by
Capt. VIM. B. Frew formerly of Port
age Lake, and Superintendent of the
South Pewaubic Copper Mine, for him
self and associates, including among
them Major Sibley, of New York, a
brother, we think, of General Sibley, OF
st. Paul.
The Montreal Mining Company first
made the discovery that the island con-
tanned silver, and by their agents sunk a
shaft on the island; but these knew little
or nothing about mining, and the water
coming in upon them, further working
of their mine was abandoned as useless.
II was only this last summer that Captain
+. and his company completed their
bargain with the Montreal Company for
the island, and secured it by paying, or
agreeing to pay, S250,0OO for the entire
l0S 900 acres. They went Immediately
to work at improving the mine in a
"workmanlike manner" Their first step
was to surround the island with cribs OF
timber, filled with stone, to serve as a
breakwater and ice breaker; and within
these cribs coffer-dam was built, and
puddled with clay, having the effect OF
making the whole interior of the island
nearly water-tight, at least from the in
trusons of the lake. The next step was
TO set up two large syphon pumps worked
by steam, by which the inside was pumped
dry, or nearly so, and it has since been
found that very little working of the
pumps daily keeps the island clear OF
water entirely. They then went TO work
laying bare the vein, and now have ex-
posed seventy feet in length, and find it
to be true figure vein, with perpendic-
ular walls-the vein or silver matrix be-
ing cacareous spar with some little
quartz intermixed. The vein is eight
feet wide, and eye witnesses from there
state that for one-quarter Of this width it
will average seventy per cent. of pure
silver. On the first trial after the water
was gotten out, six men took out over
S35 900 worth of silver in four days; and
mn TO the latest accounts the working has
been continued at about this rate.
Already one hundred and twenty-three
barrels ofnative silver, estimated to be
worth $7O,O0 to 100000, have been
shipped. The yield of the mine, com
putting by the ton, is not less than dol
lar to the pound The mine employs
now about forty men, and will incresse
their force Immediately.
The royalty" paid on this to the
English Government is quite small-not
exceeding one-twentieth. Eye-witnesses
of intelligence, judgment and experience
report that Captain Frew will probably
take out, Of silver, up to the opening OF
navigation next spring, from 81 ,O0O, 600
TO $3,000,000, in money value The
steamer Meteor conveyed down the
lakes, on her trip before last. sixty-two
barrels Of silver. This silver risland is no
humbug, but on actual bona fde affair,
in which the moat wonderful results have
already been obtained. and all bids fair
to make il, in yield and richness, the
most remarkable mining discovery in
this country for many years. Some
masses of. silver went down on the Me
teor larger and heavier than a man could
lift. A part of the island vein, say two
feet Of the eight feet in width, is wonder
fully rich, and It is from this portion that
the larger silver masses are extracted.
Other rich mines of silver are reported
AZ having been found on the main north
shore, IN the range Of the silver island,
and Captain Hodson, Of Portage Lake,
has gone East 70 organize company to
work them. .....--r---s--e--u
Much excitement exists agoHpd the
shores of Lake Superior over this Eon-
derfnl Development of argentiferous
wealth. And doubtless, now that the
mind Of the experienced mining world
in this quarter is direetad 70 the subject,
much prospecting Eill epsue and
further discoveries be made.
IL is already mooted In Duluth 70
make an effort to reap some Of the ad-
yantages from this wealth Of silver, by
being its winter supply point, through
the construction Of eRrachcal wagon
road for one hundred Nnd fifty miles
down the North Shore. through StLouis
and Lake counties 20 the international
line and beyond. The next Minnesota
Legislature viii be applied 10 for an act
authorizing a State road in that direc-
ton, and the issue Of county bonds by
Lake and ST Louis for ia sccnstruction. =