Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-07-13
Vermont Copper Mining Company.

successfully operated at the present time.
From two hundred and City to three hundred
men and boys arc employed on these works,
including those on the peat works near by,
which are now owned by the same company
and from which most Of the fuel is produced,
used in the various stages Of roasting and
separating the copper from the ore.
The excavation from which the ore is now
obtained is about fifteen hundred feet from the
opening or mouth Of the landing, it being
horizontal distance Of 500 feet whore there
is a stationary engine, and then down inclined
plains zoo feet more The perpendicular
depth Of this excavation from the surface is
500 feet About l2j tons Of ore per week
are brought out Alter being suitably broken
into small pieces, a process which is perform
ed by hand hammers, and the waste scp-
arated out aud thrown aside, it is conveyed on
q train railway to the roasting grounds, where
it is placed in heaps and undergoes the first
roasting process. This requires period Of
six weeks A little fuel is placed at the bot
tom Of each heap, which is lighted and the
fire then ignites the whole mass, burning
through it three times, leaving off at the top.
This consumes the sulphur, Of which the ore
contains about 30 per cent, leaving mass
that will produce from 80 to 10 per cent Of
pure copper after having passed through
two or three more roastings and manipuIatiou~
in the various furnaces Of the large aud COM
modious buildings erected near the mines
About eight tons of iron per day are lost
or wasted in this process Of separating and
manufacturing the pure copper; but is hoped
that the experiment now being conducted by
Mr. Lowry, gentleman of much scientific
knowledge and ability, will establish a pro-
cess by which this waste of iron, Of the very
best quality, too, can be saved 1t has been
done successfully on a small scale, and il the
principle can be extended to larger operations,
it will certainly be the tallest kind Of a feather
in the cap of science, upon whosesoeyer head
it may rest for the iron thus saved would be
gilmore value than the copper, which would he
a handsome addition to the per cent. that now
more than pays running expenses, even at the
present low price Of copper. And we would
here state tina, we understand that these are the
only copper mines Of the Kind that are now
worked with success, or that pay expenses
anywhere in the country.
The company prepare and send TO market
about fifty tons of copper per month, which
sells at % per cent. Various improvement.
are being made the present season in build
ings aud railways to add to the convenience
of carrying on the works and everything
about the premises indicates most prosperous
and successful condition of business affairs
These mines and their working are certainly
Vermont institution" the magnitude and
Importance of which We had never understood
until we made them a short visit few day.
since The pleasant little village Of West
Falrlee which is virtually the " headquar.
ters,' feels most decidedly the inyigoratna
presence Of the mines and miners, and a NOR,
quiet and orderly set Of people, it was said
were not to be found in any community
From $4,000 to $4,000 per month are dis
bursed here by the paymaster Of the mines
aud most of this goes in to make up the az
gregate Of the business of the place. Messrs
Cram 4 Brown keep the village hotel which
is a model in the way of neatness good or
der, excellent tables, and all the appointment
that 60 to make up a cheerful resting-plac,
for the " transient or a pleasant home fo
the regular boarder," with which the hous,
is well filled
To Gen. Thomas of West Fairlee, Captain
Pasco superintendent at the mines, anc
Messrs. William and Daniel Long, general
superintendent Of the works, we would con.
vey our Acknowledgements for the gcntlemanly
courtcsey with which the foregoing informa.
ton was communicated and, saving old tradi
ton, sdplureo'S surroundings certainly do
not always indicate, any more than proiu-
sion ofspires the presence of the cloren font
The Messrs. Long were educated to the min.
Ing business at the copper works in STAFFORD
and are complete masters of the situation.
by the use Of a crushng-machne, similar
to the ordinary quartz crusher used for min
ing purposes, the company make their own
sand from the loose quartzstone gathered from
the surrounding fields and lodges, used in the
manufacture of the friedrich for their furn.
aces which adds an important item to the
completeness and selfreliance of the works.
The peat works, about which word must
be said, are in the town of West Fairlee and
about two miles from the mines. They are.
as before stated, owned and worked by the
Vermont Copper Mining Company, and the
coke produced therefrom makes most excellent
fuel which is used in the copper works. The
process Of manufacture seems to be very
simple. The black, swamp material, of which
the world is full, land here the excavation is
made to the depth of about seven foot) is
thrown into mill, which completely pulycr.
ICES 1t and delivers it on moulds similar to
those used in making brick, only considerably
larger These are in pairs hinged together,
and are set up in the form Of an inverted Y,
for the compressed peat to dry. 1t is then
packed in kiln and cooked, when it is ready
for use Whether it is fuel.producing pro.
cess that does or will pay is not yet fully
demonstrated, but to looh at specifically, con.
yerting swamps into good burning material is
no difficult matter. B.
TnE Nw SECRETARY As our readers know
the appointments of DIR, French 10 the post al Sec,
rotary of the Board of Education, was not very
ehthusiastle9lly received by the people of the
state. w nth the geliforts e -