The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-08-26
OUR METALLIC WEALTH.

gion, SO the geologists tell rs, IS the Oldest
portion Of our country, and perhaps Of the
western continent. But though the Oldest
in the developments of nature, it is in civil
ization's development the newest. The
bluffs, promontories, and islands of Lake
Superior, though rich with the useful and
precious metals we have named, have for
centuries hidden these treasures from men,
and been as undisturbed Us the lonely lake
on which they looked
It's considerably within the time Of this
generation that anything has been done
toward developing this mineral wealth
The mining Of copper, which has progress
sed the farthost Of all, cannet be said to
have done more than to have cot into good
working order. Some Of It's principal fields
are outlined, but as to exhausting them, the
civilization of this region Will be old IN
deed when the last vein of copper has
yielded its last ore to the stamp mill.
So extended is the copper area, as dsGn-
cd 10y its outcroppings, that they do not
seem lar wrong whose wild inlagiuing5 have
placed the lake itselfin bel Of cooper,
and thought it possible to m.ne Uu5ar IL
deep waters from shore to shore. This
metal found in a vide district, at the base
of keWeenaw Point, extends nor.hwarJ
with the Point il undim.nished richness,
ani then again appears at Isle Roy~le,
nearly across the Lake. Copper mining has
been carried on at the eastern extremity Of
Lake Superior, and its beginnings have been
encouraged around the head of the Lake,
BY the manifest presence Of the metal at
points along the North Shore, and in the
range south and west OF Superior.
1t is no new thing to mining men to find
silver in the neighborhood of copper, and
the existence of silver in paying quantities
on the North Shore of Lake Superior, has
been more than suspected for several years
1t was no great surprise to those familiar
with the region, when the now famous Sill
yer IsIet began to exhibit its wealth, and
many at once said, what has even since
then been verified, that as rich, richer,
lodes would yet reveal themselves on the
main shore
Make what deductions we honestly may,
and the argentiferous yield of the Lake
Superior country promises to be very great.
Studied efforts III some quarters are made
to dopreciate the facts, hut the thing IS too
public not to have been exposed before, II
a deception. Steamer loads Of passengers
visit the silver field weekly, and steamer
loads Of richest ore are taken to cities like
Detroit, in the heart Of civilization. Some
cry out that it is n repetition of " the Ner-
million humbug," but it Is not well TO decry
even Vermlion too far. That gold IN some
quantities is there, no one has yet denied.
That gold silver and copper are not infre-
qaently found in comparatively near com
pany is fact known to oil mining men,
and developments in Arizona and Utah
alone would prove It. 4 country s. very
rich IN copper, and silver, rs the Lake Su-
perior basin, ought to have gold in some OF
the rock ribbed hills in It's vicinity.
Bat even granting that gold will never
be found in paying quantities, and hat we
ought to be satisfied with SO fine yield OF
silver As presents itself, yet there IS metal
which abounds on this lake in such protu-
sion as well to supply the possible lack OF
crold mines. The iron interest on Lake @u-
porior is destined to be among its chief m
dustries if not the chief Ia mines, and
mountains, and ranges, it forms rim for .
considerable portion oftae Iaks depression.
Following the divide from Marquette di-
reotIv west to the head Of the la'>e, We lal
) vast amount OF ron On the North Shore
the Nissaba range affords the same useful
metal.
\ fair proportion of the mineral wealth
Of Lake Superior, though in an Unaerelo2-
ed state, lies about the head Of the lake.
And Of this the South Shore has a good
share. The Penoke Iron Range, back o
Ashland, has already simulated one rail
road enterprise, and it is not impossible
from hints heard Of late, that the rang.
south Of Superior may have some goo.
thincs in store Tor the right parties. h'nGe.
ground tLis lake will bear examination, and
NE hone that some railroad from the soot.
viii find out, in time for It's own welfare
ybv nature continued the motailiterons hiii
rtbe south shore to the very head Of IN
Falo ana then 50 near them excavate'
this broad system of harbors> and provide
III, sito r,r = GREAT citv.