Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-12-13
Gold in Vermont.

In Windsor county there has been some little
stir this fall and will probably be more in the
spring on the subject Of gold mining. An island
has been formed ut one point in the bed Of White
River, by the yearly wash Of mud brought down
from the bill sides for miles by the rapid stream.
IL is Of about IS acres. and has for years been
cultivated and used as pasture, with good profit
60 it's owners IL formed once part Of the pro-
porty Of the late Merrick Gay Last summer
man named Saltry, an Englishman by birth, a.
we are informed, well informed, well educated in
mining and meiallurgy, aud having had practical
experience in the California gold regions got his
eye on the island and having made what invest.
gutions he desired, leased it Of the present own.
er for small sum, 80 dollar for the first year,
and 100 dollars year thereafter, with some priv
ilegc- and additions, ms we are informed. Before
long it was noised abroad that MIR Sdtry was
finding gold Ia paying proportions on the island,
ana he was not long without plenty OF oilers tor
rights 10 dig the owner Of the land himself pay
ing 500 dollars for one Mr.. SNtry does not in
tend u dig himself bot to let out the whole ter
rit0ry in small tracts and probably as soon
as spring COMES the Island will be all worked
over
The soil Is black sand, in which grains Of gold
OF more or less iincness can be seen with the eye.
y quantity ut gold washed out 10y MIR. Saltry and
sent % New York for assay, gave the value Of the
ore nt : $50 10 the ton, very profitable yield
several dollars a day can be made by any one, in
" panning the surface dirt anywhere on the
island, and IL is believed TINT the dire will grow
richer as greater depth is reached
These facts are given US by gentleman who
/ lives there, aud who brought specimens Of the
sand and of the gold washine- % show us. None
ll the grains OF gold were large about like coarse
-uwdust, bat they were pretty plenty 10 the sand.
/ Some oi % was smelted in this city, and made @
very pretty button, % have come from only few
quarts Of sand
This matter has revived many stories about
gold finding on White River Among Others it
! Is related that many years ago, while the road
/ master was having piece ui road repaired winch
every spring was washed out by the river, a sin
gular looking Stone OF considerable size was rolled
Out of the bank just rs carriage came by. The
/ gentleman driving, called out 10 the men 10 get
him piece OF that queer looking stone. They
broke uil a fragment and gave hlm and he drove
on, while the wurkmcn tumbcd the stone down
the bank out OF they way
\ year or two afterwards the same gentleman
came back, and hunting up the roadmaster they
made ifuitlc,s search to find that same stone
The fragment taken away had shown that the
proportion of gold was nearly twu-thirds OF the
whole The ruadmastcr and his boys made care
lll search, but the " lump OF gold ~ was not t,
De found and occasionally now some one VIII,
has heard the tale spends while in hunting
along the banks of the river for the famous stone
--Frec Press.
STATE AGmcrLrrRAL Society The net re
ccpts Of the last State Fair at St. Johnsbur.
were over $500, the largest net receipts of an.
fair, except that held in connection with tn
New England Fair at Bmtteboro, in 1867.
The following delegates were appointed to at
tend the National Wool Growers Association t
be held at Syracuse \. y, Dec. 20ih.
2 Hon. WIN K. Sanford of Orwell
Henry Clarke Of Rutland
George Campbell Of Westminster
j Hon. Crosby Miller Of Pomfret.
Lemuel $. Drew Of South Burlington.
e Col. b. ). StowcIi Of Cornwall
j Hon II. NJ. Hall Of Burke.