The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-07-06
SILVER ISLANDS.

We are indebted to DisturnelPs New
Guide Book to the Northwest, "The In
land Seas" 10" the following description
of the Silver Islands lately discovered
near the north coast Of Lake Superior.
"The magnificent visions of early East
ern romancers are equalled by the reali-
ties of Silver Islet, a rock some 70 or so
feet square, projecting from the stormy
waters OF Lake Superior. Within the
breast of this rocky point in our great in
land ocean are buried untold treasures,
which for ages have lain hidden from the
eyes OF men, but which have been re
vealed to this prying nineteenth century,
and which seem destined to prove indeed
a mine of wealth to the company now
owning the section, of which Captain e.
3. Ward, Of this city (Detroit) is the
manager
Silver Island lies some 5000 feet away
from the Canadian shore of Lake Super.
Tor, south of Thunder Bay, off Thunder
Cape, twenty miles east of Fort William.
and, until recently, was regarded merely
as danger to navigation, an object to be
scrupulously avoided. Now, it is known
that the rocks of the island and it's vicin-
lty are rich in the silver, and arrange
ments have been made for mining in
Ythem, even as far as the main land, if
found desirable. The island is so low,
and such a mere speck in the lake, that
III sea the waves were wont to wash en-.
tirely over it, rendering it altogether I'm,
inhabltable, and presenting great diff
culties in the way of opening vein. It
became necessary that breakwaters should
be built all about it, and large expenses
incurred, before the location could be
worked at all. The present company
boTght the property from Montreal
company last August, and commenced
building breakwaters September 1, 1870.
Before the close of navigation they had
completed their erection and had mined
twenty-five days, sending to the smelling
works in New Jersey some 800 900 worth
of ore.
Operations have since been continued
ana there are now on their way from
Lake Superior to this city some 300 bar
rels of rock filled with the treasure Yes.
tetday number Of specimens were at the
office of Captain Ward, all rich, and the
silver gllstening in the sun, and suggest
Ing brilliant visions Of wealth One huge
piece OF rock weighed $50 pounds, and
so rich in silver were it's veins that it was
estimated that it would yield between
30, 600 and $4,000 in value MANY speci
mems have been already tested, and
the results proved eminently satisfactory.
1t is thought the ore as rule will not
average less in its yield than from 81. 500
to $4,000 per ton, and at this rate it would
prove lmmenselySremunerative. Smelling
works have been built at Wyandette
Mich, which are now nearly ready to
go into operation, and it is designed that
the smelling shall be carried On there
Inc company has sold small amount of
stock, and we believe it was originally
intended to put large amount moro
into the market, but the design has ap-
parent!y been abandoned, on account of
the richness OF the mine, and the present
stockholders, it is understood, propose to
carry on the whole work themselves. and
to reap the entire harvest. They. of
course, incur heavy expenses at the outset,
as the cost of the breakwaters was $50.
uoo, and the smelling works cost 800. 900
more.
"Tne miners are now boring and blast
ing comparatively a short distance below |
the surface, and, though they will deepen
the passages as they go forward with the
mine, it is thought that no very deep
work will be required, even in getting
beneath the surface of the lake and |
working toward the mainland, some
5,oOO feet distant. All indications point
TO the great success of the enterprise, and
incline one to the belief that this recent
addition to the mineral wealth of Lake
superior is one of the most brilliant els.
'oyeries that have been made in that mar
Velous region"