Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-09-09

smaller pieces, by means of long-handled ham
mers; Others sitting upon stone seats, engaged in
the same work, except that they hold the pieces
in their hands, and use shorter hammers. The
ore is then siftcd and carried to a long rude
table or bench, on each SIDE of which stand Il
row of small boys, washing the pieces and sep
arating out the refuse rock. 1t Is really sad TO
see so lmany tender hands in such rough work.
One little fellow said he was eight years old,
but he appeared small and irail enough to be
only six.
The next and last building above is the black
smith shop, where the drills are sharpencd for
the miners. The captain Of the mine is sta
toned here, Through one side of this shop the
cars pass into the mine bya single track
through horizontal adit about five feet
high and three feet wide, extending 900 feet into
the heart of the hill.
Prelerring not to wait for a car, we entered
the passage on foot, preceded by our guide, who
held his lamp low down behind him, that we
might easier pick our way out of the water
which lay in little pools between the rails. At
ter going some 200 feet into the dense darkness,
we were suddenly startled by a terrible rumbling
sound like an earthquake. Our guide began
to calm us by saying: 81 guess a car is com
ing; but when we had scrambled for cleft in
She rocky walls, and wondered whether that
train had conductor, he concluded it was mere
ly the engine at the top of the main shaft One
hundred feet more brought us TO the within, q
windlass turned by horse. He was standing
in the machine, motionless as a statue, not even
whiskng his tail or moving an car, for no flies
penetrate that darkness. A solitary boy sits
here in attendance, with only his little Pickering
Oil lamp to cheer the gloom and wretchedness
of his dismal life. He said he was nine years
old, and remained there from seven in the
morning till four in the afternoon, and his
brother, aged eleven, occupied the same place
all night.
Going on, we at length come to the main
shaft, which extends from the surface 300 feet
above, TO the bottom of the mine 600 feet below,
at an angle of thirty-fve degrees. Where we
now are, we can hear the clicking of the drills,
from the passages which branch off in various
directions, according to the position Of the vcin
Some of the sounds appear to come from a great
distance, and we can family hear the miners
who are working directly beneath our feet.
We now descend this shaft by regular steps
cut into the rock between the rails, and at last
reach the bottom Of the mine 800 feet perpen-
dicularly from the surface Going from here
into one Of the side passages, we happened to
come upon squad of miners, who were prepar
ing a blast. 1t is quite frightful to see the
careless way they handle powder. Besides their
little tin lamps taken from their caps lying
loosely about, lighted candle attached to the
rock merely by piece of putty was hanging
Just above the hole into which they were pour
ing the powder. After lighting the fuse, how
ever, they took the precaution to retreat. While
waiting the explosion, we inquired if pieces
were ever dislodged in ncighboring passages,
and were entertained by an account of an inn
mense mass which once fell from the roof not
far from where We were.
This blast over, we soon became Indifferent to
the frequent shocks, although in some places the
ventilation was so imperfect, that the smoke was
almost sitting. 1t was a great relief when we
once more reached the sunlight and pure air,
which never seemed so grateful and delicious as
after remaining SO long in the darkness and
smoke.
1t seems incredible that men can live even
thirty years, which is the average life of these
men, in such an atmosphere as we had left.
1t is a significant fact, showing how dreary the
life of these miners must be, that at every new
gang we meet, the first question asked was
"What time is it~ Truly their hours and days
must drag heavily.
On the outside of the hill about the main
Shaft, are immense piles of waste ore, which,
however, contains so much sulphur that a con-
tract was lately almost completed for a million
tons, for making sulphuric acid. But the ex-
pense of transportation ten miles by teams,
made it cost one dollar ton too much.
1t only remains for a railroad to bring this
useful material to market, of which there is al
ready so great an accumulation here, that it is
estimated ten freight cars day for fifteen years
would be needed to carry it all away.
We ought not to close without word about
the Grafton nine at Lisbon, n. H., which we
lately visited, and which is now exciting consid-
able interest as a source of cheap fertilizing
material.
This was originally started as gold mine,
some traces of which were found, but two years
ago an analysis Of the rock suggested the idea
of its fertilizing properties, and quantities were
pulverized and experimental with, resulting
much more favorably than was expected; for
not only have concentrations poured in from
those who have tried it as a mere fertilizer, but
positive proof has been furnished by some of
the best practical agriculturists that it also is a
perfect destroyer of insects. We were shown
some luxurant growth of plants to which the
article had been applied.
The rock, as it comes out of the mine is a
hard, greyish stone, but a remarkable fact
about it is that after exposure some time, it
softens and entirely decomposes, turning to a
dark brown. We saw large masses which lay
upon the surface, in a state of decomposition.
1t is really species of talcose slate or schist,
sometimes called ankerite, and if used in mod
crate quantities, cannot injure vegetation. A
company has just been organized, and it is soon
to be thoroughly introduced. If the indications
are realized, it will, at the proposed price, $50
ton, bring a greater income to the proprietors
than all the gold in the region. s.R.B.