Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-07-20

The North SHORE OF LAKE SUPERIOR
The following account of the resources of this
region is from the Chicago Post:
Of the mineral wealth on the north shore of
lake Superior, the country has long heard re-
ports, without, however, receiving any data
sufficiently reliable that an intelligent opinion
could be safely predicted on them Facts, how
ever, have recently accumulated, so that the
subject is enveloped in neither doubt nor mys-
terry. The wealth has demonstrated existence,
and the only other question is the extent of the
region and the probability of permanency.
The maps in common use do not show one
set OF facts of great geological significance in
this connection. The north shore is margined
by border OF low islands, at varying distances
from the present coast line, whose eastern eX-
tension is the Silver islet, of which so much has
been recently said Westward the range eX-
tends towards the great southwest trend of the
shore. The islands are numerous, with inter
walls of navigahle waters between, and are, in
fact, the naked points of a submerged ridge
mountain tops as compared with the bed of the
great lake itself. The submarine range runs in
a direction a little north of west, and CORE
spends somewhat with the iron mountains on
the south side. Across this line running south
east and southwest, is the enormous trap range
of Keweenaw Point, from which such vast
amounts of native copper have been taken with
in the past 20 years. And what is particularly
noticeable is the fact that the fissure in the cop
silver region on the north side of the lake. The
mineral veins cross the Islands in the same d-
rectOn and seem to have been filled by the same
operating causes at the same time. The only
difference is, that with filling very similar the
matriX encloseS silver instead of copper.
The accounts from Silver island are something
wonderful, and yet they seem to he well anthem
ticated. The present yield Is set down at an av-
erage of seven thousand dollars day, and stock
originally worth fifty dollars share, par value,
is now rated at $500 a share. The mine im-
proves rapidly with each foot of descent, and
gives every indication of being not only a true
vein, but Of leading to masses of the metal SIM
liar to those found In the copper districts Late
examinations show that the veins are not con
fined to this single locality, but that they are cut
across other islands, and penetrate the main
shore many miles distant. This seems to be
especially true of McKeller island, more nearly
in the centre of igneOus action, in which lode
nearly fifty feet wide has been discovered, the
trap yielding on test at the rate of As ounces to
the ton; the quartz 8, md zinc blende 2S2-and
this upon mere surface assay, That it will
improve with deeper excavation is a well known
fact established by the experience of all min
ing.
1t is reported that the Silver Islet shaft has
already yielded a million dollars worth of the
metal and it seems entirely probable that with
the improved machinery of the present time
and the accessibility of the region by steamer
that the Lake Superior country will soon be-
come as noted for silver as for copper. Thus
far the ore has been shipped to Newark, N. j.,
for reduction, but works for that purpose will
soon be completed at Wyandotte, near Detroit
The enterprise of Chicago ought not to be lost
on this new field. II is worthy the carly atten.
ton of capitalists and business men, and the
truth of the matter is within easy reach. We
have seen samples of the ore from both these
islands, which were extremely rich, and if any
correct inference can be drawn from careful ex-
animation, there is new and grand field for
profit awaiting only development. The chance
should certainly be improved.