Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-09-14

/ pUItieu Oh tue CFuu6 ore, anu gives IL bue
name of sulphuret of copper. Next above
we come to the cobbing shop, where we
find dozen men and fifty boys employed.
some standing over masses of ore, break
ing them into smaller pieces, by means OF
long-handled hammers others sitting
upon stone seats, engaged in the same
work, except they hold the pieces in their
hands, and use shorter hammers. The
ore is then sifted and carried to a long
rude table or bench, on each side of which
stand row of small boys, washing the
pieces and separating out the refuse rock.
It is really sad to see so many tender
hands in such rough work. One little
fellow said he was eight years old, but he
appeared small and frail enough to be
only six.
The next and last building above is the
blacksmith shop, where the drills are
sharpened for the miners. The captain
of the mine is stationed here. Through
one side of this shop the cars pass into
the mine by single track, through a
horizontal adit about five feet high and
three feet wide, extending 900 feet into
the heart of the hill.
Preferring not to wait for 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. After CO.
ing some 200 feet into the dense darkness,
we were suddenly startled by a terrible
milling sound like an earthquake. Our
guide began to calm us by saying: Il
guess a car is coming :" but when we had
| II 1 l. G. Ill
and wondered whether that train had a
conductor, he concluded it was merely
the engine at the top main shaft. One
hundred feet more brought US to the
whim, a windlass turned by horse. He
was standing in the machine, motionless
as q statue, not even whisking his tail or
moving an ear, for no flies penetrate that
darkness. A solitary boy sits here in at
tendance, with only his little Pickering
oil lamp to cheer the gloom and wretched-
ness of his dismal life. He said be was
nine years old, and remained there from
seven in the morning till four in the af-
ternoon, and his brother, aged eleven, &C.
cupied the same place all night.
Going on we at length come to the
main shaft, which extends from the sur
face 300 feet above, to the bottom of the
mine GOO feet below, at an angle of
thirty-fve degrees. Where we now are,
we can hear the blinking of the drills,
from the passages which branch off in
various directions, according to the posi-
ton of the vein. Some of the sounds ap-
pear to come from 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 tho rails,
and at last reach the bottom of the mine
500 feet erpendicularly from the surface
Goiug from here into one of the side
passages, we happened to come upon
squad Of miners, who were preparing
blast. 1t is quite frightfuI to see the
careless way they handle powder. Be-
sides their little tin lamps taken from |
their caps lying loosely about, lighted |.
candle attached TO the rock merely by
piece If putty was hanging just above the
hole into which they were pouring the |
powder. After lighting the fuse, how
ever, they took the precaution to retreat. |
While wsiting the explosion, we inquired /
if pieces were ever dislodged in neighbour
ing passages, and were entertained by an .
account of an immense mass which once .
fell from the roof nos far from where we
were.
This blast over, we coon became indif-
ferent to the frequent shocks. although in
some places the ventilation was so imper-
feet, that the smoke was almost sitting
1t was great relief when we once more
re cbed the sunlight and pure air, which
never seemed so grateful and delicious a.
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 il "A significant fact, showing how
dreary the life of these miners must be,
that at every new gang that we meet, the
frat question asked was "What time il
it 2" Truly their hours and days must
drag heavily.
Ga the outside Of the hill about the
main III If, arc immense piles of waste
ore. which, however, contains so much
sulphur th n 81 contract Was lately almost
for Iaillion tons, for making
acid. But the Expense Of trans
portation ten mil hy teams, made it cost
one dollar ton too much.
Il Only rcmAjus for a railroad to bring
this useful material to mtrkat, Of which
there Is already 50 eat an accumulation
here, that it is cygm3ted ten freight cars
4 day for fifteen years would be needed to (
larry it all away.
We ought not to close without a word
about the Grafton mine at Lisbon, n H,
which we lately visited, and which is now !
exciting considerable interest as a source
IF cheep fertiIjzing material. !
- J 7
niue, some traces Of which were found,
1ut two years ago an analysis of the rock
the idea of its fertilizing prop
rites, and quantities were pulverized and
experimental with, resulting much more
avorably than was expected ; for not only
AVE concentrations poured in from those
who have tried it as a mere fertilizer, but
positive proof has been furnished by some
II the best agriculturists, that it also is
perfect destroyer of insects. We were
hown some luxurant growth of plants
o which the article had been applied.
Tho rock, as it comes out of the mine, is {
l hard, greyish stone, but q remarkable 6
act about it is that after exposure some 7
ime, it sOftens and entirely decomposes, 8
urning to a dark brown. We saw large
masses which lay upon the surface, in a
tate of decomposition. 1t is really a I
pecies of taloose slate or schist, some E
lines called ankerite, and if used in mod ,
rate quantities, cannot iDjure vegetation.
\ company has iast been organized, and it -,
! soon to be thoroughly introduced. If
he indications are realized, it will, at The t
proposed price, $50 a ton, bring a greater
income to the proprietors than all the gold
Il the region s.R.B.
SUDDEN DEATH AND PROBABLE Pol ,
ONING BY A HUSBAND AT TRIPOII,