, 1873-08-11
Among the Copper Mines.
A Tramp Fourteen Hundred Feet Be-
low the Surface
The Richest Mine in the World.
Narrow-Gaugo Railroad Through,
tho NIlnorn1-Isnngc.
Correspondence Of The Chicago Tribune.

Ion Mln1ltoB thllt Will q Lake superior man
Eeucrally winds up with tho observation; "You
people below have no idon Of tho wealth Of this
country" And q comparatively brief sojourn
establishes tho truth OF tho remark, Very con-
vincing figures arc tliaplayol iu astonishing ar
ray, and tho dividends declared ovory fow wools
by tho Calumet d uec}n Mine cauBes ono to In
quire il 1t is not gold instead OF copper that is
bong mined.
Tho present Is
pRospENous YEAR,
mono moro 30 in tho history OF tho mines. Ao-
tivity, industry, and enterprise are apparent ov-
erywhoro. Tho good markot.prico Of copper has
infused unwontod vfgor into tho IMMORAL rango
extending from Keowonaw Point on the north to
tho Ontonagon River on tho aouth,-a distance
Of over 100 mlos. Energetic companies have
taken hold OF abandoned mines, and aro work.
ing them with aattoring prospects. In this
hopeful category iH the famous Boston l. Albany
Mine, situntod halt-way between Hancock
and Calumet, - famoua because sG15,000
was expended in opening the mino, orocting ma
chinory and miners houses, without any return.
This barren result, too, in face Of tho unparal-
toalcd product OF tho Calumet mine, a short dig
tance beyond. =.
HANCOCK AND HoUaHToN.
At this point, Portngo Lake narrows into q
otream forty feet doop and one-fourth Of milo
wide, on oach side Of which the banks rise to q
varying attitudo OF 400 to GOO foot above tho
wator. On tho north sido OF this atoop ascent,
Hancock, a growing, beautiful town, is located.
30 abrupt s the lascent, that in many placos the
street is On level with the roofs Of tho houses
built Oh tho parallel street below. On tho oppo-
bto bank, like twin sister, Houghton is elm
llariy situated. A fcw hours' trampIng up and
down their rugged etroets makes man pant for
tho monotonous lovol Of Chicago.
Tho Houghton sdo Of tho river has not boon
prolific In tho profitable miuoa. Yet, faith In
tho uudcyelopod RESOURCES is unwavoring. Ono
mine, recently recognized under the name Of
TIE ATLANTIC,
has called In naseBsmepts amounting to 81, ,000,-
900. It is said there we1e that many cubic foot
of water to draw out before actual operations
could be commenced. The Atlantic ia claimed
to DO tho largest copper mino in the world. The
euperlatiye degree, however. ia 40 fnyorito fig
ure Of speech among tho minors, that ordinary
mortals are liable to be confusod by tho astound-
ing statements.
Tho miuos aro all located on the high ground,
several hundred foot above the lake. The near
er their location to water tho moro economically
arc tloy worked. On being taken out Of tho
mines tho rock Ia taLon to tho mills to be crushed.
and tbonco to tho stamp.mlll.. Tho latter cannot
bo worlsod without plentiful supply Of wa.or.
Indeed, it Is by tho repeated aud forcible appll-
cation Of water, after tho rock is crushed, TINT
Tho conner is eventually separated from tho
',ss,osG a,n,n
TUe" The most MONTH"; acoossb1o au vol as tho deepo,t,
mine ia ....
THE Qu1HoY.
It is entered by five shafts, and week might be
probably consumed in perambulating through
its ultiform subtorranean psssages: Il IL ~;
m operated to t9e 2T ,aof TO r. oat a.
Theeo fathoms vary from ~ 1S9s an 70 % iqet w
ing total depth OF. about Guy feef. II is tho
only mine entrance into Tn1on 4a,;a ~ a!lomeu ~
neans Of the man-onglao. ana1n1 ~ puonnas
machine IT consists OF Two Raaaneh
worked In unique manner: Ihofo o is &c eof1ea
Of platforms agt ~ foef arart ~ s.en.
person only '9eatoa aoons ~ luot TX T,on9s, e
ping upon tne nres piatlo On On faat tr;1n ~ u
tho pt tue oioSasar aesconaS diotans hrnn;nr
parallel ono aseehes w az ne"a or eeooni 6n1S
NJ