The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-04-08


injurious minerals, and especially wofra-
mite, which is often associated with tin
ores, and whenever present always deprt-
ciates tho value of the mining property
and product. The specific gravity x
wolframite so closely approximates TIE
oxide of tin that any amount of mechani-
cal washing cannot separate the two salts
factorily The results of my investiga-
tions have convinced me that the metal
produced from these ores cannot be ex-
celled as regards its purity nor in tic
cost of working.
The location Of this wonderful ard
most timely discovery, as already inti-
mated, is on the north shore of the lake,
in the Province of Ontario. The precise
point is about midway between the Saut
st. Mary Canal and Thunder Bay, im-
mediately opposite Mich:picoten Island.
The coast in this locality is high, rocky
and barren. Cliffs of solid granite rise
from the bosom of the lake to an altitude
Of 1000 feet, their tops covered with
sparse growth of fir and cedar. This
rock-bound coast is broken by an occa-
sional ravine, through which some wild
mountain streams find precipitous course
to the grand receiving reservoir The
mouths of these streams are usually broad
and deep, furnishing secure and beautiful
harbors, with sufficient borders Of low
lands for commercial purposes. These
lowlands are covered with evergreens and
white birch A few stray Chippewa
Indians wander through the forests back
of the lake in that vicinity, and subsist
by trapping otter and beaver, the furs CT
which they sell to traders along the coast.
Bears, wolves and deer abound also in
the woods, and abundance of water fowl
and fish of the finest quality are always
to De found in the lakes and estuaries.
The region is really wilderness, pre-
senting all the features Of natural grand
eur, beauty and solitude that struck the
attention Of the original discovcrers Of
this continent. There is not single civ
ilized human being residing within fifty
miles Of Otter Head, though venture.
some halfbred Canadian, with full.
blooded squaw for wife, and buxom
lass, more Indian than white, their daugh-
ter, have established themselves at the
head Of the harbor at Otter head and
purpose to remain there this wintcr to
trade with the Indians. This is the first
settlement Of what is destined to be the
most considerable and important point on
Lake Superior.
The tin.producipg region so far as cx-
plored and surveyed, extends along the
lake shore from Otter Head southeastern
ly for distance Of about twelve miles
The first discoveries were made near the
mouth Of the Puckersquaw River, eight
miles below Otter Head, since which
time new deposits have been successive
! lY discovered. until now not less than
fifty well defined is>ure veins Of ore with
multiiu Qt feeders have been brought
to light spreading like Il vast network
of mineral over the whole area about from
point three miles below the Fucker
squaw to the Rideau River, eight or ten
miles above and running back from the
lake across the lofty cliffs inland as for
as any explorations have been made The
exceedingly rugged and prccipitous char
acter of the country renders inland trav-
cl almost an impossibility, so that explo-
rations have been mainly confined to the
coast proper, though some of the larger
veins have oeeu traced several miles in
land, while the Indians report even richer
Iodes at a still greater distance from the
lake. Some Of the veins are found to be
from SIX to twelve feet in thickness, as
clearly as can be shown by the action Of
time and the elements in wearing them
away where exposed to atmospheric in
fuenccs, leaving the granite walls on Ell
her side like well cut roadway, to
mark their presence and course. These
veins can be traced with the naked eye
from cliff to cliff, across the rugged high
lands and beneath the transparent waters
Of the lake until they are lost in its great
! danth