The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1874-08-05
C0PELAND'S SPRINGS.
AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF
THE JEFFERSON COUNTY LEAD
NINE

MINE.
CoPELAND's SPRING. July Is, IA.
To the Editor of the Morristown Gazette
From the earliest settlement of
this country, it was known that large
quantities Of lead were deposited in
this section. Eighty, and perhaps
hundred. years ago an English CON-
pany operated the mines. A great
deal of lead was found, and, for that
day, great expenditures we're made
in mining and erecting furnaces.
The company became involved, and
George Swingle, the grandfather of
the Mrs. Eckel, of this community,
merchant of considerable means, be-
ing their largest creditor, took pos
session of the lead works, to save
himself. Like all other East Ten
nessee mining enterprises, it proved
disastrous financially. The active
working ceased years ago.
Nothing had been done until a
few years ago Mr.. <. p. Moulton
and others commenced operations.
For the want Of means to prosecute
the work their lease was forfeited.
Mr.. Moulton, a practical miner, per-
severed, and with the assistance of
C. NJ Smith & Co ;. and one or two
Others has demonstrated what has
been believed for a century, that
immense quantities of pure galena
are deposited here.
BY sinking pits he has discovered
q rich vein about twenty feet below
the surface. But little lead has, as
yet, been taken from this vein, as
large deposits have been found near
the pits, and shafts from two to ten
feet deep At least one hundred
tons have been procured within four
weeks, and where lead in almost a
pure state, can be had for little
digging and spading, the vein will
be neglected.
/ visited the mines Wednesday,
and saw and felt such an amount of
lead, l know their can be no mistake.
In one day a miner excavated
5000 pounds. Mr.. Moulton took
out another day 2,20O pounds, and
uncovered a mass of galena that will
weigh from eight to ten tons.
The most important point is, can
any pecuniary profit come from ali
this? Nothing is surer, if the leasers
will not become wild, and spoil all
thus far obtained.
At least one hundred tons have
already been unearthed. This oar
will sell at any smelling furnace for
So per hundred. This makes $10,-
900 in one month, with the labor of
not more than three miners. For
FIVE hundred dollars a furnace can
be erected in the vicinity, with Ca
pacity to reduce large quantities.
If the proprietors will take this
course, they have already made mon
ey, and from present indications,
have in realization an immense for
tune. If they make great outlay in
the erection of expensive furnaces,
they may become embarrassed, and
add another name to the list of min
ing failures. should add, that
most of the ore, thus far found. is
tCbNAs Il Ills OO NOA1s Va
pure metal. A few tons of carbon
ate of lead have been excavated.
This is the state in which silver is
found, and when it contains per
cent of silver, it is profitable mining
for the silver alone. At the same
time, it contains 20 per cent of lead.
Larger quantities of zinc exist,
traces of copper and cobalt have
been found, but they have not gone
deep enough to know whether these
metals are sufficiently plenty to be
profitable. 8
If any new phrases develop, i
will inform you. | am prospecting
for gold; if l find it, don't believe
will tell you, lest there may be
sucIpa rush as will snatch fortune
from me. iC g Yours truly,
q"