Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-01-13
A NEW ENGLAND ELDORADO.

NEW ENULANU ELDOhADU.
Mines of Silver, Lead, and Gold i'm Massa-
chusetts-ss The Richest Vein of Silver in
the World o-NTagnificent Specimens of
Ore-lTining Already Begun-Prospects of
the Future.
Correspondence of the New York Tribune.
Boston, December 3O.-Essex county,
which used to be so famous as the
home of the Gloucester fishermen, and
more lately gained a national notoriety
by its support of Gen. Butler, now puts
in a new claim for public notice on ac-
count of the valuable mines recently
discovered in Newbury, at which min
ing operations have just been fairly be-
gun. The discovery has been SO aston
ishing in many respects that the Oldest
residents, 10th to admit that such wealth
has been so long hid beneath their very
noses, are already telling tales of the
working of these mines century ago,
at least so much as was neces-
sary to produce the necessary
metal for bullets in the
War of Independence. These stories,
however. lack foundation. The present
discoverer was dissolute character
named Rogers, living in Byfeld. He
was wandering over Highfeld pasture
one day about six years ago, when the
weight of some little stone which he
picked up, together with occasional
CLEANS Of the sun glanced on small
smooth surfaces attracted his attention,
and induced the belief that there was
metal in them. He gathered several Of
the most promising looking specimens
and took them to Mr.. Albert Adams, a
quiet bachelor farmer, living in New
bury, who became even more interested
than Rogers had been, believing that a
mine had really been discovered. With
out going to a geologist he began the
study of mineralogy and geology, until
he became satisfied that silver and
lead were present in considerable guam
titles.
Once convinced that his suspicious
were correct-and he kept his counsel
well-he made overtures for the pur-
chase of the land from an old farmer
named Jaquith. The pasture, II acres
in extent, was bought for 81, 200 early
in April of the present year.
The moderation and caution of Mr..
Adams now seem likely to bring
their reward. Having got his title, he
began digging. The surface finds were,
of course, more or less oxidized, but at
the depth of 6 feet he struck the true
vein, and took out several, tons which
he carted home for examination. These
excavations could not be made without
exciting remark, an, rumor very soon
said that lead had been found in large
quantities, and of very pure quality.
The rumor was soon authenticated, but
the first to see money in it was Mr.. w.
W. Chapman, of this city, who went to
Newburyport, and investigated for him
self. He was easily satisfied of the
presence of both silver and lead, and
offered the opportunity of becoming
mining proprietors to Mr.. Seth Whit
ties and DIR. e. Ct. Kelley, also OF this
city, the latter once Mayor of. Newbury-
port, which adjoins the town OF New
bury. These three gentlemen again
visited the spot, August 6, and the next
day DIR. Kelley again visited Highfeld
pasture, in company with Prof. Robert
H. Richards, of the Institute Of Tech
nology, who took away some specimens
for an assay.
From the report it appears that the
rocks in the vicinity are gnelss nodes,
and quite hard. The strike Or line of
outcrop is about north TOO to 900, the
dip about northwest 800 AS he found
1t the line of the vein was about north
To east by the compass. The pieces
taken from the pit, as dug by Mr..
Adams, exhibited vein structure, the
upper five inches of the specimen being
composed of galena, while the under
three inches-the three inches next the
supposed foot wall contained consider
able gray copper ore and tetrathedrite,
galena, quartz, copper and iron pyrites.
Four specimens were assayed. The
first, piece of coarse grained galena,
assayed for silver, yielded $56.37 to the
ton; the second, hne-grained, galena,
$75.23, the third, gray copper, contain
ing also quartz and galena, assayed fol
silver, copper and gold, yielded $1,27(
of silver, $129 of gold, and about n
per cent of copper to the ton; and the
fourth, a piece weighing about three
pounds, tried for lead, was nearly pure
and hammered quite easily, the lead ID
1t being 50 per cent.
1t would seem as If this report woulo
have satisfied even the most conserva
tive OF spectators, but it was no
enough for Mr.. Whittier, who with
drew, leaving the mine to DIR. Kelley
and Mr.. Chapman. 1t is needless to say
that these gentlemen did not search fol
new partner, but began further opera
tons at once. During the same month
they acquired large quantity of lant
by purchase and bonding. Mr.. Adams
agreed to sell his II acres, at buyers
option, for 800, 600, the would-be pur
chasers to pay him royalty Of $40 {
ton for all the ore they removed unit