Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-08-28
From the Maine Farmer.l
JIi,,iuO i'm Maine.

especially since the excitement over the
discovery of the silver mine in New
bnryport. Mass. the people In many To-
calities of this State have been carefully
prospecting in the hope OF finding de-
positsts of the precious metals in their
vicinity. And in many localities. il we
are to credit the reports, gold and silver
in small quantities have been found.
Hardly week passes without The report
of some new discovery and though &C.
cssionally like the Oldtown case, IL
proves 10 be q hoax. in other places
enough OF the real metal has been found
to inspire the hope that il may yet be
found in paying quantities. Bradbury's
gold nine in Woodstock, year ago,
promised so well, that almost every man
in that mountainous town went TO pro
speeding. but the excitement seems 10
have subsidized and we have heard moth
ing from the Bradbury bonanza for some
time. Whether funds are wanting 10
continue operations or whether the pros
poets are less h4ttering, we are not ad-
vised.
We have some very good specimens
mountain 10 Milton Plantation, in the
county of Oxford, and situated only a
lew miles from the Bradbury mine.
Tuese specimens contain lead, traces OF
silver. pyriies and il may be minute
quantities of gold. \ company has been
organized and the stock will probably be
put into the market. Whether the guam
lity is sufficient TO pay for working can
not be ascertsined until considerable
sums are expended in developing the
mine, or until survey is made by those
who are experts in such matters.
The Eggemoggin Silver Mine which
is located on the shore OF the Eggemog-
GU Beach in the town OF Sedgwick, is
said 10 be the most promising mining
operation which has been undertaken in
the State. The territory comprises
about three hundred acres and is
admirably situated for transportation
facilities. The ore was found on the
surface and is said TO have paid from the
first opening OF the shaft. The shalt il
now twenty-lour feet deep. The ore
vein commenced with width OF eight
inches and has now increased 10 twenty
four inches, and it is said the quality im-
proves with every blast. Eighty tons o,
ore have already been taken out and are
ready to be smelted. The ore has been
assay ed by five different chemists in and
out OF New England. all OF whom report
small quantities OF gold, thirty 10 forty
per cent of lead and tily per cent OF sill
yer. The average valuo OF silver found
in each ton of ore is stated at 800 90
State Assayer Bartlett. has lately visited
the mines both in Sedgwick and Bluehill
and gives encouraging accounts OF their
richness and extent. We learn that
small quantities Of gold and silver have
recently been found IN P,ttSton or Dres-
den and quite number OF citizens have
paid ia small sums for the purpose OF
having a thorough investigation. We
might 20 on aud enumeTate several other
localities in this State where the precious
metals are reported y have oeen found
in small quantities. but the above viii
answer our present purpose, and we
think will Justify Us in sayiog that q
careful geological survey OF the State
With special reference 10 valuable metals,
is greatly needed. /, has been abou,
forty years since partial survey was
made by DR.. Jackson. and a peru sal OF
his three volumes shows that il was very
genera, in is character, and necessarily
so from the short time devoted 10 it. He
could DO but little more than give us ge-
ological outlines. and brief descriptions
OF such minerals and metals as had al
.l.-.....-.rnI kn
and 10 which his attention was specially
called. The latter survey was also lin
tied and conducted in much the same
way. Since Dr.. Jackson completed his
geological survey OF Maine, immense
progress has been made IN the knowledge
of minerals and metals, ana more es-
pecially the latter, from the experience
derived from the gigantic miuin 2 oper-
atoms in California. Nevada. Idaho and
other States and Territories OF the far
West The mineralogist who has kept
fully up with the times in these matters
would be able 10 give US q very intelli-
gent account Of orr mineral resources,
and ha, Is Just what we need.
In no business in the world are there
better opportunities tor prActiciug fraud
than in mining operations. and within
few years il has been done in some places
on a great scale. The discovery OF the
smallest deposit OF gold. silver. lead or
plumbago has been made the basis OF Il
corporation. The stock has been put in
to the market and so long as the decep
ton has been kept up, it has found sale,
but finally there has been acOllapse, the
m4nipulators have pocketed the gains
aud the stockholders have found them
selves 50 much out OF pocket. Too often.
we regret 10 say, the deception is kept
up by means OF certificates purchased OF
tuted their knowledge 10 ignoble pur
poses and become parties 10 these inia-
nous frauds. We do not say that there
have been such practices in Maine, but
the fact that such thing is possible, and
is frequently practiced elsewhere. is a
sufficient reason why the people OF the
State should have the benefit OF
such survey as we have indicat-
ed. Until it can DE made, it is better
for men ot small means TO keep out OF
the business Of mining. The risk is a.
together too great. II capitalists are
willing to spend their money in the very
uncertain pursuit OF valuable deposits OF
gold and silver in the depths of our rock
ribbed hills. well and good; they can al
ford il. Those who cannot afford il
should not allow their minds TO be dis
trscted from their Legitimate business b7
dreams OF sudden riches; it will only
prove a delusion and snare. The
story OF the old man who when dying,
told his sons that a treasure was buried
somewhere in his fields. will besr re-