Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-02-07
A DOWN EAST BONANZA.
siivcr Mines In Rastern Maine-Rich .Ind lea.
uon' and Probable Future of wealth
Correspondence Of the Boston Globe


Correspondence of the Boston Globe,
sullivan, Me-, January II, 1878
Eastern Maine feels confident thai
sne has new interest, and that they
are OF nature and extent to render
her rugged soil valuable and pro.
ductlve. The resources of this "Way
Down-East" district bave been pc.
cullarly limited, so limited that
hardly a dim reflection of their
worth has been cast before, and
their pathway has been dark and
gloomy. But monotony breeds q
enange, and the hopes of rational
minus -. harinninr ~ warm be-
meath the coming sun of wealth. A
mining career scenes opening in the
near future, indications of which
have astonished and delighted many
OF the learned and inquiring minds
that have dwelt on these evidences.
The blue hill region shows immense
beds Of copper, now declared by en-
lnent geolegists to be identical in
formation with those of Sweden,
which only need an increased conf
dence among men of capital to rem.
der them at once of as much impor.
lance in the thoughts of mining men
and capitalists in general as the de-
posits of the same mineral about
Lake Superior. The neighboriDg
town of Sedgwick has developed a
silver vein bearing rich ore, which
gave TO it's projectors so sanguine
an expectation of its future that af-
ter penetrating some thirty feet in
to the rocks smelling works were
begun and are now in operation.
The ore asssyed, according to puo-
lished statements, form 800 to $500.
Considerable capital is invested in
this enterprise, and there SCENE now
to be every assurance of a great sue.
cess. 1t remained, however, for
this little town-beretofore noted
for its great beauties of scenery
to put a finishing touch to this pro-
gressive work of discovery and de-
velopment. A vein of silver ore has
been discovered here which on the
surface displayed native silver, and
at the debth of three feet specimens
have been removed hardly surpassed
by the richest exhibits of the Neva.
da mines. At every step the ore
grows better, the hopes OF the min
ers more definite, the proof of rich
silver vein incontestable and pos.
tive. Specimens that have under.
gone the inspection of the State As
sayer, Professor Bartlett, and other
intercollegiate, have received the
highest commentator from these
gentleman. Assays show remark.
entity definite for the owners to say
of it that it is rich enough to pay
largely for working. A shaft is be-
ing sunk and considerable depth
is expected TO be obtained with all
the rapidity possible. As usual in
mines water is here the item given
the most thought as an expense, and
this cropping out of the vein beng
on the sea shore, below high water
mark, considerable difficulty has
been encountered in getting prepar-
ed for work. Naturally this difficult
ty has not as yet been entirely over
come; but the opening arrange.
ments being now nearly completed,
large developments are anticipated
during the coming season. All these
things combine to make Eastern
Maine a subject for thought in the
minds of business men. Lumber
interests dwell here no longer: gran
lite, it is true, still exists here, and
is more than likely to with the pres
emit demand. The ice crop, never
large, causes little capital TO center
here. The nakedness of she land is
proverbial, and with that conceded
what remains2 The Maine farmer
must seek for something beside nu-
triton in his barren land. He must
root up his burnt stumps with the
hope of extracting useful minerals.
The enterprises Of Maine, its youth,
it's strength, its vigor have gone
West. Present developments un-
der these circumstances will be for
the benefit of the coming population,
and that population must come With
the discovery of these great beds of
minerals.