Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-08-01
Mining in Sullivan.

Whatever Is new interests the public.
Whatever interests the public Is Of value to
a live newspaper. which. no, only gives all
the news 70 It's readers, but presumes to
keep them posted In all the loca. transae-
lions. This Is the writer's logic. aud hi.
only apology for asking space In the sol-
unns ofihe AMERICAN Tor What he knows
about Mining in sullivan"
The discovery OF silver ore 10 sullivan
was made 10 the fail OF 1871. by Mr. A. Mes
ser, who from practical experience as
miner. had become convinced that specl-
mems OF quartz which he had found Ia the
Vicinity OF the quarries, where lie worked,
contained silver; aud he therefore deter.
mined to prospect Tor the vein. III. explor-
alton resulted In dsding. Just below high
water mark on sullivan River, the assure
vein, which Is now being worked. This
discovery, whether Of much or little value,
a question for the future to SOLVES a
confirmation OF the general assertion, that
all valuable discoveries Of the hidden treas
ures OF the earth are the results either Of
accident or practical research, unaided by
scientific knowledge. Biologists being 50
thoroughly scepticAl about finding valuable
minerals, especially silver, In formation
SO generally known to be granite, as is this
town, would be unwilling TO make the nee
essary examination to determine the fact,
but would treat the proposition as unwor-
20
tsined only by the ignorant.
The fact that silver daes exist here fact
which Is we'll established-is no disproof
however. Of the scientific and practical law,
that silver is never found in any quantity
In granite; for the ore here found Is not in
the granite but in the "divide" which forms
its southern boundary. The vein when
nrst found was about foot wide extending
nearly east and west and various assays
showed the surface ore to contain about
thirty dollars per ton Of silver. These as
says convinced Francis Worcester ESQ, Of
this town, who from the time OF discovery,
had taken an interest In the affair, that it
would warrant the expense Of sinking .
shaft, which In the month OF November he
commenced to do. He found As he descend
ed, the vein gradually grew wider and
richer In specimens. many Of which showed
TO the naked eye native siiper in It's various
forms. Many Of these specimens Mr.. W.
had caused to be put into the hands of sew
eral eminent mineraiOgists and scientific
and practical miners in various parts ofthe
country-hopinx thereby to establish the
value aod reputation OF his mine. But
these fine specimens containing native Sill
yer. seemed to ''prove too much" tor Is
no native silver had ever been found In
New England ore. they could not believe
the specimens were natives OF this town.
Their incredibly and the prevailing dis.
belief Of capitalists and business men. kept
the thing very quiet until spring gave an
opportunity for some interested parties.
attended with their mining experts. TO visit
the mine and make an examination. This
convinced them not only that the speci-
mems were genuine, but that the half had
not been told them"
In the month Of March the mine Oh snged
hands and BECAME the pFoeeEtY Of co,u-
psny. known IS the Sullivan Silver Mining
Company. with nominal capital Of ol0o,.
600. The President Of this Company IL
W. d. Lewis. Esq., Of Boston, and Prof.