Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-01-28
Miseellaneous.
THE GOLD FIELDS OF MAINE.

Already the mineral wealth of Maine
has been proved reality. by the discov-
cries in various localities of rich deposits
of galena. copper and silver, and the fre-
quent findings of gold in the beds Of the
many streams of the north western part OF
the State. and in other places. But it is
altogether probable that the real gold
fields of this State will be found in the
range of mountains which separate Mare
from Canada and which are y part Of tie
great Appalachian chain stretching from
north 10 south, breaking out here AMI
there in various States and containing in
North Carolina and Georgia the famots
gold mines of those States.
II has long been known that gold exist
ed in these venerable mountains and some
day the prospector will strike upon the
rich veins that must be there. An extract
from II letter written by Prof c. II. Hitch
cock of Dartmoth College, the well-known
geologist. saws II have no doubt that con-
siderable gold will be found near the Ca
madam border in Maine and that careful
search Tor it will be rewarded" and in his
Geology of Maine published in 1861 says:
"There is an extensive tract IN the
northwest part OF the State in which gold
has been found. 1t has been seen only in
the alluvium, from which some Inferred
that it came from Canada. Gold was
found in Madrid by n returned Californian
miner. Between Sandy River and the
Canada line. gold has been found in many
places. These facts show that there is
gold ia situ in the rocks of Somerset
and Franklin counties. We do not think
it is all derived from Canadian boulders.
T.. =. 4 L.. 4 H. al ii
is too abundant TO be of foreign origin.
Gold is by no means confined to talcose
schist, and may be found in veins, in most
of the azore rocks. The rocks of these
counties are largely azoic.'
The mines of Ditton in Canada, three
and one-half miles from the boundary
line, and the placer diggings of the Chau-
diere have long been worked. In the de-
posts of Ditton nugget of gold of the
value of Sl3i was found. The Chaudicre
and many of the streams of Maine in which
gold has been found, get their washings
from the quartz rock which has crumbled
for ages and washed down the sides OF
those rugged hills into the streams below.
The Spider river, n feeder of the Chau-
diere, also Dead river, Moose river and
Spencer stream, upon all which streams
Soiu bttli thcii Iisc III
close proximity to that part of the bound
AIRY between Maine and Canada where oc-
curs the greatest volcanic convulsions and
upheavaIs of that district, causing huge
curves in the range rs will be noticed IN
the map of Maine. This is especially no.
ticeabe in that township on the boundary
line in Range of Franklin county.
Already the attention of New York and
other cap talists has been called to this
vicinity. A special dispatch to the Boston
Herald, dated Jan. 9th, says: Great ex-
pectations are indulged in. in regard 30
the gold mines Of Beauce district. in this
province. In his speech at the banquet to
his honor last night, Premier Chapleau
said that by June next between five and
six thousand miners would be seen in that
gold field. Several New York capitalists
are interested in the mines, including ex-
Judge Dittenhoifer, Cyrus Fled and
others"
The International Railroad is now COM
ple:ed from Sherbrooke to Lake Megan-
tic. nearly to our State line, and it IS re-
ported that the Grand Trunk Railway
Company has acquired or is about to ac-
quire the International Railroad. with n
view of extending 1t through Franklin and
Somerset counties to Blanchard, Maine.
completing an air line TO the Maritime
Provinces. which must add much to de-
vclope the resources of our border.