Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-03-28
4ailp &ennebsf 5ourrral.
Augusta, Tuesday Morning, Mar. 20.
Mining In Maine.

leaped the bounds of incredulity and be-
come an established fact There are none
who have taken pains to inform them
selves of the developments made in min
ing in Hancock county, that doubt the ex-
istence there of precious ore in large
quantities, and in such conditions as to
make the working of the mines largely
profitable to investors and sure to become
one OF the leading and most lucrative in
dustries in the State. Speculation in
Maine mining stocks has injured the bust
ness, creating widespread opinion that
the Hancock mines are humbugs got up by
gamblers only to dupe the simple and
rob them Of their money, but in spite of
the operations Of spectators, bad man.
agement, and other embarrassments. min
ing in Maine is going ahead, has become
respectable business, and more shares
are now being bought tor the purpose of
holding and working the mines instead of
specializing in them than ever before. The
deeper the shafts have been sunk in the
tdTtu buC DiOh'tti arc tiIt frlus
in which the ore Is found. Steam, gun
powder, muscle and brains are active in
bringing it TO the surface in many mines.
II is estimated that there are at present
actively employed in mining in the Han
cock county mines thousand men. At
some Of them crews are running day and
,,.f,ht tho .xn.r,.nnaI
miners from Cornwall and the mines OF
the West-men who know what mining
is. and what a vein of precious ore is when
they see it, and what the indications mean
as to its capacity and continuing richness
The Douglas and several other mines in the
county have smelling works upon their
properties. and other elaborate and costly
works. Large sums have already been
expended by Boston, New York and
Philadelphia capitalists in developing
properties. They have faith in the mines,
though many Of them have bent their en-
ergies to depreciating the stocks that they
might buy at a low figure, rather than in
developing their value and extent. Had
it not been for speculation the mines would
have made better exhibit than they do
Those that desired to honestly work
them, have had to contend with the
schemes and wiles of men who had
other plans than to develop the property
Ore has been piled up which might have
been smelted and the proceeds turned
to account in paving improvement bills or
getting out more ore.
But the prospect is better now for
honest and more extensive operations
Companies that have been in embarrassed
circumstances are pulling through. Sever
al companies have reorganized Ore is
going to market and being proved in
smelling works at Portland, Bos-
ton. Baltimore and New Jersey.
New mines are being opened. Brooks
vile mines are coming into notice,
this town it is said being one of the richest
in Hancock county in mineral wealth
Sullivan. Hancock. Gouldsboro. Little
Deer Isle. all are promising well. During
the winter work has gone steadily on. 1t
will be increased Just as fast and to such
extent rs the management can afford
providing the management honestly de
sires the development of the mines in a
business-like manner. The following
from the Boston Advertiser is fair rep
resentation Of mining in Maine. 1t shows
what is thought in the great center of
New England business and capital of the
present condition and outlook for mining
in this State:
The Eastern Mining Industry /. on a
sounder basis today than at any former
period in its history. 1t is more respectable
in character. having enlisted the capital
sympathy and support of a large number of
most excellent people. II is most intelligent
ly conducted, having profited by the expe-
rience Of the past, and attracted to its camps
many able miners from abroad. 1t com
mands greater respect and confidence, for it
now has something to show for the time con-
sumed, labor employed, and money expended
Its lodes have been exploited to hundreds of
feet in DEPTH determining beyond question
their permanency; and the value of its ores
has been demonstrated by mill and furnace
runs and bullion receipts. 1t has reached
point when critical Investigation may be
courted, confident that the results Of such in
vestigation will be satisfactory. Ii has
broken down the wall of prejudice. and dis
armed its enemies. II has achieved success.
and is on the high road to popular
ity. Henceforth progress will be easier
and speed more rapid. Few people realize
the extent of the work accomplished during
the past three years, and still less number
comprehend the Eastern mining situation as
il stands to-day. Two extensive reduction
works, one in Portland and one in East Bos-
ton, are running steadily on ores from the
mines of Maine and New Hampshire, and
thousands Of tons are being shipped to smet-
ers in New Jersey and elsewhere. There is
now lying on the dumps of the mines in
those two States, awaiting shipment or the
completion of local reduction works. fully
100000 tons of ore, possessing value above
the cost of production, transportation and
working. And a far greater amount of still
richer ore may be seen and measured in the
shafts and levels of these mines. ready on
the completion of proper reduction works. to
be converted into bullion. pigs. bars, bricks
and ingots, having commercial value in
every financial centre in the world And
these results have been attained in far less