Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-03-17

A VISIT TO A GOLD MINE.

Having brcakfasted early at Keene,
New Hampshire, ON the morning of May
let, 'sl, in company with Frank Nenry
your correspondent set ont on foot TO visit
the gold mine In Surry Mountain-.north.
The clear, crisp, frosty air was exhilcrating
after our delving among books III the
bustling town as we wended our way along
the mountain road. The feathered song.
slers sang their roundelays and the gentle
breeze, laden with the henlthg giving breath
of the pines, famed us while the sparkling
Ashnelot river rippled aud danced near
by on its way to the sea as it flowed on
unceasing around old Surveys rocky base.
1t was high noon when we halted at the
unpretentious hotel at West Surry-a lit
tie hamlet nesting among the everlasting
hills, it's church with white spire pointing
heavenward, the spacious school.house
where bright-eyed, rosy.chceked children
daily conn their irksome lessons, few fac.
tories and private dwellings of people in.
telligent and courteous. Refreshment was
soon prepared by the landlady, Mountain
trout, (dish fit to se, before king) such as
New England danes only can prepare, of
which we hastily partook and resumed our
journey. Here on the west side of the
mountain, the granite State Mining Co.
commenced operations at first and erected
buildings but soon after abandoned them
for more suitable location selected on the
eastern slope. There was steep road
leading over the summit of the mountain
from this place TO the now occupied min.
ing camp but the bridge spanning the
river had been swept away and We were
obliged to take the circuitous route.
Finally we reached the eastern side
where crossing by II foot-bridge the river
roaring through narrow, rocky gorge we
began the ascent to the mouth of the mine,
situate midway mp the mountain side, a
distance should judge, Of mile and a
half. There we found the Assistant Sup
erintendent, Prot. L. p. Dodge, with u
company OF miners. Prof. Dodge is thor
oughly versed in geological and mineral,
ogical lore, having Travelled through and
examined nearly all the mining regions OF
America and can talk of minerals, fossils
formations, deposits, oxides, sulphides
sulphuret,es, carbonaies, etc, ETC., by the
hour, interestingly. We found this gen
tlcman, like the great majority of New
Englnnders, genial, and "given to hospi.
tality."
The shaft had been sunk about seventy.
FIVE feet where there was "drift" leading
S. E.-the direction Of the gold bearing
VEN. The strata containing the mineral
deposit becomes richer AZ we descend
Inclining at an angle of about iS degrees
1t, the auriferous strata no doubt extends
through, the mountain as il crops out on
he other side nt tie same altitude, taking
the dip into consideration, and it is likely
should gold continue to he found in pay.
ing quantities that the mountain in time
will be tunnelled. The Co. are sanguine
of success rs they claim that an assay of
ton OF rock-ore would yield $4,000 OF the
precious metals. The gangue rock is
gneiss, feldspar and quartez, and contains
besides gold, silver and copper, ,galena and
lead. The mine Is kept dry by a steam
pump and the dark tough rock is easily
drilled with the atmospheric drill "Rend-
rock" preparation OF dynamite, is used
blasting and then the detached masses of
rock ore are then hoisted by steam to the
surfac OF terra frnna ready for the stamp
mill and smelter. Stamp mills were then
being erected near by-a part of the re-
quisite machinery, etc, already on the
ground.
After having infinitely described the
modus operandi of modern mining and
smelling, we could not with propriety de-
cline his pressing invitation 10 tea, which
was served in company with and enliven-
ed by the ladies Of the Professors house
hold.
The repost being ended and full set OF
specimens secured the ffbfessor kindly and
voluntarily guided us across the noun
tain through ravines filled with snow, past
miniature silvery lakes, fed by springs, o'er
rocks of the azoic age and giant boulders,
fissures deep and dark, and fallen timber;
through tangled underground OF pines
vines and brush to the southern crest o
the mountain where we shook hands, ex
changed good-byes and we descended to the
city-we lett in the morning-after night
fall. A. G. RUssELLE.
A Timely Book.