The Newtown bee., 1889-05-31
MINERS IN PooTATUcK.

For more than a century, the side of the hill west of the Pootatuck river be- low Sandy Hook has been favorite haunt with mineralogists and others who claim fhat the rocky sides of old Connec- ticut are as capable of producing gold, silver and precious stones as any of her sister States. Over 100 years ago, the bed of the little stream which flows into the Pootatuck short distance north of the bridge leading to Hanover was sur yeyed for minerals. At first, it was cop per and shaft was partially sunk and an arch to remove refuse constructed at an arm of the ledge. This was abandon ed, but gold and silver were there and the mine has been worked at various times since.
 During the civil war, the shaft was sunk to depth of 40 feet and car of ore shipped to Philadelphia for assay. It never reached it's destination and the mine was again deserted and the shaft filled with loose stones. It is said that the man in charge of the work was ar rested in New York and the ore dumped, as no one would pay freight. Since then, occasional half hearted attempts at min ing have been made. The want of suc- cess was partly due to inexperienced men; no practical miners were employ ed.
 Thirty-three acres on this hillside now belong to the Lorenzo D. Bidwell family, who formerly lived in Sandy Hook, but have for years been at Meriden. This old shaft is near the northeast boundary line. About two weeks ago, J. k. Med ling of Southington, a practical miner who has spent p years in the business was sent by the Bidwells to examine th' prospects for gold and silver on this prop ertv. He found unmistakable and favor able surface indications, which, when as saved in Meriden, gave promise of botf gold and silver, the former predominant ing. He returned, Monday, with Thomas Medling as assistant and is boarding al Mrs Callahan's.
 He is clearing out the old shaft, whici
 is 40 feet deep and four and half fee
 in diameter. A windlass is arranged t. , raise the rubbish to the surface and tn
 bottom will be reached in week or less
 Specimens from the sides and bottom s the shaft will be assayed and, if promis
 ing, the shaft will be extended or deep
 ened. as the ore seems to require.
 successful, a company will probably b
 formed in Meriden to conduct operation | here. The Bidwells will be largely in terested and MT Medling, who expects , have full control of the mining, will als join the company. Should the quart ,, ore prove rich enough to pay for work ing (and Mir Medling says that he neve saw better surface indications), smeltin machinery may be set up back of tn
 mine.
 Five ounces of gold and 9 of silver the ton will pay for mining, under ord
 nary circumstances. The hanging wa
 of the ledge is at the shaft and the vel , is thought to be quite wide, possibly IL feet. It apparently runs northeast an
 southwest and pitches to the west. I'll
 rock is hard quartz, but full of sean
 and easily broken. Iron and copper p, l. rites are common along the bed of tn l. little stream and many specimens sho t traces of galena.
 n There is no doubt that gold and silv' , exist on the banks of the Pootatuck; bl can they be mined with profit? Tlsat's u S uuestiOn