Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-01-24
A VERMONT MINE.


town is one of the largest and richest
veins of copper in the world and that II
now bids fair TO add as much to the
wealth of the state as does any otherin-
dustry. Dame nature so located the
vein as to make the mining of the ore
comparatively easy. Providenc has pIac-
ed it in the possession of some most ex-
cellent people, who are not only possess
ed of abundant means and large amount
of mi ing experience. but thew are con
ie tious and humanity loving people
as well. The vein is i'll the southern cor
ner of Stanford and abuts the mine of
copperas so long worked by the Vermont
1 Copperas Company and its successors
AID is owned by the Elizabeth Mining
Co., which was organized under the gen
eral law about eight years ago.
The Copperas mine was discovered in
1893 and was worked for many years. In
it was found copper ore ia small veins
aud in pockets, in such quantities as to
| induce the proprietors to commence
smelling the ore for copper. Securing
the services of Mr.. Isaac Tyson. Jr.. of
Baltimore, Nd, as adviser, the copperas
company continued for nine wears the
smelling of these low grade ores. Mr..
Tyson. about this time, purchased yari-
Gus mineral rights in this state and spent
considerable money in explorations at
various places. Among Others lie drove
the adit lead in the Vershire mine, TO
within few feet of the since celebrated
Ely vein. Among his purchases was the
$50 acres Of land now owned by the Eliz-
abeth Mining Co. He being called away
from his varions undertakings in this
state by engagements elsewhere the Eliz-
abeth mine lay urdeyeloped for many
years, Mr.. Tyson visiting it occasionally
and doing enough work upon it to pro-
tect his mining rights. About eight
years ago the vein now being worked
was uncovered short distance from the
surface of the ground and ore. assaying
II per cent of copper was mined; this
was an extraordinary find, as ordinarily
there has TO be lavish expenditure of
money before there is any return OF
the money expended and years must pass
before there are any profits realized.
The Elizabeth Mining Co., composed of
the heirs of Isaac Tyson, has organized
and active operations we're at once com
menced, The mining engineer assuring
them that there was every indication of
the vein being very valuable one. An
adit lead was driven and the vein was
found to be from 20 to 60 feet wide. A
large quantity of ore was taken out and
n time a perpendicular shaft was sunk.
A small water jacket furnace was put in,
with which they smelt 40 tons of ore per
day. producing a 40 per cent matte with
one running. Copper being very low
they stored their smelted copper and
suspended work for about two years.
Work was resumed year ago and the
mining operations have been vigorously
pushed forward since, under the man
agement of James w. Tyson, Jr., grand
son of the original proprietor. The ore
is produced at a moderate cost and the
quantity is apparently only to be limited
by the force employed. The quality is
of the very best. being free from arsenic,
anthony and other hurtful substances.
The percentage of copper IN the ore in
creases in going deeper, with every indi-
cation of further Improvement and the
mine bids fair to rival the best sulphuret
mines in the world. The vein is COM
posed Of sulphurets of copper and iron
in slate walls and has an average width
of 30 feet. Ii runs about northeast and
has dip Of from to 10 degrees. IL is |
nearly in right line with the mines at
Vershire and Corinth.
There is but little water in the mine |
and no supports are needed. The shafts
are upon the eastern slope Of the hill but /
are near the summit. Upon the western /
slope large building has been erected |
for the breaker which will soon be run |
ming. The ore is drawn from the mine I
by steam power to the cObber's shed I
where the waste is thrown out and the I
good ore is put into cars that are drawn /
over an iron tramway to the breakers 4
which II goes to the pick table, \
an invention of MIR. James Tyson, Jr., \
where boys pick out the waste and a
moving apron carries the ore to car,
that when filled. is pushed 20 a shute /
down which it goes into large bin from
which it goes down steep hill to the |
roast beds where the sulphur in the ore
is .'roasted out" From the beds the ore
is taken to the furnace and is, mostly,
made into MATES, impure copper. Some
pigs have been made by the company
bearing 9S ~ per cent copper. From
the mouth of the shaft TO the furnace
the ore is easily moved, dame nature hav-
ing placed the vein near the summit OF
the hill. A cable car to take the ore
from the breaker to the roast beds will
probably be built during the present
wear and the company expect to require
Two furnaces to smelt their output. The
ore, they say is of the best possible mix
ture for smelling taken just as 1t comes
from the mine. Ii requires no hux.
The working force will be largely in
creased i'm the early spring and the out
put of the present year is likely to be
very heavy one. The business affairs of
the company are somewhat uniquely
1t employs no high salaried
officers. The officers work as steadily
As any other employee of the company.
They pay the men regular ly and do not
need mining war to help them out OF
iebts due poor miners. They pay all
bills promptly and have no quarrels.
Thev are members of an old wealthy
and highly respected family but with
them the poor man receives the same
treatment that rich man Goes. In all
this are they not unique? A prominent
business man of Strafford says OF them