Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-12-25
Rockbridge Tin Mines.
Rockbridge County News.

There is one industry in R0ckbrdge
that has never been doomed. Carried ON
IN the recesses of the Blue Ridge noun
tains, those in charge of it, whilst ex-
pending much money and energy, have
avoided instead of seeking publicity. 1t
is gratifying to be able to note that
though general stagnation Is reported
from all other quarters the news from this
grows more reassurinesahd more hopeful
1t is the TIN industFftn Irish creek.
ln April, 1880, the Boston Tin Mning
Company leased the Ca,h tin property f
100 acres on Irish creek for two years for
a minimum 10Y atty of SC, 600 per annhnl,
and were al owed the option of uyiug
lie property at the expiration of the two
yeaIs for 100000.
Sluce he date OF the lease this company
has had furcc of men quietly but cad
lily employed opening up the tin mines on
the property. They have run INTO the
mountain tunnel 200 feet, and from this
several eide tunnel, from so to 100 leet. -
A l00-fOot cut has also been made. They
have found themselves always working
| through tin ore OF sufficient value to be
reduced with profit. Last summer they
erected On their property reduction works
that cost over SO, 900, and since that they
have had at work a ponderous crusher
that will crush 200 tons per day. Only a
little of the reduced ore, which is ore
concentrated ready for the smelling fur
mace, has been shipped, for if it was, then
the company would have to pay the lessor
a royalty. 1t is an open secret that this
the Boston Tin Mining company will
never do, but on the contrary will take
advantage of the right they possess and
buy IN the property before the expiration
of their lease IN 1892. They are prepar-
ing now to increase their force at the
mines so as to keep the crusher steadily at
work.
Tin is n metal found in microscopic
particles distributed through rock and the
per cent in the ore IS very small In some
cases large crystals are found, but never
in quantities TO be of value, and are no
certain Indications of valuable deposits.
Specimens from Irish creek have been
abundant. Mr.. Moses Joy, of the Boston
company, exhibited one here last spring
from the Cash mines, which he said was
the finest crystal ever found. The average
of tin in the Rockbridge ore is variously
estimated.
The most conservative put it at two per
cent some as high as twenty. Specimens
have been analysed, which run as high
as 60 per cent, If the minimum is the
true estimate, and the ore exists in large
deposits, the value of the ROckbrdge tin
mines will be beyond calculation. The
ore OF Cornwall, England, averages but
one per cent. That it does exist here in
quantity is the opinion of experts, and
that such is the case Las been demOnstrat.
ed by all the work of development
hitherto undertaken. This Boston com.
pany evidently has that opinion, and it
has not been acting blindy. What is
really the fact remains to be developed
by future workings. The deposits are
said to very much resemble those in the
Australian mines.
An experienced tin man, who has bad
large experience in the Australian mines
does not hesitate to declare after thorough
Investigation that he regards the Rock
bridge mines as the most valuable in the
world.
ibis section of the Irish creek country,
in which there are traces of TIN and indi-
cations Of mines Of alue, is six miles long
by one-third of mile vide. The Cash
property takes but one-third of one mile
of the six