Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-10-04
Gold in Vermont.
a Western ProsPectOr says There l.
Distinct Gold BELT Running from 81.
JOhnsbury TO Rutland. Producing
Gold ia Paying Quantities


From the Burlington Free Press. sept -
Interest in the development Of gold min
Ing in this state has Just been reawakened
by the discoveries OF western prospector
who has been traversing the gold belt of
the state from north TO south This belt.
which extends from ST. Johnsbury 10 Rut-
land. IS prolific IN gold. both placer and
quartz. There is a good ground for the
investment Of capital and also for prospect
ors. as there is considerable quartz rock
showing free gold in sufficient quantities
for that kind OF mining James W Sher-
man Of Boise City, Idaho. who has mad
many varied experiences during his life as
miner. IN speaking 10 Free Press re-
porter Of his discoveries ia this state. said
- was born III Huntington IN ls4-
served with the 10Th infantry during the
war and went 10 California in 20, and have
remained in the mining Industry ever
since. during which time have had a wide
ana varied experience. ! prOspected IN
MlddleseX Tor Two months and in the fol
lowing spring ! started IN as soon as the
snow disappeared. ] began at Bolton but
did not strike anything there. ! contin-
ned along down the belt as far south as
Plymouth In Stowe / found by panninc
that there was much placer or loose gold in
the gravel. In Middiesex there is no
quartz, but the conditions for placer min
ing are about the same as in Stowe In
Moretown and Warren there Is more gold
gaining as you go south. ! followed over
the divide to the White river and at Gran
vile found gold in paying quantities.
| found quartz FIRST al Stockbridge by exam
/ ming the rocks and veins il the hedges
I At Sherburne found both placer and
! quartz gold and opened a mine. which
/ ran three weeks but the assay showed sill
/ yer and lead, for ! didn't 90 deep enough
| TO strike a gold vein.
/ In Bridgewater there are six or seven
mines opened up already and three COM
/ panies are working there with eight or ten
men apiece procuring gold out OF rock in
| paying quantities. The veins are IN tale
and slate, running northeast and south
west in a general way, and are about 40
feet below the surface. The veins are
small near the surface. increasing III width
as they 20 down Oh a moderate decline.
The slate walls next 10 the quartz also car
~ gold. The Ottaquechee Mining com
pany's mine al Bridgewater has been put
down about 40 feet and they have 800 tons
OF ore on the dump now. II assays as high as
$50 600. while the lowest is $50 a ton. The
steam crushing mill was started about the
middle of September and has made a run
on low grade ore and had a fine showing
OF gold, but they had not ''clenaed up
when / was there. so that / do not know
what the rate OF production was. Super
intendent Lombard said he expected 10
run right through the winter on better
high grade ore.
plymouth, and especially Plymouth
Five Corners, is the best part of the dis
trict / visited the coarsest gold being
found there as well as the greatest quanti-
ties. There is plenty OF quartz, but it is
not prospected yet; what / found was
placer gold. washed the dirt from the
banks OF creeks, as well as creek bottoms,
and also the land on the side hill /
also found considerable gold in gravelly
clay.
what is needed 10 develop the gold
district of Vermont is California cap
ital. Eastern capital is too conservative,
and will not 90 into anything unless il is
sure OF good interest. Western capital
will take risk when 10 sees a chance for
great development California miners,
backed by mining capital, would produce
a great development of the gold district in
Vermont, for the gold interest is worth
more than all other interests in the state
when il is developed