Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1895-10-03
GOLD In VERMONT.
What Western Prospector Says
About Its DEVELOPMENT.

4 Interest in the development of gold
mining in this state has lust been re.
awakened by the discoveries of d
Western prospector who has been
traversing the gold belt Of the state
from north to south. This belt,which
extends from st. bloomsbury to Rut.
land, is prolific in gold, both placer
and quartz. There is good ground
for the investment of capital and also
for prospectors, as there is considera-
bic quartz rock showing free gold in
sufficient quantities for that kind Of
mining.
Mr.. James w. Sherman of Boise
City, Idaho, who has had many varied
Experiences during his life as miner, in
speaking to Free Press reporter OF
his discoveries in this state, said:
81 was born in Huntington in lS47.
served with the 10Th infantry during
the war and went to California in 10,
and have remained in the mining in
dustry ever since, during which time
have had wide and varied expert
ence. | prospected in Middlesex for
two months and in the following
spring / started in as soon as the snow
disappeared. | began at Bolton but
did not strike anything there. | con-
tinued along down the belt as far
south as Plymouth. In Stowe found
by panning that there was much
placer or loose gold in the gravel. In
Middlesex there is no quartz, but the
conditions for placer mining are about
the same as in Stowe. In Moretown
and Warren there is more gold, gain
ing as you go south. l followed over
the divide to the White river and at
Granville found gold in paying guam
titles. | found quartz first at Stock
bridge by examining the rocks and
veins in the lodges. AT Sherburne |
found both placer and quartz gold and
opened mine, which | ran three
weeks, but the assay showed silver and
lead, for didn't go deep enough to
strike a gold vein. In Bridgewater
there are six or seven mines opened
up already and three companies 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
southwest in general way, and are
about 40 feet below the surface. The
veins are small near the surface, in
creasing in width as they 90 down on
moderate decline. The slate walls
next to the quartz also carry gold. The
Ottaquechee Mining company's mine
at Bridgewater has been put down
40 feet and they have 800 tons Of ore
on the dump now. 1t assays as high
as $4,000, while the lowest is $26 a
ton. hhe steam crushing mill was
started about the middle of September
and has made run on low grade ore
and had fine showing of gold, but
they had not cleaned up when was
there, so do not know what the rate
Of production was. Shpt. Lombard
said that he expected to run right
through the winter on a better high
grade ore.
Plymouth, and especially Plymouth
Five Corners, is the best part Of the
district | visited, the coarsest gold be-
ing found there as well as the greatest
quantities. There is plenty of quartz,
but it is not prospected yet; what
found was placer gold. l washed the
dirt from the banks OF creeks, as well
as creek bottoms, and also the land
on the side hill. also found consid-
cradle gold in gravelly clay.
What is needed to develop the gold
district of Vermont is California capi-
tai. Eastern capital is too conselva-
tive, and will not go into anything I'M
less it is sure Of good interest. West
ern capital will take risk when it sees
chance for great development. CAL
ifornia miners, backed by mining cap
ital, would produce a great develop
ment Of the gold district in Vermont,
for the gold interest is worth more
than all other interests in the state
when it is developed"