Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1895-02-07
GOLD IN MAINE.
OPER ATIONS To BE RESUMED ON
THE HARVEY ELLIOTT NINE.
NEW MACHINERY TO BE PUT IN TO SINK
THE SHAFT TWO HUNDRED FEET
DEEPER-A VISIT TO THE MINE.

Gold in Maine! My, of course there's
gold in Maine, and right here in Han
cock county, too. Fact! If you doubt it
take drive out to the Harvey Elliott
mine at Egypt. There you will find a
gold mine, and in operation, too, and the
genial and obiging foreman of the works,
Barney Mullan, will show you gold in its
raw state-real Maine gold.
| The rumor that operations on a more
extensive scale We're to be resumed at
this mine sent THE AMERICAN reporter
hurrying off to the "gold fields"
Gold! What magic in that one word
gold, which casts it's spell about poor
greedy mortal! What volumes have been
written, and yet how little told, Of strong
minds shattered, of brilliant prospects
ruined, OF fortune, friends, home, honor
and life itself, all sacrificed in the mad
race for gold!
1t is a seven mile drive from Ellsworth
to he gold mine. The road leads past
the poor farm, and the nearby "city of
the dead'-gruesome neighbors, stand
ing as grim, mocking sentinels along the
road that leads to gold-past farms, some
well kept, Others showing signs OF sad
neglect; though short stretches of wood
land; past the pretty and modern little
railroad station at Franklin Road, which,
in its coat of many colors, in striking
contrast to the modest white and green
of the farm house, breaks almost harshly
upon the scene, and reminds one of the
busy, bustling world outside which
stretches out its steel arms to encompass
these rural homes.
At last we reach a struggling settle
ment. the most noteworthy feature of
which is its name-Egypt. Whence this
name is derived is a mystery. Perhaps
because Of departed glory. Once upon a
time, some twelve years ago, Egypt had
the gold fever had it bad. Gold was
discovered, and the sleep of the people of
Egypt WIS disturbed by golden dreams OF
untold wealth; and for Il time, indeed, it
looked as though their dreams We're to be
part tally realized, But the bubble burst.
\ large hotel with stables, built to ac-
commodate the gold diggers, fast going
to decay from long disuse, but still bear
ing in raised letters, from which the gilt
ter OF gold has long since departed, the
name "Gopperopois, stands as monu-
ment to Egypt's bursted gold boom.
Is it any wonder hen that the present
report that operations are to be resumed
at the gold mine, fails to arouse enthu-
sasm in Egypt?
At the time of the "boom," some ten
or twelve years ago, two mines We're
opened in Egypt one was known as the
"Gopperopolis, the other as the "liarvey
Elliott" 1t is at the latter that rumor
said operations We're to be resumed and
which The AMERICAN reporter visited
The mine is situated a short distance of
he main road, opposite the hotel cop
peropois." A glimpse of the shaft hous {
may be obtained from the road The APP
proach is by a narrow road which ends
abruptly at the mine.
About the shaft house there are signs
of preparations for extended operations
The cleared space about the building is
stacked with wood for the furnace and
teams were engaged in hauling more.
Inside the building a small force OF
men was at work. The foreman of the
works, Barney Mulan, explained what
had been done and what it was intended
to do.
The shaft is now down about 200 feet
During the past three months the small
force engaged at the mine has been
.'drifting," or in other words tunnelling
from the side of the shaft along the vein
of gold ore, to ascertain what they had TIC
work upon. The result had been very
satisfactory, gold in paying quantity being
found in The vein as far as they had gone
Some of the ore taken out had been
shipped to New York and run, and had
PANIED out from $50 to $50 per ton. Some
of the ore was even better than that, some
being found that ran as high as 300
Even at $50, providing there is enough OF
it, the mine would pay; in fact, at Sc pei
. ton, Mr.. Mulan said it would pay tc
, mine it.
The vein is from eighteen to thirty
, inches thick, and runs at an angle o.
, seventy degrees. The shaft is now dowr
POO feet, where it crosses the vein. 1t has
been decided to sink the shaft POO fee
further, and then drift out until the weir
again reached. IL lulS Is SucCeSsl VI
and the owners of the mine find they
have true vein, they will know they
, have practically a permanent supply o
ore to work upon.
The men are now engaged in removing
the old machinery from the shaft, ant
preparing for the new machinery neces
. sary to carry the shaft down the required
distance This will necessitate large
pumps, and possibly a larger engine ant
=. boiler.
, T. P. Austin, the principal owner of thu
: mine, left last Thursday for New York
l to see about machinery and make ar
engagements for extending operations a
the mine.
Z L, onrnasflu To he hnned that b.