Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-05-17
ABOUT GOLD.
THE MOUNTAINS OF Pennsylvania
SAID TO CONTAIN 1T.
A according to Edison Gold Mining VIII
Become an Important Industry in This
Region When the Processes for Extract
ing 1t Become Better Known.


Region When the Processes for Extract
ing 1t Become Better Known.
From the Lehighton Press.
Thomas A. Edison. the Wizard of
Menlo," has said that the day is not far
distant when the gold crusher and mill
will be as common IA sight in the noun
tainS of Pennsylvania as the coal break
nr. Mr.. Edison once told Eckley b.
Coke, as they stood waiting for the train
at Penn Haven, that he expected to live
to see the day when the crushers would
be proIitably employed on the side of
the mountain at which they gazcd. Mr.
Coke smiled. He had great respect for
Mr.. Edison. But he had also that very
peculiar idea which seems born in thr
coal operator, that there is nothing in
this part of Pennsylvania but coal. He
would not invest any money in any other
ventures in the region, and his example
was followed by every other coal man
with one or two exceptions. Mr. CoXe's
respect for Mr.. Edison's opinion, how
ever caused him to purchase the land
on the side of the Penn Haven noun
tain.
Prof II. c. Deming, a noted mineralo
gist, of Harrisburg, recently wrote
very exhaustive and detailed article in
which he gave dates and places where
gold had been found. He mentioned
Sunbury, Lancaster, several points in
the middle AIleghenies and number of
places in Lehigh and Carbon counties
Prof. Deming does not hesitate to say
that in his opinion the mountains of
Luzerne, SchUylkill and Carbon counties
contain goldbearing ores, which by the
cyanide and other chemical processes
will be made to yield steady, though not
large incomes, and that inside of ten
years the crushcr would be common
sight and that many companies with
small capital would be organized to de-
velope the fields. a company composed
of workmen, with say $4,000 capital
could, he argues, make fair returns out
of the work.
The most important venture operating
at present is the Penn Forest Mining
Company, located at Penn Forest, Car
bon county. Penn Forest township be-
gins at the Lehigh river at Penn Haven
and runs southeasterly. The quartz is
mixed with cement like clay a por-
tion was sent to an expert connected
with the United States Geological sur
vey, who tested it and showed that it
contained $50 worth of gold to the ton
of rock.
A Press representative visited the Penn
Forest Mining Company'S plant last
week. 1t is best reached by driving
overland from Lchighton. The com
pany has leased the land for radius OF
six miles. 1t has spent about $1,000 in
sinking Il shaft, erecting buildings, put
ting up crushing machines and prcpar-
ing for "A complete chemical plant. The
company had the rock tested and its re-
port showed ten dollars difference from
that of the Washington expert. There
were twelve men at work when the re-
porter called. They didn't seem to have
any more enthusiasm than coal miners
and went about their work in a dollar-a-
day sort of way.
prospectus of the company includes
in the members of the directory an ar
ray of the substantial business men of
Lehighton and vicinity besides a num-
Der of mining experts who are in
terested to a large extent in coal mining