The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-05
BPOCKUNIER'S
GREAT GOLD
DISCOVERIES
In western ontario the Subject of an
Investigation by Mr.. wal
pole Roland,
THE NOTED MINING EXPERT.
He Says the Field Is Rlcn In Gold
Bearing Quartz and Rapid
ly Developing.

Many wheeling people are interested
in the gold mining venture Of the Vir-
ginla Gold Mining Company, of which
Edward W. sifel is president and Sam
Hugh Brockunler secretary and general
manager. The company was organised
as a result Of the discoveries made in
the wild region Of western Ontario by
Mr.. Brockunler. The following from
Rat Portage, Ont, telling of the inves-
LEGATIONS by Mr. walpole Roland the
noted mining expert, will be read with
interest, showing that the richness Of
the field has not been exaggerated;
Mr.. Walpole Roland, the well known
mining and civil engineer. has Just re-
turned to Rat Portage, Ontario. from
trip to the Virginia Mine country, In
western Ontario. Mr.. Roland is very
fayorably Impressed with the prospects
OF this country; when interviewed, he
said that four large companies we're
rapidly developing their properties and
that all INDICATED land is being quickly
covered with claims by prospectors, SO
that what was a barren wilderness
when Mr.. Brockunier discovered the
Virginia two years ago, is now rapidly
becoming developed territory and 1t
is estimated that 800 men will be em-
ployed at the mines there during the
winter Even the Inevitable squatter
and his shnnty hotel are to be found,
breaking the monotony Of the long
drive with his house OF entertainment.
Mr.. Roland says that Messrs. Brock
unier and Sullivan (the latter manager
of the Anglo-C Canadian Gold Estates
Coz are the leading spirits In that sec
ton. BY their action two boat lines
were induced to run to whitefish Port
age, twenty miles from the mines,
where connection is made with boats
Of the Virginia Mining Company. To
further facilitate shipping they built
warehouse at whltehsh Portage. For
the winter season they have organized
weekly stage line from Rat Portage
to the mines. By their efforts the at
tentlor of the government was called
to the desirablIty of a dam at White
fish; surveys have been made and the
Crown Land Commissioner assures
that this dam will be built in the spring.
This win give slack water navigation
to all the mines and at the same time
furnish water power sufficient to run
all adjacent mines. Mr.. Sullivan In
tends to put large boat on the Lake
of the Woods at the opening of navlga-
ton and connect at the dam with Mr..
Brockunler's line Of boats on whitefish
and Sturgeon lakes. The dam will do
away entirely with the dangers Of rum
ming Dog Paw Rapids in the Virginia
Mining Company's naphtha launch.
Speaking particularly of the Lizzie"
mine, Mr.. Roland said in part: AT date
Of my visit to the Virginia gold mine
the work OF sinking on contract, by
hand drilling, had obtained a total
depth in No. shaft Of 2O4 feet. At 200
feet the second adit level was COM
menced and had been driven on the
vein distance of eight feet. The No.
shaft from top to bottom is consplcu-
GUS for the excellence of its work. both
timberlng and mining being noted for
skill. At fifty feet down the water
level of Elizabeth lake is reached. This
distance Is also noted for excellent
values in native gold at depth Of ten
feet from the top of the shaft the ore
is exceptionally rich in native gold.
From the water line to the first level at
100 feet, the ore PANIED fairly and con-
tlnued uniform, From 100 feet down
the assays, which am not at liberty to
give, increased regularly In value. From
the foregoing facts it will be inferred
that the contracts Just finished by Mr..
Rayburn (the lo"'l manager during Mr..
Brockunler's absence) have been at
tained with satisfactory results. Rela-
tive to the enormous ore chute exposed
by cross cutting north and south dis
lance of $40 feet at the 100 foot level, It
may be placed on record that wherever
tested by long series Of paintings, the
results were invariably good
The property of the Virginia Mining
Company, of which E. W. stlfel is pres
ident and S. H. Brockunier, secretary.
comprises nine claims with a grand
total of 5s7 acres. all of which are trav-
ersed by series of quartz veins. upon
which no development work has yet
been carried on.