Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-30
STUDENTS VISIT ELY COPPER
MINES

The party consisting of the metalurgy
and geology classes of Norwich Univer-
stv started out Thursday morning, two
en- wheels. some in teams. and the balance
on foot with Chelsea as the destination
that night. The journey was made by
easy stages, part going via the Gulf at
Wiliamstown, and part via the village,
where they had the opportunity Of exam
ming a large collection of minerals, OWL
ed by a Mr.. Perry, at that place. A halt
Of an hour was made Tor dinner at the
white rcck' and Chelsea reached at four
p. m AS the season of 1923 had not
opened at the Chelsea Opera House, the
party could not attend the theatre but
enjoyed themselves as best they could
during the evening. At 7.3J we started
and after four miles of climbing passed
over the top of the rise and sighted Cop
nerheld at 1915 The party went through
the mills and witnessed the process from
the time Il was nut into the blast furnace
as ore, until taken from the refining CUR
mace as copper pigs" ready for the mar
ket. Dinner was then obtained at the
boarding house ant at $50 the ascent to
the mouth of the mine was made. Here
the mine superintendent met the party
and furnished them with torches and can
dies. and advised them to leave any ex-
ira clothing at the top Ga suggestion
which was better appreciated after the
trip. At 1:5J we left daylight behind and
went for about 500 feet along an adit to
the top of the incline. II was at this
point that the difficulty began. The tor
ches and candles gave an insufficient light
and one could hardly see where to step;
the shaft was barely high enough for one
tn stand upright and the footing far from
secure. Nearly every one took tumble
or net with some accident before the bot
tom was reached At the top the ground
was rather moist but after descending a
short distance every vestige OF water dis
appeared and the rock was as dry ass a
bone, one of the greatest discomforts
was the heat. Scarcely had we begun the
descent when we were all simply bathed
In perspiration and our clothes wet
through AS We drew near the bottom
the air became thick with nitro glycerine
umes from. a recent blast and II was with
difficulty that we picked our way along,
After short stop to gather specimens
of the ore we started upon the ascent and
this proved soemWhat easier, although
frequent rests We're in order. The length
of the shaft which we descended is $500
feet, the bottom of which is 800 feet be-
low the level OF the adit, or entrance. The
| majority of the party returned to Chelsea
for the night, but few went off in dif
ferent directions. Capt Fuller and Lieut..
Stocker walked to Ely to take the night
train north, as they were going home to
spend Sunday but upon finding that 1t
did not stop there. continued on to Fair
lee. but something must have been the
| trouble there, for II Is rumored that thoy
did not reach home until the next day.
Lieut.. Farquharson and sergt, Randall
| left Copperiied at 5:15 and arrived at
| Wocdsyille. ~ H., on their wheels at ID
D. m Everyone pronounces 1t very sue
ressful trip. but at the same time they
say that they do not care to visit mine
moro than once a year.-Northfield News.