The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-09-27
COPPER MINING IN coRINTH.
Marked Demand for Metal Revives Long
Moribund Industry.

The marked rise in the price of copper
because of the demand occasoned by the
European war has caused the resumption
OF the copper mining industry in tho
town OF Corinth, 10 miles from Barre,
and an old shaft on Pike hill, closed
eight years ago, is being reopened and
cleaned out for the mining of the metal
on scale which promises to revive some
of the hum of industry in that region.
The work of preparation is almost COM
pleted by the Pike Hill Mines Co. The
mine is located three miles northwest of
the village of Cookville in the town of
| Corinth.
The old shaft pierces the hill some
l POO feet, of which 500 feet are on the
level and 400 feet dip at an angle of
about 40 degrees into the bowels of the
hill. 1t is said that the ore assays
about 3 per cent copper. The ore is
to be reduced to a certai nextent and
transported by team to the Boston g.
Maine railroad at Bradford, distance
of dozen miles, and from that point
it will be shipped to smelling companies
for freeing the copper.
When the mine was closed eight years
ago it is said the selling price of copper
did not allow margin enough over and
above the cost of taking out the copper
so that the mine could be operated at a
profit. Boston capitalists are back OF
the venture at the present time and are
expectant that the somewhat sensation
al rise in the selling price of copper be-
cause OF the wars demands will give
them margin of profit enough. As long
as h. Ia 80 mil H.
mand for copper, and probably for some
time after the close of the war, when
ever that may be.
So, little Vermont, far removed from
the scene of the great conflict, is likely
to get benefit from the consumption of
the valuable metal in the resumption of
a moribund industry. The section around
the old Pike hill shaft and a still older
shaft nearby was once quite populous
place, although never such hive Of In
iustry as the old Ely mines in the town
Of Hartford, some Is miles distant In
the heyday of the Ely mines hundreds
IF men were employed, and where was
lnce thriving village OF scores OF resi-
iences. two churches, postoflice and
several stores. there now Is nothing but
! huge hulk of a building that once was
! boardinehouse, together with one small
Westinghouse.
The old. deserted clearinghouse and
he cellar holes Of numerous buildings
live one the impression Of the boom min
ng towns Of the far West where mines
ave out completely or in large part,
ausing a general exodus OF the inhahi-
ants. The hills about Ely are SCARED
With mine workings and the lowlands
Dok for all the world as il vast scrap
: had gone over the surface and raked
he acres bare Of vegetation. revealing
be duh. coppery hues. on which the
footprints Of deer are numerous. whereas
be track Of man is rarely seen. Ely.
nee throbbing with industry, is but
isolation.
Not %. however. with the Corinth
line, where the inha hitants round about
Re looking forward optimistically 20 a
eom once more And most certainly
ie preparations under way give strength
, the optimistic mood. AZ long ~ cop
y stays up, CoriHtn j. likely to be
ven a boost