Year: 1875

THE MANNER IN WHICH THE MINE is WORKED
THE PRESENCE OF SILVER AND LEAD IN


PAYING QUANTITIES.


In the Salem (Mass.) Gazette, Feb. s, a
correspondent gives the latest about the
silver mine at Newbrrypo-t as follows: To
a stranger visiting Newburyport,
one of the first places sought after
is the lead and silver mine. Being in
that city last week. we of course
followed the universal tendency and rode
miles from the City Hall. We had been
there some months since, when any one
could roam about at his will and collect as
many specimens as his fancy dictated
Since then q shanty has been erected over
each shalt, and no one is allowed sdmittance
without pass from the owners. This plan has
been found necessary. from the tact that the
workmen were hindered by visitors who
swarmed there, especially Sundays, and as
each took away as many specimens as he
could conveniently carry, the aggregate
amount was considerable-twoo or three tons
at least. At the time Of our visit, last Thurs
day, we applied at the principal mine, but
we were informed by the man in charge
that we could not be admitted, Even il We
were me own brother" The next day we
were invited by Chapman, OF the "Chipman
Lode" to accompany him upon his daily





a shanty, with two LIS, to cover the shaft,
store the ore after being obtained, and to
accommodate the blacksmith. An addition
Is being put up, in which will be the engine
for drilling. Whenever they blast the roof
over the ,, mine is raised or opened by means
OF pulleys suitably arranged. At
present six men are employed
through the night. They are all mex.
perienced men, but each "gang" is In charge
of a practical miner. Up to the present time
they have extracted from four to seven tons
OF ore per day, but next week they will in
troduce the Burleigh drill, when % tons will
be expected as daily produce. OF late the
quality of the ore has been improving, the
percentage of lead decreasing while that of
silver is much greater. We were presented
with several Specimens containing


SILVER, LEAD AND suLPHATE OF COPPER.
The gold is in such small quantities as to be
imperceptible to the naked eye. The shaft
is at present about forty feet deep, twelve
feet across the top, and seven at the bottom.
II nothing OCCURS to change their plans,
the owners expect to go down 100 feet from
the surface, aud then blast laterally at Diff
ferent points down the shaft. We had the
novel experience of descending into the OPEN
ing and watching the men at work with
their picks and drills, getting out the ore.
As yet they have not experienced much in
convenience from the inflow OF water, but
with the warmer weather of spring, their
small force-pump, now used but OCCASION
ally, will be in constant use. The pieces of
ore taken out vary in weight from i've tons
to a few ounces. At the time of our descent
we saw magnificent piece, nearly three
feet long, and a foot wide and thick, Of sill.
yer and lead ore, without any quartz mixed.
There seems to be difference of opinion as
to whether the smelling works should be
near the mines or upon property near the
wharves, owned wholly or in part by DIR.
Kelley. In one case the coal for the furnaces
will have to be brought from the water front;
in the other, the ore, with its impurities,
will have TO be transported TO these whsrves.
One advantage of the former arrangement Is
that the gases will escape over 9 thinly set
tied region. Whatever the plan, the Boston d
Maine railroad will lay spur track from its
road which runs very near the mines. In
addition to the above mine is one owned by
a Mr.. Boynton, and known as the "Boyn-
ton Mine," and another styled the claw
renee Company's Mine" and operated by a
company of experienced miners. The latter
company will soon introduce the Diamond
drill" which has the pecuharity of
taking out a center or core showing the na-
ture OF TIE deposit and thereby useful In pros
pecting. Across the river, in Salisbury, on
'sRing's Island" so-called, another vein has
been found, which Is said to be richer in sill
yer than any of the others. At the surface
1t was one inch wide, and ten feet down. the
greatest depth reached as yet, It has widened
to four inches. With the advent OF spring,
one may pect to see parties in all the by
ways and hedges, picking at the rocks In
search of the large and brilliant crystals OF
lead, or the deposits of smaller and some
what duller crystals. indicating silver.