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 ~r. '6'ii tost Main Street 
 
 ~-= Rochester. New York 14609 nsa 
 
 :-= ^"f) 482 -0300 -Phone ^ 
 
 = ( ' I '') 288 - 5989 - Fr 
 
REPORT 
 
 OK ruE 
 
 TRUSTEES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 II KIT I SH AND CANAOIAN 
 
 UlNlNfi COMPANY OF LAKE MIPERIOK. 
 
 MONTREAL, 2nd JANUARY, 1847. 
 
 PRINTED AT THE CANADA GAZETTE OFFICE. 
 
 1847. 
 
PubUf 
 
 At ^. 
 
 Archives Gcm<ad0 
 ; I jues Conodr^ 
 
 e^lH'^o 
 
I 
 
 I." !•; I'O K 'I' 
 
 I'V THE 
 
 I !M s I !.!:s t>i rm; tuniisn amj Canadian .MiNiN<i 
 
 {OMI'AW Oy LAKE SI I'EKIOH. 
 
 Montreal, 2d .laiiiuivy, 18 17. 
 
 I'll IIIK SloCKIim.DEliS OV TKK 
 
 IJrHiali and CtuKuiuiu Mini nil- Vompitnij of Luke Snpivivr. 
 
 Thi; Trustees have llie honor to report, That in order to 
 i'arrv out the views of the Association, the services of E. 
 II. Thomson, Esquire, as Superintendent, and of J. T. 
 Ilod^re, Esqnii-e, as Geoloiiist and mineral explorer, were 
 secured. I\ti. Iloth'.e is a ifentlenian well Unown in thf 
 scientific world, ar.d was strongly recommended as a person 
 of undoubted knowledge and talent, and in whom every 
 confidence could be placed ; Mr. Thomson's energy and 
 crnacity rendered him in every way qualified for the trust 
 r!;]v)sed in him. 'J he expedition, at the head of which 
 \vere lliest! gentlemen, after visiting several parts of Lake 
 Superior, seh;cted as a location for this Company, the island 
 named J'rinee Albert's Island and the land in rear of the 
 same, with a front of two miles on the lake by five miles in 
 depth, for a full (lescrl|)lion of which the Trustees refer to 
 ihe several reports of JMr. Hodge and of Mr. Thomson, and 
 lo tlu> map hereunto appended. 
 
 No progress has been made in mining beyond that of 
 testing the veins, but sulliciently to induce 'iie employment 
 iif a party of miners as early as the navigal on will admit 
 (heir reaching the i:>land, in onler more fully to test the 
 veins, and if found of the expected value, forthwith to 
 commence mining operations ; but the trustees do not advise 
 any expenditure in machinery, until such time as it will 
 have been fully proved that the ores are there found in 
 sullicient quantities to warrant its purchase. 
 
 I 
 
,,„l.i„. Iron, .!,.■ t,n.l,.,.y «i«l"'= '»■'«■'-'-" 'I"' >■■•";■ 
 : lau. vi-inUy, «n S,,.r Ulan., wl,l,l, .^ 
 
 plcascl will, 11.0 lo«..ion ..lericJ, a« oa,!... o .l" 1-1" 
 |,,„l,„„ilar i,ulica.io„« will Prince -"■■';"„';; :• „„, 
 
 ■n.c UT,ns ,n,„tea hy ll,e G.,v,-n,n,.,>tal C" ."1.' I » 
 „u,cl.m. of tf,esu .niaeral lan.ls, nmsl be co„s,.lo,v,l h.gl.K 
 : X l.ing a .1.10 in fee »inu>^^^ 
 .,cre will out any reHervalion wha..ucver, pyal.le . liv. 
 ■; .ly L.al„>eL wi.U i„.e,c,, and will cva.e ..onraU.„ce 
 „ loS.<,.*h..Ule,. beiag ce,-.ai„ .l.at wha.ey,. .ucees, 
 1 a..eu.l the en.e,T.i.c, .hey will .lot he ,nlerle,e.l w,.h. 
 
 ■He Lhnent 'allea in hy .he articles of a..oe,at,e„ 
 „e in a great n.ea.nre expeoJed, it will he neee..a,-y o 
 a „ a fuKher in..ahne„t ol one >lolU„- per s are ea,ly 
 the en.u„g.pring,.o.neo,.h= expense, of the ..nnme,., 
 
 "■ Th'o StooUhoUlers tnay rely .hot the ,,eate., pr-ulence 
 an, touon,y will he exo,ci.e,l, and , hey n,n.t no he .- 
 lnn»e.l if thev find the hrlghl vi»,ons they ha.l at h >. 
 : :: ot fnllv reahsea. in a new eount,-y hl<e . e 
 te of LaUe"Snperio,, whore own- th.ng ha. o h 
 , iTo e.-e,l, great .imict.lties have to he .tn-.noun e,l n 
 t m le ro|:rcs. can he ma.le, the ntore espeo.a y when 
 10 owel o the earth have to he opened lor the trea.n-es 
 ^0^ M Patience and per.cveranee,nn.t he excrc.ed 1 y 
 'miner, these with prodence and econon.y w o - 
 cotnc all oh..aeles, and the Trustee, have no douhl, wdl 
 .-oalise .ho visions of the most sanguine mnids. 
 
 There is no cause for discouragement, and ,f appearances 
 .,,.0 not decentive, there is a fair field presented to the tmnor 
 ".here his outerin-.se and exertions will he rewarded In- 
 complete success a. no distant pern.d. 
 
 Kc.pccuu) , (.p^oRGE DESHARATS, 
 
 Prisidott, 
 
 B, ct C. M. <-'.>. L. S. 
 
 i- 
 
Ilepoit ol E. 11. TllOinSOlV, KM|iiiro. 
 
 Montreal, Dvamlur \2th, 181(). 
 
 To 
 
 GEOUCJK DlvSllARATS, 
 JOHN M. TOBIN, and 
 TflOMAS A.. STAYNHU, Ksquir.M, 
 ■I'liistOL'.sot ilu! Biiiisli iiii.l (.'iiiuuliuM MiiuH- Cmpaiiy. 
 
 In compliance with an enfin^rcment mado lo you in my 
 LoUiM-, (iate.l October 1st, 181(), I l)Og U'ave to comtnu- 
 nicate the following description of the veins and <reiieral 
 features of the country, as embraced in the mineral locaticm 
 claimed under a certain Letter of License granted l)y His 
 F.Ncellency the Rii^ht Honorable Charles Theophilus, 
 r.an.n Metcalfe, of Fernhill, then Governor General of 
 the Province of Canada, bearing date the first day of 
 October, one thousand eight hundred and forty-five, to 
 George Desbarats, Escpiire. 
 
 " Prince Albert Island" is situated about half way be- 
 tween Fort William, a trading post of the Hon. Hudson Bay 
 Company, and Pigeon River, on the north coast of Lake 
 Superior. The island is nearly three miles long and one 
 quarter of a mile in width. Upon a careful examination it 
 was found that two miles in length would embrace all that 
 was valuable, leaving the residue of territory under the Gov- 
 ernment orders of May 9th, iSiG, to be chosen and selected 
 from the main land ; this was accordingly done, and the 
 direction taken was that which would best conform to the 
 course of the veins on the island. 
 
 In giving a description of the veins discovered upon 
 Prince iV>: -rt Island, my views will be confined entirely to 
 iheir surface apptnuunce, and with a view of preventing 
 any confusion as to what otherwise might be deemed a repe- 
 tition and similarity, I have munbercd the veins from west to 
 east, commencing at the south side of the Island and at the 
 uorth-wcst corner. 
 
1. 
 
 Vmn N". 1 
 Vein n.nnluM ou. m:A<c. Ms MpiM'iu.n.v .,,.uu .lu- .nosi 
 .voster.MMul ofll.r islnn.l, unh. ,ni....H,r nu.rsH.rr.n... 
 ,..st a,ul uv.t, .1 .s lunn.l in n uro.n.tn.u. imp son.o <v, hi 
 „M-hos w-ul., well r.lUM with culciuvons sp.r, a.ul -s mvu to 
 ,lip 10 Iho south 8.') iloiirccP. 
 
 Vk.in N<». ;i. 
 Win numhrr two is fonn-l in :. r-^npltous HilVol por 
 phyriti.- trap, from six to ei.ht inc!,os wi.!., un.l d.^.ppp"- 
 ;„ ,lH- diivli.h a hruin. of nortl, -D .l.-.vc. west, p.trhni. 
 uvstuanl ai an an.lo of GO .legroos ; the vein .. con.posr.l 
 of calcnroous spar. 
 
 Win nnmhrrtl^roc ha. a width of six in.-hosa.ul a ronrsr 
 „o,th r,0 we.t ; it is composed prit.cipally of calcareous 
 spar and the sulphate of barytes. 
 
 Vkin No. 4. 
 
 Vein number four is about two feci and a half wi.lo, w.th 
 a .-.ourse north 25 decrees west, and like vein nn.uber three 
 . con.posed of calcareous spar and sulphate o b.ryte. 
 Wins rluirked on the map of the island and numbered bve 
 six, seven, and ei.ht, present the same appearance, and 
 may V)e classed as vein number four. 
 
 Vein number nmc is found in a greenstone trap and pre- 
 sents a width of three feet. It is seen in a clilTsome twenty, 
 nve feet high and increases in thick,>ess as it descends Iron, 
 the top of the clilV, exposing a width of six inches greater at 
 the base than at the top-the surrounding rock presents a 
 peculiar appearance from the great abundance o .ron 
 which enters largely into its cou^position, a.ul iS so h.gl h 
 impregnated with this mineral that upon exposure to the 
 ..e'ther it has become oxidized, .i ving the rock tor a d.stanco 
 of nearly a hundred feet upon each side of the vc-m a dull 
 red colom. The vein preserves a uniform course tor seve- 
 ral hundred feet into the lake, and loses itself in deep water. 
 
 Vkin No. 10. 
 
 Vein number te.,, or Cave vein, makes its appearance upon 
 ,hc west side of a small indentation in the coast, separated 
 
 r 
 
< 
 
 « 
 
 i.v .,lM>ui lorn ImiHlro.l IImM iVoru vnn uumiK-i tunc-~ii ii- 
 ,a,„. a rcMniuk.Mo ...nlorm uidll. Mt ll.o ^^urfiiro ol ibr 
 wMirr orOMniPon frcn ofsolMl sp.u ; ii rntcrs tho .slnn.l Mor.r- 
 Ivi.t riirlH an-ilrs with Uu- ronst upon a l.tuM'!«''al''"l ^^"'' 
 vein niimlHM- tlin-o, or north HO dotirccB west. 
 
 Tho vein is prin.-ipnllv rouM'oscl of cnlc. npnr and n yslnh- 
 /.oa cp.nrt/, nn.l afUM- hlastins a day or Uvo u-a. found to I.- 
 ,„,tar.forous and yioldinir the .rey and yellow nnlphurot o« 
 copper. Upon esnmin.tion, this vein wns tra.rd over h 
 1,1,' IV ,n.o hundred feet high, uhenit disappeared beneath a 
 n.nss of inunenso blocks of detnrhe.l roek, but by cnlinu- 
 ,„. u,,on its line of be.rinu it n^nn makes its appearance ... 
 ,he chtr, and p.-ese.-ves its width. At the base ot the cli 1 
 the veinstone seems to have decayed and fallen nway in such 
 a manner as to have formed a cave, having nt its mouth a 
 width of f.fteen feet, and extending into the l.dl tw.ce that 
 .li.tancc, with the floor of the cave dippin;r downward at a 
 moderate angle. Wid.in the «;ave a number oi .■amihe.l 
 veins make their n-ppearance, nn.l horn two ol the veins 
 specimens of amethystine (juart/ were taken. It may not 
 bo in.p."cner to add that this ramilyinu or .plitlmg of veins 
 should not, ac.'ording to Dr. Houghton, the lal- eminent 
 Gcolo-ist of the State of Michigan, be taken as an unlavonr- 
 :,hle a'ppcarance, for mctalife.-ous vei.is which have been 
 extensively or profitably worked in other mineral districts 
 have not been found to continue uninte.ruptedly any certain 
 
 KMV'lh, or well defined width. 
 
 This rantification appears to destroy the principal vein, bui 
 upon pursuing it, U was found again to unite, leaving the ve.n 
 as fully developed and a.s uell defined as at first. To the 
 ri-dit and left of the principal ve.n and near the water^s edge, 
 tvvo veins of less magnitude occur, and both observed to 
 n.sume a course deflecting from a parallel with the principal 
 vein, at such an angle, that if their continuity of diivctions 
 were extended, they would be fi.und to constitute feeders 
 and intersect the principal vein at or near the cave. 
 
 T regard this occurrence of considerable i.iiporta.icc, as 
 .>,pprience has shown it. all mining countries that whe.-ever 
 mineral veins arc ascertained to mlersect either at ngh*- oi 
 
,,„, .n.^os, ll.oy have mvanal.ly Invu tou.uh.. be nu.sl 
 ; L.^atornearthcinuncUon. Tlu> rod. . .na.le u, 
 i;;conM.act.-ccnstoneiu 11,0 Clin; l.utinuno.luacynp^^^^ 
 the coast the adjoining rode presents .he 3an.e eha.acKr 
 
 peculiar to vein numljcr nine- 
 
 Vkin ±'0. 11. 
 V,.i., „„n,l«r eleven is n smnll irre-ulnv vein, :uul Im. the 
 same an'oaranee oll.eing a feedM lo the eave vcu,. 
 
 Vein nu,nher twelve 'isa sn'.'aM vein n,nnin|. an ea*t ami 
 .vc< eonrse nn.lef water, and at tl,e |„.H,t el en ern.g tl,e 
 Wa„U was reutal to eon.ain Ute yellow .nlpltu.et ol eopper. 
 
 Vein nnmlKr titirteen! tte 'vein twelve, is a s:nall vein 
 ,Vom ten to twelve inei.es wi.le, fonn.l attUe loot ot a p.a- 
 liitvfitic Jyke in a greenstone trap. 
 
 Vein nun,l,er fonrleen iias a cotn-se north-west an.l sonth- 
 ,.,J, "lippie- t.ortherlv a. an angle of SO degrees, ,t ,s 
 ;i\,.-;aUareo,,s%par,s,dpUa.eofhary,esa„,p,a. 
 
 witl a width of seven feet hetweon the wall .oeK , e„ , 
 „ee,ed with it are a n,n,d,er of s.nall ranr.lytng ve.ns n,e- 
 i:,;! crossing the principal vein, and having a w.d.h fron, 
 
 len to twelve inches. , 
 
 The ntain vein ntaRes its appearance in a perpend.e, 
 ,.all of ereensto.,e trap, and reaches to the .unnn, 1 
 
 „V, .h,,, l,y rollowing it a short distance a loses ,tse, 
 ,,ainn.al<esi.sappearance on the opposite sale 01 the 
 
 ,Jand and with a walth e.ptal to that tnsl tnent.oneJ. 
 Vkins Nos. 15, IG, n. 
 Veins nnnthered lifleen, sixteen and sevcttteen are s,na 
 veins (bund in Ker Cove in a pyritiferous slate for,nat,on 
 containing quartz. r i ^ 
 
 Veinn„nd,er cghte.M.t hai'.ds.'n.ely dehned and rises 
 nearlvverticallv e,.t..rthe water Iron, seven >-o a 
 
 h-ed tee. io.l. the rock npon the wests, e. 
 
 assntnes a p,.,phynt,e eha,ae.er, la,.e crystals ol hUl.p.n 
 occasionally appearii,g. 
 
♦.) 
 
 Tlie voiii is seen to cut ihe clilT .Vmsionally will, a h(>Mn..o 
 of nortii :i5 .legrcos we.t, ana hoUlly travoi-sii.{r ihc i^lainl 
 outrmppinf^ upou the nortl., and cs^o^u^ an .solatoci urass 
 „r the vein prujoctin^r .vvnal leel l.eyona the lace ol the 
 dilV The vein upon the south side of the island at the top 
 ul- tlie cliir has a width of ^cven feet and increases at the 
 water's edize to ten feet. Tl»e vein stone is composed oi 
 calcareous^spar ; several portions of the vein were d.st.nctly 
 marked with the jireen coppe. tinge communicated hy the 
 carbonate of copper. At this vein several days were spent 
 ui blasting, and which resulted in producing some very pro- 
 n.ising specimens of l)oth the grey and yellow sulphuret ol 
 
 copper. , ^ , 
 
 The wall rock for nearly thirty feet upon the west and 
 seventy or eighty upon the cast side of the ven,, is hlled 
 with smaller veins, varying from six to ten inches in width 
 and appearing to constitute feeders to the mam vein. 
 
 Vr.tx No. lii. 
 Vein number nineteen consists of several smaller veins, 
 making their appearance in the water a.ul uniting into one 
 vein at a distance of about one hundred and hlty leet 
 from the water and containing a width of ten feet; the 
 vein stone is . .mcipally made of calcareous spar and 
 unartz, the former predominating, and found in a precipi- 
 tous clilT of porphyritic t.ap over one hundred and thirty 
 
 feet high. 
 
 Vkinr Nos. 20, 21. 
 Veins numbers twenty and twenty-one present a small 
 appearance on the south-east side of the island, and loose 
 themselves in entering the clilV, but by p.eserv.ng the 
 course of the vein several depressions may be traced, and 
 bv followinir them leads on to the nonh side of the island 
 ,0 a vein twelve feet wide of calcareous spar. Several 
 davs were engaged here in mining, the lode of the vein was 
 found to be highly impregnated with the yellow sulphu- 
 rates of copper and iron ; in some portions of the vein it was 
 found to exist to that extent, that the least fracture would 
 seldom fail to produce specimens of tiie ore. 
 
lu 
 
 \|'.1N No ■-"- J 
 
 1 .. M cmir-^o noailv cast auil 
 
 : , -.V -u-iv..y u.o,.U,UI,„„ any oU.o,- von, up« 
 
 , . , , .,,,.1 J .v.nvl to s-av 'A'itii lu. success; alter bink 
 
 ;:;:':;:;;a:i:/;t,,.y.o..,.u,.i.n„u..^.^ 
 
 .uhAuiel of 110,,, it .vas r,.,ally al.an.lonoJ. I am >'1'""»I5 
 
 ^ ,„„o., I,a> .l,e »l,ua sl,o„ld 1. con.„,«ea sumc 
 
 l„.y le'-t decc,-, witi, U,e ..u,.o .ha, it will prove a cu,,- 
 
 '"ir:f:^ r.-i.,oe A,..o,-t Ula„a," a. fa,- as present di. 
 
 ,„;,: have OM-Muled, to culnace >vi,h„, ,t» h,„,.. tt f- 
 
 ; : , ■ ,„„„he,. or those which ,„ay ^'^ ^"^^^^^^ 
 
 ;;,,e veins than a„y other loeatio., w,ll„„ th, l.a.t.cuU 
 
 ill. Tali.,.. expe,-ie„eo as a guide, it ,„ay be roga, Jed 
 
 t: •„,.•, tl,;t s„l,ih,r veins ,n d,e sa.ne n.ineral d,str,c s 
 
 a o..nn-i g t„,Jer the sun.e geological ,v.lat,„ns, u, 1 „ 
 
 , < , le-,d to the san.e results, and no g,-eater analogy 
 
 r; s ■iVl::. tit- does in .hot occur hetjveente 
 
 L ,. ' >. pa.^t s „n,ner upon tins Island, under 0,3 agency 
 ■ C .? 1 K,uzie, lor John Prince, Es,, M. V. i .h,s .sand 
 I ".ee miles west of Trince Albcr., and upon w.„-U,ng 
 .,« ascertained to he exceedingly rich in hod, s.lv 
 ,Vr ores. Upon con,paring the snrfaco specnnens 
 ; ; ; , J ".1, - ith one or two oC th. veins opened upon 
 :\:;.„,io,,,sodoseisd.esin,ila,.i.yU,ata,,expen^ 
 
 ove, l-a..,iliar with the Jillaentnunerals, would lail to d u t 
 ui' early spccin.ens IVo.n each of these lsla„as pron.,scu«u>ly 
 
 '"Tw" Alhe,t Island when seen fron, .he wa.ers presents 
 
 .s barren ana as nnfo.-bidden appearance as „,ay well b^ 
 
 . , ," ved-it is .uade up ,n.,s.ly of conical ,-ochy Knobs 
 
 ,„„,„ ,r„Vs of greens.o„e rising to a heigut .,ry,„g . 
 iru d.ree hu„a,eJ ana fifty feet; d,e so,l .s barely sulh- 
 ' , o conceal .he u„acrbyi„g .-octs, a„a ,be narrow „.- 
 al of land between Ih. aillbrent nplihs sus.a.ns an .n- 
 
 \ I 
 
11 
 
 \ i f 
 
 ierior arovvth of birch, aspen ami spruce, sufTicient however 
 to alTord all the fuel that will be required for domestic 
 purposes. It has two good harbours, and one at the west 
 end of the island affording a sufficient quantity of water to 
 admit of the entrance of any vessel navigating the lake, and 
 
 en«v of access. 
 
 Lcrnna the island and crossing over to the main shore, 
 
 a b.> low land, some three quarters of a mile in length, 
 male,, its appearance, in the rear of which is situated 
 « Sturgeon Bay."' Crossing the bay, the country assumes a 
 very interesting appearance ; it is made up of high knobs 
 and mural cliffs of columnar greenstone trap, attaining an 
 altitude from six to seven hundred feet. The principal 
 cliff, the base of which is washed by the waters of Sturgeon 
 Bay, has its otherwise uniform course broken upon, by being 
 made the outlet of a small lake lying in the interior from a 
 quarter to a half mile. This lake has a width of a quarter 
 of a mile and is nearly a mile long ; it is elevated at least 
 two hundred and fifty H'et above the waters of Lake Su- 
 perior, and is situated three quarters of a mile north-west 
 from the head of Siu.geon Bay-the stream is sufficient to 
 carry any ordinary machiner)-, and will dotd)tless hereafter 
 be found of great practical importance. Leaving this lake 
 and continuing in the same direction a half mile, lies still 
 another lake, elevated some fifty feet higher ; a communica- 
 tion exists between the two, and over a great portion of the 
 way the water may be seen leaping and foaming over beds of 
 immense erratic boulders of granite and other reck which 
 has fallen from the adjoining cliffs. 
 
 The prevailing rock is Greenstone, and which is peculiar 
 for its exceedingly compact base, and for the sharp ringing 
 sounds it gives out under a blow from the hammer ; it is tra- 
 versed vertically by large fissures and cut into immense tabu- 
 lar masses by horizontal seams. The short time that was 
 allotted to an examination of the main shore led to the 
 discovery of several well appearing veins. 
 
 The most remarkable one will be found near the western 
 termination of the cliff and which has its nearest approach 
 lo the lake. It was tir.st discovered near the base of the 
 
 2 
 
]2 
 
 clitT in a veinstone of liiglily cryslalized quartz, and \A'as 
 sul)sequently traced to the summit of the ciilT which has an 
 elevation of seven hundred feet. In hlasting it was founii 
 to contain particle;] of galena and the yellow and grey sul- 
 phuret of copper ; hy following the vein a short distance it 
 was seen to traverse the slate ami trap with a bearing of north 
 ()0 degrees west, and present a width upon the very top of 
 the clilT of nearly eight feet. Several other veins were 
 found in various parts of the cliil'to the east of Sturgeon 
 Bay, and in the interior several promising veins were also 
 discovered, varying from one foot to three in width. 
 
 As I have hetbre observed, but a limited time was appro- 
 priated for the exploration of tlie main shore, suflicient 
 however was given to determine the principal oljject of our 
 search, viz. the existence of copper. The examination was 
 more diflTicult than upon the Island, and the position of the 
 veins less easily determined — the principal guide being the 
 depressions in the surl'ace which is often identilied witji the 
 existence of tiie vein — or in climbing the rugged rlill' anil 
 ledges of rocks which was not unattended with extreme 
 hazard and ditliculty. 
 
 It may not be inappropriate to remark in drawing this 
 report to a conclusion, that I have examined during the past 
 season the greater part of the north coast of Lake Superior, 
 and visited personally many of the locations made by the 
 various minuig companies, and in no single instance have I 
 seen a location which under all circumstances held out so 
 many inducements for mining, and to prosecute with vigor 
 at an early day the opening of the veins particularly distin- 
 guished and numbered on the map as 10, 14, 18,21 and 22. 
 
 That tiiey ure highly metaliferous I entertain no doubt, 
 and that they will be found to compare with any of tjie 
 veins opened in the Country by judicious and economical 
 manngeiuent I equally believe. In this report i have stu- 
 diously desired to make no pretensions to observations of a 
 scientific nature — mine is a simple detail of impressions 
 made upon ray own mind from experience and from the 
 ever varied scenes and circumstances with which I was 
 daily surrounded — I iiave endeavoured to relate in a plain 
 
 iPt 
 
13 
 
 1 
 
 iinJ unvarnislieil ^statement no fact in connexion with the 
 location secured by the letter of license and granted to Mr. 
 Desbarats, but which upon further examination will be 
 authenticated atid supported by suflicient testinnony ; be- 
 ieving it to be the only prudent and useful method by 
 which at no distant day the aid of British and other capital- 
 ists may be safely directed with confident hopes of its 
 proving bolli a safe and /.rofitable investment. 
 
 I shoulil be doing injustice to my own feelings If I closed 
 this report without adverting to the valuable services of Mr. 
 T. W. Bristol who acted as my assistant during the past 
 season, ami from w-hose perseverance and industry as an 
 explorer and minute observations I have derived much 
 assistance. 
 
 My grateful acknowledgments are also due to the respec- 
 tive agents of the Hon. Hudson Bay and American Fur 
 Company, and also to Col. J. H. Kinzie for the many acts 
 of hospitality and kindness which have been extended to 
 me by these gentlemen. 
 
 1 have the honor to be, 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 Your Obedient Servant, 
 
 E. H. THOMSON. 
 
 Report of JAinES T. HODGE, Esquire. 
 
 To 
 
 GEORGE DESBA RATS, Esquire, 
 
 JOfIN M. TOBIN, Esquire, ami 
 
 THOMAS A. STAYNER, Esquire, 
 
 Trustees of t!.o British ami Canadian Mining Company. 
 
 (i'f.ntlemjcn, 
 
 In my letter of August Ikh, I believe I covered nearly 
 
 the wliole ground that I can expect to occupy in this report. 
 
 Excepting nnore minute details and further accounts of the 
 
 specimens I iiave subsequently examined, there will be little 
 
 to add to that letter. 
 
 2* 
 
11 
 
 The tract selecteil l)y your Agent Mr. Thomson, on \he 
 north shore of Tinke Superior, lies about twenty miles south 
 from Fort William. It CNtemls in its lonjzest direction near- 
 ly north-west and south-e:ist, at rifiht angles with the line of 
 the coast, and includt^s at its south-eastern extremity an 
 Island somewhat longer than the two miles allowed for the 
 width of the tract, and nearly one quarter of a mile broad. 
 The other four miles and three quarters of depth is made up 
 by running the lines into the interior back from the coast. 
 The Government Agent allows this mode of measurement, 
 reckoning as nothing the portion of the lake separating the 
 parts o** the tract. 
 
 In this wild and ruggod country there is as yet little in- 
 ducement to explore and take possession of those tracts 
 lying back from the coast ; the shores oiTer the greatest 
 facilities both for the discovery of mineral veins, and their 
 !,ul)sequent developement. The back country is not only 
 extremely dilHcult to penetrate by reason of its great rough- 
 ness, but its mineral character lies hidden much more than 
 that of the rocky shores beneath the deep moss and other 
 vegetable covering. On the six miles or so of coast on both 
 sides of the Island tiie veins for the most part washed bare by 
 the action of the water, stand prominently out when of har- 
 der material than the including rocks ; or when the contrary 
 is the case, their position is revealed by the depressions 
 receding between the parallel walls of rock. From the 
 number desijrnatcd on the map accompanying this report, it 
 is seen that few of them can escape notice. Their while 
 color too, (Contrasting so strongly with the dark hue of the 
 trap rock at their sides, betrays their existence in the bed 
 of the lake ; and their course is followed out and some of 
 their characters ascertained in floating over tiiem upon the 
 
 still water. 
 
 All these groups of Islands and the whole coast against 
 
 them are character-zed by their bold outline, their precipi- 
 tous walls and deep indentations ; every Island furnishes 
 harbors, and the main shore the greatest choice of them in 
 its well sheltered bays. This uniform exterior is indicative 
 of the same internal structure, and trap rock in its several 
 
15 
 
 
 varieties is the prevailing formation. It rises in high cliffs ol 
 folumnar structure forming stupendous palisades, as at Pie 
 TslaniJ and on the main land opposite ; or it skirts the sho/e 
 in dano;erous reefs of compact green stone-trap, traversed by 
 veins of calcareous spar and sulphate of harytes ; or runs 
 in long straight dykes of reddish porphyritic trap extending 
 from Island to Island, and sometimes standing above tiie 
 water like an artificial wall. Narrow piles of a metamorphic 
 slate in thin strata, nearly horizontal, are frequently seen 
 lying high up against the steep cliffs of trap, as if they were 
 the remnant of a once extensive but now nearly obliterated 
 rock-formation. It is interesting to meet this slate formation 
 so common along the shore, and to see how it has been al- 
 tered and destroyed by the trap ; but whether or no it has 
 any relation upon the productiveness of the metallic veins, 
 is a matter that cannot yet be determined. The trap rock is 
 their true repository, and the porphyritic character of a por- 
 tion of it is believed to be highly favorable for their ilevelo- 
 pement. Among the granite rocks of Cornwall the por- 
 phyry dykes partake more of a granitic character ; in the 
 traps of Lake Superior their distinctive peculiarity is more 
 trappean ; whatever practical importance may be attached 
 lothefict ofthi analogies in the Geological structure of 
 the two countries, the Cornish miner will here recognize 
 with great interest the counterpart of the granite in the trap, 
 that of the" elvan " in the porphyry, and of the " klllas " 
 in the slates. 
 
 The veins of calcareous spar and sulpl.atc of Barytes 
 referred to above, are those which contain the metallic ores. 
 Scuh veins are the common repositories of copper ores in 
 other parts of the world ; and from this fact they give an 
 assurance of the permanence of the lodes which the more 
 novel veins of quartz containing copper in a metallic state 
 alone, do not so generally inspire. The>e veins from mere 
 threads to large belts of j?//y feet in thickness, traverse the 
 trap and slate, one set of ihem running north north-west 
 and south south-east, and another not so numerous nearly 
 east and west. Besides these two minerals they also con- 
 tain fragments of the wall rocks which have fallen from 
 
k; 
 
 above, while tlio veins were in lU'uiH-ss of fiHiiig, and bands 
 too of trap rock also alternate with ilu; olli<'r materials 
 above named and also with (junrtz nt' milk-white and 
 ametliysiine colors ; sometimes these are seen systeniatieal- 
 ly arranged as in the accompanyiiiir tigure, (see map) which 
 represents the structure ol'one ol' the veins on the tract occu- 
 pied by Mr. Gratiot lor James Bell Forsyth, Escpiire. 
 
 The central part of the vein is calcareous spar 20 inches 
 thick : On each side of it are small seams ol" quartz one 
 quarter of an inch thick : outside of these are layers of 
 trap rot;k, eacii six inches thick :thcn calcareous spar again, 
 each layer three inches thick. The only sulphate of 
 barytes seen, is in the extreme upper corner to the right* 
 where a very thin seam of it comes in between the trap wall 
 rock and the outer layer of calcareous spar. In some of the 
 veins wrought near Freyburg in Saxony, this peculiar struc- 
 ture has particularly been noticed and described, and ibis 
 example is given here to prove the resemblance in the ge- 
 neral character of the veins of Lake Superior with tliat of 
 other veins in the oldest mining districts. 
 
 The ores which are the yellow and grey sulphurets of cop- 
 per, the sulpliuret of Iron or mundic^ liie sulphuret of lead 
 or galena, occur dilVuscd in greater or less proportion 
 through these vein stones or gangues. On the suriace 
 where they can iiave been exposed to the decomposing 
 cHects of the atmosphere, they have lor the most part long 
 ago disappeared, so that frequently not a trace is left of their 
 existence. This may extend to a much greater depth than 
 we would suppose any atmospheric agencies could penetrrJe 
 through what appears solid rock. Yet it is not unusual to 
 sink even thirty feet without arriving at any reliable conclu- 
 sion as to the real metalliferous character of the lode : much 
 deeper indeed, veins are subject to great irregularities of 
 composition which always give lliem an tuicertain charac- 
 ter ; but in proving a vein in a inetallilbrous district, which 
 at the surface bare a general resemblance to othcir veins, 
 one would rarely be warranted in abandoning; the work un- 
 til he had reached a greater depth than that I have named. 
 Sometimes after the removal of the sulphureous ores by dc- 
 
 \ 
 
17 
 
 " 
 
 composition, there remains behind a green stain of carbonate 
 of copper upon the suface of the vein. This was the case 
 with the lar^ro spar vein belon2;ing to the British North 
 American Company. The abundance of it oncouraaed the 
 hope of finding rich ores near the surface, and in this they 
 have not been disappointed. As this vein is the best deve- 
 loped in the country, it is proper to know the details con- 
 ctM-nintr it, that we may die better judge of those whose 
 features are more obscure. 
 
 The position of this vein is about dirce miles souUi-west 
 from Prince Albert's Island on the extremity of another 
 Island much like it. The vein stones are calcareous spar and 
 sulphate of barytes widi some quartz. The color of the 
 whole mass, which is about sixteen feet Uiick, is quite while, 
 so that seen at a distance of a couple of miles out on the 
 lake, the vein hr.s the appearance of a sail by the shore, or 
 a tent upon the land. The first time I passed it, I was 
 myself, and those with me too, were in dout)t which it was. 
 It cuts across the narrow neck of land at the south-west end 
 of the Island and continues its course nordi 30 degrees west 
 to south 30 degrees east in the rock at the bed of the lake. 
 Ill sinking upon the vein, grey sulphuretof copper was soon 
 found, and tlie quantity rapidly increased with the depth. 
 The ore is argentiferous, which may somewhat increase its 
 value. Trap rock forms the wall of the vein, and portions 
 of it are of porphyritic character. Mr. Logan, die geologist 
 for the government has traced out a very interesting por- 
 phyry dike, which runs across the line of this vein near the 
 point where it is wrought. It passes along the so»uh-east 
 shore of the Island directly towards the same coast of Prince 
 Albert's Island, and may be continuous there. 
 
 At various other points in the same vicinity the yellow 
 sulphurcts of iron and copper are seen in veins in the trap 
 rock. Too litUe work has been done upon them to ascer- 
 tain their value. Some of them, as near the mouth of 
 Pigeon river, run a dilTerent course from that of the vein on 
 Spar Island, and from most of the veins on the soudi shore 
 of the lake lying east north-east, west south-west, which cer- 
 tainly is not a favorable indication. They establish however 
 
IS 
 
 the fact of iliL' goiionil dilViision of fopjjcr ores Ihroiiglioiit 
 the trnj) rork of iho coiinlry ; Jiiwl the Spar Islaiul vt'iii <mi- 
 roiira^a's us to piirsui) small surface iiiilicntioriH in the h()|)e 
 that they will loail to large bodies of ore below. 
 
 None of the islands in this vicinity are more remarkable 
 for the nundier and promisiM<r appearance of the veins 
 upon them than Prince Albert's Island. More than twenty 
 have been enumerated, as may be seen on the map, and 
 these do not include a large rannbcr of small veins not con- 
 sidered of suflicient dimensions to warrant exploration. Hni 
 all those designated on the map are worthy of attention. In 
 their general characters they are nmch alike. The vein 
 stories are similar to those of the veins already spoken of, 
 and tlieir course for the most part varies little from north- 
 west and south-ea;it. Some however instead of crossintf the 
 island at nearly right angles to its line of length, run longitu- 
 dinally with it ; agreeing in this with the east and west 
 system of veins I have already alluded to. The rock of the 
 Tsland is principally trap rock, the only exception being the 
 inetamor[)hic slate, which is occasionally seen along the 
 shore ; nmch of the trap rock is iiighly pori)hyritic,the crys- 
 tals of feldspar being larger than T have seen it any other 
 place in the country. The trap frequently rises directly 
 from the water in precipitous walls of a hundred feet in 
 height, and sinks beneath the surface almost as abruptly. 
 In the interior ol the Inland, the highc'^t elevation of the 
 rocks is about three hundred feet ; they here present an 
 extremely rough surface covered with deep moss and a thin 
 growth of small birches, poplars and evergreens. (lood 
 harbors, though small, are found, one at each end of the 
 Island, and a third at the south-east side. 
 
 The numbering of the veins conunences on the snnth- 
 we^tern extremity, and is continued along the southern 
 side. On the north side a less nundier of veins are seen, 
 and those winch do appear are reckoned as continuations of 
 some of those on the south side. Several have been traced 
 directlv across over the surface of the Island. 
 
 The first nine veins are not among the most promising 
 numbers four and nine liowever are larger than the rest, 
 
I«» 
 
 ' l' 
 
 mrasuiiiig ahniil two nnd n-liulf O-et onrli ; nrul if tlii'io 
 woro no others still more proiniiK'nl, would (•♦'ilninly «lriPP»>il 
 silttMitlori. NiinilK.'r seven too, ihoiu'h not lnr«;;e, is » v.-iii 
 that apjuNirs well, as it is seen cNposed froni the water's 
 edge >ip the elilV in a de<*p «'!ett. Vnm the sinicture of th • 
 vein, one is much encouraged to look for me'allif rous ma'- 
 lers in it ; hut \uitil some minini,' is don'>, its tni,^ nntoro 
 cannot he known ; nmnher lour, runs fthout imrth Co 
 degrees west, and the others pursuo a parallel eoun^e ; tlu'v 
 lio° nearly or quite vertically. In the vicinity (f mmiiers 
 eight ami nine the trap rock is li'i?h!y color-d hy the red 
 peroxide of iron ; Us whole surface Is -taiiied I'V ilu' t-rru- 
 ginons rust derived iVom the decomposition of the sulph'>ret 
 of* iron, with which it must be charged. Near hy is vein 
 nu.n!)erten ; this is one of the five mo-=t cncoiu-ngipg veiuP. 
 The others are num!)ers fourteen, eighteen, twenty-one and 
 
 twenty-two. 
 
 Nuni')3r ten is remarkable for its great seize, its promising 
 contents and fme exposure, vvl»ich renders it e>:(;eediiigly 
 convenient to open and uiine. It shows itsrlf at the hase 
 of a steep rocky dilV by the etige ol the lake. It is traced 
 oat under th.» water on one side, ami up the clitY over one 
 hundred feet in height on the other, and thence across the 
 island through whicli it cuts and again appears on the north 
 ride of it much reibiced in ai/e. It is composed of calca- 
 reous spar principally, l)iit mixed with sulphate of barytes 
 and amethystine quartz ; the whole thickness on the land 
 of the main vein is about fourteen feet ; hut under the water 
 where it presents an extraonlinary number of ramifications, 
 b'-anchiiig out in the most complicated network, it occupies 
 a thickness of full twenty feet. At the base of the steepest 
 part oftheclilV, there is an old cave in the vein, which 
 being extended by mining, hr.s brought to light specimens 
 of vein stone containing grey sulphuret of copper, though no 
 ore could be found previously to blasting. The specks of 
 the grey copper are extremely minute and it is diflicult to 
 procure even enough for examination. I can only say that 
 1 was satisfied of the existence of the ore in the vein, and 
 from its resemblance to the ore on Spar Island and from the 
 
JiO 
 
 similurity in the general cliaiaiterH of ilie \\\v \clns, I cor- 
 
 sider this well worthy <>f farther exariiiiiiitions. Should the 
 
 result ht! lavornlile, the position alVords grrat faeility in niin- 
 
 •»L', lor the workini! heini^ run in horizontally I'roui the har-e 
 
 '" ih iiti, ifie water instead oraecuniuIatiMtr, as it tloes in 
 'l*v^, .,iialls, flow- out to the i^urlaei! with no expense ( f 
 draiim.'p* Thia in «iost minos is a very serious ilcni ol" 
 eost ; luit in all the veins uloi'g Uic sliore, where the land 
 rises high in the interior, adits lad out iVoni the shore will 
 drain all that portion lying sdiovc their level. The course 
 oCthiw vein is about north .'0 degrees west and its exposure 
 fttfif Mie north side oi' the Lilu 'ul shows a thickness ot" about 
 tw(> feet. 
 
 Nu;ul)jr elcV')u is a siudlv^'ia b.;l<)n<iiii:z to another set 
 of veins ; it cro-iscs number ten, and at the jjoint where 
 they cross each oliier the fjreatc.;; ileveIopeinet;t of ore is more 
 likelv to be found ; though a vein of no consecpience in itseH' 
 it assum-'ssomc itujiortauee when considered in this relation. 
 The same may be saiil df lounbcr twelve, which is an east 
 and west vein, and is traced under the w iter as it runs 
 parallel with the shore. At otu^ point where the land pro- 
 jects out so as to cross its track, the vein is ex]»osed to view 
 aiul to examination — it is from six to ten inches thick at the 
 s:u'facc and ctinlains the yellow sulpliuret of copper. Both 
 t!iis and eleven necessarily crossing nundier ten, and two ol' 
 these veins being found metalliferous, the promisee of ten 
 proving to be an imjxjrtant vein is greatly increased ; and 
 then the proximity of the porphyritic traj), wliich is finely 
 exposed within a fi.'\v rods of these veins, i^alsoa favorable 
 indication. 
 
 Number thirteen Is a small vein in the midst of the por- 
 phorilic trap on one side and the green stone trap on the 
 other. 
 
 Number fourteen crosses the island — on the north-west 
 hide it is divided into two small veins which lie close toge- 
 ther. This is the only place in which I have seen ii, hut 
 it is ilescrlbed to me by .Messrs. Thomson and iJnstoi as 
 being much larger where it is seen on the south-ea.st side, 
 s""eirmg out to some seven feet in thickness, and this not 
 if. 'uding the feeders or branches at its sides. 
 
21 
 
 S( 
 
 NiiiuhiT fifu't-n iiicliidos scvornl smnll veins vvhirli lio 
 « i()«c lo^otlier in the pyritiloro.is shitos on the ^'h^IV of the 
 iKMhouA^ulled I'ier Cove-they evil thm.iRh the outer po'rt 
 of this harhour and aiH- veins of rather strikin-^ appearance. 
 'I'licir eourse i- p'HMit north- north-west mid j<oulh-Hoiith.e»st, 
 and the vein M... in the s'aie is qrurt/ The slntea near 
 tlie veins are hi^'dy pyri'iteroiu-. 
 
 Numhers ml.en and >^even teen are small veins of ral- 
 rareous spar .n .1 sulph.ie of bpryk-. on the north-enst .nle 
 uf Pier Cove. They are seen in the high vcrt.caUvall ol 
 trap rock, which forms this ^hore. 
 
 Niiniher e-ghteen is a lar-er vein in tli- . ame position, 
 and ontainin-the same vein stones, also am^thystiiH- cp.art/. 
 It is al.out ten fe.t thick at the base of the .leep clilT. and is 
 .,H>n well e::rosed up and down the precipitous wall, which 
 isalH.ut one hundred feet high. Some e.saminatious have 
 heen made on the top of the clilT, and also at its base by 
 the ed<'C of the water. Little satisfaction can be expected m 
 openin'. into tlie veins on the highest summits ; nothins^ n.ore 
 can there be ascertained than the genera! structure and 
 direction of the veins. It is only at their lowest points ol 
 exposure that any developen.ent of oi-es can be looked lor, 
 and no great show of these will often be fcund at these 
 place, unlil the miner has penetrated beyond the rea. h ol 
 all atmospheric agencies. Over the surface t e vem was 
 traced 'y exposures here and there across the island, 
 and the work laid out upon it exposed its mil oral struc- 
 ture. Fine specimens of amethy.^l, of the calc-.neous spar 
 and heavy spar, were found, but no ores. But, d the bot- 
 tom of the clilV, a single blast threw out masses o the vein 
 Blone containing regular scams of grey Kill buret d copper ; 
 the yellow sulphuret of copper also and sulphiirc -^ of lead 
 and iron svere found in them. These appearance < at the 
 surface are verv encouraging and warrant the undertaking 
 of mining operations as soon as possible. The po^.tion of 
 the vein, though no fooling can be had at presc ', may 
 readily be made very convenient and advantr.geous, mdtlie 
 harbour of Pier Cove clo.e by will atVord prolccuon (or 
 vessels and boats. 
 
22 
 
 On t,lii^ nnrtti-\v<^st s'lAe of tfio is^Int d l!iis vein projects 
 out into tlio wator hoyoii.l tlu^ wnll of traj> roi k. It s^taiiils 
 in an ollip-'oidal mass oii its; edtro nt»ar!y veiticallv, risiiii; to 
 thi^ lioiglil of about twenty feet, its slit^ht inclination is 
 soutli-west, that is its top leans to the iioith-east. Its 
 thif-!;npss aiul course vny at (I'll 'rent |)(>ints, the statidins; 
 mass in th(^ water pointin<i \vest somli-west aiui east north- 
 east, an<i bein<^ about eiulil feel through ; anil tiic vein on 
 the hill runtiinsr about north 5;') degrees \\;"st. 
 
 Numbers twenty and twenty-one on the south-east side 
 are small veins, but what appears to be their continu- 
 ation on north-west side is a large vein twelve feet thick. 
 The composition oftliis is like thu of tiie other veins, oxce[)t 
 that the sulohate oi' baryies and amethystine (juartz in ij 
 arc more highly crystallized. It af.brds the yellow sul- 
 phjrels of copjjer and iron in considerable (piaiitity, so that 
 the promise is very irooil of lis proving to be an important 
 vein. 1 have seen no grey sulj)huiel (/f copper; still this 
 luorj valuable ore may possibly be loui.d after further ex- 
 amination ; il'^o. 1 should consider this the most imiortant 
 point I have seen on tlu' trrut. 'J'lie exposure of the \e;n 
 is in the lace ol' the slet'p cliil", and the workinus may I e 
 luii ill kori/A)ntaliy from a jjoinl a little above the lake. It 
 will be rather an inconvenient spot for carrying on mining, 
 because there is n.) j)lacc near by ibr dischargiig the ores 
 unless they are hoisted to the top of the cliir. To fill out 
 a sutliciently liioh plaiiorm to be out of the reach of the 
 waves, and large enough to give the necessary room, vvouKi 
 be a work of no small expense. The vein however, should 
 first be proved, as it may easily be, near the lake, ami then 
 such arrangements made as the result will warrant. 
 
 Number twenty-two is at the extreme iiorlh-west corner 
 of the island ; it is a large vein occupying with its branches 
 or feeders a thicknes J of full thirty feet. More work has 
 been done upon it than upon all the veins together. A shaft 
 has been sunk about twenty feel on the vein, and fully 
 exposed its metallil'erous c haracter. Tlit^ prevailing ore is 
 suiphuretol iron, it is seeji in very small quantities, near the 
 surface, and gradually increases towards t!ie bottom of the 
 
23 
 
 snan. I .le veinstone is cnlcarooiis spar c'ui'lly. with some 
 Piilphate of harvte*' anii a bluish roloird qwMi',, in which 
 iho ore is principally found. On siihmittins tlie suiphnrt't 
 of iron to a llioroiitr'i roastinu and cluMnical examination. 1 
 find that the yellow sulphuret of copper is associated with 
 it, and in such quantity tint the prosnect is very ?ood. that 
 at a greater depih it may become a valuable lode of this 
 ore, the most common commercial ore of copper. From 
 the direction of the vein which is nearly east and west, I 
 do not think it likely that tho lt-'v sulphuret will be found ; 
 and therefore have not so h:si!i an opinion of ihe vein as 1 
 should if its direction were the same with that of the vein? 
 which are known to contain this ore. Still a good lode of 
 the double sulphurets of iron and copper is a valuable ac- 
 quisition, and the examination of the specimens has made 
 m3 think much more favourably of it than when I left the 
 country. An exact quanlitive analysis I have not made, 
 because from the very nature of the specimens taken from 
 so near the surface, no satisfactory result would have been 
 obtained of the character of the vein. It is enough to 
 know that it is a cupriferous vein ; anil that the lode is 
 growing richer the deeper it is opened. The top of the 
 shaft is about twenty feet above the lake antl a rod or two 
 back from it. It is conveniently situated for working, but 
 the facilities for drainage are not like those of the veins in 
 the clilVs. The water here will be troublesome, and at any 
 considerable depth will require horse power or a steam 
 en-iineto raise it to the surface ; but if the ore should im- 
 prove as it has done h-om the surface down, this difticulty 
 would be no very serious matter. A good harbor is close 
 by, and a road can easily be made to the head of it. 
 
 These are the veins upon the island ; several others are 
 known to exist in the mountains on the mainland, but from 
 their position and outward appearance they do not demand 
 the same attention. The ridges here rise to a much greater 
 height than upon the island ; in many places they are abso- 
 lutely inaccessible by reason of their steep precipices, and 
 their structure at the base is concealed by the huge piles of 
 loose rock and earth which have fallen from above. The 
 
2[ 
 
 veins like tlioso on tin' islninl. cut vertically tlinnigh the 
 rocks, nml mnv he trnced up ;)>iil down their steep face. 
 Hut on llio very ei'tre of the prcn-ipice* is almost the only 
 iioiiit whero lliey cim ho oNnmined. Such an examination 
 i-( of a verv iinsntisfactory chnractcr, hecaiise it is only at 
 their lowest points the veins in this conntry prove to he of 
 value. Whatever ore therefore is found in such places 
 may wiMI he considered an indication of much more of the 
 sa:ne existinsr helow. 
 
 The onlv one of these veins which it is worth while to 
 (!escril)e, is one I examined on the high clilf ahout a mile 
 uor'h from the outlet of Stnrtreon Bay. The upper portion 
 (^f the hill, which rises to the heitrht of ahout seven hun- 
 dred feet ahove the lake, is trreenstorie trap ; the lower 
 portion the altered arsiillnceon^ slate. I have hefore referred 
 to, which is pi'ed hiirh up atrainst the trap, and dips gently 
 into the hill. The vein is exposed in the trap rock, ami l>y 
 very dauLierous climhing is followed to the summit of the 
 rockv clitV, about one hmulred and fifty feet helow tho 
 highest part of the mountain, ft is a vein of (piartz divideil 
 at the surface into several parallel strings which are com- 
 prized within a width of from two to six feet. Sometimes 
 the two wall rocks appear to he twelve feet a])art. The 
 course of the vein is south (iO degrees east, north (iO degrees 
 west, which if continued would cut the lower end of Prince 
 All)ert'*s Island. Scattered through the quartz in very small 
 particle.^ occur galena (the sulphuret of lead) and the 
 yellow and grey sulphurets of co])per. These are en- 
 com-aginrr ami would authorize fm-ther investigations, were 
 it not for the unfavorahle position of the vein, and the 
 greater advantages otfercd hy the veins on the island. 
 
 The fine Jmrhor of Sturgeon Bay in this part of the tract 
 may he consitlered of some importance sliould it he judge 1 
 expedient at any time to commence mining oj)erations here. 
 
 If it he fully proved, as I helieve it is, that this Lake 
 Superior region is a higlily metalliferous country, there are 
 nevertheless many matters beyond the mere contents of the 
 veins, which liave an important hearing u])on their value, 
 and should receive careful consideration from those propo- 
 
 f 
 
 V. 
 

 f 
 
 ^ 
 
 sii'.srio eiijf'iirn in lh(^ mining bnsinpss. Both the lacilitii-s 
 and (hriinihies altandin^r tho manngeiuent of operations in 
 the region arc so pn.niiaeni ami simple in their nature, that 
 they will require hut few remarks, until the attaiti aent of 
 fim'.uM- (l.Hails shall furnish data for exact estimates and 
 calculations. 
 
 The remoteness of the country and its being in fact 
 shut out bv the olVcots of its climat.^ from the rest of the 
 world six months at least of the year, arc very serious ob- 
 jections. Thev involve the necessity of laying in full sup- 
 plies for the winter every fall, of receiving no returns from 
 the produce of the mines during this season ; of always 
 providing the most trustworthy agents at whatever cost; 
 and ill case of accident, to men or machinery, the impos- 
 sibility of sending aid cxce])t when the lake is open. Thus, 
 though it is a iireat thin- to havo s) many fine harbors as 
 there are on the north shore, it must also be ivmemhered 
 that these are closed by ice more than six months of the 
 year; and again, if there are a considerable number ol 
 vessels upon the lake, they puist in the short season ol their 
 work be paid likewise .or the long period of inactivity of the 
 winter. If each company as soon as their business will 
 warrant, have their own vessels, much of the expenses of 
 transportation, which is to be the -roat item of expense, 
 will be lessened in no small degree. As the country from 
 the barrenness of its soil can furnish no agricultural products 
 of any account, all of these that are consumed, must come 
 from bjlow. So, for some time, of bricks, lime and even- 
 tually of timber and fuel ; for the growth upon these lands 
 is of the poorer sorts of trees, and these are generally of 
 small size ; while the consumption about mining establish- 
 ments is alwavs great for timbering shafts and galleries and 
 constructing houses, and in so high a latitude, this must be 
 largely increased by the quantities required for fuel. The 
 principal growth is of small poplars, spruce, fir, cedar and 
 hemlock ; tiie only hard wood is birch, and this is of small 
 
 size. 
 
 Another trouble resulting from the climate is the obstruc- 
 tion the snow and ice will occasion to much of the surface 
 
?() 
 
 work that must bo continually firoiniron about copper mines, 
 sv.rh as (he clearlntr and wasliinsT of oro.s. 
 
 J^iit wbilt^ tho rompanipfj will siMTtT from some of Ihese 
 (li^ailvantatrps, they wi'l he at htlle oxponse for one item, 
 ivhicb is nsiially one of ihe most considernblo attending min- 
 ing enterprisers. Ttiis is the making of roads and keeping up 
 ol" teams of horses and cattle lor the transportation cf their 
 ores over land. I[ere, where the mines will be almost always 
 on the borders of the lake, the ores may be delivered imme- 
 diately into boats, and there will be no occasion of making 
 expensive roads, and a very few horses will answer all the 
 purposes of the mines. This very great advantage, and the 
 facihties in the position of many of the veins for drainage 
 already referred to, the abundance of excellent fish also 
 taken in nets olf the islands at very little expense, will go 
 far to counterI)alance many of tlie objections from the situ- 
 ati«n\ and climate of the conntrv. 
 
 As to the disposition of the ores after they are got out, 
 the only advisable course at present is to send them to the 
 Atlanric coast for sale. There will soon be provided a 
 market for them in the country when a large proportion of 
 the amount paid for freight might be saved. At present the 
 expense per ton for shipment to Boston or New York is 
 about fifteen dollars. Asthia on ores yielding less than forty 
 or fifty per cent, is a large proportion of their value, it is 
 made more essential than ever to send from the mine no ore 
 but what ha.> been brouglit to the highest per centage possi- 
 ble by cleaning. This is a point on which miners univer- 
 sally are very neglectful, and it is a fact that much ore 
 already received in Poston from the West Indies as well as 
 from Lake Superior, had there to be cleaned before smelting. 
 All which is very respectfully submitted by 
 
 Your obedient servant, &,c. 
 
 JAiMES T. HODGE. 
 
 AVir York, Ikr. IS, 184G. 
 
 <}l^. 
 
 1 <^5 675 /5''/7/^5^'-^'^