IMAGE EVALUATIO^! TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1^ 150 123 •a IB III IM ^ 1^ IIM 2.0 1.8 1.25 I 1.4 ill 1.6 v: ^/ # ^;. 'cM ■^ S^«. '/ Photographic Sciences Corporation 4 iV V c?>^ :\ \ % V q\ ^1 " signifle "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc.. may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too largo to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrama illustrate the method: Lea cartea, planchee, tableaux, etc.. peuvent Atre filmte it des taux de reduction diffArents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, il est film* A partir de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la methods. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ^/3 li ¥ [These Papers are printed, not for circulation; but for the use, in a ccnvenient form, of those directly interested.^ DOCUMENTS HELATIN(i TO TIIK COAL-HILL, VICTORIA, ANI BEDFORD MINES, ox THE CANADIAN FRONTIEl^ Iff T. O N D O N : riUNTEI) BY WILLIAM TYLKR, liOLT-COrilT, FLK TsTIlliKT 18 .'»:). # London, May lofh, 1855. J. Haynes, Esq. Dear Sir, In the iir.rthern part of the State of New York, United States of America, six miles from the river St. Lawrence, and the Canadian frontier, there is a discovery called the Coal Hill Lead Mine, the principal vein of which, at a depth of 30 fathoms from the surface, has produced a greater quantity of Lead ore for the space thus far worked, than any vein of that description in the whole western hemisphere. An excavation of 2,008 fathoiiis bf the vein has been quarried by an open cut from the surface downward u])on the bunch of ore, as shown in the following — S^'cflon of Workhifjs at Codl-HiU Mlm, St. Lamrence County, N. Y. Product of wliole Excavation Nmiil)er of Fathoms excavated Yield per Ciil>ic rallidiu . . . C'IS.OOO C'21' steriiniT. I \i () COAI, nil. I' MINl'-S. Fifteen thousand tons of ore, prodncint: 'iCOO tons of nutall.c |.,,a,|, l.ave been taken from the space shown in tlic Section. This is testified to hu the tetter of the Smelt iufi -house Clerk hereto (ippended, and marked A. In order to convey a correct idea of the extreme richness of this vein, I refer you to a statement by J. Y. Watson, Esq, * in relation to the East Wheal Rose Mine, which averaged half a ton, or, £7 per fathom, while thus far the Coal Hill Mine has produced £21- or U tons per fathom for every fathom of ground mmed there, us is exhibited by the section. Recent expenditures nuide underground, prove that the bunch of ore holds down with regularity. * Sec Miniii- .lounial, IS 19 -Report by J. Y. Watson, Esq., wlio states in reference to this mine,—" The original outlay was £50 per share, or £(5,400 ; up to 1815, the clear profits divided were about £150,000. In 181(5, £30,7'2(5 ; in 1817, £3i',5G0 ; in ISIS, £25,500— making allogetbcr, £250.000, to yield which, ui)wards of £500,000 worth of lead must have been returned. During some years, tlie profits were £50,000 per annum. The machinery is valued at £35,000. The lead raised yields from £12 to £14 per ton, the value of the Lodes ieiny about half a ton of ore per fathom." COAL HII.L MINKS. I No. 1 nhoivs a vein 3 feet and solid leader in it, ivorth £iO per fathom'^ all the way down. Shaft No. 2, the Engine Shaft, has been sunk 60 feet deeper than the old workings, 240 from the surface. The lode in it is 3^ to 4 feet, filled with large spots of ore. Shaft No. 3, sunk U feet helotv, and 224< from surface, contains a very rich lode, worth from £20 to .£120 per fathom, all which is testified to by Professor J. D.Whitney, U.S. Geologist, in his report hereto annexed (F). As a proof of the persistent, nature of this mine, it is proper to state that the lode is in Gneiss rock, somewhat similar to that of the Linares mines in Spain. The gangue is calcareous spar or carbonate of lime, with a very little sulphuret of iron and zinc. The lode is perpendicular. It traverses the sett (south of east) for nearly one mile, and in the workuigs shown it vanes from 2 to 6 feet in width. Mr. Whitney states, that i?l,300 ivill develop or lay open, by driving and 'nking, ^20,000 of ore in the first level. That is his ophiion. Capt. Dunkin, whose judgment is recommended by Michael Williams, Esq. M.P., says, that a small expense will make dividends. His report is also annexed, together with extracts from a report of Mr. Thomas Petherick, (G), formerly manager of Fowey Consols, who holds a high reputation ; and there are other letters (B, C, D, E), and evidence given, leading clearly to the belief that this . This statement is based upon a market p.ice of lead in America, of i"22 per ton. The price there now is nearly £28 per ton. 8 COAL HILL MINKS. mine is a valuable speculation, and that six months* application of preparatory work, will, with a moderate outlay, render the concern profitable and successful in a very high degree. Ten thousand pounds sterUng have been expended in erect- iwj nmchinery and Imildhujs, of v;hich an hiveiitory is amiexed. Only X*l,600 has been expe'tuUd in underground work. The mine having now reached a point where careful and correct judgment is indispensable, it is brought to London, where the business is understood, and where such interests are exten- sively held. The lease of this mine is for 20 years, at ^^th dues. The title is held by Geo. Parish, Esq., and will be vouched for by Messrs. Baring Brothers, and Co., who are authorised to have it conveyed to the company which is about being formed to carry on the mines ; and a special act of the government of New York has been obtained to enable the pro])erty to bo held in this country, a copy of which is appended hereto. Considering therefore that the discovery of a large fmnch of ore is proved to eccist in a true and powerfid vein at a very shallow depth; that the vein extends for a mile through the sett, that the locality is very favourable for labour and for turning ore economically into metal (being done at 13*. per ton),* with • Wood is abundant at us. sterling per cord. The prices paid thus far for labour are, for labourers, Ss., and miners, 44. (id. to lis. per day. Mr. Whitney's estimate of the cost of driving and sinking is given in his Report before referred to herewith annexed. ■S^-' COAL HIM. MINES. 9 machinery ami huildinrfa eredexl, and elui/ta down nearly to a first level, these appear to be facts rendering this a most attractive investment, approaching as nearly to certainty of large profits as any mining operation can reasonably assume. I am, dear Sir, Very respectfully. Your obedient Servant, R. P. REMINGTON. II 1^, ;,„„.« TO oc..«"«' (OAL HILL MINHS. 11 (A.) Sir, In reply to your request for information as to the work- ings of tlic Lead viiincs at Coal Hill and vicinity, near the Indian River in this County, I would state, — I became connected with those mines in the month of March, 1837. The Coal Hill vein was divided by a boundary line into two sections, and worked by two different Companies. The western section was worked partly during the year 1836, but was not regularly in operation until 1st January, 1837. The eastern section of the same lode raised no ore before the 1st January, 1837;, a7id neither section ivaa opened upon the lode either ■side of the boundary beyond 200 feet in length or 200 in depth. Messrs. Moss and Knap had the smelting of the lead ore from both companies by contract, and smelted the greatest proportion of the ore I'aised from both sections at a contract price of 25 dollars per ton of metallic lead. I tvas in their service during this period, and had charge of the smelting and dressing department, and kept the records of the amount of ore and lead smelted. The following statement will show you the amount of metallic 12 COAL HILL MINES. Lead obtained from both sections, so far as I have been able to glean from memoranda in my possession, leaving, however, some of the product, which I am not able to give you with certainty. Statkment of Lead Smelted at Coal Hill. Western Section. EASTER^ Section. Months. Lead Smelted. Months. 1837. Lead Smelted. 18-J7. To January 1 . January 11 0,434 lbs. ,')0,901 January 3 1 Feb'y 2 . J 60,699 lbs. Feb. & Mar. G8,890 March . . 80,872 April. . . Slags, 8,3821 39,214 J April. . \ May . . J 121,888 May . . . 2.), 830 June . . . 60,714 June . . . 90,298 July . . . 45,071 July . . . 76,113 August . . 60,802 August . . 73,749 September . 43,965 September . 118,058 October . . 83,753 October . . 188,788 November . 16,927 November . ,')4,842 December . 20,996 December . 101,211 1838. 1 838. Slags, 7,4121 110,292/ January . . 29,915 January . . February . 39,222 February . 48,013 March . ■ 52,864 March . . 68,954 Slags, 5,285 April. . . 34,609 April. . . 64,963 May . . . 80,534 May . . . •59,460 June . . . 67,892 June . . . 35,641 July . . . 90,486 July . . . 40,664 August . . 111,3491 Shigs, 6,503 August . . 51,921 Septi'iiiber . 41,122 September . 111,271 October . . October . . 67,575 November i\r November . 32,892 afterwards, in al: 105,559 1,815,088 lbs. 1,405,603 lbs. l,845,OSS 3,250,691 lbs. Tons . Average yield of the ore, 67 per cent. 1.625 COAL HILL MINKS. 13 The other smelting accounts of which I cannot give you the exact details, were for my own account, 151 tons, and for 0. Whittlesey, S. Barker, Dr. Hutton, and balance for the Com- pany's account subsequent to the above statement. As Tiear as I can estimate, the amount of morwy the Lead produced from the tuhole excavation at Coal Hill was about Tim hund,red and forty-one thousand dollars. The lead ore m this region is connected with a gangue of beautiful white calcareous sp -r, free from any mineral in inti- mate combination with it, which renders it very easy for dressing, and the svidting of It in the large way has been found not to exceed three dollars per ton of metallic lead. Taking into view all the advantages of this section of our country-the rich developments in mineral wealth— the ease in ],rcparing the ore for the furnace, and the simplicity and cheap- ness of its reduction to metal-thc convenience of access by plank and good turnpike roads to the various mining localities- a luMvlthy climate-abundauce of fuel and products of the soil- altogtther present it as a decided mining region, and worthy the attention of the miner and adventurer. I most sincerely hope that yon will set the Coal Hill Mines ,t .oik, Lelieving from the facts of the pa.t, that if controlled > ^ 14 COAL HILL MINES. econonucally and by experienced men, large profits will be realized. Yours respectfully, CHARLES L. LUM, Of Ogdensburg, New York. Being requested by R. P. Remington, Esq., we the under- signed take pleasure in stating that any declarations or state- ments made by Mr. Charles L. Lum, in our opinion, can be fully relied upon as emanating from a gentleman of integrity, candour, and truth. S. GILBERT, G. N. SEYMOUR, H. VAN RENSSELAER, CHAS. G. MYERS, D. C. JUDSON. The five gentlemen above-named are residing in Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence Co., New York, and arc among the wealthiest and most respectable citizens of that region. COAL HILL MINES. 15 Ogdensburg, May 31, 1852. Dear Sir, In reference to your request respecting my views of the Coal Hill Mines, I would say that I superintended the western section from April, 1837, to January, 1840, and that I think the prospect for mineral was as favourable when I left as when 1 commenced. We laboured under great disadvantage in working the mine, probably more than you would credit if related. I have read a letter addressed to you, dated 27th instant, on the subject of the mine, by Mr. C. L. Lum, and I do consider that the statement therein made by him in reference to the working and results of the business, as well as the value of the mines, is a fair and just statement, so far as ray knowledge extends. Yours, with respect, B. F. WILSON. 16 COAL HILL MINES. (B.) Bear Sir, Your favour of the 29th inst. I have just now ...„ t„ mve vou i» correct and candid received, requesting me to give you description of the Coal Hill Mine, &e. In answer, I beg leave to state that I was Superintendent of the western section of the Coal Hill Mine during the last 12 ,„„nths it was n, operation, and had the underg^nnd work under my charge. I was engaged at the mines altogether more than three years. At the time the work was suspended, the vein was as reguUvr, and better charged wUh mineral in the very hotto^n, tkan it had been at any tin>s for two years previous. I was very much pleased with the prospect then ahead, but our maehinery gave way. I suggested to the Directors to erect a ucw and competent set of machinery or abandon the work. The httter course smted then- ideas best, and consequently the work stopped. In order to show you. Su-, the capacity and quality of the I COAL HILL MINES. 17 vein, I will state the result of the very last month's work in that mine, with six miners, and then leave you to judge. I act a contract to them to work on the ore in the bottom- their names were Thomas Carr, Robert Druniniond, John Cowan, Michael Cowan, Edward McGreevy, and Patrick Dorscy. In that month the amount of mineral raised by them from the vein was 31 tons clean ore, which produced at the smelting house 21 f tons of lead, worth at that time '2,100 dollars— their month's expenses was 293 dollars. The machinery and arrangements fo- carrying on the mine at Coal Hill were miserable. The Directors of the two sections could not have done things worse. They seemed to try to sink all the money they could, and blamed the mine for what they themselves were to blame. I do assure you, Sir, no nuin need look for a richer mine to %vork than the Coal Hill Mine as it noiv stands-and i»'oduce and hboar are noto nearly fifty v^'^' ^^'^^^- ^^^"^'^^ ^^"^"' ^^"'•^ '"^''^'''' ^"^^^^^ ^^^^' ''**'^^' '^""'^ *^^ operatiov. I have been a miner during 18 years, and have endeavoured to study the philosophy of mines, both by theory and practice. In all the history of mines that ever came under my observation / have never read of any lead mine as rich as that mine %s after caleidatinrf the amount of lead that came out by the quantity of vein worked, and in eomparingthe same with other .f" f I \ I \ 1 ]8 COAL HILL MINES. mines, I do not believe any miner ever saw a richer or better mine than the Coal Hill, as far as it has been worked. Respectfully, Y'r ob't servant, JAMES G. ROSS, Waddington, New York. I have known Mr. James G. Ross fourteen years. I have read the foregoing letter, and am prepared to say that his statements made therein can be fully relied upon, and I con- sider myself the better qualified to speak of Mr. Ross, from the fact that I was President of the Company under which he was Superintendent. JOHN J. GILBERT, Of the firm of C. P. Peck & Co., 60, Pearl-street, New York City. COAL HILL MINES. 19 (C.) RossiE, St. Lawrence Co., New York, May 30, 1852. R. P. Remington, Esq. My dear Sir, To your inquiries regarding the management of the work at the Coal Hill vein, I can only say, that notwith- standing I was here during the entire period in which the vein was worked, I cannot now give any detailed information regard- ing it, having kept no memoranda. The vein was discovered just before the unfortunate period (for the credit of the mines) of 1836, and from its rich and beautiful appearance, the lessees' heads became turned, and the lease was divided between two stock companies, to whose aid came the times of 1836-37. About this period the work of raising lead had fairly been commenced, and things were done apace with the times. Extravagant prices were paid for materials that were ultimately found to be of little use. Con- tracts were made for smelting for a long period, which soon proved injudicious ; but while the ore was so easily obtained, b2 li 20 COAL HILL MINES. and the vein proving so very rich, all went on swimmingly, and the stockholders were tickled with dividends. Stock was sold at extravagant prices. As the times began to " right up," however, so did the Directors, but it was too late. One company had erected an enormous furnace for smelting on an " improved plan," at a cost of, it was said, 10,000 to 12,000 dollars, and after spend- ing a vast deal of money in experimenting (8,000 to 10,000 dollars), it was abandoned. The other company had to haul the ore, spar, and stone a distance of two miles under a contract made in " better days," and to pay besides an enormous price for smelting, and in the end bought off at 16,000 dollars. Dis- satisfaction of course arose, and then lawyers came in for a share. :Matters had got into this shape mainly by the unfor- tunate period in which the mines were discovered and work commenced, and also by want of experience in mining of the Managing Directors. Dividing the ground between the two companies, however, proved to be very unfortunate for the credit of the mine, as by it two sets of superintendents, &c., had to be employed. With this bad beginning and many other mis-steps, it was easy to anticipate the result. I have said more than I designed to, and with the foregoing explanation, I ani.,ex what in my opinicm is near the amount of money wasted by the Coal Hill Mine by mis-steps and want of experience, viz. : COAL HILL MINES. 21 Dollars. Erection ol' smelting works not used lti,000 Experimenting in new smelting works 8,000 Extra set managers 3 1-2 years 12, 600 Hauling stone and spar to smelting works, wliicli should, at least, have been separated on the mine, say 15,000 tons, at .Is «,500 On contract given to smelt 2000 tons, say 12 dollars 50 cents per ton 25,000 On excessive rates for materials 5,000 Add dividends 73,100 'J7,(;00 I Yours truly, D. W. BALDWIN. This gentleman is agent for large estates, and bears as high a reputation as any citizen of that country. He resides near the mines. i\ '>9 COAL HILL MINES. (D.) Sir, We will endeavour to give you some information respecting the Coal Hill Mines. We were employed there from the commencement to the suspension of the work, and were among the last men who worked in the bottom in both sections. The manner in which the mine was worked was by sinking shafts, and what is termed stopeing underhand. Had they sunk shafts, drove levels, and stoped the backs, there might have been a saving of fifty per cent, in labour. Should you undertake to work those mines, you will find that they arc far above any one's expectations in quality and quantity. From yours, respectfully, JOHN COLHEAN, JOHN McGRATH, St. Lawrence Co., New York, I cow. mr,i, mim;s. 23 (E.) Dear Sir, Agreeably to your request to communicate to you what information I can respecting the Coal Hill Mine, I can say that it is tivelve years since Iivas President of the Com- pany which tvorked the western section. I was elected in 1838, and remained until 1810. The Company was organized in 1837, and began without any capital. i They were compelled to pay their men extravagant wages, and to pay the highest prices for all provisions. Pork, 32 dollars per barrel; flour, 10 to 12 dollars per barrel; corn, 1 to 1 :| dollars per bushel ; oats, six shillings, hay as high as 20 dollars per ton. These were the prices of 1838. The ore was smelted by Messrs. :\Ioss and Knap on a con- tract of 25 dollars per ton, delivered at their works 1} miles from the mines. There was a clause in the contract which allowed them a portion over 68 per cent., which, I believe, 24 roAi- im-i. MINKS. i I 1 taking their wlu.lc work IVo.n th<- western section, made the actual a,t,onut paid tl.e.n 2H;i- dollars per ton for all the lead Ited after dellveriiij? the ore at the works. anie The cost of delivering the ore in the manner it was taken from the mines to the smelting works, taking the actual yield of lead, was near two dollars per ton of metal, as wc were com- p,aieu to cart a large amount of spar with the lead over almost impassaMe roads iu the spring and fall, making the whole cost of drawmg and smelting not less than 30 dollars per ton for all the lead from the mine. It is my opinion that with proper inachinci-v at the mines, the cost of smelting and dressing would not exceed 7 to 8 dollars per ton. The Directors here repudiated their contract with Moss and Knap, and sent a Mr. 0. Whittlesey to erect a smelting and dressing works at the mines, which was done at an expense of from 8,000 to 10,000 dollars, which proved i failure, and cost the Company a large amount of mineral in experiments. I have no doubt that the loss to the Comi)any from this vns more than 20,000 dollars. I have examined Mr. Charles L. Lum's statement, dated the 27th of May last, and find his statements fair, so far as I can judge, excepting that he has not made the waste of money as much as it actually was, either in erecting the new works, by experimenting, or from salaries to the officers of the two com- COAL HILL MINES. 25 panics. For a portion of the last year the salaries paid or ugrced for by the western section alone was 4,900 dollars. I believe that with money to pay men and purchase supplies to advantage — with proper machinery for freeing the mine from water, and dressing and smelting the ore, and with miners instructed in such business, the mine would have made hand- some dividends. When I left the mine in 18-tO, the bottom looked as well or better than it had averaged fav the time I was there. With regard to the statement made by Mr. Lum of the whole amount of iwoduction being two hundred and forty-one thousand dollars, it is my oirinion that this amount is shoH of the actual a7nount produced by the Coal Hill Mine. Yours respectfully, JOHN J. GILBERT, Of the firm of C. P. Teck & Co., 60, Pcarl-strcct, New York City. I II 2() rOAL HIM, MINI'S. {V.) Report of Profexsor J. D. Wlufney, U. S. Geolocjld for the Lake Stiperior Land Didrid. The veins of Galena, at Rossie, in St. Lawrence County, New York, hnvc attained a world-wide celebrity for the splendid crystallization of this ore, and of calcareous spar, which have been found in them. The first and most important of them, the Coal Hill, according to Professor S. C. Beck, Pioicssor Beck's account then Mineralogist to the Sta^e of New \ork, was "'■^^^.y^'" opened in the winter of 1835-0. lie gives the following description of it, as it appeared in August, 183G. (Report on the Mineralogy of the State of New York.) " The vem of Galena and white decomposed ore was distinctly visible for some distance, passing down a pre- cipitous ledge of primitive rock, about fifty feet in height. The average width of the vein was two feet, and it cut the rock in a nearly perpendicular (Urection; at the lower part, however, inclining slightly to the north. On ascending th. ledge, the course aiul extent of the vein could be easily determined by the rxcuvations wliicli had been made, and by the appearance of the Mut'aee in those parts where it had not been opened. COAL HILL MINES. Zt " Its course was found to bo iibont south south-cast, and nortli north-west ; and its len ,.,«.«(«/,, .W«r,;, t ,„.„se was reipnred for freeing tlie mme from water. No »ystein whatever was pursued by the miners, but an immense open cut „.as made, into which the water foumi ready access. lie ore 1. 1 ,„t,.,rt It the el,..roiou» price of il.> ilolkus per was smelted on eontiatt .11 till I" i . I 1 l,„.,.,l ■I'lie^c air sumcienl reasons why the lull 111 lead produceil. ines> ""''i^t^H I COAL IIII-L MINES. 29 r mines would almost necessarily be brought to a stop when they had reached a depth such, that the extremely rude and imperfect machinery then used, would no longer answer for freeing them from water. To have prosecuted the work with success would have required skill, capital, and confidence; all of which requisites were wanting entirely at the time of the closing of these mines, the period of the greatest commercial depression which the country has ever seen. In working down upon the vein, it sliowed, like every other, some portions richer than others •, but in general throughout the whole extent worked, the average yield of the lode must have been very high. In regard to this point, a writer in Silliman's Sillimau's Journal of Science for 1 843, remarks, joiirii.ll, 1842. ff-vYiiatever may be the present difficulties of the unfortunate tenure of this mine, there is little doubt that it will eventually be efficiently wrought, and yield a uniform and adequate return. The, vein de- clian^cterofthe f^(>(,^yif^ iieTiwAidicularh) ; the qvavtUy of ore lode. . in a given space remains (ihoiit the same; and Iv all prohahiJify l^ l.texhavstihlc. Opinion o" the writer ns to the i On return I ii'i t<> the ■inine on the ()th of Xove tuber last, I Appearanee of "'"■-' pleaded to f)id that in// anticipations the lode. ^^,^^]^ reijavd. to its prospects had twen move 30 roAL HILI- MINKS. hH than equalled. The amount of work which had been done, owing to the sinallncss of the force employed, was not con- siderable ; but every part of the mine was showing a rich lode. In the crystal shaft, ivhicli had been sunk Crystal shaft. ^^^^^^^ ^^^ fathoms helow the point at tvhich it was at my former visit, I found the lode had undergone a rapid change soon after I left, and that a solid leader of galena had made its appearance, which soon widened out to eighteeen inches, and maintained a width of from six to eighteen inches, down to the loivest point the shaft had reached. In the engine shaft, which was not so deep as the crystal shaft by about two fathoms, there was every Engi.R. Shalt. ^jjp^.arance of soon striking the same rich ground as had been already opened in the latter shaft; the lode was becoming more crystalline and carrying good stones of ore. Western Sec- In the " Westcm Scction " a winze had been tion. commenced, and carried down about three fathoms ; and the lode was seen to be very rich, worth from 200 to 300 dollars per fathom. On the xohole, the appear- ance of the mine in every part was, and is at the present moment, in a high degree promising : the value of the lode varying from 100 to 600 doUars per fathom. All that remains to be done to put the mine in a paying Amouiit of , , n i- 1 «orktohe condition is, to sink the shafts, respectively, '^'""'- to a depth of eleven fathoms below the old workings, as represented in the section, and extend the level COAL HILL MINKS. 31 between tliem. The Crystal and Engine shafts have already reached within four and five fathoms of the requisite depth for commencing a level. By insj^tedhuj the section it will he .seen, that by only tiventy-four fathoms of sinking in the three shafts, estimated at 100 dollars im- fathom ; and eighty- five fathoms of driving, at 50 dollars i^er fathom, making the expense of sinking and driving 6,650 dollars; about 980 fathoms of ground will be opeiud for stopeing, tuhich would be worth, at a loiv estimate, 100 dollars per fathom; 'making the tvhole value 98,000 dollars, at an expenditure of 6,650 dollars, together tvith the incidental expenses and the cost of stopeing. No additional expenses in machinery will be required, as the present engine is amply sufficient to work the mine to that depth. The galena of the Rossie lead veins is, in respect to its freedom from any association with foreign metals, quite remark- Purity of the able. Most of the lead ores of the Eastern '"'''■ States are contaminated with the sulphuret of zinc (black jack), or mixed with iron or copper pyrites, so that the reduction of the metal is more difficult, and its quality injured in some degree. The St. Lawrence county ores are almost pure galena, with hardly a trace of any other metal than lead. They contain only a minute portion of silver, not enough to be worth separating. The quality of the metal made from them is excellent. The vein stone is remarkably homogeneous in its character, and easily crushed and washed from the ore. ' 32 WAL HILL MINES. Such being the facts with regard to these veins, it may very w,..ise„p,t. P-Pevly be asked, How can there be, by any ^vant•n,g to dc- possibiUty, a lack of Capital to carry on a ^^"lltr mining operation, ah-eady so near being crowned with success ? To this it may be rephed, that the Shave- holders in such enterprises in this country are too fre- quently, as in this case, entirely unacquainted with the real value of mining property, and unable to discmuinate between a valuable and a worthless mine. They are led to beheve that a mine may be made to pay a dividend on an enormous fictitious capital, within three months after commencing operations ; and unless there exists a power in the hands of the Directors to cause the stock to be forfeited and sold on which the assessments are not paid; or unless a sufficiently large working capital has been paid in at the start, to open the mine and put it in a paying condition, which is rarely the case, the enterprise is very likely to be abandoned by the original shareholders, perhaps, when just on the point of succeeding. I have known the stockholders in one of the most productive mines of the country, which is now selling at the rate of half a million of dollars, to refuse to pay assessments on their stock, and allow it to be for- feited, when they owned in fee simple an immense and unex- plored tract in one of the richest n.incral regions in the world. A few months only were sufficient to convince them of their folly. The Coal Hill vein has an extent in the sett of nearly a nulc t'OAL HILL MINl-S. 33 in Icuf^th, and has been opened at various painta, where it shoios the same character of vein stone, and ore. The great object of a company possessed of sufficient means, should be to dcvcloj) the vein in length as well as depth, as rapidly as possible. On the whole, I do not hesitate to say, that this mine, if managed with judgment and economy, is almost, if not quite, sure to reward the Shareholders for their investment. Note. — I find, on calculation, that about two thousand fathoms of the vein have been removed m the workings of the Coal Hill Mine ; and taking the whole amount produced by the sales of the lead, according to Mr. Lum's statement, at 341,000 dollars; and adding 5,000 dollars for what has been taken out since working was i-ecommenced, we have as the average value of the whole lode, per fathom, nearly one hundred and twenty dollars. J. D. WHITNEY. ai < OAL lIll.L MINKS. ((J.) Extvacl^ from a Report made In/ Captain T/annos Prthrrni- (formerhj Manager of Fo^ve;/ Consols, ((-c). To George Parish, Esq., " Ip. considering the circums^tanccs and prospects of this niuie, it is not necessary to refer to its former productiveness, on which you are yourself so well informed. " In lead and coi)per mines, the richest of them, the masses of ore or 'bunches' in the vein are more or less variable, sometimes declining temporarily in quantity or value, or both, and sometimes apparently running entirely out. " It has therefore been a matter of careful consideration with me, how the Coal Hill Mine stands in this respect ; and i have come to a favourable conclusion on the subject, on the following important grounds." After this he says: "This favonr- al)le conclusion would have been come to, I have no doubt, by any intelli-rnt experienced nuner wlio might have inspected the concern when the present lessees entered upon their under- COAL HILL MINES, 35 taking. It is very satlsfadorij and important to find that in the very little that has yet been done by them to open fresh rjround in depth, a decided improvement has taken place as to the. prospects of future productiveness." After stating at great length his views as to the proper method of laying out and working this mine, and describing the value of the lode iit different points, in which he rates shaft No. 3, as containing lead ore clean galena, two to three tons per fathom, he closes his report thus : " In the accompanying section I have shown by heavy dotted lines the operations which I think should be resorted to for the early trial of the mine, and the lighter dotted lines those which may be probably found to be desirable subsequently, if the results of that trial should be successful, of which I consider there is a very satisfactory {)rospect. (S-gned) ti'\ THOMAS PETIIEKICK. " Pottsville, January 10, 1851." n *^ row. HILL .mim:s. 37 E X ■ (H.) Kstimated cost of breaking, drawing, crushing, and dressing, a fathom of ore ground in the Coal Hill Mine : Dolliira. Cost of stopeing (the average) 22.00 Drawing to surface 1.50 Crushing and Dressnig 15.50 39.00 t 8. Price or value is 24. Profit per fathom £l(). f B lA (n According to Messrs. Whitney and Dunkiu's statements and Pctherick's plan, the 1st and 2nd levels would lay open 3,000 fathoms of ore ground. If this does as well as hitherto, the j)rofit would bo ,£48,000 in the two levels alone. :]^ COM. nif,r, vriM'.s. ;i.) Rrpitrf !>// Ciipt. Jolni. Diiiihlii, v'f"> '"■'< Vfyi" af Hie Mints, mnlfinrf to fake charffe. Sir, According to your request, made to nic by George Parish, Esq., 1 send you my report on the "Coal Hill" jNIinc in this town. The situation, geological fonnation, and former productiveness, have been so ably and fully described by J. 1). Whitney, Esq., as to make it unnecessary for me to say any- thing on these points. I shall contine myself with a statement of the facts, and point out what I consider ought to be the course pursued to develop the mine and make it profitable to the stockholders. In the western part of the mine there is a winze sunk three fathoms below the old workings, through a lode that is two and a-half feet wide, with a solid leader of lead ore six inches wide, the whole length (15 fathoms) west of this winze; the lode is worth from £20 to €40 per fathom. Tile eastern shaft has been sunk eight fathoms, the lode for the whole depth is three feet wide, the first four fathoms is the; same as the first in tlie engine shaft, nvd the (ai.hI fourfathohis /x throvf/li a lode of eaten reon^ i^par, ivltli a .solid leader of leatl ore, from six to Iwrnf'/ >)t''la's u-ide, areraf/iitr/ for the COAI. HILL MINKS. 3!) Jour fath(yin», ten inches vdde, ivorth I'.jO jx'r fathom. Thu huttom of the shaft is now rich, ivith nuery in'osjxtctof a con- tinucuwe. At thi! bottom of the ciij^iiie shaft tlit-re art; two levels commenced, one east, and the other west. In the former, which is extended cast of tlie shaft two and a-half fathoms, the lode is of the same size and clu acter as in the shaft ; and in the western one, that is extended west of the shaft three and a-half fathoms, the lode is two feet wide and producing greater quanti- ties of lead ore, and there are strong evidences of improvement. I consider the most economical plan of operation would be to force down the engine shaft with all j)Ossible speed for another level (say 12 fathoms), with eight men; drive the bottom level east, with three miners and three labourers to communicate with the eastern shaft, to make the course of ore in that shaft avail- able for stopeing, and drive the level west, with the same number of men, to communicate with the winze, to make that part also available, litis effected, tvoidd give art immense liodjj of rich stopeiivj groiind. I vjovild aho recovimend the driving a level east under the flat from the bottom of the most caster it shaft at the foot of the hill. I am of the opinio)i that there vjill he large bodies of lead ore found in, fhis direction, the dip of the hill and the ground being east. The engine shaft should be divided and cased down to serve 10 COAl, HILL MINES. the purpose of drawing as well as pinn]iing, and the next drawing shaft east should be the extreme eastern shaft; the next western shaft should be left for a future consideration ; the adit should auso be properly laundred and secured to prevent the surface water from going down into the bottom of the mine in the wet seasons. There is a good engine of sixty horse-power on the mine, ni good condition, except the boilers, which I would strongly recommend to be removed, and others substituted ; the cost of the new ones would be saved in two years by the less quantity of wood required. There are ample buildings of every descrip- tion erected on the mine, except dressing conveniences, which cost but little, as timber of every description i^ very cheap. Lookiufi at the mine in every aspect, the stratum privii- tive, the lode large, has produced very largely, iio perccjdihle change but what is usual in all mines, a rich lode in tfo important points, and the general improvcneiit that has taken place as far as operations are carried, I feel I camiot too strongly recommend it to the notice of the mining jHiblic, believing that those who may invest their money !ii it will be handsomely remunerated. Yours respectfully, JOHN DUNK IN, Jim St. Lawrence Co., State of New ^o^lv, April 11 til, 1805. roAL HILL MINMS. 41 l*.S. — The engine is of ample power to drain the v:ater from a depth of forty fathoms heloiv the present bottom ; tlic quantity of water is small, not exceeding one hundred gallons per minute in the wet seasons. Should your friends require any reference in England respect- ing myself, I would refer them to Michael Williams, Esq., M.P,, Thomas Darke, Esq., Captain Jos. Vivian, or any of the Mining Agents of the Camhorne district. J. DUNKIN, jun. n 12 rOAl, ini.L MINKS. (J.) Sfatemoit of BuiUing.s, Maclumrn, Material, and Tviprove- mcnfH erected on Coal Hill Mines, toijether costlwj l'\0,SM). ^ /. Baildiiigs. Engine and Boiler House . Crushing House Dn ug House Smith Sho]) Material House Carpenters' House and Shop Agent's House and Office . Underground Captain's House Sr^elting House Wood House . Stables . . . • Stone Dwelling for 40 men Powder House . Ten Houses for JNIincrs DoUai-a. ll.,50().0() //. Machine V II . Steam Engine and Boilers, 60 horse-power, Bobs, Rods, Connections, Shafts, Wheels etc., complete. 8,800.00 Carried forward . . 23,300.00 4 rOAL HILL MIXES. 43 Dnllai's. Brought torvvaid . . 23,300.00 New Steam Whim Machinery not erected . . 1,300.00 Crusher, with duphcate Machinery Gearing, etc. . 2,500.00 Steam Engine and Boiler at Smelting House, with Bellows, Sawing IMachine and Connections . 1,500.00 Smelting Furnaces, Pots, etc 800.00 Two Horse Whims, Kibbles, Chain and Cordage, 200 fathoms 950.00 Capstan and Shears, Iron work, Cordage, etc. . 700.00 100 fathoms of Pumps, Bolts, Washers, etc. . . 2,200.00 4 Drawing Lifts complete. Rod, Iron Work, etc. . 1,800.00 Duplicate Castings, and otlier Machinery, about . 1,000.00 III. Materials. Iron and Steel, Safety :\ise, and Powder . . ^ Smiths' Tools I Carpenters' Tools y 2,800.00 Oil, Leather, Stoves, Beltings, and various other IMaterials ...... Household Furniture, Horse and Harness, Wood,etc. 800.00 Smelting House and Floor : 2400 lbs. Metallic Lead in pots . 0888 lbs. Slags .... licad ore from Stack ;} 2 tons 367 lbs. Carried forward 39,65.000 11 (GAL HILI. MINES. IJrought forward Lead ore on surface Whim Shaft Lead ore at Crushing House . Lead ore at Crystal Shaft Lead ore at Crushing Floor . Lead ore crushed . Dolhir.s. 39,650.00 37 „ 290 „ 51 „ 772 „ 51- „ 1398 „ 54 „ 448 „ 3 „ 776 „ 206 tons 879 lbs. 3,500.00 Underground Shafts, Levels, and Minmg, with Casings and other Improvements ^>'^QQ-"" Total estunated value Dolls. 51,650 £10,340 ■r roAl, IIILI, MINKS. 'ir) TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN LEASES IN THE COUNTY OF ST. LAAVRENCE, Passed Fehrunry Gth, 1855. THE TEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Represented in Senate and Assembly, Jo tmt as folioiDs: ^ 1 . The Proprietors of any Mines or Veins of Ii(!ad or Copper in the County of St. Lawrence, may demise, lease, or rent the same for a period not to exceed twenty- one years from the date of any such lease, to any foreign individual or Company. And such Lessee or Lessees may take, hold, work, use or convey the same durinu' the said term, in the same manner and subject to the same liabilities as if such Lessee or Lessees were natural born citizen or citizens. >$. 2. This Act shall take effect immediately. Sfdte of Neiv York, Secretarifs Office. Il 4G COAL HILL MINFS. I have com]iar(cl the precc(lin2; with the Orii;inal Law on file in til is Office, and do hereby certify the saine to be a ccn-rect transcript therefrom, and of the whole of said oriirinal. mm unkt mil Jlanl) m^ f till cf Of^ti, at the city oi — -.^ Albany, this ninth day of February, One thou- '^ sand ei^bt hundred and fifty-five. A. G. JOHNSON, ])ep. Sec, of Staii COAL miJ, MINFS. 17 It is \ BY MYHON n. CLARK, GOVERNOR OF THE STATK OF NT.W YORK, Certified, that Alexander G. Johnson was, on thi' (lay of the date of the annexed Certificate, Deputy Secretary of State for tlie State of New- York, and duly authorized to grant the same; that said Certificate is in ihie form ; tliat th(! Seal affixed to said Certificate is the Seal of tlie Office of the Secretary of State foi- said State ; that the Signatui-e of said Deputy Secretary to said Certifieatc is in his liandwriting, and is genuine, and that full faith and credit may be given to his otfieial acts. ?ia f CStiinOni) lolirreof, the Great Seal of the State is here- unto affixed. Witness my hand, at the City of Albany, the ninth day of February, in the year of our T>ord One thousand ei'rht Inindred and tifty-five. Passed the Secretary's Office, the 9tli day of February, 1S55. AI. II. CLAKK. K. ^^^ Lkavionmoith, Seeretai'v of Si;itc. 'IS NICIOKIA MINKS. i ^1 \m VICTORIA LEAD MINES. These M.ucs arc sHiuikul panvllcl ^vlth, and about 300 ya.ds ^„ j^,, „„,tl, of the Coal llill Mines, (lescnbed m the f.re- „,„„... papers. There are three veins uniting at a ponit nearly oppos.te to the workings of the Coal Hill Mine. The outlin.. of the sett, and position of the veins in it, are shown m tlie following section. No shaft has been sunk deeper than 90 feet. From thai depth no.OOO of lead ore hm hern taVo, avd a lanje nantity alrecubj diseorered remuivs .tandhui hi iheboek f the onh/ level yet driven. The chief vein Js sl.r feet vide, „d a vumher of rich Innwhe.^ of ore have heen cut, ex- Innlinr, ihrovcjhovi a lenyth of 200 fdhom^, that hehvj the e,ie,d upon whieh the vein^ ha. been fried at the ,„rfoce. The length of the sett is about one mile. The loUowin-r section will show the amount of work done. 3 yards e I'orc- t nearly outliin" own ill yarn thai a hny ihc Ixick ''cd v'ulc, } cnt, ex- af hehvj d at the ilr. The C ^ & ^ i< 50 VICTORIA MINI'S. Various llattcring reports upon the Victoriii TiCiul Alines have been received from Major Farrin?;ton, Proft^ssor J. 0. Whitney, Professor C. T. Jackson, George Sunnier, Esci., of Boston, Captain Dunkin, and others. The mines have been visited by a great number of scicntitic and ])ractieal geologists, and mining engineers, and agents, all of whom express entire confidence in their success if judiciously managed. J. D. Whitney, United States Geologist, says of these veins, under date of July 15, 18j3 : — "There ai-v, two lodes here, which cut each other at an angle of about ten degrees. Both have been opened to some extent, but the principal ivorldnfi!^ are on the Union vein, which seems to have a course of about S. 02 deg. E. The course of the other lode (the Victoria) is about S. 73 deg. E., and it would seem that the two intersect each other a few yards ^\cst of the shaft which has been opened on the Victoria lode. In a shaft opened three or four rods further west still, there are seen two distinct branches or lodes, diverging from each other in the direction which the two other lodes should have after their intersection. I / " In the Union Mine, the work is confined to driving, no sinking being possible unless a steam engine be erected. In. the sixteen. /othoui level, yoing east from the Victoria shaft, the drift is in forty feet, and is in a fine vein Si to 4 feet VICTORIA MINKS. 51 I / whh', and r'lchhj chanicl mlt/i (/aloia. It is vunih fully 100 le lead. " Tlte Victoria vein is seen exposed in an open cut for a few feet in length, a short distance north of Collins shaft. It appears to he handsomely charged, with lead, and about the same wiidth as the Union vein. Whether these two veins do actually intersect, and what the effect of their intersection upon each other is, remains to be developed by the workings. It is plain that a steam engine is necessary to enable this mine to be opened and worked as it ought to be. 1)2 n 7 52 VICTORIA MINRS. "When wo consider the widtli, the reguhirity, and the former productiveness of these veins, as well as the fact that there i8 no perceptible ehanpe in the character of the country, as far as the excavations have extended, it seems to me perfectly safe and proper to insist most strongly, that the work in these mines should be energetically prosecuted. "At the Union Mine the vwk ought to he pay h g for itself as soon articulars in his opinions and estimates, with regard to the work of carrying on these mines; and I feel a strong assurance that, with a judicious and liberal economy in the administration, the adventurers will be rewarded for their investment." The following is from a Report of Dr. C. T. Jackson, made in August, 18.53 : — " On examining the stopcing ground west of the Colhns shaft, I found the vein of calcareous spar, richly impregnated with lead ore, to be three feet wide. Its course is N. (15 des. W., and dip to the S. 65 deg. W. 85 deg. VICTORIA MINi:s. 53 " In the Cotllnn shaft, In the Hixteen fathotn level, the vela of calcareous npar is 3 feet 4 inches wide, and is rich in lead ore. In the stopeuuj ground of this level, the lode is 3 feet 9 inches wide, and at the sump at the bottom of the shaft it is 5 feet wide. It is an important fact to note tluit on the surface of the rock over the nunc &v lode was but 8 inches wide, and here, at the depth of Ol . :.t, it has attained a width of 5 feet. "At the eastern end of the level, from the Victoria shaft, the lead ore is not so abundant, but the lode is 4i feet wide ; but 40 feet to the westward the vein is rich. " We 7iext examined a vein to the north of the Victoria shaft, betiveen that and the Collins shaft, where a vein 20 inches wide, rich in lead ore, was seen. This vein has a large "vug" or cavity in the centre, bordered with galena; and veins of the pure ore, 2i inches wide, were seen runniuir parallel with the dip of the vein 80 deg. to the south- westward. " West of Collins shaft, 550 feet distant from It, the vein riois 65 d('i I'lys of lead per day, each pig weighing seventy pounds. The time estimated as a day in the furnace work Is ten hours, ^vhlch Is as long as men ought to work amid the fumes of lead and of suU phuroas acid gas. " Uospcctl'uUy yoni's, -CUAKl.KS T. .lACKSON, M.D,. "Of Boston, Mass." VICTORIA MIXES. r^n REPORT OF MAJOR A. C. FARRINGTOxN, MINING ENGINEER, ON THE VICTORIA MINES. Sir, I visited your nunc the 6th of August last, and was highly gratified upon witnessing the improved condition it presented to what was exhibited about one year previous. At the first period it was as left by the miners who had worked there some eleven or twelve years before. Rude excavations and surface mining, made apparently with a view of obtaining such ore as was most accessible and at the least expense, rather than carrying on a i-egular and systematic course of niuimg, seems to have governed the operations of these pioneer nmiers. The surface appearance, or indications of the mine, shows the outcrop of two veins intersecting or diverging from each other at an angle of about ten ilegiees. The different veins are distinguished by the names of the Union and Victoria veins. The Union vein having a course of about south, sixty degrees east. The Victoria, south, seventy degrees east. Most of the workings are upon the Union vein. Four shafts have been commenced ui)on this vein, which I shall designate by the numerals 1, 2, 3, 1 ; calling the most easterly Number 1 ; the next as Number 2; and in that order to Number I, tiie »iji»_jigi —»««* l« iln i ;)6 VICTORIA MINES. most westerly of all. Numbers 1 and 2 are sunk a little below the hundred foot level. Number 2 is one hundred and ten feet from surface, or ten feet below the lower level. The lower gallery has been cut about three hundred feet, twenty fathoms of which has been stoped. The galleiy cast of shaft Number 1 has been driven upwards of thirty feet, and is through a vein near four feet wide, consisting of calcareous spar richly charged with galena; and I fully concur in the estimate made by Captain Dunkin, the intelligent captain of the mine, in reporting it worth one hundred dollars per fathom, and when the vein is stojjed above this level, large quantities of galena will be obtained. Between shafts Numbei-s 1 and 2 there is one hundred and twenty fathoms ready for stopeing. West of Number 2 shaft the gallery has been driven about half way to the point where it will intersect shaft Number 3. The lode was not rich at the commencement cf the gallery, but the last thirty feet exhibit a nuu-krd improvement. West of shaft Number 2, at the surface, is a stope forty feet in length, and twenty in height, in which the lode is over three feet wide, worth 80 dollars per fathom. Five hundred and twenty-five west of shaft Number 2, an adit level has been conimenced, which is intended to intersect the tloor of the last mentioned stope. For over one hundred feet, this adit is an open ditch, mid at no point will be over twenty-iive feet from the surface. The lode looks well for the surface, but 1 doubt whether the advantages derived from it.' eonneeUoa \vitli the eastern shafts Will prove leiuuiuTHtive. t VICTORIA MINES. 57 / mil fully satisfied the Union vein is a true 'persistent and co7dinuous lode, and luill amply reivard, with a rich return of metal, a judicious a ud systematic course of mining, and the sooner such a system is resorted to the greater advantages will be derived by stockholders or owners. The cautious policy so commonly acted upon by adventurers in mining enterprises of insisting upon extensive surface explorations being made and shallow pits sunk to satisfy the doubts of some timid stock- holder of the actual existence of a vein, involves ruinous expense that might have been avoided. And as regards lead mines, all are familiar with their history in Wisconsin and Iowa, and having heard that deposites in those states often are exhausted, fear it may prove so with others. They do not consider there is a difference between a vein of metallic ore, and a depositc or bed lying in a nest conformable with the stiata of rocks in which it is found, and that a vein cuts through strata nearly at right angles with their ])lanes. A bed or deposite, if worked, must necessarily become exhausted ; a true vein never can be, or at least never has been. Engineers and inspectors, when called upon to examine mines', are also timid (even though satisfied from examination that the lode is rich) in recommend- ing a course of working they would adopt for themselves. They dread the responsibility of recommending an outlay oi money by owners that may render them impatient for returns* The Union mine is not such an one as should deter a practical miner from ]iutting m such work as will serve for a long period of tuiu' for raising the ore. / have iw fears the vein ««i*SBS oS VirTORlA MINES. nrUl era' become rxhaaded, or the bottom found; and as the history of nearly all metallic veins shoivs the deeper they ore penetrated the richer and more abundant the mineral becomes, the natural conclusion must be that if unskilful miners or labourers could do a profitable business, mining upon the surttice in the rude manner the mine was once worked, scientific and systematic efforts, with the aid of machinery, will render it much more so. Whether you should decide upon carrying in the adit level or not, I would recommend the sinking a shaft smtable for an c-njine-shaft near the place where the adit commences to the l.vel of the hundred foot gallery, and extend the gallery to meet it. You would then have stopeing ground over four hundred feet in extent by one hundred in height in case the lode would boar stopeing to the surface. The mine cannot be worked deeper than the hundred foot level until an engine is provided to drain it of water. No time should be lost in meeting this want, as the shafts should be sunk at least ten fathoms lower before another gallery is opened. The force emi)loyed about the mine while 1 was there, consisted of sixteen miners, one blacksmith, eight labourers, and five boys, at an expense of about 900 dollars per month. There is another reason why I would strongly recommend the sulking the western shaft of size suflielent for all working purposes. In dnvmg the hundred foot level it would intersect VICTORIA MINES. 59 the junction of the Union and Victoria veins. A branch level or gallery can he driven upon the course of tlie latter vein, which will determine its value at much less expense than open pits near the surface could possibly do. The level could also be extended westerly from the shaft, rendering three levels or systems of galleries tributary to the one shaft ; and the time may arrive in the working of this mine when it will be deemed advisable to place most of the operating machinery near this point. With a suitable engine for draining the mine, it ought to pay its current expenses from the sale of mineral, or nearly so, although three-fourths of the effective force at present employed are engaged on jjreparatory work, sinking shafts and driving galleries. In a few months it can be put in condition to employ one hundred men in stopeing; when, if its present indications are not falsified, the mine must prove highly re- munerative. A gang of four miners can ')iow stope four fathoms per mo dh, which now yields, in the lower level, over one hundred dollars p)er fathom, giving a profit of about 70 dollars per month upon the labour of each miner. Basing the profits of mining upon labour expended, the more men employed when it can be done in a regular way, .he greater will be the revenue. I am, Sir, respectfully yours, A. C. FARRINGTON, Mining Engineer. New York, September, 1853. 'r-^'^ 60 VICTORIA MINIMS. ' Ogdensburo, September ZOth, 1853. My dear Colonel, I must thank you for your suggestion that I should visit the "Union Mine," for I have been highly gratified. I passed a whole day in a thorough examination of the locality. I went down each shaft, and examined the lode in each ; I also inspected the dressing floor and the smelting. In the smelting, it seems to me impro- ments may be madej but this is a matter entirely independent of the value and richness of the mine. Being on the point of embarking in the -Lake steamer, I have no tin.e now to say more, than that I ani entirely satisfied with the mme. You have an advantage in pos- sessing two intersecting lodes. At the jiindion you will, as all experience shotvs, find « ^^''i/^ 9^««^^^2/ of ore, the extra richness of which wiE extend to about 120 feet to the ivest. The part of this junction of the vein, already laid open, shows that theory and practice here agree. A cheering Hrcum.tanoc for you is, that in the lower level, about 100 VICTORIA MINKS. 61 feet down, the vein looks better than above. 1 can only say go on. With much regard, my dear Colonel, Very truly yours, (Signed) GEORGE SUMNER. To Col. C. L. Schlatter, Boston. P.S.-I was much pleased with Captain Dunkin. He is, without exception, the most competent Cornish Mining Captain I have seen in this country. He ,s intelligent, well ac- quamted with his profession practically, and he keeps his accounts in perfect order. This last is no small praise, for the accounts of American mines are generally very badly kept This gentleman is highly scientific, and accomplished in mining matters. He is a brother of the Hon. Charles Sumner, Senator in Congress t* (>2 nr.nFoKD i-fad minf.s. BEDFORD MINES. These Mines arc situated near Newboroagh, 20 miles north of Kingston, in Up])cr Canada ; the; jjropcrty consists of about 2,000 acres. There are two veins on which pits have been sunk a few feet in depth. The great advantage of tliis location is, that adits can be driven upon the veins at a moderate expense, opening up backs from 125 to 250 feet in height. The appearance of the veins at the surface is vciy promising, and the terms upon which the property is offered are of a nature to warrant an examination of the veins, with every prospect of a most valuable and promising mine being laid open. The geological formation is the same as that of the Coal Hill and Victoria Mines, and the veins themselves precisely similar in their general features, with the exception that the lodes are in metalliferous limestone. These mines have only had a few pits sunk upon the lode, which have however yielded richly. The veins are from four to six feet wide. KF, MARKS. (j.'i REMARKS. It .s .ntendod to incorporate the three foregoing setts or nnnes .nto a Company about to be formed, under tbe name of the Bnt.sh and North American Mining Association, the capital of which will be £100,000, divided into 20,000 shares of £5 each. The whole amount of money requn-od to purchase the maehmery, personal property, ores, etc., at the Coal Hdl and Victoria Mines, is but je7,500. For the Bedford Mines in Canada a provisional arrangement has been made. The mines are to be put into possession of the Company for one year under trial of ^400 expenditure-for the lead taken out a rent of ^ part is to be paid. At the ex- pa-ation of the year, the estate of 2,000 acres and the mines are pledged to the option of the Company, if a purchase should be preferred, at the low price of £5 per acre. No money is to be paid to the promoters or owners of these mines, except the sum named for personal property, £7,500. The capital reserved for working purposes, and operations of the (J4 REMARKS. Association, is to be ,010,000. The Association will be managed by five lientlcmen, each of whom, to render bini eligible, is to be a subscriber of not less than £1,000. Lead having risen from C26 to £30 per ton, in Canada and the United States, in the vicinity of the mines, a difFerence of value over the markets of Great Britain is obtained there of about €6 or £7 per ton. The difference in favour of these mines, in consequence of the facility of communication with them by steamboat and railroad, and a more economical cost in working, owing to local advantages over the Spanish Lead Mines, is believed to be a nett profit of j810 per ton; and the veins are thus far as rich in yield as the Linares, which is believed to be the most profitable of the Spanish iMines now at work. It is therefore considered that this is a most favour- able period for organizing such a Company. IjQNnoN, Junr 0, IS;").'). i b l.omlun I'lintud bv W'illiaiu Tvler. Holf-cowrt. I'lcitstii't't.