The metallic wealth of the United States, described and compared with that of other countries

Front matter

■ ■ ■ THE METALLIC WEALTH OF THE UNITED STATES. THE METALLIC WEALTH OF THE UNITED STATES, DESCRIBED AND COMPARED WITH THAT OF OTHER COUNTRIES. BY J. D. WHITNEY. PHILADELPHIA: LIPPINCOTT, GBAMBO & CO. LONDON*. TRUBNER & CO. 1854. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in they* ar 1851, BY LIPriNCOTT, GBAMBO & CO , In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. WOOD-CUTS. 1. Section of a stockwerk deposit. 2. Contact deposit of ore between two formations. 3. Section of segregated veins. 4. Section ofthe Rammelsberg, from Burat. 5. Section illustrating the nature of gash-veins. 6. Part of the lode at Wheal Julia, to illustrate the comby structure of lodes, from De la Beche. 7. Fragment of the Drei Prinzen Spat Vein. 8. Ideal transverse section, to illustrate the terms used by miners in speaking of a vein. 9.

Section of a vein at Holzappel. 10. Section of a vein, with branches coinciding with the bedding of the rock. 11. Ground plan of the intersection of veins in the Himmelfahrt Mine, near Freiberg, from Weissenbach. 12. Transverse section of a shaft and adit-level. 13. Ideal section of shafts for opening a mine. 14. Horse-whim. 15. Method of overhand stoping. 16. Timbering in the levels of a mine. 1 7. Timbering in mines, from Burat. 18. Timbering in levels, with solid rock on one side. 19. Section of the junction of the greenstone and amygdaloid on Keweenaw Point. 20. Section ofthe Hogan Mine, March 1854. 21. Section of the Northwestern Mine, February 1854. 22. Section of the South Cliff Mine, February 1854. 23. Mass of copper containing nodules of Prehnite. 24. Section of the Siskawit Mine. 25.

Deposit of copper between sandstone and trap in the Porcupine Mountains. 2G. Parallel layers of cupriferous veinstone in the trap, at the Douglass Houghton Mine. 27. Section ofthe Douglass Houghton Mine, February 1854. X LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. The 28. Section ofthe Toltec Mine, March 1854. 29. Transverse section of adit and shaft, No. 3, Minnesota Mine. 30. Section of workings on the South Lode, Minnesota Mine. 31. Section of Norwich Mine, February 1854. 32. Section ofthe Dolly-Hide cupriferous bed. 33. Section of the M'Cullock Vein. 34. Section ofthe East Tennessee copper veins. 35. Occurrence of copper ores in the New Red Sandstone. 36. Section ofthe Zinc and Franklinite beds at Stirling, New Jersey. 37. Section ofthe Coal Hill Mine. 38. Section ofthe workings on the Union Vein. 39. Section ofthe Middletown Silver-Lead Mine. 40.

Chapter I. On The Nature Of The Deposits Of The Metals And

THEIR ORES, AND THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES ON WHICH MINING IS CONDUCTED. Importance of the subject, 33 ; classification of metalliferous deposits, 34 ; superficial deposits, 34 ; stratified deposits : intercalated, disseminated, metamorphosed, 35; theories of their origin, 36; unstratified deposits: division of, 36 ; irregular deposits : eruptive masses, 36 ; how mined, 37 ; dissemination through eruptive rocks, 38 ; washings derived from their disintegration, 38 ; stockwerk deposits, 39 ; instances of, 39 ; contact deposits, 40 ; instances of, 40 ; their character and value, 41 ; fahlbands, 42 ; regular deposits, 43 ; definition of a vein, 44; Wissenbach's classification of veins, 44; segregated veins, 45 ; how different from true veins, 46 ; instance : the Rammelsberg, 47 ; their character and value, 47 ; gash-veins, 48 ; their origin, 48 ; how filled, 49 ; true veins : definition, 49 ; how originated, 49 ; various dimensions, 50 ; contents, 51 ; occurrence in groups, 51 ; veinstones, 51 ; their.comby structure, 52; remarkable instance, 53; various vein-phenomena, 54; selvages, 54 ; ideal section of a vein, 55 ; worthless matter contained in veins, 55 ; their varying richness, 56 ; change of direction, 56 ; branching, 57 ; derangements from intersection, 57 ; theories ofthe origin of mineral veins, 59 ; theory of accidental formation, 60 ; of igneous injection, 60 ; of sublimation, 61 ; of aqueous deposition, 62 ; of lateral secretion, 62 ; discussion of circumstances contributing to the formation of a lode, 63 ; electro-chemical action, 65 ; decomposition of upper portion of lodes, 66 ; variations in character at different depths, 67 ; general principles of working of mines, 68 ; CONTENTS.

XII adit-level, 69 ; removal of water, G9 ; shafts, 71 , whether vertical or on the lode, 71 ; raising the ore, 73 ; levels, 74; stoping, 75 ; timbering, 77 ; mining of masses, 77.

Section I. Mineralogical Occurrence And Geological Position Of Gold

Mineralogical occurrence: forms of occurrence, 79 ; native gold, 79; alloyed with silver, 79 ; analyses of, 80 ; occurrence of gold compared with that of other metals, 81 ; alloyed with iron, 82 ; form, 82 ; geological position : confined to lowest fossiliferous strata, 82 ; general resemblance of gold-bearing rocks everywhere, 83 ; gold-veins of segregated class, 83 ; rarity in unaltered rocks, 84 ; period of origin of the veins, 85 ; gold actually obtained chiefly from washings, 86 ; its separation and concentration, 86 ; whether due to still-existing causes, 87.

Section II. General Description Of Foreign Gold Regions

Geographical order followed in the work, 88 ; gold region of the Ural and Siberia, 88; Great Britain, 90 ; recent gold-excitement in, 91 ; gold-quartz machines, 91; Austria: Hungary and Transylvania, 92; Tyrol and Salzburg, 93 ; Bohemia, 93 ; proportional produce of the different provinces, 94 ; France : the Rhine, 94 ; Spain, 95 ; Italy, 96 ; Central Asia, 96 ; Southern Asia, 97 ; China and Japan, 97 ; East India Islands, 98 ; Africa, 98 ; Australia: general geology of gold region, 99; history of discovery of gold, 100; its quality, 102; nature of occurrence, 103; origin ofthe deposits, 104; statistics of produce, 104; South America, 108 ; New Grenada, 109 ; English companies working in, 1 10 ; Venezuela, 110 ; Brazil, 110 ; geology of mining region, 111 ; St. John del Rey Mine, 111 ; Mexico, 113; Central America. 114.

Section III. Geographical Distribution Of Gold In The United States

Two distinct gold regions, 114; stimulating effect of California discoveries, 114; history of discovery of gold and earliest workings in Southern States, CONTENTS. XIII 115; North Carolina, 115; Georgia, 118; South Carolina, 118; Virginia, gold mines in 1836, 119; South Carolina in 1848, 120; description of Appalachian gold district, 121 ; gold in Canada, 123; Vermont, 123; Mary land, 124 ; Virginia, 125 ; companies now working in : Culpeper, 125 ; Free hold, Liberty, Gardiner, Marshall, Whitehall, 126; Waller, Garnett, and Moseley, 127; London and Virginia, Buckingham, 12S; North Carolina. 129; companies now working in : Gold Hill, M'Cullock, 129 ; Conrad Hill. Vanderburg, 130; Phœnix, Long aud Muse's, 131; Lemmond, Capp's. Mecklenburg, 132 ; South Carolina, 133; Dorn Mine, Dorn Mining Company. 133 ; Georgia, 134; Tennessee aud Alabama, 134; New Mexico, 134; Cali fornia, 134; history of discovery of gold, 135; general description ofthe gold region aud its geology, 137 ; age of gold-bearing slates, 139 ; occurrence of the gold in washings, 140 ; in the rock, 141 ; gold-quartz mining com panies, 142; hydraulic works, 143; machines used, 143; Mint statistics of gold produced in United States, 145 ; statistics of produce of California, 146 ; general statistics of gold production : eastern hemisphere, 147 ; western, 148 : comparative production at different periods, 149.

Section IV. Platina, And Its Associated Metals

Occurrence of platina, 149 ; history and use, 150 ; alloys of other metals with, 150; geological position, 151; geographical distribution: Russia, 152; France, 153; Germany, Pettenkofer's experiments, 153; Spain, 154; East India, 154; Borneo, 154; South America, 155 ; Canada, 156 ; United States. 156 ; platina in California gold, 156 ; importation into this country, 157.

Section I. The Mineralogical Occurrence And Ceological Position Of Silver

Mineralogical occurrence: native metal and alloys, 158 ; amalgam, 159 ; ores. 159; geological position: general diffusion, 160; sources of silver of commerce, 160 ; veins and masses, 101.

Section II. Geographical Distribution Of Silver Ore

Norway: Kongsberg Mine, 162; Saxony and Bohemia, 163; Freiberg mines, 1G4; Austrian Empire, 166; proportional yield of the different provinces. CONTENTS. XIV 167 ; Hungary, 167 ; gigantic adit, 16S ; South America, 169 ; Peru : mines of Paseo 169; Bolivia: mines of Potosi, 171 ; Chili: geology and mining districts, 172; mines of Copiapo, 174; Mexico, 175; sources of our know ledge 175 ; nature and position of veins, 176 ; English mining companies, 178C* causes of their ill-success, 179 ; United States, 180 ; general statistics of produce of silver: in eastern hemisphere, 181; western, 182; general comparative statement, 183; relative production of gold and silver, 184; silver as a standard of value, 185.

Chapter IV. Mercury

SECTION I. MINERALOGICAL OCCURRENCE AND GEOLOGICAL POSITION OF THE ORES OF MERCURY.

Mineralogical occurrence : native metal, 186 ; amalgam, 186 ; ores, 186 ; geological position, 187.

SECTION II. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF MERCURY AND ITS ORES.

France, 188 ; Bavaria, 188 ; Austria, 188 ; Spain : antiquity of workings, 189 ; nature of deposits, 189; yield, 190; Tuscany, 190; South America: Peru, 191 ; mine of Santa Barbara, 191 ; occurrence of native mercury, 192 ; New Grenada, 193; Mexico, 193; consumption of mercury in, 194; United States, 195; New Almaden Mine, 195; statistics of produce of mercury, 197 ; estimate of present production, 197 ; importation into this country, 197.

Chapter V. Tin

SECTION I. MINERALOGICAL OCCURRENCE AND GEOLOGICAL POSITION OF

TIN". Mineralogical occurrence : native tin, 198 ; ores, 198 ; sources of supply of tin, 199 ; geological position : general mode and place of occurrence, 199 ; forms of deposits, 199; occurrence of certain metals in washings, 200; minerals accompanying tin, 201. CONTENTS. XV

SECTION II. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF TIN.

Great Britain, 201 ; general geology of Cornish mining region, 202 ; veins and fissures in, 204; occurrence of tin in Cornwall, 206: produce, 207; Saxony, 209; Austria, 210; France, 210; Spain, 210 ; Malay Archipelago .* Banca, 210; Malay Peninsula, 212; South America, 212; Mexico, 212; United States, 213 ; general statistics of produce of tin, 213; tin commerce of Great Britain, 214; consumption of tin in United States, 214; note on present produce of Great Britain, 215.

Chapter VI. Copper

SECTION I. MINERALOGICAL OCCURRENCE AND GEOLOGICAL POSITION OF THE ORES OF COPPER.

Mineralogical occurrence : general diffusion and early use, 216 ; native metal 216 ; ores : combinations with sulphur, &c, 217 ; with oxygen and chlorine, 218; silicates, 219 ; carbonates and sulphates, 220; geological position, 220.

SECTION II. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF COPPER IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

Universal distribution, 222 ; Russian Empire, 222 ; Norway and Sweden, 224 ; Great Britain, 226 ; decomposition of upper part of veins : gossan, 226 ; ores lower down, 227 ; influence of nature of enclosing rock, 229 ; variation in character in depth, 229 ; great Cornish adit, 230 ; history of different mines : Dolcoath, Great Consolidated, Devon Great Consolidated, 231 ; history of copper mining in Cornwall, 232 ; statistics of produce, 233 ; total production of Great Britain, 235 ; Prussia, 235 ; Austrian Empire, 236 ; France, 237; Spain, 238; Italy, 238; Turkey, 238; Algiers, 239; East India, 239 ; Japan, 239 ; Australia: Burra-Burra mine, 239 ; Kapunda, 240 ; New Zealand, 241 ; South America : Peru, 241 ; Chili, 242 ; imports into the United States from, 243 ; Cuba, 243 ; Cobre and Santiago mines, 244 ; imports into the L'nited States from, 245 ; Jamaica, 245 ; Mexico, 245.

Section III. Geographical Distribution Of Copper In The United States

Importance of copper in the United States, 245 ; classification of deposits of ores, 246 ; copper region of Lake Superior : history of discovery, 247 ; pro- CONTENTS.

XVI gress of exploration and development, 248 ; speculations, 249 ; geological survey, 249 ; ancient mining, 250 ; general geology ofthe region, 251 ; trap ranges, 252 ; character of the metalliferous product, 254 ; division of the mines into groups, 255 ; Keweenaw Point mining region : geological de scription, 255 ; character of the veins, 258 ; form of occurrence of the cop per, 260 ; description of mines in the district : New York and Michigan, Clark, Washington, Agate Harbor. 262; Native Copper, Eagle Harbor, Copper Falls, 263 ; Humboldt, Meadow, Phœnix, 266 ; Keweenaw Point, Star, Manitou, 268; Iron City, Bluff, Northwest, 269 ; Connecticut, Water bury, 272 ; Summit, Dana, Northwestern, 273 ; Winthrop, Eagle River, 275 ; Pittsburgh and Boston : discovery of Cliff Vein, 275 ; workings, 277 ; occurrence of silver, 278 ; North American : old mine, 279 ; new, or South Cliff mine, 280 ; Albion, Fulton, 281 ; Manhattan, Montreal locations, 282 ; Isle Royale : general description, 283 ; mines upon : Siskawit, 284 ; Pittsburgh and Isle Royale, 285 ; Ontonagon mining district : general description, 285; mode of occurrence of the copper, 286 ; forms of deposit, 287 : description of mines in the district: Algonquin, 289 ; Douglass Houghton, Toltec, 290 ; Algomah, Aztec, 291 ; Bohemian, Ohio, Adventure, 292 ; Ridge, Evergreen Bluff, 293 ; Minnesota, 293 ; south lode, 295 ; Rockland, Flint-Steel River, Peninsula, 296 ; National, Forest, 297 ; Glen, Norwich, 298 ; Windsor, Ohio Trap-Rock, Sharon, 300 ; Portage Lake district : mode of occurrence of the copper, 301 ; description of mines : Isle Royale, Portage, 302 ; Mon tezuma, Albion, Quincy, 303 ; produce of all the Lake Superior mines, 303 ; amount invested in them, 305 ; their value, 305 ; mining on north shore, 305 ; on north shore of Lake Huron : age of copper-bearing formation, 307 ; Bruce mine, 307; copper deposits ofthe Mississippi Valley: geological position, 308 ; Wisconsin, 309 ; Missouri, 310; Mine La Motte, 310; Cur rent River region, 311 ; cupriferous deposits ofthe Atlantic States : in meta morphic rocks, 312; their mode of occurrence, 312; Maine, 313; New Hampshire, 313; Vermont, 314; Massachusetts, 314; Connecticut: Bristol mine, 315; New York, 316; Pennsylvania, 316; Maryland: mines, New London, Dolly-Hide, 317; Springfield, Mineral Hill, 319; Virginia: Ma nassas mine, 320 ; North Carolina : North Carolina mine, 320 ; copper in the gold mines, 321 ; Tennessee : character of deposits, 322 ; gossan and black ore, 322 ; dimensions of veins, 323 ; companies working, 324 ; copper ores in New Red Sandstone, 324 ; mode of occurrence, 325 ; Connecticut : Simsbury mines, 325 ; New Jersey, 326 ; history of earlier mining operations, 326 ; copper fever in 1847, 328 ; copper at junction of gneiss and New Red Sandstone ; Pennsylvania, 328 ; Perkiomen and Ecton mines, 329 ; copper mines of New Mexico, 330 ; general statistics of production of cop per: eastern hemisphere, 331 ; western, 332 ;

comparative statement, 333 ; importations and exportations of copper, &c, in this country, 333 ; smelting of copper, 334; foreign ores smelted at Swansea, 335; later history of the business, 335; smelting establishments of this country, 336.

CONTENTS. XVII

Chapter VII. Zinc Section

I. MINERALOGICAL OCCURRENCE AND GEOLOGICAL POSITION OF THE ORES OF ZINC. Mineralogical occurrence, recent introduction into use in form of metal, 337 ; ores : combinations with sulphur, 337 ; with oxygen, 338 ; silicates, &c, 338 ; geological position : general diffusion, 339 ; in regular veins, 339 ; in beds and masses, 340.

SECTION II. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE ORES OF ZINC IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

Poland, 340 ; Great Britain, 340 ; Belgium, geological formations of, 341 ; occurrence of calamine in, 342 ; Vieille Montagne works, 345 ; Nouvelle Montagne, 343; produce. 344; Prussia: metalliferous district of Silesia, . 344 ; Westphalia and Rhine, 345 ; Austria, 346.

SECTION III. DISTRIBUTION OF THE ORES OF ZINC IN THE UNITED STATES.

New Hampshire, 347 ; New York, 347 ; New Jersey : position of ore-beds, 348 ; New Jersey Zinc Company's works, 350 ; Pennsylvania, 351 ; Pennsylvania and Lehigh Zinc Company, 351 ; Western lead region, 352 ; general statistics of production of zinc, 353 ; use ofthe oxide as paint, 353.

Section I. Mineralogical Occurrence And Geological Position Of The Ores Of Lead

Mineralogical occurrence: native metal, 354; combinations with sulphur, &c, 354; with oxygen, 355 ; with chlorine, 356 ', oxygen salts, 356 ; geological position, 357 : decomposition of ores at surface, 357 ; association with zinc and silver, 358 ; source of supply hitherto, 358. CONTENTS. XVIII

Section II. Distribution Of The Ores Of Lead In Foreign Countries

Russian Empire, 359 ; Sweden, 360 ; Great Britain : its importance as a lead-producing country, 360 ; North of England mining district, 361 ; Derbyshire, 362 ; Cornwall and Devon, 363 ; East Wheal Rose Mine, 364 ; Cardiganshire and Montgomeryshire, 365 ; mines of Loginlas and Goginan, 365; yield of British mines, 366; yield of silver, 367; Belgium, 367; Prussia, 368 ; Harz : its interest as a mining district, 369 ; geology, 369 ; systems of veins, 369; history of mining in, 371; produce, 371 ; Saxony, 372; Nassau, 372; Baden and Wurtemberg, 373; Austrian Empire, 373; Spain, history of mining in, 375 ; character of deposits, 377 ; mines of Almagrera, 377; remarks on Andalusian mines, 378; English mining about Linares, 379 ; Italy, 380 ; France, 380 ; Australia, 381.

Section III. Geographical Distribution Of The Ores Of Lead In The United

STATES. General diffusion and importance of lead-deposits; 381 ; their classification, 382 ; mines of St. Lawrence County, New York, 382 ; position and character of deposits, 383 ; Coal Hill Mine, 384 ; Victoria mines, 386 ; St. Lawrence, 387 ; lead-bearing veins of the metamorphic palæozoic, 387 ; reasons why not profitably mined, 387; Maine, 388 ; Vermont, 388; New Hampshire, 388 ; mines : Eaton, Shelburne, 389 ; Massachusetts : mines of Northampton and vicinity, 390 ; Connecticut, 392 ; Middletown Mine, 393 ; New York, 394; Pennsylvania, 396; mines: Chester County, Wheatley, 397 ; Brookdale, Charlestown, 398 ; North Carolina, 398 ; Washington Mine, 399 ; lead mines in unaltered palæozoic rocks, 400; various deposits in New York, 401 ; Ulster County mines, 401 ; lead deposits of the Upper Mississippi, 403 ; history of their development, 404 ; extent of the lead-region, 405 ; its geology, 406 ; position and character of the lead-bearing formation, 407; mode of occurrence ofthe lead, 410; its quality, 412 ; various forms of deposits, 412 ; veinstone, 413 ; Levins's lead, 414 ; theory of deposition ofthe ore, 415; practical inferences, 416; lead-region of Missouri, history of mining in, 417 ; its geology, 418 ; character of the deposits, 419; smelting, 419; statistics of yield of all the mines, 420; other lead deposits, 421 ; general statistics of produce of lead, 422 ; comparative production of different countries, 423 ; imports and exports of this country, 423 ; sources of suture supply, 424. CONTENTS. XIX

Section I. Mineralogical Occurrence And Geological Position Of The Ores Of Iron

Mineralogical occurrence : general mode of, 425 ; universal distribution and early use of iron, 425 ; native iron, 426 ; ores : combined with sulphur, &c, 426 ; with oxygen, 427 ; silicates, 429 ; carbonates, &c, 429 ; geological position, 429 ; general classification of iron ores, 430 ; unstratified ores : in the azoic, 430 ; ores of Sweden and Norway: Durocher's classification of, 431 ; their geological place and character, 431 : eruptive deposits in this country, 433 ; beds apparently stratified, 434 ; iron-producing character of azoic age, 434 ; eruptive ores in more recent formations, examples of, in the Ural, 435 ; in Elba, 436 ; iron ores in the metamorphic formations, 437 ; stratified ores: their character and value, 438 ; division of the class, 438 ; ores in non-coalbeariug rocks, 439 ; below the coal, 439 ; above it, 440 ; ores in the coal-measures, 442 ; iron-stones, 442 ; black-bands, 444 ; iron ores in tertiary and alluvial formations, 444 ; ores of France, 445 ; bog ores, 446.

Section II. Statistics Of Iron In Foreign Countries

Russia, 446 ; Scandinavia, 447 ; Great Britain, 447 ; sources of information, 448 ; history of iron manufacture, 448 ; introduction of steam-engine, 449 ; of hot blast, 449 ; of use of black-bands, 450 ; effect of demand for railways, 451 ; statistics of produce and trade, 452 ; Belgium, 453 ; Prussia, 454 ; Austria, 454 ; other states of Germany, 455 ; France, 456 ; Spain, 457 ; Italy, 457 ; Switzerland, 457.

Section III. Distribution Of The Ores Of Iron In This Country

Circumstances affecting the production of iron, 457 ; iron ores in Maine, 458 ; New Hampshire, 459 ; Vermont, 460 ; Massachusetts, 460 ; tertiary ores of western part of the state, 461; Connecticut, 462 ; New York: eastern part, 463; southeastern, 464; northern azoic region, 465; New Jersey, 467; manufacture in Morris County, 468 ; Pennsylvania, 469 ; statistics of manufacture, 470 ; Maryland, 472 ; Virginia, 473 ; North Carolina, 474 ; South Carolina, 474 ; Georgia, 475 ; Alabama, 475 ; Tennessee, 475 ; Kentucky, 476 ; Ohio, 476 : Michigan, 477 ; Lake Superior iron region, 477 ; Indiana and 'Illinois, 478 ; Missouri, 478 ; Iron Mountain, 479 ; Pilot Knob, 480 ; other localities, 481 ; Iowa, 481 ; Wisconsin, 481 ; British provinces, 482; general summary, 483 ; resources of this country in coal, 486 ; production CONTENTS.

XX of iron at different periods, 487; general statistics of the production of iron, 488 ; comparative statement of present production, 488 ; our importation, 489 ; exportation, 490.

Chapter X. Metals Not Used In Their Simple Metallic Form

Classification, 491 ; Bismuth, 491 ; its forms of occurrence, 491 ; use, 492 ; where found in this country, 493 ; antimony, 493 ; its forms of occurrence, 493 ; sources of supply, 494 ; use, 494 ; Nickel, 495 ; its forms of occurrence, 495 ; use, 496 ; whence supplied, 496 ; mine of, at Chatham, 496 ; Cobalt, 497 ; its forms of occurrence, 497 ; mine of, in Norway, 498 ; where found in this country, 499 ; Arsenic, 500; Manganese, 501 ; its forms of occurrence, 501 ; sources of supply, 502; use, 502; Chromium, 502 ; Titanium, 503 ; Molybdenum, 503 ; Uranium, 504 ; Tungsten, 504.

Chapter XI. General Summary

Method pursued in the work, 505 : tables of present production of metals throughout the world, 506 ; remarks on the statistical tables. 508 ; comparison of the total production of different countries, 510.

INTRODUCTION.

. The records of mining on the American Continent form by no means the least interesting chapter in its history. The expectation of finding a land possessing greater treasures of gold and silver than existed elsewhere, led to the discovery of the !N"ew World, and was the predominating motive in its settlement. It was only to the Atlantic coast of the northern half of the Continent, that colonists came who were inspired by any higher aim than that of finding a recompense for the toils and dangers they had undergone, in the rich mines of the precious metals which they were to discover. These golden dreams were not destined to be disappointed, for a land had indeed been reached whose realities of metallic wealth were capable of satisfying an almost boundless cu pidity. Under Spanish dominion, the mines of Mexico and South America poured forth their treasures of silver and gold, and deluged Europe with an amount of these metals far beyond anything ever before dreamed of.

The history of Spanish mining in America is too well known to require recapitulation here. Confined almost entirely to the metals styled precious, it conferred neither happiness nor prosperity on either country. The mines of South America had been worked for nearly a century before the first settlements took place upon the less attractive shores of the Northern Atlantic. Mining formed no part of the object of the colonists of that region,

INTRODUCTION.

. and it was only at rare intervals that some adventurous per son attempted it. The first to turn his attention in this direction seems to have been Governor Winthrop, of Con necticut, who, from 1650 to 1660, engaged at intervals in examining the metalliferous indications of the Connecticut Valley, in the vicinity of Haddam and Middletown. There is no reason to suppose that any actual mining was ever exe cuted by him. About the same time, the Jesuit Fathers were exploring the Great Lakes of the far distant Northwest, and in the relations of their journeys for 1659 and 1660, we find the first mention of the copper of Lake Superior, which, occurring as it does in the native state, and not unfrequently found in loose masses along-the shore of the Lake, was well known to the Indians, and could not escape the notice of so observing travellers as were Allouez and Marquette.

Long previous to their time, at a period of which no record remains, this region had been the scene of extensive mining operations. The copper-bearing rocks had been explored throughout their whole extent, and even on the almost inaccessible island of Isle Eoyale, and mining excavations had been made at very many places. There is no reason to suppose that these work ings were known to the Indians at the time of the first visits of the Jesuits ; on the contrary, there seems to have been no tradition of them remaining, and the appearance of the ex cavations indicates beyond a doubt that they were made long before that period. Just at the commencement of the eighteenth century, Le Sueur explored the Mississippi as far up as the St. Peter's Eiver, expressly with the view of making discoveries of the metals.

The lead deposits of that region did not escape his notice, but his real discoveries are so mixed, up in the records of his journey with pretended ones, that the whole account

INTRODUCTION.

. XXIII has an almost fabulous air. Although he returned with a cargo of supposed copper ore, of which he fancied he had discovered an immense mountain, he must afterwards have recovered from his delusion, if such it was, since his voyage led to no farther explorations. About the same time that Le Sueur was thus employed, a great step was taken in New England by the erection of an iron furnace, which was probably the first one on the Ame rican Continent. A business was thus commenced which was destined to increase with the growth of the country, and to be a greater aid to its development than any gold or silver mines could have been. In 1709, the first chartered mining company in the United States came into existence, and the mining of copper was commenced, at Simsbury in Connecticut, where it appears probable that workings were carried on for several years, and some ore obtained.

The success at this point seems to have led to the discovery of the same ores in a similar geological position in New Jersey ten years later, as it appears that the Schuyler Mine was discovered in 1719, and that considerable ore was taken from it and sent to England. In 1719 and 1720, the attention of the French was directed to the Mississippi Valley, and the assumed existence of the precious metals in that region was made the basis of one ofthe most extensive and wildest schemes of speculation ever started. Both De Lochon and Renault, accompanied by a numerous corps of miners and mineralogists, explored the country near the confluence ofthe Mississippi and Missouri for the precious metals ; but their operations were attended with no practical results beyond the discovery ofthe lead deposits, which were worked to a very limited extent for a while, and then, on the bursting ofthe bubble in France, entirely abandoned. Duringthe 18th century, anumber of mining operations were

INTRODUCTION.

. XXIV undertaken and carried on in different parts of the country, apparently with but little success. Between 1750 and 1760, the New Jersey copper mines attracted considerable attention, and were wrought to some extent. In 1762, the cobalt mine in Chatham, Connecticut, was worked ; and about the same time, the Southampton lead mine was opened. None of these enterprises appear to have been conducted with much vigor or success. During the latter part of this century, the western lead region began to be of importance. While Louisiana was in the possession of the Spanish, some mines were opened and wrought, but in a very rude manner, the ore being taken out from mere pits, and smelted on log-heaps. In 1798, improved methods of mining and smelting were introduced, and the business grew rapidly into importance as soon as the terri tory was ceded to the United States, which event took place in 1803.

In 1774, Dubuque had commenced operations in the Upper Mississippi mines, near the town which now bears his name ; but it was not until half a century later that the region was opened to general settlement, and the lead business began to be developed. At about the same time, by a remarkable coincidence, the Spanish lead mines of the Sierra de Gador were opened, and produced immensely, so that the price of that metal became very much depressed. During the early part of the 19th century, pieces of gold were occasionally found in North Carolina, and from 1824 on, the search for this metal was carried on there to some extent. In 1829 and '30, however, it became quite general through out the Southern States, and no little excitement was raised on the subject. Thousands engaged in the business of gold washing, and in 1833 and '34 the amount collected in Vir ginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, was about a million of dollars a year. It afterwards fell off to

INTRODUCTION.

. XXV the half of that sum for a few years, but when the mines in the solid rock began to be worked, it rose again to more than it had been when the washings were most productive. Up to this time, the attempts at regular mining had been few and far between. Excavations had been made in the rock, but no extensive, permanent, and productive mine had been opened. The lead region of the West was indeed pro ducing largely, but such was the nature of the occurrence of the ores, that systematic working and enlarged plans were not indispensable to mining them with success. And in other parts of the United States, there had never been encouragement enough, or sufficient mining skill, to direct the invest ment of any considerable amount of capital into that channel. But in the mean time, the importance of our coal and iron had begun to be appreciated, and their production was in creasing with rapidity.