362 The Acton Coj)per Mines, 



But it may only be found in detached pockets of greater or less 

 extent, and irregularly distributed throughout the valley ; even 

 in this case it will be of great value and amply repay for many 

 years to come skilful and judicious labour. 



The proprietors are about to open shafts and to erect suitable 

 machinery for working them to the north of the present mines. 

 These operations will determine in some measure the extent and 

 character of the deposits. Before another year closes we may 

 therefore hope to present to our readers a more definite account 

 of the geological character of the Acton mines. It is evident 

 that they are in the hands of enterprising men and are being worked 

 with intelligence and vigour. At present they present a busy scene 

 of active life. About 200 men, women and boys, are engaged at 

 good wages in the various departments of the works. The 

 strong men are busy boring and blasting and carrying off the 

 precious fragments from the mines. Others are breaking the 

 masses of rock into small pieces, and then a multitude of boys 

 and girls are washing, picking, and arranging the pieces according 

 to the quantity of copper they contain. Other workmen fill the 

 barrels with the broken washed and selected ore ; and from the 

 mines to the Railway station at the village, there is a constant 

 traffic of Canadian carts laden with the metallic spoils. 



Several thousand tons have by this time been shipped to the 

 market at Boston. The assay of the best quality of the ore gives 

 from 25 to 30 per cent, of copper. This is a large percentage 

 and must prove highly remunerative to the fortunate owners. 

 When the requisite machinery is erected for mining, crushing, 

 washing and smelting the rock, much that cannot now be removed 

 from the locality on account of the cost of transit to Boston will 

 yield a workable profit, and the copper of the richest ores will 

 become more immediately available. The quality of the Acton 

 copper is already coming into notice and is reckoned only second 

 to that of Lake Superior. 



By the enterprise of a few intelligent men, there has thus during 

 the past year been opened up to Canada a source of industry and 

 wealth that will not only benefit the parties immediately concerned 

 but also the country at large. "Whatever of value we can extract 

 from the earth js a real addition to our wealth, increases our avail- 

 able means for the employment of human labour, and for the 

 extension of our agriculture and commerce. The discovery of 

 the Acton mines will, we doubt not, become an important epoch 

 in the history of our national industry. a. f. k. 



