THE CALUMET AND HECLA MINE 65 



of to make a cut for a deep channel, which would have 

 cost at least $75,000, the Company intending to spend 

 about $10,000. Mr. Hulbert made no attempt to alter 

 this contract in spite of numerous letters sent him to 

 that effect, the contract being signed by him individu- 

 ally. Mr. Hulbert also, without making a careful exam- 

 ination of the country between the mine and Torch 

 Lake, selected at the head of Torch Lake a site without 

 troubling himself as to the feasibility of reaching the 

 Lake by the shortest route. 



" His strong recommendations of machinery were not 

 found successful, inducing the Directors, to run risks 

 which, had the true state of things been represented, 

 would never have been taken. This course of duplicity 

 in Mr. Hulbert is the more inexcusable from the fact that 

 he was a large shareholder, had received in everything 

 the full support from the Directors, and it was with 

 great reluctance that little by little they felt compelled 

 to lose confidence and to question his actions. No Agent 

 at Lake Superior ever had a more cordial support, and 

 the value of the lode to be worked was such that a little 

 common sense would with the expenditures thus far made 

 have equipped this mine properly." 



The Hecla Mine, being less far advanced, was not in 

 so bad a condition, but the openings of the mine ap- 

 pear to have been made as stupidly as those on Calu- 

 met, and the property equally mismanaged. There are 

 in existence a couple of old books full of the letters 

 that Agassiz wrote to Mr. Shaw during this trying 

 period. The pages, copied half a century ago, are 

 faded, blurred, and often quite undecipherable; but from 

 them we can gather something of the gallant fight of 



