GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 53 



of examining the books of the School Trustees, found the total 

 amount on which rent had been charged and paid, to be 4,610,- 

 158 pounds ; but neither he nor any one else supposes that this 

 was all that, up to that time, had been obtained. 



" Among all the estimates I have obtained from those who 

 were familiar with the operations at this mine, there is none 

 less than 8,000,000 pounds ; some 15,000,000 pounds ; but the 

 majority of them place it at 10,000,000 pounds of ore. 



"However great may seem the above estimate, I do not doubt, 

 had shafts been sunk systematically, levels been run at suita- 

 ble and required depths, machinery been erected to keep the 

 mine dry, and the ground been stoped away with anything 

 like scientific and practical skill, that the Virginia Mine would 

 have been more productive than it has been, and, instead of 

 lying idle, would be still yielding a handsome interest on the 

 investment. 



" For many of the above facts, in regard to the Virginia Mine, 

 I am indebted to the Rev. Mr. Clarke and Mr. I. Nash Inge. 



" Darby's Mine, in Town. 41 N., R. 1 W., Sec. 20, S.E. qr. 

 This mine was worked some four or five years ago, and, ac- 

 cording to all reports, with considerable profit. Operations 

 were suspended on account of the water, but lately a new lease 

 has been obtained by Mr. Giles, who is now engaged in work- 

 ing it. 



" This mine is in the spur of a magnesian limestone hill. A 

 shaft has been sunk fifty-two feet deep, and an adit cut for the 

 purpose of drainage. At the bottom of this shaft a level has 

 been run thirty feet, nearly east and west, and near this was 

 found a large cave (denominated by the miners, chimney), 

 extending nearly to the surface of the hill, and which was 

 found filled with clay, tumbling rock, and a considerable quan- 

 tity of mineral. 



" The quantity of water (which is removed by pump, worked 

 by horse power) is so great, that it is necessary to keep the 

 present pump in constant operation, night and day ; and, this 

 having been intermitted for several days previous to my visit, 

 I found the shaft filled with water to nearly the adit level. 



" Specimens of the mineral seen from this mine were tolerably 

 massive, much of it crystallized in cubes, the sides of many of 



