THE CALUMET AND HECLA MINE 71 



least before any answer can come to letters is more than 

 I can stand. If it were a simple matter to go ahead, it 

 would be a different thing, but to feel that a false step 

 may swamp whole concern is not a pleasant predicament 

 to be left in, and I trust never to be in such a shape 

 again. 



I do hope the mails will be a little more regular. I 

 have nothing from you since April 11, and shall get 

 nothing till the boats come up, of course just at the 

 critical moment. I suppose there are about two weeks' 

 letters lying in Houghton for you waiting for a boat. 

 It is all very well for E. J. to rant about slow coaches ; 

 they are at least economical and don't throw money away 

 by thousands as he has done, and lay out a plan which 

 is carried out and means something, instead of this 

 spasmodic jerking of money right and left without 

 knowing the why or wherefore. I have never felt dis- 

 couraged till now, but if Calumet mill works well we 

 may yet get out of woods — otherwise the game is up, 

 and we had best be prepared for it, as you seem to think 

 it is impossible to assess in present state of feeling about 

 copper. 



Meanwhile the installment of the machinery in the 

 Calumet Mill, on which all hopes of earning a little 

 money to keep the mine working were centred, was 

 nearly completed. But the tests were not satisfactory. 



TO Q. A. SHAW 



Calumet, June 1, 1867. 

 We tried to-day mill with five tons rock, somewhat 

 larger than what Rock House would give, so that our 

 results will be somewhat inside of what we may expect, 



