420 



UNITED STATES 



cumference, in all parts of which abundance of lead 

 ere is to be found. 



- The present mode of digging thb ore is to sink a 

 shaft, beginning about two-thirds of the Avay up the 

 mountain descending perpendicularly into the ground 

 about 100 feet, at which depth the miners generally 

 meet with water, which prevents them descending 

 further, although they are yet above the level of the 

 river more than 100 feet. The ore is often found 

 at the top of the ground, but generally at about 50 

 feet from the surface, and continues to increase ia 

 quality and quantity as they descend. 



The washed ore contains from 60 to 75 per cent, 

 in lead, and thirty- four ounces of silver to one toa 

 of lead. The Company have employed a number 

 of the most experienced English workmen, all of 

 whom agree, that these mines appear to have aa 

 inexhaustible quantity of ore; for having as yet only 

 dug about 100 feet from the surface of the earth, 

 they find the ore, as they go deeper, increases both 

 in quantity and purity. This induces a belief, that 

 if they could go from 200 to 300 feet, the ore would 

 be found in much greater abundance, and superior 

 in quality. 



To facilitate the obtaining of ore, a level has been 

 commenced on the south-west side of the ore moun- 

 tain at the fo -t, and extending so as to pass through 

 the centre of the ore beds about 250 feet below the 

 top of the works, which when completed will open 

 a subterraneous passage, sufficient for a waggon, 

 about h'i-lf a mile through the main body of the ore 

 mountain, and wiii answer the double purpose of 

 ^supplying ore, and draining the water from all the 



