V r i i i I- ii |! 'i f i ) i t, ( f I; I t f I' ! I i REPORT OF THE MANAGERS OF THE . .. . . • ' GOLD MINING COMPANY, MADE TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, March 19 , 1835 . LONDON : W. MARCHANT, PRINTER, INGRAM COURT. 1835. if t I 1 "t i n.- 1 f k!: i) * r REPORT, ETC. ETC. St, Catherine Mills. This property is situated one mile and a half from Charlotte, the county town of Mecklenburgh county, N. C. It affords the only considerable and advan- tageous water-power within a circle of fifteen or twenty miles, and, for this reason, it was occupied as a seat for extensive flour mills so early as during the revolution. It has always been regarded a valuable possession, without reference to gold mill- ing operations; but, considering it the central point of an immensely rich and inexhaustible district of mines to which, from impossibility of competition, these mines must be tributary, its value must be many times multiplied. During the last six years not less than seventy thousand dollars have been expended upon this property with a . view of rendering 4 it a very extensive and complete establishment for the different processes of amalgamation and extrac- tion of the precious metal from ores. A costly and permanent dam has been constructed of stone, with floodgates and expensive canals. Water-wheels have been newly built by the best workmen ; and for the solidity with which the different mills have been put up, and in the superiority of the plans fol- lowed, this establishment is far beyond any other which can be formed in years to come. The property has upon it all that is essential to make it the chief milling establishment of a great mining company ; gold mills of different kinds, saw-mills, blacksmiths’ shop, carpenters’ shop, with houses sufficient to accommodate eighty or one hundred workmen. The milling power employed at St. Catherine’s Mills is a steam-engine rated at thirty-horse power, which draws twelve arastres of nine feet each in diameter, this being the largest dimensions I believe the arastres are ever made of, six feet beinsf more usual, while those of nine feet are termed in Mexico “ of the first class.” The engine is capable of doing more work than it has yet done, and the excess of power might be employed in driving the arastres rather faster than they now go, and by the addition of a dry stamping mill, of head enough to supply pounded ores, or, as would be better, of a crushing mill, in lieu of being dependent, as now, upon the water, and thus losing any peculiar advantage of steam power. The water-power at present employed in reducing ores at St. Catherine’s Mills is, 1st, Twelve stamp heads employed in preparing hard ores for the arastres mills ; 2d, Two arastres called the old mill ; 3d, A new and efficient mill of twelve heads for stamping in water, to which the Tyrolean bowls are attached, and which have recently gone intf action ; 4th, One water-wheel, which is now employed in washing ore, but which may be made to drive ten stamp heads of fifty pounds each, or heavier ; .5th, Two new arastres of the largest size driven by a water- wheel. The mills in actual operation, and without looking forward to any changes, will reduce some- what as follows : — 12 arastres by steam, 15 bushels each per day 180 2 do. by water, 12 do. do. 24 Wet stamping and Tyrolean (say) . . 100 New arastre mill ..... 30 334 The amount of ores reduced at St. Catherine’s Mills, may be augmented with no great expense, and in a short time, to between four and five hundred bushels per day, and the water-power unoccupied will then be so great and constant, as to admit of being used in new mills, to carry the consumption of ores up to one thousand or more bushels per day, if there should be occasion. Also, in possession of the Company, are the Mallard Creek Mills, which, when repaired, will be capable of reducing about seventy- 6 five bushels per day, during nine or ten months of the year. There are at that establishment four arastres, and dry stamps to supply. In reference to an increase of the consuming power at St. Catherine’s Mills, it is very material that the extensive and ex- pensive appendages and accompaniments of a great milling establishment have been erected and arranged upon a scale which will not need any increase, however exemplified may be the mere milling part for reduction of ores. I refer to the substantial and comfortable dwelling houses which are sufficient t for the accommodation of one hundred or more white persons and officers ; besides excellent houses for black hands, to the number of seventy or eighty more ; stables, store-houses, carpenters’ and black- smiths’ shops, an excellent smelting and assay house, a new and first rate saw-mill, &c. The outlay at St. Catherine’s upon what may thus be termed the appendages of the mills, has been, since the place first came into possession of Bissels and Barker, very great, as they believed it justified by the advantageous locality of the mill place, situated, as it is, without any water-power within a great distance, able even to compete in the smallest degree, with its business of milling ores, and being in the vicinity of mines known in the United States. Nor should it be omitted that the work done under the administration of M. de R. i was of the best kind. Compared with this, any other concerns yet in this country are so inconsider- V 7 able as to seem but the mere first beginning of an establishment. The tract of land contains about six hundred acres, of which nearly one hundred and twenty are covered by the mill pond. The quality of the land is good for farming. Upon this property is a vein of copper ore which is open and may be examined, but no labour has been bestowed to prosecute the investigation. There is also a vein of gold ore which was a good deal worked by the country people, and with profit, be- fore the property was purchased by Messrs. Bissell and Barker. The work was resumed by M. de Rivafinoli with sanguine expectations, but finding, after more exploration, that only about half the vein was upon the Company’s property, he suspended his operations until he should be able to secure the property contiguous. After two or three years endeavour this has just been effected, and the entire vein has been secured to the Company upon good terms, e. L, at one twelfth of the proceeds. Williamson’s Mine Adjoins the St. Catherine Mills property, and embraces part of the vein last referred to, and another vein of some promise, the ores of which are extremely rich ; pits of ten, fifteen, and twenty feet have been sunk to examine. The ores taken out yielded two and three dwt., and appearances I '8 I 1 favourable. Lease is five years at one twelfth, which, as the mine is fresh, the situation high and easily drained, and the distance not one quarter of a mile . from the mill, is considered quite advantageous. It will be easy to extend^ the time, if desirable, upon • further trial of the vein. ) Mrs. Alexander’s Mine N Is distant from Mills .about two miles and three • • quarters. The vein is perpendicular, and yields quartz ores f with large gold attached. Was worked a good deal by country people, and profitably, until the Company [ leased the mine and forbade them. The Company ^ ^ ^ have driven in an adit level, which has reached the 1 vein, and the work was only stopped from the want ' of regular hands who could be trusted without con- stant watching. Terms ajre one twelfth of proceeds. JiMERsoN Mine. Distant two miles from St. Catherine Mills, leased for ten years, the Company paying a gross rent of one hundred and fifty dollars per annum. The . lease embraces a tract of two hundred and fifty acres for mining purposes, but houses must not be put ; | elsewhere than upon the thirty acres; the excess beyond thirty acres maybe cultivated by the owner - ■ . - • 1 f . • 5 I I' 9 while mining is not in progress. The extremity of the tract extends almost to touch the St. Catherine’s tract. An amount of gold equalling eight or ten thousand dollars has been taken from this mine by Bissell and Barker, and M. de Rivafinoli, and works were only stopped on account of water rising two dwt. per bushel. The remaining part of the possessions of the Company may be divided into three groups of mines. The first group is situated in the immediate vicinity of St. Catherine’s Mills. . It is composed of the mines known as, ICEHAUZ’S, Boyd’s, Rudesell’s, Cooper and Morrison’s, Mrs. Wilson’s, Charlotte, Hutchinson’s. These several mines lie in a range of about three miles in length, and are probably situated on parts of the same great vein, or on its ramifications. From the indications of those which have been opened to any depth, it is reasonable to conclude that they can furnish large supplies of ores for many years to come. And those of St. Catherine’s, Jimer- son, and Williamson, might form ample property for the operations of any single company. A more particular description of the state of these mines is subjoined. 10 IcEHAUz Mine. Distant from St. Catherine’s Mills about one mile arid a half; a ’ ‘ level has been driven in upon the vein, and two or three hundred dollars worth of ore taken out. Ores are yellow oxid of iron, worth from one to two dwt. of gold to the bushel, and gold is visible in massive quartzs in parts of the vein. Good buildings upon the place, and the road to mills without hills. Timber unusually abundant. The tract leased is fifty acrfes, for five years rent one twelfth. . ^ • y Morrison Mine. It is one mile and a quarter from St. Catherine Mills, upon the road from Icehauz’s. Ore is worth at least one dwt. per bushel, some of the pyrites more ; has been examined only by two pits of twenty feet deep. The vein looks ivell so far as seen. Terms are one fifteenth, and an agreement to lease ten years if desired. Boyd’s Mine. ■ I j ; '1 ~ > 4 r Situated about one mile from St. Catherine Mills, has been worked a good deal by country people 11 with profit, and many pits have been exhausted of ore to water. Ores from this mine,' milled at St. * ' Catherine, gave an average of over one dwt. No formal lease is signed, but owners have agreed to let the Company prove the mine, and offer terms, or the owners bind themselves to lease, for one fifteenth, for ten years. • • ' - i . Mrs. Wilson’s Mine. This mine adjoins the St. Catherine Mills pro- perty, and is distant from the mills > only three quarters of a mile. It was thought highly of by M. de Rivafinoli, who sank several pits twenty feet upon a contract to purchase for nine thousand dol- lars, which he urged the Company to do, after his trials. The digging was only a short time before his resignation, and nothing more was done. The mine is owned now by Mr. Alexander, who offers to lease it for one fifteenth for ten years, and has agreed to draw formal writings if required. Charlott£ Mine. : : i ' The Charlotte mine is situated about a mile and a half from St. Catherine Mills. At this mine eight veins have been opened and explored ; of these, five are parallel to each other, and are crossed by the other three. From their respective dips it is ascer- t 12 tained that the parallel veins, being converging, must meet at depths between one hundred and fifty and three hundred feet. The greatest depth to f which any one of these veins have yet been worked is only ninety feet, and has yielded seventy thousand dollars. An excellent low-pressure single-acting engine has been put up at this mine, of twenty-eight- horse power, which will certainly drain it to the depth of three hundred feet. A shaft of excellent and permanent workmanship has been commenced, and sunk to the depth of one hundred and forty feet. This shaft is lined with solid timbers of the largest f size, without interval, and is the most permanent mining work which has yet been performed in the United States. A large proportion of the ores of this mine have averaged two dwts. per bushel. Rudesell Mine. The Rudesell mine adjoins the Charlotte, and is so situated, that by a proper arrangement, both may be drained by a single engine. It has only been worked at the surface, although a shaft has been sunk to the depth of eighty feet, which is solidly timbered, but led to no raising of ores in conse- quence of an imperfect pumping engine having been employed. The ore found at this depth was even richer than of the Charlotte mine, and the vein well characterised. t 13 Cooper and Hutchinson’s Mines. These veins are distant one quarter of a mile from Charlotte, and were examined by M. de Rivafinoli, by a shaft of forty feet deep, which cut the vein with good ores ; the work was stopped by bad air at that time, and has never been resumed since. The tract contains about fifty acres, and the Company own one third in fee simple. A good deal of gold was obtained from the water courses which cut the veins upon this property. The second group of mines adjacent, and connected with each other, is composed of the following ; — Capps, 0‘Farrell’s, Felt, and Watkins. MTntyre’s, Robinson, M'Clure. M‘Ginns (Copper Gold), McGinns (Gold vein), and Means. These mines cover about twelve thousand acres, and constitute a group, the richness of which, it may be safely said, is superior to any in the United States, and it is to the high reputation that they have acquired that the location of the branch mint at Charlotte is principally to be ascribed. The ores have been partly milled at a small establishment in the possession of the Company upon Mallard Creek ; but they, at present, furnish the principal source of supply at St. Catherine’s Mills. The importance of these mines is, however, such as to 14 warrant the establishment of mills and conveniences at least equal in extent to those of St. Catherine’s ; for these good locations exist, within six miles, upon the Catauba, a never-failing stream, on sites, the right of presumption to which is in the Company for six thousand dollars. The following is a more particular description of this group. Capps Mines. The immense vein known as Capps mine bears the same relation to other mines of gold in N. C., as the mother vein (Veta made) does to the subordinate veins of silver in Mexico. Under the most discour- aging circumstances of unskilfulness, want of capital, want of machinery, and innumerable obstacles which have prevented any thing approaching a fair deve- lopement, it has nevertheless yielded ores with an astonishing steadiness and abundance ; and the highest praise of any mine throughout the gold region is, that it resembles Capps. The works pushed down no deeper than one hundred feet have given not less than four hundred thousand dollars ; and yet, in many spaces where the explorations have run upon, ores do not rise nearer than fifty feet and sixty feet of the surface. Between this mine and any other yet opened in the United States, there is no possible comparison, especially when it is taken into account that the mine consists of not one vein « 15 alone, great as it is, but of so many connected veins that they can scarcely be definitely named. The circumstances in vrhich the mine stands at this time are well known to the Company. Upon this mine the Company are at present putting up a high-pressure engine of the best quality and work- manship, twenty-eight-horse power, and which will effectually drain the mine to the depth of at least three hundred feet, and probably farther. A shaft has already been sunk to the depth of one hundred and sixty-five feet, and is waiting the erection of the new engine, to be extended farther. The ores, at this depth, have improved in quality, and the vein assumed a firmness and character superior to that in the higher levels. This is the deepest shaft yet sunk in the United States. 0‘Farkell’s, Felt, & Watkins’ Mines. This valuable property adjoins Capps, and receives the main Capps vein as it goes northerly from the Capps property. It contains many other veins, some of which yield rich ore, and all appear well for the work done. There are also deposits upon one or two water courses which will pay well for working in a small way. The whole tract contains about two hundred and thirty acres ; is heavily timbered, and on this ac- count only, is almost essential to the Capps mine as 16 an adjunct ; good houses, &c. upon the property. Company own one-third in fee simple. M‘Intyre & Robinson Property. This property, of about two hundred acres, was purchased by the Capps Company principally for w ood and timber, and to secure more extent in the vicinity of Capps. There are upon the tracts two or three veins which have been little more than tried, enough to say that they contain ores, and would justify more examination. The property was transferred with the Capps mine to this Company, and makes part of the contract. . M'Clure’s Mine. This vein was purchased at the suggestion of Mr Dey, and in his name. The tract contains abou^ forty acres, and the ores were worth about seventy cents, which, from the ease they might be had, would pay well. Pits were sunk to the depth of about thirty feet ; and another vein than the one most worked, and having richer ores, is known upon the property. It is distant four miles from Charlotte, and one half mile from Capps. Title is still in Mr. Dey. 17 M'Ginn’s Gold & Copper Mines. This property joins Capps on the north east, and receives the Jane vein, and other veins attached from the main vein at Capps. The Jane vein has yielded the Company rich ores to a considerable amount, although the bodies do not begin to be good much above water. The part of the mine joined to Capps is so material to the Company’s interest, that the manager has, for some time past, been very anxious lest some disposition of the pro- perty should prevent the Company securing it. It is now possessed by the Company. The copper and ansiferous vein upon the same tract, about half a mile distant from Capps, and has yielded eight or ten thousand dollars worth of gold to the first workers, who were so excited by their success above water, as to drain with horses to the depth of about eighty feet, ,whep the influx became too strong for their imperfect machinery, and the mine was left with superior ores in the last workings. Specimens of the copper ore are offered herewith. Mean’s Mine. ft This important property adjoins Capps towards the south-west, and receives the Capps vein and Jane vein worked by the Company. Terms of lease are one- fifteenth, and similar to Capps lease ; after 18 perpendicular, and pursue a steady straight course through the tract for more than half a mile, and they have been opened favourably at many points. To- wards Capps the works were profitably carried on to water, and the present company have taken out some hundred dwts. of gold, in addition to that obtained by the country diggers, who had the ad- vantage of working the best known bodies to water. There are as many as five or six veins opened on this property with fair ores. The property contains about three hundred and fifty acres. The third group of mines is situated so far from St. Catherine’s Mills as to require necessarily a separate milling establishment, and might form the basis of a separate Company. Maxwell’s & Baker’s Mines. These mines are owned as to one-third in fee simple by the Company, and are among the few most valuable veins yet discovered. They are regularly opened by a beautiful adit level, which was much more than paid for by the ores taken out in its progress. The Company are so well apprised of the character and circumstances of this property, that less will be said than of other mines less known. Distant from Charlotte, seven miles. 19 M'Ginnis Mine. This property adjoins Maxwell’s, and embraces veins similar and parallel to Maxwell’s. Pits of ten and fifteen feet have been sunk, and ores and veins are almost identical with Maxwell s. The tract embraces three hundred acres, and is a situation remarkable for its health. . The farm is a pretty good one; and there are houses upon it sufiicient for carrying on extensive operations at Maxwell’s and Baker’s, and in the vicinity. This property is owned in fee simple by the Company. Bane’s Mine. This mine is about three miles from Maxwell’s. It embraces an important part of the vein worked by Messrs. Carvils, and owned by Bortoulo, who were desirous of obtaining the same, as material to their working with profit. Pits are twenty feet. Owned one-third by Company. It will thus be seen that the Mecklenbursjh Gold Mining Company has not only in possession, under good and permanent leases, or in fee, mines suffi- cient fully to employ its present capital, but may separate one group of sufficient extent to require a capital as great as it has at present occupied ; and has also a third group of great importance. And it may be asserted with as much confidence as any 20 proposition in respect to mines can be, a sufficient capital invested in sure, steady, and permanent profits. The Company having commenced their operations at a very early period, and having alone been able to maintain its credit during periods of great difficulty and depression, such as usually attend a nasce at'' state of mining operations, has secured mines and other property that could not be acquired at the presenl moment upon almost any terms. It is also to be remarked, that the mines in its possession do not acquire their value from mere surmise or speculative views, but have, much of them, been fully tested so far as the value of their ores and the extent of the veins is concerned, and have all been profitably worked by the people of the country until interrupted by water. (Signed) J. H. BISSELL. New York, March 18, 1835. V;." ■■ “■• ^c -"' r'^ ' r V,. t *■'», f • . •K i'- > > ‘k V r V-. '«• •* » / « ■ ■ )■ y ■■ • ' ■ i »y -V>V :..»j :>. i-, V ■*y>'' ¥'■>• Jfi ^-' ./^T’