One hundred and twenty-one years ago there were found, north Lake of
Superior, several “large lumps of the finest virgin copper.” The finder
wrote: “In the honest exultation of my heart at so important a discovery,
I directly showed it to the Company, (Hudson’s Bay Company) but the
thanks I met with may be easily judged from the system of their conduct.
The fact, without any inquiry into the reality of it, was treated as a
chimerical illusion, and a stop arbitrarily put to all farther search
into the matter, by the absolute lords of the soil.”
The first attempt made to obtain copper from the Lake Superior region
was by a company of adventurers from England, soon after the conquest of
Canada, “but the distracted state of affairs in America obliged them to
relinquish their scheme.” The next effort was made in 1771, by a company
who petitioned for, and obtained, a charter from the British Government.
The partners, in England, were His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester,
Mr. Secretary Townsend, Sir Samuel Tutchet, Baronet; Mr. Baxter, Consul
of the Empress of Russia, and Mr. Cruickshank; in America, Sir William
Johnson, Baronet, Mr. Bostwick, Mr. Baxter and Alexander Henry.
“In 1770 (says Henry,) Mr. Baxter, who had sailed for England, returned,
bringing with him papers by which, with Mr. Bostwick and himself, I
was constituted a joint agent and partner, in, and for, a company of
adventurers for working the mines of Lake Superior. We passed the winter
together at the Sault de Sainte Marie, and built a barge, fit for the
navigation of the lake; at the same time laying the keel of a sloop of
forty tons. Early in May, 1771, the lake becoming navigable, we departed
from Point aux Pius, our ship yard, at which there is a safe harbour,
and of which the distance from the Sault is three leagues. We sailed for
the Island of Yellow Sands, promising ourselves to make our fortunes,
in defiance of its serpents.” After coasting about for five days, they
returned to Point aux Pius, where they erected an air-furnace. The
assayer made a report on the ores which had been collected, stating that
the lead ore contained silver in the proportion of forty ounces to a
ton, “but the copper ore, only in very small proportions indeed.” Facts
developed by recent explorations go far to show, that the day is not far
distant when the silver mines of Lake Superior will rank among the most
prolific in the world.
Soon after testing the ores at Point aux Pius, the expedition coasted
westward for the mouth of the Ontouagon river. Henry says: “Proposing
to ourselves to make a trial on the hill, till we were better able
to go to work upon the solid rock, we built a house, and sent to the
Sault de Sainte Marie for provisions. At the spot pitched upon for the
commencement of our preparations, a green-colored water which tinged iron
of a copper color, issued from the hill, and this the miners called a
leader. Having arranged everything for the miners during the winter, we
returned to the Sault. Early in the spring of 1772, we sent a boat load
of provisions; but it came back on the 20th day of June, bringing with
it, to our surprise, the whole establishment of miners. They reported,
that in the course of the winter, they had penetrated forty feet into the
hill; but, that on the arrival of the thaw, the clay on which, on account
of its stiffness, they relied, and neglected to secure it by supporters,
had fallen in;—that to recommence their search would be attended with
much labor and cost;—that from the detached masses of metal which, to
the last, had daily presented themselves, they supposed there might be,
ultimately, reached some body of the same, but could form no conjecture
of its distance.” They concluded that the work would require more men
than could be fed, and their operations in that quarter ended.
A little over eighty-two years ago, the independence of the United States
was acknowledged by Great Britain, in a treaty concluded at Paris, in
which the boundaries were agreed upon. By reference to that instrument,
it will be observed that the northern line, after striking the River St.
Lawrence, follows up that stream to the great lakes, thence through the
middle of the same, and their connecting rivers, to Lake Superior; thence
through Lake Superior, _northward_ of the Isles Royal and Philippean,
to the Long Lake, now known as Pigeon River; thus securing to what is
now Minnesota, about one hundred and fifty miles of the north shore
of that inland sea, and believed to contain the richest copper and
silver deposits known in the world. Benjamin Franklin was one of the
commissioners to the treaty. It is supposed that he obtained information
in France of the richness of that region; and, to his great foresight, we
are mostly indebted for that valuable acquisition. In fact, he wrote that
the time would come when the American people would consider the part he
took in securing that vast mineral region to them as one of the greatest
acts of his life. Seventy-five years after the death of that great and
good man, the people of Minnesota are about to realize the importance of
the vast interests secured by that far-seeing statesman.
On the 5th day of August, 1826, Lewis Cass and Thomas L. McKenney,
commissioners on the part of the United States, made and concluded a
treaty with the Chippewa Indians at Fond du Lac, Lake Superior, by
which the Chippewas granted to the United States the right to search
for, and carry away, any metals or minerals from any part of their
country. No efforts under this grant were ever made; but from that
period (and even before,) explorations, from time to time, were made by
individuals; and many indications of rich mines, (now within the limits
of Minnesota,) were discovered. Licenses to trade with the Indians were
obtained,—buildings for the ostensible purpose of trade were erected,
and possession maintained for many years, in hopes the Government would
extinguish the Indian title to the land, so that individual titles might
be acquired. Time and expense caused the abandonment of most of these
points, and a consequent dissipation of the bright visions raised by the
knowledge of the wealth which was beyond the reach of the discoverers.
Under the old permit system, many locations, three miles square, were
made on Lake Superior;—several on and near the Montreal river—some on Bad
River, south of La Pointe—three on the main land, opposite La Pointe—two
or three were made near Superior City, on the Nemadji, or Left Hand
river, and one settler’s claim about twenty miles north of Superior.
Several locations were made in the valley of the St. Croix river;
explorations, to a limited extent, and recent developments, give great
hopes that the Falls of the St. Croix may, at no distant day, compete
with some of the towns of Lake Superior in the shipment of copper. Two
of the mines south of Superior are being worked, both giving assurances
that success will amply reward those engaged in the work. Last year,
a New York company was formed for the purpose of working one of the
locations on Bad River. The work was commenced, and has been vigorously
prosecuted with flattering prospects. On the 30th of September, 1854, the
Chippewa Indians, by a treaty made at La Pointe, ceded all their lands
on the north shore of Lake Superior to the United States; thus removing
all obstructions to the development of the rich mines within the limits
of Minnesota. In the same year, an association was formed by gentlemen
residing in this state and Ohio for the purpose of securing a title to
several well known locations within the country ceded, which purpose they
accomplished some four or five years afterwards. The association was
known under the name of R. B. Carlton & Co. On the 28th day of September,
1858, a meeting of the persons composing the association was held in the
city of Cleveland, Ohio, and, among others, the following actions were
taken:
WHEREAS, on the 25th day of September, 1854, a portion of
the undersigned entered into an agreement for the purpose of
obtaining Mineral Locations and Lands in what is now the State
of Minnesota, which Association was known by the name of R. B.
Carlton & Co.: _and whereas_ certain lands and locations have
been secured under said agreement, the legal and equitable
titles of which are held in the individual name or names of
some of the undersigned, or some other person or persons, but
in trust for the said Association: _and whereas_, the title
to other lands is in process of being secured, which, when
secured, will be in the individual name or names of some of
the undersigned, or some other person, but for the use of the
undersigned: _and whereas_, it is contemplated that other
Lands and Mines maybe procured or required: _and whereas_,
the interests of the parties to said original agreement have
been by assignment transferred with the assent of all the
parties thereto and hereto, so that all the Lands, Mines, and
benefits, secured or attempted to be secured, under and by
virtue of original agreement.
And this agreement shall be divided into eighty Shares or
Parts, and are now owned and held as follows: to-wit,
John S. Watrous, two shares, equal to 2-80ths.
Reuben B. Carlton, eight shares, equal to 8-80ths.
Josiah Tallmadge, four shares, equal to 4-80ths.
Joseph W. Lynde, six shares, equal to 6-80ths.
George E. Nettleton, four shares, equal to 4-80ths.
William H. Newton, four shares, equal to 4-80ths.
Edwin A. C. Hatch, eight shares, equal to 8-80ths.
John T. Newton, two shares, equal to 2-80ths.
Henry B. Payne, three shares, equal to 3-80ths.
H. J. Jewett, six shares, equal to 6-80ths.
Paine & Wade, three shares, equal to 3-80ths.
Julien A. H. Hasbrouck, six shares, equal to 6-80ths.
James B. Beck, four shares, equal to 4-80ths.
Charles E. Rittenhouse, four shares, equal to 4-80ths.
Joel D. Cruttenden, four shares, equal to 4-80ths.
Nathan Myrick, four shares, equal to 4-80ths.
Trustees herein mentioned for the uses and purposes herein
expressed, eight shares, equal to 8-80ths.
Now, it is agreed and stipulated by all the parties hereto, as
follows, to-wit: that all the lands, mineral localities and
property of every kind and description, which has already been,
and all which shall hereafter be secured, under or in pursuance
of said first mentioned agreement, and this agreement shall be
conveyed to Henry B. Payne, Robert F. Payne, and Edwin A. C.
Hatch, to be held by them, the survivor and survivors of them,
who shall hold the legal title of the same, in trust for the
uses and purposes, and upon the terms and conditions herein
expressed, and for no other purposes, conditions or terms,
and with all the powers, authorities and privileges herein
expressed.
Hon. Henry B. Payne, of Cleveland, was appointed President, and Jas.
Wade, jr., Secretary. Certificates of stock were issued. The next
meeting of the stockholders was called by the trustees, and held at
Bayfield, Wisconsin, July 27, 1863, which meeting adjourned to Du Luth,
Minnesota, where it convened, July 31, 1863; and on the 3d of the next
month, August, on motion of B. F. Paine, it was unanimously resolved,
that they proceed to organize two companies under the laws of Minnesota.
Hon. Geo. L. Becker presented drafts of articles of associations for a
corporation to be known as the North Shore Mining Company; and, also,
another corporation to be known as the French River Mining Company,
which were approved, acknowledged by the corporators, and ordered to be
placed on record as required by law. The capital stock in each company
was $100,000, divided in 2,000 shares of $50 each. The first meeting of
the corporators and stockholders of each of said new companies was held
in Cleveland, Ohio, November 2, 1863, at which meeting the “French River
Mining Company” and the “North Shore Mining Company” were organized by
the election of boards of five directors each—three, residents of Ohio,
one of the city of New York, and one of the State of Minnesota. The
directors organized by appointing Hon. Henry B. Payne, president, and
James Wade, jr., secretary and treasurer. The trustees of the Carlton
& Co. association conveyed to the “French River Mining Company” the
south-west quarter, and lots Nos. 3 and 4 of section No. 17, in town 51
north of range 12, west, in Saint Louis county, Minnesota, containing
165 16-100 acres. The trustees conveyed to the “North Shore Mining
Company” the south-east quarter of section 25, town 52, range 12, west,
in same county. During the year 1864, a shaft was sunk, by the North
Shore Company, to the depth of 20 feet, and by French River Company, 40
feet—both giving indications of valuable results.
At a meeting of the stockholders, held on the 6th of July, 1864, Gen. A.
S. Sanford, of Cleveland, was chosen president, in place of H. B. Payne,
resigned, but who still remains as one of the directors. The French River
Company sent up men, tools, and supplies sufficient to prosecute the
work, day and night, during the winter. The work is in charge of Frank
Salisbury, who is sinking a shaft one hundred and fifty feet from the
old one, with the intention of drifting from one to the other. I have,
perhaps, gone too much into detail; but if the anticipations of those
who have given this subject much attention shall be realized, the silent
operations and large expenditures that have been made, will, hereafter,
render any facts, connected with the first developments of the mineral
wealth of Minnesota, interesting in the future. But a few years ago,
those engaged in developing the copper mines on Lake Superior, within
the state of Michigan, were looked upon as visionary speculators. The
completion of the Sault St. Mary canal gave such facilities as enabled
them to draw capital from all parts of the United States and to convince
the most skeptical that the basin of that vast inland sea contained
untold wealth. Of the many mines in successful operation, a single
one—the Quincy, yielded, the past season, 3,102,532 pounds, or 1,551
tons, 532 pounds of copper, worth one million five hundred thousand
dollars. When we have communication by railroad to the head of lake
navigation, the most skeptical cannot over rate the mineral wealth that
will be developed, nor the commercial advantages that will inure to the
state—enriching and infusing new life into every city, town and hamlet.