Sunbury American And Shamokin Journal

American Silver.

Mr. F. Blackburn has placed in the Exchange a sample of silver, entirely pure, from the Washington mine, Davidson County, North Carolina. The mass weighs 277 ounces, and is worth about Four hundred dollars. As we do not remember to have seen any silver from mines in this country before, we made some enquiries as to the manner of obtaining it, and the chances of getting more; and the following is the result.

The company went into operation, under a very advantageous charter from the State of North Carolina, about the first of September, 1840, the mine being then but partially opened, and showing the bed of ore to be of very great extent, comprising millions of tons of ore, of the richest kind. In the early part of 1841, one furnace for smelting was put into operation, which up to the present time, has produced 25 tons of mixed metal, (lead and silver;) the early smelting, from which this sample is made, yielding only about from one hundred to two hundred and fifty ounces silver to the ton, and gradually improving up to this time, when it yields five to six hundred ounces per ton of mixed metal. Within the last few weeks, two more furnaces have been put in operation, and three more, making in all six will go into operation very shortly, when the yield will equal from 1500 to 2000 pounds per day, valuing from $525 to $800. The proceeds of the one furnace have been sufficient to more than pay the expenses of the mine since going into operation up to the first of September, from which period the dividends of the company will commence.

The office of the company is at 24 Church Alley, where samples of the lead and litharge may be seen, and any further information on the subject may be had.—U. S. Gaz.