Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

Brownsville, (Pa.) Feb. 7.

THE SILVER AGE.

Since the discovery of the silver mine near Zanesville (an account of which was published in a late number of the Register) expectation has been "on the tiptoe," among the salt borers of this neighborhood. We have heard several accounts of their having passed through hard metallic substances, heretofore, at a certain distance from the surface of the earth, corresponding with that discovered by Mr. Chandler, in Ohio--but they never once thought of having their Borings examined. It is expected, however, that they will hereafter be on the alert--and very important discoveries may be made.

If Chandler has actually found the precious metal as represented; and we can see no reason to doubt it; but the probability is, that the country abounds with it. A few years ago, the man who would have undertaken to bore for salt water in this neighborhood, would have been considered insane; but now almost every farmer can find it; a few years hence, silver ore may be found in as great abundance as that of iron.

Since silver mines have become the topic of the day, we have heard the following fact related by a gentleman of veracity, which goes to establish the idea that there is silver ore in Fayette county: "About fourteen years since, a boy living in Uniontown discovered somewhere on the Laurel Hill within 7 or 8 miles of Union, a large quantity of ore; from its peculiar appearance, he formed the determination of having it tested; and took a small piece (the size of a hickory-nut) to an ingenious blacksmith for that purpose, who extracted from it to the value of 87 cents of pure silver. He then proposed to the blacksmith, that the thing should be kept a secret, and that if he would purchase the land on which it had been found he should receive one half the products--which was agreed to--and they set out together to give the place a thorough examination. On their way, the boy was seized with a violent headache and fever, which compelled them to return: he took his bed immediately, became delirious, and died in a few days. This casualty prevented the blacksmith, who had not been particularly informed, from ascertaining the spot where the valuable discovery had been made."