TREASURE AND WEALTH OF THE ALLEGHANIES
Our Special
Correspondent S. T. W.
Prospect Rock, Md.,
March 22, 1880
In the morning dawn of creation when dim
outlines of the world were merging from chaos and confusion, the Alleghany
Mountains were hurled up by Volcanic force from heated depths, "a frozen
wave of fire." but human speculation can not tell, till scientific investigation
reveals how many views of precious metals were thrown up by the heart throbs of
earthquake shock. William Hackett and Joseph M. Cogan were soldiers together,
and after the war sent to Colorado and mined Silver. They came back and were
engineers on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Hearing the usual story of a Lead
Mine regularly related, they went up the Savage River prospecting, and located
from favorable indications the site of their present location on the mouth of a
run, in the heart of the Savage Mountains, emptying into the Savage River. The
vein of Silver Ore is six feet wide, on which they are sinking shafts. The
first assay was $30.00 to the Ton, the last was $125.00 to the Ton, and the
vein growing richer. They bought 100 Acres for $700.00 before revealing their
discovery of Silver Ore mixed with Lead.
The Merril, Sunrise and Duckworth mines
have since been opened, and are in operation; excitement high, and land at
fabulous prices.
J. S. Jamison has ordered a crusher and
all the machinery necessary for working the Ore. Lead and Zinc Ores impregnated
with Silver have been found at Cranesville in Preston County, West Virginia,
only fifteen miles from Fayette County line. Copper Ore has been discovered in
West Virginia within ten miles of the Fayette County border. The Cranesville
lead and Zinc Ores resemble the Lowe Ore above Haydentown in Fayette County,
Pennsylvania.
NOTE:
I copied this from a book called
"THE LIFE AND WORK OF SAMUEL THOMAS WILEY" It was Published by: W. H.
Farwell Co., Uniontown, Pa. August 1968
THIS SILVER BELL MINE WAS ON "ISRAEL DUCKWORTH'S
FARM".
"If you ever find the Book it is
well worth whatever the price is for anyone interested in the Local History.
Respectfully Summited by: Lawson L.
Duckworth llduckworth@hotmail.com
Additional notes: As it turns out,
there was no silver in the mines listed above. Silver was transported from the
West and "planted" to lead potential investors to believe that the
mines showed great promise.