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News reports about the Eskdale mines


To Eskdale index 

Until it gets too big, I'll add news reports about the metal mines of Eskdale to this page in chronological order, when I (or the ever-obliging Mr Ashforth) happen to spot them.



Cumberland Pacquet, 11 Aug 1874

WHITEHAVEN IRON MINES-
It is stated that notwithstanding the rapid extension of the workings and consequent greater expenditure in opening the mines, all expenditure, including that of the London office (except upon the railway, which is rapidly being pushed forward), has been met out of revenue, leaving a nett profit of £367, and increasing the reserves of ore from 86,125 tons to about 100,000 tons.


Cumberland Pacquet, 8 Dec 1874

THE WHITEHAVEN IRON MINES (LIMITED)

T. ROSEWARNE, Eskdale, 25th November, 1874
I beg to hand you report of progress made for month ending November 14th.
Midway drift has been driven by two men 4fms. 2ft. 6in., £3 10s per fathom. The lode is showing a better appearance for making ore than it has for some time past.
No. 1 drift has been driven by four men 9fms. 2ft. 6in., at £3 and £3 10s per fathom. The lode is much improved this last week, so that we have every reason to believe that we are getting into a run of good ore ground. We are now passing under the summit of the hill, the ground is easy for driving, and the men are working well and making good wages. The stope in back of this drift is worked by four and five men on day work. We have had the footwall part of the lode taken out at the south end of the stope, where I now find the lode to be fully 14 feet wide, and will yield about 70 tons of ore per fathom. I am having this stope put into a good working order, so that we shall be able to take away the ore cheaply when the railway is opened.
Side vein No. 1 drift has been driven by one man and one boy 5fms. 5ft. 6in., at £2 10s and £3 per fathom. The lode is looking very promising, and, to all appearances, will soon become as productive as ever.
Intermediate drift has been driven by four men 5fms. 1ft. 3in. at £8 and £6 10s per fathom. The lode is not looking quite so good as when last reported on.
The new drift driving south of rise has been worked by four men 5fms. 4ft. 3in., at £5 and £6 per fathom. The lode is looking better, and will now yield about 10 tons of ore per fathom. I have set both the intermediate and new drifts to the men to hole to each other, which I think will be completed this month, and, when done, will greatly improve the working of this part of the mine.
Side vein in No. 2 drift has been driven by four men 4fms. 4ft., at £5 and £6 per fathom. No change in the lode to notice since my last.
No. 3 drift has been driven by four men 4fms. 1ft., at £8 and £9 per fathom. The lode is fully 9 feet wide, and strongly impregnated with ore. I am expecting to see a change in the lode every day for the better. Side vein in this drift has been driven by two men 2fms. 7in., at £7 10s per fathom. The lode has a little improved this past month.
No. 4 drift has been driven 6fms. 2ft. 5in., by six men, at £7 per fathom. We are having this drift pushed on with all possible speed. The lode is large, but at present mixed with stone; this I think will soon wear out.
No. 5 drift has been driven 6fms. 5ft. by six men, at £9 and £6 per fathom. The lode is large, producing ssome good stones of ore. We cut a large stream of water last night, and it is washing out some very rich stones of ore. The indications are so good that I am expecting to cut into a large course of ore every day. You shall hear per wire tomorrow morning if I see any change in the lode worthy of notice.
No. 2 drift at Blea Tarn has been driven by two men 4fms. 1ft. 9in., at £6 and £4 10s per fathom. No change in the lode to notice since last reported on.

BAN GARTH
No. 2 drift has been driven 2fms. 2ft. 6in. by three men and one boy, at £9 and £10 per fathom. I see no change in the lode to notice.
The day men are pushing on with the levelling of the ground, extending the incline road down to meet the railway.
We have now employed forty-six miners, four boys as miners, four daymen, one smith, one timber-man, and four boys on surface- total 60.
Ore carted to Drigg during the past month, 185 tons, 10cwt., 2qrs.

T. ROSEWARNE, 26th November, 1874.
I am glad to tell you that the lode in No. 5 drift has greatly improved since yesterday morning. The orey part of the lode is now about 3 feet wide, and will yield about 10 tons of ore per fathom. The small veins of ore are still coming in from the eastern side and forming themselves into one body of ore on the footwall. If I see any more improvement by to-morrow morning I will let you know by wire.
The lode in No. 1 drift is still improving.


See also the page of early news reports about the Eskdale Railway.