Report – Robert Stagg – 24 Jun 1820

General Report of Mines &c June 1820

        

Teesdale



Coldberry Mine This Mine has continued to improve in its prospects since last quarter, and is now raising Ore to considerable advantage as the Court will perceive by the above rates 



Mannergill This Mine continues to raise Ore in the Upper Strata to great advantage as far as it is yet opened out, but the trial of the Lower Strata respecting the result of which we were all so sanguine in our expectations has entirely failed; we are therefore, at present, confining the Working of this Mine to the Upper part of the Vein where it is productive & profitable 



Wiregill The prospects at this Mine continue to be very flattering as we proceed, but the trial is not yet sufficiently advanced to allow a decided opinion to be formed of its results



Lodgesyke This Mine continues to Raise Ore to great advantage as the subjoined list will abundantly testify but since last quarter a Cross Vein as intercepted this Vein in the leading forehead which has thrown down (about 7 Fathoms below its regular situation) the part of the Strata that has hitherto been most productive in Ore; it has also scattered and completely confused the Vein, and is rendering it unproductive in the part where the junction is; which we fear may a little diminish the Ore raising for this quarter - What the effect of this intersection may be upon the future State of this hitherto most excellent Vein, it is impossible to anticipate until it is proved by driving through it,  but we always dread any interruption of a Vein so excellent, since it can scarcely be expected to be improved and it is liable to be greatly injured thereby.  With this exception there has no very material change taken place in the Mines of the

Teesdale District since the last Quarterly Report.



Weardale

         

Middlehope The only material change that has taken place at this Mine since last quarter, is that we have at length effected a sufficient trial of the Vein opened out in the lower Strata by the Engine to prove the success of this speculation, for we are now raising Ore in that part of the Vein, that will in little more than a Year repay the Whole expense of the trial

      This Vein in the part of the Strata that used to be so productive continues to be exceedingly poor as we proceed in opening it out <Eastward> and the Ore Raising will therefore be diminished in proportion, but as we have now accomplished the high dead expenditure required at this Mine, it is working (and, I hope, may continue to Work) to considerable profit not withstanding the diminution of Ore



Ireshopeburn  It is with peculiar satisfaction that I report the improving prospects of the Engine trial at this Mine we have now no doubt of having thereby regained a Mine that will not only repay the expense of this heavy trial, but will continue to be afterwards profitable for several Years. This quarter will terminate the chief part of the dead expense of the trial, & we hope to be prepared to commence the New Year by raising Ore to a considerable extent.



Stanhopeburn No change has taken place at this Mine since last Report that is entitled to notice



Alston Moor



Rampgill  No material alteration has taken place in the State of this Mine since the last Report



Rampgill Sun Vein  We have not yet cut the cross Veins which intersect this Mine within a short distance from the present leading Workings, and the only change that has occurred  since last Report is a material improvement in the State of the Working driving by Matt Lattimour &c that is approaching the Cross Veins from which the chances are greatly increased not only of the Sun Vein passing through the Cross Veins without being injured but also of enriching the Cross Veins and rendering [underlined: 'them'] valuable – Still however the Result may prove unfavourable and therefore I dare not indulge very sanguine expectations respecting it but we expect to come to the proof during the present quarter



Rampgill 2 Sun Vein No change has occurred since Christmas



Scaleburn Cross Vein This Mine continues to Raise Ore with advantage but has undergone no particular change during last quarter



Smallcleugh This formerly excellent Mine becomes harder & poorer every quarter and is now no better than the Worst of the Old pickings. Yet as this falling off is without any visible cause, we do not yet still despair of a revival of these flatts when the trial Cross Cut reaches them in fresh ground at a distance from the present Workings 



Middlecleugh This is the Vein discovered half a Year ago, and is continuing to Raise Ore to the greatest advantage, without requiring any dead expense in the prosecution of it - and it is only to be regretted it that its length has been proved to be so limitted [sic] 



Carrs South End We continue to raise Ore with advantage in the limitted Workings lately opened here



Middlecleugh Sun Vein This level has become hard and difficult to drive in the extreme, but as it is close upon a Cross Vein we hope a change for the better may speedily take place in other respects no alteration of importance has occurred here since Christmas



Long Cleugh Raising Ore with some advantage altho' the workings are poor



Caple Cleugh Cross Vein At this Mine for the trials of which so long a level was driven, a very important improvement has taken place since last quarter, which leads us all to entertain sanguine expectations of obtaining Workings when the trial is completed, & the Mine fully opened out that will be very valuable. I have all along in common with the District Agents considered this as one of our Main hopes of Reviving the Alston District on account of the great extent of Whole ground & of the objects before us as well as of the nature of the Vein which when productive has generally been of immense Value, and so far as we have yet proceeded since the Vein was Cut, our expectations have been increased by the indications that we have met with. The two Bargains let to Hetherington & Teesdale are for raising Ore; & the joint Fathom & Bing Rate is to prevent the necessity of giving a large Ore price expecting as we do that the Mine will improve on opening out.  



Tynebottom Sun Vein Since last Report the Engine Sump has been completed, & Workings have been Opened that bid fair to become very profitable as the Court will judge by the above lists and we hope that we have there regained a Mine that may be of value for a considerable time hence

      In concluding this Report (which I have made as brief as possible in the expectation of being enabled shortly to enter into a more detailed personal explanation with the next Deputation) I shall only further remark (and I do it with great satisfaction) that although our Ore Raising for the Year in progress is not likely to exceed the calculation formerly given, or may even fall short of that amount, yet, the prospects of lasting & beneficial Mines in Alston Moor & Weardale have materially improved since last Report, & in Teesdale there is no reason to doubt the continuance of very valuable Workings notwithstanding the present (but I hope [underlined: 'temporary']) confusion at the foreend of Lodgesyke - It is also gratifying to my feelings to be enabled to add that the [underlined: 'extraordinary'] expenditure which has necessarily been incurred in putting the Mines and Works into a proper State for carrying on the future Operations to advantage; will be terminated; or very nearly so, during this Year in [underlined: 'all'] the departments of your Concern - so that I am willing to hope that were the Mines even to fall Short next Year of their usual productiveness (of which however I entertain no present apprehention) the profit arising therefrom may at last keep pace with that of recent Years whilst the labour & anxiety attendant on the conducting the concern are likely to be greatly lessened.       

      Robert Stagg