Report – Robert Stagg – 24 Sep 1816

General Report	Mich[ae]lm[a]s 1816



      In the several districts of Alston moor, Teasdale & Weardale, there is no material alteration in the prospects of the various Mines, since the last Quarterly report, to which I therefore refer the Court, as the report of the present Quarter with respect to the views of the several trials.

	We are proceeding to put the Mines in Alstonmoor into Repair & in pushing forward such of the Levels & drifts as are essential to the future advantageous working of these Mines as was proposed in the last report; in doing which the Courts instructions to make the expence fall as gradually as is consistent with a due consideration of all circumstances respecting these Mines has been fully attended to, yet, as very much of the expence can not be withheld without a sacrifice nearly beyond the interest of the Sum that will have to be expended in these Repairs, & without the greatest disadvantage (such as the repairs of the Rails in the Levels, nearly the whole of which the district Agents report to be in the most wretched state, & which must be rem[ed]ied immediately or the draining of the Mines will be totally interrupted & the erection of the two Crushing Mills, which will be a saving in the two or three first Years, equal to the whole cost of them) the heaviest part of the expenditure will necessarily fall upon the Year now commencing.

      I have reason however to hope that so many of the dead Trials will arrive at the objects of them during the ensuing Quarter as will enable me at its termination to reduce that part of the weight very considerably,  I flatter myself to the extent of Twenty five or Thirty Men and I trust that some part of them will open out better Mines than we have in this district at present: none of which have at all improved since last Quarter nor has any circumstance arisen to cause me to alter any part of the opinion then offered relative to their state and future prospects.

      The earnings of the Workmen as far as we can yet judge, have been exceedingly small, the last Year in all the districts; not I believe, exceeding £[superscripted: ‘o’] 30 each, upon an average of the whole concern and the annexed Bargains are expected to average very little higher, but, unless an unlooked for reduction take place in the price of provisions, it will not be possible for the Men to exist on these Wages as a continuing average – indeed the whole of these Countries exhibit at present a sense of poverty & want which is most distressing.

      R. Stagg