Grant County, Wisconsin - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 1 of those read), 1881 (part 14 of 17)

Galena Limestone

The course of the vein is nearly east and west, and five shafts have been sunk upon it, the deepest of which has reached a point one hundred and five feet below the surface. The opening now presents the appearance of a series of large rooms or caves, from fifteen to twenty feet wide, and about fifteen feet high, for a distance of six hundred feet. The vein was crossed in several places by bars of hard rock, one of which was sixty-five feet in thickness. The bars always caused a decrease in the size of the opening, and sometimes nearly cut off the vein. In other places, the opening contracted in width, in which case the ore usually occurred in a solid sheet, sometimes as much as seven feet thick by seven and a half feet high. In the caves or larger parts of the opening, the ore was found in large masses, weighing sometimes several thousand pounds. Two large masses were found which weighed respectively fifty thousand and twentyseven thousand pounds. With the ore large masses of rock were found mixed with loose dirt and a f ne, dark clay.

The sides of the opening were much washed and worn by water, sli wi ig a very regular stratification, with no appearance whatever of faults or dislocations. Each of the caves in the opening had a chimney going down, apparently to a second opening, which has never yet been proved or worked.

The upper part of the opening was sometimes filled with a large key-rook,having a crevice in each side of it. Sometimes, however, the key-rock was replaced by a flat cap-rock containing crevices.

The appearance of these caverns, as we passed through them, was a sight not soon to be forgotten. On the floo lay great misse? of rock which hail fallen froTi above, wi"h clay, continually moistened from the dripping walls and arching roc', and, here and there, the'f'ieble light revealed rieli masses of glittering ore.

Williams ^ Co. - This mining property is situated about three-quarters of a mile n(ir;heast of Black's Mine, and was operated by the proprietors, Messrs. Thomas and Jeremiah Williams and Mr. O'Connor. The water in this ground is not nearly so abundant as in other mines. It is easily removed with a common lift-pump, worked with a ten-horse-power engine; the amount seldom exceeds 250 gallons per minute. Mining has been confined to the upper half of the Galena limestone. The lower clay beds of the Cincinnati group are also found here, but there is not so great a thickness of them as at Black's Mine. The pumpshaft commences at the top of the Galena limestone, and is sunk to a depth of 106 feet, at which point the top of the second opening is found, after passing through the first opening, which is situated at a depth of forty-seven feet from the surface, and is probably identical with the first opening at Black's Mine, which it much resembles in its general appearance. The first opening here consists of a series of large caves or enlargements of the crevice, with chimneys going down to the second opening.

The ore was found in masses, mixed with clay and large pieces of stone, which had apparently fallen from the roof or cap. The lead ore, from its greater specific gravity, usually occupies the lower part or floor of the opening. The course of the range is very nearly east and west, but bears a little north on its western end.

The length of drifts in the top opening amounts to about nine hundred feet. It is about worked out at the western end, but still continues good at the east. Several masses of lead ore were found in this opening weighing from fourteen to fifteen thousand pounds. A singular formation of ore was found in the top opening. The mine was discovered and opened in February, 1872, and since then has probably been the most productive and remunerative mine in the district, on account of the comparatively small amount of water to contend with and the large amount of lead ores obtained, which has been estimated at two and a half million pounds. Work was suspended on this mine in the fall of 1875, and has not since been resumed.

Fairplay Level Co. - A company consisting of Messrs. Merry, dinger, Rewell, Pier and Natte, having formed a stock company, with a capital of $50,000, have been engaged during the last eight years in running a level on land owned by George Siddell & Co. This level is commenced on the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 26, Township 1, Range 2 west, about three-quarters of a mile below the village of Fairplay. It has been run eastward a distance of 2,200 feet, and thence south 70 feet, and has cost about $30,000.

One "shift" of three men is the usual number employed, and it is not expected that the level will be completed for many years. Its greatest depth below the surface is 140 feet, and forty-eight feet below the natural water level ; one mile farther east it will drain about sixty feet below the present water level.

This level will unwater the whole of Section 25, and will cut the following ranges in the third opening : The Crabtree, Thompson, Engine, Cams, Bruce, Lost range, Frankhn, Seward and Cave range. The openings in these ranges are vertical ; they were formerly worked and abandoned with lead ore in them going below the water. When these ranges are unwatered they will undoubtedly be very productive.

Histoky Of The Lead Begion

In the vicinity of Fairplay, about fifty men find employment in mining during the winter ; in summer the mines are idle. The greater part of the lead ore raised in this district comes from the mines south of the village, and, exclusive of the two large mines previously described, has not exceeded 50,000 pounds per annum for the last six years.

Hazel Green District

The Hazel Green District exhibits considerable activity at present in mining operations, and the reports of smelters in this vicinity show that a large amount of ore is raised here. During the years 1872 and 1873, miners were attracted to other localities by the prospect of higher wages, which caused a temporary decrease in the production of lead ore ; the mines, however, remained unimpaired. The miners have now returned, and the mines have regained their normal productive condition.

The most remunerative and continuously productive portion of the district is the property of the Hazel Green Mining Company, otherwise known as Crawford, Mills & Co. It is situated on the northwest quarter of Section 30, part of the southwest quarter of Section 80, part of the northeast quarter of Section 30, part of the southeast quarter of Section 19, the southwest quarter of Section 19, the northwest quarter of Section 19, the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 18, all in Township 1, Range 1 east ; also, the northeast quarter of Section 24, and the east half of the east half of Section 25, Township 1, Range 1 west, comprising in all 1,106 acres, on which over four hundred and fifty distinct mineral veins have been discovered and worked.

During the early days of mining these grounds were worked from the surface as deep as was then possible, which was only about thirty-five feet, when they had to be abandoned. Pumping was tried on some of the larger bodies of ore, but as a general thing was found to be too expensive to be very remunerative, on account of the vast amount of water which the ground contained. In the year 1862, Crawford, Mills & Co. commenced their level from a point on the Hard-Scrabble Branch, and have been working it continuously ever since. Its total completed length is now about four thousand feet.

It is a feature of this ground that it is traversed by several bars or belts of ground which are very hard and impervious to water. As soon as the level is driven through one of them, it unwaters the ground in all directions to the next bar.

Some time in the year 1871, one of those bars was reached which was so hard that blasting with powder made but little impression on it. As an experiment, nitro-glycerine was tried and gave the greatest satisfaction, so much, indeed, that a factory has been established here, and it is gradually being introduced into the mines. It is at present used in Dubuque, Galena, New Diggings and several other places. It was at first regarded with some dislike and distrust by the miners, but this prejudice is fast being overcome, and nitro-glycerine, or some of its compounds, will probably supplant gunpowder in the mines at no distant day. The factory at Hazel Green produced, during the first three years, about 3,000 pounds of nitro-glycerine, and the demand is steadily increasing.

On account of the position of the bars, it was found necessary to make three branches to the level, one of which is now completed and is gradually draining the western part of the ground. The northern branch, when completed, will undoubtedly unwater the rest of the ground.

This level is an evidence of what can be done by scientific mining, when carried on persistently and systematically, with sufficient capital, applied with foresight and sagacity. It has cost the company twelve years of time, and about $100,000. Its results are, that it has already repaid the outlay of capital by the ore raised from the ground unwatered by it, which would otherwise have been inaccessible. When completed, it will unwater the ground 135 feet below the natural water level on the ridge. It furnishes employment to about eighty miners during the mining season.

Quite a large and clear stream of water is discharged from the mouth of the level, and is at present used to operate a furnace and three wash-places. The ore in the Hazel Green mines ijj.

usually found in sheets ; this is its characteristic mode of occurrence. The ranges are approximately east and west, or north and south, the former being the most productive. Ore is also sometimes found in large bunches or pockets, containing sometimes several thousand pounds, and occasionally in openings. The pockets are often lined with large and very regular cubes, affording handsome cabinet specimens. The total production since the discovery of these mines, has been carefully computed from the smelter's accounts at about 126,000,000 pounds. Their present product is about 800,000 pounds per annum.

Mining in this vicinity is confined to the upper half of the Galena limestone, which is here present in its entire thickness, the clay of the lower beds of the Cincinnati group being found near the village, on the road to Galena. A section of the strata from the top of the ridge to the level would present approximately the following features :

Richard Eustice ^ Oo. - These parties were working in a new locality, and had, at the time they were visited, one of the handsomest displays of ore ever seen in the grounds. The bottom of the shaft had penetrated an opening filled with' soft earth. The sides of the opening were lined with a body of ore which presented an unbroken mass of cubic crystals of various sizes, some of them being as much as six inches on a side, and of very perfect shape, affording very handsome cabinet specimens. There were not less than 10,000 pounds of lead ore in sight, in a place about ten feet long. This body of ore is known to continue several feet deeper to the drift below. These diggings were worked until the fall of 1875, and produced 120,000 pounds.

Rows ^ Rowe. - This is a new range, and was discovered in March, 1874. It is ^an eastand-west sheet, in which the ore occurs in a crevice three or four inches wide, at a depth of about sixty feet below the surface, and about thirty-five feet above the flint opening. Work was suspended here in September, 1876. The total amount produced to that time was 50,000 pounds.

Richard Eustice s Diggings - Are situated on the Phelps range ; shafts are ninety feet deep, down to the clay openings. Length of drifts about 150 feet. The oye here occurs in a sheet about an inch thick. The diggings were worked from June, 1872, to June, 1875, and produced - about 40,000 pounds. Near these diggings, and about ten feet deeper, is an east-and-west sheet dipping tothe north, carrying bunches of blende, which affords quite handsome crystals.

Manwaring and Madison Range. - This is an east-and-west range, and is sometimes known as the Hinch Range, from the name of a party who formerly worked it, and by whom it was abandoned in 1858. Since the level has been run, the water has fallen about fifty feet in this ground, and in December, 1873, work was resumed on it by Crawford, Mills & Co., since which time it has produced 40,000 pounds of lead ore. The shaft is down about fifty-five feet, or within, six feet of the fiint opening. Work was suspended on it in June, 1875.

John Edwards' Diggings. - Situated a short distance further west on the same range, a flat sheet of blende is found here in the second opening, at a depth of eighty feet below the surface. The order of deposition here is : 1st, pyrite ; 2d, galenite ; 3d, blende. During the winter of 1875-76, the product was blende, ten tons; lead ore, 1,400 pounds.

Bull Pump Range. - This range was worked by Jackson & Co. during the years 1873- 74-75, producing 90,000 pounds. Work was suspended here in the fall of 1875.

Bininger Range. - This range has been worked at intervals since May, 1874. It is now worked by Stephens, Mankivel & Rowe ; four men are employed, working with a horse pump in the second opening. During the present year the product has been 30,000 pounds.

Big Pump Range. - This range has been worked since October 1, 1876, by Richard Eustice & Co. A small amount of ore has been produced from the first opening.

Oates ^ Eustice. - This party has been working during the last year and a half on a ranjre two hundred feet north of the west branch of the level. The lead ore is found in a flat sheet in the second opening. The opening is seven feet high, and averages seven feet in width. The sheet is about one foot thick. The product to the present time has been 150,000 pounds.

Clark's Diggings. - Two men have been working during the last year in the range next north of the McCoy Water-wheel Range. The ore is found as "chunk mineral" in the second opening, which is here six feet wide. The product has been 30,000 pounds.

Tregenza §- Son. - Work was commenced by this party, in the fall of 1874, on the Drybone range, south of the Badger lot. The works are in the second opening, which is here from ten to twelve feet wide, and contains a flat sheet about five inches thick, of which the upper part consists of lead ore, and the lower of zinc ores. The product has been - zinc ores, twenty tons ; lead ore, 20,000 pounds. Very handsome specimens of galenite, coated with cerusite, are obtained here.

W. S. Eustice ^ Bro. - This party commenced work in the fall of 1875 at Crawford's little pump shaft. They worked in the second opening during the winter of 1875-76, and suspended in the summer on account of water. The prospect is good, and they expect to resume work this winter (1876). Product, 10,000 pounds.

Edwards Estate. - On this land, there are several old ranges, now drained by the level of Crawford, Mills & Co., in which the following mining has been done :

In addition to the parties already mentioned, there are, in the winter season, usually about sixty miners at work on the lands of the Hazel Green Mining Company.

The following diggings are in the village of Hazel Green, but not on the lands of the Hazel Green Mining Company : McBreen ^ Co. This is an east-and-west sheet, connected with a -quartering one averaging about an inch thick, situated on the land of Dr. McBreen, on the northwest quarter of Section 25, Township 1, Range 1 west. The range was worked in 1844, and the ore taken out to the water level. The water having become much reduced by the ILizel Company's level, work was recommenced in 1871, since which time about fifty-five thousand pounds of lead ore have been taken out. The diggings are in the upper beds of the limestone, and not down to any opening.

TorneaVs Diggings. - A short distance southwest of the preceding is a range consisting of twenty parallel crevices about twenty-five feet apart, and bearing north 15° east. Work was abandoned on them in 1850, and was recommenced by Mr. Torneal about eight years ago, since which time they have produced 42,000 pounds. Considerable time and labor have been expended in running a cross drift to prove the ground and ascertain the number and position of the crevices. The distance here to water is eighty feet, and the diggings are in the upper beds of the Galena limestone.

Rowe ^ Vivian. - This was formerly known as the Chizzem range, and is situated on Edward Williams' land, in the southwest quarter of Section 25, Township 1, Range 1 west, in the southern part of the village of Hazel Green. It is a north-and-south range, and was worked and abandoned in 1854. Work on it was recommenced by the present parties in November, 1878. Since then it has produced 24,000 pounds. The full thickness of Galena limestone is here present, overlaid by a few feet of clay of the Cincinnati group. The deepest shaft is 106 feet, and the total length of drifts is about 190 feet. Work was suspended here in the spring of 1875.

Williams ^ Brother. - Oa Edward Williams' land. This party commenced in tlie fall af .1875, and are now mining in a range a shore distance west of the dig'^ings of Eustice & Co. in the village of Hazel Green. They are working on a vertical sheet, and have produced to the present time 20,000 pounds.

Chandler's Diggings. - Theae diggings are situated on Mr. Wetherbee's land, and on the Sulphur Lot Range. Work was commenced two years ago, and continued to the present time. The works are in the second opening, which is from six to eight feet wide, and contain a sheet of lead ore from one to two inches thick, and also large, irregular masses which aflFord handsome specimens. The mine has produced 500,000 pounds, and is now very good.

Plattevillb District

This district embraces the diggings in the immediate vicinity of the village and the Whig and Big Patch Diggings. The geological position is about the middle of the Galena limestone. The mining has been carried on principally by small parties. The annual production aggregates 395,000.

GrilUs Mange. - This is the longest and largest range in the Whig Diggings, being half a mile in length. A crevice opening was found from thirty to fifty feet below the surface, and is from three to five feet high. Some seven parallel crevices were discovered in 1839. About 5,000,000 pounds have been secured since that time.

The Mobbing Mange is a short distance north of the Gillis. It was struck in 1840, and produced 500,000 pounds. In 1866, Cronin & Stevens resumed work which had long been suspended, and raised about 300,000 pounds.

Hawkins, Thomas ^ Co. own the discovery on the southwest quarter of Section 31, Town 3, Range 1 west, made in 1872. The ore is blende, somewhat mixed with rock, and occurs in a flat sheet on the upper surface of the blue limestone. The sheet has in some places a thickness of five feet. It lies partially in the bed of a small 'stream.

Buncomb Diggings

The Buncome Diggings form a subdistrict belonging to Hazel Green. They are situated on the Galena River, near ihe mouth of Bull Branch. They were formerly very productive diggings, and a few parties are still working in them. They are situated in the brown rock, which is the lowest bed of the Galena limestone, and is here from twenty to thirty feet thick, and extends down to the creek -bed at the State line, where the top of the blue limestone may be seen. At the mouth of the Bull Branch the top of the blue limestone is found to be twenty feet above the bed of the stream. Mining is generally carried on here by drifting into the side of the hill. An example of this is seen on the land of Mr. Gabriel Mills, on the northwest quarter of Section 32, Township 1, Range 1 east, where a flat sheet of ore was found on the top of the brown rock, on which a number of short levels were run. Mr. Mills is now engaged in running a level on the top of the blue limestone from Section 32, westward, to prove the ground for blende, of which ore in small quantities has been occasionally found. The Buncome ground is also remarkable as being the only locality in which native sulphur appears in sheet form.

Carpenter ^ Bennett. - These parties are mining on Mr. Mills' land, on the northeast quarter of Section 32, Township 1, Range 1 east, on the east side of the Galena River. Ihe workings are as usual in the brown rock, and produce some lead ore and large amounts of carbonate of zinc and blende. Exactly how much could not be ascertained. They have worked continuously since 1872.

Hick», Fiddiek ^ Oo. - Situated on the land of the Edwarda estate, on the southwest quarter of Section 29, Township 1, Range 1 east. The diggings are about half a mile above the mouth of the Bull Branch, and are also carried on in the brown rock. They are drained by a level a quarter of a mile long, discharging one hundred gallons per minute, which was commenced in 1868. The ore is found in flat and pitching sheets, and sometimes contains a little blende mixed with it. Twelve men are now employed here, and are producing a large amount of Smithsonite. Since the commencement of operations, about four hundred thousand pounds of lead ore have been produced.

Gabriel Mills Diggings. - This ground is on the northwest quarter of Section 29, Township 1, Range 1 east, on the ridge dividing Bull and Hardscrabble Branches, and contained the large lode mentioned in Prof. Whitney's report of 1862, on pages 285 and 286. The ore was discovered here in 1854, and has been worked uninterruptedly ever since, which is somewhat remarkable, as a single range seldom continues uniformly productive through so many years. The property is owned by Mr. Mills and R. Pierce. The deepest shaft is 130 feet down to the brown rock, in which the ore is found in flat and pitching sheets. The ore from these diggings is always coated with pyrites, and some Smithsonite is found associated with it.

The ground has produced about eight million pounds of lead ore ; their present annual average production is about fifty thousand pounds, with no sign of diminution.

tSimons ^ Sons. - Northeast quarter of northwest quarter of Section 32, Township 1, Range 1 east. A very fine prospect has recently been discovered by this party on Mr. G. Mill's land. They commenced work about the 1st of September, 1876, with a horse-pump. After sinking a shaft fourteen feet deep, a flat sheet six inches thick was discovered in the upper pipe clay opening. The sheet consists of lead ore, blende and pyrites, about half of the thickness being lead ore.

J'liere are also several isolated ranges lying between Hazel Green and Benton, and not properly belonging to either district. They are as follows :

Johns Sf Harvey. - On the northeast quarter of Section 6, Township 1, Range 1 east. The range was struck in 1858, and was worked for some time with an engine and pump, and then abandoned. Work was recommenced by Messrs. Johns & Harvey, in 1869, and they are now working on the water-level at a depth of one hundred and ten feet below the surface, in the middle portion of the Galena limestone. The range bears slightly north of west, and makes ore in tumbling openings, mixed with clay and detached masses of stone. The opening is in some places twenty feet wide, but does not correspond in geological position with any of the Hazel Green openings, as it is rather above them. Work was suspended here in the fall of 1874. Their production to that time was 900,000 pounds of lead ore.

Dawson's Diggings are situated on the southeast quarter of Section 32, Township 2, Range 1 east. The general course of the range is east and west, but it is found to pitch in various directions. They are worked about thirty feet below the surface, in the upper measures of the Galena limestone. They were discovered in 1872. Since then, they have been worked continuouslv. nnd have produced 80,000 pounds.

Drybone Diggings. - Southwest quarter of Section 28, Township 2, Range 1 east. Mining for drybone has now been carried on here by George Hoppenjohn for the last ten years. The diggings are known as the " Bone Patch," and are very shallow, not exceeding twelve or fifteen feet in depth. The Smithsonite occurs in bunches as float, and does not make any regular sheet or opening. The amount produced is about fifty tons per annum.

Barney Kessons Diggings are situated about a quarter of a mile southwest of the preceding, on the same quarter-section. Work is suspended in them during the summer seasons. They are quite productive diggings, and have yielded 50,000 pounds of lead ore per annum for several years.

Antliony ^ Dixon's Diggings - Southeast quarter of Section 21, Township 2, Range 1 enst. These diggings are about a quarter of a mile south of the village of Jenkinsville, and are worlced altogether for blende, although the ore contains a little drybone and lead ore. They q,re on the top of the blue limestone, in which a level is now being run, and is completed a distance of two hundred feet. The ore is very close grained, shows no regular cleavage, and somewhat resembles an ore of iron. It is remarkable by being intersected with thin parallel plates or laminse of galenite lying very close together, presenting reflecting edges and being a constituent part of the ore. The deposit was discovered in 1872, and has been worked continuously since. The production has been 180 tons of blende and 10,000 pounds of lead ore per annum.

Kesting, Sines and others. - A short distance southeast of the preceding, on the same quarter-section, are three parties at work on some drybone diggings. There are here several quartering ranges having a southwest course. The Smithsonite lies from fifteen to sixty-five feet below the surface, and in the lower measures of the Galena limestone. It " makes '' in flats sheets, and pitches without much regularity. The ground has been worked about ten years for drybone. The average annual production has been about 225 tons.

Spensley, Winn ^ Co. - Situated about a quarter of a mile southwest of Meeker Grove post office. The above parties have been working here about five years. The ore is found in an irregular flat sheet in the upper pipe clay opening. This ground has been worked at intervals during the last twenty years. The water is removed by a horse- pump. The production of the last two years is as follows : 1875, blende, 300 tons, lead ore, 20,000 pounds ; 1876 to October 1, blende, 400 tons, lead ore, 20,000 pounds.

Greenwood ^ Miller. - Southeast quarter of Section 7, Town 1, Range 1 east. This is an east-and-west range, discovered by Cook twenty-five years since. The present parties became interested in it in 1871. Five shafts, from seventy to ninety feet deep, have now been sunk, and two drifts, of 300 feet each, have been run. The ore is found here in a crevice opening, sometimes twelve feet high. The width of the opening is quite variable, as it is crossed by numerous northand-south crevices, which usually cause it to expand in width. Bunches of ore are found at the crossings, but no regular sheets. The water is removed from the ground by two horse-pumps of twelve-inch bore, six-feet stroke, which pump about ninety gallons per minute. It is estimated that the ground has produced 1,000,000 pounds of ore, and its present annual product is about 300,000 pounds.

New Digsings District

Considerable lead ore is now being raised in the vicinity of new Diggings, being mostly in the ridge immediately south of the village. The following section taken from the mines south oi the village will give a correct idea of the relative position of the several beds and openings :

Champion Diggings. - Northeast quarter of Section 26, Town 1, Range 1 east, on the New Diggings ridge. There are several ranges here having a general east-and-west course,> one of which, known as Champion's old lode, hafi probably yielded more than any single range in the lead region. This and the other ranges owned by Mr. Champion are drained by a level a half a mile long. This was completed in the year 1865, at an expense of about $70,000. It then drained the ground, and in four years, with the labor of eight men, 5,000,000 pounds of ore were taken out, which sold for about $500,000. This ore was contained in an immense opening; in some places forty feet wide by twenty -five feet high. This principal opening is now worked out, but the range still continues productive, and has been worked uninterruptedly for the last ten years. Average product per year, 85,000 pounds. Work is now being carried on south of the old ranges. At the western end, in the Meyers lot, a shaft has been sunk seventythree feet to the first opening, -which is here about ten feet high and from twenty to thirty feet wide. There are here three parallel crevices, one of which is about eight feet wide. Seventeen men are now employed in the Champion Diggings. Mining is carried on continuously, and the annual product is about 200,000 pounds.

Qraig Diggings are situated in the New Diggings ridge, on the northeast quarter of Section 26 and north\Yest quarter of Section 25, Township 1, Range 1 east. There are here three principal east-and-west ranges, a few feet apart. The ore which is now worked is known as the Simpson pump range. These ranges were discovered in 1834. In the spring of 1874, a shaft was sunk on one of them, and they are now worked in the second opening. They produce only lead ore, found in a flat opening which is one hundred feet wide, and has been worked to a length of one hundred and fifty feet. They are worked only in the winter, and produce 40,000 pounds per annum.

Qraig, Sanders ^ Oampbell. - Work was commenced by this party in the fall of 1874, on the east end of the Simpson pump range. The mining is carried on in the first opening. The product has been 258,000 pounds, the greater part of which was produced in the year 1876. The extreme west end of this range has been worked by Craig, Stephens & White during the past year, but has not yet produced anything.

Oraig Level Company. - A company consisting of several persons residing in New Diggings and the adjacent towns,, and representing an extensive capital, have been engaged for several years in running a level on the south side of the New Diggings ridge, for the purpose of unwatering the extensive east-and-west ranges on and near the summit of the ridge. It is already so far advanced that it has lowered the water in the mine several feet, sufficient to admit of the production of enough lead ore to more than defray its expenses. Mining is now carried on in pump range, the Mitchell range and several others ; the company are making several '' crosscut drifts" for the purpose of prospecting their ground. The mining operations of the Craig Level Company have been very productive of lead ore. The amounts produced previous to 1874, could not be ascertained. During the ysar 1873, it was 70,000 pounds, and from March, 1874, to October 1, 1876, the product was 2,075,470 pounds.

Brown, Dodge ^ Co. - This party, consisting of four men, have been working in the west end of the Mitchell Range, on land owned by Col. S. Scales. The product has been 10,400 pounds, all raised within the last year.

Harper, Hird ^' Co. - Situated in the New Diggings ridge, a short distance west of the Craig Diggings, on two east-and-west ranges, known respectively as the Wiley and Engine, on which the water has been reduced about four feet by the Craig level. They were quite large ranges, and were extensively worked many years since. Work was resumed on them by the above parties in February," 1873. Since then the product has been 303,000 pounds. The crevice of the Engine Range is here about three feet wide, and the ore makes in the first opening ; while on the Wiley Range the crevice is ten feet wide, and the ore makes in the crevice and not in the opening. The ground is owned by Col. Sam Scales.

The existence of load and zinc ore in the upper pipe clay opening (upper surface of the blue limestone) is also known at New Diggings. A mining company, known as the Occidental, was m operation in 1873, by whom a level had been run on this opening, which resulted in the discovery of a flat sheet of blende or lead ore.

Catchall Diggings. - Northwest quarter of Section 30, Township 1, Rnnge 2 east. These diggings have in former years produced large quantities of ore; exactly how much, could not be ascertained. After lying idle for some years, work was resumed on tlicm in 1870 by S. and C. Vickers, J. and T. Peacock and John Henry. They were worked for a year with a horse pump, and after that with a steam pump, the former having been insufficient to remove the water. There are here two north-and south ranges crossed by several east-and-west ranges which produced blende and lead ore. The pump shaft is located in one of these crossings, and is forty-eight feet deep. A series of levels was run from here to the New Diggings Ridge, by which it was ascertained that the top of the ridge was on a level with the bottom of the shaft, which shows that the openings existing at this place are above those at Now Diggings, and probably near the middle of the Galena limestone. The Catchall Diggings ceased being worked in January, 1873. The pump and engine still remain on the ground. The product during the three years of working is said to have been 2,000,000 pounds.

Howe ^ Alderson. - Southeast quarter of Section 15, Township 1, Range 1 east. This ground is situated a short distance north of the Democrat furnace, and belongs to the Leakley estate. The range was discovered and worked about 1847, and work was resumed on it by the present parties about fourteen years since (1862). The general course of the range is east and west ; the extent of the drifts is from three hundred to four hundred feet, in the course of which five flat openings and one crevice- opening have been found. The flat openings are not far above the blue limestone. There are eight shafts going down to the openings from thirty to eighty feet deep. The ore is generally small, with wash dirt ; but little large or "chunk mineral " is found. The diggings are entirely free from water. During the past fourteen years they have produced about one million pounds. Work was suspended here about January 1, 1876.

John Rain ^ Go. - Southeast quarter of Section 31, Township 1, Range 1 east. The land is owned by Messrs. Hodge & Scales and the Field estate. The course of the range is north 5° east. It is known as the Raspberry range from the name of the man who discovered it in 1849, and sometimes as the Dinsell range. The workings are all in the first of the New Diggings opening, although the second has also been reached. There are five shafts down to the opening, and about five hundred feet of drift. The opening is quite variable in size, and is sometimes as much as thirty feet wide. The ore occurs as wash dirt, although large pieces are occasionally found. The diggings have been worked for lead ore during the last seven years, since which time Messrs. Rain & Co. have taken out as follows: 1871, 50,000 pounds; 1872, 100,000; 1873, 75,000; 1874, 75,000. The product 'for 1875-76 was not learned, but the mine is now productive.

Diggings On The Leakley Estate

Rohbins ^ Bros. - Four men have been employed here during the last year, working an east-and-west range with a horse pump. The amount raised is not known, but it is understooil that the ground yields enough ore to pay good wages.

HaU Sj- Rain. - Southeast quarter of Section 23, Township 1, Range 1 east. This is a new east-and-west range on the Leakley estate, discovered in 1873. The ore occurs m a crevice opening from forty to forty-five feet below the surface. Four shafts have been sunk in it, and one drift ran a distance of 400 feet. About one hundred and nineteen thousand pounds have been produced since they were discovered. Work was suspended in 1876.

H. Ashworth Diggings - Southeast quarter of Section 24, Township 1, Range 1 east. This is an east-and-west range m the Leakley estate, discovered in the fall of 1873. The workings at this place are confined by water to the first opening, which is here crossed by numerous quartering swithers from four to six feet apart. The crossings are the most productive parts of the opening, and the ore frequently comes up to the surface clay. At the time they were visited (June, 1874), five shafts had been sunk about thirty-five feet deep. One of the drifts was about one hundred feet long, and there were several of fifty feet each. The product to that time was i,000 pounds of lead ore and fifteen tons of drybone. They have been working continuously since, producing small amounts.

Phcenix Lead Mining and Smelting Qom'pany. - Section 13, Township 1, Range 1 east. A great deal of mining has been carried on here since a very early day, and the ground has been very productive of orei The principal vein, which is known as the Ellis sheet, was discovered by a miner of that name about thirty-five years since. Its course is north twenty degrees east and it has been worked for a distance of about half a mile. The workings so far have been confined to the Galena limestone, of which there is a thickness of one hundred and fifty feet at the pump-shaft at the summit ridge. This shaft has been sunk to a depth of one hundred and fifteen feet, leaving thirty-five feet of the formation unexplored, exclusive of the underlying Trenton limestones, which have here a thickness of about fifty feet. The sheet of ore is nearly perpendicular, and varies from two to eighteen inches in thickness as deep as the shafts were sunk. The same system of surface mining obtained here as at other places, by means of which the ore was extracted down to the natural water level but a short distance below the surface, leaving the main body of the ore untouched. In this manner, more than 2,500,000 pounds of lead ore were obtained. In the year 1865, a level was commenced with a view to drain the ground, and was prosecuted with slight intermission until' 1872. Its present length is one thousand seven hundred feet, and when completed it will drain the ground to a depth of one hundred and thirty-five feet. Several other large east-and-west ranges traverse this ground, among which are the Bobineau and the Dowd and McGinnis, on the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 14, Township 1, Range 1 east, which have yielded heretofore not less than 3,000,000 pounds.

Shullsburg District

StopUne Diggings. - The property is situated on the northwest quarter of Section 28, northeast quarter of Section 29 and southeast quarter of Section 20, all in Township 1, Range 3 east. Although the mine is not in operation, it is in a condition to be worked on very short notice. The following information in regard to it was obtained from the owner, Mr. Edward Meloy, and personal inspection of the ground : Nearly, if not quite, the entire thickness of Galena limestone is present at this locality. The northern outcrop of the Cincinnati group is about a mile to the southwest. The pump-shaft has been sunk in a natural chimney to a depth of one hundred and twelve feet below the surface, and has now reached what is known as the green bed or cap of the Shullsburg opening. The water was removed by an engine and lifting-pump discharging five hundred gallons per minute. All the water came up in the shaft through the chimney. While the pump was in operation, two springs, situated respectively one-half mile east and northwest of the shaft, ceased to flow. There are two principal ranges here - one bearing north thirty degrees east from the pump-shaft, and worked for a distance of eight hundred feet northeast of the shaft, and the other bearing north ten degrees east, about one hundred and forty feet west of the shaft, worked about five hundred feet, connected by a quartering range running north of east.

These ranges were struck in' 1863 and worked until 1869, and are thought to be a continuation of the Shullsburg elevator ranges. Two shafts sunk on the range, bearing north thirty degrees east, have turned out one thousand pounds to the foot without any drifting, and the whole tract, within an area which would be embraced within three acres of ground, has produced about 600,000 pounds. In every shaft froin which ore has been raised, the indications of large bodies below are very strong.

A very peculiar formation was found in sinking on the north thirty degrees east range. Commencing at a depth of thirty-five feet from the surface, a hard, brecciated limestone sets in, filled with pyrites, and, in some cases, with galenite. This formation continues as deep as the shafts were sunk. This was not found on other ranges in this locality, and is a mode of occurrence peculiar to one range.

The breccia consists of small, angular limestone, similar to the adjacent rock of the formation. It appears to have been caused by the undermining and falling-in of a portion of the formation, by a previous subterranean drainage. The rubbing and grinding of the sides of the fissure against each other in the course of the movement broke off pieces of various sizes, and the interstices and cavities were subsequently filled with pyrites.

McNulty Mine. - In June, 1873, work was recommenced in these old ranges, and considerable capital expended in erecting new machinery and - buildings, the old ones havinc been burned. It is now owned and operated by Messrs. J. M. Ryan, of Galena, and M. A. fox, of Shullsburg. The mine is situated on the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 15, Township 1, Range 2 east, a short distance south of the village of Shullsburg. There is here a thickness of about two hundred feet of Galena limestone, or four-fifths of the entire formation. The ore is obtained in the usual opening common to all the mines of the Shullsburg district, between what are known as the green and clay beds, of which the green bed is regarded as the top and the clay bed as the bottom of the opening. In this mine the foUowincr strattigraphical information was obtained : Five feet below the clay bed and one hundred and fifty feet below the surface is an opening and a bed of white rock two feet thick, then a layer if hard, gray rock, three feet thick. Below this was found a flat sheet of galenite, mixed with pyrites, and indications of openings below. It is a peculiarity of the mining ground in this ridge that all crevices south of the Shullsburg branch pitch or dip to the south, about six inches in ten feet, until the summit of the ridge is reached. Here, as in the south shaft of the McNulty, the crevices are vertical. In this shaft the crevice penetrates through the clay floor and continues on going down, being the only crevice which has done so. Proceeding further south, over the crest of- the ridge, the crevices all pitch or dip to the north. Taken together, this system of crevices seems to present a fan-like shape, approaching one another as they descend.

In the spring of 1876, a new east-and-west range was discovered in this mine, south of and parallel to the one already worked. It promises to be very productive of lead ore.

Silverthorn Mine - Northwest quarter Section 32, northeast quarter Section 31, Township 2, Range 2 east. The greatest thickness of Galena limestone found on the ridge was about one hundred feet. The ground is drained by a level run in the carbonaceous shale, on the top of the blue limestone, which has here a very great thickness, being nowhere less than two feet, and, in some places, seven and a half feet thick. It seems in this mine to replace the pipe- clay opening. It is very easy to work, and consequently this level has been comparatively inexpensive. This shale, when dried, burns with a bright yellow flame and much smoke until the carbon is exhausted, but owing to the amount of calcareous matter it contains, it is not much reduced in bulk. These diggings produced, in 1871, 200,000 pounds, and in 1872, about 100,000 pounds. Their product in previous years could not be ascertained. Work was suspended in them in 1875. An analysis of lead ore from the Silverthorn mine gave the following results : Lead sulphide, 97.06; metallic lead, 84.07; insoluble silicious residuum, 1.76.

Rickert, Stevens ^ Co. - These diggings are situated on the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 14, about five hundred feet east of the McNulty mine, and connected with it. Their geological positions, in respect to strata and openings, are almost the same. The ore is found in the usual Shullsburg opening; but, in a few instances, it runs above it for a short distance, and then drops down again, presenting a saddle-shaped appearance. At the south shaft the rock is very much disturbed and broken, apparently in an area about two hundred feet in diameter. It is in loose masses, of all sizes and shapes, containing more or less ore scattered through it, and the fine, earthy material known among the miners as sand. The strata pitch in every conceivable direction and degree from horizontal to vertical. Crevices and veins cannot be followed through it with any degree of certainty ; but at the borders of this disturbed area, as well as above and below it, the strata have their normal position, which is nearly horizontal. This is merely a local disturbance, and is probably due to the unequal hardness and solubility of the formation. Considerable of the limestone seems to have been removed by currents of water running through the opening, thus permitting large and small irregular

In connection with this irregularity was noticed a remarkable "chimney," about thirty-six feet long by twenty feet b --lad, and extending upward further than has yet been followed. It was originally filled with loose masses of galenite, rock and sand. In the ground on this ridge the strata dip on both sides toward the north-and-south line between Sections 14: and 15, on the west side, about four feet in a quarter of a mile, and on the east side, one foot in thirty rods. The ground is drained by a horse-pump, into a level a short distance below the surface. The mine produces very handsome cabinet specimens of galenite and calcite, in the form of dogtooth spar.

Reckoning upward from the top of the blue limestone to the top of the green bed or cap of the Shullsburg opening, the distance is found to be about eighty feet, and in the New Diggings section, from the top of the blue limestone section to the top of the flinty rock, which is the cap of the third or main opening, the distance is eighty-two feet.

This establishes an identity of geological position of these two points. Measuring downward from the cap in the Shullsburg opening, its average distance is found to be sixteen feet to the bottom of the opening. In the New Diggings section the same distance includes all that lies between the top of the third and bottom of the fourth opening, and finally, each is underlaid by about the same thickness of unproductive rock. The correspondence between these openings is thus very distinctly marked. ~ The unproductive beds in the New Diggings openings seem to disappear in going eastward, and finally the openings unite on reaching Shullsburg. In regard to the production of these diggings, it is estimated that the south half of Section 10 and the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 14, being an area of one mile long on a course south seventy degrees east, and three-quarters of a mile wide, including the McNulty and RicVerts Diggings, have produced since the commencement of mining operations not less than one hundred million pounds.

The bearing of the crevice on which Rickert, Stephens & Co. are now working, is due east and west. The mineral is found about twelve feet below the greeli bed or cap, and is mixed with sulphur (pyrites). The rock is diflFerent from any before taken out of the mines in this section. It is a dark blue, and mixed with sulphur and flint, and is very hard. In the opening, there is copper rust or verdigris mixed with large balls of sulphur. Dog-tooth spar, or tifi", is also found in large quantities, most of which is attached to the mineral. The company commenced work in 1849, and on the present range in May, 1874. They are now operating a steam pump in what is supposed to be a continuation of the South Diggings range. The product from June 1, 1873, to March 1, 1876, is as follows: 1873, 377,120 pounds; 1874, 201,966 pounds; 1875, 318,690 pounds; 1876, 153,720 pounds.

Drybone Diggings. - Situated on the southwest quarter of the east quarter and the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 4, Township 1, Range 2 east. The ranges here run in nearly an east-and-west direction. The diggings are situated in the lower strata of the Galena limestone ; the top of the blue limestone is found a short distance down the stream. Although shallow, these diggings have been very productive of zinc ore, and are still successfully worked.

Irish Diggings. - Section 2, Township 1, Range 2 east. These diggings have not been worked for many years, on account of the water, but were formerly very productive, and were abandoned with ore going down in the crevices. The greatest thickness of Galena limestone in this ground is about one hundred and fifty feet. They could be readily unwatered by means of a level from some point on the Shullsburg branch.

Meloy ^ Fox. - In the early part of the year 1875, that part of the Irish Diggings known as the Findley Cave range, was leased by Messrs. E. Meloy and M. A. Fox, of Shullsburg. It is situated in the northeast quarter of Section 2, Township 1, Range 2 east, and comprises ninety-nine acres of land lying about a mile northeast of the village. The range was worked during the months of April, May and June, 1875, and in November of that year a steam engine and pump were erected, and it has been worked continuously to the present time (November 1876). The pump shaft is now about eighty feet deep ; water is discharged into an adit connecting with the shaft at twenty feet below the surface, at the rate of 150 gallons per minute. The course of the vein is north seven degrees east, having a dip to the eastward of four feet in one hundred. The distance between the walls of the vein or crevice varies from two and a half to seven feet, the space between them being filled with the vein matrix common to the neighborhood. The bottom of the pump shaft is six feet below the top of the flint beds. The vein appears to continue downward, the filling of the crevice being loose and allowing the water to pass readily through it. After sinking the pump shaft, the vein was drifted in a distance of sixty feet to the northward ; in the course of running this drift, 100,000 pounds of ore were extracted.

The foregoing remarks show the condition of the mine in 1876. The production since then we have not learned. The range was worked more than thirty years since, with a twohorse pump, as deep as water would permit, and large quantities of lead ore were obtained. These diggings could be unwatered to a much greater depth by means of a level from some point on the Shullsburg branch.

Bull Pump Range. - Work is still carried on on this range, which is situated on the Hempstead estate. It is operated by Messrs. Beebe, of Galena, and Wetherbee, of Shullsburg. The amounts produced could not be ascertained.

Oakland Mining Company. - The lands of this company are situated in the southeast quarter of Section 6, the northeast quarter of Section 5, the northwest quarter of Section 4, and the southeast quarter of Section 4, all in Township 1, Range 2 east, comprising in all about 566 acres.

This ground includes the old French range, which was discovered as early as 1839, and produced not less than 1,000,000 pounds. It is connected northward by some quartering crevices and is known as the Ernest and Townsend I'ange. The thickness of Galena limestone here is about one hundred and seventy feet. There are six shafts in the range, averaging about fifty feet each. The lead ore i^ abundant, but dips rapidly to the northwest beneath the water. The range has produced about four hundred thousand pounds. The ground is susceptible of drainage from the Shullsburg branch. It is not worked at present. The company aiso has a level nearly completed in the southwest quarter of Section 4, which is run on the stratum of carbonaceous shale, or the top of the blue limestone. At the working shaft, there is a thickness of ninety feet of Galena limestone, of which the following section is given :

Considerable mining has been done in former years in the blue sandy limestone member ot the section, but the main opening appears to be in the red-ochery clay which underlies it, which, so far as explored, has been found to have a thickness of about twelve feet, and to con- tain a flat sheet of galenite nearly continuous, and of variable thickness, sometimes furnishing pieces of five hundred pounds' weight. The bearing of the sheet, so far as has been determined, is west of north and east of south, with a slight dip to the southwest. Its area has not been determined, but, so far as has been worked, there are no indications of the opening, contracting or closing up.

Benton District

In the immediate vicinity of the village of Benton, there are several parties permanently encacred in raining, besides others who mine only in the winter. The diggings are in the lower beds of the Galena limestone, yet not so low as the brown rock.

Bainhridge and Vipord - Southeast quarter of Secton 8, Township 1, Range 1 east. This is an east and-west range somewliat near a mile long, which was worked about twenty-two years since and abandoned. Prior to 1854, it produced about one and a half million pounds. About seven years since, some work was done on it, and one million pounds were produced. Work was recommenced on the eastern end by the present parties in February, 1874, and has continued to the present time (November, 1876). The annual product is about twenty thousand pounds. During the last year and a half, they have been worked with a horse-pump.

Bainhridge, Mundy and Maighn. - This is a quartering southwest-and-northeast range, about one hundred yards north of the preceding. This range was never worked previous to March, 1874. It is now worked only in the winter seasons. It has produced in all about fifty thousand pounds. The ore in these diggings and the preceding is found in openings detached from the main crevice.

Metcalf, Sarker and Alexander - Northwest quarter of Section 9, Township 1, Range 1 east. This ground is situated on what is known as the Swindler ridge. It derived its name from the custom which formerly existed among the miners of cutting through and breaking into each other's ground to steal the ore, which the complicated nature of the openings enabled them to do. This range was struck in 1871, and has been worked continuously ever since. The depth to the top of the first opening is fifty feet at the shaft, and on the ridge generally, althougli the opening is said to dip slightly to the west. Some water is encountered on the ridge, and the present parties have' found it necessary to work a two-horse pump. The production to November 1, 1876, has been 600,000 pounds.

Bainhridge Diggings - Situated on the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 4, Township 1, Range 1 east. Work was commenced here by Mr. Thomas Bainhridge, of Benton, in the winter of 1874. In May. 1875, an irregular deposit of lead and zinc ore was discovered about fifty feet below the surface, having a course a little west of south. Its production has been twenty-five tons of Smithsonite and twenty-five thousand pounds of lead ore.

Harvey's Diggings - Situated on the same ground and about 250 yards northwest of the preceding work, was begun here in the winter of 1875-76, and a' large flat sheet of Smithsonite was discovered, which has been worked over 200 feet in diameter without reaching unproductive ground. It is found about fifty feet below the surface, in the random or horizon of the flat flint openings. The ore is found in flat sheets, interstratified with the formation. One hundred tons have been produced.

McMroy Bros. - Situated half a mile south of the village of Benton. This is a new discovery, made in the winter of 1875-76 ; an irregular flat sheet of Smithsonite was found at a depth of fifty feet below the surface, from which in two months fifteen tons of ore were produced. M. J. Williams ^ Co. - Situated on the sbuthwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 3, Township 1, Range 1, east. A large flat sheet of lead ore and blende, about one foot thick, was discovered in July, 1876, in the bed of Fever River, soon after a heavy flood which took place at that time. It lies in the upper surface of the blue limestone, and, on account of Its situation in the river, but little has been done with it. It is an excellent prospect, and will doubtless be remunerative as soon as the water can be removed.

MeOaffery, Smith ^ Co. - In the middle of October. 1876, these parties comrbenced work sinking a shaft on the west line of the forty of M. J. Williams & Co. They found the

Level Company. - On the northwest quarter of Section 29, Township 1, Range. 1 east, a level is now being run by Messrs. Stevens, Mason, Miller, Robbins, Broderick, Hoover, Thompson, Coltman and Farley, who own and have leased 135 acres in Sections 20, 21, 28 and 29. The level was commenced in the "spring of 1870, and has now reached a length of 1,000 feet; it is being driven on a flint opening near the top of the brown rock, which is here about fourteen feet above the blue limestone. The object of driving the level is to unwater the Drummond range, which runs east and west, and is supposed to be a continuation of the Cro(v range oi Hazel Green, and the Nagle range of New Diggings. It is believed that wlien the level is completed it will unwater the Drummond range to a depth of forty feet below the present water level. The level now gives access to two openings in working it, and had, when visited, an inch sheet of lead ore in the working forehead. It may be remarked that these openings are lower than any of the Benton openings, and seem to be identical with those of the Buacome district. The product has been, up to the present time, 60,000 pounds.

Mifflin District

Mining operations here are now chiefly confined to several parallel ranges, having a general northeasterly course, and situated about half a mile south of the village, including the Penitentiary, Dunbar and Owen ranges. The ore is found in flat sheets on the surface of the blua limestone, in the pipe-clay opening.

Penitentiary Mine. - Southwest quarter of northeast quarter of Section 34, Township 5, Range 1 east. This property is owned by Messrs. James, John and Calvert Spensley, William Bainbridge, J. J. Ross, JVIrs, Mitchell and N. W. Dean. The mine was opened in 1842, and since then it has been very productive, and has been worked continuously to the present time. The mine is drained by a level containing a tramway, on which the rock and ore are carried out of the mine. Sufficient water is removed to operate a large wash place. The distance from the entrance of the mine to the forehead is about seventeen hundred feet. The average width of the range is about three hundred feet, and the thickness of the deposit from six inches to two feet. Previous to 1864, the mine was worked chiefly for lead ore, producing in some year* as much as 170,000 pounds. It is estimated by Mr. Ross that it produced, from 1862 to 1875, 8,000,000 pounds of lead ore and 11,000 tons of blende. The production for 1875 was, blende, 375 tons ; lead ore, 35,000 pounds. The production for 1876 was, blende, 600 tons; lead ore, 40,000 pounds.

JenJcins, Miller ^ Oo. - These parties have been working during the last two and a half years in the Dunbar range, which is parallel to the Penitentiary, and a short distance north of it. The land is owned by Messrs. Ross & Dean. This range has been worked during the last thirty years, and is drained by the Penitentiary level ; the present workings are about fifty feet below the surface. The company produced during the year 1876, to October 1, blende, 80 tons ; lead ore, 8,000 pounds. Their annual average is, blende, 80 tons ; lead ore, 12,000 pounds.

Rain, Young ^ Jenkins. - These parties are now working on the Blackjack range, which is adjacent to the Dunbar, and sometimes connects with it. The present works are fifty feet below the surface. The ore is found in flat sheets, sometimes seventy feet in width, in the pipeclay opening, the height of the opening averaging five feet. The annual production is from one hundred and fifty to two hundred tons of blende, and from ten thousand to fifteen thousand pounds of lead ore. A short distance northeast of the Blackjack is the Owens range. It has not been worked during the last two years, but is considered good mining ground.

Histoky Of The Lead Rkgiux 375 Centerville District

Tliese diTirinnrs are like those in the village of Highland, in that they are all situated quite close tncrother, on Section 7, Township 6, Range 1 east, on the hill about a quarter of a mile east of the village. The land is all owned by Messrs. Top, Nordorf and Kroll. The miners are nearly all Germans. The diggings were first worked in 1836, and have been worked continuously ever since, chiefly for lead ore, until within the last ten years, since which time they have been worked for zinc ores. The workings are in the brown rock opening, and Ho from five to fiftv feet below the surface, depending on the amount of denudation. Very little trouble is experienced from water, and during the past two years the ground has been especially dry. The principal parties working here are as follows :

Heller ^ Parish. - These parties are working a southeast-and-northwest range, twelve hundred feet long and six hundred feet wide. Their annual product is lead ore, 100,000 pounds ; blende, '500 tons; Smithsonite, 400 tons.

John Qarter and Richard Samuels. - On the same range as the preceding. They have worked here two years, and are producing two hundred tons of Smithsonite and five thousand pounds of lead ore per annum. Other parties and their annual products are as follows :

Blue River Paint Works, situated on the southwest quarter of Section 7, Township 6, Range 1 east. At the time this establishment was visited, work had been suspended, and consequently it did not appear in as flattering a light as its merits would probably justify. The building and machinery were still standing, in a condition to resume work without delay. According to the best information obtained, the paint was made from the ocher which is quite abundant in the Centerville Diggings, and which furnishes quite a number of shades of yellow in its raw state, and an additional number on being burned. The red paiut, however, was derived from the upper bed of the St. Peter's sandstone, which was crushed and washed ; the red coloring matter being readily dissolved out by the water, from which it afterward settled on being allowed to stand. The colors, after being burned and ground, were ready for the market. As many as fifteen different shades of red and yellow ocher were manufactured. Several tons of paint were placed in market, and it was claimed to be a good and durable article. It is unfortunate that the manufacture could not have continued longer, and its qualities have been more definitely ascertained and generally known.

Highland District

The diggings of the Highland District are all situated within a short distance of each other, and about a quarter of a mile north of the village. They are all in the brown rock, the lower openings never have been proved. Most of the diggings are in what is known as the Drybone Hollow range. The names of the parties mining, and the present condition of their diggings are as follows :

Samuel Hinderleiter ^ Son - On the southwest quarter of Section 28, Township 7, Range 1 east, in the Drybone Hollow range. This is an east-and-west range, from one-quarter to onehalf mile long, and from two to three hundred feet wide. It was discovered in 1846, and worked entirely for lead ore. It is now divided into small lots, of which Mr. Hinderleiter's is one. The work is chiefly confined to going through the old diggings and taking out the Smithsonite left by former miners, no blende being found. The shafts are about twenty-five feet deep, which brings them to the top opening, three feet in height. The ore is found in a flat sheet, about a foot thick, with ocher and clay above and below it. But little water is found here. The annual product of this lot is about thirty tons of Smithsonite.

Mulligan ^ Francis. - These parties have diggings in all respects similar to those already described, in a lot about one hundred and fifty feet northwest of the preceding.

Maguire, Kennedy ^ Co. - Southeast quarter of Sections 28, Township 7, Range 1 east. This is also in the Drybone Hollow range. The shafts here are from sixty to seventy feet deep, according to the surface of the ground. The workings are in the brown-rock opening, which is here about eight feet high. The lead ore is found in a flat sheet in the bottom of the opening, underlaid by pipe clay. The blende was discovered in the spring of 1874, and is much mixed with rock. The ore has to be crushed, washed and separated. Water is removed from the diggings by means of a windmill and small pump, and is afterward utilized to wash ore. Tlie annual product is as follows : Lead ore, 200 pounds ; blende, 100 tons ; drybone, 50 tons

Blackney, Donahue ^ Qo. - This ground is owned by Dr. Stanley, of Highland, and is a part of the same range as the preceding, and situated but a short distance northeast of them. The range here makes two well defined openings, separated by a cap rock. It is irregular in shape, and about sixty or seventy feet wide, with little water. The following is a section of their principal shaft :

The ore is found in flat sheets, and is Smithsonite, blende and lead, the former being ratlier impure. The present parties have been working here for the last seven years. The annual product has. been as follows: Lead ore, 11,000 pounds; Smithsonite, 35 tons; blende, 35 tons. The ground here seems to be pretty much worked out, the product being chiefly derived from the old workings.

Spensley ^ Qo. - This is also on the land of Dr. Stanley, and is a short distance east of the preceding. It is an east-and-west range, situated a little north of the Drybone Hollow range. The range is one hundred and thirty feet wide so far as has been worked, and may prove to be two hundred feet in width each way from the center. The ore makes in pitches, and the sheet varies in size according to the number of feeders coming in from above. The lead ore occurs much mixed with rock, which necessitates crushing and jigging the entire product. The lot worked by these parties consists of about six acres, of which only about one-sixth has been explored. The ore is blende and lead ore. Some Smithsonite is said to be found in the southern part. The amount of water here is small, and is all removed by bailing and hoisting in a barrel containing about fifty gallons. There shafts have been sunk, one of which is down to the blue limestone, and is one hundred feet deep. The company have operated here for six years, with the following product :

Siddel Co. - They are situated on the same range, worked in the same opening as Spensley and Co., and are located about one hundred and fifty feet east of them. They are the most easterly of all the diggings in this vicinity. One shaft has been sunk, and the ore has been found to make in the same manner as the preceding, except that this ground already furnishes some Smithsonite from the north side. These parties have been working here for the last five years, during which time the average annual product has been as follows : Lead ore, 70,000 pounds ; Smithsonite, 85 tons ; blende, 70 tons.

Flynn, Lynch ^ Co. - On Dr. Stanley's ground, and about three hundred feet southeast of Spensley & Co. Their ground is a lot 250x350 feet. One shaft has been sunk here eighty feet to the top of the opening, which is here six feet high and one hundred feet wide. The ground produces lead ore and blende, occurring in a flat sheet, mixed with the top layer of the blue limestone and some pipe-clay. The company has been working about five years, since which

Robinson's Diggings. - Situated about three hundred feet southeast of the preceding, on the ground of Mr. Barnard. These diggings are not being worked at present. They were commenced in the winter of 1871-72, and produced 4,500 pounds of lead ore and about nine tons of blende in the first two years.

Williams ^ Edwards. - Situated on the land of Mr. Lamps, and about 500 feet west of the diggings of Blackney & Co., previously described. They are part of the Spensley and Lynch range. The works are in the brown rock, which here appears to divide into three subordinate openings. A section of their working shaft is as follows, all in the Galena limestone :

These diggings consist partly of old and partly of new openings. Cross-cut drifts are run through the old works in search of new ground, lead ore being usually found in the lowest opening. These parties have been working since 1870, and their product is as follows :

Harris ^ Stanley. - Situated on the ground of Dr. Stanley, about 300 feet north of the windmill on Kennedy & Co.'s ground, previously described. These diggings are quite dry, being drained by the windmill pump. The range appears to be a branch of the Drybone Hollow range, about 500 feet long, running in a north-and-south direction. There are two principal openings exhibited in the following section of their working shaft :

The ore occurs, as usual in this district, in flat sheets. These parties have been working here since September, 1871, since which time to October, 1874, the total product was as follows :

Rowe ^ Oo. - Situated on the northeast quarter Section 28, Township'7, Range 1 east, comprising 160 acres. This is an east-and-west range, known as the Dunstan, discovered in 1846, and worked continuously since. It is about half a mile long, and 200 feet wide. The range is worked in the brown rock opening, chiefly for Smithsonite and lead ore. There are three working shafts from 50 to 75 feet deep. The opening is from 5 to 20 feet high. The annual product is stated at, lead ore, 50,000 pounds, and Smithsonite, 50 tons.

The foregoing comprises all the diggings in the immediate vicinity of Highland, and, with the exception of the last (Rowe & Co.), they are all embraced in a tract of land not exceeding forty acres in extent. The same general geological characteristics prevail in all, and they are nearly all connected together in the workings. The ore in most of them has to be crushed and Jigged, and all except Kennedy and Maguire, have to haul their wash dirt about a mile and a quarter to water.

In these diggings the openings below the top of the blue limestone have never been worked or even prospected. If the several land-owners would take some concerted action, a level might be run up the Drybone Hollow, which would drain them to any depth required. Such a work.

however, should be preceded by boring, to ascertain the presence of flat sheets in the lower openings, the existence of which is not improbable. Mr. Solomon Spensley, who is well informedou the subject, says that the annual average product of the mines is approximately as follows :

Lead ore, 1,000,000 pounds ; drybone, 1,350 tons; blende, 1,200 tons. In addition to the preceding, there are some diggings situated south of the village of Highland.

Davis ^ Co. - Situated near the southeast corner of Section 5, Township 6, Range 1 east. This is a northwest-and-southeast range, discovered by a Mr. Styles in 1862. It has been proved to a distance of 450 feet, with an average width of forty feet. The opening is the brown rock, and from four to six feet high. There are two shafts, each about forty feet deep. The ore occurs in flat sheets, and is mostly Smithsonite and blende in about equal quantities, containing little lead ore. The ground was formerly worked chiefly for blende. The ground is estimated to have produced 2,400 tons of blende, and 1,100 tons of Smithsonite since 1862. Their present annual product is, blende, 200 tons, and Smithsonite, 150 tons.

Manning ^ Delaney. - Situated about 600 feet west of the preceding. It is an east-andwest range, which was discovered twenty years since, and has been worked by several different parties, who have proved the ground in the brown rock opening for a distance of 600 feet. The present parties have worked it for the past four years, principally for Smithsonite, no blende being found until the spring of 1874. The deepest shaft is only 40 feet; sunk to the top of the blue limestone, which is here estimated at twenty- five feet. The St. Peter's sandstone is plainly seen in the valley a short distance below. The ground produced 600 tons of Smithsonite during the years 1873 and 1874. The diggings are quite dry.

Hornsnoggle Ridge. - Situated in the northeast quarter of Section 5, Township 6, Range 1 east. This is an east-and-west range, about half a mile in length, which was discovered about twenty-five years since, and worked for lead ore in the brown rock opening ; but is now pretty much worked out. The only ore found on the ridge is drybone. The present annual production is about 1,500 tons.

Linden District

The principal diggings in this district are those of the Linden Mining Co., owned by Messrs. J. J. Ross and William Henry, of Mineral Point. The property consists of the east half of the east half of Section 6, the west half of Section 5, the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 7, the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 7, the south half of the southwest quarter of Section 8, southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 8, the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 17, the south half of the northeast quarter of Section 17, all in Township 5, Range 2 east, and is situated a short distance west of the village of Linden. They were first opened in 1833, and worked by various parties up to 1853, altogether for lead ore, and in the middle beds of the Galena limestone. Prior to 1853, they are said to have produced 40,000,000 pounds of lead ore.

In 1853, they were bought by a Pittsburgh company, and operated with a water-wheel in the upper and lower pipe-clay openings, also for lead ore. The amount of lead ore produced by them was about 500,000 pounds per annum. The works finally became unprofitable, and were suspended by them in 1866. In this condition they remained until the spring of 1874, when they were bought by Messrs. Ross & Henry, by whom work was resumed in April. They are now operated for blende or blackjack, Smithsonite and such lead ore as incidentally occurs with it.

On resuming work, the principal operations of the first six months were cleaning out the old shafts and drifts, erecting a new engine of thirty-horse power, with a lift-pump, together with the necessary buildings and other machinery. The sheets worked here have a singular*

Although the blende usually occurs in a large sheet, yet it is frequently connected with two or three parallel smaller ones by veins or "pitches." The sheet often contains detached pieces of the wall or cap-rock, of various sizes, completely surrounded by ore. Large pockets occur in the bed, lined with very handsome crystals of calcite, one of which, recently removed from the mine, measures five feet by two.

Another peculiarity noticed was the finding of several pieces weighing from one to five pounds, composed of wall-rock and ore, which were rounded and worn smooth, resembling small drift bowlders. They were found in the lower pipe-clay opening, and had probably been detached from the wall at its junction with the ore. They must have undergone considerable erosion and transportation, or movement, by subterranean currents of water.

The workings in the vicinity of the engine-shaft were first examined. They extend in a westerly direction a distance of 1,300 feet, and have been worked to a width of 45 feet, leaving a sheet of blende on the northern side from one to three feet thick. It has been proved by a cross-cut to connect through to the north pitch, a distance of 180 feet. The same sheet has been worked in a southerly direction nearly to the well-shaft, a distance of 600 feet, leaving a large sheet of blende on its eastern side. These workings are on the glass-rock opening, and about twenty feet above the St. Peters sandstone. The following section of the engine-shaft will explain their situation :

The workings at the well-shaft were next examined. They are in the brown rock division of the Galena limestone, and about twenty-six feet above the lower workings. The ground is worked in an irregular shape, about three hundred feet long by one hundred and fifty feet wide. It is estimated that $200,000 worth of ore has been taken, in the course of all operations, from this small, irregular piece of ground. It was full of large, flat sheets and pitches, and was worked in some places to a height of twenty feet. It now produces thirty tons of zinc ore per week, and considerable lead ore. This is exclusive of the ore raised by numerous miners working here on tribute.

It is estimated by the owners that, during the first six months of their operation, the mines produced ten tons of zinc ore per day ; and from that time to the present, it has produced twenty-two tons of zinc per day, and more than 300,000 of lead ore per annum. The value of all ores for the last two years is estimated at $500 per day.

The owners have lately introduced the IngersoU Pneumatic Drill, with air compressor, and use rend rock exclusively, the explosions being effected by an electric battery.

Poad, Barrett ^ Tredinnkk Bros. - Southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 8, Township 5, Range 2 east. This is a very old mine, the property of Mr. John Heathcock, known as the Robarts mine, on which work had been discontinued for several years, until 1869, when it was again resumed. The present party have been working about four years, and have sunk ten shafts, from forty to seventy feet deep. The water is removed by two horsepumps.

To the west of the above parties, and on the same range, are Kisselbury Brothers, Hammerson & Trewatha. Also on the east end of the same range are the Poad Brothers, Tredinnick. Vial and Geach.

The Robarts range has been traced for a distance of a quarter of a mile, the ore boinc found in flat sheets twenty-five feet above the glass-rock. The manner in which the ore is deposited is very remarkable, the order of deposition being as follows : Pyrites, blende, galenite. This is one of the few localities in the lead region from which cerussite is obtained. The three mines in the Robarts range are estimated to produce annually 200,000 pounds of lead ore and 100 tons of blende.

Treglown ^ Sons and Qapt. Wicks. - Southwest quarter of northwest quarter of Section 8, in the west side of the Heathcock branch, Waring and Goldsworthy, owners. This ranee was discovered about forty years ago, and has been worked continuously ever since. The present company have been working it during the last two years in the glass-rock opening. The ore is found about fifteen feet below the surface ; the width of the range is forty-five feet, drained by a level forty rods long. In former years it was worked for Sinithsonite at hi^lier levels, and was quite productive. Its present annual production is, lead ore, 5,000 pounds ; blende, 100 tons.

Adams ^ Son ^ Bowden. - These parties are situated about a quarter of a mile southwest of Treglown & Wicks. They have been working during the last seven years on the Morrison range, producing annually about fifty tons of Smithsonite and seven thousand pounds of lead ore. Water was removed from these diggings by drilling a hole down to the glass-rock opening.

David Morrison Diggings. - West half of southwest quarter of Section 8. The range is about seven hundred yards long, forty feet wide, and has a general north and south course. The range was discovered in 1846, and worked at various times for lead ore to 1874. Mr. Morrison then opened the main sheet of the blende, since which time the production has been as follows : In 1874, 90 tons ; in 1875, 106 tons. During the present year the mine has not been worked, although it is still good. The range is drained by a level three hundred and fifty feet long. The ore is found in flat sheets, from seven to ten inches thick, on top of the glassrock.

Richards ^ Faul Bros. - These diggings are situated in the village of Linden, near the southeast corner of Section 8, on land owned by William George. The ore is found under the glass-rock in a flat sheet, from ten to twelve inches thick, from fifteen to twenty-five feet in width, and from thirteen to thirty feet below the surface. The water is removed by a drain about one hundred and fifty feet long. This mine was discovered in May, 1875. From that time to May, 1876, they produced 80,000 pounds of lead ore, and 150 tons of blende. During July, August and September, 1876, they have produced 35,000 pounds of lead oreand 40 tons of blende.

Thomas Tamhlin. - Zinc ores were discovered on the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Scetion 10, Township 5, Range 2 east, on the 20th of December, 1875, on the land of Mrs. Thomas Shore. The general course of the range is nearly east and west, and is now worked at an average depth of ten feet below the surface, and has been proved to a distance of forty feet. The ore was found as a flat sheet of drybone, cropping out at the foot of a hill. On working into the hill, the amount of Smithsonite was found to diminish, and the blende to increase, which seems to be an indication that the Smithsonite is a secondary product, derived from blende. It is estimated that two mines can produce here one hundred tons of zinc ore per annum.

B. S. ^ W. J. Jacols. - Southeast quarter of southwest quarter, and southwest quarter of southeast quarter of Section 7, Township 5, Range 2 east. This mine was discovered in March, 1875. There are here four east-and-west sheets from four to six feet wide, and from four to six inches thick in the upper pipe-clay opening, separated from each other by six or eight feet. of unproductive rock. They are worked about twenty feet below the surface. There is but a small amount of water, which is bailed out. Some very large isolated masses of lead ore have been found here, one of which, weighing 1,527 pounds, was sent to the Centennial Exhibition. Small quantities of zinc ores are also found. The mine produced, during the year 1875, of lead ore, 70,000 pounds, and in 1876, 40,000 pounds. The mine has not been worked much during this summer, as the owners are engaged in farming.

The mines of this district comprise thoic in the immediate vicinity of the village. The zinc ore diggings situated about two miles east of the village, and those in Van Meter's Survey about four miles west of the town. The most productive and profitable are those situated east of the village, worked for drybone blende and lead ore.

Evan Williams' Mines. - Southwest quarter of southwest quarter of Section 25, Township 6, Range 3 east. These mines were discovered in 1844, and were worked at intervals until 1853. Since then Mr. Williams has worked them continuously to date. The ore is found in flat sheets, about one hundred feet wide, in the lower beds of the Galena limestone, and the ground is drained by a level a quarter of a mile long.

Mr. Williams estimates that this range has averaged fifty thousand pounds of lead ore per annum during the last twenty years. Previous to 1863, they were worked exclusively for lead ore. Since then they have averaged one hundred tons per annum of blende, the production rising in some years to two hundred tons. During the present year (1876) thirty thousand pounds of lead ore have been produced here, and one hundred and twenty-five tons of blende. In November, 1875, Mr. Williams commenced working about seven hundred feet south of the preceding location. A flat sheet was found here at a depth of ninety feet, and has been proved horizontally a distance of sixty feet. This mine in the past year has produced, lead ore, 15,000 pounds; blende, 50 tons. In July, 1876, Mr. Williams sunk a shaft twentyfive feet deep, about quarter of a mile west of the center of Section 25, and discovered a flat sheet of blende about five inches thick, from which he has obtained about three tons of blende.

Owens ^ Powell. - On the southwest quarter of southeast quarter of Section 25 are some small drybone digging, on Mr. Williams' land. Five tons of ore are produced here each year. This is known as Rounds' range.

Jones, Farrager ^ Owens. - Southwest quarter of southwest quarter of Section 25, near the west line of the Section on Evan Williams' land. This is an old range, which has been worked since its discovery in 1849. The range is drained by a level three hundred yards long. The ore is found in flat sheets, from forty-five to eighty feet below the surface. Five shafts are now open. These diggings produce only lead ore. The annual product is valued at from $3,000 to $5,000.

Mrddth Evans. - Northeast quarter of northwest quarter of Section 25, in John Williams' land. These diggings are on Morgan Jones' old range, and have been worked during the last four years for Smithsonite. During the present year (1876), lead ore and blende have been discovereil, and 65,000 pounds of lead ore have been produced, and considerable blende.

Sugh Jones. - Northeast quarter of northwest quarter of Section 25. These diggings are on the eastern portion of the Watkins range. They were discovered in 1848. The present party commenced work in 1864. The ore is found in an irregular, flat sheet, from one hundred to two hundred feet wide, in the lower part of the Galena limestone. The annual product of this mine is : Lead ore, 25,000 pounds ; blende, 150 tons.

Hendy, Davey, Lovey ^ (Jo. - Northwest quarter of northwest quarter of Section 86, Township 6, Range 3 east. These diggings comprise the southern and western portions of the Watkins range. The ore is blende and lead ore, found in a flat sheet, in the same opening and position as in the Hugh Jones diggings. The works extend eastward, and will ultimately connect with them, the intervening space being about one hundred feet. The mine has been and is now quite productive - ^the exact amount cannot be ascertained.

Samuel Olegg. - Northeast quarter of southeast quarter of Section 26, Township 6, Range 3 oast. The land is owned by Mr. A. P. Thompson, of Buffalo. The ore is found in a flat sheet, in the glass-rock opening, and is obtained from three shafts, each 100 feet deep. Lead ore only is produced. It was discovered in 1870, and produced in that year 20,000 pounds. Since that time to October 1, 1876, the total product has been 600,000 pounds.

Joseph Pearce Diggings. - This mine is situated in the village of Dodgeville, a short distance northwest of the court house. It is known as the Lowry range, and was discovered in

1836. It was not worked from 1850 to 1870, when Mr. Pearce commenced work on it, and has worked it continuously ever since. It is worked exclusively for lead ore, which is found in tumbling openings and in flat sheets, from fifty to seventy feet wide. The range is drained by a level 800 feet long to a depth of 30 feet below the surface. The deepest shaft is eighty feet. There is considerable water in the mines, but much less than there was twenty-five years since. The water is removed by a horse-pump, worked during the daytime. The length of the range, so far as it has been worked, is 1,000 feet. During the last two years, this mine has produced 200,000 pounds of lead ore; previous to this it only paid expenses.

William Carter ^ Owens. - West half of the southeast quarter of Section 26. Owner of land, A. P. Thompson, of Buifalo. This is known as Edward Edwards' range, and was discovered in 1853. The range has a general north-and-south course, but with some irregularities. It was worked north 500 feet, then west 600 feet, then north - the north-and-south portions being the most productive of lead ore. The mine is quite wet, but is drained by a level about two thousand feet long. The number of shafts is nine, the greatest depth below the surface being seventy feet. The length of the drift is 1,250 feet. Mr. Carter has been working this mine for six years. During that time,, the product of the east-and-west portion has been 65,000 pounds of lead ore annually, and in the north-and-south portions, 150,000 pounds per annum, with the same expense. Other parties working in this vicinity are Nicholas Bailey & Co. and John Bosanco & Co.

Lambly Range. - Northeast quarter of Section 28, Township 6, Range 3 east. This range has been worked continuously for a great many years. It produces lead ore to the amount ot about thirty thousand pounds per annum. Four years ago, its annual product was 200,000 pounds.

Union Mine, William Hendy ^ Co. - Situated on the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 28. The ore produced is lead, and in tumbling openings, at a depth of seventy feet, and in the upper surface of the rock. The mine is drained by a level one-quarter of a mile long.

Ridgeway Mine, William Hendy ^ Co. - Situated on the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 21. This mine is owned and operated by the same parties as the preceding, and is in the same range, which is known as the North-and-South Branch Lot. It is drained by a level a quarter of a mile long. The present owners commenced operating them in 1872. Since then the prodnct of lead ore has been as follows :