Grant County, Wisconsin - Chapter 3: Mines of Grant County in 1870, 1900

Chapter 3: Mines of Grant County in 1870

The following is the report of Moses Strong, Assistant State Geologist of Wisconsin, of the condition of the mines of Grant County about the close of 1876 :

Beetown District

This is the most westerly district in which any productive mines have been worked. In former years they were very productive, but have gradually become less so. There are several subdistricts, of which the principal ones are Beetown, Nip-and-Tuck, Muscalunge, and Hackett. The diggings in the immediate vicinity of Beetown are situated north and east of the village, chiefly on Sections 20 and 29 of Town 4, Range 4 west. There are here on the ridge about a dozen principal old ranges, all nearly parallel, and bearing a few degrees north of west. They vary from half a mile to a mile and a half in length, some of them extending easterly to the Grant Diggings. There are no large organized companies at work on them, the prin¬ cipal product being by individual parties in small lots. Lead ore is usually found in this district in two principal openings, known as the twelve-foot opening and the sixty-five-foot opening. The first is named from the height of the opening, which usually averages about twelve feet. The second derives its name from sixty-five feet of unproductive rock which separates it from the first.

Brown Bros . & Birch, - These diggings are situated in the Hull Hollow, about three-fourths of a mile south of the village. They were discovered in 1860 by Walters & Roberts, and were first worked in the twelve-foot opening. There are three parallel east-and-west ranges situated about nine feet apart. They produce lead ore which is found in flat openings four and one-half feet high and four and onehalf feet wide, lying about seven feet above the sixty-five-foot opening. The ore has been traced by a level 300 feet west from the discovery shaft. The depth at the working shaft is sixty feet; the greatest depth on the ridge will be 160 feet. Work was commenced in the winter of 1875-6, since which time the product has been thirty-five thousand pounds. The prospects are considered good.

Wilcox Diggings . - Situated on the north half of southeast quarter of Section 32, Town 4, Range 4 west. This ground has been recently by Messrs. Henry, Ross, Gundry & Toay, of Mineral Point, by whom it is now operated under the name of the Beetown Mine. Work was begun here by Mr. Wilson in 1868. A level has been run in the ground five hundred feet, underlying a flat sheet of blende and smithsonite, which is in places three feet thick. The sheet has been found to extend eighty feet north and south, and 130 feet east and west; its extreme limits are not yet known. On the south side some copper ore has been found. The sheet lies in the upper pipe-clay opening. About twenty -two feet above the sheet of zinc ores is one of smith - sonite and lead ore, 150 feet wide, whose length is unknown. It lies in flat and pitching sheets in the Green-rock opening. The ground has produced lead ore to the value of $3,500 ; also forty-five tons of smithsonite and 175 tons of blende. Four men are now employed here, and it is intended to work the mine to its fullest extent.

Crossly & Bass . - Situated 'south of the preceding. Work was carried on for six months and stopped by the owner of the land ; twenty thousand pounds of lead ore were produced.

Pigeon Diggings. - They are situated on the north half of Section 20, Town 4, Range 3 west, and consist of several east-aud-west ranges, in which the ore is found in flat openings in the " Brown-rock* * division of the Galena Limestone. The ground is owned by Messrs. Barber, Dewey, ajid Cox. There are about fifty men employed here, miping chiefly in the old workings at a depth of thirty to fifty feet below the surface. The annual product of the Pigeon Diggings is about twenty-five thousand pounds of lead ore. Mining is chiefly confined to the winter season. During the last year a sheet of smithsonite was discovered on the southeast quarter of Section 19, which has produced sixty tons.

Hacketts Diggings . - These mines are situated on Section . 17, Town 4, Range 4, west. They have been idle for several years. Work has been recently resumed on them by the following parties: Hutchcroft & Pigg, and Whitehead & Co. They have now good paying mines in the sixty-five-foot opening. The annual product is about thirty thousand pounds.

Nip-and-Tuck Diggings . - Situated on the south half of Section 25, Town 4, Range 5 west. They consist of several east-and-west ranges crossed by north and south ranges. Very little mining is now done here. The parties are Selleck & Co., and Roberts & Co. The annual product is about twenty thousand pounds.

Muscalunge Diggings

Situated on Section 26, Town 4, Range 5 west. Here are nu¬ merous east-and-west ranges, from a quarter to a half a mile in length, lying near Rattlesnake Creek. More activity is displayed here in min¬ ing operations than any wherp else in the district, about half of the ore smelted in the Beetown furnace being obtained here. In addition to the east-and-west ranges already mentioned, there are a great num¬ ber of small parallel crevices running nearly east and west and crossed by various quartering ones, forming a perfect network of veins and crevices. The following parties are operating in .this vicinity :

Graham Mining Company. - This is a Milwaukee company who own and work a large tract of ground comprising the west half of Section 26. The workings are all in the sixtv-five-foot opening. The following section of the Dewey and Maiden shaft is given which shows the position of strata from the top of the ridge downward :

The two openings are here separated by sixty-five feet of inter¬ vening barren rock. The ground is drained by a level, about threequarters of a mile long, run on the random of the lower opening, at an expense of twenty thousand dollars. It empties into one of the adjacent branches of the Rattlesnake Creek. It could easily be drained to the top of the Blue Limestone, by a level in the horizon of the Pipe-clay opening. A convenience in hoisting was noticed here which might profitably be adopted in other portions of the Lead Region. A six-inch hole had been drilled from the surface to one of the drifts for the purpose of ventilation. An artesian well bucket was then put on and all small stuff and wash-dirt was removed through the hole, thus saving a long and unnecessary transportation underground to the main shaft. The company has worked contin¬ uously here for many years, and now employs about fifteen men. The ground has been very productive; it produced in one year one million three hundred thousand. Its average annual production for the last nine years is estimated at three million pounds of lead ore.

James Thomas & Co. - This company has been working here for the last fifteen years. The ore is found on an east-and-west range in the sixty-five-foot opening. The diggings are dry and from 150 to 160 feet deep. Four men are employed, and the average product is one hundred and fifty thousand pounds ore per annum. The land is owned by Mr. Dewey.

Hutchcroft & Thomas, - Diggings situated 450 feet south of the preceding and connected with them underground, being the same opening, and have been worked continuously for many years. During the last year they have been idle, having been sold by the parties who operated them. When worked their annual product was one hun¬ dred and fifty thousand pounds.

Hutchinson , Dewey & Co. - Diggings situated on the southeast quarter of Section 26, east of John Thomas & Co., on the same range and opening. This party has been working since 1869, and has now a very good prospect. The average depth below the surface is 160 feet; in some cases it is 180 feet. They are connected with Adkinson Diggings by a quartering range. They have produced about three hundred thousand pounds in the last three years. Three men are now employed.

through a level about a quarter of a mile long, emptying into the valley of Rattlesnake Creek. The level was run on a northeast crevice, which contained a large amount of ore, and was frequently intersected with east-and-west crevices. These diggings have been worked continuously during the last twenty years. During the last fifteen years the annual product has been one hundred and fifty thou¬ sand pounds of lead ore. Four men are now employed.

Showalter and Payson. - Diggings situated a quarter of a mile southeast of the preceding, and near the south line of the Dewey land. These parties commenced two years since and are now working an east-and-west range in the sixty-five-foot opening. Two men are now working here and the prospect is good. During the last two years the product has been seventy thousand pounds.

Arthur and Co. - Diggings situated 200 feet south of the precede ing, on Mr. Arthur's land. This is a new east-and-west range discovered in the spring of 1876. A shaft has been sunk ninety feet to the sixty-five-foot opening, and a small amount of ore produced. The appearances in this new range are quite encouraging.

Ritter and Bock. - Diggings on northeast quarter of Section 35, Town 4, Range 5 west, on Mr. Ritter's land. This is a new east-andwest range, discovered in the summer of 1875. It is worked on the sixty-five-foot level. It is regarded as a good prospect, and has already produced twenty thousand pounds.

Loomis and Co . - Diggings situated on the land of the Graham Mining Co., in the southern part. This is also a new east-and-west range, discovered in August, 1876. It has produced about twelve thousand pounds. The mine is now in a condition to yield one thou¬ sand pounds per day.

The lead ore in the Muscalunge occurs in direct contact with the wall-rock, usually in vertical sheets, and without any of the associate vein minerals which are usually found in the other mining districts.

Potosi District

The old ranges of the Potosi Diggings are included in Sections 33 and 34, Town 3, Range 3. Their general course is about north, 70° west, although some bear a few degrees more to the north. They numbered about thirty in all, which were considered separate and dis¬ tinct ranges; and, in addition, there were many smaller crevices, not sufficiently important to constitute ranges by themselves. Among the more important were the Long, Woolley, Gillett, Gilmore, Smith,

Polkinghom, and Barbara, some of which were over a mile in length. The productive portion of these ranges is confined to the middle and lower portions of the Galena Limestone, none of the crevices having as yet proved as low as the Brown Rock. The ore is usually found in sheets of varying thickness.

Considerable irregularity exists in the formation of these crevices in the Potosi District, by which they seem to split up in the lower beds of the limestone, forming key-rocks and divergent crevices. An instance in point was seen in the diggings of Mr. Meredith, in the northeast quarter of Section 33, about three hundred feet south of the old Woolley Range, on the summit of the ridge. A shaft was sunk in the main crevice, which continued without change for sixty feet from the surface. At this point a hard key-rock, as it is called, was encountered, on which the crevice and ore-sheets divided, one part continuing vertical and the other slanting downward at an angle of about 45° for a distance of thirty feet. Here a very hard and smooth floor was found, on which the sheet was followed out by drifting for a distance of 130 feet, without reaching the end. No appearance of openings was observed. These diggings were struck about six years ago [in 1870], and have produced since then about four hun¬ dred and twenty thousand pounds.

Rockville Diggings

Here are a number of east-and-west ranges with flat openings, which have been worked with little interruption since 1840, and now furnish employment to about twenty miners. Mining is chiefl\r con¬ fined t& the winter season. The following parties are now operating here:

Phillips & Walker . - Southwest quarter of southwest quarter of Section 13, Town 3, Range 3. These parties are working a new eastand-west range, discovered by them in the summer of 1874. The ore is found at the depth of about a hundred feet below the surface, in flat openings from fifty to sixty feet wide, whose length has not yet been ascertained ; they have, however, been worked to a distance of three hundred feet. Here the lead ore is in what is known as the second opening, which lies about thirty feet above the upper surface of the Blue Limestone. Their annual product is thirty thousand pounds.

Dilger Mines. - Northwest quarter of northeast quarter of Section 24. This is a new range, discovered in January, 1876, and the works are yet confined to the first opening, which is here thirty feet above

Hayward Range. - Southwest quarter of Section 13. It has been worked continuously every winter since its discovery in 1841, and has yielded in all between four and five million pounds, It is now worked by Messrs. Jackson & Calloway, in the second opening, which is here from thirty to forty feet wide. Its annual product is about one hun¬ dred thousand pounds.

Curnow and Pillow Range - Southwest quarter of Section 13. This range has not been idle during the last thirty years, and is still productive. During the last fifteen years the range has produced over one hundred thousand pounds per annum. Messrs. Nichols & Steph¬ ens are now mining in it, and producing twenty thousand per annum.

Emery & Davis Level. - Northwest quarter of northwest quarter Section 24. The level was begun in 1 852, and is now six hundred feet long and drains the ground in its vicinity nearly as low as the second opening. It cost about twenty thousand dollars. The excavations here were of the nature of a quarry, several flat sheets of lead ore being found, interstratified with the Galena Limestone. While the level was in operation, the annual product was about one hundred thousand pounds. The level drains the Langstaff and Wiley ranges which were discovered about thirty years ago, and have been worked continuously ever since. Most of the lead ore is obtained from the first opening. The annual product is fifty thousand pounds. These ranges have been worked to the present water-level, leaving sheets of ore from twelve to eighteen inches thick, going down. The level should be run a few rods farther to connect with a north-and-south crevice; it would then probably drain all the ranges much deeper.

Stone and Bryhan. - Situated near the northwest corner of Sec¬ tion 1, Town 3, Range 3, on land owned by Mr. Seaton, about three miles north of the village of Rockville. The works are in the first opening, which is from eight to ten feet wide. They have been worked in the winter season during the last four years, producing annually between thirty and forty thousand pounds. They were formerly worked by Mr. Groshong, and were more productive. The mines are dry.

Griswold Diggings. - Situated about a quarter of a mile south of the preceding. These are dry diggings worked in the first opening, which is here about six feet high and from ten to thirty feet wide.

Henry Gillilands Diggings. - These diggings are situated about three miles southeast of Rockville, on the Platte River. They are dry diggings And have been worked during the last four years in the first -opening, which is here thirty feet wide and about six feet high. The annual product is twenty-five thousand pounds.

British Hollow Diggings

Peak and Blair. - Northwest quarter of Section 26. These parties have also been working in the Craig Range, during the last summer [1876]. They have a flat sheet of lead ore about five inches thick, in the first opening, which here averages about twenty feet in width. The range has been worked during the last forty years. The product of the present parties has been about twenty thousand pounds.

J. Alderson's Diggings - Northwest quarter of Section 26, Town 3, Range 3. They are situated on the Craig Range, in the village of British Hollow. This range was worked by a Cincinnati company for three years, but they abandoned it about two years ago. This company produced about three million pounds during their opera¬ tions. Mr. Alderson commenced mining here again in July, 1876, with a steam pump and has sunk four shafts. The workings are about one hundred and twenty feet deep in the second opening, and in the third, which is about twenty-five feet below the second. The mine has not produced much yet, as the time has been mostly consumed in prelimin¬ ary operations.

Dutch Hollow Diggings

They are situated on the north half of Section 36, Town 3, Range 3, about two and a half miles east of Potosi. The following parties are now operating here :

Dutch Hollow Level Company. - Mining operations have been car¬ ried on here continuously for the last six years, excavating a level on or near the upper surface of the Blue Limestone. The level is now about half a mile long, and it is expected to reach the main shaft in about a month. When completed, the level will unwater all the Galena Limestone above it, which is here one hundred feet thick. It is ex¬ pected #to unwater the Kendall and many other old ranges in thevicin-

Rup and Son. - Northeast quarter of Section 35. This party has been working during the last six months in the Zug Range. The ore is found in the first opening, which is here about fifteen feet wide. The production has been fifteen thousand pounds.

Zug Diggings. - An east-and-west range, being the same range and opening as the preceding. Mined at a depth of seventy-five feet. Pro¬ duction one hundred and fifty thousand pounds.

Langstaff and Gillan . - Situated three-quarters of a mile north of the preceding in the creek in Section 25. The lead ore is here found in a flat sheet in the first opening, near the water-level and about thirty feet below the surface. Three men have been working here twelve months, and have produced sixty thousand pounds. In the Potosi District, including Rockville, British Hollow, and Dutch Hollow, the total production could not be definitely ascertained, as very little rec¬ ord of it has been kept. It is estimated at eight}' thousand pounds per annum. Mining in the district is generally abandoned in the sum¬ mer for farming, and resumed again in the winter, in the lack of other employment. In this way, a large number of men are at work in the winter, each raising a small amount by prospecting, which forms in the aggregate the total product of the district.

Fairplay District

The only mines in this vicinity which have recently produced any¬ thing are those of Black & Co., on the northeast quarter of Section 24, Town 1, Range 2, and those of Williams & Co., near the middle of Section 19, Town 1, Range 1.

Black & Co. - This property, which comprises in all about 240 acres, is owned by Joseph and Thomas Sparks. It has been known to be rich ground for many years, and to contain, besides the ore, an im¬ mense amount of water, which was the chief obstacle to be overcome. Previous to the operations of Mr. Black, it had been attempted by three different parties, at as many different times, but always with more or less loss. Mr. Black began work on it in 1871, by means of pumping, and continued to add pumps, engines, and pumping machin¬ ery at intervals. In June, 1874, there were in operation two steam pumps and two large lift pumps, with three boilers and two engines, one of them of about thirty horse-power. The company then contem¬ plated adding a large engine and machinery. It was estimated that about two thousand gallons of water per minute were being pumped from the mine, and when the lower opening, which is thought to be about fifteen feet deeper, is reached, it will become necessary to pump about fifteen hundred gallons a minute. The mine is in the upper beds of the Galena Limestone, which is here present in its full thickness, and, indeed the first few feet of the shafts are sunk through the lowest beds of the Cincinati Group [Hudson Shales], as may be seen from the yellow clay with the characteristic shells, in any of the shallow pros¬ pecting holes in the vicinity.

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 a hundred and five feet below the surface. The opening now presents the appear¬ ance of a series of large rooms or caves, from fifteen to twenty feet wide and about fifteen feet high, for a distance of about 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 de¬ crease 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 open¬ ing, the ore was found in large masses, weighing sometimes several thousand pounds. Two large masses were found which weighed re¬ spectively fifty thousand and twenty-seven thousand pounds. With the ore large masses of rock were found, mixed with loose dirt and a fine, dark clay. The sides of the opening were much washed and worn by water, showing a very regular stratification, with no appearance of faults or dislocations. Each of the caves in the opening had a chim¬ ney going down, apparently to a second opening, which has never yet been proved or worked. The upper part of the opening was some- times filled with a large key-rock, 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 was a sight not soon to be for¬ gotten. On the floor lay great masses of rock which had fallen from above, with clay continually moistened from the dripping walls and arching roof, and here and there the feeble light revealed rich masses of glittering ore.

Williams & Co. - This mining property is situated about threequarters of a mile northeast of Black's mine and was operated by the proprietors, Thomas and Jeremiah Williams and Mr. O'Connor. In this ground the water is not nearly as 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 two hundred and fifty gal¬ lons per minute. Mining has been confined to the upper half of the Ga¬ lena Limestone. The lower clay beds of the Cinicnnati Group are also found here, but not in so great thickness as at Black's mine. The pump-shaft begins at the top of the Galena Limestone and is sunk to a depth of one hundred and six feet, at which point the top of the second opening is found, after passing through the first opening, which is sit¬ uated 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 resem¬ bles in general appearance. The first openrtig 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 the drift 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 eastern. Several masses of lead ore were found in this opening weigh¬ ing from fourteen to fifteen thousand pounds each. A singular forma¬ tion of ore was found in the top opening. The mine was discovered and opened in 1872, and since then has probably been the most pro¬ ductive and remunerative mine in the district, on account of the com¬ paratively small amount of water to contend with and the large amount df lead ore obtained, which has been estimated at two and a

Fairplay Level Company. - k stock company consisting of Messrs. Merry, Oliver, Rewell, Pier, and Natte, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, has 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, Town 1, Range 2, about three-quarters of a mile below the village of Fairplay. It has been run eastward a distance of twenty-two hundred feet, and thence south seventy feet, and has cost about thirty thousand dollars. 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 one hundred and forty feet, and forty-eight below the natural water-level. One mile further 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 : Crabtree, Thompson, Engine, Cams, Bruce, Lost Range, Franklin, Sword, 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.

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 the two large mines previously described, has not exceeded fifty thousand 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 produc¬ tive condition.

The most remunerative and continuously productive portion of the district is the property of the Hazel Green Mining Company, other¬ wise known as Crawford, Mills & Co. It is situated on the north- west quarter of Section 30, part of the southwest and northeast quarters of Section 30, part of the southeast quarter of Section 19, the southwest and northwest quarters of Section 19, the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 18, all in Town 1, Range 1 east ; also the northeast quarter of Section 24, and the east half of the east half of Section 25, Town 1. Range 1 west, comprising in all one thousand one hundred and six acres, on which more than four hundred and fifty dis¬ tinct 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 thirtyfive 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 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 Hardscrabble Branch, and have been working it continuously ever since. Its total completed length is about four thousand feet.

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

Some time in the year 1871, one of these 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 being overcome, and nitro-glycerine, or some of its compounds, will probably supplant gunpowder in the mines, at no distant day.

On account of the position of the bars, it was found necessary to make three branches to the level, one of which is now complete and is gradually draining the western part of the ground. The northern branch, when complete, 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 com- pany twelve years of time and about one hundred thousand dollars. Its results are, that it has already repaid the outlay of the capital by the ore raised from the ground unwatered by it, which would otherwise have been inaccessible. When complete 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 is usually found in sheets ; this is a characteristic mode of occurrence. The ranges are approximately east-and-west, or north-and-south, the former being most productive. Ore is also sometimes found in large bunches or pockets, containing sometime 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 smelters' accounts at one hundred and twenty-six million pounds. Their present product is about eight hundred thous¬ and 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 and Co. - These parties were working in a new locality, and had at the time they were visited, one of the hand¬ somest 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 shapes, affording very handsome cabinet specimens. There were not less than ten thousand 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 in the fall of 1875, and produced one hundred and twenty thousand pounds.

Rowe and Rowe. - This is a new range, discovered in March 1874. It is an east-and-west sheet in which the ore occurs in crevices 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 output produced up to that time was fifty thousand pounds.

Richard Eustice. - These are situated in the Phelps Range; the shafts are ninety feet deep, down to the clay openings. Length of drifts about one hundred and fifty feet. The ore here occurs in a sheet about an inch thick. The diggings were worked from June, 1872, to June, 1875, and produced about forty thousand pounds. Near these diggings, and about ten feet deeper, is an east-and-west sheet dipping to the north, carrying bunches of blende, which afford quite handsome crystals.

Mainwaring and Madison Range. - This is an east-and-west range and is sometimes known as the Hinch Range, from the name of a person 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 forty thousand pounds of lead ore. The shaft is down about fifty-five feet and within six feet of the flint opening. Work was suspended on it in June, 1875.

John Edwards. - These diggings are situated farther west on the same range. A flat sheet of blende is found here in the second opening, at a depth of eight} feet below the surface. The order of deposition here is: First, pyrite; second, galenite; third, blende. During the winter of 1875-76, the product was blende, ten tons; lead ore, fourteen hundred pounds.

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

Mines Of Hazel Green District

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

Big Pump Range. - Thisrangehas been worked since October, 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 range two hundred feet north of the west branch of the level. The lead ore is found in a flat sheet in the second open¬ ing. 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 one hundred and fifty thousand.

Clark Diggings. - Two men have been working during the last year in the range next north of the McCoy Waterwheel Range. The ore is found in "chunk mineral" in the second opening, which is here six feet wide. The product has been thirty thousand pounds.

Treganza & Son. - Work was begun by this party in the fall of 1874, on the Dry-bone 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 is lead ore and the lower zinc ores. The product has been : zinc ores, twenty tons; lead ore, twenty thousand pounds. Very hand¬ some specimens of galenite, coated with cerussite, are obtained here.

W. H. Eustice & 2?ro. - This party began 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 ten thousand 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 win¬ ter season, usually about sixty miners working on the lands of the Hazel Green Mining Company.

McBrien & Co. - This is an east-and-west sheet, connected with a quartering one averaging about an inch thick, situated on the land of Dr. McBrien, on the northwest quarter of Section 25, Town 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 Hazel Green Company's level, work was recommenced in 1871, since which time about fifty-tive thousand pounds of lead ore have been taken out. The diggings are on the upper beds of the Galena Limestone, and not down to any openings.

TorneaFs Diggings. - k 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 forty^two thousand pounds. Considerable time and labor have been expended in running a cross-drift to prove the ground and ascertain the number and posi¬ tion of the crevices. The distance here to water is eighty* feet, and the diggings are in the upper beds of the Galena Limestone.

Rowe and Vivian. - This was formerly known as the Chisholm Range, and is situated on Edward Williams's land in the southwest quarter of Section 25, Town 1, Range 1 west, in the southern part of the village of Hazel Green. It is a north-and-south range, and was abandoned in 1854. Work on it was recommenced by the present parties in November, 1873. Since then it has produced twenty-four thousand. The full thickness of Galena Limestone is here present, overlaid by a few feet of clay of the Cincinnati Group. The deepest shaft is one hundred and six feet, and the total length of the drift is about one hundred and ninety feet. Work was suspended here in the spring of 1875.

Williams and Brother - On Edward Williams's land. This party began in the fall of 1875 and is now mining in a range a short dis¬ tance west of the diggings of Eustice & Co., in the village of Hazel

Mines Of Platteville District

Chandler's Mines. - These diggings are situated on Mr. Wetherbee's land, and on the Sulphur Lot Range. Work was begun in 1874. The works are in the second opening, which is from six to eight feet wide, and contains a sheet of lead ore from one to two inches thick, and also large, irregular masses, which afford handsome specimens. The mine has produced half a million pounds and is now very good.

Platteville District

The diggings of the Platteville District comprise those situated in the immediate vicinity of the village, the Whig Diggings and the Big Patch Diggings. The mines near Platteville are all included in Sections 9, 10, 14, and 15 ; and of these, the ones chiefly worked are situated on Sections 9 and 10, a short distance north of the village. The diggings here are very shallow; the deepest shafts are seldom more than thirty feet. The ore occurs in bunches, pockets and small openings in the clay crevices, and often comes up to the surface. Their geological position is about the middle of the Galena Limestone. There are no large companies at work in the district, all the mining being done by parties of two or three persons. There are quite a large number of such parties, who form the aggregate production of the district. A few of the most prominent are here given, and their annual production as nearly as could be ascertained :

As most of the mining is done in the winter, none of the above mentioned firms were engaged in mining at the time the district was visited, and we are unable to give a detailed description of the several mines.

Whig Diggings

This is a small group of east-and-west ranges in the south¬ west quarter of Section 7, Town 3, Range 2, West, on the ridge, on the west side of the Platte River, which belongs to the Platteville district. More or less mining is done here during all the year. The following information concerning them was obtained from part¬ ies now at work there. The diggings are all in the upper beds of Galena Limestone. The principal ranges are as follows:

Gillis Ratine. - This is the longest and largest range in the Whig Diggings, being half a mile in length. The shafts are sunk on it from thirty to fifty feet deep, where a crevice opening from three to fiye feet high is found. There are from three to seven parallel crevices, which were discovered in 1839. Their total product since then has been about five million pounds. The present annual product is fifteen thousand pounds.

Robbins Range. - Situated a short distance north of the Gillis. It was struck in 1840, and produced five hundred thousand pounds. Work was suspended on it, and resumed in 1866 by Cronin & Stevens, who raised about three hundred thousand pounds. Less work is now done on it than on any of the others.

Duncan Range. - Situated 150 yards south of the Gillis. It is a little more than a quarter of a mile in length. There are here two parallel crevices, and one opening which is from six to twenty feet high, and from five to forty feet below the surface, according to the contour of the ground. It is a very hard ground to work, as everything has to be timbered. It still produces a little ore and a little smithsonite, exactly how much could not be ascertained. The total product of the range is said to have been one and one-half million pounds.

Messersmith Range. - This range is situated a short distance south of the Duncan, is about a quarter of a mile long, and has but one principal crevice. It is from five to thirty-five feet to the top of the opening; which is from five to ten feet high. The range is now worked out for lead ore, but still produces a small amount of smithsonite.

Mines Of Platteyille District

quarter of a mile long. It has one crevice, and an opening which is about seven feet high. It has produced six hundred and fifty thou¬ sand pounds since it was discovered ; and its annual yield is about five thousand pounds.

Dutch Range. - The range was discovered in 1840, and has been worked nearly every year since. It is a quarter of a mile long. The ore is found in bunches mixed with blue clay, in the first opening, which is from fifteen to thirty-five feet below the surface. No ore is found in the lower openings. It has produced in all two hundred thousand pounds, and its present annual average is five thousand pounds.

Wilkinson and Cronin Range . - Is a quarter of a mile long, and was discovered in 1868. The ore is found partly in the first, and partly in the second openings, which are here eight feet apart. It is from five to thirty feet from the surface to the top of the first opening. There are here two ranges which have produced three hundred thousand pounds. The range is now nearly worked out.

Smith Range . - This differs from any of the Whig ranges before mentioned, in having its course north and south, instead of east and west. The range is about an eighth of a mile long, and the distance from the surface to the top of the opening is from ten to sixty feet. The sheet was from one to four inches thick, and was worked in one place down to the Blue Limestone. The principal bodies of ore were found in the Brown Rock opening, which is much lower than the general run of openings at these diggings. The range^ is said to have produced two hundred thousand pounds, and is now worked out.

Big Patch Diggings

The greater part of this group of diggings is situated in Section 10, Town 2, Range 1, West. The general course of the range is north 65° west. The ore is found here in crevice openings, and usually in the first opening. The following parties are now mining here :

Hawkins , Thomas and Co. - Southwest quarter of Section 31, Town 3, Range 1, West. This is a discovery of the year 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 in the bed of a small stream, and a level to drain it is partially complete. About twenty-seven tons of ore have been produced.

Beginning in the western portion of the lead region and proceed¬ ing eastward, the first is the Beetown furnace, in which is smelted all the ore of the Beetown Diggings, together with that of Muscalunge, Nip-and-Tuck, and Hackett Diggings.

The furnace is owned and operated by Hon. Christopher Hutchin¬ son, by whom it was built in 1868. Previous to that time all the ore of the above-mentioned district was smelted at Potosi. It is a reverb¬ eratory furnace, known as a Drummond, with a capacity of nine thou¬ sand pounds of ore in twenty-four hours. It consumes one and threefourths cords of oak wood, and is operated by two men. The number of pounds of ore smelted from June 19, 1876, to October 1, 1876, is as follows :

Proceeding east, the next is the Platteville district, which has two furnaces, both near the village. Here is smelted all the ore raised in the Platteville and Whig Diggings, and also that from the Big Platte Diggings in the town of Smelser :

The above table gives in round numbers the product of the Platteville district since 1861. It is, however, only an approximation made by the smelters themselves, and believed to be tolerably correct. Fur¬ nace No. 1, owned by Messrs. Straw & Spensley, is a blast furnace hav¬ ing two hearths, and is situated about half a mile south of the village. Furnace No. 2, owned by Mr. Coates, is situated near the railroad de¬ pot. It is a blast furnace of two hearths, and has not been worked since some time in 1873. Nothing more than an oral statement of its annual average could be obtained.

Four furnaces have been operating in the vicinity at times since 1861, but only two of them are now worked. Vance's furnace ceased work in 1868, and Gibson & Co.'s furnace in 1871. A. W. Emery's furnace, situated near Rockville, is a reverberatory, with a capacity of six thousand pounds in twenty-four hours. Thomas Hymer & Co.'s furnace, situated near British Hollow, is a blast furnace of one hearth. Previous to 1868, all the ore from the Beetown district was smelted at these furnaces, in addition to that which they now smelt, which comprises the mines of Potosi, British and Dutch Hollows, and Rock¬ ville.

A detailed statement of the ore smelted at the several furnaces could not be obtained, but from the oral statements of the several smelters, the following estimate has been prepared, and it is believed to be nearly correct.

This district embraces all of the mines in the vicinity of the village of Hazel Green, and, indeed, all the ore produced between Sinsinayva Creek and the Coon Branch of the Galena River.

The furnace is a new blast-furnace of one hearth and a capacity of a hundred pigs (of seventy pounds each) in twenty-four hours. It is owned and operated by Messrs. Crawford, Mills & Co., who furnished the following statement from their books. It is situated on the Hard¬ scrabble Branch, about a mile southeast of the village of Hazel Green. Year . Ore smelted . Year . Ore smelted . Year . Ore smelted. Year Ore smelted.