Litchfield enquirer., 1832-08-16

mines in the known world. When | wa:
there, these mines had been worked only
about three years, comparatively but a few
persons, who were ignorant of the business
they followed, and they IabOred under all
most every disadvantage, yet they had
manufactured in that tune more than thir-
~ millions of pounds of lead. This had
been carried to the Atlantic cities, and had
reduced the price Of lead in all its forms,
one half! In the mineral country, it was
selling at the mines for one cent pound
at Philadelphia for three and a half cents
"a pound. 4. d..s.. ~
Though bro"ght away from the mines,
specimens Of every sort ofiead ore accom-
panied by statements, showing where, and
how procured-the quantity made to each
smelling establishment, and other inform
alton relating TO it, and all thrown too in
to a tabular form; yet, in a popular little
book, like this, it might not be Interesting
To the general reader, such as read what /
am now writing and pass it by. s.,4,.
The lead region in the United States
lies nearly parallel with the Atlantic
Ocean, from, the north east towards the
south west. Or in other words, this re-
gion occupies the same space that the AL
leghanies do. Ii begins the same latitude
these mountains do 10 the north, aud ends
in the same latitude. From the Wiscon-
sin in the north to Red river of Arkansas
on the south, and IN breadth, from east 10
west, the lead region occupies about one
huqdred and fifty miles Of longitude. Tn
some places it lies very deep in the earth,
AMIDST lies the deepest, about half way be-
tween its extreme ends. At its northern
and southern Examinations, it asceDds to the
very surface Of the earth, and is there
found, even on the surface, either on the
highest grounds Except the mounds) or in
ravines. On the little eminences could
have filed our little wagon, often, as we
passed over them, with beautiful speci-
mems ofthe phosphate oflead. Y
The Mississippi passes through this re-
gion from latitude .43 degrees 80 minutes
north, to latitude SO degrees north.
On the western shore Of the Mississippi,
opposite Rock Island, and extending north
one hundred miles, from indubitable APP
Pearances every where, as passed along,
all that country must contain exhaustless
lead mines. e ea
From the vast region where this mineral
exists, extending through ten degrees Of
Latitude, in width, to, in some places three
degrees Of longitude, ---from its richness,
1t being in many places nearly pure lead)
considering also the ease with which it is
obtained, and It's vast abundance, we may
safely conclude that we have lead ore en-
ough for all mankind, forever within our
own territory.
Copper orc is found in the mineral re-
gion, and one hundred and seventy tons of
i. "a sulphuret) had been dug, at Mineral
Point, before left the scopptry.. Its rich
ness had been sufficiently tested at that
time. .is. t f',s a7 VIA YEA .
Fossil coal exists near the head of Rock
Island, on tho western side Of the hill,
where saw il, in place, and my inforina-
ton enables me 10 say, without a doubt,
that great bodies Of this coal exist on !
Branch Of Rock river, rising southwest of
miles from its mouth. This coal may be
renched by boats, and easily foated down
the river to Rocky Island. s aa
yrs The water limestone, near Galena, in
dicates salt water in the earth, where it
comes IN contact with this rock.
limestone, If thrown into the wafer
becomes encrusted with common salt, and
1 know Of no salt water in lie interior of
our country, which does not lie below this
rock. 1t depends entirely on the quantity
of this rock, near Galeua, whether salt
water, in considerable quantities, exists
there. BY perforaiing the earth few
ksaaa