Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-05-05
From the Globe.
WISCONSIN.

ESNrLEMEN: Permit me, through
The Globe, to invite the attention Of all
who take any interest in the progress
Of four distant Territoriesto SONS Of the
advantages Of Wisconsin, and to con-
'sideration Of her future prospects.
learn, with, p.dch pleasure, that a
citizen Of Pennsylvania will, in few
days, en.csest 10 the public a book.
z6ntaining notes and observations re-
lative to that portion of Wisconsin
which is east Of the Mississippi, which
were made last summer during visit
70 the Territory, where he remained
about two months. To this work will
be affixed correct map Of the country;
and with the expectation and hope that
It will be in our bookstores in the
course Of next week, my remarks will
be brief and Of a general nature.
A single glance at the map will show
the commanding and advantageous po-
sition Of Wisconsin proper, in connec-
tionwith our great internal channels OF
trade-the Lakes and the Mississippi.
On her eastern boundary Lake Michi-
mn presents broad aud immediate
Communication to the Huron, Erie,
and Ontario. The railroads and canals
Of Michigan, Of New York, and Of
Pennsylvania, brought, as it were to
the borders Of Wisconsin, give to her
citizens all the advantages which such
labors can confer; while their enter
prising projectors only request, in re-
turn for these benefits, a participation
in her trade. On the west, her border
Is layed by the mighty Mississippi, in
yiting her citizens to embark their rich
staples upon its bosom, to be speedily
waited to the great southern emporium,
or to be distributed among the hun
bred cities which have suddenly risen
upon it's shores.
Two broad and direct avenues are
thus presented to Wisconsin; and the
labors Of the southern and northen Sec
tions will be devoted to removing evey
obstacle, to . free, safe, and speedily
communication to her minsrai and y
rricultural treasures. The Wisconsin,
the Fox, the Rock, and Peckatonika
rivers, the extensive and beautifulSdi-
viding ridges, and the level tract near
hersouthern boundary, (extendingfrom
Lake Michigan to the Mississippi) all
will unite to render the internal COM
munications Of Wisconsin, equal to
those of any State in the Union.
Passing from this part ofthe subject,
permit me to speak of the productions
Of Wisconsin.
Lead, for a long time to come, will
be her most productive staple. Her
minera, lands, as indicated by the pres
ent discoveries of lead ore, extend over
m area of about t,UO thousand seUen
hundred square miles, Of which a
hundredth partlas not yet been search
ed, or, in the technical language Of the
miners, "proved," for mineral. The
riches Of the country in lead ore may
be in a manner estimated by contem-
plating the single fact, that in the year
1928 there were made in Wisconsin,
and in 10 Daviess county, Illinois, Gm-
mediately adjoining the Wisconsin line)
about fourteen millions Of pounds Of
lead.
But lead will not constitute the only
mineral staple Of Wisconsin. Ere long
her rich copper veins will pour forth
their treasures. Already, and in the
present infant state Of the country, and
when neither men Of silence nor CAPT
talists have found leisure TO examine
her resource, veins, of copper ore have
been found near Mineral Point, which
bid fair to lead to discoveries Of the
greatest importance to the interests Of
commerce. These veins ofcopper ore
recsivs q passing remark from Mr..
Featherstonhaugh, United States Geo
logist, in his report of 1886. ",The
veins (he says) are nearly vertical, and
the carbonate produces thirty-6ve per
cant. Of copper" Without stopping
% quarrel with the geologist for the
slight notice which he has given to one
of fhs most interesting mineral regions
. upon our continent, will merely state
that several tons Of this copper ore
hSYe already been smelted ia small
and inadequate furance, and by mex
perenced men, near Mineral Point,
and that The produce was sold in Bos-
ton ct twenty-five cents per pound:
further, that several tons Of this ore
have been sent 10 England, and yield
ed 1 handsome profit to the purchasers;
and that the ore found at the greatest
depth was the richestA yielding about
- mar cent Some unfortunate mis-