Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1849-02-02
Iron Orc of vviscomsfn-Hts value.

An intelligent correspondent of the Cleve-
land Herald writes at some length IN rela-
ton to the rich mineral discoveries in Dodge
county. We were not previously aware
that no beds equally valuable in quality,
&c.j have been found west of Ohio. In
this view, Wisconsin must become an i'm
r1ehse manufacturer of iron for illinois,
Iowa, Indiana, and Mchigan-besides sup
plying our own large population. His re-
mark that we have the wealth of CALIFORNIA
IN our midst, will no doubt appear extrava-
CANT to those who do not know the enor-
nous wealth which the working of iron has
conferred on England.
+. 81 found here, in a splendid log cabin, of
recent erection, two or three enterprising
citizens of Cleveland, who having more
faith in iron smelling, than gold digging, as
a pursuit, have plunged in the wilderness,
bought the ore bed, and built cabin so
feetsby 25, plastered and chimnied it and
are living i'll great comfort iii beautiful
wild spot whice none Of them had seen six
montns ago.
found the whole party hard at work
making an excavation into the side Of a
hill, for a Blast Furnace; the hill being 20
feet high, abrupt and stony on the West
side, and sIoping off handsomely and grad
ually towards the East. For once, report
has spoken no more than the truth, touch
ing the "Iron Mnes;" the combination
of elements for making iron here, of good
quality and small cost, being without par
allel; the limestone which overIies the
brow of hill, and down the West side, be-
ing of size shape and character precisely
right for building, almost without quarry
ing. TO make foundation for their bui~
dlngs, they commenced digging into the
hill where the ore cropped OUT upon the
surface, and also in the immediate vicinity
OF clear and cOplous springs of pure water,
which, as well as the stone, are indispensa-
BILE for their purposes; as they proceeded
with their excavation into the hill, the vein
oil ore which had shown slightly upon the
surface, increased steadily and gradually,
dipping and rising atanges of about 40 de-
grees, until at the end of 40 feet the vein
presents Il solid mass of the richest de-
scrpuon OF ore, mixture of broken stone
ore and also granular brown oxide of the
consistency of gravel and resembling mass
es OF flax seed, slightly adherlng more than
any thing else. The whole appearance of
things here leaves little doubt but the whole
hill, under the limestone ridge, which IS
three~lourths Of mile in length, is a solid
and ineXhaustlblc mass of the best iron ore.
An nalysis shows 80 to 80 per cent. of
pure iron. 1t is so easily dug, and so ac-
cessible, that few shilIngs per ton will
place the ore at the head of the furnace.
The country for miles to the east, north
and south is dense forest of heavy timber,
consisting of hard maple, oak, buttcrnut,
birch, ash and Eastwood the soil through
out the surrounding country is as rich as
have ever seen elsewhere; it rests upon
limestone foundation, and is as healthy and
well watered as could be desired.
When we consider that no iron ore of
good quality has been heretofore Discovers
ed west Of Ohio, upon these Lakes, and the
immense quantities that required by large
and raidly increasing population of Visions
sin and Illinois, it will be found impossible
to calculate the immense benefit to the
country and profit to the enterprising own
els, that will be likely to result from the
discovery and working of this ore.