Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1852-02-19

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exported wealth. ta0it iisi py me ia puaJle.
OF this State III June 500. would amount 10 over
twenty nine millions Of dojlarsl
The conmIltee proceed TO account for the fall
ing OF OF the product Of he mines; cause
they believe to be She rush to California and an
other taey give al length which prIBt, to2eth-
er with the tencluilng portion OF their ruporl-a
report which ne believe TO be Of great value
/ and the favorable or unlavorable action OF the
| Wisconsin Legislature upon II, viii, IN our opin-
! ION, nave permanent influence on the prosperity
/ Of this city Let this be remembered.
The mines first began TO be worked TO any con
siderable extent in S26-7, and for about twenty
years, the number of men engaged in mining
gradually but continually increased. During
these twenty years, the operations OF miners was
confined almost exclusively to raising the surface
mineral, as il is called, or that portion of the
| great lead deposite which is not submerged with
water, and which can be raised without removing
the water-the raising Of which requires the EN-
p!oyment OF no other capital, than the pick and
shovel of the miner, and his rude windlass. There
were 1t Is true some few experiments made in
| removing the water with pumps operated by
horsepower, and IN two instances by the power
OF steam These experiments proved the iallacy
Of the opinion entertained bv some that mineral
did not exist IN the water, and demonstrated that
the miusral not only existed below the wafer
. ?
proportion to the depth to which II was followed,
ana there IS no doubt from all the Information
which experience and observation furnish. that
the mineral viii be found 10 extend 10 the same
depth that the lead bearing rock extends. which
IN the opinion OF scientific biologists, IN the
sou bern part Of the State is as much as two
hundred feet below the bed of the largest streams.
The working OF the mines hitherto mas also
established the locality Of all the principal bodies
OF lead ore in the country. From these opera
tlons we learn that decidedly the most exyraor-
binary and valuable body is located in district
oil country about miles wide on either side Of
the south line OF the state and extending about 10
OF y miles north of that line and stretching
from the Mississippi river 70 the western part OF
Green county. distance of 50 mics. That other
extensive bodies lie north OF that and that small
bodies are scattered over the entire surface OF
Grant. lafayette, Iowa and IN the western part OF
Green aud Dane counties
As already remarked, mining operations have
hitherto been confined mainly 10 raising the sur
face mineral and Tor the period OF % years, these
operations yielded 10 the miner an adequate return
for hs labor and the amount OF that labor, with
i the corresponding results gradually but steadily
increased. There IS however limit beyond which
these surface operations can not pTohtdbly extend
and although the surface mineral Is not vet by
. ! any means exhausted and new discoveries are
being continually made, yet for the last years
= that description Of mining which Tor tbe first 2O
e years Of the history OF the lead mines, was 50 in
creasIngly productive and profitable has gradually
diminished and viii continue gradually TO yield a
less return for the amount Of labor employed on
II, as long as Il Is prosecuted.
ne most profitable mining for lead GRE that
can be engaged IN, or which could have been en-
gaged in for the last five wears Is beyond the rails.
r ing Of ore which now lies covered with water
I and which cannot be raised until the water is
removed. This can only be done by running into
mo
which must be eGcavated through the rock, from
the level Of the streams which run through the
country, or by pumping of the wafer or by both
he work Of draining the mines, involves tae out
lay OF capital within the means Of very few men
IA the mining country, and can only be expected
TO be done by the aggregation and combination OF
/ capital Hitherto but very l.ttie-aImost moth
+ ing has been done II raising mineral from which
II Is necessary 20 remove the water, and II is TO
this that we may look. almost entirely for the
cause Of the diminished productions o. lead for the
last i've ears and unless capital shall be employ
ed IL removing the water we may expect to find
the same diminished results from year 10 year
presenting themselves
Water Is encountered a. depth Of from thirty
10 one hundred and ilitv iret above the beds oil
larger streams The most extensive deposits
winch have yet been discovered viii not Justify
tie employment OF horse power 10 remove the
water, when It has 70 be elevated more than about
sixty .eet. But TUNE, run up from the level
with the larger streams would furnish the means
. Of removing the water from the ground to the
average depth OF about one hundred and twenty
i've leet, and by means of pumps with horse
power, the ground could be drained sixty feet
more, and the water carried off through the tuu-
uels. These operations VIII unquestiouably be
entered into at no distant day, ard whenever they
are viii exhibit result in the amount Of lead
produced to which il Is difficult 10 set any limits
Its highly essential, indeed almost ind speusa-
Die before these extensive operations are entered
INTO IN developing the interesting and valuable
mysteries involved in bringing TO ligat the EN-.
boWeled treasures o earth; that all tie information
. and light, which science can contribute should be
afforded TO AID the miner in directing his labor
and employing capital s. as to produce a salts
: factory result. Past experience and wears OF toll
have presented variety of geological fscts WIN en-
viii be Of vast service TO the scientific geol0cists
IN making a practical application oil geological
theories. No doubt IS er;eE,aIned that such a
geological exploration OF the western part OF the
State as might be made would, when its results
were exhibited be the means c bringing TO this
field Of operations ali the capital requisite TO the
/ development o. AIS great wealth.
Such geological survey Is hot only demanded
BY the interests and CHAR ccer oil The state al
large but II is due to that section OF tie State
J which produces 50 large proportion more than
half OF lis exports; a section which. although il
has always contributed its due share OF the bur.
! tHens, which all TO some extent bear, has never
, asked or received any special aid from the state
. in the promotion Of lis interests.
The committee confidently hope, that the Leg
lsiatare viii no longer delay to make adequate
provision for The appointment OF State Coco
sisr and Tor that purpose they report a oh, and
urgently recommend us passage
J. II EARNEST, Chm.
L. NJ STRONG.
". II. GREEN
4 QUEER HoUsE-JIuac Of ok{ hettS.-
\ queer genius residing at Ciichy, in