Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1853-08-31
s Lake superior Iron.

wisconsin s. Lake Superior Iron.
| THE IRoN MINES OF WISCONSIN. The
editor of the Waukesha Press has recent
ly been exploring Iron Ridge, in Dodge
county, and he gives the result of his
observation in column Of spicy reading
matter. After examining the abandoned
furnaces at Mayville, village six miles
from Iron Ridge, the explorer says:
Picking up few of the cinders we
drove to Iron Ridge, and commenced our
explorations. The appearance of the
place, CONSPICUOUS and unusual, indicates
that nature had here some extraordinary
work. The top of the ridge is covered
with heavy masses of limestone, arran-
|ged irregularly. although for the most
part in square blocks. There is herea-
bouts large cave, UNEMPLOYED and its
existence known, to but few. Its mouth
is barely wide enough to permit man
to creep in. One of the engineers of the
La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad in
formed us that he went in short dis
lance, and that it seemed to widen as he
advanced. The top and sides are drip
ping with stalactite, tinged with a red
dish cast, by the iron ore, some speci-
mems Of which we can show to any one
curious in such matters.
We found large gang of men under
the expecting, drifting, and sinking
shafts. The whole ridge is covered with
colored soil, a few inches in depth, but
sufficient to sustain the growth of large
trees. Immediately under the soil, we
meet with the pure ore, which at the
bottom of the ridge lies about four feet
deep, but increases in depth as we as
cend. And again under the ore is the
hard blue clay. One glance is sufficient
to convince one that the ore is literally
inexhaustible.
There are three species of ore, the
seed ore, the rocE ore, ard another kind
very much res embling the seed ore, ex-
cept it is compacted together, SO as to
form solid mass. The seed ore, which
is most abundant yields forty five per
cent. of pure iron the rock ore nine
ty per cent. We have fine specimins of
the different kinds, which any one can
examine by calling.
A company has been lately formed,
with a capital stock of 100000, for
the purpose of erecting extensive iron
works, and melting and manufac. uring
the ore. The location Of their mills is
directly over the ore bed, and the expense
of getting the ore into the furnaces will
be merely nominal. Mr.. Chas Burch-
ard Of this village and Judge Barber of
Dodge County, have been now some time
in New York purchasing the materials,
for twenty blast furnaces and one rolling
mill, to make railroad iron. The work
will be energetically carried on, as may
be judged from the fact, that the com
4 Milwaukee r. r. Co. to deliver them
fifty tons of railroad iron per day after
the first Of March next, until the track
is laid to Portage city.
The improved method of smelling will
contribute largely to the success Of the
enterprise. The drought iron will be
made directly from the ore, at one pro-
cess, thereby avoiding the additional ex
pense of fuel and labor, incurred by the
old method in first turning out the pig
iron and afterwards melting that to pro-
cure the drought. The construction Of
the La Crosse Railroad affords market
and trans portation for their iron.-
The quality of the iron has been tested
and found very superior.
The unsurpassed mineral wealth Of
Wisconsin is just being developed. We
may rejoice that the metals embedded
in our soil, are of the coarser kind, lead
zinc, and iron. Gold and silver mines,
impoverish land, and debase its inhabi-
tants. Mines of the useful metals
enrich it, and give healthful stimulus
to industry and enterprise.
The Milwaukee Wisconsin adds: If
this rock ore yields 80 per cent. Of iron,
it is the purest of any found in this coun-
try. The Lake Superior ore yields &c.
582 per cent. The bed at Iron Ridge
is much easier of access. Gas the La
Crosse Railroad will pass within a few
feet of the be,l) and what is of far more
moment, the people to buy and use the
iron are in the vicinity. Its market is
therefore at the mills. Lake Superior
iron has to be transported hundreds of
miles before, it can obtain purchasers.
The same causes which have built up a
large iron mart at Pittsburgh, would
build up an iron trade in Dodge County.
Large iron works can be erected at Mil
waukee, and as the transportation of the
ere will be only 40 miles, that too over
railway, we may anticipate that our
city will largely share in the benefits to
derived from the development of these
iron ore mines. The comparatively
lower price Of labor here, will give MI
acaukee an advantage over Lake Supe-
rior on Iron works.
MYSTERIOUS Considerable sensation
has been produced in New York, by
the drifting ashore of four cared row
boat besmeared with blood, and bearing
conclusive Indicators that murder had
been committed in the boat. A small