Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-08-31
A Visit to the Lead Mines.

In company with tho Directors of
tho NEW Calena Lead Mining and Real
Estate Company" we visited New Ga
lena an the lead mines, for the first time,
on Wednesday, and though we had been
prepared by the statements Of men, we'll
Informed and good judges, upon whom
tho utmost reliance might be placed, the
indications OF great mineral wealth,
and the agricultural and manufacturing
advantages Of tho Iowa River Valley,
wero FAR ahead Of our sntioipstiOns.-
Tho valley is reached and traversed by Q
good natural road, which q little labor
would make equal to the best road We
have travelled in this portion OF Iowa
Tho valley Of the Iowa, We confidently
believe, cannot DO excelled for beautiful
scenery.
A pleasant drive Of eighteen miles
brought US to new Galena, and thence
three milcs to the mines. great deal
OF labor and money has been expended,
in prospecting principally, and wo are
assnred with good euccess. Accompan.
ed by MIR. X. Edwards, Q practical min.
sr, wo examined the "diggings." Sever.
al shafts have been sunk, and in every
instance, but two, moro or less mineral
mas been found. Three large excavation.
have been made in the sides Of the bluffs,
which were examined thoroughly by the
party, crawling on hands and knees,
from thirty to sixty feet. Abundance
OF mineral was 2en sdhering to tho sides
Of the excavations, or "drifts," and in
"pocksts," almost from the entrance
along the whole length.
The whole earth seems to be i'm
pregnated with mineral, and were at
tention paid to gathering it ~ it 10 found,
We have no doubt enough could be pro-
cured to pay we'll for the labor. But
the miners ere pressing forward to find
the large bodies, which they feel conf
dent little more labor will bring to
view. We ere not familiar enough With
mining and miners phrsseology to give
q fair description Of the mines, or to
state intclligibly the nature Of the indi-
cations upon which the expectations Of
the miners ere bssed; but the impression
made upon our own mind was, that
where 90 much mineral could be found
90 near the surfaoe, almost among the
roots 1.-The grass, there must be large
bodies not far of.
Mr.. q. D. Jones, % Independent min.
or, has struck lead for which he refus.
% $1,000. He has expended . great
deal Of labor drifting" and has taken
out considerable mineral, When We
visited bis "diggings," be wac sinking .
. shaft over the s'drift,' in order to
procure cir to enable him to prosecute
bic lsbsrs under ground, and within
about four feet from the surface struck
. continuous vein Of ''shsst' mineral.
ranging from ono inch to two inches in
thickness. Hetook out, in our presence.
upwardsof twenty pounds in five minutes,
and more was exposed to view. Mr..
Joses he's followed mining nine yesrs.
and says that bic present prospect eivee
better indications than any be has ever
before found.
The whole party, consistiog Of Almon
Il. Barnes and DR.. D. B. Deffsndorf, Of
Delavan, Wis E. E. Cooley and Leon,
ard Standring, OF DEBORAH, and James
|. Gilbert, Of Lansing, were delighted
with the visit. and are satisfied from the
evidence that the New Galeua Lead
Mines will prove the most productive
shat have yet been discovered ia the
Northwest.
New Gslena 10 situated on the Iowa
River, and 10 surrounded BY The most
beautiful sceasry We ever beheld. BE.
sidee the Iowa river, there are numer,
ous email streams Of pure water, formed
from springs gushing from the bluifs,
which line the valley on either eide
These streams abound With speckled
trout, effording rare sport for anglers.
Il 10 less than . year since the frat
building Was erected. There are nov
about ten buildings and seversl more |
progressing. Msssrs. Moulton & Lea
hsvs erected . large store and ere All |
ling large amount Of goods. Thew Ara |
also erecting large stone barn. w;th
every possible convenience Il win hs |
the model bars OF Allmakee countv
Uoder the auspices Of . mining and Real |
Estate Company just formsd, New Oelena |
esa not fell % be the most important in- |
lasd town in Iowa lie niassal wealth.
water power, sod assieultusal surround |
laes, eaaeet Seii = nsks. 10 = vsry feV |
yeases . large city. Capisaliste. minees. |
~ oeeeenleA 6eeeioe insuot1aonoo. =
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