Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-07-27
For the Tuhun.

ual Win my Ianaily IN your City, though
well pleased with the kind greetings OF
those with whom l mingled in by gone
days, could not remain unmoved, and
unimpressed, with the financial embar-
rassment so generally felt by those for
whom / cultivate, and shall continue 10
cultivate, feelings of the highest respect.
And as | dwelt upon these things, | was
led 10 inquire for the cause. | had not
pursued this inquiry far, before | was
convinced that il was the result of several
causes combined. And then came the
| absorbing question, question that doubt.
less agitates the minds of every one that
/ desires the prosperity Of that community
! that is. IS there 10 means by which the en-
/ barrassment can be removed partially at
least, from every class To solve this
question, | grant, is no ordinary task
Yet it IS one that may be performed
After wandering back over the past, soar
ing away into the future, and graphing
with The difficulties of the present, lave
settled down upon this point as fact,
that Mineral Point, like many other towns
in this State, is of mining or mineral or
igin; consequently IS dependent upon its
mineral resources-to a considerable ex-
tent for It's existence and future prosper
ity. And | am disposed 10 think that one
cause Of the present embarrassment IS
the lack of interest taken in our mining
operations and consequently the small
returns being made from onr mineral
lands From this arises another ques-
ton, that IS, what is the cause Of this Iacl,
Of interest, and these small returns Is
it because our old system of mining is no
longer adapted to this mining region or
is it because our mineral resources are
exhausted This Is a question of vital
importance, not only to Mineral Point,
but 10 the State, and even to many out of
the State 1t IS question that demands
a careful consideration from every one
that wishes the prosperity of this State.
I know that my much respected friend
and weekly yisitor,-the Grant County
Herald-with It's hosts of practical mi-
ners have decided that our mineral re-
sources are exhausted in depth. But
having been a practical miner myself for
over twenty-five years, and having studied
carefully almost every known system of
mineral viens, in almost every class of
rock, and having spent ten years in this
mining region, most Of il employed IN
carefully examining our Geological posi-
ton, and system of mineral veins, | am
not prepared to yield this point, "a point
upon which so much depends-without
further investigation. @ And / happen
to know Notwithstanding my friend
the Herald to the contrery-that great
many of the most intelligent of our prac-
teal miners have "more confidence in
deep mining than dousipg for mineral" ."
| know there has been an objection to
deep mining by many practical miners
bu; am aware also that the objection has
arisen, not so much from their want of
confidence in deep mining, as their op-
position to that system necessary to carry
il out They are aware tha, the old sys-
TEN of mining (individual enterprise) IS
not adapted to deep mining. To prose-
cute this, companies must be formed, and
they have an idea that when companies
are formed they will mar opollze the min
eral lands, and then deprive the miners
Of the privileges they now possess under
the old system. This objection, however,
must loose It's force as the old system
dies.
This mining region has arrived at a very
important period in its history; a period
that has been marked with importance
in the history Of every old mining re-
gion; that is, when the old system, how
ever well adapted 10 it, in lis infancy can
no longer meet its demands, and when
the mineral veins have not been sufi-
ciently developed to warrant the introduc-
ton Of that system that must follow
This is period when every mining re-
gion has had to struggle for life. a Pc
riod when wisdom, care, energy and en-
terprise are oaiica for, A period when
doubt. uncertainty and gloom hung over
the best mining regions of the world.
1t would be very Interesting to many,
and very important to the mining region,
to bring before the community through
the Tribune the rise and progress Of 9TH
er mining regions, that have survived
this period, and are now amply rewarding
the energy and enterprise that sustained
them in this important crisis-and per-
haps an invitation from your paper, sir.