Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-07-02
Black Jask Mines Sibtcrranean Works.
LINDEN, IOWA CO., WIS. !
june % 1870 Z


Mr.. EprroR:-Some two weeks since
! left Lancaster, intending to take a trip
through Iowa and Lafayette counties, hay
ing nothing else to do for some time. /
came by way Of Platteyille with Rev. M.
Dinsdale, ard stopped for the night; next
morning at . o'clock we started for this
place.
Linden, as you will see by reference to
the map of Iowa county, is situated SIX
miles north Of Mineral Point, eight miles
southwest from DodgeyilIe, and six miles
from Miffiin-or Black Jack, so called
from the amount Of that species of ore
Astounding in that town. The business
portion Of Linden consists Of four or five
stores Of the different branches of trade us
ually found in inland towns, with its pro-
portion Of blacksmith, wagon and cabinet
shops, besides numerous other mechanics
and artists, and will compare fayorably with
other towns. AS for political propensities,
it is called the "banner town" of the coun-
ty. AT the late presidential election the
number Of votes polled were $50, out Of
which the republican party had 225, and
il her sister towns would only initiate her
example replblicanism would know no foe.
Ter religious and educational privileges
are good, and though there is but one
church-the M. E. church, of which Rev.
+. Tasker is the pastor-anG one school
house: they are large and always filed
whenever there are services of any kind.
The inhabitants are mostly English peo-
pie. There are two very extensive mines
here, the most important of which is car
red on by company of Pittsburg capital
lists. This NINE is situated about /
Of mile southeast Of the village, and is
the most extensive | have seen. Some of
the shafts are sunk to the de, 18th Of one
hundred and twenty feet; but the one
which descended was but sixty five feet
deep, with j tunnel leading away for half
or three fourths Of mile, connecting with
other shafts. The mineral is conveyed to
the bottom Of these shafts from the drifts
by means OF an underground rilroad, at
distance, as before mentioned, Of from a
half to three-fourths of mile. The water
Is drawn up from the shafts by means Of
nine and twelye-inch pumps, which make
six strokes per minute, and force up thirty
gallons Of water per stroke, or one hundred
aud eighty gallons per minute. The pow
er used in working these pumps Is large
water wheel, twenty-five feet in diameter,
and which is about a half a mile from the
nearest shat. There are two main rods
attached to tho wheel and to these several
branch rods are connected. The men
working in the drifts are divided Ito use a
miners phrase) into three shifts, viz: the
forenoon, afternoon and night shifts, and
they are so changed that they have to take
their turn at nightwork every three weeks.
There is another mine in prospect, to be
under the supervision of London COM
panv, tie director of which is daily expec-
ted here. They intend prospecting one
and half miles north OF the village. But
enough for the present about the Linden
mines.
The country around here is the most
beautiful and garied | have ever saw, and
well might be called the loyeliest spot on all
Gods footstool. 1t is the high rolling
prairie, the wooded groves, which are scat
tered here and there over the vast expanse
Of prairie land, and "lends enchantment to
to The scene," and leads one TO excIam:
"Dear.u my eountrys native strand,
Dear the prairiod West"
There was a heavy frost here last We'd
nesday night which did a great deal Of
damage, and to the crops Of one man IN
particular; said man is rather inclined to-
wards secession, End suppose because the
Unionists would not touch his property,
Mr.. Jack Frost thought it about time 1a for
him to coniisoate, and down he came We'd
nesday night with his cold, blighting hands,
and DESTROYED his best crops, with cycle
Of ice as ii were.
But my scrawl is getting somewhat
lengthy ana | will close.
Yours, DC, N. Is. III.