Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1865-10-12
Mis- el1any.
Written for the ChTonieie-l
ID I " I " g
TcoNrINuED.l

Ny reference to the prominent features
of mining, in general, was for the purpose
ofcreating light, in which to view mining,
and mining interest in Wisconsin, in par
ticular. In presenting our mining inter
ests to capitalists, as an enterprise worthy
their attention, we are often met with this
question: what interest win it pay on the
capital invested ? and how long before it
will pay dividend? Evidently viewing
this enterprise in the same light they view
every other enterprise, where the relation
between labor and reward, is fully estab-
lished, and where the rewards Of labor are
within the fields Of observation, and can
be demonstrated by calculation. And be-
cause this question is not answered to their
satisfaction, they look on mining, as some
thing got up to deceive. Until we abandon
this view Of the subject, and look on it as
risk with chances, we are not prepared
for mining operations, here, or in any 9th
or part Of the world.
In noticing the history of Wisconsin
lead mines, we need not go far back into
the history Of the past, it has opened un-
der the notice of most of our old men, now
living. 1t is true we find on record, ref
erence to lead ore found in the northwest,
as far back as seventeen hundred, and
again in 1888 we find reference to half
breed Indian trader, selecting land for
mining purposes, on the west side of the
Mississippi and again in 1921 to few
prospects from adjacent states, but it was
not until 1927, that mining really COM
menced. From that mining interest went
on rapidly, increasing, until the mining re-
gion included an area of 2200 square
miles. And if we add to this, that part of
the mining region extending beyond the
state lines of Iowa and Illinois, we shall
have an area of not far from 1900 square
miles, larger persume by far than that
of any other mining region in the world
and for the amount of labor spent, and
capital invested payed just as WELL
The rapidity with which the miners
spread their works over this large tract
of country, in early days, and the assur-
ance with which they came upon the min
eral deposits, seem to oppose the position
taken in former articles in relation between
labor and its reward. So very near the
surface had nature placed her deposits
that labor and its rewards were in some
instances connected, in all, almost So Tue
first miners found some Of their large de-
posts uncovered by the washing of the
rains, and what was not uncovered in this
way, was SO near the surface, that yegeta-
ton marked the place.
We can hardly, however, call those lit
tie pits dug in the clay, mines nor can we
dignity with the name of mining, the sim
pie process employed in collecting the ore
from the detritus accumulated in the val
ley, or that lies. upon the surface of the
solid rock. 1t is true such surface mining
has preceded mining proper, in the best
mineral strata in the world; but subsequent
history shows, that such surface deposits,
are not the mineral wealth of the country,
but natures inducements to follow her
steps, into the unexplored regions below.
The present, is the most critical period
in the history of our mines. The evidences
that guided the miner so successfully in
his first operations, are now nowhere to be
found the boundary lines of this surface
mining, have been reached on every side.
Those surface deposits, are in most places
exhausted, and abandoned and we arc
called upon to decide the question wheth-
er the mineral wealth of this region is con
fined to those surface deposits; or wheth-
er we are to look for new evidences, and
follow them into the strata below.
Mazo Mamie Oct. g. 1865. JIM.
pr CONTINI-rD