New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-01-25


Life Of tho Early sliners-Ensiish Lead
nIines-Indina Digginss- Gsing Down
into the Mines-Posr Miners Making
Fsrssnes- Surface Diggisgs - Future
Prospects Of she Mines--Prices Of Land
and Mines-Immense Pronts.
From Our Special Correspondents.
DoNaoLA. Union Co., Ill
The Lead Mines of Illinois and Wisconsin in.
clude space about go miles east and west and sixty
north south; this embraces eight townships
10 Iowa. Nearly through the center runs '.s o--'-,
ors fifth principal meridian. which extends south
through the Missouri and Arkansas mines. Tho City
Of Galena is ssid to be in the center.
Lead was obtained by the white men near Galens az
early as lsl7 The Indians got 1t in small quantities
long before Probably they always knew where It lay
Int had no great use for before they were possessed
~ frearms The earliest settlements were not made In
this part Of the State. 1t is cold country and as min
ing regions usually barren, this also was supposed
worthless for farming purposes. Every spring. Doats
would leave St. Louis, loaded with miners and pro-
visions, and taey came up Fever River, which 10 10
miles from the Mississippi and landed in the center OF
the dcsiugs. whore few trading houses were estab
lished on the present site OF Galena. small stream
emptie, into this river about Is miles above the town
called Small Pox which is said to have Its name from
the fact that tribe Of Indians. camping on its border
had the smallpox. While the fever OF this disease was
highest the Indians were in the habit Of running 10 the
larger stream and punging into its deep cool water
which resulted 10 the death Of very nany hence the
name OF Fever River few years ago the name was
changed to Galens River because 1t did not look Wen
on the map, or sound well abroad Perhaps, after ALL
IL really got its name from the early miners ha'ing
some kind Of fever owing to their rough life; but
beautifu, stream, and 1t 10 made up OF springs and
brooks az clear and sparkling az can be found In the
world. Fevers and sgues uncommon. and consunip
ton Is rare 1t ID said by some late physicians that
limestone water 10 q preventive OF consumption.
svsmps arc unknown except along, the Mississippi.
The country 10 rough and mountainous much like the
Hudson River country. In travelling one sees vast
extent Of sloping lofty hills. amid which rise blue
mounds.
When cod weather approached, the miners would
leave for home hence In the Winter the mines OF the
country were deserted or course q few remained In
the town, shut up between lofty and steep bills. In
1890 the population was 700 With the opening Of the
Spring the miners returned. There 10 Q well known
fish called tie sucker which. early In the Spring. goes
no rivers and streams. In the Fall 1t goes back 1t
was in Gslens that the people Of Illinois first got the
name Of Suckers
These first miners were Americans. In those days
the orc WAS found on the surface; that IT, by digging
from three 10 40 feet Often veins opened on the tops
Of hills to the light Of day when cart was backed In
and the mineral shoveled up. 1t was wheeled out OF
crcyices in barrows on tho level ground. In bottoms
and at the feet Of cliffs there found hoa. mineral
sometimes 10 large quantities. 1t has been plowed up
in heavy masses In fields and gardens. Such specimens
were the only ones tho indians obtained. and they
never did moro than TO scratch around 30 far % en-
ergy fair days work. and foresgh. sre concerned the
Indian 10 the weakest and most trfng being on the
face OF the earth There Is WORTH hardness and
hope In common farmers boy than In the proudest,
biggest blacklist grcasest Indian that erss lived on
corn raised In 90 days by his patient squsw.
There were no smelting furnaces In those days. A
huge heap Of logs was made In little holowi the min
erai was piled on top FIRE kindled. and the lead ran
out on the ground. This most unhealthy oocupa
tiou They who made 1t business did not live long.
Some died In three montba After that cheap furnaces
we're built and next better ones. They are remote
from houses Often the chimney 10 OF on Q high hi,
while the works are In valley which 10 necessary. ~
they are run BY wstsrpower and the smoke and fumes
arc carried up the hill In passage built Of rock leading
into tie chimney hens or dogs are fed on the grass
near furnace they win die. Celtic wiz not cat the
srsss. but hogs 20 sverywhsre-nothing hurts them
90 plentiful was the mineral frst that miners msos
Fmoney Ike dirt
In hundreds Of instances did miners strike ieaos on
vSns which Welded thousands Of dollars, ImmedsteN