The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-09-26
Upper Leather, Babcock Il Andrews.
CLASS DISCRETIONARY, No. 40.
FROM MAJOR P0wELL's SCIENTIFIC Elk.
petition.

BLACK HAWK, Col. TER, Sept, 1867.
Ed 'oR OF THE Rock ISLAND ARGUS,
Dear SIR In my last, if remember right
ly, parted with your readers in the silver
region of Georgetown. Now, without des-
cripton of intervening country, l address
them from the gold mines of Black Hawk
and vicinity.
AS this part of the territory owes a great
portion of its Development and life to Hi
nois enterprise, perhaps there is no other por-
ton of the mining country that would be as
interesting to Rock Islander as that in the
vicinity of Gregory Gulch. 1t was here
that the first gold lode in these mountains
was discovered upon the 10th of May,
1852, by j. 81. Gregory, who, after working
with some success, sold his claim for $22,-
900. 1t then passed through several hands,
who, less successful than its discoverer were
unable to make the works pay. After sew
eral attempts they sold to the original Black
Hawk company. But with the greater por-
ton of its history most of your readers are
familiar. TO them. the working of the
mines, the handling of the quartz, and the
extracting of the gold would be of more in
terest Yet this part is the most difficult to
make plain, especially without the use of
diagrams and illustrations but, if those of
your readers who wish to make the tour of
inspection will use their imaginations in &C
companying me, perhaps their ideas of gold
mining may be somewhat more advanced,
| though clear conception can only be gain
ed by a personal visit.
A gold or silver Lode lead, vein, or seam,
is narrow band of ore ranging generally
| from two inches to four or five feet in thick
ness or breadth upon the surface, extending
downward to an unknown depth, and run,
ming across the country, always, from south
west to north east, sometimes varying few
points, but keeping this general direction.
| IT'S very seldom that any of the metals
are found in pure state, but all ores con,
| tain mixture of many metals. Galena is
composed of sui har and lead. Argentifer
| Gus Galena is Galena containing more OF
| less silver. Sometimes large quantities OF
| copper are found mixed with these ores
| sometimes only trace. Sometimes iron
and gold are found in the paying silver ores
then, again, silver, lead, copper, iron and
other metals are found in the paying gold
ore. Therefore, as the precious metals are
| always found mixed in some way with the
| baser, the ores require that treatment which
| will separate the compounds and preserve
the valuable. There are many varieties o
treatment, an idea of which it is impossible
to give in the short space of a newspaper ar
ticle but among the most successful are
the ulphurizing and chloridizing process
es, which have lately been introduced ant
promise great results. But we must haster
on our voyage of observation, and examine
as we go.
| The Gregory lode, as worked, extend:
from the summit of one hill, upon the soutl
side of Gregory Creek, down across the val
ley and up to the top of the opposite hill
Upon the outcrop of this vein are the princi
pal buildings, known as the Gregory Works
| These contain the machinery for raising the
ore, pumping the water from the mines
crushing the quartz, and matchmaking the
gold.
| To commence, we must first visit the
mine, see the mineral in its original state
| and then follow it through the various treat
ments This we viii do by entering one Of
| the frame buildings erected over one of the
mines, and preparing for the descent by ex.
changing outside wooden clothing for oil
cloth-for we are about to enter wet regions
where dripping water, gushing springs, and
| damp walls will remind us foreibly of the
heavy rains of the outer world.
Being thus waterproof, we approach the
mouth OF the mine, which IS an opening
about three feet square, having a plank lid
| by which 1t can be closed. Over this is a
sheet-iron bucket, suspended by a two-inch
rope and managed by man close by, call.
a brakeman. We approach and descend
not all at once, for the bucket will hold but
two and, as hemp is sometimes weak, the
less the weight the better. We place a
candle in the bottom of the bucket, step
from the floor of the room, and stand sus-
pended over narrow, dark chasm of fou.