Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1867-07-26

skirted by upland timber: the surface Of
the country seemed about equally diversi'
fed with each. One point commanded the
finest view we have seen on the trip. The
prairies rise by gentle grade into large
oval mound, the top of which is covered
with grove Of noble trees. There ap-
peared to be prairie and timber sufficient
on and around the mound for One-half doz-
en- first class farms. The scene in the dis
tance reminds us of an English gentle
mans country seat. There is another
knoll, not far distant almost as beautiful,
similar in appearance. Then meandering
around with the windings Of Spring River,
is continuous grove of stately trees form
ing an immense ampitheatre Of luxuriant
prairie. On one side of this, on the edge
of the timber, is Center Creek diggings
Here seemed to us afine opening-a fortune
to industry and small capital. A few men
were at work who evidently knew but lit
tie about mining operations; they sank
shafts as far as water and then dug the
float out from among the tumbling rocks.
Strong evidences exist of heavy bodies of
mineral. The remains of furnace is suf-
icient evidence of what has been done.
Machinery to draw off this water, another
furnace, and site for village, with the
necessary accompaniment of stores and
shops would form the nucleus of town
which the rich surrounding region would
develop to an important point. The unan,
imous opinions of miners and those ac-
quainted with Center Diggings is that they
can be unwatered and worked without
great expense, and that heavy bodies of
mineral are accessible. These diggings
were profitably worked up to the time o.
the war, and stopped in consequence
This is but one point. There are other
diggings in the vicinity from which miners
made large profits, when mineral was low,
bit stopped in consequence of the war and
are still idle.
Our next journey was direct to CRANKY,
the mining point ofsouthwcstern Missouri.
Cranky is a small mining town. We
counted in it nineteen stores of various
kinds, excepting the saloons, Of which
there is quite number. One company,
the St. Louis Smelling and Mining Com
pany hold a monopoly here. They own a
building with eight blast furnaces; three
of them were in operation while we were
there. The hills around are covered with
mineral shafts. The general appearance
of the village reminded us Of Linden
Much of our road thither reminded us Of
the road from Linden to Mineral Point
The whole surface Of the country showed
it mineral region reminding as of oul
Wisconsin homes, and strongly contrasting
with what VIC had passed through pre-
viously. In the evening we met lot o
miners, English boys, principally Cornish
and enjoyed good chat, and learned much
The mineral is block mineral, running II
fiat openings, and existing as float among
the tumblng rocks. There are no crew.
ces nor lodes, but these fiat openings ris
and pitch with the roll upon the surface
Times are dull at CRANKY at present; bu
they are now erecting a pump near tn
town, another one is on the road from St
Louis. This, and the prospective railroad
advantages which st. Louis is pushin!
through to this point renders it, we think
prospectivcly, good locality. We can
not leave this spot without passing no
tice to an old friend. We met here an oil
soldier in the Cd Wis, and one who prove,
on many occasions a soldiers friend, on
whose name the boys will read with pleas
ure. We refer to Rev. Mr.. North, famil
iarly known as Elder North, as hale, a
hearty, and full of life and fun as ever
still earnest and devoted, a conscientious
working christian. He thinks that he ha
found the hea lthiest, pleasantest climate
and country possessing more advantage
than any other he has seen or known
But for fear of firing our readers we wi
close by informing them that after
short stay at CRANKY we turned our hoI
ses heads homeward. We epassed throug
Carthage society at this place was yer
similar to Kansas. A new class Of pcopl
had taken the place Of the old. Th
country, as usual, very inviting. VIII
lands here and through all parts of Mi.
souri, through which we travelled rang
from 81 to Sc per acre. Improved farm
from S8 to s15 per acre. Newton count
possesses thei largest school fund of an
county in Missouri. Old Orchards prov
that fruit trees grow and bear .uxuriantly
with little or no care after planting. A
crops do well. Streams are clear and col'
The timbered hills make a good range ft
cattle. which will not soon be fenced,
ever. Game Of all kinds is plentiful, All
society is fast changing from northern il
roads. Our trip on return to Baldwin W;
without incident worthy of mention. I
Scott, we PASSED through, the most bus
ness point on our route, is in coal regio
} We arrived at Baldwin, July 18th, a lit
) worn but all the better for our campaig
into the Wilderness.