Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-07-28
OUR MINNESOTA LETTER.

THOMPSON, Mimi, July Z. 1870.
THIS place, on the st. Louis river. twenty
six miles from Duluth. is famous for being
the township which embraces the Dalles, and
one of the greatest slate formations of the
known world. AS l have commenced, will
continue to speak of this quarry in the same
strong language of the agent and proprietors
here, and your readers must make such re-
duction as western representations usually
require. Ii is claimed to be the only availa-
bic slate in the United States, now known
west of Pennsylvania; and. gentlemen who
claim to be experts, pronounce the quality of
the ledge to be even superior to any in this
country, save. perhaps, those of the Pennsyl-
vania Peach Bottom. 1t splits quite easily
and regularly, and in color is of beautiful
light blre. 1t is said to make excellent states,
and it is already in demand for billiard table
beds. mantles and monuments.
Nearly opposite to where am writing is
sort of an island in the midst of the river,
some eighty feet high, and. should Judge,
about two hundred feet long and one hun
dred feet wide, which is claimed to be pure
slate. Then again, "back in the woods /
found mounds of slate thrown up from six TO
sixty feet high: and. finally, find sort of
city of slate, in irregular and then more reg
ular form, with the appearance of lanes, streets
sewers, etc, 1t is claimed that there is slate en-
Ough, and room enough to work ten thousand
men. And here comes in a wonderful chance
for speculation, and since my friend at the
right seems to be "ready reckoner," as well
as glib talker, L will give his figures, and
shirk the responsibility. Says he. "allow-
ing three thousand men were employed here
they could each produce three fourths of
square per day. or one hundred and eighty
squares per man each year, allowing twenty
six working days for month, making an ag-
gregate of five hundred and forty thousand
squares per annum. To the cost of the Ia
borers' wages, add fifty cents square for in
cideHtal expenses, and you make cost of
$3.50 square delivered on the cars" Yes,
my friend, see, see, and so said the blind
man. Your figures may be right, but you
seemed to have jumped from pre- mise to con-
clusion, since you have uot told me at what
figures. or wages You can hire the laborer.-
But never mind. go on, sir. Then you see"
(Of course see) "these states are readily
worth on board the cars" l see) +" sepen dol.
lars per square. leaving net profit of tro
dollars and .fifiy cents square (and now I
see) or an aggregate of one million three
hundred and fifty thousand dollars per annuml'
Astoundingl and yet, can readily see the
computation, / do not see the green5acks
not even glimpse of them.
But this is not all. This business would
produce tonnage for railroads and boats,
amounting to one hundred and forty-four
thousand tons. Yes. and their quarries Every
sanguine) viii control all the trade of the
lake cities down to Buffalo-the timberless
prairie of the great west, and the whole Mig
sissippi Valley to the Gulf Of Mexico, and
there is not the least doubt but that the de.
mand in these places will be fully equal to
the supply" But, my friend, what will be-
come OF those little quarries in that little