Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-05-31

that the consumption upon the wisconsin
river ard ito tributaries amounts to mil.
lion Of dollars annually is regarded as =
moderate estimate. But the pine regions
dependent upon the w isconsia Central r
r. for supplies are not limited to the Wis.
consin river. At MedfoId, 81 miles from
Stevens Point, Black river is reahed, and
Is miles further on the road crosses one
Of tho largest branches Of tie Chippewa
river, aud continues to interse ct otht I
branches Of this important numbering
stream until it reaches Pcnoke, where the
waters flow into Lake Superior.
The Penoke Iron Range, is most won>
derful formation, in either scientific or
economic point Of view. Sixteen years
ago visited and explored this mountain
range, for the purpose Of informing myself
in relation to its mineral value. The range
is "a miles long, in an easterly and ives.
terly direction, and is Of nearly uniform
elevation Of 500 feet above its base, with
about the Same ACTIVITY aS tho Blue
Mounds.
The Manoeis Tor Bad) river cuts through
this range presenting vertical exposure
Of the vein or lange Of iron ore, which
was found by measurement to be sixty
feet across hor zontally sud ex tending from
the summit Of the ridge to the base, and it
is supposed to extend much deeper. The
ore vein is nearly vertical, having dip
to the north Of about Is degrees. The
formation Of the ore has slaty appearance,
and the rock which overiies it is y pure
slate, above which are found the azgic
rock, and at the surface sufficient soil to
sustain heavy growth Of forest trees.
The ore is highly magnetic, and the exper-
iments which have been made demonstrate
that it is as we'll adapted to tie uaanufa' ture
Of steel as the best ores Of Sw, cd.n. This
range Of ore may be said 70 be 60 feet
wide, 300 feet high, and "a miles long.
1t has been, as yet, but little worked, but
preparations are being made to work it
on an extensive scale. aud It is confidently
supposed that when the Wisconsin Gems
trail is completed, the ores will Ge oxtcn.
sively mined, and a large portion reduced
to pig and bloom iron ut The range, with
charcoal for fuel, which can be obtained
IN great abundance for many years, and
thut other large OF antilles will be trans
ported to furnaces NJ which mineral coal
is used.
The prospective source Of Industry and
wealth which these immtnse iron deposits
are capable Of developing are referred to
in this connection a. holding out = certain
prospect at no distant day VI new and
| vast market for TIE TODD and f,rage which
can be supplied by the farmers ol the more
southern agricultural counties.
The Wisconsin Central railroad has been
open north Of Stevens Point but about
two years. When it was commenced, the
country through which it runs was an u,,-
broken wilderness Of forest, uninhabited
by solitary civilized human being. Now
there is upon the line Of the railroad u
popu ati0n estimated at more than ten
thousand. Two new counties haye been
formed and organized. There are fihee,,
villages at each OF Which is a railroad sta
ton, and thirty saw mills arc IN operatl n
along the line Of the road, and there is no
hazard in predicting, that within two
years the population between Stevens
Point and Lake Superior will DO 10000,
and that at the next census,ia l880,it will
reach 100000.
Its tins great and growing country
| which must for long time receive its food
aud forage supplies from the more SOUTH
ern agricultural regions, that presents to
the farmers IN Iowa, La Fayette and
| Grant counties, a market for their surplus
Of beef and pork aud wheat and especially
for their coarSer grsins.and that in return
offers to supply them with lumber which
| they 40 much need, at rates which would
save TO them as much ~ five dollars per
thousand upon the large amount used by
| them.
!, we're easy to enlarge upon tho facts
which go to show the extent aid value
of tic MAI ket which the Northern part OF
the state, especial y in the vicinity Of tn.
| Wis. Ccnt,a K X. would furnish for the
agricultural productions of the Southern
Dart. But enough has been said to d, mon
strate tina, the bringing Of these widely
separated incu .tries into proxlmate con
nee, on is an element of the Importance OF
our enterprise, well worthy Of conSldera-
ton.
Again every one acknow sleGge the impor
lance to the country OF obtaining CHEAP
lumber, but it requires reflection ant
much knowledge Of the SUI ject to under
stand and appreciate with any degree o
accuracy the magnitude Of The interests
involved in cheap lumber.
The consideration OF this question in
wolves the amount CT freight per thousand
which will be saved by the constructor o
this direct line to the pineries. and tn
amount Of lumber used, or which woult
be used at the reduced rates.
The amount saved in freight at any civ
en- point will depend very much upon tn
reduction in distance 1t that point gaine'
by the construction Of our road.
To illustrate: The distance from Free
port to Chicago rio Forreston is l33 miles
| From Mineral Poin: to Stevens Point b