Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-02-27
EMPIRE CITY, KANSAS.
.,ors N;neznZ Point TribAQe :

EiiorS 4Nane1nE xOHt 1Ts0n0e -
Thinking a few items from the
Lead Mines Of Kansas may be OF
interest to your readers, | shall ask
YOUR indulgence for brief period.
| came here in the month OF May
oflast year, and found the place
then wild and with but few houses
occupied oy about four or five
tbousand Adventures nearly insane
nyer some large mineral deposits
that had been discovered. After
examining the mines, the surface
indications and the general contour
Of the country. l was satisfied, that
with labor aud capital large qnanti-
ties of lead and zinc ore could be
produced. But | did not think the
discoveries in sight, nor the glitter
inc prospects, were sufficiently i'm
portant to justify the prevailing ex-
element.
The excitement | considered as
fine natural offspring of inexperience
ans. credulity, fostered by designing
and interested persons, who sought
the development OF their land at
the expense of others.
Ny first impressions remain.
Time has rewarded the industry OF
some with rich harvests of lead and
zinc ores, while others have receive
ed as their portion nothing save
the ashes Of disappointment. AS
in most mining countries, the
amount Of wealth squandered in
discovery, has, in my opinion, more
than equalled the amount discover
ed. have seen as many as two
thousand shafts being operated at
once. | could never realize till
now how an extensive district could
be pittcd over as have seen parts
Of Wisconsin. But in the heat of
excitement men will accomplish
lels from which they would shrink
in their more sober moments.
These impulsive efforts, however,
are seldom beneficial, either to the
world or to the individual. Here,
most OF the incipient mines, which,
but few months ago were consid-
cred the store-l,ouses of wealth,
have been abandoned by their re-
spectve owners. A small minority
Of the prospcctors have continued
their labors. These have generally
been successful.
Several causes might be assigned
for the relaxation Of the prospect
ing interest. The inexperience Of
NE general prospector is one cause.
Mother is the difficulty Of the
sonnd itself.
Though much has been said
about the shalloWness of the min
cral and the ease with which it
might be taken ont, | consider it
the most difficult prospecting ground
| ever saw. In several places yon
must blast from the surface down.
Black powder is Intellectual. Moth
ING but the compounds of nitro
Slycerihe are Il success. At the
depth OF ten feet one encounters
water, which increases rapidly as
you go down, until, at from sixty
10 one hundred feet steam engine
Is required to overcome it.
Short Creek, from which this
locality takes its name, is an insig-
nncant stream that springs from
the mountains of western Missouri,
al" babies through the southeast
eFn part of Cherokee county, Kan
Sa', about six miles to the north of
me Indian Territory. Mineral has
oeen round on both sides of this
stream Tor a distance of several
II IS deposited in the Silicon
, ~ IN state OF the utmost con.
fusion.
.. IRON the present developments,
S"." a thing as a Range" seems
n4I OF tAc question. Black flint,
mingled with fossils of various
,I,'.FaicFers, scent TO be the strata IN
"I,cI' The minerals are found, and
m m1:vF seems TO be the agent by
"'"cN the ores are being, aud have
wen dissolved from the rocks, pre-.
.tNated and distributed in the
'of m IN which they are now tonnd.
NE 6nb.carhonitnrnn limo rncl