Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-07-05

noted mineralsgist of Wisconsin,
who spent many years in the gulch
mines of California, paid the local
ity visit, and was so well pleased
with the prospect that he, together
with George Henry and the Dow
linps, became interested in large
purchase of land in the neighbor-
hood that it is expected will prove
valuable in gold as well as for agri-
cultural purposes.
Up to a fortnight since scarcely
any effort has been made in the way
of proving the extent or value OF
the discovery. Only an occasional
day between farm work last fall and
this spring, has been devoted to ex-
ploring. The parties most interest
ed seemed rather to have waited to
keep the matter to themselves until
they could determine something def
mite as to the source, value and eX-
tent of the find But their secret
would out, and now several parties
are skirmishing around the prairie
and lake, and, although none of
them have up to the present time
went to work, practically even to the
extent of a good, square days work
with the pan, all have found the
color.
Your correspondent yesterday
morning armed with spade and pan,
made his maiden effort III gold-hunt-
ing. The result of washing out
about a peck of gravel, mud, and
dirty water is sent to you, together
with the black gold-bearing sand al
most invariable found with this met
al. Being "tenderfoot" | am un-
able to say whether it was pay-dirt
or not, but have been informed by
practical miners that such dirt will
pay, even with no better means of
separating than the pan.
All who have, or pretend to have,
any knowledge of gold-mining agree
that there is gold here. Old gold
miners find it without any pointers.
Here is the same gravel, sand,
quartz, etc, as is found in California
and Colorado. No quartz lodges
have yet been found, nor has the bed
rock been reached. The latter is
said to crop out at Sioux Falls, and
it is roughly estimated will be
reached about $50 feet below the
surface here. Where it has come
from is a mystery. It's rough, unpol-
ished appearance would seem to in
dictate, however, that it has not tray
eled far. About ten miles west of
the lake are the Coteau Hills, the
highest point between the Mississip'
pi and the Missouri, and some reas
on, or rather guess, that in them may
be found a solution of the mystery
These hills rise very gradually, with
no projecting lodges, are covered
with soil and verdure aud have any
thing but the appearance of noun
tains. Others speak of the head OF
the Big Sioux as place where the
mystery may be explained. The
only mines spoken of as similar IL
appearance to the lay of the land or
the surface are in Australia, where
the bed rock is sometimes founc
hundreds of feet under the ground
Those now on the ground anC
most interested are greatly puzzled
and will make an effort, if possible
before cold weather to determin,
something definite as to the extern
and paying prospects of the dis
coyery.
Since the matter has become com
mon talk the usual wiseacres have
put in an appearance, including tn,
men who discovered it years ago
he who knows "where there is cart
loads, if that is gold" the gentle
man with "fools gold" (mica), an'
frequently there puts in an appear
ance the unbelieying Thomas, VIII
thinks things are "too fresh," ant
must necessarily be "salted."
Mr.. Henry is from Southwestern
Wisconsin, where hewas well know
for a quarter of century rs an NJ
right business man, and it will no
be necessary for me to say that h
is not acting lie in this matter. II
has an unsullied reputation to los
and nothing to gain by such an az
ton. His advise to his friends
to come and investigate (the cos
would be nominaD or wait unit
further developments are made. II
nor his friends are not looking for
"boom."
Many favors in the way of infoi
nation, etc, were extended to tn
writer by the gentlemen m entione &c
and also by Messrs. Joseph Dam
, John IIishen, John st. John, r. '
Rich, and others from the Badge
State b.
! DR.. FiShbIatt