Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-06-12
AN IMMENSELY REMoTEPABr

by some prehistoric people. There are
also signs of ancient workings of mica.
1t has been and still is generally sup
posed that the prehistoric people 0f
America knew nothing of iron. Certainly
the Indians did not. No where else In
either North or South America Is there
q trace of the use of iron; but several
ancient mounds of Michigan have re-
vealed from their lowest recesses traces
that indicate, II they do not prove, the
burial Of iron, either as weapons or orna-
ment, 50 many ages ago that only the
peculiarly marked color in the soil tells
unmistakably Of the work of man, and
microscopic and chemical research reveals
traces Of iron. With these indications as
pointers and certain appearances occa-
sionally observed in the iron mining
regions, indicating surface removals to a
slight extend from various bodies of out
cropping ore by some ancient and un-
known agency, there is an increasing con-
lecture that the prehistoric miners of
Michigan were Just discovering the art of
working iron, and had probably been de-
veloping it for some time, when
. THE GREAT CATASTROPHE
occurred whatever it was) that over
whelmed their civilization, drove them
away, and finally abolished their arts if
not their race.
At the Detroit International Exposition,
which will open August % and close Sep
tember this year, is expected to be
exhibited large and rare collection of
the ores and mining products of Michigan,
mining machinery, curious archaeological
collections of ancient mining tools and
implements, constituting an exhibit of the
rarest interest, alike to the student, to the
curious, and the business men seeking or
already interested in mining stocks or
property. There has never before been a
showing upon any large or well ordered
scale of
THE VAST MINERAL RICHES OF MICHIGAN,
or of the strange works of that remote
and unknown past and people whose
history and fate are the despair of archeo-
logical science and the unsolvable mystery
Of prehistoric conjecture.
One great advantage of this display will
be its instruction to the general public
Very few men know valuable ores when
they see them. Here they will see all
kinds, properly labeled, and learn to dis
tinguish them. Many man, no doubt,
WALKS EVERY DAY OVER A BIG FORTUNE
on his farm or land, and never suspects
its existence, from not knowing valuable
mineral ores when he sees them. Some Of
the richest ores are difficult to find, even
by miners. Think how many years all
sorts of mining explorers have been
prodding almost every square rod Of
Michigan; and yet 1t was only lately that
the silver, gold and corundrum mines Of
Michigan were discovered, because the
experts who were looking for copper and
iron did not know the other ores. And
Still there are no doubt hundreds of new
mines yet to be discovered. The general
people do not even know the signs Of
ordhary minerals, and still less many
other more evasive natural treasures, some
Of which may exist in their vicinity. To
some the object lessons of this exhibition
may prove the beginning of happy for
tunes. To all it will be interesting; and IL
will be Of great value in advertising the
splendid possibilities and vast natural
wealth of the state.