Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1893-06-03
A BOOMING CAMP.
Our visit TO the Mines ut Peoria, I. 7.
and What We Saw.

Mining and Land company, and in
company with Mr.. j. j. Fribley, we
had the pleasure of making visit to
the mines at Peoria, /. T., ten miles
southeast of this city. 1t was our
first visit to the mines In over two
years and the camp has undergone
many changes since last we saw 1t.
To say that we were surprised at the
amount of mining going on, and
greatly surprised, too, would be put
ting ii very mild indeed.
Arriving in Peoria, about the first
person we met was j. A. Dent, the EN-
terprising groceryman of the town.
Mr.. Dent is doing a good business
and is perfectly satisfied with Peoria,
and well he may be, too.
Next we met Il. j. Morrison, the
drill man, who has contract to put
down several drill holes there. He is
ut present drilling well for the gen
eral convenience Of the inhabitants Of
Peoria. lie il down 40 feet, but has
not found much water yet and says
he is afraid he is going 10 strike . big
body OF lead and spoil The well.
We next met Mr.. J. A. Barker, un-
der whose charge we placed ourselves.
MIR. Barker is interested in tho COM
pany and is or course feeling pretty
good these days. The first place WIS.,
tied was one Of the pump shafts being
sunk by the company. The shaft Is
5X5 feet, two shifts are working and
it will be sunk TO depth of 100 feet.
1t is now about % feet deep and at a
depth of II feet silicate was found
and penetrated for another II feet.
The pump was put in under the gu
pcrvision Of S. a. Lee Of Joplin and
II. w. Harley, secretary aud treasurer
of the company. 1t is al eight-inch
pump and is one of the incest working
pieces of machinery we ever saw.
The company has 10000 pounds Of
lead in its bins and, incidentally, 70
tons Of jack also.
Proceeding further we met our old
friend, Geo. Wurts, who is veritable
mascot. He is sinking a new shaft
ut present, having sold his old ones,
and although he has gone down only
Ii feet he has taken out over 10000
pounds of lead. Mr.. Barker told us
that Mr.. Wurts would not be per-
milted to leave the camp because of
the fact that he strikes mineral in
every shaft he sinks and is regarded
as a sort Of guiding star.
It was with a feeling of sadness that
we proceeded 10 the old shaft started
by us three wears ago, but which we
deserted. Geo. Wnrts, John Fitzger-
aid, Andy Hatfield and S. A. Lee
have since taken the shaft. sunk IT
only eight feet deeper and encountered
Il fine body of lead. We are sorry
now that VIC quit work there, but
there is no use in crying over spilled
milk.
l.. l.. and w. p Kellar and II. Hall
have three lots with tour shafts dow u
on them. In three of the shafts good
bodies of lead have been found and
they feel confident that ore will be
found In the fourth.
Kellar 81 Baldwin have two shafts
with pay dirt in each. They are sink
ing third shaft and at a depth of 4S
feet are getting some lead. They are
also working the old j. NJ. Smith shaft
and are getting good lead and jack out
of it, having taken out and turned in
$4,000 pounds of lead during the past
two weeks.
Kellar " Hall have only one lot, but
in a shaft sunk thereon an immense
body of lead has been found. They
turned in 300 pounds of lead two
weeks ago while sinking. After much
coaxing we induced Mr.. Fribley TO 90
down into the shaft with us. Arriving
at the bottom we We're supplied with
lamps with which we were enabled to
see things for ourselves. We found
the workmen engaged in taking up a
five-foot stope in the east drift When
this is done a l0-tOot face of lead will
be exposed to view. In the west drift
q six-foot face of lead shows up as
plain as the nose on your face. They
have 10000 pounds of lead in their
bins and will soon be in shape to in
crease their output.
Gaba 81 Coleman have two lots and
arc working them for all they are
worth. They are in the favored dis
trict and will certainly strike ore.
j, L. Hathaway will strike lead as
soon as the company's pump shaft is
sunk deeper so his lot will be drained.
O'Neill & Pendleton are sinking ut
45 feet, but they will drift soon, having
the best of indications.
J. A. Dent has shaft 70 feet deep.
lie is drifting on fiue face Of silicate
at depth of 45 feet. Tie has abeut
three car loads of silicate in the bins.
Under the silicate there is a fine body
of jack.
johnson, Madison Il Reel have
started a shaft and are beginning to
take out tallow clay, which is a fore
runner of mineral deposits.