The Russellville Democrat., 1893-10-12
ARKANSAS MINES.
Tennessee Money Invested in the Enc
 Mines in Marion County.
A We'll Deserved Victory Has Crowned the Efforts of Zine Carbonate sIine Owners to Properly Place Their Su- psrior Product at the
 Columbian Ex-
 position.

erable Memphis capital is invested, says The Memphis Appeal. Ava. lanehe. Marion county contains mines of zine and lead of much value, and large areas are still there undeveloped in their primitive state. The county borders on Missouri, and White river sweeps along its north ern and eastern boundaries, while Crooked Creek divides the country and empties into White river. It is an elevated region, a portion of the Ozark range lying several hundred feet aoove the general level of that section The land is largely com posed of silicious formations, and the oldest rocks belong to what is termed the lower Silurian period, which iu geology means the next be. low the Deyonian or fossiliferous and shell formations, also contem- poraneons with the earliest Pulezoic ages. The Silures are reputed to have anciently inhabited England and Wales. hence from this source the SiluFian period derives it's name.
 This semi mountainous district is the finest mineral land in Arkansas, and the richest ground bearing zinc and lead section in the world. Its rugged surface is timbered with hickory, post and other oaks, and is rather sparsely settled, almost who'll ly by white people, the titled lands of the county not exceeding an aver age of forty acres to the square mile. It lies nearly in the center of Norsh- ern Arkansas, almost due south from Springfield, Mo, and its near est railway is Eureka Springs, while White river, during its navigable season, is it's best avenue for reach ing a market with it's farming and mining products. The mineral lands of the Buffalo mining region are valued at from $50 to $100 per acre.
 One of the mining companies, known as the Morning Star Mine, is more than half owned by Mr. John Reid, of Memphis. Another owner is the civil engineer in charge, Mr. Chase, while several others of this city are interested. The land in which this mine Is worked covers 160 acres. Governor Eagle and other leading Arkansans have mines in the same neighborhood.
 A fine exhibit of the mineral of the Morning Star Mine is 10 be seen at the Worlds Fair in the mining building, and it has attracted marked attention from visitors interested in such industries. A part of this ex- hibit is one piece of zinc ore, or car bonate, weighing 12,750 pounds, and called Jumbo. This chunk could not be put inside of the Ar kansas or the mining building on account of its immense size and weight. This display is the finest and richest collection of zine car bonates in the exhibition, and few days ago it was awarded gold med al as the best quality and largest piece ot zinc carbonate in the world. A premium would also have been given the same collection for the best exhibit of black jack or blende, but for the fact that a considerable quantity of it had been stolen while in transit to Chicago. This blende mineral is of dazzling brilliancy, and is composed in part of sulphur and zinc.
 The outturn of the zinc mines of Marion county is freighted to Min eral Point, Wis, and Peru, H., to be smelted There was sent from the Morning Star Mine some 300 tons of zinc, and the zine white works of Mineral Point, Wis, took first premium for its zinc oxides ob- tained from the ore of the Morning Star Mines. The lack of proper plant to make the exhibits at the mines enabled the Wisconsin works to carry off an award that would otherwise, according to the state ment of the judges, have gone to the Arkansas exhibit.
 The exhibits upon which the crown of victory have been placed at the Columbian exhibition were originally placed in front of the Ar kansas building, in the northern portion of the White City area, but were afterward changed to the more conspicuous mining bsilding.
 The zinc mines of Arkansas have recently showed increased vigor through the energy of parties desir ing to develop them, and with proper transportation and smelling facilities they bid faic to enrich those who invest in and work them.
 Several mines known as the Red Cloud, the Markle, the Governor Eagle and the Morning Star, have recently started up afresh, and the fact that the gold medal Las been carried off at the Worlds Fair ex- hibition by the Arkansas product has stimulated these holders of mining interests of that region to considerable degree.
 Next spring it is expected that Philadelphia capitalists will put up a crushing plant at the Red Cloud mines. At present it costs $l.50 per ton to float the ore in barges down White river to Bstesville, l35 miles, and $4 50 per ton thence by rail to Wisconsin smelters at Min eral Point The ore is selling at from $20 to SPA per ton at the Wis