Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-11-10
MISSOURI LEAD AND ZINC.


Co LOOK 10E AA4U&EA1 Wv GA1Ln--Gxi&-
souri's Rich Fields.
State Mines Inspector George E.
Quinby has placed in the hands of the
printer his annual report of the min
eral resources of Missouri. 1t is a
most interesting work, giving COM
plete and reliable history of the lead
and zinc industry. Mr.. Quinby gives
the following important features of
his forthcoming report:
Missouri has already attained the
first place in the production of lead
and zinc and the promise of still great
er results from its enormous deposits
is exceedingly bright. Capitalists out
side of the state have learned of its
merits and are investing large sums
of money in developed and undevel-
ope0 mineral lands.
1.-THE production of both lead and
zinc ores has wonderfully increased
during the fiscal year ending June 80,
1898. The increase in the lead output
was 6,2S3 tons, and that of zinc ore
46,520 tons. The prices received for
lead ore, while they have been better
than for the former year, yet unlike
zinc they did not reach the high water
mark. Zinc ore prices show decided
increase. especially during the latter
part of the fiscal year; unfortunately
for this report we do not get the bene
fit of the extra good prices which have
obtained since the year closed, for
since June 80 zinc ore has reached the
highest price ever paid for the min
eral, and prices have continued good
to this writing.
1.-The many new uses for which zinc
is employed of late increased the de-
mand beyond all former experience,
and it is but natural to expect that
the demand will continue to grow. As
to the maintenance of the extra good
prices reached in the last few months,
we are not so certain, yet in this con-
nection there is to be considered the
limited scope of country producing
the ore. The fluctuations in prices
have presented so wide a margin of
difference within short periods of time
as to indicate an uncertainty concern
ing the maintenance of high prices.
The possibilities of the ore, however,
present SO many advantages as to give
great promise for its future.
1.-THE output of lead ore for the ifs
cal year just closed was 1867 tons,
and sold for the sum of $3,011, 055,
while the output of zinc ore has
reached 139,66S tons, and sold for ST.,
927, 1921. The total value of the two
metals reached the magnificent sum
of SIS, 93S, 1878, an increase over the for
mer year of $2,369,31o, or &c per cent.
In the production of this large output
we viii note the counties contributing
to the same, in the order which they
come in their total output:
Jasper county gave an output OF
los, 161.69 tons of zinc ore and 15,917.5s
tons of lead ore. The total amount re-
ceived from the sale of the two ores
aggregated $3,0s5, 795, or SO per cent.
increase over the year before.
''St. Francois county produced dur.
ing the year 51,011.35 tons of lead ore,
valued at $4,000, 1872, and showing an
increase of So per cent. over the pre-
ceding year.
Lawrence county produced 16,473.-
II tons of zinc ore and 665.71 tons of
lead ore, which sold for $362,s15, an
increase over the former year of 10s
per cent.
Newton county produced 11,358.60
tons of zinc ore and 982.s6 tons of
lead ore, for which $224,5s9 was re-
ceived, with an increase over the year
before of 50 per cent.
Madison county produced for the
year 3,073.75 tons of lead ore, valued
at 1922, 943, and showing an increase
of 20 per cent.
Washington county produced $780,
S3 tons of lead ore, valued at $50, 1O1,
an increase of LOG per cent. over the
former year.
1.-THE remaining counties produced
lead and zinc ore, the value of which
was $S0,220, and show an Increase,
compared with the previous year, of
14O per cent.
''Ore to the value of about $40, 900
was taken out of the lead and zinc
fields of Missouri during the 10 years
following 1850. From 1870 to 1880 the
product increased to about $4,000, 900.
Our production has increased to such
an extent that during the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1898, there were pro-
duced 279,336,0oo pounds of zinc, val
oOo az P~s0~s so@As anu ftsOtfyOOO
pounds of lead, valued at $3,O11, 055-
the greatest in point of proportions of
money value in the history of the state.
In southwest Missouri we see a min
eral field, which is an ideal place for
che poor man as well as for the rich.
II hope our legislators will look
with favor upon this magnificent and
growing mineral industry of Missouri
and give to it such encouragement
that it will be materially aided in it's
rapid and upward march. A complete
revision of our mining laws, in so far
as they apply to the mining of lead
and zinc, is urgently needed; greater
and more effective safeguards should
be thrown around the miner, and such
laws should be enacted as will not
be standing menace to the incoming
of the capital to our mineral fields
The Importance of Missouri's mineral
industry demands, in our opinion, the
creation of a mining bureau. By the
creation of such bureau, the indus
try would be placed upon its true and
nerited plane.