New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-20
THE JOPLIN LEAD AND ZINC FIELDS
VAST MINERAL DEPOSITS OF THE REGIoN-MoDE
OF DEYEI. OPMENT.

VAST MINERAL DEPOSITS OF THE REGIoN-MoDE
OF DEVELOPMENT.
Joplin Mo, Aug l9.-Few articles give correct
impression Of the zinc and lead fields of the Joplin
district 1t dazes an ordinary observer think
of trying u describe the conditions here Even when
on the ground realizes that the senses can only
grasp general impression Of the vastness Of the
mineral deposits. These deposits were discovered
and have been worked almost exclusively by, not
prospectors, miners and engineers of experience,
but by the native Mssourian. who knows little
about mining mineraogy or geological formation
as an Indian. Consider that for the first ten years
after the discovery of the ores about 1850 only
$4,000 was taken out. Between 1870 and 1880 only
Sc 10000; all this work done with the tools of
primitive man, pick. shovel and the old hand
within or windlass; selecting only the finest veins of
tho metal; leaving miles OF underground streets
Slopes lined on every side with pay dirt that is
being shot out, one blast often undermining hun
dreds Of tons of ore
The Kansas district of Gaena Empire, eight miles
There thousands of mines and prospects still
being worked with the old hand jig process all
haudWork except for the work Of the feet OF the
poor old horse who walks around all day. winding
and winding his spool OF rope or chain, called a
hoist which pulls the tub up and takes the miner
down. Driving through the country one doz-
ems Of small mnos-single shaft-worked in this
way some still have the old common suction pump,
just little ahead Of the old oaken bucket. An
engineer Of wide knowledge and vast experience in
pany that starts in 10 operate on entirely
methods will go broke, simply because we are deal
ing with MssouriaEs"
There is one sort Of cultivation needed here and
it's pioneers should be women. | mean the cduca-
ton in economy and making the streets and homes
beautiful Plenty Of good land around every miners
cottage. vet seldom any garden stuff planted. not
even a Hover anywhere. The grocers say IL is
little use buying any green stun IL spOls: every
body buys canned goods, when they could raise all
they want at scarcely cent of expense
About one-sixth Of the men employed in the mines
get S3 a day-the rest $2-for nine hours work
The miners wants simple. The climate is mild:
well as the miner that the zinc deposits here are
scarcely touched yet. The deepest shaft In the
district goes down less than go feet While all OF
Crossman's drllings show ore In only 80 per cent
OF the holes at 80 feet, at 800 10 per show ore
The properties usually leased TO the miner
the fee holder taking a royalty from 10 per cent up
OF the output: often the lessee subleases again
q profit of 10 TO 40 cent his
investment: that Is II a miner puts down shaft
puts up mill etc. ne will get all the original in
vestment back ordinarily In and one-half years
The mills on the biggest mines are compare lively
small taking care on an average Of only seventy
is ore Some OF the mines require a dozen mills 10
handle their output The first large mill is now
being built at Camp Prosperity, where there are
some OF the biggest and hest like the ''New-York
Zinc Company" worked for twenty years but still
I'm its infancy: and the Boston Get There" which
has single drift $50 feet wide. 300 feet long and
feet deep the drift being hard that II can only
he worked with steam drills. All over the differ
ent districts are just such properties described
every one paying enormously. Many men are indie
pendently rich few millionaires. all expect a
competence. What more can a community wapt7