The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-24
ARKANSAS RICH IN ZINC.
y1sr WEALTH Nv THE ALMOST IN
ACCESSIBLE WILDS.
rhe Mineral Field Said to Be the Richest
in Ore In the United states-Ths Great
Demand for Zine and the Profit in
It. Millions Invested in Arkansas.

MELVILLE, Ark, dec. 2l-Tho rough noun
famous country Of northern Arkansas. few Of
whose natives have ever seen railroad train
and whose stage OF civilization is no backward
that the visitor TO that country year ago migk
easily have imagined himself In heathcndom.
is probably the last spot that one would have
suspected 10 be probably the richest mineral
0eld In the United States in the extent OF paying
ore The statement seems cxuhvagant, but
whom Il lie known that eighty tons Of Jack or zinc
ote valued at ai6 ton and,ready for the smcltcr,
have been wrested by single blast, from a noun
tain which, SO far the prospector's drill and
blast have been able 10 reveal, Is a mountain Of
almost solid and that the eager efforts Of invest
ors in at least ax counties have not enabled the
mapmakers 70 prescribe tho limits Of the mineral
Held. tho real richness Of the country IL appre-
ciated partly. The hundredfold increase in
tho recent demand for zinc, occasioned by tho
vast extension Of the uses Of electricity In tho
commercial world. the fact that the mines of Bel
gum. for many years the richest in the world,
have recently been flooded by the sea- the great
increase in the consump uon OF brass. which is
made from zinc and copper. tho unexpected in
crease In foreign demand, and the development
Of the cyanide process Of gold extraction. have
operated to create an enormous demand for zinc.
The last year has wrought development
in this country that can hardly be comprehendcd,
penetrated by q railroad which is now projected.
will work even a more wonderful transformato in
the Wild waste OF rocks and woods. Millions
Of dollars from the Eastern and Western cities
oi this country and millions from Europe have
been invested, aud millions from both continents
are now seeking investment in this district yet
there are counties whose htops and river
tcts proclaim their richness in ore that have
hardly been touched by the prospcctoT aud thou
sands Of opportunities In Marion county the ccn-
Ire Of the field remain untakcn in the hands Of
small companies who are unable TO develop them
On account Of the great expense necessary TO
get machinery and TO transport 1t 10 the mines
Marion county. OF which Ycve is tho county
seat Is the centre Of operation and Of interest
10 miners and investors, but IL Is not questioned
that Scarcy, Newton and other counties are equally
a. rich. Until a few years ago a more inaccesS.
able section OF country than tho Arkansas min.
sral fields could scarcely b. found Eighty miles
of travel over the Boston range OF the Ozarks
from the nearest railroad station is sull necessary
10 reach the mining camps, but by an improved
relay stage service from West Plains Mo, on
the Kansas City. Fort Scott and Memphis road,
th- time Of tn, trip has been reduced from two
snl half days TO fourteen hours. Regular
mountain wagons are used and change Of horses
Is made every few miles.
The disadvantage Of both passenger and freight
transportation initiates against the proSpector
Of moderate means, and the wealthy companies
chiefly are developing the resources. These
companies havo brought the leading biologists
Of tho country TO the field. and their reports have
invariably shown surprise at I'll" mineral richness
Of tho formations. The surface Of Marion county
is rugged and broken. mountainous ridges rising
TO an altitude Of hundreds OF feet and stretching
for miles upon the submits Of which are cNten
sivr tracts Of more or less level land. The whole
country is cut into by many large streams Both
uplands and valleys are covered with a mag nif
cent growth Of umbe. consisting chiefly Of yellow
pine. white oak, cedar. walnut and hickory. The
rocks forming the miner al bearing strata b~cng
10 those two great periods the geological history
Of the world that have been called by biologists
the lower silurian and the subcarboniicrous,
or these Two the former is the older.
The miuersl-brarinE Strata, so far discov
errd, vary IN thickness from $50 to 200 feet
Above the mineral bearing strata Is often found
dark blush or gray limestone. very compact
and highly crystalline, which gives forth an un-
pleasant odor when struck with n hammer In
many instances the mineral bearing rocks are
found Immediately under cap Of saccharoidal
sandstone. varying in thickness from few feet
IN forty feet Above the sandstone in many
places may be found tho Arkansas marble Of
various colors, and capable Of taking a very high
polish On tho top Of the hills are the carbon
ferrous chcrts. Selecting deep valley for the
purpose Of tracing the exposed rocks. the first
strata will be found to BE- bcd Of chcrts. Bur.
lngton limestone and flint, next red and gray
marble next sandstone, often white and sacchnr-
oidal. and, next magnetism limestone.
Tho magnetism limestone OF the lower silurian
period Is the great repository Of the zinc ore Of
which there are three principal varieties; The
pure carbonate of Zine the Smithsonite Of miner.
alogists the electro Calamine or silicae OF Alnc
and the sulphulei blende, known among the
miners hs lack Sufficient development work
has been done IN every part Of Marion county
OF ore bearing rock in the world. The minerals
are exposed IN many places on the hill and noun
which makes mining very easy and cheap.
The greatest deposit OF enc ore ever uncovered
In the history Of mining is known as the Morn
ing Star mine in southern Marion county, on
Kush Greek II Is not mine. but . quarry.
hts blast Of the miner on the side oi the noun
TAN where this mine IL situated threw out dirt
s WniSn vas ~ per cenS ore and every days work
sln.e then has paid Money cannot buy stock
estimate Of what Is value might be II the ore could
DC shipped TO markct Oh railroad instead vi being
faited 200 miles down river The ore face now
eypDei is sixty feet thick. a nd 40 per cent Of i,
Is Marketable ore. A story, the more interesting
TeeaGse It IS true is told Of the abandonment OF
ago Attracted by the blonde exposed by nature
Ca ,he Morning Star Mountain. they investigated
small stone Sinelter in VIII ich TO test the and
hled It with the crystallized carbonate which they
supposed was silver, but when they saw the min,
eiai gong up IN fumes they cursed their luck,
picked up their tools and quit the claim The old
smeller still stands the mine, and the Dutch
men have lived in Marion county TO see their
anpahlnned claim become the fortune Of many.
ms mine is now owned by Capt G.. W. Chase.
= \ Hartman and John Reid all 81 Memphis
tehh They are working only thirteen men,
anu are taking out ten tons Of ore daily with obso-
tole machinery.
The next richest mine in the district lies a milo
eaS' 81 the Morning Star. Its development IL OF
an entirely different character the ore deposit
ncing found at depth Of sixty five feet, though
we ShHii paid its way from tie surface II shows
only Suphlde oi zinc Of an excellent quality. The
o'c occurs IN the magnetism limestone and yellow
gay Between the Morning Star and the White
Eagle Is another development to which biologists
attach great significance, II il the Monte lrsto
uacl, owned by {. e, Nelson Il Co OF Fort Scott,
nan and Is practically continuation Of the lode
Wmaltrt o. the Morning Star and the Mcintosh and
white Eagle mines the mountain strata OF ore
aSWrIl AZ the subtcrranran vein signiiying TO the
satisfaction 81 tho students OF the country geo
logical DONATIONS that deep mining will he even
more pfontdble than the quarrying, One Oi the
lew steam drills In the district is at work on the
NIL H.