Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-06-09

same quantity commands over $50.
This rise is due to several causes. The
zinc deposits of Belgium are said to be
almost exhausted, and when an extern
sive and prOtracted strike took place in
that country the smelters of Europe
were compelled to import their zinc
from the United States Then the price
began to soar. Zinc is largely employed
in galvanizing iron, and this product
is having an increased use. Zinc is also
used in smelling gold, and it is estimat-
ed that two tons are consumed in pro-
ducing $40, 600 worth of gold. In the
electrical field zinc is known as a posi-
tive metal, and as yet no substitute has
been found for it.
The manner of mining here is very
primitive. The belt of mineral bodies
extends over an area of some 80 square
miles. Part of the country is rolling
while another section embraces good
level farming land. The mineral de-
posits are met with as near as five feet
from the surface in some places All
person needs is pick and shovel and
then to dig a hole, or shaft, as it is
called here Most of the shafts reach
depth of from $50 to 175 feet. The
country round about is simply dotted
over with stakes, shafts, mounds of
flint and tall chimneys. The supply of
zinc and lead is simply inexhaustible.
There is no better place for a poor
man to mine than here. Little capital
is required, much of the land being
owred by parties who refuse to sell
outright. They prefer to lease their
property to others and receive royalties
from the receipt of the ore sales. The
owner is generally willing to hire out
the land for 10 per cent of the value of
the ore obtained. Often the lessee di-
vides his tract into sections 900 feet
square, and the small miner who takes
one of these is glad to pay from 80 to
3J per cent of the value of the Gre for
the privilege of mining.
Saturday is pay day here The smell
ter pays for his ore weekly. The snail
miner pays his help. if he happens to
have any, and then the lessee receives
his money Then the landlord gets his
rents, and in this way the money gets
into circulation. Any person can mine
here. A man having no experience can
get job paying 81 a day, and if he is
economical he can soon save $500. This
sum will purchase a stake. Drilling
costs 81 foot This is the best way to
locate ore, but if the poor miner cannot
afford such luxury he must commence
operations by digging shaft with his
own efforts and discover the metal for
himself
The Joplin district last year produced
nearly $50, 900 tons of zinc. One man
entered the city barefooted, and now
he owns business property, many mines
and several smelling blishTents.
One man, formerly a newsboy, bought
a claim for almost nothing and later
sold it for $50, 600 Another traded
COW for an interest in mine and was
lately offered $500 for his share. For
tunes are made in an hour here 1t
must not be supposed, however, that
every miner gets rich. Many get hold
of poor claims. but most of them pay
pretty well.
Boston is the great hotbed of mining
speculation in this country. You pick
mp newspaper in that city, and per-
haps whole page is given over to ad-
vertising copper ventures. 1t may be
that the spectators in Boston have
made so much money in copper proper
ties, or else they are tired of the game.
FOR thousands of Boston dollars are seek
ing investment in Joplin mines. One of
the local banks has a large sum Of