The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-11-09
Rich ZINC ORE FOUND AT FRENCH
LICK SPRlNuS.


Dr.. john l.. Howard OF That Place
Made First Discovery.
FRENCH LICK SPRINGS, Ind, Nov.
4.-Zinc ore which assays close to
30 per cent, has been found within
two miles of the French Lick
Springs, and tie few who have been
let into the secret have gone wild
with excitement. The discovery
was made several weeks ago and
since then borings have been prose-
cuted with vigor and to depth Of
nearly 100 feet.
Tho first find was made und' the
supervision of DR.. John l.. Howard,
of French Lick, and the prospecting
which has been done since has been
80 promising that syndicate head
ed by the doctor and his father, Capt.
John G. Howard, has been quietly
buying up several thousand acres OF
land in Orange county.
AS yet no company has been
formed, and none will be until the
discoverers of the metal are perfectly
sure OF their ground. Work has
been prosecuted secretly, so that
the syndicate would be enabled to
obtain possession Of sll the farm
lands which are considered desirable
before the secret became common
property. The syndicate now has
all the land it desires with the ex
ception OF two or three pieces which
are held at high prices, owing to the
inkling Of the purpose for which
they are desired.
II the expectations Of the syndi-
cate are realized the county Of Or
ange will soon rival the famous zinc
mines Of Joplin. Ore taken from
the mines in Missouri averages in
assay about 65 per cent. The
first specimen found here was sent
to Chicago and assayed by one Of
the largest che nical concerns there,
and went to a trihe over 80 per cent.
This ore was found on the surface,
and 10 said to indicate the presence
of vast beds Of rich zinc deposit.
Upon the receipt Of the assay
lists report DR.. Howard secured q
boring outfit and men to handle it
from Chicago. Yesterday the drill
in use broke and temporarily stopped
proceedings. The last core taken
out, however, at depth Of little
over fifty feet, seems to promise .
rich find. Prospecting has also
been been carried on extensively,
and has resulted in the land pur-
chsses already mentioned.
The hunt for zinc has also brought
to light indications Of the presence
OF other valuable metals and ingre-
dients which figure in the CONNER
cial world. Present indications are
that there are valuable iron and cop
per deposits in various parts Of the
county and in adjoining counties,
but Investigations along these lines
are in their infancy, and the pros
pectors do not care 10 talk about
what they know. When asked for
details they are content with de-
claring that small deposits Of both
metals have been found, though not
in comparative richness with the
zinc.
One OF the borings also produced
IA material which, it is bell ,ved, will
make . superior grade Of Portland
cement. Ten minutes after it was
taken out it was - hard as adamant,
and experiments are now being made
with the specimen to determine
whether it has all the properties and
qualities Of a superior cement.
This is not all that the metal hunt
has brought to light. In one local.
ity there has been discovered a large
quarry Of Hindostan grit, which is
the queer name that is given to the
stone from which the finest whet-
stones in the world are made. The
milestone output is now controlled
by trust which may be interested
to learn that new quarries are likely
to be opened in Orange county.
The discovery OF zinc and other
materials mentioned came about in
ia peculiar way. Captain Howard
planned extensive repairs on one Of
his springs, and while the workmen
were digging he picked up what was
apparently Q bright stone. On
Icloser examination it looked like
copper and proved to be q small de-
| posit Of this metal. He at once de.
|termined to begin prospecting the
hills, aud his first find was the rich
zinc ore.
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Gaosna Cnx nf nnhoia noaankss