The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-02
KL0NDIKE OF TIE SOUTH.
''onnnzn Zinc and Lead Mines In
Kentucky and Tennessce.

Kentucky and Tennessee.
NASHVILLE. Tenn. July Within
ninc-y days one OF the richest mining re-
gions in America has been discovered.
Capitalists. mining exparts. and mineral
land syndicates have iocked into the re-
| Slon and hiily country has developed
I into bonanza. A lorg chain OF hills
| runs southwark from Hardin County,
| Illinois, on the Ohio River. along the
Tennessee River, through Kentucky into
Tennessee. The centre OF development is
! in Hardin County. Illinois; Livingston an .
! Crittenden Counties. in Kentucky; Ben
ton, Henderson, and Harden Counties, in
Tennessee. Land that went begging for
barren soil, has recently sold as ligh
as $4,000 per acre.
1t Is said to be the richest zinc, lead,
and fuor spar district in the world The
Joplin district Is not to be compared with
the new bonanza. The Kentucky miners
receive for each ton OF ore taken from
these mines S22 straight. while in the
Joplin district ton brings but S.. The
reason is that in the Missouri district less
than 10 per cent OF the mine output is
being tiff and limestone. and goes into
the dump pile as worthless. The fine ore
now being taken out OF the Illinois. Ken
lucky, and Tennessee mines is the purest
and most valuable yet discovered. because
the average assays OF the veins show
them to carry 40 per cent zinc. 20 per
cert lead, and 81 per cent fuor spar. All
these minerals have ready market. anu
there is no waste or refuse products taken
from the mines.
The existence OF zinc and lead has been
known in thesu hills for macy yearz, and
sporadic attempts have been mada TO open
up the fields, but no Systematic prospecting
was ever done until two years ago, VII
capitalists began to mine for fuor spar on
large scale. Deeper mining demos rited
the presence of zinc and lead, associated
with fiuor SPAR In apparently inexGaustib.e
bic quantities throughout the whole dis
trict. The veirs vary in width from five
to ninety feet and from wall to wall a!e
filled with lead. zinc. and fuor spar Ore
belt runs southwark for seventy mites /
along the Tennessee River. being easily (
traced by the absence Of trees.
Syndicates from Ilii1ois. Michigan. New
York, Pennsylvania. Ohio. Kentucky. AID
Tennessee are buying land in every part
OF the district. Speculation is rife. but it
Is not wildcat speculation. The traces
and appearances OF ore are SO visible that
the first stroke of the pick ta-es it to
view. The deeper the miner Gigs tbs
stronger the seam of ore seams to develop.
1t is a typical mining region. The whole ;
country ID like huge prairie dog village. (
fun Of mounds Of fiuts, towers OF hoist.
tall chimneys Of the mills and little
clouds OF black smoke. Swarming over
them are the men who turn the wealth Ct
the earth into money. The district seems
to be a concentrated mine Of riches Men
WHO came there .baretooted two months
ago are said to have made fortunes.
Farmers who had poor land have sold CUT
train on the Illinois Central brings crowds
Of miners and prospsctors.
There are at present some forty COM
panies in the field and new ones open up
Tally. Prominent among them are the
mines owned by Laugenbach Morton OF
Canton. Ohio known as the Morning Star at
Salem and the Bonanza at Lola. The Morn
ns Star is now working In good lead ore.
having struck good lodes at the very grass
-oots, and promises to surpass anything
ret discovered In the district. The fuor
- $500 pure. They are working night
Ind day in both mines to get down to 100 /
eet to run first Level.
The Evening Star mine at Salem, owned
~ the Eagle FIuor Spar. Lead, and Zinc
Company. has just erected $1,000 mill
md put it in operation They are down 80 |
est in an 18-f0ct vein Of good ore. run |
ross cut 20 feet through solid ore and no I
nd in sight. I
Louisville people have just purchased
he Columbia lands of 1000 acres. five I
niles from Marion. and have great force G
4 men working day and night opening up i
mines. hurrying developments, and putting
- buildings and machinery. I
Other companies Of ample capital are the {
Western Tube Company Of Kewanee. H.; 1
he John r. McClain Company of Rosi I
'iare, ILL.,; Kentucky F'luor Spar Company /
4 Pittshurg. Pa; Eagle Spar Company OF 1
Wheeling. W. Va; Consolidated Oil and {
las Company OF Canton Ohio: Fluor Spar
'ompany OF Marion, Ky, and many others. ,
.ocai bankers are using their idle money |
o invest in the lands. 4.