Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-09
A.W. LEE ON THE GROUND
English Capitalists Have New
EIldorado.
ARE KEEPING THEIR FIND A SECRET
MarveIousIy Rich Deposits of Iron,
Literally Containing "Acres of Dia.
mondsD Discovered by the Merest
chance-Trip an Unique One.

st. Johns, Newfoundland. Aug. 90
Especial Correspondence, Letter No.
D-"Newfoundland will in few years
become the greatest gold-producing
country in the world" said q widely
travelled Englishman to me today
IF such is the case,' I replied,
"why do We not hear more about it?"
Because the matter is in the hands
of syndicate of capitalists, who are
maintaining secrecy and thus securing
every possible advantage before the
world learns of the wonderful gold de-
posts in Newfoundland. But the ne
cessary machinery is already being
shipped to the island and if you watch
Developments you will find that my
prediction will come true"
| think this is considerable of an ex-
aggeration, but certain it is that this
Newfoundland which was discovered
by that intrepid mariner, John Cabot,
and which during the four centuries
that have since elapsed has been lit
tie more than fishing station in the
north Atlantic ocean, has within the
past decade become in truth new
found-land. Only seven years ago
there was discovered on Bell Island,
which is less than twelve miles from
ST Johns, ore of the NOSE remarkable
deposits of iron in the world. 1t was
but another instance of Acres of Dia-
monds lying at the feet of poor peo-
pie struggling for the necessities of
existence, in utter ignorance of the
vast treasures all about them which
they needed only to pick UP in order
to become rich So not only
years went by but even centuries were
added to the ages of the past, when
one day Just as the nineteenth cen
tury was drawing to a close, a poor
fisherman from Bell Island sailed into
ST. Johns carrying as ballast in the
bottom of his little schooner, some
strange looking rectangular blocks of
earth and metal.
Where did you get those things?"
was quickly asked.
Sure, sir, l dug them up on Bell
Isle"
The result was the discov-
cry of iron deposits comprising one
of the most valuable mines Of iron ore
in the world. The ore lies in a horizon
tai bed five feet below the surface. The
length of the iron deposit is three
miles and the breadth a quarter to a
half mile. On the removal of the Gov,
ering rock about five feet in depth this
horizontal bed of ore is reached and is
,yN lyn nj Tbo
stratum is estimated to contain 12-
100000 tons and is about six feet in
depth; then comes another covering
of five feet and this being penetrated a
second iron band is reached of the
same depth as the first and containing
about the same quantity OF ore. There
is no need of shafts. Pick axes, crow
bars, wedges and few charges of dy.
Mantle are sufficient to work the
mines. The ore has joined cleavage
and breaks up into rhomboidal masses
of various sizes, none being of great
err size than 12x4. The ore is shoveleu
into wagons with as much ease as
anthracite coal into a cart. 1t is
brown hematite containing 55 per cent
of iron. Mixed with other ore it makes
the finest steel. 1t is shipped to Scot
land, German and Nova Scotia
Referring to gold discoveries an Of
fetal government publication states
that gold bearing quartz reef was
discovered at Cape Boyle forty miles
south of St. Johns in 1896. The as
say shows that the quartz contains
nearly three ounces of gold and over
an ounce of silver to the ton. Value,
$50 The matter is still under investi-
cation and development, but until it
has been tested by further operations
it would be rash to build any large
speculation on this discovery. Gold
has also been found in several Other
places but not hitherto in paying
quantities Other minerals found on
the island are "copper" pyrites, ashes
tos and some coal.
A Beautiful View.
Today as / gazed from the top of
Cabot tower which crowns the summit
of Signal hill at the mouth of ST.
Johns harbor, beheld a view of in
comparable beauty and grandeur.
To the east as far as the eye could
reach stretched the broad expanse of
the ocean, with no land rising above
the surface of the water until the
coast of Ireland is reached, only six
teen hundred and thirty miles away.
Nine miles to the southeast Cape
Spear, the most easterly point of land
in North America, stands out promi-
nently. At my feet are high and pre-