Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-10-09
PLACER MINING FOR SHOT.
Two Men in Nebraska Who Are MAX
ing Considerable Money In
Novel Way.

Probably the most unique mine In
the world is located within two miles
of Omaha, Neb. Others have dug and
washed for gold, silver, copper, iron,
ETC., but the owners of the mine in
question, which is a placer, are min
ing for shot, and the finished product
is turned out in quantities to earn a
neat income for the workers.
Across the Missouri is located the
Omaha Gun Club grounds, where fire.
quent shoots" have been held for the
last 12 years. Some time ago A. h.
Cooley, formerly superintendent of the
Barton-Nash Stone company, and
Thomas Britton, formerly vice pres
ident of the Britton Engine company,
were walking over these grounds and
noticed that at a certain place the
earth was covered with a layer of shot.
At once the idea came to them that
there was a paying mine if they could
secure the right to work it, and keep
ing their discovery secret they called
upon the officers of the club and pro-
posed to lease that particular spot for
mining purposes.
They were laughed at but secured
the lease. It included a tract of ground
extending from the shooting box a dis
tance of 300 feet on either side. 1t is
over this tract that the shot intended
for clay and live pigeons fly. How
much of it has been buried in the
ground is a question still to be deter
mined. One thing, however, is GER
tain, there is a great quantity of it,
and the owners of the unique mine
are taking out on an average of 800
pounds a day in working a space not
exceeding ~ by IS feet.
AS soon as Cooley and Britton Sc
cured their lease they purchased a
gasoline engine of two-horse power,
with pump combination. Then they
drove a well, striking an abundant
flow of water at a depth of 20 feet
This done, they constructed theil
sluiceboxes and were ready for work
AS the shot is imbedded in the GROUND
to a depth of two feet. all this eartf
has to be washed over. To do this it j!
shoveled into a sluicebox six feet long
~ inches deep and Is inches wide
standing on four legs about three fee
above the ground. Water from the
pump is turned on and the dirt is
loosened, allowing the shot to drop tc
the bottom, while the dirt is washed
out at the end of the box.
When the greater part of the eartf
has been washed away the deposit il
the bottom of the sluice, consisting o.
shot, stones and other foreign sub
stances, is placed in a second box will
a wire netting bottom. Here a SECOND
washing is given, after which tn,
stones are picked out and the sho'
spread upon boards to dry. The sho'
is then placed in bags holding 81
pounds each and is taken to the foun
dry. There it is recast into perfec
shot or into lead bars.
Resurrected shot sells for $3.50
100 pounds, a price a very little les
than virgin lead. This difference o
price is due to the presence of anti
mony, which must be removed befor'
casting. Selling at this price, the tw1
men are clearing $40 a day. and som,
days, by working extra hard, they ne
as much as SIS.
So successful have Cooley and Brit
ton been, says the New York Times
that they are now looking over tn
country for the location of other lea
1njpnc nf n cin,i1ayA rof1ra All avn
the country there are %abandone
shooting grounds, and on several o
these they have secured leases.