Potosi journal. (Potosi, Mo.) 1894-1929, 1905-10-11

| lead are Identical With the famous
St. Joe mines at Bonne Terre. The
| American Lead and Balyta Com
pany will build large storehouses
at Potosi to to supply Shibboleth,
Old Mines, and the other towns and
land embraced in the big field of
operations. Other big lead COM
panies are organizing to work the
Washington county mines. The
lead and zinc mines of Potosi bid
fair to outrival Flat River and
Joplin for the reason that they have
not only rich ores but introduce
another element, barytes, which is
Il valuable commercial commodity.
When milled or reduced to powder
it is used to extend pigments or
paints. 1t is one of the most neu-
| tral and insoluble substance known
to science and nothing in the ordi-
nary exposure or contact can dis
color it's beautiful and dazzling q
whiteness. Its ability to resist ex-
posure and when ground in oil
forms paint. 1t is used as pig
ment for paint, as filler for paper
and rubber, and q constituent for
porcelain, enamel and other wares.
Poiosi has Touring mills. stave
factories, saw mills and will soon
have electric lights and water
system. The place is so hca|,hful,
having natural drainage, pure
water, high elevation, marvellous
climate, limitless natural resources,
such as mineral, timber, farming
lands, and SO on, that it is bound
to grow. The investment is safe.
The volume of business is woader-
full, the banks total assets, S362,-
1879, shows the prosperity under
the past modest conditions. What
does the future promise! The rate
of taxation, too, in Potosi is at
tractive. The total rate for the
city, county and state being only
81. 40 on the hundred.
HOsPITABLE PEOPLE GREET ONE.
Potosi is bospiiabIe old town,
inhabited by people whose fore
fathers were pioneer settlers Of the
Mississippi Valley, many of whom
became the leading statesmen and
citizens of the West. Honesty,
hospitality and high-mindedness
are characteristics of Potosi's peo-
pie. They welcome stranger,
and as an evidence of the fact that
they live for more than dollars, the
writer accidentally fell in 1T the
home of Congressman Rhodes,
whose amiable spouse was found
entertaining all the little boys in
town. Life is taken more serious
ly and kindness regarded more
necessary in Potosi than in many
newer places.
Potosi has an old and revered
name, which was given to the place
from an appreciation of the sur
roundings, 1t was named bv a
81 ,aniard, Alvarado, in 15.o, bn:
later the French took cue from
the environment and called it
Mine a-Breton; but Potosi was the
most popular and prevailed. In
1742 RenauIt came to Potosi and
began the development of the mine.
In 1I97 Moses Austin. native of
Connecticut obtained Il grant from
the Spanish and on this land was
the mines at Potosi. He sank a
shaft and erected the first rever-
beruting furnace for smelling lead.
He transported his lead from Po-
tosi on pack mules and in French
carts. In 1900 John Smith, the
first real miner made his appear
ance at Potosi. He WAS famous
fighter and killed eleven men. Be
sides Renau!i. Austin and Smith,
later came John Rice Jones, first
Judge of Missouris Supreme
Court. Then there was Governor
Daniel DnnkIin, La Plant Boyer
and long list Of distinguished
names. Capt. Thomas Castle,nan,
who now lives at Potosi is IS years Of
age and has resided in town 63 years.
He has been instrumental in getting
a monument from the state nf Texas
to the Moses Austin grave, Ms. :
Austin aud his sou, Stephen T., were
the founders of the state of Ttxts.
Nose. Austin owned mansion at Pc
tosi called Durham Hall. This noble
structure burned down in lS13. La
Plant Boyer was the first white chill