Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-02-28
Modern Machinery introduced
in Old Mines in Iowa, Wis
consin and Illinois
MANY RICH FINDS ARE MADE
People Are Crazy With Excitement,
and Everything Else Is Being subor-
dnated to the Mining Business in
Some Observation-Disclosures Jack,
Drybone and Lead Eagerly Sought.
Special to Tlmes-Republlcan

Dubuque, Feb. 2S.-A remarkable
revival of the lead mining industry in
and about Dubuque. Iowa; Galena, IL
linois: and Plattvile, Wisconsin, in
fact the whole lead mining district in
the three states named, Is TALKING place.
Years ago when lead ore was first dis
covered in the vicinity of Galena, it
became TIE leading industry in that
part of the country and many fortunes
were made in mining. Gradually.
however, the industry began to wane
and as the surface diggings became
depleted many mines were abandoned
or only worked occasionally as a side
issue. Recently, however, some re-
markable finds have been made and
the whole country in the lead
mining district has gone Lead mine
crazy. Mining companies with ample
capital have been organized and mod
ern machinery purchased. Prospecting
is being carried on night and day and
the country about Plattville, Lancas-
ter. Galena, Shullsburg and even in the
city of Dubuque is literally being filled
full of holes. Some immensely rich finds
have been made of late. In Grant
county. Wisconsin, the past week two
important finds were made. The big
gest strike was made near Lancaster,
when the drill went thru a strata
of solid sulphur six feet thick and then
struck tive-foot strata Of dissemin-
ated rosin jack. Good ore has been
struck in every one of the five holes
drilled at this place. Some of the
holes have been sunk into fine veins
of lead Ore, others have struck dry
bone which is almost as valuable as
the lead ore, being used for making
zinc. Black jack. or false Galena as 1t
is some times called, is being found in
large quantities. One Of the richest
strikes yet made is that near
the town of Montfort, Drybone, lead
and black jack were all found in veins
of unusual thickness at this point The
Russell Mining Company has prospec-
tors at work on the James Hudson
farm near Galena, and the other day
struck rock heavily laden with lead
ore. From the cuttings it was esti-
mated the lead would run from 25 to
80 per cent. Some Of the old mines
which have been idle are being opened
up. In the early days little or no at
tention was paid to black Jack and dry
bone, as the miners knowledge was
limited and there was then less de-
mand for the products. Now they are
regarded as of quite as much conse-
quence as lead ore, and a find
Of black jack or drybone means for
tune for the .possessor of the mineral
rights, provided it proves extensive
enough to warrant outlay for the nee
essary machinery with which to mine
1T. With the crude machinery used
years ago most of the lead mines were
abandoned when the surface diggings
had exhausted the veins lying close to
the surface. Now the prospectors are
delving deeper and finding even richer
leads, altho some of the new mines
opened up are rich in ore lying near
the surface. Excitement about Platt-
VILE, Montfort, Shullsburg and other
places is at fever heat and miners are
flocking in at such a rate that the
towns are unable to care for the new
Corners 1t is predicted that as soon
as spring opens UP many will be found
living in tents, for the reason that
houses are not obtainable.