Baxter Springs news., 1917-09-13
THE
KANSAS-OKLAHOMA
ZINC FIELDS
PROBABLY DESTINED IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS TO BE
THE GREATEST ZINC FIELD IN THE WORLD.

The zinc fields the wonder of the min
inc world in amount production and the high grade OF ore
mined From Spring River east Of Baxter Springs and extending
westward distance of to 10 miles, and commencing at waco
on the north and extending south through Gaen Baxter
and Pcher Commerce. Oka distance OF about 70 miles,
located developing mining INDUSTRIES unequaeo ny any
other sections of the world The recital OF the o
overv and development this fabousV rich zinc field reads
more like fairy Arabian knight story than statement
actual facts ..,. . 4. ;
more than an outline early discovery zinc at Commerce
IN the wear 1906 Messr F. Robinson and Geo. L. Coleman
pushed drill into and erected mill at the Od Chel
mine. This the first concentrating plant punt IN e emu. VI
district The load OF concentrates was shipped from ne
Old Chief mine the meers in 1908 Then the entire country
between Commerce caed Hattonve and Baxter
Springs vast stretch OF open prae NOW all changeu
by magic wand and we have verltane DeenVe oi HILL
ng plants and eemlng with commercial INDUSTRIES
The most important OF these towns are Baxter Springs on
the northeastern edge Of Developments and the busy little city
Commerce. Oka the south ne and we have the nporans
VILLAGES of Tar River Pcher Century, ST. Louis Treece and
ockerve intervening This whole section especially along the
state line and far Kansas dotted with multitude OF mills
with of plants in construction and hundreds
drills boring the bowels Of the earth search OF ooen
wealth Much of this development north and east of Pher and
over the Kansas Blue Mound properties and beyond
Baxter Springs toward Spring River. - ~
and more valuable the Commerce product This entire ned
Is region OF the greatest business activity and industrial Wea
Mr. Haynes read specially prepared paper before the
can Chemical Society a Kansas City in April last in which ne
said he present and its high value have caused
remarkable developments zinc and lead mining In the extreme
mills have been erected and many new towns are In ne
making the prairie lying to the south and west OF Baxter
Springs c.u. Do.ox co
tury Carn Commerce to be making great strides IN INDUS
and commercial development Small drilling rigs ootng tne
paes mark the advance guard prospecting TO determine !ne
value and Of the bodies each
follow closely and give the entire range OF vision the apea
ance OF large manufacturing city. .
The ore in this district much richer than in the old
Joplin camps frequently 20 per cent sphaer
Some the most active prosperous properties the rich
Springs Around and north OF Blue Mound some
rich nndngs have been made in the past few months.
Professor A. c. 1err mining engineer in the University OF
Kansas Lawrence born in the Cripple Creek district saw
birth and growth and has spent twenty-five years in mining
countries besides the years gave technical training and
considered eminent authority ably qualified to speak OF mner
possibilities Writing under date Of July 12 1917 ne describes
The new mining district that raaes out Of Baxter Springs over
into Oklahoma as far as Miami as the WORLDS GREATEST
ZINC FIELD and further Except that liquor gambling
and rampant Baxter Springs and the nearby parts OF
Cherokee County, Kansas and Ottawa County Oklahoma res
sembs Cripple Greek its boom days. There's the excite
ment turmoil the lack Of buildings to house the
rush of ncomer and the mushroom growth of mining out
tits and shack believe in few years the new zinc eld In Sout
Kansas and Northeast Oklahoma will be as big thing Tor
Kansas wonderful oil development of the two states
Southeast Kansas and Northeast Oklahoma are beng made
look like pepper box with the close drilling that being done
by the great mining companies that have come In These b s
are developing the field thoroughly and has been only within the
last few they been able get enough drill rigs into
the district to meet the huge demand for drilling.
Perhaps the biggest of the in Kansas mining
the American Metal Company which reported have more than
fifteen thousand acres between Baxter Springs and Asbuy Mo-
The u Smelling Refining Mining Company Boston
is reported to have 1000 south Baxter Springs and north
of Pcher and is putting up lOOOOn mill with high speed rolls
The Butte Superior Company Of Butte Montana SAID to nave
1000 Baxter Springs From one OF its mines at Butte
this company been taking onehd much the entire Jop
lin district and the Joplin district has been producing onethrd
the worlds zinc.
Under the impulse of these Developments Baxter Springs
fast growing thoroughly metropolitan city of no mean pro-
portions with city water electricity for and lighting
concrete walks two railroads with third being built
and an nteruban line of construction The merchants
ara and awake to the the fast developing min
ing industries the south and west Some extensive mining sup
DIV houses are already established here and mining or drilling
needs can be furnished on short notice. which avoids long delays
and expense transportation huryup orders The unpre
cedented demand for this prime western zinc together with the
high prices offered for such high grade blende nsues ne
nud development of the many rich properties throughout the
entire field from Baxter Springs to Commerce. Okla. and WI
stimulate to further developments and extensive operatn
throughout the entire district