704: GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY OF THE LEAD REGION. 



ing, and extending along the entire length of the cave, a distance of 80 feet, on which 

 shelf, and the sides immediately above and adjacent, the ore was deposited, fastened 

 firmly to the wall, and exposing crystalline faces to the center of the opening. In other 

 portions of the mine this bench was not observed, and the ore was usually attached in 

 sheets to the side of the opening. 3. The lower opening. 4. The Galena limestone. 



The mine was discovered and opened in February, 1872, and since then has proba- 

 bly been the most productive and remunerative mine in the district, on account of the 

 comparatively small amount of water to contend with, and the large amount of lead 

 ores obtained, which has been estimated at two and a half million pounds. Work was 

 suspended on this mine in the fall of 1875, and lias not since been resumed. 



Fairplay Level Co. A company, consisting of Messrs. Merry, Olinger, Rewell, 

 Pier and Notte, having formed a stock company with a capital of $50,000, have been 

 engaged during the last eight years in running a level on land owned by George 

 Siddell & Co. The level is commenced on the E. half of the S. W. qr. of Sec. 26, T. 1, 

 R. 2 W.., about three-quarters of a mile below the village of Fairplay. It has been run 

 eastward a distance of 2,200 feet, and thence south 70 feet; and has cost about $30,000. 

 One "shift" of three men is the usual number employed, and it is not expected that 

 the level will be completed for many years. Its greatest depth below the surface is 140 

 feet, and 48 feet below the natural water level; one mile farther east it will drain about 

 60 feet below the present water level. 



This level will unwater the whole of section 25, and will cut the following ranges in 

 the tln'rd opening: The Crabtrets, Thompson, Engine, Cams, Bruce, Lost range, 

 Franklin, Seward, and Cave range. The openings in these ranges are vertical; they 

 were formerly worked and abandoned with lead ore in them going below the water. 

 When these ranges are unwatered they will undoubtedly be very productive. 



In the vicinity of Fairplay, about fifty men find employment in mining during the 

 winter; in summer the mines are idle. The greater part of the lead ore raised in this 

 district comes from the mines south of the village, and, exclusive of the two large mines 

 previously described, has not exceeded 50,000 pounds per annum for the last six years. 



HAZEL GREEN DISTRICT. 



The Hazel Green district exhibits considerable activity at present in mining opera- 

 tions; and the reports of smelters in this vicinity show that a large amount of ore is 

 raised here. During the years 1872 and 1873, miners were attracted to other localities 

 by the prospect of higher wages, which caused a temporary decrease in the production 

 of lead ore; the mines, however, remained unimpaired. The miners have now returned, 

 and the mines have regained their normal productive condition. 



The most remunerative and continuously productive portion of the district is the prop- 

 erty of the Hazel Green Mining Company, otherwise known as Crawford, Mills & Co. 

 It is situated on the N. W. qr. of Sec. 30, part of the S. W. qr. of Sec. 30, part of the N. 

 E. qr. of Sec. 30, part of the S. E. qr. of Sec. 19, the S. W. qr. of Sec. 19, the N. W. qr. 

 of Sec. 19, the W. hf. of the S. W. qr. of Sec. 18, all in T. 1, R. 1 E.; also the N. E. 

 qr. of Sec. 24, and the E. hf. of the E. hf. of Sec. 25, T. 1, R. 1, W., comprising in all 

 eleven hundred and six acres, on which over four hundred and fifty distinct mineral 

 veins have been discovered and worked. 



During the early days of mining these grounds were wo 'ked from the surface as deep 

 as was then possible, which was only about thirty-five feet, when they had to be aban- 

 doned. Pumping was tried on some of the larger bodies of ore, but as a general thing 

 was found to be too expensive to be very remunerative, on account of the vast amount 

 of water which the ground contained. In the year 1862, Crawford, Mills &.Co. com- 

 menced their level from a point on the Hard Scrabble Branch, and have been working 



