MINES PLATTEVILLE DISTRICT. 719 



of the preceding. Work was begun here in the winter of 1875-6, and a large flat 

 sheet of Suiithsonite was discovered, which has been worked over 200 feet in diameter 

 without reaching unproductive ground. It is found about 50 feet below the surface in 

 the random or horizon of the flat flint openings. The ore is found in flat sheets inter- 

 stratified with the formation. One hundred tons have been produced. 



McElroy Bros. Situated half a mile south of the village of Benton. This is a 

 new discovery, made in the winter of 1875-6. An irregular flat sheet of Smithsonita 

 was found at a depth of 50 feet below the surface, from which in two months, 15 

 tons of ore were produced. Work was then discontinued during the summer. The 

 above parties intend to work it again in the winter. 



M. J. Williams & Co. Situated on the S. W. qr. of the S. W. qr. of Sec. 3, T. 1, 

 R. 1 E. A large flat sheet of lead ore and blende, about one foot thick, was discovered 

 in July, 1876, in the bed of Fever river, soon after a heavy flood which took place at 

 that time. It lies on the upper surface of the Blue limestone, and on account of its sit- 

 uation in the river, but little has been done with it. It is an excellent prospect, and 

 will doubtless be remunerative, as soon as the water can be removed. 



McCaffery, Smith &. Co. In the middle of October, 1876, these parties commenced 

 work, sinking a shaft on the west line of the forty of M. J. Williams & Co. They found 

 the same sheet of ore as there described. In the space of two weeks they had developed 

 a fine prospect, and had produced about one ton of ore. 



Level Company. On the N. W. qr. of Sec. 29, T. 1, R. 1 E., a level is now being 

 run by Messrs. Stevens, Mason. Miller. Robbins, Broderick, Hoover, Thompson, Coltnian 

 and Farley, who own and have leased one hundred and thirty-five acres in Sees. 20, 21, 

 28 and 29. The level was commenced in the spring of 1870, and has now reached a 

 length of one thousand feet. It is being driven on a flint opening near the top of the 

 Brownrock, which is here about fourteen feet above the Blue limestone. 



The object of driving the level is to unwater the Drummond range, which runs east 

 and west, and is supposed to be a continuation of the Craw range of Hazel Green, and 

 the Nagle range of Is'ew Diggings. It is believed that when the level is completed it 

 will unwater the Drummond range to a depth of forty feet below the present water 

 level. 



The level now gives access to two openings in working it, and had, when visited, an 

 inch sheet of lead ore in the working forehead. It may be remarked that these open- 

 ings are lower than any of the Benton openings, and seem to be identical with those of 

 the Buncome district. The product has been up to the present time 60,000 pounds. 



PLATTEVILLE DISTRICT. 



The diggings of the Platteville district comprise those situated in the immediate vi- 

 cinity of the village, the Whig diggings and the Big Patch diggings. The mines near 

 Platteville are all included in Sees. 9, 10, 14 and 15; and of these, the ones chiefly worked 

 are situated on Sees. 9 and 10, a short distance north of the village. The diggings here 

 are very shallow; the deepest shafts are seldom more than thirty feet. The ore occurs 

 in bunches, pockets and small openings in the clay crevices, and often comes up to the 

 surface. Their geological position is about the middle of the Galena limestone. There 

 are no large companies at work in this district, all the mining being done by parties of 

 two or three persons. There are quite a large number of such parties, who form the ag- 

 gregate production of the district. A few of the more prominent are here given, and 

 their annual production as nearly as could be ascertained. 



Stevens & Kowe 40,000 Ibs. 



Lane & Lawton 60,000 " 



Wales & Rovve 50,000 " 



