the Lead Mines of Missouri, ^c. 61 



the first regular shaft — the mining having, till that time, been 

 prosecuted solely by open digging, in the manner of quar- 

 ries. Mr. Austin also introduced the manufacture of shot, 

 and that of sheet lead soon followed. About the same time 

 several other American families collected at the mines, and 

 infused new spirit and enterprize into the mining operations, 

 so that they were carried on with considerable vigour at the 

 time when (in 1S03) the country was transferred to the U- 

 nited States. Mr. Schoolcraft, from whom these facts are 

 taken, remarks, that since 1804 the number of mines has 

 been astonishingly multiplied — population has flowed rapid- 

 ly in— the processes on the ore have been much improved — 

 better furnaces have been constructed ; and " every season is 

 adding to the number of the mines." " Every day is de- 

 veloping to us, the vast resources of this country, particular- 

 ly in lead," and the author expresses his opinion that " the 

 mines of Missouri are paralleled by no other mineral district 

 in the world." 



From the specimens which we possess of this ore, and 

 from the documents produced by the author respecting the 

 produce of the mines, we believe his opinion is correct, 

 especially if we consider the fact that " the earth has not 

 yet been penetrated over eighty feet;" "we know not 

 what may be found in the lower strata." " There is rea- 

 son to believe that the main bodies of ore have not been hit 

 upon, that they lie deeper, and that we have thus far been 

 only engaged upon the spurs and detached masses." 



Mr. Schoolcraft informs us, that although the mining bu- 

 siness is much improved, there is still a great deficiency 

 both of capital and of skill — there is in the whole district but 

 one regular hearth furnace for smelting, and that not the 

 best ; — among forty mines, there are only four or five regu- 

 lar shafts — there is among all the mines, no engine of any 

 description, for raising water, and some of the richest mines 

 with the best prospects in view, have been in consequence 

 abandoned. Yet, under all these disadvantages, the annual 

 produce of the mines is estimated at three millions of pounds 

 of lead. 



The author suggests the expediency of establishing a 

 school of mines and minerals in the midst of the inines 

 themselves ; this would, without doubt, be a very proper 

 measure, but in the mean time, skilful practical miners, and 



