MINES— MINERAL POINT DISTRICT. 735 



ing, and having about the same length, width and thickness. The above party com- 

 menced work in the fall of 1875, and are now working in the upper pipe-clay opening. 

 This mine is from 50 to 60 feet deep, and formerly produced over a million pounds. 

 Two men are generally employed here, and produced during the last year about 7,000 

 pounds of lead ore. 



Samuel and Wm. Richards. These parties are working a short distance east of Prisk 

 & Paynter. They have been engaged here about a year and a half, producing chiefly 

 blende and lead ore. 



Bennett & Brady. Situated near the center of Sec. 29. A large amount of work 

 has been done here, including a level to unwater the ground. They are quite product- 

 ive of the ores of zinc and lead. 



Short & Co. Situated on the N. W. qr. of Sec. 29. Considerable mining has been 

 done by these parties in this vicinity during the last few years. 



There are several very profitable mines in the northwestern part of Strong's Addition 

 to the city of Mineral Point, aU on land owned by Mr. J. J. Ross. They are as follows: 



Boban & Co. Four men have been employed here during the last four years, pro- 

 ducing Smithsonite and lead ore. The range is from 70 to 80 feet wide, has a general 

 east and west course, and is worked to a depth of 70 feet below the sm-faoe. There are 

 two openings, separated by about 20 feet of unproductive rock; the lower ore being 

 the glass-rook opening. 



Connaughton & Casserly. These parties are worlring on an east and west range 

 about 300 feet north of the preceding. They have been working here during the 

 last two years, have sunk two principal shafts to a depth of 60 feet, to the glass-rock 

 opening. This is an east and west range, about 60 feet wide, and has been drifted on 

 to a distance of 100 feet. It produces chieiiy blende, estimated by the owners at $800 

 per year. 



John Wcegler & Co. Situated about 300 feet northwest of the preceding. These 

 parties are working in the same openings and producing chiefly zinc ores. Until very 

 recently, two other parties were employed in this vicinity, this ridge having for many 

 years been very good mining ground. 



Bennett & Co. This party is engaged in mining and prospecting about a quarter of 

 a mile east of the preceding diggings. 



Near the corner of towns 4 and 5, ranges 2 and 3 east, are a number of ranges wliich 

 have been worked for many years. Those situated on section one are the property of 

 the Mineral Point Mining- Company; those on the adjacent sections are the property of 

 Mr. John J. Ross. 



There are six principal crevices, running nearly parallel, on Sees. 36 and 1. Their 

 general course is S. 70° E., and on entering Sec. 6, they run nearly east and west. The 

 crevices lead down to the opening between the Buff and Blue limestones, known as the 

 glass-rock opening. The ore here is found in a flat sheet about a foot tliiok, and from 

 70 to 140 feet wide, which has been worked for a distance of half a mile. 



The ores are galenite and blende, and occur associated with barite, and have to be 

 separated before reduction. 



The mode of drainage in Mr. Ross' mine is somewhat pecuKar. Shafts were sunk at 

 intervals to a depth of six feet below the opening, mto the Buff limestone, where a bed 

 is reached through which the water readHy passes away. This mode of drainage was 

 accidentally discovered m prospectmg for the sheet. No ore of any consequence is found 

 in the upper pipe-clay opening; occasional bunches have been found, probably not over 

 20,000 K)S. in all. ' These ranges have been worked at intervals for the last forty years 

 by various parties. Active operations were commenced by Mr. Ross about ten years 

 ago smce wliich time his ground has produced about 2,500,000 lbs of lead ore, and 

 about 3 500 tons of zinc ores. During the whole time m which these mines have been 



