Hawortu. | Historical. 19 
John Law. Few historical events connected with the develop- 
ment of the lower Mississippi were more important than 
those growing out of the organization of this company. 
About two years later mining was begun under the direc- 
tion of Sieur De Lochon. Schoolcraft” is authority for the 
statement that in 1719 Philip Francis Renault, a son of an 
iron founder, was made director general of the Mississippi 
Company and came to America to operate the mines. He 
brought with him 200 artisans and miners and a miner- 
alogist by the name of La Motte. At San Domingo they took 
on 500 slaves for work in the mines, which probably was the 
first introduction of slaves into this part of the world. The 
famous Mine La Motte takes its name from this mineralogist. 
Renault sent out exploration parties far and wide, and a 
great many of the discoveries in Missouri were made within 
the next few years by his exploring parties. In 1723 land 
grants were made to him, the one covering Mine La Motte be- 
ing approximately five by ten miles in extent. The Missis- 
sippi Company subsequently failed, and its charter reverted 
to the crownin 1731. It was a gigantic company, organized 
by law, and conducted on a mammoth scale, rivaling in this 
respect many of the modern corporations. A bank was 
started by it which, it is reported, had in circulation at the 
time of its failure 200 million dollars of worthless notes. 
Prospecting and mining operations were conducted in the 
territory after Spain became its possessor in approximately 
the same way, and the second change of ownership, from 
Spain to the United States, likewise had little influence. In 
1807 Congress passed certain laws to make titles to mining 
properties more secure, and introduced a system of leases by 
which miners were supposedly benefited, in that titles be- 
came secure. 
The discovery of ore gradually worked westward, covering 
practically all the southern part of Missouri which is now 
known to contain either lead ore or zinc ore in paying quan- 
tities. About 1843 lead ore was discovered as far west as 
Morgan and Benton counties, and, in 1848, a William Tingle 
17. A View of the Lead Mines in Missouri, including Some Observations on the Mineralogy, 
Geology, Antiquities, Soil, Climate, Population and Productions of Missouri and Arkansas and 
other Sections of the Western Country. New York, 1819, p. 19. 
