History of Grant County, Wisconsin, Part 54

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1044

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On account of the position of the bars, it was found necessary to make three branches to the level, one of which is now completed and is gradually draining the western part of the ground. The northern branch, when completed, will undoubtedly unwater the rest of the ground.

This level is an evidence of what can be done by scientific mining, when carried on per- sistently and systematically, with sufficient capital, applied with foresight and sagacity. It has cost the company twelve years of time, and about $100,000. Its results are, that it has already repaid the outlay of capital by the ore raised from the ground unwatered by it, which would otherwise have been inaccessible. When completed, it will unwater the ground 135 feet below the natural water level on the ridge. It furnishes employment to about eighty miners during the mining season.

Quite a large and clear stream of water is discharged from the mouth of the level, and is at present used to operate a furnace and three wash-places. The ore in the Hazel Green mines is

360

HISTORY OF THE LEAD REGION.

usually found in sheets ; this is its characteristic mode of occurrence. The ranges are approxi- mately east and west, or north and south, the former being the most productive. Orc is also some- times found in large bunches or pockets, containing sometimes several thousand pounds, and occasionally in openings. The pockets are often lined with large and very regular cubes, afford- ing handsome cabinet specimens. The total production since the discovery of these mines, has been carefully computed from the smelter's accounts at about 126,000,000 pounds. Their pres- ent product is about 800,000 pounds per annum.

Mining in this vicinity is confined to the upper half of the Galena limestone, which is here present in its entire thickness, the clay of the lower beds of the Cincinnati group being found near the village, on the road to Galena. A section of the strata from the top of the ridge to the level would present approximately the following features :

Soil and flints.

15 feet.

Galena limestone.

90 feet.

Shales or thin layers of limestone. 10 feet.

First clay opening 10 feet.

Second clay opening. 20 feet.

20 feet.

Flint opening to floor of level.

Total thickness. 165 feet.

The following are the parties who are now engaged in mining on the company's land, or have been during the course of the present survey :

Richard Eustice & Co .- These parties were working in a new locality, and had, at the time they were visited, one of the handsomest displays of ore ever seen in the grounds. The bottom of the shaft had penetrated an opening filled with soft earth. The sides of the opening were lined with a body of ore which presented an unbroken mass of cubic crystals of various sizes, some of them being as much as six inches on a side, and of very perfect shape, affording very handsome cabinet specimens. There were not less than 10,000 pounds of lead ore in sight, in a place about ten feet long. This body of ore is known to continue several feet deeper to the drift below. These diggings were worked until the fall of 1875, and produced 120,000 pounds.

Rowe & Rowe .- This is a new range, and was discovered in March, 1874. It is an east- and-west sheet, in which the ore occurs in a crevice three or four inches wide, at a depth of about sixty feet below the surface, and about thirty-five feet above the flint opening. Work was sus- pended here in September, 1876. The total amount produced to that time was 50,000 pounds.

Richard Eustice's Diggings-Are situated on the Phelps range ; shafts are ninety feet deep, down to the clay openings. Length of drifts about 150 feet. The ore here occurs in a sheet about an inch thick. The diggings were worked from June, 1872, to June, 1875, and produced . about 40,000 pounds. Near these diggings, and about ten feet deeper, is an east-and-west sheet dipping tothe north, carrying bunches of blende, which affords quite handsome crystals.

Manwaring and Madison Range .- This is an east-and-west range, and is sometimes known as the Hinch Range, from the name of a party who formerly worked it, and by whom it was abandoned in 1858. Since the level has been run, the water has fallen about fifty feet in this ground, and in December, 1873, work was resumed on it by Crawford, Mills & Co., since which time it has produced 40,000 pounds of lead ore. The shaft is down about fifty-five feet, or within six feet of the flint opening. Work was suspended on it in June, 1875.

John Edwards' Diggings .- Situated a short distance further west on the same range, a flat sheet of blende is found here in the second opening, at a depth of eighty feet below the sur- face. The order of deposition here is: 1st, pyrite; 2d, galenite; 3d, blende. During the win- ter of 1875-76, the product was blende, ten tons; lead ore, 1,400 pounds.

Bull Pump Range .- This range was worked by Jackson & Co. during the years 1873- 74-75, producing 90,000 pounds. Work was suspended here in the fall of 1875.

Bininger Range .- This range has been worked at intervals since May, 1874. It is now worked by Stephens, Mankivel & Rowe; four men are employed, working with a horse pump in the second opening. During the present year the product has been 30,000 pounds.

J. C. COVER

( DECEASED) LANCASTER.

363

HISTORY OF THE LEAD REGION.

Big Pump Range .- This range has been worked since October 1, 1876, by Richard Eus- tice & Co. A small amount of ore has been produced from the first opening.

McCoy Water-wheel Range .- Work was re-commenced here about August 1, 1876, by Rowe & Son, in the first opening.

Oates & Eustice .- This party has been working during the last year and a half on a range two hundred feet north of the west branch of the level. The lead ore is found in a flat sheet in the second opening. The opening is seven feet high, and averages seven feet in width. The sheet is about one foot thick. The product to the present time has been 150,000 pounds.

Clark's Diggings .- Two men have been working during the last year in the range next north of the McCoy Water-wheel Range. The ore is found as " chunk mineral" in the second opening, which is here six feet wide. The product has been 30,000 pounds.

Tregenza & Son .- Work was commenced by this party, in the fall of 1874, on the Dry- bone range, south of the Badger lot. The works are in the second opening, which is here from ten to twelve feet wide, and contains a flat sheet about five inches thick, of which the upper part consists of lead ore, and the lower of zinc ores. The product has been-zinc ores, twenty tons ; lead ore, 20,000 pounds. Very handsome specimens of galenite, coated with cerusite, are obtained here.

W. H. Eustice & Bro .- This party commenced work in the fall of 1875 at Crawford's little pump shaft. They worked in the second opening during the winter of 1875-76, and sus- pended in the summer on account of water. The prospect is good, and they expect to resume work this winter (1876). Product, 10,000 pounds.

Edwards Estate .- On this land, there are several old ranges, now drained by the level of Crawford, Mills & Co., in which the following mining has been done :

Peter Skinner, in the winters of 1874-75 and 1875-76, produced 100,000 pounds.

Moffat & Co., in the same seasons, produced 80,000 pounds.

Pierce & Trewather, in the same seasons, produced 70,000. Other parties in the same time, in small amounts, 100,000.

In addition to the parties already mentioned, there are, in the winter season, usually about sixty miners at work on the lands of the Hazel Green Mining Company.

The following diggings are in the village of Hazel Green, but not on the lands of the Hazel Green Mining Company : McBreen & Co. This is an east-and-west shect, connected with a quartering one averaging about an inch thick, situated on the land of Dr. McBreen, on the northwest quarter of Section 25, Township 1, Range 1 west. The range was worked in 1844, and the ore taken out to the water level. The water having become much reduced by the IIazel Green Company's level, work was recommenced in 1871, since which time about fifty-five thou- sand pounds of lead ore have been taken out. The diggings are in the upper beds of the Galena limestone, and not down to any opening.

Torneal' & Diggings .- A short distance south west of the preceding is a range consisting of twenty parallel crevices about twenty-five feet apart, and bearing north 15° east. Work was abandoned on them in 1850, and was recommenced by Mr. Torneal about eight years ago, since which time they have produced 42,000 pounds. Considerable time and labor have been expended in running a cross drift to prove the ground and ascertain the number and position of the crevices. The distance here to water is eighty feet, and the diggings are in the upper beds of the Galena limestone.

Rowe & Vivian .- This was formerly known as the Chizzem range, and is situated on Edward Williams' land, in the southwest quarter of Section 25, Township 1, Range 1 west, in the southern part of the village of Hazel Green. It is a north-and-south range, and was worked and abandoned in 1854. Work on it was recommenced by the present parties in November, 1873. Since then it has produced 24,000 pounds. The full thickness of Galena limestone is here present, overlaid by a few feet of clay of the Cincinnati group. The deepest shaft is 106 feet, and the total length of drifts is about 190 feet. Work was suspended here in the spring of 1875.

364

HISTORY OF THE LEAD REGION.

Williams & Brother .- On Edward Williams' land. This party commenced in the fall of .1875, and are now mining in a range a short distance west of the diggings of Eustice & Co., in the village of Hazel Green. They are working on a vertical sheet, and have produced to the present time 20,000 pounds.

Chandler's Diggings .- These diggings are situated on Mr. Wetherbee's land, and on the Sulphur Lot Range. Work was commenced two years ago, and continued to the present time. The works are in the second opening, which is from six to eight feet wide, and contain a sheet of lead ore from one to two inches thick, and also large, irregular masses which afford handsome specimens. The mine has produced 500,000 pounds, and is now very good.

PLATTEVILLE DISTRICT.

This district embraces the diggings in the immediate vicinity of the village and the Whig and Big Patch Diggings. The geological position is about the middle of the Galena limestone. The mining has been carried on principally by small parties. The annual production aggregates 395,000.

Gillis Range .- This is the longest and largest range in the Whig Diggings, being half a mile in length. A crevice opening was found from thirty to fifty feet below the surface, and is from three to five feet high. Some seven parallel crevices were discovered in 1839. About 5,000,000 pounds have been secured since that time.

The Robbins Range is a short distance north of the Gillis. It was struck in 1840, and produced 500,000 pounds. In 1866, Cronin & Stevens resumed work which had long been suspended, and raised about 300,000 pounds.

Duncan Range, a little way south of the Gillis, has given forth 1,500,000 pounds.

Messersmith Range produces only Smithsonite.

Missouri Range has produced 650,000 pounds, and has an annual product of 5,000.

Dutch Range was discovered in 1840. Some 200,000 pounds have been raised, and the products'is about 5,000 annually.

Wilkinson and Cronin Ranges have given 300,000 pounds.

Smith Range produced 200,000 pounds, but is exhausted.

Big Patch Diggings put out 500,000 annually, divided among several parties, of whom Dixon & Coats represent four-fifths of the raise.

Hawkins, Thomas & Co. own the discovery on the southwest quarter of Section 31, Town 3, Range 1 west, made in 1872. The ore is blende, somewhat mixed with rock, and occurs in a flat sheet on the upper surface of the blue limestone. The sheet has in some places a thickness of five feet. It lies partially in the bed of a small'stream.

BUNCOME DIGGINGS.

The Buncome Diggings form a subdistrict belonging to Hazel Green. They are situated on the Galena River, near the mouth of Bull Branch. They were formerly very productive diggings, and a few parties are still working in them. They are situated in the brown rock, which is the lowest bed of the Galena limestone, and is here from twenty to thirty feet thick, and extends down to the creek-bed at the State line, where the top of the blue limestone may be seen. At the mouth of the Bull Branch the top of the blue limestone is found to be twenty feet above the bed of the stream. Mining is generally carried on here by drifting into the side of the hill. An example of this is seen on the land of Mr. Gabriel Mills, on the northwest quarter of Section 32, Township 1, Range 1 east, where a flat sheet of ore was found on the top of the brown rock, on which a number of short levels were run. Mr. Mills is now engaged in running a level on the top of the blue limestone from Section 32, westward, to prove the ground for blende, of which ore in small quantities has been occasionally found. The Buncome ground is also remarkable as being the only locality in which native sulphur appears in sheet form.

Carpenter & Bennett .- These parties are mining on Mr. Mills' land, on the northeast quarter of Section 32, Township 1, Range 1 east, on the east side of the Galena River. The

365

HISTORY OF THE LEAD REGION.

workings are as usual in the brown rock, and produce some lead ore and large amounts of car- bonate of zinc and blende. Exactly how much could not be ascertained. They have worked continuously since 1872.

Hicks, Fiddick & Co .- Situated on the land of the Edwards estate, on the southwest quarter of Section 29, Township 1, Range 1 east. The diggings are about half a mile above the mouth of the Bull Branch, and are also carried on in the brown rock. They are drained by a level a quarter of a mile long, discharging one hundred gallons per minute, which was com- menced in 1868. The ore is found in flat and pitching sheets, and sometimes contains a little blende mixed with it. Twelve men are now employed here, and are producing a large amount of Smithsonite. Since the commencement of operations, about four hundred thousand pounds of lead ore have been produced.

Gabriel Mills Diggings .- This ground is on the northwest quarter of Section 29, Town- ship 1, Range 1 east, on the ridge dividing Bull and Hardscrabble Branches, and contained the large lode mentioned in Prof. Whitney's report of 1862, on pages 285 and 286. The ore was discovered here in 1854, and has been worked uninterruptedly ever since, which is somewhat remarkable, as a single range seldom continues uniformly productive through so many years. The property is owned by Mr. Mills and R. Pierce. The deepest shaft is 130 feet down to the brown rock, in which the ore is found in flat and pitching sheets. The ore from these diggings is always coated with pyrites, and sorge Smithsonite is found associated with it.

The ground has produced about eight million pounds of lead ore ; their present annual average production is about fifty thousand pounds, with no sign of diminution.

Simons & Sons .- Northeast quarter of northwest quarter of Section 32, Township 1, Range 1 east. A very fine prospect has recently been discovered by this party on Mr. G. Mill's land. They commenced work about the 1st of September, 1876, with a horse-pump. After sinking a shaft fourteen fect deep, a flat sheet six inches thick was discovered in the upper pipe clay opening. The sheet consists of lead ore, blende and pyrites, about half of the thickness being lead ore.

T'here are also several isolated ranges lying between Hazel Green and Benton, and not properly belonging to either district. They are as follows :

Johns & Harvey .- On the northeast quarter of Section 6, Township 1, Range 1 east. The range was struck in 1858, and was worked for some time with an engine and pump, and then abandoned. Work was recommenced by Messrs. Johns & Harvey, in 1869, and they are now working on the water-level at a depth of one hundred and ten feet below the surface, in the middle portion of the Galena limestone. The range bears slightly north of west, and makes ore in tumbling openings, mixed with clay and detached masses of stone. The opening is in some places twenty feet wide, but does not correspond in geological positien with any of the Hazel Green openings, as it is rather above them. Work was suspended here in the fall of 1874. Their production to that time was 900,000 pounds of lead ore.

Dawson's Diggings are situated on the southeast quarter of Section 32, Township 2, Range 1 east. The general course of the range is east and west, but it is found to pitch in various directions. They are worked about thirty feet below the surface, in the upper measures of the Galena limestone. They were discovered in 1872. Since then, they have been worked contin- uously. and have produced 80,000 pounds.

Drybone Diggings .- South west quarter of Section 28, Township 2, Range 1 east. Mining for dryhone has now been carried on here by George Hoppenjohn for the last ten years. The diggings are known as the " Bone Patch," and are very shallow, not exceeding twelve or fifteen feet in depth. The Smithsonite occurs in bunches as float, and does not make any regular sheet or opening. The amount produced is about fifty tons per annum.

Burney Kesson's Diggings are situated about a quarter of a mile southwest of the preced- ing, on the same quarter-section. Work is suspended in them during the summer seasons. They are quite productive diggings, and have yielded 50,000 pounds of lead ore per annum for sev- eral years.

366

HISTORY OF THE LEAD REGION.

Anthony & Dixon's Diggings-Southeast quarter of Section 21, Township 2, Range 1 east. These diggings are about a quarter of a mile south of the village of Jenkinsville, and are worked altogether for blende, although the ore contains a little drybone and lead ore. They are on the top of the blue limestone, in which a level is now being run, and is completed a distance of two hundred feet. The ore is very close grained, shows no regular cleavage, and somewhat resembles an ore of iron. It is remarkable by being intersected with thin parallel plates or lamina of galenite lying very close together, presenting reflecting edges and being a constituent part of the ore. The deposit was discovered in 1872, and has been worked continuously since. The pro- duction has been 180 tons of blende and 10,000 pounds of lead ore per annum.

Kesting, Hines and others .- A short distance southeast of the preceding, on the same quarter-section, are three parties at work on some drybone diggings. There are here several quartering ranges having a southwest course. The Smithsonite lies from fifteen to sixty-five feet below the surface, and in the lower measures of the Galena limestone. It " makes" in flats, sheets, and pitches without much regularity. The ground has been worked about ten years for drybone. The average annual production has been about 225 tons.

Spensley, Winn & Co .- Situated about a quarter of a mile southwest of Meeker Grove post office. The above parties have been working here about five years. The ore is found in an irregular flat sheet in the upper pipe clay opening. This ground has been worked at intervals during the last twenty years. The water is removed by a horse-pump. The production of the last two years is as follows: 1875, blende, 300 tons, lead ore, 20,000 pounds ; 1876 to October 1, blende, 400 tons, lead ore, 20,000 pounds.

Greenwood & Miller .- Southeast quarter of Section 7, Town 1, Range 1 east. This is an east-and-west range, discovered by Cook twenty-five years since. The present parties became in- terested in it in 1871. Five shafts, from seventy to ninety feet deep, have now been sunk, and two drifts, of 300 feet each, have been run. The ore is found here in a crevice opening, sometimes twelve feet high. The width of the opening is quite variable, as it is crossed by numerous north- and-south crevices, which usually cause it to expand in width. Bunches of ore are found at the crossings, but no regular sheets. The water is removed from the ground by two horse-pumps of twelve-inch bore, six-feet stroke, which pump about ninety gallons per minute. It is estimated that the ground has produced 1,000,000 pounds of ore, and its present annual product is about 300,000 pounds.

NEW DIGGINGS DISTRICT.

Considerable lead ore is now being raised in the vicinity of new Diggings, being mostly in the ridge immediately south of the village. The following section taken from the mines south of the village will give a correct idea of the relative position of the several beds and openings :

Feet.

Inches.

Soil and clay.

Galena limestone.

...

Flint bed.

Shale ...

First opening (sometimes called crevice opening).

Limestone cap ..

...

Second opening (sometimes called flat opening)

...

Flinty rock.

...

Third opening (this is the principal flat opening).

Galena limestone.

...

" Putty bed "

Fourth opening

...

Galena limestone

...

Flint opening .

...

Brown rock to top of Blue limestone.

...

Total

178

...

Galena limestone

Champion Diggings .- Northeast quarter of Section 26, Town 1, Range 1 east, on the New Diggings ridge. There are several ranges here having a general east-and-west course, one of

367

HISTORY OF THE LEAD REGION.

which, known as Champion's old lode, has probably yielded more than any single range in the lead region. This and the other ranges owned by Mr. Champion are drained by a level a half a mile long. This was completed in the year 1865, at an expense of about $70,000. It then drained the ground, and in four years, with the labor of eight men, 5,000,000 pounds of ore were taken out, which sold for about $500,000. This ore was contained in an immense open- ing; in some places forty feet wide by twenty-five feet high. This principal opening is now worked out, but the range still continues productive, and has been worked uninterruptedly for the last ten years. Average product per year, 85,000 pounds. Work is now being carried on south of the old ranges. At the western end, in the Meyers lot, a shaft has been sunk seventy- three feet to the first opening, which is here about ten feet high and from twenty to thirty feet wide. There are here three parallel crevices, one of which is about eight feet wide. Seven- teen men are now employed in the Champion Diggings. Mining is carried on continuously, and the annual product is about 200,000 pounds.

Craig Diggings are situated in the New Diggings ridge, on the northeast quarter of Sec- tion 26 and northwest quarter of Section 25, Township 1, Range 1 east. There are here three principal east-and-west ranges, a few feet apart. The ore which is now worked is known as the Simpson pump range. These ranges were discovered in 1834. In the spring of 1874, a shaft was sunk on one of them, and they are now worked in the second opening. They produce only lead ore, found in a flat opening which is one hundred fect wide, and has been worked to a length of one hundred and fifty feet. They are worked only in the winter, and produce 40,000 pounds per annum.

Craig, Sanders & Campbell .- Work was commenced by this party in the fall of 1874, on the east end of the Simpson pump range. The mining is carried on in the first opening. The product has been 258,000 pounds, the greater part of which was produced in the year 1876. The extreme west end of this range has been worked by Craig, Stephens & White during the past year, but has not yet produced anything.

Craig Level Company .- A company consisting of several persons residing in New Diggings and the adjacent towns, and representing an extensive capital, have been engaged for several years in running a level on the south side of the New Diggings ridge, for the purpose of un- watering the extensive east-and-west ranges on and near the summit of the ridge. It is already so far advanced that it has lowered the water in the mine several feet, sufficient to admit of the production of enough lead ore to more than defray its expenses. Mining is now carried on in pump range, the Mitchell range and several others; the company are making several " cross- cut drifts" for the purpose of prospecting their ground. The mining operations of the Craig Level Company have been very productive of lead ore. The amounts produced previous to 1874, could not be ascertained. During the year 1873, it was 70,000 pounds, and from March, 1874, to October 1, 1876, the product was 2,075,470 pounds.

Brown, Dodge & Co .- This party, consisting of four men, have been working in the west end of the Mitchell Range, on land owned by Col. S. Scales. The product has been 10,400 pounds, all raised within the last year.

Harper, Hird & Co .- Situated in the New Diggings ridge, a short distance west of the Craig Diggings, on two east-and-west ranges, known respectively as the Wiley and Engine, on which the water has been reduced about four feet by the Craig level. They were quite large ranges, and were extensively worked many years since. Work was resumed on them by the above parties in February, 1873. Since then the product has been 303,000 pounds. The crevice of the Engine Range is here about three feet wide, and the ore makes in the first opening ; while on the Wilcy Range the crevice is ten feet wide, and the ore makes in the crevice and not in the opening. The ground is owned by Col. Sam Scales.

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History of Grant County, Wisconsin, Part 54

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co. Number of Pages: 1044

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1044