there is probably no country on the globe so rich in lead deposits as Missouri. The mineral occurs in lodes, veins and disseminations, which are yet only partially determined; but enough knowledge of the extent, depth and thickness of deposits has been acquired to show that their range and richness exceed any other known lead-bearing region in the world.

There are several lead districts in the State, all south of the Missouri river, where the magnesian limestone rock-the great lead-bearing rock of the world-exists. The lead is not, however, strictly confined to this rock, but is also found in a disseminated form in ferruginous clays, slates and in gravel beds, or in cherty masses in the clays associated with the

same.

The southeastern lead district embraces all or parts of Jefferson, Washington, Franklin, Crawford, Iron, St. Francois, St. Genevieve, Madison, Wayne, Reynolds and Carter counties, with some mines in the western portion of Cape Girardeau county. Mining has been longest carried on in this district, and the aggregate of the production has been very great. But, with the exception of a few mines, the work has been chiefly surface mining, often carried on by farmers during the winter season, and the great deposits which require capital to develop may be said to have, as yet, been scarcely touched. This surface mining has often been so very profitable that mining lands acquired a great speculative value-too great for their purchase for agriculture—and this has rather retarded the development of this region than otherwise. With the low price of lead which has prevailed for the past three or four years, the lands have again fallen, and the farmer can now buy them below their agricultural value, and, as has often been done, sometimes buy with them a fortune in an undiscovered mine.

The central lead district comprises, as far as known, the counties of Cole, Cooper, Moniteau, Morgan, Miller, Benton, Maries, Camden and Osage. Much of the mining done here, again, has been near the surface, the lead first being found in clays, in caves and in masses in clay but a few inches below the surface. Shafts, however, sunk in the magnesian limestone, find rich deposits in lodes and pockets.

The southern lead district comprises the counties of Pulaski, Laclede, Texas, Wright, Webster, Douglass, Ozark and Christian. It has been but little developed, but it is generally thought that it will prove a profitable field for miners when railways make it more easily accessible.

The western lead district embraces Hickory, Dallas, Polk, St. Clair, Cedar and Dade counties. Some rich deposits have been found in this district, especially in Hickory county.

The southwestern lead district comprises Jasper, Newton, Lawrence, Stone, Barry and McDonald. Here very extensive mining has been done, more especially in the two counties first named, which have, for the last few years, produced more than one-half of the pig lead mined in the State. The famous mines in the Granby and Joplin districts have, in a few years, made those counties increase immensely in population. Many lead furnaces are in active operation, and the industry is an important source of wealth. These mines are surrounded by a rich agricultural region, and the one industry has materially assisted in the development of the other.

For several years past more than one-half the lead production of the United States has been from Missouri mines. Besides the numerous smelting works supported by them, the manufacture of white lead, lead pipe, sheet lead, etc., contributes materially to the industries and commerce of the State.

The amount of mining in southwestern Missouri amazes one who has not been familiar with the developments. For miles a line of stacks meets his view, and he is surrounded by the most valuable mines in the country. On the site where lead ore was first discovered, 15 years ago, a 40-acre tract brings to its owner a royalty of $50,000 a year. For a single acre lot, $60,000 has been refused, and the parties, by holding, have cleared $300,000, and are still working at a profit. The only thing necessary for persons to accrue an immense fortune in this district is to buy large tracts and hold them for development. This region has been well named the poor man's country and the rich man's paradise. Many poor men have reached the mines without money to buy a pick or shovel, windlass or bucket, who have afterwards become very wealthy. The smelters buy the ore at the mines and haul it away. Each week the royalty to the land owner is deposited to his credit in bank, thus requiring no personal supervision or presence.

ZINC.

It is not very widely known that Missouri produces nearly threefourths of the zinc consumed in the United States annually, and still less is known even within the borders of the State itself of the mines which

produce this great output. Passing over and through the Ozark mountain range, to the southwest of St. Louis, and far out on their western slope, and on the Lexington & Southern division of the Missouri Pacific railway, will be found the flourishing little cities of Carthage, Joplin and Webb City. These are the commercial centers of the zinc and lead mining districts of southwest Missouri, and it is in their immediate vicinity that the greater part of the former metal is mined. The two counties of Newton and Jasper embrace the greater part of the region from which this very valuable mineral is dug.

The zinc mines of Missouri are only a recent discovery. Fifteen years ago the present site of the principal mines of Webb City was offered for $15 per acre, but the wife refused to sign the deed. Now the royalty on forty acres of this tract amounts to $50,000 per year at the rate of seven and one-half per cent. On this same mineral belt there are single acre lots of 200 feet square that have produced in royalties, with no expense to the owners of the land, over $100,000. A single mine nine years ago sold for $325. Three years ago it sold for $14,000, and the present owners have just refused $900 per acre for the 40 acres.

A strange feature of the mineral is that lead ore is found above the zinc ore, and wherever lead ore is found, zinc ore is found beneath it, leading to the conclusion that lead ore is the result of some chemical action produced by the zinc ore.

At Galena, about ten miles from Webb City, the entire tract was traded for a pony not many years ago. Eight acres of this have paid the owners a royalty of over $200,000, and an eighty acre tract adjoining has made the owners immensely wealthy, having paid them over half a million royalty. This is not the corporation and capitalist's mining country exclusively. The region has been well named the "Poor man's country and the Rich man's Paradise." Without exception every dooryard is a dump pile, a shaft in the center, with rope and windlass. Shafts are worked at a profit on lots 25x100 feet. Two hundred feet square is considered a miner's lot. Without expense to the owner of the land, miners will sink a shaft and operate, paying the owner one-fifth royalty.

A person not visiting the country can have no conception of the opportunities for profitable investment. There is an entire absence of speculation. People in the East, who have been content with investments paying six, seven and eight per cent, can scarcely credit the state

ments relative to the wonderful opportunities for sure, safe and very profitable investments in the lead and zinc district of Missouri.

The mining interests are just in their infancy, although the product already exceeds $2,000,000 annually. The people are just awakening to the value of their property. At the same time mineral land can still be secured at reasonable prices from those who cannot appreciate at this time their prospective value, and who are satisfied with what they consider a large profit on land-which to-day sells at from $35 to $100 per acre

which entry secured a few years ago at comparatively insignificant prices from the government. Much of the land when located was purchased from the government at a shilling an acre, and $50 represents an enormous advance, while the same land as soon as developed often changes hands at $10,000 to $50,000 an acre. The sulphurate of zinc, known among miners as black jack, is often found in such quantities as to retard the progress of lead mining, and from the expense of getting the ores to

the smelting works, it has been thrown out in dumps, and much of it left as worthless matter. This was formerly the case. But by the completion of railroads, giving better transportation facilities, this ore has become valuable merchandise. The increase of railroad facilities, and the fact that sixteen new smelters will be erected this year, speaks volumes for the permanency of the mining interests of this region and their greater development in the near future.

COPPER, GRANITE AND OTHER MINERALS.

The mountains and hills of Missouri are filled with nearly every variety of minerals, and among them are found numerous outcroppings of copper, mainly in Dent, Crawford, Benton, Maries, Greene, Lawrence, Dade, Taney, Dallas, Phelps, Reynolds, Wright and Washington counties. Some of these outcroppings have been worked with varying success from time to time, but owing to lack of capital, well directed effort and facilities for shipping, the copper industry of Missouri is very little developed. There is no doubt that copper exists in paying quantities in many localities in the State and will in the near future bring good returns to investors. At present the only mines of copper that are successfully worked are located in southeast Missouri, in Washington and St. Genevieve counties. Some of the mines in Shannon county are now profitably worked and mines in Franklin county have yielded good results. The sandstones, granites, limestones and marbles of the State supply an abundance of fine and durable stone for all building and architectural uses. Sandstones are found in many beautiful shades of brown, red and buff, which are easily worked when taken from the quarries and harden upon exposure. The granites of Missouri are equal to any in the world for building and paving purposes. They are solid and beautiful. The red granite makes as beautiful and ornamental building and monumental stones as the celebrated Scotch granite. The finest and most substantial structures of St. Louis and Kansas City are built of granite and sandstones taken from the mines of the State.

Fire Clays underlie a large portion of the State and the manufacture of fire-bricks, gas retorts and other articles requiring the most refractory clays, has long been successfully carried on in St. Louis county. These clays occur here in the lower coal series and exist in great quantities. There are many beds of these clays found in the counties north of the