Gold Mines in Missouri

A gentleman from Madison County, informs the St. Louis Democrat, that what promises to be the richest gold mine ever heard of, has just been discovered, and is creating quite an excitement.

It is situated thirty miles from Pilot Knob, running due north and south, and being in extent eight feet wide by two hundred yards long, according to traces of the surface.

Many experiments have  been made and gold extracted in proportion of one-third of one per cent.—about $1200 to the ton.

It is exceedingly difficult of extraction, requiring; expensive chemical processes, and the expense of working the mines will be very large.

Forty acres of ground, including this supposed gold mine, were purchased recently by two persons, for the sum of eighty dollars.

Philadelphia Inquirer - April 2, 1861

Large Deposits of Tin

Large deposits of tin ore have been discovered in Missouri.

They are very rich and are in Madison County.

Lowell Daily Citizen and News - August 8, 1867

Nickel and Cobalt for Ships

Every battle ship made in the United States must draw upon Missouri for part of its material.  Down in Madison County is the famous mine La Motte, which furnished nickel and cobalt necessary in the construction of the modern ironclad vessel.

There are not other nickel and cobalt bearing mines in this country in operation.  It would be indeed  the irony of fate if the property which was once owned and operated by Spain should now supply the material most necessary in the structure of the warships built to fight her.

Mine La Motte is said to be the oldest mine in the United States.  For over a century it has been turning out about the same amount of mineral.

When it was first opened what is now the state of Missouri was then a Spanish possession.

 It is rich in the quality of nickel required in the manufacture of armor plating.  Manufacturers find it necessary in the composition of the Harveyized steel used on the ships, and to long as that quality of armor plate is used so long will the state continue to be represented in the manufacture of our navy.

New Haven Register - April 20, 1898 

Wonderful Lead Mines  

Madison County

Missourians will be interested in the letter which appears in today’s issue describing the wonderful lead mines in Madison County.  One of these mines was opened nearly 200 years ago and still bears the names of its discoverer.

For more than 60 years one of these historic mines has produced 500 tons of lead ore annually and today 250 men are employed in working it.  Quarries of sandstone, limestone and granite are numerous in Madison County.  Lead and copper can be found in many places.  Silver mines have been worked to a limited extent.  The forests abound in fine timber.

Yet, with all these other advantages agriculture is the leading industry.

Madison is indeed a remarkable county and the capitalists will not much longer overlook it.  The letter which the Republic publishes today is a condensation of many features, each of which could be elaborated into a longer article than is published. 

Southeast Missouri is as inviting a land for the home seeker as can be found on the globe.  Madison is one of its most attractive counties.

St. Louis Republic – February 12, 1896

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