A View of the Lead Mines of Missouri, including some observations on the mineralogy, geology, geography, antiquities, soil, climate, population and productions of Missouri and Arkansaw, and other sections of the Western Country

Front matter

..,,..».:„ . ' .V OTOS1 A VIEW OF TBEi %^av® mmm^ ®w wmmvmi » INCLUDING SOME OBSERVATIONS ON TKf. MINERALOGY, GEOLOGY, GEOGRAPHY, ANTIQUITIES. SOIL, CLIMATE, POPULATION, AND PRODUCTIONS ( r' MISSOURI AND ARKANSAW. AND OTHER SECTIONS OF THE WESTERN COUNTRY ACCOMPANIED BY TBREE ENUUAVim;- BY HENRY R. SCHOOLCRAFT, CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE LYCEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY OP NEW- YORK. NEW-YORK: J-CBLISHED BY CHARLES WILE1T .V CO. NO. 3 WALL-ST/lEiT, i J. Seymour, printer. 1819. Southern District of Ntw-YoYk, sa. BEIT REMEMBERED, That oo the twenty-seventh day of November, in the fortyfourth year of the Independence of the United States of America, HENRY R. SCHOOLCRAFT,of the said DHrict, hath deposited in this Office the title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as Author, in the words following, to wit :— ■ " A View of the Lead Mines of Missouri ; including some observation? on the Mine ralogy, Geology, Geography, Antiquities, Soil, Climate, Population, and Productions of Missouri aod Arkansaw, and other sections of the Western Country.

Accompanied by three Engravings By Henry R. Schoolcraft, corresponding memb'erof the Lyceum of Natural History of New-York." In conformity to the Act of the Congress osthe United States, entitled "An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the time therein mentioned." And also to an Act, entitled M an Act, supplementary to an Act, entitled an Act for the en couragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps. Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of puch copies, during the times therein mentioned, and ex tending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical add sther priBtt.n GILBERT LIVINGSTON THOMPSON. CI*rk of the 6outhefn District of New-York JO JOHN G. BOGERT, ESQ. MEMBER OF THE ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS 'or THE LITERARY and philosophical, and of the historical society ok NEYF-YOUK ; RUSSIAN CONSUL FOR THE STATES OF NEW- YORK, CONNECTICUT AND NEW-JERSEY, U'..

THIS WORK IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR, IN TESTIMONY OF ESTEEM FOR. HIS CHARACTER .4S A CITIZEN, AND A FRIEND ; AND AS A TRIBUTE OF RESPECT FOR HIS ZEAL IN THE PROMOTION OF ESPECIALLY MINERALOGY, CONCHOLOGY, AND THE COLLF.CTION OF THE EXTRANEOUS FOSSILS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Preface

. WHEN we reflect upon the history of our own country, — the rapidity with which its natural resources have been developed,— its attainments in the arts of civilized life, in commerce, and in agriculture, — its increase in population, and the progress of its settlement, the mind is with difficulty brought to believe that scarcely two centuries have elapsed, since it was the unmolested seat of barbarity, and intellectual night. But whatever may have been our advances in civil refinement, mechanical, and po lite arts, useful inventions, public works, agriculture, jurispru dence, naval architecture, the endowment of literary institutions, aud other momentous objects, evincing a matured state of socie ty, yet, in no respect is our national growth so apparent, as in the increased population, and the astonishing progress of the settlement of our country.

A new world has recently been dis covered within the bosom of our land, and the region west of the Alleghany Mountain, is already the seat of legislation, and the arts of civilized life. So rapid has been the emigration into that section of the Union, and so sudden its transformation from bar barism to refinement, that it seems rather the effect of magical power, than of human exertions, operating in the ordinary way. No sooner had the fertility of the soil in that region become known, and the advantages it presented to the industrious and the enterprising of all classes, than a universal desire for emigration was manifested, and information concerning it was sought after with the utmost avidity. But the first travellers who passed down the valley of the Mississippi, did little more than glance at the varied and extensive country, bordering that stream.

A general outline of its geographical features, — of its soil and climate, — of its extent aud resources was, however, given, with many interesting particulars concerning its antiquities, and physical productions ; but the detail has been left as the subject of succeeding inquiry aud remark. Much of the information published at an early day, being founded on an imperfect acquaintance with the country, has proved fallacious, other facts of moment have since been disclosed by the progress of settlement, and notwithstanding the appearance of several works of merit concerning that country, a wide field is still left for observation and research, both to the man of business, and the man of science, and an increased desire is manifested for further information. The period has in fact already arrived, when men begin to seek for scientific and ele mentary information on the various subjects connected with the vegetable, animal, and mineral resources of that country, — with its soil and climate — its streams and mountains — its towns and settlements — its mines and minerals — its trees and plants — its antiquities and reliqua — its birds — fishes — insects — rep tiles — animals, living and extinct — the fossils imbedded in the earth — the physical constitution of its rocks and soils, and the changes which they have undergone from heat, air, water, light, attrition, and other constantly operating and powerful causes — the temperature of the atmosphere — the course of the winds — the diseases prevalent — its natural phenomenon, and other matters, equally concerning the learned, and the unlearned.

On some of these heads, we are already in the possession of much valuable information ; on many of them nothing has been written, and all present subjects for consideration, replete with the high est interest, and intimately connected with the wants, comforts, happiness, and security of ourselves and our posterity. The soil, climate, population, and agricultural advantages of the wes tern country, have been the subject of frequent description, and several meritorious works have been published concerning it. Jefferson, Volney, Breckenridge, Darby, and Evans, have succes sively added to our stock of useful knowledge, aud contributed largely to perfect and extend the sphere of our acquaintance with the moral, physical, and political condition of that country, particularly with regard to its topography, statistics, antiquities, and commercial resources.

But its mineralogy remains almost wholly unnoticed, and we look in vain, either for a general outline of its mineralogical character, or a description of its mines. Travellers seem to have hastened with so eager a pace, in the exploration of its fertile fields and extensive prairies, and to have been so completely absorbed in the contemplation of its bold geographical outlines, and the interminable length of its rivers, that they have entirely overlooked the humble, but not less attractive minerals, by which it is so strongly characterized. The mines of Missouri, especially, have sailed to attract the consideration which they merit. — Breckenridge has, indeed, given us some interesting details on the subject ; but the value of what he J>as written, is not uniform ; much of the information given, is vague or hypothetical, and upon the whole, he stops short ot the desired point.

Schultz wrote nothing of value on the subject. Austin's pamphlet was the most valuable document of its time, but being written for a specific purpose, is not sufficiently diffuse in regard to the situation and extent of the mines, method of working, &c. Stoddart, too much inclined to credulity, did not always write from personal observation, and many of his conclu sions are drawn from assumed premises. We are, therefore, still in want of a detailed account of the mines, the extent and quali ty of the ore, the character of the accompanying minerals, the methods of mining, the nature of the contiguous country, its character, value, population, and resources, its advantages for water-mills and manufactories, the facilities it affords by its streams for internal navigation, with other facts necessary in es timating the collective value and importance of those mines.

A want of information is also felt in regard to the physical history of the western country, particularly its minerals, fossils, geology, antiquities, &c. To supply this deficiency, I have written the following work, in which I have endeavoured to present a con densed body of facts in a small compass, and in a plain way, omitting the introduction of technical phraseology, in all instan ces where it was consistent with the utility or perspicuity of de scription. What I have written on these subjects, is the result of personal •bservation, during a tour through the states and territories west of the Alleghany Mountains, performed in the years 1818 and 1819, including a year's residence in Missouri Territory. In passing down the valley of the Mississippi, I embraced every op portunity to acquire a knowledge of the mineralogical character of the country, and have been enabled to form a considerable collection of ores, spars, fossils, Sec. illustrative of its physical geography, and natural resourses.

A catalogue of these will be found in the ensuing pages. To acquire information on the sub ject osthe mines, I visited them, and fixed my residence there. I have made a personal examination of every mine of consequence, with a view to ascertain its general character and value, and its peculiarities. I have travelled on foot over the whole mine country, exploringits minerals, its geological structure, its geographi cal position,soil, climate, productions, towns, streams, settlements, and whatever else appeared to me to be necessary to describe, explain, and illustrate the subject before me. If, therefore, I have failed to collect a body of facts worthy public approbation, it can neither be attributed to a want of industry, or a want of opportunity. The historical facts recorded respecting Renault's operations, have never before appeared in print.

They were elicited in the course of a legal investigation, recently instituted between the heirs at law of Renault and sundry individuals, who claimed the lands in Missouri and Illinois, granted to him, A. D. 1723, in consideration of his services. During these inquiries, many facts hitherto unknown respecting the early history of Louisiana, were brought to light ; and some new matter has been drawn from the obscurity of private life, both in France and America, which completely developes the views, and transactions of that day. Of this information, I have been presented with an opportunity to avail myself, through the friendship and politeness of those per sons, in whose possession the original papers, documents, and certificates remain. The drawings I give of the lead furnaces, are from actual measurement, done under the eye, and corrected by an operative builder of approved skill at Potosi, and are conceived to be mi nutely correct.

Henry R. Schooi.craft. Xi-w-York, 2bth Nov. .1819. CONTENTS. PART FIRST. A View osthe Lead Mines of Missouri. pagt. Sec. 1. Historical Sketch of the Mines, 9 Sec. 2. General Outline of the Mine Country, 2G Sec. 3. Of the different Mines, Ores, and accompanying Minerals, 64 Sec. 4. Method of working the Mines, 90 Sec. 5. Annual Produce, and number of Men employed, .. 1 13 Sec. 6. On the uses of Lead, -. 134 PART SECOND. Observations on the Mineralogy, Geology, Geography, tyc. oj the Western Country. page Art. 1. Geographical Outline of Missouri Territory,. . . .151 Art. 2. A Catalogue of the Minerals of the Western Country, 177 Art. 3. Journal of a Voyage up the Mississippi River, . . . .221 Art. 4. Topographical account of White River, 240 Art. 5. Miscellaneous Information,

Section I

Historical Sketch of the Mines. The rage for adventures, which the brilliant ex ploits of Pizarro, Cortez. and other Spanish ad venturers, had excited throughout Europe, continued for a long time to agitate the public mind ; and had not abated at the commencement of the eighteenth century, when an idea of the mineral riches of Louisiana had become prevalent. Gold and silver were then the chief objects which en grossed attention; and in search of them, the ear liest discoverers were led to penetrate into the in terior. The physical aspect of the country was in general such as to flatter the most sanguine ex pectations of mineral wealth ; and the further the country became known, the more interesting was found its mineralogical character. To men whose pre-conceived ideas of a country were already high, such appearances must have had the most inspiriting effect, and lightened the embarrassments they encountered in exploring a wilderness.

Many osthe useful metals were thus met with, and gold and silver mines were reported to have been discovered in several places. Red. River, the Arkansaw, and the river La Platte osthe Missouri, were particularly mentioned; and from the evidence which is daily afforded by the disco very o'f ancient furnaces, &c. there is reason 'to conclude that those metals were wrought at a very early period, and that bodies osthe ore still exist. Judging from what was found, they were ready to conclude the country exhaustless in mines; and the most exaggerated accounts of them appear to have been transmitted to Europe, particularly to France, where a lively interest was felt in the prosperity osthe infant colonies in Louisiana and Illinois; and in the descriptions published at that day, the lands are reputed to equal in fertility the banks of the Nile, and the mountains to vie with the wealth of Peru.

It was in this supposition osthe immense wealth of Louisiana, both in the vegetable and mineral kingdoms, that the renowned Mississippi scheme originated, and which, from the imposing charac ter it was made to assume under the guidance and direction of M. Law, drew upon it the eyes, not only of France, but of all Europe, and produced one of the most memorable disappointments recorded in the annals of commercial specula tion. Louis XIV, by letters patent, bearing date Sep tember 1 4th, A.D. 1712, granted to Anthony Crozat, Counsellor of State, Secretary of the Household, &c. the exclusive privilege of commerce of that district of country, now known as the States of Louisiana, Mississippi. Tennessee, and Illinois, and the Territories of Missouri aud Arkansaw, with the propriety of the mines and minerals he should discover in the country, reserving the fifth part of all bullion of gold and silver, and the one tenth osthe produce of all other mines.

The ex clusive privilege of commerce was granted for a term of fifteen years ; but the propriety of the mines was conveyed in perpetuity to him and his heirs, on the condition that such mines and mine rals should revert back to the crown of France, whenever the working of them was discontinued for three years together. The bounds of Louisi ana, as granted to Crozat, are described in these words: — " Bounded by New Mexico, (on the west,) and by the lands of the English of Carolina, (on the east,) includingallthe establishments, ports,havens, rivers, and principally the port and haven of the Isle of Dauphine, heretofore called Massacre; the river of St. Louis, heretofore called Mississippi, from the edge of the sea as far as the Illinois, to gether with the river of St. Philip, heretofore call ed Ouabache, (Wabash,) with all the countries, territories, lakes within land, and the rivers which fall directly or indirectly into that part of the river of St. Louis."

In the month of August, A. D. 1717, M. Crozat solicited permission to retrocede to the crown his privilege of the exclusive commerce and the mines of Louisiana, which was granted by an ar ret osthe Council of State, during the minority of Louis XV. In the same month, letters patent were granted by the Council of the Regency to an association of individuals at Paris, under the name of The Company osthe West, by which they were invested with the exclusive privilege of the commerce of Louisiana, and the working osthe mines, to the same extent as it was enjoyed under the grant of Crozat. These letters patent were dated on the 2.3d of August, A. D. 1717, registered 6th September, of the same year, and were to be in force on the 1st of January, 1718, and to continue for a period of 25 years, By them, not only such grants and privileges were conveyed as had previously been enjoyed by Crozat, but they were invested with additional powers, rights, aud privileges.

The territory was granted in free allodium, (en franc allieuT) in lordship and in justice, the crown reserving to itself no other rights or duties but those of fealty and liege homage, which the Company was required to pay to the King, and to his successors at each mutation of kings, with a crown of gold osthe weight of thirty marks. The boundaries were the same as described in the grant to Crozat, and the mines and mining grounds, opened or discovered during the term of its privilege, were declared to belong to the Company incommutably, without being holden to pay any rents or proceeds whatever. The Company was also invested with the right to sell and alienate the lands of its concession, at whatever price or rents they might fix, and even to grant them en franc allieu, without reserving the rights of justice or lordship.

It was also provided that if, after the expiration of 25 yeaTS, for which the exclusive privilege of commerce was granted, the King should not see proper to continue the privilege by a new grant, all the sands and islands, mines,and mining grounds, which The Company of the West should have inhabited, worked, improved, or disposed of on rent, or any valuable consideration whatever, should remain to it for ever in fee simple, to use and dispose of as a proper inheritance, on the simple condition, that the Company should never sell such lands to any other than the subjects of France. A Company, incorporated with such ample rights and privileges, did not fail to draw upon it the attention osthe speculative, or to enlist the aid osthe enterprising capitalists of the French me tropolis. The country of the Illinois was reput ed rich beyond comparison : the financial esti mates submitted to the view of the public, offered prospects of unusual gain, and capitalists flocked with avidity from all quarters, to enrol themselves as members of the Company, and partake of the promised wealth.

If any thing had been wanting to accelerate the pace of adventurers, or to fan the ardour of hope, it was the genius, the financial abilities, and the commanding influence of M. Law, who was placed at the head of the Company, and was the moving power in every transaction. Men have been nearly alike in all ages. The Grecians are characterized for manly integrity and submis sion to the laws ; the Romans are renowned for for their bravery in war and their refinements in the arts of civilized life ; the English for their ac quirements in science arid literature ; the Ameri caus for the equality of their laws: but in matters of interest, they are all alike, and when money is the object of pursuit, we forget every local dis tinction of language and country, in the similarity of sentiment which actuates them, their hopes of success, and the uniform means which are taken to acquire a similar object.

Nor do men always, when a scheme of sudden wealth or aggrandize ment is presented, duly consider the chances of success, in opposition to the probabilities ofa failure. Hence it is no subject for surprise, that the most extravagant anticipations were entertained by the members of The Company osthe West, or that the unusual splendour of the Mississippi scheme was only equalled by the signal disap pointment in which it eventuated. In the year after The Company osthe West had been instituted by the royal patent of the King, they formed an establishment in the country osthe Illinois at Fort Chartres ; and in order to promote the objects of their institution, and to encourage the settlement osthe country, held out the most li beral inducements to French emigrants, and made them donations of all lands which they should cul tivate or improve.

Miners and mechanics were also encouraged to emigrate, and the city of New- Orleans, which had been founded during the last year osthe authority of Crozat, (1717,) received a considerable accession to its population in the fall of the same year, and settlements began to extend along the banks of the Mississippi, and in the country osthe Illinois. Among the number of ad venturers to Illinois, was Philip Francis Renault, (the son of Philip Renault, a noted iron-founder at Consobre, near to Mauberge, in France,) who came over as the agent of the Company of St. Phi lips, an association of individuals which had been formed under the patronage of the western com pany, for prosecuting the mining business in the upper country of Louisiana and Illinois. It appears also that he was a member osthe Company osthe West, and he is spoken of as Director General of the Mines of the Royal India Company in Illinois ; a name by which not only the present state of Illinois, but a vast district of the adjoining country, appears then to have been known.

Renault left France in the year 1719, with two hundred artificers and miners, provided with tools, and whatever else was necessary for carrying the objects osthe company into effect, lnhis passage he touched at the Island of St. Domingo, and pur chased five hundred slaves for working the mines; and entering the Mississippi pursued his voyage up that river to New Orleans, which he reached some time in the year 1720, and soon afterwards proceeded on his way to Kaskaskia, in Illinois. Kaskaskia was then inhabited solely by the French, and was one osthe earliest posts occupied by them when they began to extend their posts from Canada along the great western Lakes, and down the Ohio and Mississippi. Renault esta blished himself in the vicinity of this town, near Fort Chartres, at a spot which he named St. Phil lips', (now called the Little Village,) and from this sent out his mining and exploring parties into va rious sections of Illinois and Louisiana.

These parties were either headed by himself, or M. La Motte, an agent versed in the knowledge of mine rals, whom he had brought over with him. In one of the earliest of these excursions La Motte discovered the lead mines on St. Francis, which bear his name; and at a subsequent period Re nault made a discovery of those extensive mines north of Potosi, which continue to be called after the discoverer. Other mines of lead were also found, but their distinctive appellations have not survived; and a proof of the diligence with which Renault prosecuted the object, is furnished by the number and extent osthe old diggings which are now found in various parts osthe country. These diggings are scattered over the whole mine coun try, and hardly a season passes, in which some antique works, overgrown with brush and trees, are not found.

Renault being probably disappointed in the high expectations he had formed of finding gold and silver, turned his whole force towards the smelting oflead, and there is reason to conclude, that very great quantities were made. It was con veyed from the interior on pack-horses, (the only mode of transportation which was practicable at that early period.) The lead made by Renault was sent to New Orleans, and from thence chiefly shipped for France. That he also discovered copper is beyond a doubt, and a grant of land made to him at Old Piora, on the Illinois river. embraces a copper mine. Renault's operations were, however, retarded and checked, from a quarter were it was least expected. By an edict of the king, made at Paris in May, 1719, the Company of the West was united to the East India and Chinese company, under the title of the Company Royal of the Indies ; (La Compagnie Royale des Indies 7) And in 1731, the whole territory was retroceded to the crown of France, the objects of the company having totally failed ; and Renault was left in America, without the means of prosecuting the mining business.

His exertions in behalf of the company were not, how ever, overlooked by the government, and four several grants of land were made to him in con sideration of his services. These grants bear date June 14th, A. D. 1723, and cover the Mine La Motte, and some other very valuable tracts, which, after having laid dormant for a period of about sixty years, have recently been claimed by the re presentatives of his heirs at law. Renault, however, remained in Illinois several years after the explosion of the Mississippi scheme, and did not return to his native country until A. D. 1742. With him the greater part of his workmen returned; the slaves were sold, and the mining business fell into neglect. Here is a period to the first attempt at mining in Louisiana. After Renault's departure, little or nothing ap pears to have been done in the way of mining, and even after the Spanish had acquired possession of the country*, the lead mines were but little attended to.

The force which Renault had with him was sufficient to protect him from the attacks of the savages ; but after his departure, the settle ments on the Mississippi, feeble in themselves, could not furnish protection to such as might be * Louisiana was ceded to Spain by Fiance A. D. 1762, and taken possession of by Spain, 1769. disposed to work at the mines. The Spanish. however, in a few years after taking possession of the country, did something, and in process of time new discoveries were made, and the mining busi ness began to assume a more respectable charac ter. The principal discovery made under the Spanish authority was, Mine a Burton, which takes its name from a person of the name of Burton*, who being out on a hunt in that quarter, found the ore lying on the surface of the ground. This man, who is now still living in the vicinity of St. Gene vieve, at the advanced age of one hundred and nine years, had been employed while a youth under Renault.

The period of this discovery it would be very difficult now to ascertain, Burton * The following sketch osthe life of Burton is given by Colonel Thomas H. Benton, of St. Louis. "He is a Frenchman, from the north of France. In the forepart osthe last century, he served in the low countries under the orders of Marschal Saxe. He was at Fontenoy when the duke of Cum berland was beat there by (hat Marschal. - He was at the stige of Bergen op-Zoom, and assisted in the assault of that place when it was assailed bv a division of Marschal Saxe's army, under the command of Count Lowendahl. He has also seen service upon the continent. He was at the building of Fort Chartie. on the American bottom, afterwards went to Fort Du Quesne, (now Pittsburgh) and was present at Braddock's defeat. From the life of a soldier, Burton passed to that of a hunter, and in this character, about hall a century ago, while pursuing a bear to the west of the Mississippi, he dis covered the rich lead mines which have borne his name ever since.

His present age cannot be ascertained. He was certainly an old soldier at Fort Charties, when some of the people osthe present day were little children at that place. The most moderate computation will make him an hundred and six. He now lives in the family of Mr. Micheaux at the little rock ferry, three miles above St. Genevieve, and walks to that village almost every Sun day to attend mass. He is what we call a square built min, of five feet eight inches high, full chest and forehead ; his sense of seeing and hear ing somewhat impaired, but free from disease, and apparently able to hold out against time for many years to come." [St. Louis Enquirer, October 16, 1818.] himself being unable to fix it. It has been known about forty years. (18 1 9.) The processes of mining pursued under the Spanish government, appear to have been very rude and imperfect, not more than fifty per cent. of lead being got from the ore.

The common Open Log Furnace was the only one employed, and the lead-ashes were thrown by as useless. Neither was shot, or any other manufacture of it, attempted by native Spaniards. In A. D. 1797, Moses Austin, Esq. performed a journey from the lead mines in Weythe County, Virginia, to the Mine a Burton, in Louisiana, and obtained a grant of land of one league square, from the Spanish authorities, in consideration of erecting a reverberatory furnace, and other works, for prosecuting the mining business at those mines. This he commenced A. D. 1798, and previous to that time no furnace for smelting the ashes oflead, made in the Log Furnace, had been erected. Mr. Austin sunk the first regular shaft for raising the ore, and introduced some other improvements which were found beneficial. He also, A. D. 1799, erected a shot tower, under the superintendance of Mr. Elias Bates, and pa tent shot of an approved quality were made.

A manufactory of sheet lead was completed during the same year, and the Spanish arsenals at New- Orleans, and Havanna, drew a considerable part osthe supplies for their navy from this source. About this time a few other American families crossed over into Louisiana territory, and settled in the neighbourhood of the mines. These, from their more enlightened views, and enterprising spi rit, were certainly an acquisition to the mining in terest, and as their earliest attention was directed to this, the lead business began to revive ; and at the time the territory was taken possession of by the United States, were pretty extensively and ad vantageously worked*. The Mine a Robino, Mine a Martin, and many others were shortly afterwards discovered ; and since the year 1804, the number of mines has been astonishingly multiplied ; Shib boleth, New Diggings, Lebaum's, and Bryan's mines, are among the latest discoveries of consequence.