Website: www.dodgejeffgen.com/

The Iron Mines at Iron Ridge, Dodge County,

and a Milwaukee Rolling Mill

Beaver Dam Argus, 11 18 1863

Our ambitious and enterprising neighbor – Chicago – has for some years past come to the sensible conclusion that with all her advantages as a center of business, the only solid foundation for a permanent prosperity was to be sought in the inauguration of such manufactures as were best adapted to her situation. Among the most prominent of these manufactures is that of iron, which is also a leading feature of the business of Detroit.

Milwaukee must follow their example, or be contented with a cessation of growth in wealth and population. Indeed, instead of following, she should have led her sister lake cities. In the manufacture of iron particularly our [Milwaukee] advantage over both Chicago and Detroit are as marked as they seem to be unrecognized. With a proper degree of energy and concentration of the spare capital of this city, we might build up a productive business of several millions a year, within a few seasons, in the development of the unused material which lies virtually at our doors, in the vast deposit of iron ore at Iron Ridge, Dodge County.

The extent of these mines is enormous, being excelled by that of few similar mines in the world. The deposit has a depth ranging from twelve to twenty feet, and an area of some five hundred acres. For all practical purposes, this may be considered inexhaustible.

As to the quality of the ore, the analysis of distinguished scientific men has shown it to be far above the average and in adaptation to the ordinary purposes of manufacturing – but it is when mixed with Lake Superior iron that it is most valuable.

The vast improvement which results from a mixture of two different qualities of iron ore is well understood among iron manufacturers . . .

With the completion of the Peninsular Railroad from the Lake Superior mines to Bay de Noquette, which will be in operation next year, we shall have easy access to these mines and be able to obtain an unlimited quantity of an ore, which when mixed with our own iron, will be equal to that obtained by the mixture of the Cleveland and Scottish pig iron.

The manufacture of railroad iron, which is especially profitable and in the greatest demand, could thus be undertaken here [Milwaukee], with greater advantage than anywhere else on the Great Lakes. All that is needed is the will for our men of capital to grasp a business which will do more than aught else to place our prosperity and growth upon a sure foundation. An examination of the reports already made as to the quality of the Iron Ridge ore will satisfy any one that it is well adapted for manufacturing purposes.

We urge upon capitalists, both at home and abroad, the thorough examination of this matter. The more that is known of the advantages of our position and of the quality of the ore which awaits the awakening and magic touch of well-directed enterprise, the more assured are we that we shall witness the development of the iron manufacture in our city, to an extent which no one would dare to predict.

– Milwaukee Sentinel.