Title	Yellow Dog Mine 1
Identifier	JPL10_622_017_a_B
Creator	Osterloh, T. W.
Contributor	Simpson, Leslie, Post Memorial Art Reference Library; Albertype Co., Brooklyn, N.Y.;
Publisher	Joplin Public Library
Description	After fortune-seekers unearthed a thick vein of rich zinc and lead ore, the Yellow Dog Mine opened in 1902 on a 40-acre tract of land leased to the Underwriters' Land Company. The mine, which boasted the most modern equipment of the day, became a prolific producer of zinc ore. Originally named the Golden Rod, the mine was nicknamed "Yellow Dog." In spite of the negative connotation, the moniker stuck. The year 1903 brought the completion of hoisting and pumping shafts at the Yellow Dog, plus derricks, a power plant, and a concentration mill with a daily capacity of 250 tons. Steam, the most common source of power in the district's mines at the time, drove the new equipment. During 1904 and 1905, the company purchased an additional 60 acres of land and constructed the district's largest concentration mill with a 2,000-ton daily capacity. The Yellow Dog complex earned a reputation for its innovations. For instance, the company invented a new kind of shaft, dug at a 45-degree incline and reinforced with heavy concrete walls instead of the usual timber supports. Special wheeled containers called "skips " ran up and down the inclines on tracks. Powered by electricity, the skips transported miners, hauled supplies, and delivered freshly mined ore to the surface. The Yellow Dog even provided an unusual setting for quite the elegant society soiree. In 1906, the Knights Templar held its ball in the mine, while a crew of men worked a half shift as part of the evening's entertainment. Guests danced and strolled amidst the "whirl and rumble " of the mill in full operation. The north end of the mine was decorated artistically in keeping with the dignity and grandeur of the occasion. Banners emblazoned with Masonic slogans adorned the walls while black and white streamers draped the ceilings above. At one end of the brilliantly lit "ballroom" an orchestra played on a stage decked patriotically with swags of red and white stripes and blue with white stars. The evening dance program, which included a grand march followed by 26 dance numbers, lasted until well after midnight. Sources:Livingston, Joel T. History of Jasper County, Missouri and Its People. Chicago: Lewis, 1912.Mineral Museum News. January/December 1997. Vol.11, No.1.
Subject	Yellow Dog Mine (Joplin, Mo.); Mines and Mineral resources-- Missouri--Joplin; Lead mines and mining--Missouri--Joplin; Zinc mines and mining--Missouri--Joplin;
Language	English
Date-Creation	circa 1906
Date-Current	8/23/2004
Type	Postcards
Collection Name	Joplin Historical Postcards
Source	From the collection of Rodney Blaukat
Coverage	Missouri -- Jasper County -- Joplin; Missouri -- Newton County -- Joplin;
Rights Statement	Use of digital images found on this website is permitted for private or personal use only. This material may be protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code). Copyrighted materials may be used for research, instruction, and private study under the provisions of Fair Use, outlined in section 107 of copyright law. Publication, commercial use, or reproduction of this image or the accompanying data requires prior written permission from the copyright holder. User assumes all responsibility for obtaining the necessary permission to publish (including in digital format) from the copyright holder. For more information on using this image, contact Joplin Public Library.
Contributing Institution	Joplin Public Library (Joplin, Mo)
County	Jasper County (Mo.) Newton County (Mo.)
Copy Request	Contact Joplin Public Library at 417-624-5465, or email jpl@joplinpubliclibrary.org