Howdy! My name’s T-Bone and I been a prospector in these old Ozark
hills since I was big enough to scarf a stack of flannelcakes. More
than once I come within a whisker of striking paydirt. But for some
dang reason it seems like I been just a little off the mark all my
life. Back in the 60s, I had me a claim staked out about a mile
east of where Amax discovered the fabulous Buick Mine. More than 40
million tons of high-grade lead ore come up that shaft – so far. I
got about a wheelbarrow full of pyrite from my digs. 
Another time I had some mineral leases up on Shepard Mountain,
just across the valley from the old Pilot Knob iron mine. That
ground was so hard I busted my pick on the upswing!
I worked my own barite pit for a few years, out around Palmer.
It paid the rent, but I couldn’t stand to wallow in that nasty red
mud for the rest of my life, so I give it up. Also, the Tiff
Diggers in them parts are strange folks. Not right in the head, if
you know what I’m sayin’.
But that’s all water under the bridge, as they say. I believe
that tomorrow will be a brighter day – heck, that’s what
prospectin’s all about. And I’m here to tell you today that I’m
sittin’ on a gold mine. Well, it’s a silver mine, mostly, but you
know what I’m mean.
I’m fixin’ to stake my claim right on top of the old Apex Mine
Shaft. It’s just up the hill from the old Einstein Tunnel on the
St. Francis River. According to a report I found, silver, lead, tin
and even a little gold was found in quartz veins at several mines
in this area, which operated from the 1880s, until the 1920s. They
produced about 50 tons of lead and 3,000 ounces of silver.
Well, I’m thinkin’ them fellers gave up too soon, way back when.
I’d bet my bean pot that the best ore is yet to be found. So here’s
the deal. As you can see, I got the smarts to make us both rich.
The problem is, I’m not so limber as I used to be. I need some help
stakin’ this claim, and you look like you might just fit the
bill.
I need a reliable surveyor (that would be you) to go out to
Silver Mines Recreation Area and locate our claim in the field. I
can’t pay you for your work, but we can be partners. We’ll split
our profits right down the middle, or 80/20, as they say in the
business world.
I done scouted the area and sketched out the claim on this here
map usin’ my trusty old Brunton. Now, your standard mining claim is
1500 feet long and 600 feet wide, so that’s what we’ll use. I put
secret marks where each corner should be. What I need you to do is
go out there and finish up the job. What I mean is for you to get a
good latitude and longitude on each corner, plus the primary
discovery monument, located near the center of the claim. Our
monument will be right close to the old Apex Shaft.
To keep them dang-blasted claim jumpers out of our hair, I’m
only gonna give you the true location of the southwest corner (see
top of page). With this here map and the info I gave you here, you
should be able to find the other three corners. Now, you’ll find a
clue at each corner. Put all the clues together and it’ll give you
the directions to the discovery monument. I know what yer thinkin’
and yep, it’s a might be a little tricky. But really you’ll just be
doin’ some sums and differences to get yer angles and distances.
Trust me on this one, I been outwittin’ them bushwackers for years
and if we don’t do it my way, they’ll be breathin’ down yer neck
before you get yer gold pan wet.
You need to sign the claim form at the discovery monument, to
make it all legal and binding. Contact me when you’re done. Then
we’ll be partners. I’m thinkin’ we should call our new business the
T-Bone Silver Mining Company. Sounds good, don’t it?
Here’s the fine print:
- Each “corner” is a green plastic matchbox. They should be easy
to see once you get near them.
- The “discovery monument” is a sturdy steel container. It’s
kinda smallish, but it will hold lots of coins, keychains and other
small items. It contains the claim form – sign it.
- I recommend you tether yer mule at: N 37° 33.261’, W 90°
26.904’ and walk in on foot.
- One last thing: There's a bonus fer ya if you keep yer eyebones
open & write things down when ya see'm. Contact me when you get
done and we'll talk about it.
Here’s some clues that might help if you get stumped.