The photo is described thus.
An area (Lafayette County, Wisconsin) mine under construction (c. 1900) showing a working Cornish-type walking-beam pump. Note the small building on the left that enclosed the steam engine, with its chimney protruding from the building. Power from the engine was transmitted through the side of the building to the wheel operating the walking beams. Note the open derrick with a hoist cable and can in the center of the photo, the tramway to the top right with the small pile of discarded rock from sinking the shaft, and the amount of water being pumped by the two pumps.The derrick and beam pump would be shortly enclosed in a building. At the time of this photo, it is estimated the mine had been in operation about three months and was down to a depth of about 50 to 60 feet.
Courtesy Platteville Mining Museum
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The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.