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Las diagrammes suivants illustrant la mithoda. by errata mad to lent une pelure. fapon i 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 //I4 01 ANr LEI i 5' /(H THE PRomrcnoHS or THE OTTAWA DISTRICT OF CANADA. ■'^L By EDWARD VAN CORTLAND, Esq. &: i AND AN ACCOUNT OF THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON. DIRECT FROM THE ORE IN THE UNITED STATES ; WITH A LETTER FROM HUNT'S MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE o?» MINING IN ENGLAND AND THE UNITED STATES. MONTREAL : J.. . , . ■ .. ■■-..- ■^"v . fJECr'RE SPARKES, BOOKSELLER, 16 GREAT ST. JAMES STREET. 1854. A" ■c;"JJ«fr U ! I tit^ \ »ak>s t ■ { i / * ii ," ! ,/0'.'{ ^IJ'I ! tsv (_M3"^ .f^. ,r,.-''/fV A. .--♦•• ,* .... Vf..,. . '..ft,- it ■•'? " ■ a.Hli, ' ^^ .> «■* yn'i'J \ v-H < acc'o I> rn'iil c« blow X cc -M M^\ !j'; I ! X THK PRUUUCTIUNS OF THE OTTAWA UISTIUCT OK C A N A 1 ) A , uv KDWAlil) VAN COKTLAM), KSd. NAl'IVE IRON. Il is i^cMicraily siipposiid lliul Ir{)ii never t'.\i>l> in the nuitallie. slale, l)nf it irs ;issert(!cl lliut jjure iniadMlteiated Iron has iKHMuliscovoiL'd at Canaan inllu' Tniied Stales. Native Iron is likewise produced by tlie spontaneous ignition ol Coal in the neiglibourliood ol" Iron deposits, and where it is known inider the name ol" N'alive Sl(!el. The greatest (piantily of Iron is loinid eoinbined wiUi Sid[)hur Oxygen or Carbonic Aeid ; the Ihsl known as Iron Pyrite-^, is never workeii as an Ore. The best Iron Ores are Oxides, but the greatest proportion ot British Iron Ore is a Carbonate. M A G N E T I C 0X1 1) E O V I R O X. O.ri/dulous Iron^ Odahciiral Iron. It is this variety of Iron Ore whielt produces the Xativc Loadstone. Il occurs in various parts of the world, especi- ally in the North of f^urope, and is that of which die best Swedish Iron is made, and it yields also th(> Wool/ Steel of the East Indies. It is ol an Iron black colour, darker than common Iron; its |)owder is |)ure black — it extorts a decided action on the Magnetic Needle, attracting and repelling, according as the positive or negalive points ur(^ repn^sented. This variety, which is found in several parts of this conti- Fient is called, Native Loadstone. It is infusible beforf? the blow-jiipe, and sol«d)le in Nitric Acid ; it occurs in piimitivc .?:5^- 2 nuks, cliiclly ol mica and •jjiiciss ; it is ('X(T<'(lin^ly licli in niclal, yi(;lntir(; nioiintain. In the United States it exists in the ij^rcatcst alaindancc, and is worked in several plaees. On tli«' western side ol Lake ("lianiplain, it is lonnd in lurds ol L'O Iret liiick. Its on- procln(, not simply absorbed, but conslituling a characteristic parloflht* Ore, being chemi- cally combined with il in llie proportion of one-sixth. Bog Iron Ore is only found in limited (piantitii-s in I'lig- land, France, and Siberia. Il is imcoinmon in the northern countries of Kurope, but in (Jermany, France, and Austria il is extensively worked. At Salisbury in Connecticut, it exists to an unlimited extent, and has been worked for more than one hundred years, yielding from this localiiv alonc^ the large (|uanlity of two thousand tons of Iron annually. m- Till! Iron obliiiiird iVom lioi; U\v. i> miuI l<> u.vcfl in l()iii;li- ticss hikI li;ir(liu:ss, iiiid fo Ix* |nv((r:il)l(' to Rod Iron Ore on that acconnt, whilst the |)iirrr vuiielio, on being incllod wifii charcoal, may Ix' readily converted into steel of ;in excellenl <[naliiy. Ho<' Iron Ore i> ol more rcceni origin than any ol" the oiher Ores oi" Iron, and its deposition istjonii; (»n eontinn;dl), even sit llie present time in shallow lakes and swainps. In the south-western parts of New Jersey, where Hoi> Iron Ore occurs in great abnndanee, many spots ))revi()usly exhausted arc explored again suc^cessfnlly, alter tlu; lapse of about Jwentv vears. And what i< inon' curious than all we have yel said of it is, that ii is brought lo tli(! slate we lind it in through the intervention ol an infusorial animal (tailed the (iaiUonella ffnu'^imr. In Swed(Mi, liog Ore has been fished np from the bottom of the si'a, where, according lo Ilansmann, it is still produced. It is worked in every «|n:Mt(.'r of the globe, but its Ore is generally used for eastings, vvhich are said to take a sharper impression from tlu; phosphoric aciil, which (Jog Iron Ore always contauis. The iron j)rodnce(l at tlu; St. Maurice forges at Three- Rivers, is t)btain(Ml entirely from Rog Iron Ore, and is, as is well known, of an excellent (jualily. These forges were commenced by the French Government in 1737, and il is said most oi' the French camion handed to the Rritish at the capitulation were made there. During the last American war these forges were of signal service to the lirilish Army, having manufactured a large mtmbcr of camion balls and shells, at a time they were much needed. It exists on the Ottawa on an eight feet bed at Cote St« Charles, on Lois IG and 17, ihc property of Mr. R. Lancas- ter, who kindly forwardtul lliese specimens to the Exhibition- Ijog Iron Ore is known lo exist in the Township of McNab, and other localities in the Valley of the Ottawa, but which as yet have not been explored. " To metallurgisls iIk; good (jiialily of \\\(\ wrought Iron of the St. Maurice forges (says Mr. Logan) appeared the uiore deserving of attention, as the ore from \vliich il is derived, being the Hyd rated Peroxide, is usnally accompanied by a small amount of Phos|)horus, in ihe foVm of Phosphate of Iron. It is dilfieuli lo r(Mnov«> this im|)urily which in too large a quantity renders ihe metal cold short. In cast Iron, 4 5 II On* on r rncUod (^1 of an lliu oilier ill), cvoii III tliu lion Oro !xluiii>lcd of about , wo have Ihid it ill [;allod llic he hot Ion I produced, its Ore is ; a sharper ; Iron Ore . INIauriee Bog Iron il (luality. overninent handed lo of signal d a large they were il Cole St« Lancns- •'xhibilion. jf McNah, hut which ght Iron of d the more s deriv(!d, uiitul by a osphate ol ich in too 1 cast Iron, however, its presence In small (|uantitles cannot be called prejudicial, as il serves to render the metal M.-ry lluit! wlitm iused, and thus to give a line surface to the castings, and bring out all the details of ornamental patterns in sharp relief, whilst it docs not seem to render the casting brittle or lo deterioratf! its power of resisting the eftcct of .•iuddeu heat- ing and cooling. This Peroxide of McNab, contributed to iIk; Exhibition in London by Mr. SheriU'Dickson, of Pakcn- ham, was regarded as a very beautiful ore, the uniform (luality of which would render it one of much more easy fusion and maiiagemenl than ihe magnetic oxides, while il would probably produce an iron of excellent quality." Mr. Logan referring to the Iron Ores of Canada, as they appeared at the Great ExhilVition, remarks, "The vast sup- plies of Iron with wliich the collection gave evidence thai th«^ Colony is enriched, a|)peaied to arrest the attention of all. The British Miner accustomed to follow into the bowels of llie earth, beds of ore of six inches to one foot, containing between 30 and 10 per cent, of this imporlanl metal, natu- rally regarded with surprise, huge blocks of it from beds of 100 and 200 feet in thickness, and yielding GO to 70 per rent ;" and again, " the Canadian Iron Ores were examined w^ith great care and attention, by the agents of Russia ; it seemed to strike them with wonder that such prodigious sources should be found in any country but their own, and the public in general, without taking into consideration the question of its present application lo prolitable uses, seemed to regard the great beds of Magiieiic Oxide, as a national Magazine, in which was stored up a \ast amount of material indispensable to Ihe (-omfort and jirogress of mankind, which it is always satisfactory to tlie inhabitants of a country to know is within their reach and control, should circumstances arise to render its application exjiedient or necessary. PLUMBAGO. Graphite^ commonly called Blacklmd. Plumbago is found in various parts of the world, in de- tached rounded lumps, and in vems of uiica slate, gneiss, and in transition rocks; and although called Blacklead, there is not one atom of lead in its composition, it being a carburet of iron. It is found of the best (|ualily in a moun- 6 tain onllcMi IJorrowdalo, In Cumberland. Tin* mino has l)ccM woiKrd since lliu day>^ ol (^nctMi KlizaJM'lli, and is iifiw nearly exiiausled, tlie eonsequeneu o( whieli irs, diat llie Cumbeii.md blaekl«;ad brink's a very high price. IMuinbai^o also exi>t> in many oilier parts ol" the world, where, although not of a tinalily lit lor lead pencils, it is profitably worked lor other pnrj)o.«ies, — ehielly for eonvcrtin^ into crucibles. It is us(m1, however, for polishini^ i^rates und stov(!s, to prevent the friction of machinery, and us a preservativi? of iron from rust. On the Ottawa it is knovvn to exist of a very |)ure quality at the iron mine in Hull, but as yet in such small (|uanlities as not to warrant its being worked. It exists also tolerably pure at J)cvil's Lake, near Newborough, on llie Jlideau Canal. It is also found in large quantities, but of an inferior description, at (irenville, yet if j)roperly cleared would no doubt answer for cruci- bles. The opinion of some of die great pencil-makers of the metropolis was obtained by Mr. Logan, in regard to its applicability to the purposis of their trade, and " although it was found that the plutnbago could by washing be freed from its imjnirilies, and by j)re9sun! after the method of Mr. Brockedoii be* cojiverted into pencils, they would be consid- ered of inferior (piality." LEAD OKK— (iAJ.ENA. Lead was well known lo the ancienis, and was used in Britain from v(!ry early times. Amongst the Romans it (constituted a most important article of commerce, blocks and pigs of it having been frc(iuently discovered bearing J^atin inscriptions, and the remains of Roman establish- ments are found in i\\r. neighborhood. Several pigs of lead are deposited in the British Museum bearing Roiuan in- scriptions. Lead ore is found in several parts of Canada. It either is or has been worked near Kingston, with what results 1 do not kno.v. It abounds on the Ottawa, and somewhere in our immediate vicinity on the (Jatincau, it is said to be so plentiful and so easy of access as, if discovered, to admit of being worked most profitably. But the secret of its locality is confined to the Indians, who look upon il with so nmch superstition that nothing can bribe them to divulge it ; they are under the impressioji that when the white man dis. niino lins i;tli, ami is il-ll i}*y tiiul icH'. llif world, enciU, it is f'OMvcrtinj; iiiij^ ijfrales y, aiui an a it IS knovvii II Hull, but III its beiii^ Lake, near I'uund ill 1 (iieiivillc, • lor cruci- iers ol" the ij^urd to itH " altliough \Vf^ be freed tliod ol' Mr. be coiisid- as used in Ronians it rce, blocks L'd bearing cslablisli- igs of lead Homan lu- ll either esults 1 do lewherc in id to be so to admit of its locality th so much ^e it ; they i man dis rovrrs it iheir Viu-v is to Ih- swcp; ii\va\. I liiivi' in inv pii- vnte ('oll(;cti()M ;iii liidiiiii |)i|i(' iit.td<' Iroiu an oukeii kiiol, the bowl of which is iiio*.! ini,'* nioii^iv IiiumI with lead ; it was I'oniid in an Indian urave at H\cr Lake. || \>* litiuDl also in larijc (pianlitics on th • hind ol Mr. .Miirsliall ai Kil/- roy, and ere loni,', I li ivc no donbl, th' Oilawa, ainonij>l its existing and prospective nianuracinrcs, will adtl lead lo the number. (()IM»I:K. Native copper, and the '^rcy and yellow >nl|ihnrci>, are as yet only know n to c,vi>i in Canada, in (jnantitio WDrthv of attenruni, n|)on Lakes Snjtcrior and Huron, where a com- pany is Just now working ihcni very prt)lital)ly ; llicy arc of a very pure description. \Vc hive a spcar-head in the mus(!um, IJytown, trvidcnily made of nalivj- copper, and shaped by haimiiering, which was picketl np in llcnlrew. It is probable that il v.as Icll ilicrc by sonic of the niigratory tribes of Indians ilnring their inclusions aen^s the country on their way to the Ottawa, with a belligerenl intention. There is an engraving of a speai-hcad in the Cauiiilian Journal for January, IfS;");], identical in every respect with our specimen, and which is described as a relic of the aneieul miners of Lake Snjurior. it al all events shows us that the aborigines were ac<|uainted with th(.' metal. Having now concluded our description of the metals, we hasten lo enumerate .some of the refractory materials and minerals of the Ottawa, amongst which are included, — Marbles, while;, mollled green, gray, brown, and of suj)e- rior quality, and easily worked ; Millstones, (irindstones, and Whetstones; Sandstone, while; and yellow, for the manufacture of glass ; Phosphate of Linn; and Shell Marl, highly important as manures; llydiaulit; Limestone, lor making hydraulic cement. Dolomite, for the manidaelure of i-psom salts, and con taining 45 per cent, of carbonate of magn(;sia. Steatite, or .soap-stone, which is apj)licable lo various purpo.ses, since it is used in the inannlacttue of |)orcclain, and for polishing serpentine marble and mirror glasses. It constitutes the basis of cosmetic powders, and is a main in- gredient in antialtritiou pasU.'s, and dnst(!d on the inside ot new boots, it causes them to slip on easily ; lastly, it re- moves grease spots from silk and woollen cloths. 8 Amongsl the minerals in llie ladies' dcpailni^nt, and applicable to jewellery, we have Lahradorite, which, when lcx)ked at in diflerent lights, ussnmes the hues of change- able silk. Sun.stonc ilyncinths and Oriental Rubies and Sapphires, together with Aiuethysl, Garnet, and Perislorite, a new mineral discovered by my esteemed friend, Docloj Wilson, of Perth, and deriving its name from the appear- ance it assumes of the beautiful color of a dove's breast. CLAY FOR BRICKS, TILES, &c Pott(M-y clay of several varieties also exists very geMierally throughout the Ottawa country. il In: '111, and hich, when of change- ilubirs ant I Perislorite, Q\u\, Doctor I he appear- In'east. y g«;nerally OF Tin: WOODS OF Til'; OTTAWA EVERGREEN TREES - PINES. KKl) PINK. Pi nils Tlesinosd, Pin floii^c. Is a laig(! liaiid>oi;iG treo, with scaly red bark, lis liiubrr t^ntcM-.s largely into comineree, ;iiul is lino i^ruiiietj, and ol clojfe lexluro. Il is ^hipped in ihe iorni of s(pi;uvd Ujgs, and as well uiKhvsscd :is spars for ma>ls aiwl yards, lor whieli |)urpos('s il is in L'jcid retiiu'st ; soiik' d<3als arc also manufactniod Irom this wood. From its sujx'iior strength, it is used lor ral'tcrs in England, and is well adapted for supporting the stale :ind tile roofs of Britain ; and owing to the great distance luml)erers hrivc to go in search of it, it brings the highesi price in the niarket. liy lar die largest ♦{nanlity of red pine is derived from the Ottawa; and on ihc banks of some of our tributaries, large iracts of sandy land are entirely covered with il it constitutes the only open wooded tree in Canada. WJHTE PINK. Pinus Slrolms, Pin Blanc This is the commonest and most majestic of all our pines, — towers over all the other trees of our forest, and tittains a very great size. When growing in open situations, it is often feathered down to the ground, and when loaded with its large pendulous cones, assumes a very beautiful and picturescjue appearance. White pine is easily wrought, comparatively fre(^ from knots, and very durable. Its timber is most in demand for ordinary domestic j)urposcs, a fact fully demonstrated by the ten.^ of thousands of logs we see every- where about our sawmills. From its superior .size and lightness, the lower masts of ships arc generally made? of it : and its possessing the property of not splitting by the sun, fits it for their decks. This wood is our most extensive article of comnuu-ce, and is shipped in the shape of masts, planks, boards, shingles, lath.s, and squared logs. This is one of the trees which furnish the gum with which the Indians pay over the seams of their canoes. 10 PITCH PINE. Pimcs liigiiht. Is ilio most symmetrical and hcaiilitVil of all the family of pines, allliou^li It seldom attains a great size, and never thrives except on the most arid and sandy soils. As its name indicates, it is eiiieliy employed for making pitch. It is an extremely rapid growing tree, and exists in large quan- tities at Sandy Point, Torbolton; and allhongh every tree on this locality was destroyed by (ire about ten years since, they have been reproduced in numbers, and of sizes already, which, but for the indisj)utabl(^ (n'idencc of the neighboring farmers, could scarcely Ix* believed. Tar and laiupblack are largely maimfactured from this tree, in Vermont, by a very simple process. The knots being incorruptible, are found abundantly in groves of this pine, which are collected and piled upon a stone hearth, covered with sods and earth, and set on tire; the heat soon exptsls the tar, which runs down a groove cut in the stone for that purpose. The lamp- black is only the condensed smoke of the same fire collected in la>-ge wooden troughs. The only pur|)ose this wood is converted to when worked, is pump-making. SPRUCES. Hemlock Sfruce, Abies Canadensis^ Pruche. This tree is exceedingly abundant throughout Canada. It is a uoble species, rising io 80 or 100 feet, and measuring often from two to three feet in diameter. It is of slow growth, and is supjiosed to require 200 years to attain its full size. When from 25 to 30 years old, its appearance is exceedingly elegant, but when older, its large broken limbs detract from its symmetry and beauty, and the naked stumps of the old limbs give the tree an appearance of decrepitude and decay. The wood is not of great value, and is chiefly employed for lathes and coarse in-door work. The bark i.s very valuable as a substitute for oak bark in tanning, and is that almost exclusively employed in our tanneries. A de- coction of its bark is used as a sudorfic, whilst a fomenta- tion made by boiling its branches, is considered by Shanty- men to be a panacea for rheumatism and all sorts of swellings. le family of and never ils. As its ig pitch. It large qiian- very tree on years since, zes already, iieigliboring lampblack rmont, by a uptible, are ire collected s and earth, which runs The lainp- ire collected his wood is itche. ■>ul Canada. } measuring is of slow o attain its learauce is okcn limbs ked slumps ]eerei)iliide id is chie/ly The bark is iiing, and is IPS. A de- a fomenta- by Shanty- all sorts of 11 BLACK SPRUCK. .l/>/e.s' Nigra, Epincttr Noir. Is a native of tli(^ most inelemenl jjortions of ouv conti- nent, growing most densely, and presenting a very sombre appearance; and as Inrge tracts of country arc fr('(|uenl- ly covered exclusively with this tree, it li;is gained for them the appellation of Black Wt)od Lands. It is rcmarkabie for the regularity nnd symmetry of its brandies, wliici) taper in the most beautiful pyrami(hil maiuier from tii" base to the smnmil. The timber is of great value, ruid Is used from its straighlness, lightness, and {>lastlcity, ior the yards of ships ; and to " bend like ;i. black spruct.' topmast" is a common say- ing amongst sailors. It is also used for the knees of ships and otiier craft. From it is extract(;d the Essence of Spruce so well known for its nntiscorbulic^ properties, and so lar'^ely employed in the luanufacture of Spruce Beer. Large (luan- lities of this timber are annually slii|)ped oil" lrom1:^uebcc chiefly for the Irish market. BALSAM SPRUCK. Silver Fir, Abies Balsirnca, Sopin. This is a beautiful evergreen tree, rising in a pyramidal shape from thirty to forty feet. In cpen and cultivated grounds it becomes leathered down to the bottom ; it is consequently, luucli in d(>niand as an ornamental tree.' It is this tree which furnishes the Gum de Sapin, or Canadian Balsam, sold hirgely as a substitute for, and under the name of, Balm of (iilead, an article of Eastern production and which brings a high price in the market, it is also the chief ingn^dient in several descriptions of vanii>li, and par- ticularly valuable for prejiaring a transparent limpid var- nish for water color paintings. It is the branches and leaves of this tree which furnish the lumberer with a rude {md primitive bed, when far re- moved from the abodes of mail, hunting up timber-proves in the forest. RED CEDAR. Jumper Virginianns, Cedar f^onge. The C'anadian red cedar is identical with the Bernuida cedar, which is so largely employed by the pencil-makers It grows from Cedar Island, Lake Champlain, to as far south as the Gulf of Mexico. It attains a height of about ] i I i [ 12 sixty feet, grows on llic most slorilc iea[ioiis, aiul iiiay fro- ciuently be seen spriiiufiug out of Ihc crevices of rocks, grow- ing most luxuriantly witlioiil any apparent nourishment. fn this section of the country i! is not applied to any par- ticular use ; but in the western district is largely used lor fence rails. There is a peculiarity connected with tiiis tree, which,. although very orjiamental, never produces two speci- mens alike, — that is, two trees of the same shape. A resin- ous gum, called Gum Sandarach, is obtained from the red cedar, which, when pulverized, is known under the name of Pounce, and is used as an absorbent of ink, and to prevent its spreading over the newly erased surface of paper; it is also largely employed by cabinet-makers for making a supe- rior transparent varnish. Tiie essential oil is very fragrant, and imi)arts a most agreeable odor to leather, and to it, books bound in Russia owe their inviting smell. WHITE CEDAR. Thuya Occidentalism CeiJre Btanc^ Arbor Vita. The while cedar never attains any great height, and is so universally known as the occupant of cedar swamps, that any lengthened description is uncalled for. The wood is soft, smooth, extremely light, and possesses an aromatic smell. It retains a permanent shape, and is so (extremely durable as to have led to the saying, " As sound as a cedar-post." It is chiefly used for fences and the sleepers of cellars, and from it the Indian shapes the ribs of his frail bark. EXTRACTS FROM THE A.\II:RICA\ MIMNfi MAGAZINE, R£(;akd[N(; THE MANUFAGTURE OF BAR IRON. The application of what is called Hilton's patent process for the manufacture of wrought-iron directly from ihe ore, with wood or mineral coal, at a single heat, has been under- taken in earnest by Messrs. Davis & Co., of Cincinnati. They have put up a furnace, forge, and rolling mill in one building. The furnace and puddling oven are con- nected, when the ore is melted it flows into the oven, and by tapping a few inches above the oven hearth, the slag or drop flows out. The iron is balled and put under the trip hammer, made into blooms and prepared for the rollers : all done but with a small quantity of fuel. Owing to low water in the Ohio, Messrs. Davis & Co. have so far used a very in- ferior quality of black sandstone ore, yielding only about 15 per cent, of iron, and usually refused by foundry men as unprofitable. The ore is pulverized and mixed with 20 per cent, of car- bon — common bituminous coal — and then put into air cham- bers prepared for it, whicii arc also heated by stone coal. In the puddling oven it is also heated by stone coal to a white or welding heat, and made ready for bailing. No charcoal or anthracite, heretofore considered as essential, is used. Nine blooms, of 70 lbs. each, averaging one in 15 minutes, re- quired but three bushels of stone coal to the bloom. They are now turning out about 2.^ tons of the best quality of blooms every 24 liours, at a cost of ^12.50 per ton in Cin- cinnati. 14 r The iron inaiiuracliircd l)y llic new i)roeess lias boon sub- jected to the severest test, sneli as making into horse-shoe nails, nuts, &ic., and proves lo he of as good tiuality as the best of blooms brougiil lo the Cineinnati market. The greatest advantages claimed in this process are tlio cheapness with which tin; iron is made, the cost estimated is ])ut ^22 to "^23, where the ore and coal is near at hand — the use exclnsivtdy of the coumion bituminous coal — and the uniform good (luality of the iron. MANUFACTURE OF WIIOUGHT-IRON DIRECT FROM THE ORE. A brief report was made in the last number of the Mining- Magazine respecting the (sstnblishment of Messrs. Davis of Cineinnati, for the manufacture of Avrought iron direct from the ore. The process adopted is that of Jarnes Reiilon, of Newark, New Jersey. Tin; ore is taken in its raw state, and after being stamped, and prepared by an admixture of carbon, it is put in a series of close tubes, placetl in a chamber, the outer surface of the tubes being exposed to the waste heat of the furnace for several hours, when it is suilicicmtly deoxydizod. It is then discharged, as re(iuired, into the furnace, where it is readily worked up into balls weighing about one hundred pounds, and taken lo the hammer, averaging two balhj; livery hour. The pro- cess is continuous and uniform. A company with a large capital has been successfully carrying oii this process at Newark for a considerable time. Their iron has been inlioduced for maiuifaetures, and with high commendation. We liave seen their works in opera- tion. The cheapness of the process is worthy of attention. The following is a statement of the (U)st of a ton of blooms at New^ark, w^ith one furnace : — From two to two ami a half tons of oio, at $4, One and a half Ions of coal, al $1 "25, ruddlinsj and weldiu.rr, pei- Ion, Hammering, lidbor, Coal for carbon, Hall ton of coal tor ' uginc, at $1, Makinir the cost of a ion of iilnoms al)Out 510 00 «38 5 00 150 :i 00 1 25 2 00 $29 63 Any description of fuel — wood or coal, both anthracite and bituminous, can be employed for hc^aling the furnace, and with nearly eijual advantage. 15 MANUFAC'JIKK OF IKON KKO.M LAKK SI I'KliKHi OUKS. T*/*r />r/A(' Sujurior Iron Ores crv the same known as si)ccul(tr iron- -a coiiibiiiaiidii ol iron and o^vVgcii, of wliicli llic !iM'l;illic pioporlion Cdtinol cxiM'cd hy weiglil scvenly-iwo aiul a .small IVaclioii |)i'r (•ciitiiiii. Mngnedt iron ore ■iU'co\i\\)An\r.- llit; .sjjcciilar, and di(;1\vo arc IrtMjm'iniy mixed. Tlir LMvatt >l proporlioii olirDii rvcr obtaineii from this mixtinv (.aiiiioi cxrccd scvoily-livc; per ceiiUiin. No r(diablo analysis ol' tlu' [^aUe Superior ore lias ever i^iveii so high a yi«dd as this. Slatemeiits ol a greater yield prove their own falsity, and the ignorance of llie operator. Such ores arc not peculiar to the Lake Superior region. They ;ire ahnost or (ptile as abundant in Missouri ; and similar ores are extensively worked on the shore> of Lake ("ham- plain, in Orange eo,, New-York, ;iiid in New Jersey, New- Hampshire and Cieorgia, eontain in mountain masses varieties little diflering from them. Some of the Andover ore of New Jersey eannot be distinguished i'romthe choicest of the Lake Superior ores ; and if made into bar iron direct, with the same care as were the samples for trial prepared from this ore, there is no t|neslion but il would exhibit the same remarkable strength ; the pig-iron mamifaeUired from it, though made with anthracite, possesses the strength of the best charcoal iron. Being very free from earthy matters, these ores nfc well adapted for working in blooniery lires. They re(|uire a preparatory roasting, stamping and screening, by which they are subjected to some loss, and linally yield about a ton of metallic iron to two of ore as taken from the mint.'. More or less is lost in the cinder, according to the skill of the workmen, the purity of the ores and ihe adaptedness of the apparatus. The bloomery process is a convenient one, wdiere the ores are of this rich character, and charcoal is abundant. The charcoal made from the hard rnaple and birch of this region, is especially well adapted for this process. It is of remark- able soundness and density, owing to the great hardness of the wood. The same cause adds materially, however, to its cost. Each bloomery tire, worked by two bloomers and 10 two ordiiiurs workiiuMi, imiis mil iibuiit :i ion of hloouin in iwenty-lour liours. Tlic wm-^cs jnnotuit lo oiglii dollar:-, and the consumj)li()ii ui' coal, iiujludini,' waslf, and all really paid /oi\ (;an seldom be fstiniatod at much less llian 300 bus»lu'ls. or iIk' i;liai'coal, such as I saw at the works, 250 bushels ouL^ht to be enough. The expenses ol" nianui"aetur«* may then be estimated as I'ollows : — Lsliiiiritcil fo-it ot a ton of blooms iiiiuli'.oii the Lake Shore. 2 tons oidi.', eiit w(M'k. a large smelting and refining works and roHinir mill, the former to employ twelve of .lames Rciitt)n"'s improved ore-welding furnaces, capable of jTfi 17 turning out upwards (»r500t()ii> ol bloom.- \)cy inontli. Tin- furnaces and ollu'v improvomenl^ cmployt'd, will, it is an- ticipated, ertect !i iuri^c :-i;iving in tlir t'(»l o! niainilaclurc over that by liic ordiiiiiry |)ro»'css. Ii is belicNcd ihal bar iron can be produced at a cost oj' S-8 pj.'r ton, allowing ^8 lor mining and shipping ore to Cleveland, ^H^ •t)r working into blooms, and ^10 (or conv'-rsion into ihe mark«'1able article. This co>t has been »'sliiiial»'d, v. ith the use ol tlu; improved furnaces, as low as '2,ii a fon, but S-'*^ is believed to be a liberal alhtwance, c!apal)le ol Covi'iing all contingeu- cies. The raw ores will be iuriiislu'd under a coiilvaet with parties owning orr. lauds in tin* Lake region. 'IIm- ores se- cured by this contract are e.\pected to yield "lO jk r eeiU. of iron, and it is this s than s.iO per ton, would be superior for engines, lioilers, rails, job work, aiivl other purposes, to the iron for wliioh .').i ceniv, pei pound is now paid. 'I'he hloinns made from Laki- Sui)erior ore, which Mr. Hayes of Clevelanrj ( s1i?nates enu be made for *,28 a ton, have been sold abfady in Cle\ eland for ^^0.5 a ton, in lots of 100 tons, and have r(^(Mved oilers iu Pitts- burgh of vi,7o a ton. These were just as flu y were delivered from the Lake, where, from the iuiperfet I eharaeler of the works, the ore was not ihoronglily worked, and was not as valuable as it will be made wlien tlie conteniplaled im- provotnents arc; eomph'ted. Already hris Kaslern capital been attracted here ; but in view of the immense! advan- tages likely to result from its investment, we jnay say thai, not the one hundredth pari \\ liicli should In- >ent here has been yet subscribed or expended for work - ol this character. mmm in England and the united states. Fneman Hunt, Edrtor r,f the. Merckunts'' .Mmrnzim^ «.Vc. Sir, — The magnitude oi the uuniuff mterest of England is but littl(! understood in this connirv; bn! lew u[ our com- }: 18 riicrriitl ;iihI inoiic'votl iiioii arc iiware ol llin vosl aggrt'^ate of caj)i!al invoslrd in the llli^e^^ of Great liiilain, the liigli n'<|H'ctabilitv of llic parti<'s coiinoclcHl witli the eiitorprise.s, llio liiLfli position whicli ;i uuijorily of the (;oni))anit's occu- py ill Jill' opinion of moneyed men, <>r ils tji»'at inlliienco upon flic comineive of llial eoiinlry. 'I'll le mmds ami piirses ol our enleiprismr kind of business. The aggregate of profit annually paid lo the stockholders is so large as to strike the reader of their re()orls with surprise ; and perhaps the reader of thi.N will be a little doubtful when I inform hirn thai many of tlu; Knglish mines divide from 100 to 300 per cent, profits annually, and yet the atttual facts, as ptesented in the London Mining- Journal^ will fully corroborate this assj'rtion. When we lake inlo consideration the small per cenlage of their ores as compared with the great richness of a majority of our own mines, the rich rt\sult of iheir opera- tioi:s seems the more surprising. The average per ceutage of uietal to the copper ore oi Great Britain, as jiroved by their monthly tickctings or sales, is from G;] to 7A, while in diis country the average, as far as can be ascertained, is more than double that amount. The samt^ faf;t holds good with regard to our lead and zinc mines, and while the ores of our own mines are generally richer, they are at the same time obtained much nearer the surface than theirs, and con- sequently at less cost. With all these things in our favor, it seems remarkable that so little :ittention is paid to this aiic' 19 highly impoTlanl intevost by our capitalists and men of nv- icrpriaio. Milling in the United Stales has but just commenced, and yet it lja:< made rapid strides toward development ; and the lew mines in vvliich capital has been judiciouj-ly employed lo any extent, and the veins properly and scientifically worked, show a result wliieh the enle^pri^aged in them may well be proud of. The mines of I^ake Superior are now the most successful we have in the coun- try, and mining in that region has been carried on under inunerous obstacles of quite a serious nature, and for a long lime it was doubtful and discouraging, but by perse- verance, energy, and well-expended capital, ihey are now on the highway to -.uccess, and have already begun to reap a rich harvest of dividends. The. Boston and Pittsburgh Com- pany, ^Clirt' Mine), is thus I'ar the most successful, and willi an outlay of $\^ per share, has, in a little more than four years, paid back tin; shareholders. The Lak(! Superior Mine;> are mostly owned by the Bos- lonians. The high estimate in which that interest is held, may be infern^d from the prices jjaid for shares in some of the leading mines. The C'lili', with a par value of '^18, is now in demand at -fjilSO per share ; the Minnesota, with a par value of ^1)22, is in demand al $170 per share ; and the Copper Falls, with a par value; «rrity, or taintinu: tlieir stan(lin^. In England, mining has hcconif one of the irio-^l popnhir modes of invcstnu'nl, and «'v»'rv n«'\v sclicrnc linds abundant means and tiu' best class »)f men for its manageim-nt. Our country is one va*»t bed of mineral wealth, yet in its whole extent tliere arc but few payintj mines, and those few are the only in«»l.tnces where eapilal has been judicious- ly expended, and skill properly iipplied, in developing the veins of ore. We do not know ol a .sini,de instance in this country where a ^ood mine, with a sijllicicne\ of capital and properly-applied enertjy, has failed to be productive ; and wherever gooil mines have failed and been abandoned it will be found that ii^Mioranee and want of energy were the causes of such result. It is a notable fact in England that some of their richest mines liavc been those which have been abandoncid as; un\\»)rkable by sorm." previous com- pany. Metals are now lii^lier in price than ever before known (luring this cenlury, and inininLr tiever so remunerative as now. The great increase in consumption of copper, lead, silver, zinc, and tin, has already called forth comment in the Lon- don Tiniesy for it is feared the home supply will soon be inadequate lo their own wants, and they are now casting their eyes towards the lJnit««d States as the only country that can be counted on for an in(;rease of the supply, even in sulHcient quantities for the actual wants of the two coun- tries. With this state of things to encourage us, it seems quite time to be*tir ourselves ;ind devote a part of our ener- gies to internal development. There is not a State in the Union but might add a large ainmal increase lo its wealth by properly applying a portion of their energies to the work- ing of their mines, and I believe we all feel that we ought to supply our own wants from t»ur own resources, without paying annually so many tnillions to foreign countries for that which is so abundant at home. The English mines are worked at great depths, and in no other country in the world is mining carried to such a de- gree of skill and perfection ; and small as their territory is, they have more active mines than the rest of the civilized » vious com- 21 world, ilien* Ix-iiii^ niorc llciii tivc limulird ( oiup.iijie.s in full o|M'rati(»ii, Ix'sidf tin- iniii and (.'oal comiKiiiics. One would ihiiik that at llii> la)** tin' wlioU.' tnuutry would soon bt; un- drrniinciL and Icavr no •^pot iin*\plor(>d ; yv\ overy Vi'ar they 0|u n new inino5. Tho lollowin:,' liiMiK - will illiistraU', in a condrnst-d t'orin, lilt' vuliii' t)f a l«'W oj'ilir l'!nijlisli nnn«'s: — 'riicrc an- ri«5hty-"^»'von companirs clijclly located in ('orn- wall, with an .iL,'ij[r('i,Mlo capital ol' only ^6,0(il ,1)GU, or an average ol only S'^'N'^OO i acji, the ■iliari's ot which are now Mellin^' for «,19,89(),0j.'), or at a preiuinni ol 'IHb 70 per cent. Sixly-? ill divid.Mulv. liKrAIMTM,* riON. Kighty-M.'ven companies . SG,!)Ul,t)(l() Present valne I!),H90,05:j, or ,!H5.70 preni. Dividends by fitJ companies 19,l;jU,ir)0 What has" been done in Kngland van be done in this country. Willi these few laet< and IJij;iir<'s, I will leave the subject tor the present, tnistini; tin- matter discussed will j)rove attractive to some who have not before fastened their thoughts upon if. J. H. S. INVKSTMENTS IN MINES. (Frovi t/ir ^Imcrintn Mini nit ,Muijazinc.) I am told it is usual to make estimates of the returns that mines will yield, and especially that these are neces- sary as inducements for the investment of capital. I am also told that disappoinlmeni frequently treads very closely on the heels of promise in many of these enter- prises. Is it strange thai it should b(> so? Have men any more right to expect success in mining, than they have in any other important business, without employing the proper means, guided by ilu- requisite knowledge and experience ? Is this the fault of the rich mineral deposits in which our country is known to abound ? Or can any deny, that in every country where mining is legitimately followed, it is of more ("uduring |)rofit than any other pursuit? If a merchant were to till his store with worthless and unsaleable articles, bought without knowledge and without reference to value, would it be straiiijc that he should do a losing busi- ness ? — and would his failure be any reason why a prudent .^■: \ 22 niaii should iiul buy and scli nieicli;i»idisie r in a mining country, like Mexico for instance, where the little know- ledge I have on this subject has bt-en acquired during the past three years, and where lh(^ lirst feverish excitement always attending any new leading pursuit has long since subsided and passed away, the first expenditure in proving the character of a vein is always deemed a lottery, with more or less chances of succe.>s, — and with tliem it is the only lollery ! Nor do ihey hesitate, when the character of the vein is known, to expend any required nmount, however large, to put it in .successful operation, and deem the time short if accomplished in three years! They are then paid for waiting, and have a property that may be transmitted from generation to generation. Nearly all the brilliant fortunes and great landed estates of the Republic are in the hands (jf descendants of ruining fauiilies. The English, who are BiiUij Miners^ expended two millions ol dollars in restoring and putting in order the Bolono Min(^, before they got any returns. There have been single years since that time, in which the bullion produced was equal to the money first expended. In restoring, clearing out, and repairing the outworks of the great La Luz Mine, after the revolution, !|p800,000 were expended before any returns. This mine, during the last six years, has produix'd many millions net profits. The Real Del Monte Mine gives to its proprietors at present nearly two hundred thousand dollars per month. It is indeed a sorry mine hrre or elsewhere, properly opened and worked, if it do not ])fiy a good dividejid on a capital of a million. Why, then, is it that there aw so many disappointments in the United States ? The answer, unfortunately, is to be found in the undeniable fact that, in too many instances, the proper means have not been employed. A location is made, or a tract is purchased, having an out-cropping vein upon it ; an excavation is made on the vein, for any thing under a hundred feet is, after all, but an excavation ; a few fine specimens of ore are procured, and forthwith a company is formed. A ton or two of ore is hurried to the market and sold at auction, as mere sam))les of what is coming ; the stock is thrown on the market, with an abundant supply of "fine prospects, promising lode, beautiful gossan;" all impatience, all hurry ; new, ill-adapted, and untried machi- nery sent out ; the stock rises in the market, it is quoted every day at the Board, and men, without much inquiry, 23 knowledge, or experience, buy — because it is so cheap ; and the result is, that time passes along, and, as a matter of course, disappointment follows, and somebody finds a worthless piece of scrip in his portfolio, representing an interest in a mine, which, after all, had it been really properly opened, and properly worked, might have yielded very fair returns, if not a brilliant fortune for all concerned. But all these, and even more, will not suppress, though it may for a time retard, the mining interests of the country. Experience will soon, if it has not already, set these matters right. There are good mines enough in the hands of good men, who have the means and the courage and the patience to work deep and strong. These have met, are meeting, and will meet with their reward. Others, that have started wrong, will have to stop, remodel, or give place to new parties, i. c, where their veins are worth pursuing. Capital must have a better share. Originators must be content with less reserved interest or shares, and they will find it more satisfactory and profitable in the end. It does not take a large interest in a good mine to support a family. And capitalists, who are not without fault, must have more patience. A company of businessmen unite for manu- facturing purposes, — two, three, or five hundred thousand dollars are invested in steam or watei-power buildings and in the erection of machinery, and then fifty or sixty thousand dollars are added for working capital, and after two or three years they are quite content to be in the receipt of ten or twelve per cent, per annum. So in the construction of a railroad, mountains must be levelled and valleys filled up — or a coal mine is opened, and millions spent on roads to get it to market, before the ten or fifteen per cent, can be expect- ed. And so with every other common sense pursuit of life. When capitalist^ have learned to apply this principle, even on a small scale, to mining matters, they will find which pays best. The experiment has been made elsewhere, and it is in process of being made here. PRINTED AT THE STEAM-PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT OF J. C. BCCKET; 22 GREAT ST. JAMES STREET, MONTREAL.