Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-10-02 00:00:00

THE IRON TRADE OF AMERICA.

IMPORTANT ENQUIRIES.

The government of the United States have issaed a
circular which is likely to bring forward an immense
amount of information which muse be of utility to the
iron trade generally. Mr. Unwell Cobb, the secretary of
the treasury, has addressed the letter to the ironmasters
of the country, and states therein that the department
has been furnished with undoubted evidence that there is
a great difference bet weon the iron from different mines
in the United States in the degree and rapidity with
which they become oxidised. Congress, during the last
session, appropriated the sum of 2,500 dole. to test the
different irons in that particuiar, and if these experiments
establish the fact that they have iron entirely or nearly
proof against the corrosion of oxygen, it will multiply the
uses of such iron. to a very considerable extent for pur-
poses to which it is now applied, and give it the preference
over other irons- for many purposes to which it is now
used.
In order that accurate experiments might be made, he
requests the ironmasters to forward to, the treasury
department two or three samples of iron,and samples of
ore from each. of the mines worked by them—the samples
of iron not to. exceed 1 lb each, and the ere not to exceed
4lb in weight. He also rr quests information as to the
extent of the ore deposit; facilities of mining ore; its
distance from furnace ; distance of furnace from market,
and mode of transportationthence; the fuel used; relative
cost of chore ,al, coke, crude, bituminous, and anthracite
iron, kindF of flux and its cost, &c. r the capacity of the
establishment, and the amount of iron produced during
the past year, and what it would be capable of producing
under a ready sale at remunerating prices ; any pecu-
liarity in the iron produced ; whether there are any
rolling mills in the vicinity, and what description of iron
they roll ; to what purpose most of their products are
applied, and what description of iron the establishment
mostly produces ; when their works were first brought
into operation ; what has been the annual production,
and the ruling prices, each year since the works were
started. They are further to state where the mine is
situate, and the distance the fuel is trausp ted.
The value which will naturally attach to such records
as may be prepared from the information given in reply
to this circular cannot be overrated, and it would be of
great service to the iron interests of this country were a
similar course adopted in Eng'and. The school of mines
in Jermyn-street has all the appliances at hand for
collecting and recording the particulars obtained in the
most business-like manner, and there can be no doubt that
a small outlay on the part of the British Government, so
as to enable the officials of the school to accomplish the
task without delsy, would be productive of the greatest
benefit. When our ironmasters consider. the exertions
which are being made on the other si2m of the Atlantic to
improve the manufacture of iron, we are convinced that
they will see the necessity of rendering every ass'stance
should similar steps be taken here ; and few will deny
that, if we are to maintain oar position as the suppliers of
he American market, both speedy and effective measures
must be taken —Mining Journal.

Noncla.
Et.EcTao.n.LTE Goon.—There are few branches of art that more
Lure,and
nnd the mos t has bee
beautiful specimens ofn attained in than in thispoons, forks, goblets,s portion of our manuand
other table table articles of the sort,
ure
may be seen at lair. E. T. Hall's, of 23.
Smth John-street, who, to his other 'trenches of business, has added
a department for the sale of these articles, having been appointed
ag"nt to one of the first manufacturers in Birmingham. The designs
in these articles are beautiful, the quality very superior (neas good
as silver), and the price, considering all these, moderate to a degree.
An inspection of the goods will prove the absave facts.—Northern

Times:
Tea 5p00n5........ .. ..... 10s. per Dozen.
Dessert Do. ... .• . 1
' Bs. „
Table Do .... ......... ....... ••• • • • 243'
Dessert Forks
Tab1eD0....................... •• • • 243' 90
Sent carriagef ree IQ sY4T PaZt Of the country.