The native American., 1839-01-26
From the Tnsfsd SAFES Gazette. 7
MISSOURI IRON MOUNTAIN

| MlSSOU HI lNON MUM lain.
We have been much interested by an inspec-
tlon of specimens OF ore from the renowned Iron
Mountain and Pilot Knob of Missouri, and of
samples of cutlery manufactured from the steel
derived from those ores.
About two years ago a company was formed,
who obtained from the Legislature of Missouri
,charter OF most liberal character, and with ample
Ipowers for prosecuting the mining and manufacture
ing of iron, or any ''other materials whereby the
interest of the company may be promoted"
! The crisis of monetary affairs through which
the country has since passed came at unpropitious
moment for the immediate commencement of the
operations. But we are glad to learn that in tho
mean time the company has not been unmindful
Of thoTich resources within its control, or of the
means of rendering them useful to the Public
Instead of 5000 Of land, originally design
ed to form the domain of the company, It has been
increasedro $4,000 acres, of which $500 are
lsituated on the west bank Of the Mississippi river,
and the remainder, embracing the Iron Mountain
and Pilot Knob, about forty miles to the west
ward.
On the river tract, a site has been selected for
the establishment OF manufacturing town
large scale, upon high and commodious portion
OF the bank, not subject to inundation or under
mining, and consequently requiring no costly en-
bankments, levees, or other defences. This site
|sippi, above the Ohio rver ten miles below st.
Genevieve, eighty miles below ST. Louis, and be-
low the most difficult and dangerous part of thena-
vigaion between the latter city and New Orleans.
The company owning the Iron Mountains have
procured charter for railroad from the above
site to the great mineral depostes, which is repre-
sented to be of easy construction. They have
commenced the formation of settlement at the
latter point, having marked out the sight of "Mis-
souri, city," on scale commensurate with the
high Importance of the object with which it is as
socated.
| We have been struck in looking over the plan
of this city, with the judicious arrangements made
for promoting health and enjoyment, by liberal
allowance Of space for public squares, some of
which are expressly devoted to the purposes of
literary, scientific, and benevolent institutions,
and others purely for ornamental promenades.
We have seen letters from gentlemen in Eng
land, fully conversant with The iron business,
making particular inquiries as to the terms on
which the ore of the Iron Mountain be OBJ
tanned for shipment to that market. On the Con-
created on the subjects but we hope soon to hear
that the works are in operation on .1nsericGn ac-
count.
| The articles of cutlery above referred to, were
a common table knife and hunters knife, both
of cast steel, finely polished, and apparently of
! good temper.
The absence Of foreign ingredients from the
ore appears to favor the preservation Of the metal,
whether in the form of pig or bar iron, or of cast
steel, from any considerable influence by the at
mosphere. The same cause has probably main
tained the fine steel-gray color Of the ore itself
from furnishing by all the exposure of centuries.
The Mississippi Valley is one of the best iron
markets Of the world, and Nature, has, il appears
placed in it homogeneous mineral mass Of the
best character, unsurpassed in magnitude by all
the formations of the globe. Wood is in abun
dance directly contiguous, and btuminous Goa
in Illinois, just opposite to the town site of the
company.