The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1840-08-22
From the Perry Freemen.
ANTHRACITE IRON.

A contention is going on respecting the
relative advantages Of Bloomsburg, Dan
vile, and Potisville, for the manufacture OF
Iron, with anthracite coal; and also, as to
whom rghtfully belongs the honor of first
applying it TO that purpose. The last meu-
toned part of the dispute we shall not
touch. We merely purpose to give our
views Of the respective advantages CT the
several situations, each claiming for itself
superiority.
Poltsville urges the eheapness of her coal,
Bloomsbury The superiority of her Ore, and
the proximity Of the water power of Fishing
Creek; Danville says she has the iron ore
nearer the canal, than either of the other
situations, and that her more favorable posi-
ton is established, by her having taken the
lead ln the erection Of furnaces; and the
Shamokin Coal company assert the superb
ority OF that location to all the others
Wherever the aggregate cost of Ore, and
Coal, and Power, and Transportation, are
the cheapest and best, there is The superior
situation. tits an affair Of demonstration,
! not Of assertion.
We have paid some attention TO this sub
ject. PotIsville has its very cheap coal but
being destitute of the fine fossiiferous Ore
Of the Susquehauna, we have supposed it
cannot stand the competition. The water
power Of Fishing creek, and its excellent
ore, give Bloomsbnrg decided advantage.
At Danyille they must work entirely by
steam; this viii add twenty FIVE per cent to
the cost of manufacturing a ton of Iron, and
this is disadvantage for which the COM
pensation is TO be found, if found at all, in
the ore being close to the canal. The stu
alton of Shamokin resembles that of Potts
vile; it is deficient in Ore. The conclu-
sion we have arrived at is, that there may
be many situations on the Susquehanna,
where Iron can be manufactured cheaper
than at Danville. If the united expense of
Ore, fuel, power and transportation, is less
at Harrisburg, than Danyille. it is then the
superior situation, SO Of every other
place.
We are somewhat familiar with Iron
works in Perry County, ,and we believe that
il presents locations for the manufacture OF
Iron, cheaper and better than can be found
in the United States, east Of the Allegheny
We have up the Juniata and in the county,
fossililer0us ore, much Of it of the finest
quality, which can be mined at less expense
than that at Boomsburg, or Danyille. We
have the Anthracite coal as near as either
Of those places. The expense OF transport
TO Tide water is from one TO two dollars
less, and we have abundance Of fine water
power.
We have been quiet observers of the
pretensions of other places, 10 superior
locations, and our conclusion IS that II
some cases, it would be to the interest o
those concerned, 10 abandon their improve
ments, and seek location in Perry Coun
ty.
Those who work by steam, would save
sbout So in making ton of bar Iron from
the Ore, by water, instead of steam; thel
would save near two dollars per ton in sen
ding their Iron to Philadelphia: the aggre
gaze of which would u0rs than counterbal
ance any Disadvantages belonging to a loca
ton in this county.
Let them obtain grant from The LegIsla
ture, to dam tie Juniata near its mouth, +
which we suppose there would be no oblee
zion; LEI the water be conveyed back of II
town Of Petersburg, mic the valley OF IN
little Juniata, and a Power is at once oil
tanned, at a very cheap rate, and almost il
exhauslible. We think the principle sur
of half the amount yearly expended, fc
Steam at Danyille, would eGectually a,
somplish this work, and the canal or race