The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-09-23

~ travelling correspondent OF the Opfln9
field Republican gives the following account o
the Katahdin Iron Works in Maine -
June &c, 1847.
Immediately on my arrival here last eve
ming about Z o'clock, Ipresented my letter OF
introduction to j. L. Hayes, Esq, the gentle.
manly agent, who on learning that must
necessarily leave in the mornings stage, con
Quoted me directly to the ore bed on the side
of the hill, half a mile distant from the IIo-
tel.
These works arc situated in Township No.
G, 9th range, and are owned by a corporation
consisting principally of David Pingree, Esq.
Of Salem, Mass, and Messrs. Alexander and
Charles Ladd and John L.. Hayes, of Ports
mouth, N. II. The present Company sue
ceeded, about two years since, Edward Smith
Of Bangor, who first broke into the forest at
this place and commenced operations on a
small scale.
The ore is of the kind called vegetable
or bog ore and is formed by deposits which
are left on the sides Of the Hill by the water
flowing from the c~revices of the slate rock,
of which it is composed, intermiXed with iron
pyrites. The extent of surface is known to
be great, and the thickness from G inches to
" ICCJ5 III u u uNJ ONCI liz OIJ1IIldl SUI.
This is easily removed by the pick-aXe and
mixed with charcoal and wood, which, when
ignited, gives it a thorough 'roasting,' the
process occupying about three days it sthen
fit for the furnace, by which it is converted
into pigs for the market.
The iron orc, as it is dug from the surface
of the ground on the side Of the hill, is made
up, to a considerable extent, ofroots, leaves,
branche of trees & such substances as might
be expected to be found on the surface of the
ground in a forest: the iron which flows a.
mong these, displaces the wood itself, but
leaves the form precisely as it was in the orig
inal state. For example, l brought with me
branches ofbirch, and the thick bark of the
white pine, exhibiting the same appearance
that they were originally in, yet the material
was iron, alfording so per cent of pure met
al, and no wood about it.
The soil and the face of the country in this
section appear favorable for agriculture, and
| doubt not the time is rot remote when well
cultivated farms will be seen here. At pres
cnt it is the policy Of the proprietors of these
works, to exclude settlers, with the view Of
keeping the land to reproduce fuel as fast as
it is exhausted for the supply ofthe establish
ment. The manufacture of bar iron will be
commenced soon.
The furnace is on q branch of Pleasant riv-
or, about half a mile from the deposit Of ore,
and aifording a good water power for the va
rious purposes required by such au establish
mcnt. About 6 tons of pigs are turned out
daily, and the amount may be increased to
an indefinite extent. The Corporation being
in possession of a whole Township OF forest,
charcoal is furnished in desirable quantities at
81 per hundred bushels, which is now per-
formed on contract by Mr.. Moses G~raenloaf,
the son Of the map maker Of the State, TO
whom | have alluded before. About 1900
bushels Of coal are used daily, which are burnt
in kilns Of bricks made in a half ~globular
form, in which about $50 bushels are made at
a time, occupying from 3 12 to 4 days.
The furnace itself is on an extensive scale,
and with all the out buildings and fixtures IL
bout the establishment is constructed in the
most thorough and durable manner.
Alarge Hotel has been provided by the
proprietors, capable of lodging 60 to 50 per-
sons besides teams frequently stop here over
night, it being on one Of the grand routes
from Bangor to the timber region. This no.
tel is very we'll kept by McssrS. Perry & Nor
rel, formerly of Bangor.
This is the first attempt that | am aware of
for making iron from the ore in Maine, but /
understand that there are other and greater
deposits of iron in several sections of the
State, and the time is not distant when Maine
will not only make her own iron, but will be
able to export large qantities.
1t is confidently expected that navigation
for boats by way of the Penobscot and the
Piscataqui8 will be brought here within a
brief period, which will enable the proprie-
tors Of this establishment to get their iron to
tide water at a much reduced rate-the mode
at present is by teams, and the cost is So per
ton, S.