Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-11-06
SCIENCE AND WEALTH.

To the Editors Of the Union.
Gentlemen; The following facts will show
some results and larger prospects from our natu>
raj resources, developed aud applied by science.
Some twenty. five years since, gcologisl OBJ
served in Maryland aud Pennsylvania extensive
ranges of serpen,ne rocks, which he knew 10 be
the natural deposies OF ulagnesia and chrome
ore. A slight search discovered both OF these
minerals 10 great abundance. Al that lime
ohromesyelow was fifteen dollars pound. l! is
now veny five cen pounG; reduction in price
occasioned 10y an extensive manufacturing OF this
article in Baltimore, from which city The whole
country is almost entirely supplied with this val
liable paint.
From maguesia-lhe deposies Of which,
amounting 10 QnaTrics, are found 10 The immedi-
ate connection with chrome ore Epson sal's
[sulphale Of masnesiaI are made SO cheap, so
abundant, ard so good, as nearly or wholly 10
stop the importation OF hat article. Growing
Out Of this discovery, chtomate OF potash, alum,
blue yi!ro lsulphate oil copper.l and numerous
oher chemicals, are made 10 sEcn abundance al
The same place as 10 give 10 Baltimore, In add,
ton 10 The lille oil ''lhe Monumental City" thai
of the American Laboratory.
Until within some eight years past an iron.
master at Deer creek, Maryland, imported from
New York his hearth>s one-one Of the most
expensive and most important parts of the fur
mace. Now, this same ron-naster furnishes
The whole OF Maryla and 10 some extent OH.
er States, with furnace hearth stones II the very
pest quality, from mounlaia Of that material
by the side Of bis own furnace. As proc! Of us
excellence, . furnace in Baltimore made, du.
ring The use of one stone from thai source, three
thousand eight hundred tons of iron
Not many years since, the citizens of Hal
dtato nf
some fifteen mites, stone for ihs walls OF their
houses, no, knowing Of any nearer hlted for that
purpose For several years past, granite, and
that Ct an excellent, qualify, has been furnished
10 the Atlantic cities in greater ABUNDANCE from
Hallowell than fiom any other place in the
country.
N long ago, spirits of turpentine were sold
in the midst of pine forests at the Suh at two
dollars bottle, being al tho rate of ten d"lla:s
a gallon. Al this time no establishment iD Flor.
lila for disiilling The spirits from the pitch, real
ICES, al three dollars barrel, six hundred dol.
lars 10 the hand which, by hard WORKING, il is
stated, may be increased to nine hundred dol
lars, upon an average, for each hand employed
in the work.
Until recently, most or the whole Of tn granite
used il Washington city was brought from
Maryland. Now, large quantities oil that build
ing material. aud oil beautiful and excellent
qualify, are brought TO this city from The falls Of
James RIVER Virginia-a mere item OF Ihr efeat.
Iy varied and inexhauslable natural resouIc $,
but little developed and sill less applied, 10 the
Oldest, and by nature probably the richest Stale
in The Union.
Though The legitimate fruits oil scientific knowl.
edge, like lh.se here mentioned. could be emu
meraed 10 almost any limis. science, Tor The
special purpose Of developing aud post efec,ual.
ly applying The natural resources OF our country,
is yer in its infancy. When advanced to the full
vigor OF manhood, towards which il is now max.
ing more rapid strides, probably, than at any
period Of the world before, its fruits and its bles-
sings musi inevitably be such as, a, tie present
time, can be calculated BY no human being; al
least, in The opinion OF your frerd
JOSIAH HOLBROOK.