New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-04-07
The ,Iineral Wealth of the Union.


Inc Historical and Philosophical Society Of
Missouri have laid memorial before the General As
sem5y Of the State. proposing that law should be
passed 10 provide for a Geological Survey Of the
Stste-.o embrace description OF the surface showing
the elevations and depressons Of the common level
the causes affecting health analyses Of every variety
Of soil the different ater ard their facilities
for driving machinery and for navigation examine
ton Of the crust Of the earth disclosing the qusnty
and value Of It's mineral contents with remarks upon
the best methods of lifting and working the ore II 10
to be hoped that such investigation may be made by
the Government at u early day Insy be practice
Bile; every public Interest II is rightly urged, would
ultimately derive great benefit from the and well
authenticated facts which might thus be satisfactorily
sscersined while not the lesstimporant Of the points
thus illustrated would be the value Of the Csys Of
Missouri for the manufacture o. various wares. Th.
Kaon earth the principal Ingredient Of nrsi-rsie Porce
lain, supposed ~ have been discovered In three diff
feren localities 10 the COunies OF Washington and ST
Genevieve if this be 80, and profitable
OF trsde is at once opened TO the people Of Missouri
Galway County in the same State 10 rich 10 fossils
and Fulton there has been recent discovery OF
Marble Of Hight cream color, richly vsregs,ed 10
the came County hardly six miles from the Missouri
River aye extensive beds Of Coal very similar to
Liverpool which burns with clear and brilliant flame
The beds said To lie the surface descending
in many places, TO depth Of thirty forty feet Yet
they were unknown until within three or four years
since.
The vast Iron deposits Of Missouri hsve begun to be
developed through the enterprise OF OF her citi
Eens-a company having commenced the working Of
the Pilot Knob as 1t is termed imbedded mass Of
very pure iron ore within Elk miles Of the Iron Noun.
tain which from iu vasnes, as well as It's position and
peculiar formations. is considered a great curiosity
The Company working under charter, have succeed
ed, after several experiments in the production OF pig
meta Of very superior quality. The furnace has been
10 blast soce the latter part Of Janusy and turns out
per day between nine and ten tons u metal and the
belief s confidently entertained that at least eleven
tons will be produced per day, when the works shall
have been brought TO their full capacity. The metal 10
Of superior quality for many purposes, and readily
commands high price at the furnace. and advance
upon the ordinary qualities.
since the erection Of the works efforts have been
made to penetrate the Knob, mountain. with view
TO ascertain the quality, and obtain some evidence 81
the quantity OF the mineral deposit shaft has been
opened several fee, into the mountain the mineral lying
Ia thick layers, like the limestone rock. and IS the
work progresses the quantity Increases dipping down
ward snd assuming more solid and pure metallic
character The yields from 10 o. 90 per cent aud
is probably purer than sny now worked in the world
In Alabama, there are almost inexhaustible
stores OF Marble and Iron, with extensive quarries OF
Limestone amply sufficient to supply the whole State
with Lime for century to come The Limestone lies
10 large tracts Immediately upon the banks of the
Cooss River and 10 scattered In smaller masses through
the country Some enterprisng individuals Of the
State IL said about turning their ate nton 10 the
working Of these qusrres thinking that perhaps they
may prove the Gold Mines of Talsdegs County-n
very likely they will, II properly conducted.
In Michigan, there is large Coal region en-
bracpg some eight ten Counties, which would sup
ply sufficient fuel for all the cities of the state and at
much decreased expense. II appears from develop.
ments several points that there 10 at least one bed
stratum Of sufficient thickness and extent to be avail
able for profitable mining This stratum crops out at
two points some % miles spart-ihe enc in lnghan,
and the other In Shiswsssee County In both places,
the beds have been tested by excavations and cOnsd
cradle quantities OF coal thrown out specimen from
of these outcrops has been analysed, and the re
suit shows II TO be unusually hDe quality OF btu
mnOut coal II IL understood that enterprise is on
foot for supplying the Detroit market with this coal
and that apple for Charter for that object has
been made TO the Legislature of the state.
While upon this subject, we may mention the
Association of scientific men, organized in Phils
delphis der the tile of the Society for the Devel
opment OF the Mineral Resources OF the United States
charter has been granted them by the Legislature OF
Pennsy vanis empowering the Society to collect and
preserve specimens Of all the Rocks and Minerals Of the
Union which may be useful either In the Arts Agrcul
ture Architecture Manufactures TO cause the dis
.emnston Of useful Information upon Minerslogy and
Geology and to bring into American mineral pro
auctions The Society 10 also empowered TO appoint
Teachers and Professors of Mneralogy, Geology and
meteorological Chemistry and TO grant diplomas Of
membership, honorary membership aud Professor
ships It's objects good snd worthy Of encourage
a,d