Weekly Clarksville chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 185?-1857, 1857-09-18
IMPORTANT INQUIRY ABoUTIRoN


IMPORTANT INQUIRY ABoUTIRoN
The Secretary of the Treasury has is
sued to the, Iron Manufacturers of the
country the following important Circular,
from which body Of information is like
ly TO be derived, Of incalculable value to
the country. 1t is believed that the Uni
ted States produce iron in some localities
which oxydizes less rapidly than the iron
of any other country. If so, the fact is
likely to be brought out by the investiga-
ton which Mr.. CoBB is about to institute,
and in few years we may be, what Eng
land now is, the largest exporters of iron
in the world:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Aug. 81, 81.
SIP: This Department has been furnish.
ed with undoubted evidence that there is
great difference between iron from differ
ent mines in the United States, in the de-
gree and rapidity with which they become
oxydized. Congress, during the last ses-
sion, appropriated the sum of so, 500 to
test the different irons in this country in
that particular. IF these experiments
shall establish the important fact that we
have irons entirely or nearly proof against
the corrosion Of oxygen, it will multiply
the uses of such iron to very considera-
BILE extent for purposes to which it is now
applied and give it the preference over
other irons for many purposes for which
iron is now used.
The very large extent to which this ma
terial is superseding the use of wood and
stone in the public buildings. erected at a
cost of many millions of dollars annually,
under this department, renders it of the
greatest Importance to know what irons
resist, for the longest period, the action of
oxygen. 1t is hoped that the great inter
est the iron masters have in the result Of
} this experiment will be considered sufi-
eient apology for requesting samples of
, their iron and the ores from which they are
made.
have, therefore, to request that you
will forward to this department, by mail
or express, two or three small samples of
J iron and sample of ore each Of the mines
: worked by you, the samples of iron not
{ to exceed quarter of pound each, and
the ore not to exceed a halfpound in weight.
/ would also request information on the
following points, viz The extent OF the
S ore deposite-facilities of mining ore
its distance from furnace, and distance Of
furnace from market, and mode of trans
portation thence---the fuel used-relative
cost of charcoal, coke, crude, bituminous
and anthracite iron-kinds of fux and its
5 cost, &c.,-the capacity of the establish
U ment and the amount Of iron produced du-
ring the last year, and what it would be ca
. pable of producing under ready sale and
remunerating prices-any popularity Of
IL the iron produced-whether there are roll
ing mills in the vicinity, and what des'
G criptions Of iron they roll-to what pur.
q pose most of the products Of your furna
ces are applied, and what description o.
y iron the establishment mostly produces
IS when did your works first go into opera
n tion-what has been the annual produc
J. ton, and what the ruling prices each yeal
;, since your works were first started. Yor
- will please give the State and county il
: which your iron mine is situated and thu
If distance your fuel is transported. AS i
IF is the intention of the department to fur
70 nish you with the resultof the reriments
you will please name the post Office through
i which to address you. If you know o
y any one in your neighborhood interested
" in the iron business, who does not reeeiv
A. copy of this letter, if you forward hi
address one will be sent to him. You will
~ realize the value of the information whel
at you reflect upon the growing importanc
re of the iron interest Of the country fac
IN attributable in no small degree, to the in
PRODUCTION of iron as a substitute for ethe
)" materials in our public buildings
IN The policy of affording encouragement
is to this great interest, by promoting its pro
e. duction and incr easing its consumption ,ha
been commenced BIZ the Government; an
am DESTROYS of obtaining all the informa
ton which can be had on the subject, wit
le view to its further development.
US This circular will be addressed to pei
BY sons not Immediately connected with iro
Y establishments, as it is believed that ther
z will be not only willingness but an anz
~ iety on the part of every one to advanc
the object which the Department has
view.
he am DESTROYS of obtaining the informi
IL ton asked for at the earliest practical me-
n ment
y, Very respectfully, your obd't serv't,
er HOWELL COBB,
Secretary of the Treasury.