Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-09-08
TREASURY DEPARTMENT


country:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
AUGUST 81, 1881.
Sir: This Department has been furnished with u:i-
doubted evidence thar there il great difference be-
tween IRON from different mines III the u nI'eh Suites
in il. degree and rnpidiiy with which they become
oxy,itzed. Congress- during the LAST season, apir"
pria,ed the Of 50 Sun 10 test the different irons i'll
this country in that particular. II these experiments
shall establish tn. important fact that We have irons
entirely nearly proof against the corros"r u! oXy'
gen it will multiply the .s6s OF such iron to ve:Y
considerable extent for purposes to witch u - now
applied aud give il the preference over the other IRONS
for mGny purposes for which iron IL now used
The very large extent to which th. material Is SUI
perscdiny the use Of wood and stone in the public
buildings erecting, ut cost OF many millions OF dol
lars annually. under this Department, renders ii of
the greatest Importance to know what irons resist Tor
the lupgest period the action OF oxygen Il hoped
that the great interest the irGnmasers have in the
result u! hs experiment will he considered suit 'iet
apology for requesting samples Of their iron aud the
ores from which they are made.
have, therefore, to request that you will forward
70 this Department, by mail express two or thrrc
small samples Of iron aud sample Of ore from each
of the mines work ad by YOU the samples o. iron rot
10 exceed quarter OF pound e1c' fnd me are not
to exceed half pound IN weight. 4 would aso re-
guest information on the following points. viz The
ex,eu of the ore deposite facilities Of mining iis
distance from furnace, and distance os furnace from
market and mode Ut transportation thence; the fuel
used; relative cost of charcoal coke, crude. bnmI
nous sni anthracite iron kind ot lux and rs COST,
&c, the capacity Of the establishment and the
amount of iron produced during the last year,
and what il would BIO capable OF producing
under ready PGle and remunrratng price,; any Pc
culisrity of the iron produced whether there az. Tul
ing mills in the vicinity, aud what description oil iron
they roll TO what purposes IN ,st OF the products Oi
your furnaces arc applied, and what description at
iron The establishment mostly produces; when did
YOUR works trst 90 into operation; what has been
the annual production, and what the ruling prices
ench wear since your works were Grs starfsd. lou
will please give the State and county 10 which Your
iron mine is situated and the distance your fuel IL
transmitted. As it is the intention of the Depart
ment TO furnish youSsith the result OF the expert.
men,s, you will please name the post oii 20 through
which TO address you. II you know Of any one III
your neighborho0d interested in the iron business
who doea not receive copy OF this letter, ii you will
forward lis address Oas will ke cent 10 him. You
will reaIi.s the value Of the lntUrInstOn when you
reflect upon the growing Importance OF the ir0n IN
terest of the counrya fact attributable, Ia mn small
,l-yree to The introduction OF iron a. substitute fbr
other materials in our public buildings.
The policy of ar rdng encouragement to this great
interest by promoting lis production AID increasing
its cousumption has beeu commenced oy-thr Gov
ern,nsnt and am d, sirous Of obtaining a.! the in
furma:ion which can be had on the subject, with
view to its further development.
Thi, circular will be addressed to persons not i'm
nedistely connected With iron establishments, as It
!, believed that there will be not only Willingness
bu, an anxiety on the part of every one to advance
m. object which the Department has in view.
am DESTROYS OF obtaining the information asked
for at the earliest practical moment.
Very respectfully, your ob-dient servant.
HOWELL COBB.
Secretary Of the Treasury.