The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-02-11


Prof DANIELS, State Geological OF Wis.
consin. has lately made report Of his ex-
plorations in that State for iron ore. From
that report, we gather the following items:
The first and principal iron district is that
Of the Iron Ridge 10 Dodge county, on the
line Of the La Crosse and Milwaukee Rail-
road. The ore OF Iron Ridge was first no
ticed 10 1851. 1t ia q very peculiar species
OF the ooiiiic Ore, consisting Of small grains
or concretions but little larger than mustard
seed, and containing according to several
analyses, 81 per cent. Of metallic iron. The
extent Of the deposit IL estimated at III
225000 tons Of available ore, and may be
regarded to all intents and purposes, mex
haustable. The expense OF running this
ore, from the loose character OF the sub
stance, does not exceed l2t9 cents per ton.
II requires no roasting, and yields by the
sample, application of heat in its origina
state
The most extensive deposit Of iron in Wis
consin is that in the neighborhood of Black
River Falls, Jackson county. The bed, in
this region have only recently attracted the
attention Of capitalists. They consist of
hematite and specnIar ore, the latter mag
netic variety. They are l3 feet in thick
ness and are estimated TO contain IS 900 900
tons OF dru,iabte iron The two varieties
contain respectively ~ and IS per cent Of
metallic iron. a German company have
erected furnace near Black River Falls,
in which the manufacture one ton Of pig iron
from two tons Of ore. The facilities for
transporting the products are the Black and
Mississippi rivers, the former being naviga-
BILE from IT, mouth 70 the works Of the CON-
paDy.
The other beds examined are those Of
Hartford, Washington county, Depere,
Brown county, and Barraboo, Sank county.
These are all as yet urdeveloped.
The cost Of producing ton of pig at Iron
Ridge is Si5,70; at Black River Falls 3d.
30. The cost Of Scottish pig delivered from
the furnace is $3.50; English and Welch
$3.50; New York Is, so; Pennsylvania SIG.
The two former are now selling in Western
markets at S2s to S35 per ton; the latter at
$50 TO S33 These prices are ruinOusly low,
yet the Wisconsin article can be afforded at
from $40 to SIS per ton less than the i'm
ported prodact.
Speaking Of the future demand for Iron
for the Northwest, Prof DANIELS remarks /:
There are no valuable iron ores in the
northern part Of Illinois, in Eastern Iowa or
in Minnesota. as yet discovered. We have
thus an extensive dis rict, much Of it already
densely populated, and all of it capable Of
sustaining dense population, which can be
supplied with iron from our ores, more
cheaply than from any other quarter. This
district includes the great cities of Milwau-
kee, the metropolis of Wisconsin and Chica-
! go, the metropolis Of the Northwest, and
holds a population Of 100000 people. Its
anbua! consumption Of iron in various forms
/ OF ordinary use cannot he less than $4,000
| tons Allowing it to build 800 miles OF
railroad per aDuum and adding the consump
ton OF iron in re rolling of old track upon
the 1000 miles of road already completed
once in ten years, and the annual demand
for railroad iron will not fall short of $4,000
the entire demand for iron will therefore be-
about 81 900 tons the market value Of which
will bc not les~ than 81 100000.
! This may seem very large amount in I'll,
aggregate. but let any one calculate the
amount OF iron in all the stoves. pIoughs
tools, machinery. pipe, railroad bars, anc
other fabrics OF iron, used in the four or fiv,
great States which we may include in tn,
limits of our market and he will soon con
vince himself that it does not exceed tn,
actual consumption.
Suppose the four States OF Wisconsin
Northern Illinois. Iowa and Minnesota I,
use 900 600 tons annually. we could suppl,
these States with their iron for 233 years.
Our fuel is no less nexhaustibe. We hav
seen immense wooden districts from whicl
charcoal can be obtained for present wants
A little distance south OF cur border. in III
inois. lie the exhaustess coal beds of tn
great La Sale basin, from which must com
our permanent supply Of fuel for the re,luc
ton Of ores and the heavy processes OF man
utacture.
We have cheap motive power. abundan
facilities o. water and railroad trausportatol
fire clay, iiuSes, and every material requist
for manufacturing iron.