, 1863-02-05
HISTORY OF THE FRANELINITE.
HISTORY OF THE FRaNkLIS1TE.
HISTORY UF THE FRAEKLIEITE.
HISTORY OF THE FRANKLIN1TE.
HISTORY OF THE FRANKLINITE.
HISTORY OF THE FRANKLIN1TE.
HISTORY OF TIE FRANELINITE.
HISTORY OF TIE TRANELIN1TE.
HISTORY OF THE FRASELINITE.
HISTORY 0E THE ER ANE1 1EITE


REPORT OF 4. c. HARRINGTON, GEoEoGisr AMI
MINING ENGINEER.

REPORT OF 4. c. FAHKIN0EO%. GEtLOGl3T AND
MINING ENGINEER.
The mines arc located In Sussex county, Y.
j., and yield All orc unique in its Theological
and Is 'lc only known locality
where FrankItnite and red oxide of zinc
las been found, but by whom and at what era
these mines were discovered is not authcnti-
calsy established. They were known and ey-
tenEiye miping operations were carried on be-
fore any permanent settlements were ma1cb
tl1c whites in their Immediate neighborAood,
as several shafts and galleries still remaining
on Sterling Hill clearly rruye. These old
works, from the fact that Lord Stirling was
once the owner Of tile lands npon which they
arc sjtuated, hare been attributed TO him.
The time Lord Stirling became the owner has
not been ascertaiucl; but an original surrey
Of tue tract, made III 1i49, describes "tle old
mine holes 4 section has been taken from
the remains Of cedar that has grown In one
Of the pits since the working was abandoned,
and it proves that period to hare been more
than 1:0 years ago. In ITS IN old mining
pick was found III one Of the galleries by 4
hunter, who subsequently settled In the Vi
cinity, and has sou, now very aged man,
living IN the county.
Lord Stirling ca,ssed large quantity Of the
Franklin ore to be mined aud taken to the
CharIottcnburE furnace, Of which he WAS
proprietor; hut the attempt to slne1t II as an
ore Of iron proved unsuccessful, and most Of
the ore, removed ut q graat expense over
now be seen ut Charlottenburg.
The Into Dr.. Bruce, Of New York. was the
first who called publicattention to tho mines,
by publishing i scientific account Of them,
embracing an analysis, and also furnishing n
list Of the associated minerals. lie was fol-
en-, who furnished the Philosophical Society
Of Philadclphia with an interesting paper, de-
ecribing the Jctfcrsonitc associated with the
zinc and Franklnite.
The late Or. Samuel Fowler; about forty
five years since, become the owner Of these
Mines and, TO scientific attainments, in-
Wiling practical business talents of the
highest order, appears to have really been
the first one 10 appreciate their valuc, md
made several efforts to have them worked. He
made liberal offers to induce others to join
him in the enterprise but the untried na-
Ing competent operatives causeda failure Of
his plans, without 1cssening in lis mind the
value Of tile ore and the ultimate snccess that
would ho likely to attend future attempts to
work 1t. While he was member Of the House
Of Representatives Of tile United States Con.
Secretary Of the iFreasu1y 10 cause a
standard set Of weights and 1nca-
surcs TO ~bc prepared for the use Of
| the Government IN the different custom
houses. +. r, Hasler, IL. D., then superin-
tendent Of the Coast Survey, was entrusted
in,rcrtant duty, and Mr.. Fowler was success
| fulin having New Jersey Red Oxide Of Zinc
] reduced to alloy with copper 10 form the
| brass used for these standards.
| Not succeeding In eilistiug capitalists to
| work On large scale, he stEoSc to c1atourage
individual enterprise, to develop the COM
! rncrcial Ta1uc Of these extensive repositories
| OF mineralf, by frequent aud liberal contrihu-
! ttons from his own resources; but want Of
scientific knowledge Of the character Of tic
mineral, ora too rigid adherence to the plans
used in working the su}phurcts and carbon-
| ates Of zinc, as practISea in Europe. prevent
! cd the achievement of success. It Is also to
he presumed, rs is often the case, the Doctor
| was imposed upon By chat1atans and pretend-
I crs, who laid claim TO possessing the true Phi
losophcr's Stone, whose magic toach was to
transform the hills Of Stirling aud franklin
| Into mctaiie zinc and iron.
| DR.. Fowler, few years before his decease,
| conveyed n portion of these mines 70 the
| Franklin Company, an incorporation which
WAS obtained by him for the purpose Of work
iuE tbe1n; but The attempt proved uns,sccess-
fm1. The company filled, the property pies.
t Ing into the hands Of Messrs. Atnes Il A}ger
of Boston. 4 quantity Of zinc and franklin,
| tic orc WAS taken by them to Mr.. A1ger's
t foundry At South Boston, where Mr.. Alcxan.
| der E. Osborne, the present 1netallurgist o1
the Bergen Point Copper Smelling Establish
ment, distilled the metallic zinc from the rel
orc, after sc1aFatiHg it hy a magnet from ii:
Frankinite. lie also reduced Franklinite il
n c1ucihsc, making iron and steel Of y superior
| nua1ify-