Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-09-14


thousand tons Of manufactured iron per year.
The supply and quality Of this coal are now
beyond dispute, because-a simple calculation
viii show that with a ratio of increase per
year as mrge as the largestin its shipments
thus far, it can continue the supply for at least
COO years. It's coal and coke have been 50
thoroughly tested in furnaces and rolling
mills, as to leave no doubt as to their superior
quality for purity and heating power. Wheth-
er the rolling mill will be ocated at Hopewen or
Saxton, we have as far as Its success is con
csrRed an inexhaustible supply of mineral
fuel almost at the door Of the mill, thus re-
dueing the cost Of this prime element to a
minimum.
l Iapprehend that the supply Of iron ore is
not nearly as important as that of coal, when
the fact is considered that the prosperity Of
Pittsburgg is attributed to her immense enct-
cling coal fields. ana not aware Of any
large deposits of iron ore in It's immediate
vicinity But Pittsburgh stretches ont her
iron arms TO the exhaustless deposits of iron
ore in the Lake region, and collects from This
In the districts contemplated in the rolling
mill operations composed of portions of the
counties of Blair, Huntingdon, Bedford, Full
ton and Somerset, three qualities Of ore are
presented to the consideration of the manu-
facturer-tHe proto- o-carbonates Of the coal
measures, the brown peroxide of iron Of the
umbral series, and the hematites and fossilf
erous iron. ores of the surgent series of the
peroxide Of iron of the unrbral series, found
in the lower portion of the belts Of red shale
encircling the coal field of Broad Top, Prof
J. p. Lesley remarks: ''The furnace at Hope
well has the coal within mile of it, an i'm
mensely valuable deposit Of cold short iron
ore outcropping behind it, an ore which viii
be pursued hereafter from gap to gap; the
whole length of Terrace mountain, and upon
which hundred furnaces might run centu-
ry.r Leaving for the present the ores of the
coal measures and red shales out of our cal
culation, it may be interesting to determine
the probable supply of ores found in Wood
cock Valley, lying at the eastern base of Tus-
sey' s mountain, and ranning nearly parallel to
and short distance from, the Huntingdon
and Broad Top railroad, and extending south
ward past Bloody Run, up Black Valley to
the State line In tEis valley these deposits
of iron ore are of excellent quality, and have
been fully developed, which enables US to
make calculation from ascertained facts.
Two seams are fossiliferous-one of these
these produces soft ore; the other calca-
reous hard ore. Still eastward, and parallel
with these, is found seriesl-of pockets Of
hematite ore. Assuming the aggregate thick
feet, each square yard Of stratum win average
two tons, and if the average depth of these
deposits be taken at 35 yards, then one mile
of continuous outcrop must furnish the amount
of l23, 200 tons, or in the fifty miles of out
crop in Woodcock Valley, embraced in our
calculation would give s. 100, ,0oO tons of iron
ore. To this should be added the hematite
ofthe pocket deposits, which although diff
cult to estimate would give at least two mil
lions Of tons; giving as total aggregate Of
Woodeock Valley over Z, l60,00g tons of iron
ores-in round numbers say seven millions Of
tons. Assuming one ton Of pig iron to re
quire three tons Of ore, we have from this
supply alone 1888 .333 tons Of the best quail
ity of pig iron. Reducing this still further to
man ufacrnred iron, and estimating u tons Of
pig metal to make one ton of wrought iron,
we have ], 300, ,554 tons. Estimating the pro-
posed rolling mill to manufacture 5000 tons
per year, the Supply Of pig iron from the ores
of 80 miles of Woodcock Valley alone, would
keep the min going for 8ll years. Long be-
fore this time shall have been consumed, rail
roads win be constructed uniting Mount Dal
las gith the valley Of Virginia, from which an
inexhaustable supply ofiron ore can be pro
cured. In all these calculations the ecoHo-
my of the operation is ssEg'ident. Pitts
burgh gets her supply Of ores from lake Su-
perior, her pig metal from the Juuiata
Whilst other rolling mills have to go long
distances for either coal, pig iron, or ore;
this project has the whole supply Of the most
excellent quality right at home, thus saving
large amount of freight.
trust this enterprise may be fully discuss
ed, TOR am confident that in all its bearings
it viii be benefited thereby; but however IN
teligent and exhaustive the discussion of its
merits may be, it will never build the mill.
Discretion may be part of yalor in some
cases, but it frequently dUindles into coward
ice.
1t appears to me that the citizens of this
district should be aroused to a sense of their
absolute want Of manufacturing enterprise,
and being thus aroused, go to work with re
newed energy and resuseitate this great source
ofsectional as wen as national wealth.
Very Respectfully,
JNO. FULTON,
Girl and Mining Engineer,
H. G b. Z. II. II. and C.. Co. |