Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1872-06-22

Editor Telegraph Thinking that some of
your readers would he Interested in an ac.
count of the recently discovered Emery Mine
in Mass beg leave TO tell what know
about H."
One week ago, in company with friend,
visited it, situated some 700 or 500 feet ubuve
the little village Of Chester, Mass. Near the
top of one OI the rugged mountains that en-
vir0n this place, II vein OF Emery was discov-
cred some or 8 years ago. but for several
months was considered us simply iron ore
and many tons of it were mined and smclted
under that mistaken idea. The yield of iron
was SO small that the business did not pay
and the important fact was developed that
here was The first and only vein OF emery ever
discovered in this country. 1t extends several
miles in length and 10 an unknown depth,
and varies from 8 TO Az feet in width and lies
within granite and soapsione ledge. The
vein ilsclfls excessively hard, and is mined
with the chip Of powder. A shaft has been
sunk along the course of the vein about 100
feet which is met by n tunnel OF l40 feet in
length, out OF which the broken rock is taken.
About 10 or IL tons ale now. daily removed
from the mine and carried down the steep
mountain 10 the works, where by steam and
water power, 1t is prepared for market. The
rock is first crushed by quartz mills and then
run through other mills till it is reduced to
the requisite fineness II is numbered by the
size OF the screen through which it passes
from No. s, which is little larger than pigeon
shot, TO No 100, which is extremely fine. The
-four Of Emery is still finer and is of three
grades-the coarser consisting of the dust that
settles on the lower scaIfold or shelves, in the
grinding room, and the finest ON the highest
scafiolds.
In its course of preparation the Emery is
subjected to various processes to remove for
cgn matters, such as washing under heavy
iron rollers, 10 remove dirt and particles OF
rock, &c. The paste is then dried by artificial
heat and then submitted TO a curious process
to remove the iron. No human power could
separate the myriads OF particles of this metal /;
but human skill surmounts the difficulty by
the use of magnets. By means of galvanic
| batteries an immense number of fine wires are
kept charged and made 10 pass through the
powdered mass The particles of iron of
course adhere to the galvanized wires. Every
second or thereabouls, the galvanic current is
broken by means of spring, at the instant
the wires pass over certain aperlures made for
that purpose, and the iron particles are drop
ed, while the pure Emery passes on and is
discharged at another place.
The powder when perfectly prepared, is put
up in cans OF few pounds, or in casks OF 24O
or $50 pounds for shipment. 1t is extensively
used in various manufactures, especially
those of iron and other metals. Whatever
metallic substance needs to be smoothed and
polished Is placed upon revolving emery
wheel and the work is soon done All the va
rious kinds Of cuilery-hoes, shovcls, guns
and pistols, &C., &c, are thus smOothed and
polished. The Chester Emery is remarkable
for the sharpness OF it's grit and its hardness,
and will doubtless be OF great advantage to
manufacturers in our country. +,