The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1873-04-09
THE MINES OF nUxrERDoN COUNTY

| About six years ago considerable interest
was excited throughout the county by the dis
covery Of a fine vein of iron ore at High Bridge,
which was developed on lease secured by j.
X. Large s. Co, and since that time vast
amount of prospecting has been done with
varying success. The numerous openings
already made, prove that our County is rich
in mineral resources, and the developments
yet to be made will doubtless contribute large
| ly to her prosperity and wealth.
Previous to the Revolution, there were per-
haps not more than four or five openings in
the County the chief of which were at Soil
tude, now High Bridge, owned by the Taylor
family, and from which, as appearances indi-
cate, large quantities of ore were taken.
There is at this day still standing along the
South Branch river in that vicinity, the re-
mains of two or three large stone buildings,
which were used for producing iron before the
Revolution. On the property of Mr.. Sutton
near Beavers Brook, between High Bridge
and Cokesbury, is standing the remains of an
old furnace, the strong and solid walls of
which reach to the height of twenty feet at
least. Near by, large and substantial foun-
dations of coal houses etc., ale to be seen, as
is also large salamander lying in close prox-
unity to the building appearing as though
some mishap had overtaken the enterprise.
This spot with its surrounding scenes would
be delightful to visitors in midsummer, and
is always interesting to antiquarians Near
by is mine, on the farm of NJ. Cramer
which was doubtless worked at the same
time and not over two miles distant is that
of Cokesburg, which was also worked at that
time, and has now been re-opened by J. X.
Large d Co., and one also on Mr.. Alpaugh's
farm, which is now being thoroughly tested
and worked by the Messrs. Taylor, yielding
from three to five hundred tons per MONTH
The High Bridge mines, which now yield
ore the most extensively, are being worked
by three different companies, the Thomas
Iron Co.. the High Bridge Co., and j. X. Large
Il Co., yielding in the aggregate, perhaps
| fifteen to twenty thousand tons annually.
This large deposit has stimulated the mining
business, as is evidenced by the movements of
explorers, to be seen almost any day in the
upper part of the County. Some of these
have met with success.
| An opening has been also made on Mr..
Sweazey's farm near Jugtown, by a Pennsyl-
vania Company, which is yielding perhaps
five hundred tons per month. There are also
several openings near Clarksvile, which, how
ever, thus far, are not very promising, al
though ore has been found in nearly all of them
There have been made some explorations
ON the farms of Messrs. d. X Hoffman
and Sharp WEIGH, a little south Of Lebanon
In the latter, vein seven feet wide and twen-
ty-seyen feet long has been uncovered but
while tile quality in this section is very fine,
the quantity is uncertain and somewhat
irregular. When they are more extensively
worked valuable deposit may be found A
fine appearance is presented by new mine
opened on the farm Of DIR. Crevelng, near
Bloomsbury. On the farm of Morris Sharp,
also, some fine ore has been found which it is
hoped will prove valuable to the lessee.
There has lately been discovered deposit
of hematte ore on the farm of Mr.. Bird, Just
west OF Clinton village. 1t is the only deposit
of hematite yet found in the County, and the
quantity being very abundant it is now
successfully worked by Large & Conover.
All these ores are shipped to the furnaces in
Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania, but as the guam
tity increases, it is hoped for the good of the
county and the owners and miners of ore,
that furnaces will be erected at home sufli
Gent to consume the entire product of ores
Our Home.