Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-09-16
Minerals in Connecticut.

The New Haven Press gives the fol-
lowing in regard to the mineral wealth
of Connecticut: "Probably no state
in the union having the same number
of square miles possesses more min
eral wealth than the state of Connecti-
cut. The mines, with few exceptions,
have been overlooked and greatly neg
lected by capitalists, for the reason that
the manufacture of articles required
by the public was more sure of result
ing profits. Litchfeld county, per-
haps, is first entitled to credit for the
development of the mineral wealth of
the state. The hematite beds of iron
had an established reputation before
the Revolutionary war, and the mines
and foundries did much toward the
cause of the colonists. Much of the
war material was produced in Sails
bury. Cannon, anchors and iron for
various uses were sent from this town.
This place had no rival except the Gel
ebrated Sterling iron works, of New
Jersey. At these works the chain
which was placed across the Hudson
river was made, to prevent English
warships from ascending, and trans
ported with OK teams to the river.
Many years since one of the transfers
informed the writer that he drove a
team to transport the links over the
rugged intervening country, and that
seven links made good load for pair
of cattle, and that captured British
officer, on seeing what was going on, re-
marked: "A vessel will snap that chain
as it would a pumpkin Vine In adj
dition to its iron beds, Litchfeld
county is rich in minerals. It's 1m-
mense deposits of dolomite marble, it's
limestone, porcelain, clays and refrac-
tory rock in the town of Sharon, suit
able for the lining of furnaces, it's
nickel and black lead, together with
the immense micaceous granite quar-
ries which are being proftably worked,
entitle this county to notice. New
Haven county has it's share, but not of
the same kind. Its granite quarries
along the Sound are being worked with
success and profit. The barytes mines
of Cheshire have been quietly worked
with great profit. The cement mines
which are being developed, are equal,
if not superior, to anything in the
country. The brick fields Of North
Haven are too we'll known to need fur
Their notice; also the trap dykes, which
are source of wealth. The beds OF
verde antique marbles are not inferior
TO those of Siberia, if worked at a
proper depth. The county possesses
strong veins of magnetic iron not
yet developed, and veins of arsenic
enough to poison the world are abund.
ant in the town of Berby, together with
heavy veins Of limestone and lead ore
mixed with silver in other towns.
Middlesex county has, perhaps with
the exception of Litchfeld, more
money invested in mines and quarries
than any other. It's red sandstone
quarries have been worked for many
years with results highly satisfactory
to the proprietors. The feldspar veins
have also given employment to many
men without loss to the owners. The
lead and cobalt mines have not been sc
successful. Hartford county has valu.
able quarries and rich veins of lead and
copper ore. New London county has
valuable quartz veins which are being
worked, and the material shipped and
used for the manufacture of plate
glass"