Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-06-17

knrthauS is near the line between the
semi -bituminous and bituminous coal
Thorc is no mining done In the Kart.
haus region except for neighborhood
uso, there being no railroad connect
ing it with the Philadelphia and Eric
railroad.
FROM PROFESSION JOHNSON.
Prof w. r. johnson, q distinguished
Chemist aud Geologist, made an OK
animation Of the minerals Of Knrthaus
and vicinity in 1888 and reported as
follows:
Tho .Ixidncy vein"oro is found in
different parts Of a bed, at an elevation
of 3444 feet above the level of the Sus-
ouchanna river. 1t is IL feet in thick
ness, composed Of forruginous and car
bonaceous slate, with rcncform and
somc stratifled portions of argillaceous
iron orc diffused through 1t, in oil
amounting to 26 inches Of ore. This
orc bed has q stratum Of coal one foot
thick below, and another BIG feet
thick Immediately above 1t. The ore
is an argillaceous carbonate Of iron, or
clay iron stone of tho miners. Its COL
or Is q blush gray fracture splintery
and occasionally conchoidal-the ex.
terror of weatherod specimens covered
with coat Of yellowish brown hydrate
of iron. W f'.tf-
1t appears that the lowest yield of
the ore, either at Karthaus or Three
Runs, is 343 per cent. of pig iron, and
the highest So per cent. very nearly |;
hence, unless extraordinary imperfec-
ton exists in tho running of the fur
mace, the quantity OF raw mine re-
quired for the ton of pig metal ought
in no case to exceed three tons; and
it may probably be found that ~ tons
will often suffice for this purpose, es-
pecially when q portion Of the out
cropping ore is mixed with tho more
solid parts.
A more minute analysis OF the Gin
der and of the residum of the coal, to
determine tho best proportion of the
different ores and the quantity of flux
necessary for their reduction, may
hereafter be requisite in order to the
economical conduct of manufactures.
Enough however has been shown to
indicate the intrinsic value of the ma
terials, the fitness of several of them
for making both forge and foundry
iron, and the cause of unsuitableness
in others for the like employment
Other varieties of ore than those al
ready named are known to exist in
the neighborhood, and have been FORM
erly employed in the manufacture Of
iron at Karthaus, when good foundry
metal was produced. On tho whole, |
see no reason TO suppose that the pig
iron made at these works will neces-
sarly be less valuable than that pro
duced in other countries, where coal
and iron occur in juxtaposition, and
where immense quantities Of the best
forge and foundry iron are produced.
Experiment has proved that bar
iron manufactured from white pig is
rather superior than otherwise to that
made from mottled gray or black, II
the whiteness be not due TO noxious
Ingredients. Some OF the most cele-
brated varieties of bar iron in this
country are made from high iron. In
the refining process, all pig metal as
sumes moro or less tho state Of white
metal. In Europe, iron of this descrip-
ton is converted into articles demand
ing the greatest tenacity.
A liberal but enlightened expendi-
turc of capital in such station can
hardly fail to meet an abundant re-
ward. Nature has done all in her
power to make the situation favora-
bic; has beckoned man to the full
fillment of his part Of she duty by
Indications not to be mistaken or dis
regarded.
The advantages Of Karthaus, as q
position for the manufacture of iron on
a large scale, are chiefly found in the
abundance of all the materials, and
their immediate proximity to each
other, and to a stream which supplies
a competent water power for driving
machinery. To render these circum.
stances efficient and profitable, advan-
tage ought, as il appears to me, to bc
taken of tho great facilities which the
height of the ground in which the
minerals lie, affords for carrying them
by the mere force of gravity TO the
spot whore they are to be used.
FROM PROFESSOR HoTcHKIss.
From a report dated Aug. 18th,
1878, by Prof. Jed. Hotchkiss, Topo-
graphical Engineer and Geologist, Of
Stanton, Va, the following is taken:
When iron was manufactured and
coal mined at Karthaus, they were
sent to market in arks down the
West Branch of the Susquehanna,
and thence TO tidc-watcr at Baltimore
and elsewhere at q cost of four dollars
q ton and in that way considerable
quantities of those products reached
market, although the running season
did not average more than five or six
weeks in year. OF this method Of
transportation Prof. Johnson stated
in 1888: "Thus it appears that proper
arrangements being made, the btu
minous coal field OF the great Clear
field or West Branch basin will be
opened to New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore, the Valley of tho Missis.
sippi and the immense regions bor-
doring on the lakes. To all these
it can send railroad and other iron
from its own rolling mills"
The best railroad connection that
can be made from Karthaus is by a
line following the West Branch to
the low grade Philadelphia and Erie
at Heating, distance OF twenty-one
miles with grade of from six to
ten feet to the mile. The cost of con-
struction of a standard gungc road
by this route need not exceed SIS, 900
per mile, as there are no special diff.
cultics in the way, and it would
open a valuable coal, iron, timber
and agricultural region to market
In fact the natural channel Of CON-
munication for the whola Clearfield