Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-07-28

4 Project to aid IN developing the Iron Minera!
Resources Of Virginia.
First. An exhibition room OF sufficient size,
we'll lighted, centrally located, and convenient
~ accessible, should be procured at Staunton,
Charlottesville, Richmond or Alexandria, or, if
permissible out of the State, at Washington, ID.
Q. Next to the latter place, Alexandria would
De the most convenient for visitors from the
North. A change, though, from the place first
decided upon could be readily made whenever
found advisable
Second. The room should be placed in charge
OF an Intelligent, trustworthy attendant, who
would be present and keep it open to visitors at
least eight hours every day in the week.
Third. Publication should then be made in
the newspapers throughout the State that an
exhibition room for the receipt and display of
iron ores had been established, stating where
and IN whose charge it was, and that it would be
Kept open and free to the public at large, and to
which all persons owning iron ore property in
Virginia were invited to send fur Average sam
ptes OF their iron mineral for exhibition, upon
the condition that with each esmple should also
be sent a written communication, setting forth
(frst) the name and postothce address of the
person sending, (second) the exact location of
era upon it. or the area which the mineral GOV.
ered (third) whether the property was for sale
or not, and if Tor sale, such other information as
persons desiring to purchase would be apt to
ask for. Each sample should be put in q neat,
slightly box of about cubic foot capacity with
the lid screwed, not nailed on The box should
De plainly marked with the address of the exhi-
bltlon room, and delivered to the railroad agent
ut any of the established railroad stations, with
Instructions to forward the same
Fourth. The railroad companies OF the State
should consent to transport all such boxes free,
out without any liability whatever for delay,
damages or loss, to the depot newest to the ex-
hlblLion room, at which point such boxes should
besubject to the order and control of the .ttend-
ant in charge of the room.
Fifth. The attendant should, upon the receipt
OF each box, open and place it in proper posi-
tlon IN the exhibition room, SO as to permit the
contents thereof to be conveniently examined
by all visitors. The written communication &C.
companying it, or 8 fair copy of the same
should be attached. The attendant should also
answer letters of inquiry, give full verbal infor.
matlon TO visitors when 30 requested by them
and make and keep proper record Of all bust
ness matters appertalning to his position.
Sixth. A metallurgicsl chemist or scientific
expert in iron ores should periodically visit the
e1hlblton room, and give instructions for the
proper arrangement and classification of the
samples, and for taking portions of the samples
from the boxes for analysis, and also uggest
and advise in other matters as seemed to him
best to promote the object of the exhibition, viz:
publc display of reliable samples of the iron
mineral Ut the State, and communication to the
pubic OF correct information in reston to the
same, with the view to aid in establishing and
building up home iron and steel industries. All
new discoveries of iron ore, and all new and i'm
portant information in relation to the iron ores
of the State coming to the knowledge Of the at
tendant should be published st once If deemed
advisable not to condne the collection to iron
ores only, all other minerals upon which I'M
portant Industries could be- built up might be
included
Tbn
ard Carried out by the rairosd companies of the
State. They can do 1t most etfectualy Verv
little money wonld be required. a room c. uld
be procured at Alexandria for q low rent; and
the salary of an attendant need not be large.
Indeed the whole annual expense could be
brought Tlthln $500 or $780, The directors OF
the railroad company whose depot was nearest
to the exhibition room should have full control
In dlrettlng the local management Of the matter
acting through their president. The project
might oe designated The Virginia Bureau of
Iron Ores" After it was IN successful opera.
ton the State would no doubt contribute to its
support. If b creditable collection was made BIZ
tne time OF the opening OF the Centennial Expo
sitlon, and one undoubtedly could be made by
tnat Time, the whole or any portion Of it could
De very readily removed to Philadelphis, and
returned again when the exhibition Was over.
Ilgnlh. The lron ore existing IN the State is
nnense. Many of the deposits are practically
nexhaustIoe for ages to come. Pennsylvania
aas not any SO extensive. S me of them afford
mineral unusually free from Injurious matter
md from which the highest grade of metal can
% made This know positively, from numer- |
'us analyses made by myself There is not the
highest doubt that IRON can be made in Vrpin-
q tor Is low u price Is anywhere else in the !!