Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-09-10
THE MINERAL BUREAU.

The Bureau just established at Alexandria by
the railroad companies to aid in developing the
iron and other mineral resources of Virginia
a::d promoting home nlctallurgical industries,
Will be open Tor the receipt and public display
of samples on and after the first of September
next.
For the guidance of those who wish to avail
themselves of the advantages which this insti-
tuition offers, the following items of information
are given:
First: 1t will not undertake to negotiate the
purchase or sale of any lands or minerals. In
Its operation 1t Wi be confined mainly to dis
playing the samples sent to it, and publishing
vii important information in relation thereto
communicated by the senders, acting in the mat
ter as u gratutous exhibitor and advertiser to
the best of its ability, for public benefit
Second: Each sample intended for display
should be lis near as possible truthful average
o! the mass OF mineral from which it was taken,
and IN quantity sufficient to fill q box measuring
ON the outside just one cubic foot The box
should be slightly one, smooth on the outside,
and iii TO be placed exhibition. Its lid
should be screwed on, not nailed, TO avoid
breaking or defacing in opening.
Third: Each box should be distinctly marked
on its lid thus:
LORE FOR EyH BTU N
Virginia Mineral Bureau,
Alexandria, Va.
And if delivered to the railroad agent at any Of
the established way stations, or to the baggage
master on board OF any passenger train on the
Washington City, Virginia Midland and Great
Southern Railroad, or any road connecting
Herewith will be transported directly to its des,
tinaton free of CHARGE but without any liabili-
ty for damage loss or delay. All the roads in
the State, it is believed, will Immediately unite
in this arrangement. When any box is so sent
the Bureau should be notified thereof through
the mail by the sender.
Fourth Within each box and securalv on.
veloped to prevent soiling there should be a
statement, written in q distinct bold hand set.
ting forth [tirst] the name and postufice address
of the sender, [secondl the exact location of the
land from which the mineral was taken, and the
probable quantity Of mineral upon it, or the
thickness length and breadth of the deposits so
far as ascertsned, and [third] whether or not
the property is offered for sale, and if offered
such other information as q person desiring to
purchase would be apt to ask for.
Filth: Each box, rs it is received, will be
opened, labeled and placed for display in its ap-
propriate position in the exhibition chamber
and the written statement found within it will
be inscribed in general record book which
Will always be open to the public for reference
AID appropriate notice of each sample will be at
once handed for publication to each OF the news
papers in Alexandra.
Sixth: The exhibition chamber will be kept
open to the public daily Sundays and public
holidays excepted, from .. nj. to 5 y. N. 1t
will be the duty of the attendant to be courteous
to visitors, and afford thom every opportunity
to inspect the samples on display and obtain
whatever information in relation thereto of
which the Bureau has possession. 1t will also
be his duty to carefully protect the samples
from being broken, mutiated or removed; but
this rule will not apply to prevent limited aver
age portions from being taken, according to
special directions, for analysis.
w. F. SPOTTSWOOD,
August 70, lS75-1w In charge OF Bureau.