Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-09-15
THE MINERAL BUREAU.

The Bureau just established at Alexandria by
the railroad companies to aid in dcvc'oping the
iron and other mineral resources Of Virginia
aLd promoting home metalurgical industries,
Will be open for the receipt and public display
OF samples on and after the first OF Septembe
next.
For the guidance of those who wish to avail
themselves Of the advantages which this insti-
tuition offers, the following items of information
Ire given:
First: 1t will not undertake to negotiate the
purchase or sale of any lands or minerals. In
It's operation ii will be confined mainly to dis
playing the samples sent to ii, and publishing
all Important information in relation thereto
communicated by the senders, acting IN the mat
ter as gratutous exhibitor and advertiser to
the best of its abilty, for public benefit.
second Each sample intended for display
should be as near possible truth ul average
OF the mass of mineral from which 1t WAS taken,
and IN quantity sufficient to fill box measuring
should be slightly one, smooth on the outside,
and tit to be placed on 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:
(oRE FOR EXH ETH ny
Virginia Mlnerat Bureau,
alexandria, Va.
And if delivered to the railroad agent at sny of
the established way stations, or to the baggage
master ma 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.
tlnatlon free of charge, but without any liab!i.
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 securely en-
veloped to prevent soiling, there should be a
statement, written in distinct, bold hand set
ting forth lhrst] the name and postofhce address
OF the sender, [second] 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, 80
far as sscertained, and third whether or not
the property is offered for sale, and if go offered,
such other information rs q person desiring to
purchase would be apt to ask for.
Fifth: Each box, as 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 Alexandria.
Sixth: The exhibition chamber will be kept
open to the public dsily, Sundays and public
holidays excepted, from b. NJ. to 5 .. M 1t
will be the duty of the attendant to be courteous
to visitors and afford them 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
w. F. SPOTTSWOOD,
August %, 1870 In charge of Bureau.