The New York herald., 1878-12-19
TENNESSEES MINERAL WEALTH.

CHARCOAL IRON MANUFACTURED AT COST y
ELEVEN DOLLARS PER ToN--MINEs OF PAINT.
NASHVILLE Dec. IL, 1873
Some two months since the Browneport Furnace,
in Decatur county Tenn. situated about three mics
from the Tennessee River, again put into active
operation after suspension of some months, and y
now making handsome yield. At the rates
which iron is manufactured at that place no othe
point probably in the world can compete with it 70
cheapness Commissioner Killebrew is Of opinioi
that this furnace and other-the Etn,
Furnance, in Tennessee-turns out iron
prices that cannot be reduced in any
other region. The ore is found below the
black shale devonian formation not at all common
in the western iron belt Of Tennessee. The matrix is
of putty grading in color from dark red to putty
white The ore is found in solid beds and the pro-
cess of mining is carried in a similar to
that used for coal-that is, by entries. No money is
paid out either labor material. but all ransac
tions are on a basis of goods. The cost Of manufac-
turing il comparatively small. Mr.. Charles Young,
the owner of the mines, says that for eight years
past the engine in has not cost cent for
pairs No interest Is paid The capital invested the
profit on goods sold more than amply compcnsating
for the want of it.
COST or PRODUCTION.
An estimate made of the actual cost Of manufactur.
ing into pig iron is as follows:-
Two tons ore, half raw and fine. ut 81 % per
ton. " 5O
135 bushels charcoal at t4c................. 6 40
Quarter ton limestone at G0c. per ton. 15
Superintendent and labor. .................... 75
lncdcntals and repairs. rs....................... 10
Total. .sil 90
After the ore is converted into the pig iron il
veyed to tho river at cost OF eighty cents per ton
and then shipped to Cincinnati and st. Louis for 80
per ton. Once In the market 1t sells without trouble
at s17 so and SIS 80 per ton.
The other furnace mentioned by Commissioner
Killebrew turning ont remarkably cheap iron is the
old Etna Furnace. located In Hickman county. Here
the ore piles itself mp in immense heights OF two
tions 100 feet in thickness The ore can be mined
with little difficulty "a limestone. All II needs to
ana some snfn hand 70 take hold cf e. It has been
estimated that IL be mined ut nifty cents or less
per ton. To add to the facilities of delivery narrow
gauge railroad is now being constructed through
Hickman county, which will very materially increase
the value OF the iron banks.
MINE.
Commissioner Kille'rew also alltides to an immense
tract paint land lying near Clifton, Wayne county,
also situated the Tennessee River. II IL the anhy
drous red oxide OF iron. and mineral pa has
been pronounced by competent judges 20 be of the
most desirable kind. The paint bed is situated in two
hills each covering some ak or eight acres and vary
vations have already been made. and the deposit
shows itself very soft and quantities OF II entirely
free from grit and impurities. IL is am unctuous dark
red powder, working up well in oil. and by mixing
with white lead any tints desired can be obtained
IL IL said to possess even more body than
the Lehigh paint. From working In the furnace the
deposit yielded about sixty per cent of iron and
was for long time the only ore used wears ago I'm n
furnace called me Marion Furnace. The Wayne
county bank Is the only of its kind in Tennessee
and Is considered very valuable II IL entirely acccs
sble by water transportation the year around. The
bed lies I'm the lower carbonferos formation iust
above the devonian black shalc.
Not FAR distant FROM this rich paint bed are situated
numerous NUS containing the finest hydraulic
intact for want of enterprise aud capital sufficient 10
develop it.