Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-01-15
IRON ORE IN THE Lower END.
Development OF Extensive Mineral Re
sources.

Comparatively few OF the readers Of the
1NTELLIGENCER have any idea Of the large
resources of iron ore lying south of this
city, which have been developed within
the last few years, and which now, during
the boom" in iron, promise to be the
source of much profit as we'll as of giving
employment to a great number of laborers.
Indeed, in the lower end of the county this
industry is taking so man. men that it is
impossible to get hands for farm labor, and
the amount of tobacco planted during the
coming year will not be anything like that
of the past.
Commencing along the line of the Quar-
ryville railroad We first strike the Charles
ore mine, near Pequea Valley station, now
lying idle, but with capacity of 30 tons
per day and good machinery for pumping
water and washing the same. This bank
was formerly owned by the late Samuel
Charles, and still belongs to the heirs.
The ore is of good quality and easily
mined.
At Lime Valley is mine owned by DAN
iel Herr Pequea), which has been lying
idle for several years. Its capacity is
large and the quality of the ore good, and
operations have commenced. a small
quantity of ore has been shipped to Pea
cocks furnace, this city.
Just south of this is mine Oh the prop
erty of c. Herr, from which some years
ago large quantity of ore was taken,
and plenty of good ore is still there.
Near this bank is new one, now being
prospected on the farm of John Book, who
has leased it to Mr.. Peacock, and ma
chinery has just been erected for washing.
A large quantity of very fine quality has
been raised and indications are that it will
be successful venture. About ten men
are employed.
At the crossing of the railroad. north OF
New Providence is u mine that has been
runs near it. At the time of the grading
of the road ore was dug in quantities and
it has every indication Of a body of ore of
coed quantity.
In the village of New Providence Mr..
Peacock has lease on the farm of Samuel
Stonerods, and few years ago took out
several hundred tons, part of which is still
lying on the bank, some having been tried
in Conestoga furnace.
The most promising show for ore in this
section is now being tested on the farm of
Daniel Helm, in Strasburg township, near
New Providence. This is also leased by
Peacock, who says it is not only the best
indication of a large body, but it is also
the finest quality in the county, being the
only clay ore in it. The only difficulty with
this mine is the scarcity of water; a well
is now being dug, and is already so feet
deep, and still no water has been reached.
| At most of the mines the trouble is too
much water, but here there is not enough,
but Mr.. p. is sanguine that there will soon
be all ample supply. Machinery is now be-
| ing erected, and mining will be COM
menced this spring very extensively.
One mile south of this is the Mowrer
bank, now running with some twenty
men, and managed by John Zahn, one of
the oldest and best miners in the country.
1t is an old mine, yields largely,
piOiuCCS HOOu OlC.
it is a new bank yielding goodly
quantity. 1t is also managed by Mr.. Zahn
and leased by the same party. Both these
banks have engines, with all necessary
machinery.
Southeast of the g w on the railroad,
and at the end of the Cabeen branch, is the
famous bank known as "COnOwingo, one
of the Oldest in the county, and for long
time owned and mined by James NJ. Hop
kins, esq.,, who made charcoal iron at Con-
owingo furnace (now torn down and a
fine mill erected OH the site). When run
ming this furnace made some of the best
iron produced in the United States from
ConOwingo ore. This bank is now idle
it is owned by the Cabeen estate, and the
death of Mr.. Cabeen, two years ago, stop
ped very large operations, as the mine had
been running for several years under the
management of Maris Hopes, jr., who
still lives Oh the large and fine farm con-
nected with the mines. With the fine
quality of this ore, and the machinery
which is some of the best in the county, it
is not to be supposed that this mine will
remain idle very long.
Near this bank is small mine run years
ago by the Withers who had Old Mount
Eden furnace, now in ruins. A few years
ago it was leased by the Montgomery iron
company of Port Kennedy. who mined
several hundred tons of a good quality. 1t
is now idle and owned by Abram Myers,
who contemplates opening it again.
Going from the Y into valley above
the line of the railroad we first come to
the "Stively mines," owned by Brooks
Bros, of Birdsboro, Montgomery iron
company, of Port Kennedy, and James
Lanigan, of Swede. This is one of the
best banks in this section, with a capacity
of sixty tons day with the machinery
now erected and as much more with better
facilities. This mine has been doing moth
ing for several years. 1t was mined by
John Zahn some years ago and the ore
used by the owners. To give an idea of
the increase of the value of properties this
was bought about twenty years ago by
Abram Stively for s11, 900 for farming pur-
poses; he sold it for mining for $13, 500;
the party who bought it sold one-half
interest for $4,000, and that purchaser
sold half his interest, that is, one
fourth interest of the whole, for s25, 900,
and to-day s15O,OOO would not buy the
whole. There are contemplated the build
IF poup ,noo1,iporu o,,6 tho