, 1881-02-11

for the managers ui III. concern.
Last Saturday, Imhurd with a de.
sire to see and find out all We could
about this interesting movement
that has marked new era in the
history Of Psget Sound, we embark
ed in the stauuch little steamer Nir.
gjuia which Messrs. Gilmore and
Morgan are using to Accommodate
the travelling public, aud an easy
ride of about three miles brought rs
to the southwest part Of Port Town.
send Bay, whore the company's
works rre located. Here we found
a massive cone shaped furnace, 40
feet high to the base OF it, chimney,
putting and blowing as though it felt
the importance Of Il town alderman
at a Presidential reception. The
furnace is handsome piece OF work,
brought to its present comcly pro
portions by the skill of Mr.. Fitz5er-
aid, a competent builder who has
manifested as much interest in the
success Of the work as though he
were sole owner, and his all was
staked on the result. Friend Moor
was presiding over the Iaborings Of
the furnace, preparing for a draw"
of iron, and exhibiting the anxiety
Of one whose >'hole energies are
bent upon accomplishing particr-
lar object. The furnace is suppl !
with fresh water from a spring a
stream from which is carried about
300 yards in large pipe. This wa
ter is hoisted by steam pump to a
reservoir just above the works, and
it furnishes supply ample for ali
needs. Economy in fuel is attained
by the use of heated air and gas to
propel the engine. The ore beds
are located about ! miles from the
works, and easy grade between the
two shows that the transportation
can be very cheaply done by laying
a track and running cars on it.
Large quantities of the ore may be
found in layer of from two to four
feet thick, and exposed. to view in
many places, and cover.-s an area
large enough to insure plentiful
supply for many years to
come. 1t produces about 55 per
cent. of pure iron that compares ia.
vorably with samples from Scotland,
and other countries, and is undoubt-
edly superior to the Oswego product.
Indeed so fiattering is the outlook as
to quality Of iron that ready mar
ket may be expected for all that can
be produced. Mr.. Williamson the
we'll known founder at Seattle, has
melted up two tons of the metal
produced by this furnace, made a
number of castings, including one
car wheel. and he pronounoes upon
it in these words: at runs good,
clear metal and makes strong cast
ings." Accompanying this testimoni.
al was an order for twenty tons of
iron Immediately for the foOndry.
Thus is the foreign supply cut short
at once, and the first note Of tri-
umph sounded.
The furnace runs night and day,
and at present furnishes immediate
employment to some twenty-five
men. We are informed that as soon
as it is thoroughly dried and gets
down to working in earnest it will
produce from ten to fifteen tons
of iron every twenty.four hours
This iron, on account of its superior
quality, will be worth from $50 to
$40 per ton; so that the lucky stock
holders may be congratulated upon
the value of their property. Lime
rock for the furnace is brought from
the immense deposits on San Juan
and Orcas Islands, and is used at the
rate Of about one part to six parts.
OF ore. The principal shareholders