The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-09-03
Expert EnderIe's Report on the
Iron Fields Of BOssier Parish.
Boss1ER PARISH, AUG. 81, 3d.


The area in which iron can be
found in this parish is very limited
compared with the other parishes.
About 225 square miles, I think,
will cover all. Yet what iron is
found is certainly of superior quail
ity.
On the road from Rocky Mount to
Dickson's Cross Roads, three ranges
of hills are met with, running across
the woods, north and south, distant
from the cross roads 8, d and 6
miles, that show up an excellent
quality of geodic ore, depth from 8
to feet, and running the length of
the bill. North from the cross roads,
taking the road to Collinsburg, no
iron is met with up to point frac-
ton over 2 miles south of Collins
burg. Here also a superior quality
of geodic ore is encountered. The
bill also runs across the public road
east and west. The depth of this
body is 5 feet from the surface. The
distance from Cross roads to Collins
burg is about 9 miles. Taking the
road from Rocky Mount to Dick
sons Cross Roads on the south, and
from the Cross roads to Collinsburg
on the west side, it will be seen that
a rather acute angle is found. I am
satisfied that within the limits of
the same ore will be uncovered
should active prospecting be started.
I infer this from the fact that the
ores on each limit of the angle are
alike.
An examination was decided on
at a point six miles northwest of
Collinsburg. The first was Miller's
bluff, situated on Postern bayou,
which runs into Red River. This is
a considerable bayou. The action of
the current on this hill produced a
land slide, laying bare the hill, there
by exposinga cross section, which
enabled me to examine without diff
Guilty. l found the strata of ore
about 10 feet to the lowest one from
the surface; the other two are divided
between the lowest and the surface.
As / could not decide as to quality
it seemed best to me that an analysis
should be made in order TO define its
character, as this ore is somewhat
different from any / have met with
Should it prove of good quality and
grade there is an abundance of the
same in this bluff, which will add
considerably to the volume of iron
in this section.
The next examination was on
Phelps lake, west of Miller's bluff,
where range of very high hills runs
up to the State line, a distance Of
10or IL miles. Some of these hills
extend to the edge of this lake, three
of which the waves of the lake wash
ed to such an extent as to produce
low bluffs, from whence consider
able quantity of small boulders Of
iron ore lies exposed on the beach;
on the bluffs the ore can be seen
scattered through the earth, 5 and
feet from the surface. This ore ID
of a superior quality, and I believe
extends back from the lake some
distance.
From here an examination was
made of the Gilmer place, about two
miles north of the last mentioned
locality. There I found an extraordi
nary form of ore, and in large bodies
The termination of the hill on which
the iron is found is very precipitous
presenting a bluff from the apex tc
about 20 feet below. The surface
from the bluff to the bottom is more
or less rough and steep, with deer
gullies and ravines. From the bluff
down to the bottom of this hill ore
is piled up in masses, rolled there
by the force of water in heavy rains
| ThoSn tarOo Dionos of GRO hcvo haor