The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-15
THE TEXAS IRON FIELDS.
They Are the Richest OF Any In the
Southern States.

Mr.. W. r. Barnes, editor Of the Age OF
SID, has just returned from tour
through the iron ore fields OF Texas,
mentioned at some length in yesterdays
assure Of the Globe Democrat, and furnishes
great deal Of valuable information
regarding this subject OF great commercial
interest. lie says that Texas has within
her borders iron in such quantities rs to
warrant development that viii be quite
equal in value 10 her people TO that
possessed by any other Southern State.
The hnt furnace built in Texas was
charcoal furnace built near Marshall, In
1862 known ~ the Lou.Ellcn furnace.
Its capacity IL twenty five tons day, but
II II now idle. The old Alcadc charcoal
furnace, built at Rusky, Cherokee county,
has q rated capacity Of twenty five tons
day, hut Il Il at present producing mn
average OF thirty tons per day. The Alcadc
Is In charge Of Mr.. II. A. barrett, formerly
of this city, and the furnace has made iron
that has stood the test throughout the
markets OF the Southwest.
Several years ago Mr.. A. II. Bleyins and
few friends purchased 10000 acres ot
county Thcsc lands surround the 1000
acres owned by the State, and upon which
] their operations are being carried on,
With the assistance of Mr. Il. l.. Cole.
man, pig iron merchant, stock
company was organized, known M the
Cherokee land aud Iron company, with
paid.up capital Of Sl,O00OO0. w. II.
Milbcrt, OF New York city, IL president of
fl.s HFtl
a. the capital Mr.. John Birkinhinc, Of
Philadelphia, widely known ~ an iron
expert, visited the ore fields and made an
extended report lie says the ore deposit
! IL remarkable for It's apparent uniformity
and exhibits greater wulariiy IN "a
| simtihcation than any brown hcmatitc
ore field Of which he has cogniEancc
| When the hills are OF sufficient clcya.
| ton the ore appears with remarkable
| pcfsistcncy ~ nearly horizontal bed
which crops out along the sides and near
/ the Crcsts Of the hills, forming the rolling
country oi the ncighborhood. The entire
| formation IL Of late geological age,
| probably tertiary. \ section would repro
scnt q soft sandstone, remarkably Tree
from grit IN many places, resembling In
| color aud the ease with which il can be
cut or turned when freshly quarricd the
cacnsionc Of France. On this the ore lies
with scam Of clay generally between the
or and the stone. The orc IN capped by
thin layer of icuuglnous sandstone,
while ON top Of this IL the sand. The one.
Mr.. Barnes says, IL brown hcmatitc,
varying In physical structure from com.
| pact mas's to laminaicd, and In some
eases cuarscly granular ore, and in color
from light brown 10 nearly black. An
approximate estimate, based on calCula.
tons aud verified 10y actual operation,
would bring the Yield oi one per acre OF
hcnchng ut from 1900 to ~ OO tons. tn,
cost Of ruasicd ore ~ estimated at ~. ~ pei
ton, aud the cost Of q gross ton oi iron
Tvady iof shipment, " placed at $40. Mr.
Harness concludes, after careful cNami
nation oi the ground, that the Texan on,
deposits are Ut such an extent, ~ to en-
courage their utilization 10y the erection o
blast furnaces ior smelling. but there vii
be- tcady demand ior the output vt pil
iron, that wood Ia abundance TOT pru
ducing charcoal h NJ hand, that blas
furnace, we'll located, could command
Trade which would allow oi very salts
factory profit aud With no immcdiai,
danger from damaging opposition. an,
that supplies Of mineral suitable for iron
manufacturing can be brouht to N,
district ~ M Ia encourage other industries
a lnfgc share ot the iron produced nj IN,
/ Ru-k furnace " consumed In the pipe m,
general foundry connected Herewith, an,
they have never used ton Oi foreign roi
~ mixture. THIS can not lie said Of am
, other furnace IN the country. All the "a
aud water pipr made IL east direct iron
tie smelling furnace, saving thereby lh
expense Of rcmcliing The economy il
the making Of pipe will, Mr. Ranc
thinks give the trade Of the entire South
west 10 the furnaces In the new field
The car wheel works ut Marshall, Tex.
have made car wheels ior the past icl
years from Texas iron, aud the wheel
: have a fccorl Of over 10000 miles, Cav Il
, ehcr-s Of the performance OF ofdinar
wheels. The limo OF railroad traycnin
Cherokee county from north 10 south IL O
present . marrow gauge, aud Ia owned b
2 the ~, Louis Arkansas a Texas con
pany. The road Is 30 be made q slandar
! gauge AMI extended a. Rockland, abou
twenty miles south. Indeed, the cou
Y pany has been granted liberal concession,
\ and The grading " alrrady well advanced
@
! The black minorca 10 fine fowl Of N
. chicken family. They are large, wit
! bright scarlet hs and wattles, and Wit
d ear lobcs 40 white that In contrast wit
i their black mctallic.luslcred feathers the
!; remind one Of a lady OF fashion in blac
d shining silt With diamond earrings. The
!. are well established breed In Grcl
! Britain. II Is claimed that they excel 4
n layera. Rome hens have laid more tina
o zoo Gym A wear