The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-23

win ind distinctive ages in which the dif.
ferent materials known to the architecture
OF these several periods have predominated
over those at q previous time. We have
read Of the earthen age, the stone age, the
timber age. To my mind It seems as If, III
the natural course of events, the usages
Of these materials, like the FASH
are returning TO the ancient, and
traverslng again the paths denoted by
their usage in bygo1ie years. To me Il APP
pears that we Of this generation are living
in an era Of stone and iron as far a. the
architectural feature of the generation Is
are IS distinctiveiy separated as two ma
terials could well be. Never in the history
Of the country has iron been in such de-
mand for nearly every conceivable thing
that man builds. IS it has been say during
the last half century. In the United States
100 years ago this metal was, compara-
lively speaking, an unknown quantity in
construction work of any kind. Now look
at the demand for it for every conceivable
constructive work.
Because of this demand, and it is de-
mand, opine, that will last for all time,
deem the practically inexhaustibIe supply
of the ore from which it is manufactured.
that il to be found in this state, Of even as
great importance as is the states wealth OF
the more precious metals to which in pre-
yious. chapters Of my report have re-
ferred.
"That Washington's supply of iron ore is
practically inexhaustiLie as her deposits of
coal, with the aid Of which the ore may be
transformed to iron, may he easily dem
onstrated. Iron ore Of the best quality is
found existent on both the eastern and the
western shores of Puget sound, on both
the eastern and the western sides Of the
Cascade mountains, a territory embracing
hundreds of thousands of acres of land. It
Is to be found also in the eastern and SOUTH
mountains Of this ore are known to be ex-
Istent in the only recently penetrated
Olympics. 1t has been found in King,
Pierce, Thurston, Lewis Cowiitz, Chehalis,
Mason, Pacific. Kitsap, jefferson, ClalIam,
Snohomish, Skagit, Wiatcom, kittitas,
Okanogan, Stevens, Lincoln, Clarke,
Klickitat. Whitman and Yakima counties.
So that in twenty-one out of thirty-three
counties in this state, iron ore exists; and
Of my own personal knowledge, gained
from investigation and examination, 1t
exists in the counties | have enumerated
in practically inexhaustible supply and Of
a most excellent quality.
"Thc character of the iron ores in Wash
ington, for they are open to classification,
is as diversified as are the other metallic
substances found in such abundance in our
state. ] will here enumerate the best
known classes of Washington iron ores.
We have deposits of the hematite (specular
or red iron stone) limonite Tor brown iron
stonel, magnetic magnetic orc), and bog
ore. These classes comprise those most
useful for the purposes for which first-class
iron is demanded.
1.-THE development of these great iron de-
pOsits might say is but in its infancy.
Iron ore was discovered in this state nearly
half century ago, but SO isolated was the
then comparatively unknown territory of
Washington that the seat of these de-
posts might we'll have been termed wild
erness. Then again, iron ore was
in no demand; the cost of mining it
would prove ruinous and methods OF
transportations added to these facts abso-
lutely precluded any possibility Of develop
ment or even research. But as the coun-
try grew apace attention gradually became
attracted to this most important factor in
its upbuilding until today. next to gold,
silver and coal, iron and stories Of new
found deposits of this ore will soonest
catch the ear of the miner, speculator,
capitalist and tradesman.
''In Washington today there are in pro-
cess of development nearly twenty promis-
ing iron properties. These are situated in
King, Skagit, Kittitas, Stevens and Okan-
ogan counties, and / am pleased to say
that the development work on all Of these
deposits is being vigorously prosecuted. /
have inspected many Of these discoveries,
procured samples from all visited and have
ascertained that each of the classes
OF iron ore | named above are
state, and that Of these classes of the
Washington ores arc of superior excel
lence. In King, kittitas and Okanogan
counties magnetites and hematites exist
in great quantity, and the value of these
varities cannot be overestimated, as from
xI<.x~s -. L. Al e -
mated as Bessemer. and acknowledged the
king of steels throughout the world.
Our magnetites and hematites are pecu-
liarly adapted to the manufacture of
steel, because of the small quantity
of phosphorus they carry and the high per
cent. of metallic iron contained in them. /
look forward with supreme confidence to
the time when Washington Besscmer steel
will be one of her principal manufactures,
and to the time wien steel works will be
seen in operation throughout the great
hematite and magnetic ore belt of this
state. The fact that the railway de-
velopment. of the state has as
tions, and that iron highways p are
penetrating the very seat of these, and de-
posts of other iron ores of the classes I
have mentioned, warrants the prophecy
that within less than two decades the out
put of iron in this state will lead that of any
other iron producing division Of the Pacific
slope.
II have inspected number of iron
properties in the counties named above,
and have procured and assayed samples
taken from them. As specimen of the
quality of the ore, / offer the following
analysis made by me of a sample of the
magnetic variety. This is as near an
average analysis as could procure:
ANALYSIS OF MAGNETIC, KING COUNTY
silica ........ 521
Phosphorus ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 0i
Sulphur OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. None
at will be seen from perusal of these
analyses that in one instance but trace of
sulphur was obtainable, and in the other
there was absolutely none.
~ give below two average analyses of ore
of the hematite variety: