The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-07-26
SUBMARINE IRON MINE.
Experts to Locate the Ledge TINT Deposits
SteeI clint. Along Block Islnn

Experts to Locate the Ledge TINT Deposits
Steel Clint. Along Block Islam
BLOCK ISLAND. July rs. There Is a wonder.
full submarine iron mine in the brlstling ocean
surges Just east OF this island, and syndicate
OF Providence CAPITALISTS la going to try to find
and work 1t. II lie believed to be east OF Cres-
cent Beach. a broad. white and slightly mot
tied strand that extends in n great curve from
the breakwater ut Now Shorcham three miles
to the tall clay cliff at clay Head; but how far
away in the sea 1t is or in what depth OF water
no ono even con ectures That there is such
sunken mine is apparent.
As one strolls along Crescent Beach. about
half way between the bathing houses and Clay
Head, the pepper and-salt colored sand sings
under his feet with a faint iairylike chime like
the humming OF wires IN q wind at night.
Hence it has long been called the singing
sand The faint song OF tho sand IL carried
by iunumcrRble steel "glints" in 1t. which
emit a multitudlnous clear noto when they are
tossed agnint the hard, sharp sand particles by
strong wind or passing footballs The steel
Rlints have been worn away from the mine at
sea, carried ashore by the crashing SURF and
heaped up on tho beach. In grent storms the
fine steel particles are caught up In a shower
that is borne across the windy island half IL
milo or more and deposited on the bare knolls
and hillsidcs or strewn ON the shore OF inland
ponds.
One summer not long ago an expert In
n'ineralogy str oiled along Crescent Beach wi h
magnet in hand, and he suddenly halted at tho
dark bi own lea n. his curiosity having been
excited By the singular appearance OF it With
the magnet he pIoughed little furrow in the
sand. and was ~ atilled to find that handful
OF the black particles adhered to the instru-
ment. In tho way noted he got EEL glints
enough for an experiment. which showed that
tho ore no had obtained was the finest and
best steel in the world. The experiment OK
cited n great denl OF interest on the pa,t Of
ironmongcs and especially Of old Block
pentilnl on tho beach in their childhood as IT
~ tO-dny. an mono of ihem ever imagined
disc MsS ss ses Of New Eng
tn anvers. too Inferred a. once that thers
mnss be sha "t spna, R os,u mt AWAITED
the man who 81 Guild discover. enI be
able t. work IT, First. band Of capita de-
i any easy way might ,be invented. BY WHICH
ths steel clintS could 30 serarated from the
, oughly they had lot gathered, secured. aud
cleaned, and the eXleriment showed con;
that had eyer been discovered. The censeiess
action OF he "atcr they reasoned. hal pnrI-
the tnG hs s way Yes had Gem
crushed into very fine rowier. and in that
that the gray sand s'ee! was exactly what
machinists and tns mar ufacturers OF the fines!
ever since the days of Damascus sword max
ing. company Of New Workers. erected a little
deposit OF steel elnts. eIuippei il with a small
engine ant a big boiler. and lot ~ queer
ma Mn that WAS designed 0 all II esrset
was swung a dryinc. pan is by s feet in Size.
and = elt-ieedins elevator Lelt was run run rom
OF matchmaking the dusty little Gnls
WAS pay a sSs, by 'hS
simple one. and Pit it workea fairy Well but a
ever get very Itch ut working Block Island
beach steel in that way. The mil! ground too
slowly; he output OF steel was not big and the
mai n ain. d. however. that il suitable means
J iron the White there was no doubt the worA ers
would renra fortune in the scheme since what
way had caused tremendous interest in the
steel and iron m ~, There Mas instantly rs
parable supsriority 10 ansthinr Of the sor; In
the world. The old mill i'll which the operators
worked was locked un aud has never since
Beach shore. it ,ouGhtn't to BE-, u very
world who the white sand on the beach. Of
ors had tho o mns
| pany developed u regular suice mining bust
ness they would have been successful with
their magnet process.
The extent OF tho steel CLINT deposit ia simply
coming ashore from the submerged mine tor
| ages; md not only is tho beach deep with
! them. but all the sandy waste between the sea
| and Great SAT- Ponr. miIe inland. Is ccm:
| posed exclusively OF tho white beach sand and
! the steel Gints, In some places between the
length that are almost VIII, lily composed OF he
gray slints. with VEINS in the burrows that re
as dark as though they were exclusively made
IN of iron filings.
The now mpany proposes not only to mine
| thu motal on thu beach. hut locate the great
the Ledge in the stormy waters. and it will ht
Still more difficult to set a. ii with mining
tools. New mining processes are 10 he nseC
Ivy he new compant. and in some way an cleo
tric plant will aid in the extraordinary work
Mr.. II. r. Gardper of brooklyn Is a the head %
the ubmarin' iron edge Is not less than IL mil.
from Crescent Beach. ami hat it Is many faith
| omS under water. presumably on the host cod
fishing grounds of Block Island. The. striI
! 81 beach on which the gray Elints are thickes
isnot less than mile long and twenty rod
spicuous that. it may 10 easily noted by
person who ia half a mile away:
| A very curious thing ht the Clay Head beRcl
Is what The natives call pots and kettlc..
round hard bnls Of c!ar and stones that ar
hollow. AS the urithunders in it drives then
shingIy beach. and the loose stones imprisone'
within tho shells rntt!e hoarscly with q lin i h
! that OF pots aid kettles cluShing together, Tn
lace OF the vertical clay ellis ut the hea
| are clashed with clny-cnloreu seams. showinl
that iron abounds iu all that part OF tho island