The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-05-26
IRON IN JERSEY.
Some Interesting Facts
About the Old Mines of
the North Counties.
FROM THE BIOLOGISTS REPORT.
The Dickinson, Teabo, Richards,
Hurd and Ogden Workings
Then aud Now.
FROM THE BIOLOGISTS REPORT.

-IutU duu NOW.
Iron is mined in northern New Jersey
to the extent of over b~alf-a-million tons a
year, which makes mining an important
industry in this State. 1t grew from TO-
900 tons III 1890 to 932. 1852 tons In 1882, and
then the output declined to $3.50. 900 tons in
1885, aud jumped to 500. Sol tons In 1886.
Many mines have been abandoned in the
last decade and no important new ones
have been opened. The most famous
mine In New Jersey was closed last year,
after being continuously worked for one
hundred and scventy-ive years. and
yielding in that time over a million tons
OF ore. This is the Dickerson mine at
Ferro Monte, Morris county. and Mr..
Frederick A. Garfield of Dover con-
tributes the following interesting history
to the State Geologist's report for 1891,
just published
THE DicKERsoN NINE.
The tract of and upon which the Dick
erson mine was opened was taken up as a
mining tract In 1918 by John Readin g,
surveyor for Joseph Kirkbride, who left
it to mis- three so~ns-Joseph, Jr., Mahlon
and John-membels of the Friends So
ciety of Bucks county, Pa. The mine was
opened in 17l6. Jonathan Dickerson, ia
ther of Governor Mahlon Dickerson, be-
gan to buy interests In the property be-
fore 1850, and his son Mablon succeeded
to his fathers interests In 1871, and added
TO them by purchase until he had &C.
quired all AT his death in 1858 the prop
erty descended TO his nephews and nieces,
who formed the original stockholders of
the Dickerson Succasunny Mining Com
pany. the present owner. Inc mine has
been in the possession of the family and
Its representatives, from whom IL was
named, for over a century.
Before the mine came into the possess
sion of Mahlon Dickerson 1t was worked
under q system of forge-rfghts, whereby
certain f~orge-owners had the right to get
the ore needed by them at this mine.
The ore was a favorite among forgemen
because of the ease with which 1t was re-
duced, and because of the fine quality Of
the iron made from it.
1t Is safe to say that one hundred forge
fires were run with this ore. and IL was
carted as far as High Bridge in a south
ern direction, and northward as far as
Hamburg, in Sussex county. The FORCES
in Longwood Valley, Newfoundland,
Stockholm, Sparta, Hurdtown, Chester,
BARLEY. Whippany, Morris Plains land IT
is said that some in Monmouth county,
drew their supply from this mine. As
money was scarce the ore was often paid
for with bar iron, which was carried on
horseback over bad roads. After the
Morris Canal was opened the ore was
sent to Philadelphia. where it was re-
duced in furnaces using anthracite.
MALI WORKINGS.
Governor Dickerson worked the mine In
a small way, regulating the production
by the demand, and probably mined
about 2,0O0 tons Of ore a year. The mine
was worked more actively after 1854 until
the depression in the iron business. from
1857 to 1860, when the mine was closed,
the company having from %. 900 to 80, 900
tons of ore in stock, which could not be
sold at that time. The mine was closed
Iron Company made a lease of the old
mine for fifteen years at s~eventy-five
cents a ton royalty. 1t was worked by
this company until 1877. In 1871 the firm
of E.. Garfield & Co. leased the remainder
of the property for six years at n royalty
of 81 per ton; and in 1877 Mr.. Ario Pardee
(who was in the firm of e. Garfield &
Co.. took the entire property and worked
1t actively until November 10, 1891. In
1883, owing to the great expense of secur-
ing the old parts of the mine. and the
difficulty in raising the ore to the surface
up the long 1900 foot slope, the owners de-
cided to SINK u vertical shaft, which at
800 feet cut the Side vein" mi at $50 feet
The big vein." The depth of the Big
mine is about 1890 feet.
AUOuU luIeo yours dSO Ill OlSoG was en-
countered in both veins which threw the
northerly eud Of the vein about thirty
five feet to the east. The ore IN the vein
INSIDE" the offset seemed TO be totally
different in character from that in the
main part of the vein, and being very
stringy and rocky, and getting worse and
worse, caused the 1essees to surrender the
lease and close the mine.
The owners have tested the ground with
many diamond drill holes, which have
proved that the ore deposit was not ex-
mausted, although no large bodies of ore
were ound. The further working could
be carried on IL 1t were not for the de-
pressed condition of the iron market. At
the present prices for iron the old mine
may be regarded as economically ex-
hausled; that is, it will not pay to work
it..
HISTORIC TEABo.
r Teabo was another historic mine which
closed last year. This mine lies north of
Dover. in Rockaway township, Morris
county, aud was operated by the Glendon
ZOO and 500 feet. and for several years
prior to Inc closing was delivering 1900
tous of ore per mouth. In the same
township are many mines, some of which
pre inactive, while others are busy and
prosperous. Que of the most notable of
the thriving mines is the Mount Pleasant,
W hich Il situated two and one-C1arter
mi rs north of Dover, at the site OF the
10 I'd Leading to Berkshire valley. 1t is
operat,d by the Mount Pleasant Mining
Company. one OF the most considerable
mining corporations In this State in the
treatment of its men. They are divided
into TN ee shifts. and work eight hours a
day for 81. 25. There are 200 men em-
pioyed. and it is safe to say there are not
200 iron miners In the State as contented
and as energetic as these.
The mine is down nearly 1000 feet. and
the working is 1850 feet on the course of
the vein of ore. 1t is q rich, magnetic ore,
unfit for Bessimer steel, and is shipped on
a guarantee of sixty six per cent. metallic
iron. The vein averages six feet in
width. 1t dropped out of sight in July
last. through an offset in the mine. 1t
feet. nndiminished in Size and richness.
During the last three years much time
and money hive been spent in the sinking
of a new incliue." In part through the