Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1894-07-27

, joined at the waterside.
Cannon and shot aud shells wer
cast in the mountains for w ash
ington's army and other soldier
of the revolution. The ores foun,
in these deposits are principal
what are known as magnetic, an,
they contain the purest iron founC
in the United States. Some o
them rival the Swedish and Rus
) sian iron in quality. They are thu
finest ores in the United States
from which to produce steel By
the Bessemer or Seemen's process
They have one disadvantage, how
ever, which has gradually lost
them their place of Importance in
the industries of the country
They are rich in rock and poor in
iron.
The discovery of richer ore in
PeDnsyll ania and the opening up
of her coal and iron fields had in
a few years made that state take
the front rank as an iron producer,
and in 1860 she was making more
than twice as much iron as New
Jersey. The Jersey product was
worth more per ton. The outlook
of the war set all the furnaces to
work. The reporter remembers a
trip to Albany on a night boat IN
1868, when the whole road was lit
by the fires from iron furnaces.
Few of them are in blast now. nor
is it likely they will be within
century or more il Edison's guest
proves vain.
In the red hematite ores Of Mich
igan and Alabama richer deposits
than those of Pennsylvania hlve
been discovered, and the census of
1890 shows that out o. a total pro-
duction OF iron ore Of 14,518,041
tons Michigan produced 40 per
cent, Alabama had caught up to
Pennsylvania with a production of
l,570,3l9; New York was fourth
and New Jersey had actually fallen
off from 576,225 tons in 1890 to
415,5l0 tons in 1890, although in
the ten years the production OF
iron for the whole country had
doubled. At the same time, be-
cause OF their nearness to market
and their superior quality, the iron
ores Of the east were worth S3 Il
ton against 80 cents or 81 for
southern or western ores.
Edisoa's attention was attracted
into this field several years ago.
For certain experiments he sent
several men through the Morris
county and Warren county noun
tains. They noticed peculiar
dipping OF the magnetic needle,
and reported the facts to Mr.. Edi-
son. He found that the needle
indicated practically unlimited
supplies of iron in these rocks.
Four years ago he began the ex'
pertinent IN which he is still en-.
gagged. From a modest beginning
the works have grown and grown,
until now they keep 200 men busy,
and this not in working them, but
just in experimenting and making
additions. Besides the big build
ings already spoken of, there are
apparently dozens of smaller bull
dlugs scattered around.
AT one OF these-a red painted
one-story Office Mr., Edison was
found. He was seated on the
open stoop, and The contrast be-
tween his get t-up and that OF a
couple OF men who were talking to
him was striking. The latter We're
dressed in summer suits of white
flannel, with stylish straw hats.
Mr.. Edison had a straw Lat, too.
1t was one that had seen several
years wear. had no ribbon. and
sagged we'll down in the brim.
An unbleached cotton shirt, an old
dast-begrimed Snuff -c9lored suit
and his pleasant smile completed
his outfit.
Pm not ready to talk about