Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-30

given to the world an Industrial invention
which in the1 seriousness of its intention
may come to rival the kaleidoscope. the
monograph, or even the electric light.
Nothing he has done heretofore. has re-
quired SO much of his Individual attention.
taxed his inventive ingenuity so fully, or
in the aggregate consumed his vital powers
more than this latest accomplishment.
Thousands ofspoor .workmen will bless the
steadfastness of purpose which made him
carry his ideas to a successful issue. He
has, in short, at last pointed out a CONNER
cial way Of utilizing the immense deposits
of iron ore which lie under the New Jersey
hills.
Remarkable Condition.
Billions of tons Of iron ore lie scattered
through the rocks of the eastern spurs Of
the Allegheny mountains. Edison himself
made this remarkable discovery years ago,
and biologists ever since have amused
themselves with proving how perfectly in
exhaustible is the supply. But the ore Is
scattered about in such fine particles that
it could not be mined with the ordinary
methods, and hence has been looked upon
as one of the few great wastes of nature.
This state of affairs was very aggravating,
In view of the peculiar conditions which
prevailed in the iron trade of the extreme
east. For some years past the bulk of the
Bessemer steel trade has been drifting
westward, by reason Of the discovery and
opening up of immense deposits of high
grade ore in the upper peninsula of Michi-
gan, suitable for making Bessemer Steel
cheaply produced, and carried at small
cost by water transportation to furnaces
contiguous to the lake ports. The furnaces
east of the Alleghanies were compelled to
depend OH a few snail, Isolated deposits of
Bessemer ore in the east and ores imported
from foreign countries.
A Bed of Iron Ore,
Edisen's interest in the matter dated
from a romantic episode which occurred
sixteen years ago. He was walking along
the seashore on Long Island one day when
he noticed a strange pile Of black sand
piled up high on the beach. He had never
seen such remarkable sand. He examined
it, sifted 1t and even tasted 1t. but he could
find no reason for its inky hue With the
Zeal Of the scientific investigator, he carried
some Of 1t home to his laboratory for the
purpose Of testing it. He was on the point
of putting 1t aside when suddenly he he
came possessed of an idea He procured
an electro magnet and held it near the
mass. Immediately little dark grains SEN
arated themselves from the heap and
scurried across like SO many black ants
held.
The little ants were really grains of iron
ore and, strange as 1t may SEEM Edison
had discovered bed of finely divided iron
the shore in spots for fifteen miles along
the coast. It was due to the erosion of
Connecticut rocks by water-for mag
netite is one of the constituents of the
primal rocks found In Connecticut. Edison
calculated that the deposits must contain
millions of tons of iron, which, If it could
be smelted, would become a valuable nro
duct. On thesbasis Of his find, he evolved
his famous magnetic ore separating ma
chine. which he exhibited at the last Paris
exposition. Then he let out the privilege
of using 1t to a contractor who set up a
plant on the beach and proceeded to separ-
ate the iron ore from the sand with every
prospect of developing an extensive indus
try. But the sea proved to be less generous
than 1t had at first promised to be- for one
dark night there 1came q storm such as
had not visited the place for many years
and when thdo contractor came to visit his
plant the next morning. not a vestige of
The black sand remained. 1t had all been
swept into the sea whence it came
When the shove mentioned curious con-
dition of affairs III the iron trade was
bro tight to Mr.. Edison's attention, eight
years ago, he'thought Of the Inflated Long
Island enterprise and Of his discarded
magnetic separator. and wondered IL 1t
might not in the end present a true solu-
ton Of the difficulty. In order to assure
himself Of the exact condition of the iron
mines In the east, he made tour OF the
mines in New Jersey. for the purpose Of
seeing how much ore there was left In
them, and how long it would last. 1t was
on this memorable trip that he made the
discovery that most OF the rocks Of New
Jersey were underiaid with immense de-
posits CT iron. He invented q magnetic
needle which would dip" towards the
earth whenever It was brought over q
large deposit of iron ore.
A Magnetic Eye.
with his magnetic needle. or as he calls
It, his magnetic eye" he tested every
large body OF gneiss rock extending along
the eastern coast OF the United States.
from lower Canada to the Great Smoky
mountains Of North Carolina He found