The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-07-13
Development Of Ireland.

<NccOfuluS 60 recent auVlceS from
London, syndicates are now being
formed for the development of the vari
GUS resources of much-neglected and
much-abused Ireland. 1t is said that
American financiers have thrown their
covctous eyes on the mineral wealth of
the island, especially on the coal de-
posts, and intend to steal march on
their English cousins by being the first
in the field. There is disposition in
some London quarters to ridicule any
movement having for it's object the
commercial and industrial deyelopment
of Ireland, but we may take it for
granted that, If any American financial
magnates have become convinced that
the hidden wealth and resources of tho
Emerald Isle can be developed will,
every prospect of good profits, they will
not hesitate to go to work with their
usual energy and perseverance. 1t
would be strange thing, indeed, If old
Ireland should, in the twentieth CEN
fury, be turned into n humminc. in
dustrial beehive through the efforts of
Americans; if an unfortunate and long
suffering people should ut last come to
know the blessings and advantages of
prosperity, and if the oppressive rule
of British landlords should be over
thrown by an Industrial revolution.
Stranger things have happened in the
past, and an Irish renaissance may not.
after all, be such an Utopia as many Of
us are prone to believe writes Francis
A. Huter in the st. Louis Mirror.
1t does not follow that because Ire
land has been neglected for so long by
British capital and enterprise, co,n-
try with magnificent natural resources
will forever remain miserably poor.
Ireland is finer country than England
in some respects. She has most fertile
soil and good climate, despite some
drawbacks well known to us. The
island has many fine, natural harbors,
and is most favorably situated in n
geographical sense; there are also many
navigable rivers and lakes.
Apart from agricultural and mari
time considerations, Ireland's abrn-
dant water power may be turned to
prosperous account these days of cleo
trical power. But it is the country's
mineral wealth which attracts Ameri-
cans, and also Colonials the most. That
Ireland has valuable mineral deposits
has been known for long time past.
Yet, strange to say, British ironmas-
tiers, who seem keen enough to work
the ores of Spain and Norway, have
scarcely bestowed any attention ON the
immense stores of iron which Ireland,
closely island, is known to possess.
At one time in the past the manufac-
ture Of iron used to be an important
Irish industry. That was when char
coal was used for smelling. When
wood became scarce, the iron industry
languished, although the resources OF
the island in ore had scarcely beer
tapped up to then.
AS a prominent British industrial
authority recently said: "There is Goa
IN Ireland-lots Of 1t, too. Indeed,
believe the country's resources in tina
respect are estimated at not far shor
of 2OOOOO,OOO TONS"
How comes it, then, that Ireland i'm
ports so much coal and produces so lit
tle. If any? She produces some, though
only about per cent of her annua
consumption. 1t is true that, in som
j places, Irish coal seams are thin, an
that not all of them would pay to work
but the production might be very large
~ and protitably developed with capita
and good management.
Ireland possesses both anthracite an
bltuminous coal deposits. The forme
is chiefly found in Leinster, which Ii
at present, the greatest oal-producin
province of the island; the latter
found in Connaught and elsewhere.
the Tyrone coal fields, there are be
lieved to be seams that might b
worked at great pecuniary profit. Al
socisted with the coal fields, there !
Sc very dch hematite IRON, especially i
N B! snd q