The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-12-27
Big Hdorado Discovered By Mining
Expert in ireland.
MILLIONS OF TONS OF COAL AND IRON
IMMENSE SEAMS FOUND IN
NORTH ANTRlM-RAlSE ONE
MILLION TONS YEARLY

DUBLIN, Dec. 27-EcOnOmists have
attributed much of Irelands poverty
to her comparative dearth of mineral
products. A discovery has been made
at Ballycastle in North Antrim which
kinder to the "ever green isle' in this
reset than had generally been sup
posed. Immense seams of coal, iron
ore and fire clay have been found and
company with $2,5OO,OO0 capital has
been formed to work the mines. Their
operation must exercise great influence
in accelerating the progress Of indus
trial development in that part of the
country at least. 1t means big boom.
The story of the discovery is an I'M
eighteenth century coal mines mad been
worked in the neighborhood, but it was
supposed that the deposits had been
exhausted. Two years ago Mr.. Braude,
an eminent mining expert, who had
made a fortune in South Africa, chanc-
ed to visit the region on holiday tour
Going over the ground, his keen eyes
observed signs that appealed to him
far more strongly than the beauty of
the landscape. In consequence he COM
municated with the geological and sur
vey department of Ireland and received
the report Of Professor Hull, VINO de-
clared that his Investigations had con-
WINGED him that the earlier workings
had practically exhausted the entire
local deposit.
Millions Of Tons Of CaoI.
Had Mr.. Braude been satisfied with
the report of the government expert,
Ireland's new Eldorado would have re-
NAMED undiscovered for perhaps an
other century. But Mr.. Braude's South
African experience mad not imbued him
with a very high opinion of the value
of departmental employees researches.
He engaged Professor Cole one of the
most eminent of Irish biologists, to
make a fresh survey.
The result entirely confirmed Mr..
Braude's own judgment. After going
carefully over the ground, testing the
thickness of the seams revealed by the
borings, he gave it as his opinion that
at least 100000 tons Of coal of ex-
cellent quality were accessible there.
The borings for coal also revealed
the existence Of large quantities Of
blackboard iron stone. The actual
discovery Of the stone did not create
much surprise, but people opened their
eyes in establishment when Professor
Cole declared there were at the lowest
estimate 155,O0O,OO0 tons of it. An
alysts' tests showed that the stone is
one Of the richest ores in the world,
being superior even to the best of the
famed Spanish ores. The average of
the latter is so per cent of peroxide of
iron, while the Irish find. according to
the analysts figures, yields slightly
over 81 per cent.
Another discovery no less remarkable
soon followed. This was an enormous
deposit OF nre clay, substance whose
existence was hitherto unknown in Ire
land, Of first-class quality.
1t is expected that when the COM
plete coal mining appliances are run
ming 100000 tons will be raised each
year. The iron stone deposits will be
| worked for all they are worth and an
up to- date fireclay brick plant will be
put down. The combined operations
will furnish employment to something
like 1000 men.