New-York tribune., 1907-11-19
NO PROSPECT or AN IRON FAMINE.

Much establishment created on this side
Of the Atlantic about year ago by report
concerning the worlds supply of iron ore. The
document had an origin which entitled ii to re-
spect If not to confidence, but contained an un-
pleasant, not TO say alarming, suggestion. 1t
was prepared at the request of the Swedish Par
lament by noted geOlogist of Sweden, who be-
lieved that the quantity Of available ore so
well known that any error in the estimates could
not exceed per cent. He put the total at 10,-
OOO,OOO,OOO tons, but assigned to the United
States scarcely enough TO last until the year
1850. Here. certainly, was an unpromising fore
east for the, country which produces more pig
iron and steel than any other.
Though the report elected expressions of
skepticsm well as Of sOlicitude, no one seemed
able at once either to verify or disprove the
statements which related to America. But the
United States Geological Survey. recognizing the
importance of getting al the truth instituted an
investigation. the results of which have been
embodied in pamphlet and are 10 form n part
Of volume on Mineral Resources of the
United States for 1906" It's author Mr. Edwin
c. ECkes remarks at the outset that no mining
geOlogist In this country would dare to affirm
that the deposits in the United States are known
with anything like accuracy. Even regarding
those in the vicinity of Lake Superior opinions
differ. current estimates ranging from 500
100000 to 2O00OO0OOO tons. Mr. Eckels COM
putes that in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and
Virginia 2575, 100000 tons are to be found above
the 10O0foOt level. At lower levels in those
states and in several other states there is
good deal more hematlte. TO say nothing of
magnetic ores which are not yet being sought
In the South alone. he thinks, there is an ore
reserve of nearly 10000. 100000 tons or five
times much that which he assigns to the
Lake Superior district and ten times the amount
with which the Swedish geoogist credits the
whole United States.
From the statements made by Mr. Eckels sew
eral conclusions may be drawn. However ac-
curate the Swedish report may have been when
dealing with European deposits. its author can
not have enjoyed the same facilities for learn
ing the truth about this country that the United
States Geological Survey can command Very
likely he would concede much himself after
examining Mr. Eckels review If the Lake
Superior stores were the only ones TO draw on
they might possibly give out in thirty or forty
years. but they may well last considerably
longer, since the demand for ore can be met
TO great extent from other sources The de
pOsits in the Lake Superior region and those
which can be easily mined In the South appar-
emily amount to 4.500.000,O00 tons. If the con.
sumption should not exceed 50.OONOOO tons a
wear. here would be almost enough for cen
tury. There would be little temptation perhaps.
to attack the ores which are inferior in quail
ity and which cannot be worked economically
but when the others were nearly exhausted
these would hardly be treated with contempt
Furthermore il is known that there is iron in
the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific States
Government reports leave no doubt as to the
general fact. though the quantity has not yet
been determined. Without counting on fresh
discoveries on the Continent or importntions