The Bienville Democrat., 1922-06-08
,,rNyaIE AND CLAIBORNE
PARISHES RICH IN IRON ORE


rha following extract from an art
,o,o nablished IN the anniversary edi.
,,aa Of the Shreveport Times, will be
a interest to those who failed to see
eopy 'of that paper, as It bears on
M mineral possibilities Of Bienville
Pprish..
In 1885 Prof. Edwin Enderle, M. E.
n The United States geologic sur
vey.. made an elaborate survey Of
north Louisiana and as a result Of his
,ooort, the eyes Of the world became
.eotered upon this section and its
ronderful mineral possibilities. Iron
~. limestone, Ignite or brown coal
,,.,,s sof various kinds were found
- .,ist in six parishes, covering an
.,,a Of 1900 miles square in Caddo'
n.s.,., Webster, Claiborne, Union
and Bienville Parishes
Stresses Advantages
rssa mineral resources Of north
,ads,AnG have only recently become
tpovn; that is their value particu'
\, stress can be laid on the fact
,bat the natural valuable advantages
surrounding the mineral producing
..etiop Of north Louisiana is not sur
p.,sed anywhere" said Enderle' The
,eoort urged the Development OF the
iron industry and, with the voice Of a
n,oohet, the geologist declared that
.seh development would stimulate all
lines Of business beyond the widest
A,.,ms Of north Louisiana would
enjoy an era Of great prosperity and
mo center Of the iron industry OF the
country.
Il Is significant that in this report
"a mention Is made Of surface indica'
lion Of oil o. fhe presence Of large
ou.ntities Of gas in these parishes
INIT men xhosaocompanied Enderle on
.ome Of his trips, not geoligists but
confident Of the future discovery OF
louid gold, continued their investiga'
tious afterward along these lines and
!. 4 result discovered the greatest oil
and gas field in the world bringing
10 .-realization the prophecy Of En-
desle "that the mineral producing sec.
nou Of North Louisiana Is not sur
psssed anywhere
The Enderle report reveals that
these mineral deposits were found in
the parishes now producing oil or
~ in great quantities: Caddo, Bos-
der, Webster, Claiborne and Union
are already producing areas and In
Bienyille, in practically the same spot
mentioned in the Enderle report, two
and one.half miles south Of the V. s.
T. P. railroad, plans for intensive
drilling already have been consum'
mated and great results are antici'
nted A
The following excerpts from this
report, made 81 years ago, are inter.
esting In view of the wonderful oil
and gas develOpement in the wonder
field embraced within the surveyed
area:
Claiborne Parish.
h II consider the banner parish Tor
quantity. Here are found the largest
areas and deepest bodies Of ore in
the state. The best and largest Bodies
exist primarily south Of Homer, with
h easy reach Of the v. s. (. p rail
load. The ore will average 50 pei
cent metallic iron, little or no sui
phur and only .H4ths phosphorus,
which 10 not worth considering. The
oFes Of this parish are very uniform
! II grade. The ore is admirably adapt
Cd for making steel.
AThere is also found a superior ar
. ticls Of Ignite drown coal), no lime
, stone, shell and green sand mari arr
found at various points.
Bienyillo Parish.
Being the last and situated prin
dpaly south Of the v. s. 4. P. rail
1 toad, conalas along ,its northern Dor
dss Z continuation Of the same iro'
] ess and formation as found In tn
/ southern part Of. Clairborne. The Clai
borne southern line extends to withil
ahout two miles Of the railroad, con
Ssquently all the territory within th
/ limit carries more or less ore At Al
eadia the ore 10 found in paying quan
uties about two and onehaR mile
south Of the road. The ore OF tnl
parish is exactly like that found \
Claiborne, hence my remarks on tn
ahoye parish are applicable to Bier