420 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



in the economical mannfactnre of the latter metal. A small pro- 

 portion of oxide of manganese is not considered injurious to the 

 reduced metal or to the steel manufactured from an ore contain- 

 taining it. 



But it is my opinion that a diligent metallurgical search under 

 proper supervision, and with facilities greater than those placed in 

 the hands of members of the survey corps, will be able to discover 

 on our side of the boundary, near Iloulton, a bed of ore continuous 

 with that in Woodstock. The discovery of a bed of ore as good 

 as that in AVoodstock, or in Wade plantation, would have such an 

 important bearing upon the growth of eastern Aroostook county 

 as to make this a matter of much importance. 



That the grounds upon which the opinion is based may be fully 

 understood, the following considerations are presented : 



1st. The general direction of the rocks in and around the Wood- 

 stock mines would cause us to search for the deposit of ore, if con- 

 tinuous, in the immediate vicinity of Iloulton, and not far from the 

 manganesian ore referred to. 



2d. The same ore has been seen, by the superintendent of the 

 Woodstock works, in Richmond, a township lying between Houl- 

 ton and the mines. 



3d. The occurrence of the manganesian variety of hematite in 

 nearly the line of strike. 



It is for the above reasons that the owners of the fields in which 

 the poorer ores are found, are advised to examine their portion of 

 the town very carefully. The large bed of ore described by Dr. 

 Holmes in Linneus is undoubtedly similar to that in Woodstock ; 

 though it is somewhat magnetic. 



Bog-iron ore, which is an hydrous per-oxide of iron, is found in 

 many parts of our State, and, in some localities, in quantities 

 which warrant active mining operations. 



The most important one is at a point south-west of the Ebeeme 

 mountains, called Ivatalulin Iron Works. The whole territory be- 

 longing to the company, which erected furnaces, has been specially 

 explored by Dr. Jackson of Boston. He was engaged by the 

 company, I have been informed, to make a thorough survey of the 

 township. As a result of this examination, furnaces were soon at 

 work, and excellent iron was produced. The quality and cheap- 

 ness of the iron produced, and not the percentage of metal detected 

 in the laboratory is the true test of the value of a mine. In this 



