SCIENTIFIC SURVEY. 4^5 



plates which are to be used in future in the construction of our 

 gunboats. 



Pardon me if my zeal for the integrity of our naval honor, or the 

 desire to see the resources of the State developed, has led me to 

 trespass upon your time. I could but think of the great confidence 

 of our people in our gunboats, and the consternation which must 

 ensue should our " Monitors" ever be pitted against such a craft 

 as the " Black Prince" of England, a vessel plated with Woodstock 

 iron, especially as we have in our hands the means of constructing 

 more formidable boats than the " Black Prince" — more formidable, 

 because with the same kind of iron, we have a better model. 



Should the facts stated above appear worthy of consideration 

 and inquiry, to your minds, we suppose the responsibilitj' of further 

 action will rest with the Government as to the mode of carrying 

 on the manufacture of the iron, and of communicating thereon to 

 the United States Government. 



I need only say further, that all the members of the scientific 

 corps of the State, will do all that is in their power to assist in the 

 development of this ore, and that we always hold ourselves in 

 readiness to perform any duty required of us by the State whether 

 scientific or otherwise. 



With great respect. 



Your obedient servant, 



C. H. HITCHCOCK, 



Stale Geologist. 



We requested Mr. George L. Goodale to report as fully as pos- 

 sible upon the iron ore from Wade plantation and upon some other 

 ores recently discovered, particularly in Union. He has done so 

 in a very satisfactory manner, and herewith we present his report. 

 We fe6l much more sanguine respecting the prospects of the Union 

 ore than his caution would allow him to express : 



Chas. H. Hitchcock, M. A., 



Geologist to the Scientific Survey of Maine. 

 Sir : — The following report upon the economical value of certain 

 ores of iron, in this State, has been prepared at your request. 

 Your careful study of the geological relations of these deposits has 

 left me little to say in regard to their occurrence, and therefore my 

 work is limited to the plain presentation of such facts as bear di- 

 rectly upon their importance to miners and dealers in iron. 



