SCIENTIFIC SURVEY. ^jg 



The following are the proportions of iron-ore, fuel and lime : 

 3 barrows of ore, 450 pounds each, 1,350 pounds. 

 20 bushels charcoal. 

 TO pounds limestone. 



The metal is cast into pig-s of 90 pounds each. 



The ore is obtained from two localities, in one of which a portion 

 of the mineral has a bright red streak, and goes by the name of red 

 hematite at the mine. It is undoubtedly, compact red hematite. 

 In another locality the ore is plainly hydrous peroxide of iron. 

 200 pounds of one of these ores is usually reduced in a charge 

 with 1,150 of the other. 



The metal which is reduced from the ore is a fibrous silver-grey 

 iron which has a thready fracture indicating great tenacity. 



From what has now been said, it is plain to see that, relying 

 upon the statements of the proprietors of the Woodstock mines, 

 this ore is now being used extensively in the English navy. It is 

 employed because it is their best iron. 



This description has been given in order that it may be under- 

 stood that in Maine we have an ore which will yield an iron equal 

 in every respect to that which is sent to Liverpool from the river 

 St. John. 



It is not for me to decide whether private individuals should 

 embark in the enterprise of developing the resources of the mine 

 on the Aroostook, because it is my opinion that mining operations 

 in New England should be very cautiously undertaken. The value 

 of a mine does not wholly depend upon the per cent, of metal which 

 it will yield, but also, largely, perhaps principally, upon the cost 

 of labor, reduction and transportation. 



But it certainly appears reasonable that a matter of such impor- 

 tance as this, of plating our ships of war with metal as good or 

 better than those of our now friendly neighbors, (may we long be 

 friendly,) should receive the careful attention of our government. 

 It would be well to learn, before it is too late, whether our plates 

 made of scrap iron can be shattered as the scrap-iron plates were 

 broken at Shoeburyness. 



A variety usually referred to limonite (Beudant) occurs in the im- 

 mediate vicinity of Houlton. It appears to be, by no means, uni- 

 form in quality. The geologist of the survey has already referred 

 to this in his report, and it only remains for me to say that the ore 

 contains too much manganese and too little iron to be of much use 



