225 



We consider that a trip to the Iron Hills of Lake Superior will more 

 than pay any one, if he does nothing more than take a hasty survey of 

 that immense mineral deposit, without investing a farthing in the va- 

 rious adventures to make them productive. 



Detroit, June, 1854. 



IRON MAKING IN DETROIT. 



< 



BY 8. H. KIMBALL. 

 [Prepared originally for the Detroit Free Press.] 



The question is frequently asked, can we make iron successfully in 

 Detroit ? The writer has been frequently interrogated upon this sub- 

 ject, and proposes to submit a few coirsiderations upon the question, 

 which may be found valuable, to some extent, to the city. It is evi- 

 dent that before engaging in the manufocture of iron, here or elsewhere, 

 the manufacturer must be able to demonstrate to his own satisfaction, at 

 least, that the material to be wrought, and the fuel and labor to be em- 

 ployed in the work, can be obtained by him in successful competition 

 with all rivals within the range of his market. 



There are other considerations of minor importance, which, of course, 

 a prudent man would not omit to notice, — such as the cost of machine- 

 ry, real estate, access to markets at all seasons, and the like — ^but these 

 it is not proposed at present to consider. To state the question as it 

 really exists — can the iron ores of the Upper Peninsula be made into 

 pig metal, in or near this city, profitable ? and if so, can the manufac- 

 ture be continued into wrought iron with hke success ? 



The pig metal consumed in this and contiguous markets is of various 

 quality. Part of it is wrought with mineral coal, and part with char- 

 coal — the latter being deemed superior in quality for many purposes, 

 and bearing a better price in the market, corresponding with its, bettor 

 quality. It is undoubtedly true that the ores from the north portion of 

 this State can be for all time, delivered here, as well as labor furnished, 

 as cheaply as at any other point with equal facilities for market, though 

 no substantial advantage in either of these particulars can be reasonably 

 claimed. So far as fuel is concerned, although it is well known that 

 there is mineral coal in the interior of the State, no business should be 



29 



