360 RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE NICTAUX IRON FIELD. 
From this it is obvious that two veins were passed through, 
both of which flatten with depth. (See Plate V.) 
Plate VI is a plan showing the surface features of the locality. 
A few notes collected by the writer relative to the rate and 
cost of boring with this drill as proved by practical experience 
may be found interesting : 
In boring the 620 feet hole on the Wheelock Farm 1560 
hours were employed, which time included that taken up in the 
drawing of rods, sharpening bits and cutters, and other minor 
delays, so that fairly deducting say 257 of this, it would leave 
620 feet of core produced in 1170 hours of actual drilling, or an 
average rate of boring was attained of over 6 inches per hour. 
The cost of boring this hole may be very approximately set 
down at $2.00 per foot, made up as follows: 
Tia ORN Mie are ieeey hee See as as oe $670.00 
Mamasement em eieterrsttele« 1S. 250.00 
(2) Aon peal 8 a Sn SO ere 195.00 
Lighting, oil, waste, etc .......... 30.00 
HOt! cite bate tage eure apeye ye iceersy isd 50.00 
Wear/anditear eee serail t-- 50.00 
$1250.00 
In considering the above, it must be borne in mind that the 
rock here though composed of slates and shales, is very hard, 
and often intercalated with quartzite, and highly ferruginous 
bands; and further, though the drill runner is a competent 
man, all the conditions at first were new, and consequently both 
the cost and rate of boring will probably be materially reduced 
as the operations progress. 
In order to show that this hole was a severe test, the record 
of no. 2 may be taken in comparison, and it will be seen that on 
the average over 1 foot per hour was bored. while from 4 feet 
to 6 feet per hour was done in the softer portions of the rock. 
The cost of boring in this softer rock is also reduced by the 
fact that the cutter is used instead of shot, which latter method 
is not only expensive in the consumption of shot but also of shot 
barrel, which costs about $2.25 per foot, and wears away at the 
rate of about 1 foot of barrel in 50 feet of rock. 
