152 Report on the Geological Survey of Connecticut. 
details are numerous and important, and do not always admit of 
abridgment. 
In his introduction, after giving credit to those who have preceded 
him in examining the mineral resources of Connecticut, Prof. Shep- 
ard remarks—* I am far from entertaining the opinion that her min- 
eral wealth is yet fairly laid open to view. On the contrary, a 
glance only has been obtained, but enough it is believed, to awaken 
fresh zeal and confidence in relation to what remains concealed. 
« The opinion which has until recently prevailed respecting the 
metallic treasures of Connecticut was certainly erroneous. Her 
iron mines have often been represented as fast tending to exhaustion, 
and her iron manufacture as being attended with little advantage. 
One of these mines however, has long yielded its proprietors a clear 
annual profit of about five thousand dollars; while many handsome 
fortunes have been realized from the iron business in that section of 
the State. Instead of a failure in the supply of ore, it may confi- 
dently be asserted, that not one half of the workable beds in that 
- district are as yet fairly uncovered ; while it is equally true, that as 
soon as proper economy in the burning of charcoal and the radical 
improvement of the hot air-blast are introduced, cast iron will be 
afforded at one half its present cost, and this without any diminution 
of profit to the manufacturer. An iron resource also, of great value, 
in the steel-ore of Roxbury, has hitherto been wholly unappreciated. 
And if our copper region has not as yet been a source of income to 
the State, it is not surely because we are deficient in this valuable 
metal, as the plainest indications show ; but for the reason that enter- 
prise and capitak have been wanting to open these deposits: for 
workable veins of copper, unlike the other metals, rarely attain the 
surface of the earth. The neglect of these mines however, until 
the present time, will prove less a detriment to the public wealth from 
the fact, that the working of deep mines (in consequence of the 
economy introduced into the system of furnishing supplies requisite 
to such undertakings, and the saving of power in the improvement 
of the steam engine) is now carried on, at less than one half the cost 
incurred twenty-five years ago. Cobalt, zinc, lead, bismuth and sil- 
ver, are also to be included on the list of metals which will one day 
augment the wealth of the State; nor are the indications of tin, a 
metal most of all to be desired, wholly wanting. Without wishing 
by unauthorized statements to allure the inconsiderate, and those not 
possessed of the necessary resources, into a branch of business where 
the chances of success would be greatly against them, I still feel it~ 
