182 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



State, in any direction, a straight line equal in length to the 

 breadth of the State, without traversing a bed of iron ore, 

 or of limestone, or of both. It is not doubted that equally 

 interesting proofs of the prodigality of nature towards our 

 country may be found in other States and territories of the 

 Union, nor is it necessary to dwell on the importance of 

 obtaining accurate information respecting them. 



In regard to our extensive lead mines, the value of such 

 information will be readily perceived by comparing the 

 present abundant supply of that article with the condition 

 of things when it was obtained only by importation, and 

 when organ tubes of that metal were taken from the 

 churches to yield a scanty supply of bullets to Washing- 

 ton's little army at Cambridge. 



It is unnecessary to dwell on the importance of obtaining 

 accurate information respecting the metals employe* I for 

 coin. Whatever materials the financial wisdom of the 

 nation shall at length decide to render current, as the 

 medium of exchange and the standard of value, our mines 

 of the precious metals, their nature, extent, and richness. 

 must ever remain objects of deep interest, both to individ- 

 uals and to the public. 



The value to be attached to our materials for architectural 

 constructions and other ornamental purposes yet remains to 

 be fully developed. Enough, however, is known to assure 

 us that we have among our marbles for massive structures, 

 those which may vie with the Pentelican of Greece ; for 

 ornamental furniture, with the variegated species of Egypt; 

 and for beautiful statuary, with the snow-white Cararra of 

 Italy. With lithographic limestone we need no longer call 

 on Germany to supply us. Our mineral colors, hydraulic 

 cements, and fire clays, need only be better understood in 

 order to supercede entirely similar articles from abroad. 



A patriotic resolution of one branch of the National 

 Legislature has recently decreed that the bust of one of our 

 most eminent revolutionary statesmen shall henceforth rest 

 on a massive fragment of that iron mountain found in the 

 rich and productive region which, by a bloodless and hon- 

 orable purchase, his sagacious counsels annexed to our 

 beloved country. Would that our thirty years of posses- 

 sion had taught us other uses of that ore than to lie in 

 unshaped masses as pedestals for our patriots. Then might 

 we boast some greater share of that real national independ- 

 ence, to the attainment of which the whole life of our Jef- 

 ferson was devoted. 



5. Passing to the interests of the country, as involved in 



