SCHUYLER COUNTY. 87 



Iron Ore. Iron, either in the form of a carbonate or sulphuret, is very gen- 

 erally distributed through the Coal Measures, and the latter is almost always 

 found more or less in the coal itself, thereby greatly deteriorating its value. 

 A very good argillaceous iron ore occurs on Sugar creek, on the place formerly 

 owned by Mr. James A. Chadsey, on section 32, township 2 north, range 1 

 east, intercalated in the shale below No. 2 coal. It occurs in several bands? 

 the thickest one being a foot in thickness, the next in importance, about six 

 inches, and then some thinner ones, making altogether, an aggregate of about 

 two feet in thickness of iron ore, distributed through some five or six feet of 

 shale. An analysis of this ore by Messrs. Blaney and Mariner, of Chicago, is 

 given in this place, and also, for comparison, the analysis of a similar ore from 

 Pennsylvania : 



Analysis of Chadsey's iron ore : 



Protoxide of iron 52.31 



Lime 1.16 



Magnesia 1.48 



Silica 8.84 



Alumina 10.44 



Water and carbonic acid 25.77 



100.00 



Analysis of argillaceous iron ore from Pennsylvania, as determined by Prof. H. D. Rodgers: 



Peroxide of iron 23 



Protoxide of iron 53.03 



Lime 3.33 



Magnesia 1.77 



Silica 1.40 



Alumina 63 



Water, carbonic acid, and bitumen 39.61 



100.00 



In regard to the Schuyler county ore, Messrs. Blaney and Mariner remark 

 as follows : '' The Chadsey iron ore is an argillaceous carbonate of iron, of ex- 

 cellent quality, comparing favorably with the Pennsylvania ores, the analysis 

 of one of the best of which is given for comparison." There is no question as 

 to the good quality of this ore from Schuyler county, and the only point that 

 remains to be determined is, whether it can be found in a sufficient body to 

 justify the erection of an iron furnace in this vicinity. Iron ore of similar 

 quality, is found at about the same horizon, at several localities in this and the 

 adjoining counties, but nowhere in large bodies. 



Building Stone. Grood building stone is tolerably abundant in this county, 

 and is accessible on nearly all the streams. The sandstones below the main 

 coal seam, furnishes a free-stone of good quality, which has been used in the 

 construction of the jail in Rushville. The strata vary in thickness from one to 



