34 Mineral Resources of JYew York. [July, 



be exhausted, if worked at a certain yearly rate. The calcula- 

 tion how much ore might be consumed yearly must have regard 

 to the fuel of the surrounding mountain and valleys, which fortu- 

 nately are now covered with primeval forests. It seems to be an 

 important fact, for the iron manufacturer in New York, that so 

 much forest and wild land should remain till the importance of 

 the ores of this section of country should be in a condition to be 

 appreciated. Had it been settled as early as was designed by the 

 original proprietors of its lands, the finest and best parts of the 

 wooded country would have been cleared long ere this. This ore 

 is now known to rank with the best and finest in the world, having 

 been proved by recent experiments to be adapted to the manufac- 

 ture of steel and the most important parts of machinery, where 

 strength, hardness and durability are required. The experiments 

 by which its value has been tested were of the most unexceptiona- 

 ble kinds, and they have also been performed by persons whose 

 experience entitles them to the highest confidence; and hence it 

 may be set down as certain that we have abundance of ore in 

 New York, which will soon be employed in the manufacture of the 

 tools and machinery. It is diflftcult, if not impossible, to esti- 

 mate the value of the ore of Adirondack; but we have often made 

 a rude estimate of one of the mines, that which is known as the 

 Sandford vein. The estimate of its value is founded upon the 

 following data. One thousand feet of the exposed surface is 600 

 feet wide. This great mass may be worked to the depth of 50 

 feet, without any expense for drainage, and every cubic yard is 

 worth four shillino;s in the mine. One thousand feet in length 

 and six hundred feet wide and fifty feet deep, contains one million 

 one hundred and eleven thousand and one hundred and eleven 

 cubic yards; which, at the value at which a cubic yard of ore is 

 estimated, gives in round numbers half a million of dollars for one 

 mine at Adirondack. A cord of the ore" may be profitably raised 

 for ten shillings. The facilities for transporting the ore are quite 

 favorable, and it may be carried on wheels twenty miles down the 

 valley of the river, cheaper than fuel can be brought to the mine. 

 By adopting the plan of reducing the ore at points below the 



