38 ECONOMICAL MINERALOGY. 



Present Condition of the Manufacture of Iron in the State of New- York. 



The manufacture of iron was commenced, in the State of New- York, at a comparatively 

 early period. It was actively carried on in Orange county for several years previously to the 

 American Revolution. I have, however, no means of determining the extent of the manufac- 

 ture at that early date. In 1810, the value of the iron manufactured in the State was esti- 

 mated at $859,895. At that time there were in the counties of Essex and Clinton, one 

 bloomery and twelve forges, at which 259 tons were manufactured, besides 100 tons from the 

 furnaces.* In 1830, the number of iron works and trip hammers in the State was 335, of 

 which the Fourth and Fifth Senate Districts contained no less than 176. According to the 

 census returns made in 1835, the number of iron works and trip hammers was 434, and the 

 value of the iron manufactured was $4,713,530; being an increase from 1830 of nearly 100 

 iron works and trip hammers, and in the value of iron manufactured of upwards of $1,000,000. 

 In 1840, according to the census returns, there were 306 furnaces, bloomeries, forges and 

 rolling mills ; in which 82,654 tons of cast iron, and 58,275 tons of bar iron, were manufac- 

 tured. The capital invested in these was estimated at $2,113,818. To this should be added 

 $1,806,638, as the value of hardware, cutlery, &c. manufactured. 



If these statements are to be relied on, the manufacture of this important article did not 

 advance in the State of New-York during the period from 1835 to 1840. 



The prosperity of the manufacture of iron in any country must depend mainly upon the 

 abundance of the raw material, and the low price at which it can be obtained. It is essential 

 also to its success, that the iron produced be of good quality. 



From the account which has been presented of the iron ores found in this State, it is evident 

 that there is a supply for the utmost demand. There is, however, a considerable difference 

 in the quality of these ores ; or, what amounts to the same thing, manufacturers give a de- 

 cided preference to those from particular localities, which thus have a greatly increased value, 

 while others have been in a measure neglected, or at least are considered of little importance. 

 Making every allowance for the natural superiority of some ores, this result may in part be 

 ascribed to the want of skill in conducting the mining operations, and in following out the 

 details of the manufacture. 



In regard to the first of these points, it may be remarked, that the raising of the ores has 

 heretofore been generally conducted in the rudest and most careless manner. With a few 

 exceptions, the whole object of the proprietors of our mines seems to have been to obtain a 

 present supply of ore at the easiest and cheapest rate. Hence excavations have often been 

 improperly made, and good beds of ore have not unfrequently been rendered valueless by the 

 falling in of rocks, or by vast collections of rubbish which have accumulated. The conse- 

 quence of these injudicious, and in some instances ruinous operations, the result oftentimes 

 of false notions of economy, has been to render this branch of mining a peculiarly expensive 



* Tench Coxe. Statement of Arts ami Manufactures in the United Stales. 



