184 BULLETIN OF THE 



In 1869 the Rhode Island Society for the Encouragement of Domestic 

 Industry published a report relating to the coal and iron in Rhode 

 Island, from which we glean the following. The iron ore is regarded 

 as practically inexhaustible, the mass at Iron Mine Hill visible above 

 drainage being estimated at two millions of tons. 



"It is also conceded, as regards quality, that the Cumberland ore is 

 free from sulphur and phosphorus, the most common and worst im- 

 purities, and that it contains manganese, the most prized of all the 

 elements found in connection with iron. For these reasons the Cumber- 

 land ore is sought by manufacturers at a distance, to mix with softer 

 ores and improve their quality, and is now exported from this State for 

 that purpose." 



It seems that this Iron Mine Hill ore was employed in 1703, mixed 

 with the hematite of Cranston, R. I., for the casting of cannon. The 

 work was done at Cumberland, and, in part at least, " the cannon used 

 in the celebrated Louisburg expedition, in 174:5," were cast from these 

 ores. The manufacture was abandoned in 1763, owing to an explosion 

 of the furnace, by which the proprietor was killed. 



During the administration of John Adams the same ores were also 

 used for the manufacture of cannon. It seems that the Cumberland 

 (Iron Mine Hill) ore was employed in the manufacture of charcoal iron 

 at Easton, Chelmsford, and Walpole, Mass., as late as 1834. "The 

 Cumberland ore, mixed with equal quantities of Cranston hematite or 

 bog ore, produced, for a long period, a charcoal iron unsurpassed in this 

 country. . . . The Cumberland ore contains an uncertain percentage of 

 titanium, which, while it improves its quality, helps make it refractor}'. 

 The ore is poi'phyritic, the magnetic oxide being associated with earthy 

 minerals, principally feldspar and serpentine." It would seem that in 

 1869, and before, the ore was largely shipped to Pennsylvania to mix 

 Avith other ores. 



A letter of Professor R. H. Thurston, published in this report, states : 

 " The Cumberland iron ore is of the kind known to mineralogists as 

 ' ilmenite ' ; among metallurgists as ' titaniferous magnetic ore,' and iron 

 manufactm-ers, on account of its peculiar value for producing steel, 

 would term it a ' steel ore.' . . . The Cumberland ore is conveniently 

 located and of inexhaustible extent ; it is perfectly free from noxious 

 elements, though somewhat refractory ; it will furnish a very strong 

 iron or a most excellent steel ; it can be smelted within the State at a 

 profit ; it can be made directly into steel at a much greater profit ; steel 

 made from it will bring the highest prices in the market." 



