Notice of Steel Mine and Iron Works. 32 1 



would be required, the Shepaug river, which passes directly under 

 the base of the mountain, (and so near as only to leave room for a 

 road,) will furnish every facility that can be desired. It affords a 

 never failing supply of water ; and upon its banks a saw and grist mill 

 are erected directly at the foot of the mountain. The width of the riv- 

 er is four or five rods, and its average depth three feet. It is supplied 

 from the Litchfield pond or lake, ten or twelve miles northward, from 

 which it flows with a rapid fall between two ranges of mountains, which, 

 for several miles above Mine hill, rise very abruptly from its banks to 

 the height of three hundred and fifty or five hundred feet. The 

 sides of these mountains are clothed with a heavy growth of hard 

 wood, extending quite down to the water's edge. After the stream 

 passes under Mine hill, a litde interval land begins to appear, and 

 continues for two or three miles south : upon this and the more gen- 

 tle ascent upon the east of the stream, exist several well cultivated 

 farms. The land, however, which is situated northward, belongs to 

 the farmers who live upon the mountains, distant about a mile or a 

 mile and a half from the stream. From these circumstances, it is 

 apparent, that coal lands of the best quality and near by, may be ob- 

 tained at the lowest rate. Tracts, containing thousands of acres, 

 may be purchased, as favorably situated as could be wished, at a 

 price varying from three to ten dollars the acre, according to its fit- 

 ness or unfitness for agriculture after clearing. 



The communication between Mine Hill and the Housatonic, a dis- 

 tance of only four miles, is easy for land carriage ; and from a junc- 

 tion of these rivers, boat navigation exists to Derby : to which last 

 place sloops ascend. The means of living and of obtaining mining la- 

 bor, about the mine, would be abundant and cheap. The steel af- 

 forded from the ore, would allow of the establishment of manufac- 

 tures of saws, steel springs, sythes, and coarse cutlery in general ; all 

 of which are carried on in France, in connexion with such mines, 

 and which the wants of the agricultural country in the immediate vi- 

 cinity, and the easy access to New York, must render exceedingly 

 profitable.* 



* The following statements respecting the extent and value of the Sparry Iron, 

 and of the steel to which it gives rise, are extracted from two of the most recent and 

 respectable treatises upon the application of mineralogy to the arts. 



" Sparry iron is a rich ore, and one which is sought after, because it is easy to 

 melt, and affords steel directly. It yields easily to the treatment of the Catalan forge ; 

 a method uniting economy of time and of combustible in the highest degree." 



