146 Staten Island Association of Arts and Sciences 



found occupying the same relative position to the bottom as re- 

 corded in my note book for 1896. This was definite evidence, 

 zvhich could be sworn to if necessary, that no appreciable erosion 

 of the bottom of the gully had taken place since 1896, and what- 

 ever loss of the surface material might have been sustained 

 could only have been due to such as was washed in from the 

 sides by rain-water falling on the land of the plaintiff. This 

 surface material, consisting of earthy limonite, was the only ma- 

 terial claimed to contain " precious minerals," and as a matter 

 of curiosity an attempt was made to obtain some idea of its extent 

 or amount within the area of possible erosion into the gully. 

 Five holes were dug down to the soapstone at more or less widely 

 separated locations and the depth of the limonite was measured. 

 These measurements were respectively 2 ft., 2 ft. 6 in., 2 ft. 5 in., 

 2 ft. 9 in., and 8 ft. A liberal estimate of the possible amount of 

 such material eroded during the past two years was calculated 

 at about one-half ton. It would be of great interest to know the 

 original location and depth of the material representing the 5,000 

 tons claimed to have been lost, and where it is now located or 

 distributed. This is a rather large mass of solid matter to dis- 

 appear in so short a space of time and leave no trace behind. 

 Incidentally may be noted the following analyses of the limo- 

 nite, made in connection with the case by Professor H. T. Beans, 

 of Columbia University: 



Sample No. i. Shot Ore 



Per Cent. 



Fe 2 3 61.97 



H2O, combined 9.56 



H 2 0, hygroscopic (105 Cent.) 2.44 



SiQ 2 9.87 



P 0.087 



S 0.066 



Metallic iron 39.48 = 789.6 lbs. metallic iron per ton of 2,000 lbs. ore. 



Sample No. 2. Earthy Ore 



Per Cent. 



Fe 2 3 66.38 



H 2 0, combined 8.20 



H 2 0, hygroscopic 2. 14 



Metallic iron 42.29 = 845.8 lbs. metallic iron per ton of 2,000 lbs. ore. 



