Wisconsin and Missouri Lead Region. 59 



for a great distance, no pieces of ore nor rock are exposed above 

 the soil, but according to reports they may be traced several miles 

 in a northerly direction. The soil itself consists of fragments of 

 iron ore, and most of it, if mixed with the large lamps, would 

 work well in a blast furnace. The pieces scattered about vary in 

 size ; few are so heavy that a man could not lift one of them, and 

 they are so numerous that they could long be depended upon for 

 the supply of many blast furnaces, without the necessity of min- 

 ing at all. Notwithstanding the sterility of the soil, the hill is 

 covered with a good growth of oak, and these trees are suffi- 

 ciently abundant throughout this section of country to supply all 

 the necessary fuel for large works during many years. But there 

 is no good water power within less than ten or twelve miles. 

 Limestone suitable for flux may be found almost any where in the 

 valleys, and also hematite iron ore of suitable quality to mix with 

 the heavy ores, or better, to work alone. Notwithstanding the 

 abundance and richness of the Iron Mountain ore, it yielding 

 about seventy per cent, of iron, it seems to me improbable that 

 it will soon become of any great importance, even if a company 

 could have a clear title to it, which none is now likely soon to ob- 

 tain. For it is a difficult ore to work in a blast furnace — it is likely 

 to be contaminated with titanium or other metals, which would 

 much increase the difficulty of working, as well as injure the 

 iron; and bloomeries, even if a great number could be in opera- 

 tion, could not make iron so cheap as to compete with the coke 

 and anthracite iron of Pennsylvania, and the Ohio River country. 

 The distance from the river, and nature of the country between, 

 are also serious objections. Besides, if it were desirable to en- 

 gage in this business, there is sufficient hematite iron ore, which 

 though it yield only from thirty to forty per cent, is a more profi- 

 table ore to work, and may be found in abundance, as I have 

 reason to believe, near the river and near the bituminous coal 

 mines on the other side of it. It is this ore that makes the cele- 

 brated Juniata iron, and when smelted with charcoal always 

 makes the softest and toughest bar iron. It was discovered and 

 wrought some time ago near Caledonia, and the Iron Mountain 

 ore was hauled and mixed with it. The furnace was a small 

 quarter stack, and if properly managed ou-ght to have done a good 

 business; but it is now abandoned, probably on account of inju- 

 dicious management. 



