The Adirondack Region — Magnetic Iron Ores. 33 



makes a slightly oblique angle with the foot wall. The mine has 

 reached a depth of 800 feet, measured on the slopes, or a vertical 

 depth of 200 feet. The ore varies in texture from fine-crystalline to 

 a coarse-grained, shot-like mass. Vitreous quartz is common with the 

 magnetite. It is a Bessemer ore. Fine cleavage specimens occur in 

 places, as also large crystals of magnetite. The roof is supported by 

 pillars and scarcely any timbering is necessary. The volume of 

 water is remarkably small, enough for the boilers only. The two 

 slopes are worked from one engine house standing between them. 

 The ore is hauled by teams to the railroad, near the New Bed, three- 

 quarters of a mile distant. 



FISHER HILL MINE.— Four slopes are opened in the ore-body 

 on Fisher Hill, a half-mile north of the Barton Hill mine. The dip 

 of the ore is at a moderately steep angle to the south-west. The ore 

 is about five feet thick. It is lean, but answers for Bessemer iron. 

 The Port Henry Iron Ore Company owns this mine. 



O'NEIL, COOK AND THOMPSON SHAFTS. — These mines 

 are a half mile east of Fisher Hill. Their workings are connected. 

 They belong to Witherbees, Sherman & Co. For several years they 

 have been idle. 



Magnetic indications of the existence of iron ore in this part of the 

 town of Moriah were noted as early as 1810, at the time of the survey 

 of the Iron Ore Tract. The first openings were as early as 1824. 

 Mine 21 was discovered in 1829 ; New Bed in 1814.* There 

 was not much ore raised before 1846, when openings were made on 

 lots 23 and 25. Dr. Emmons and Prof. Beck described the mines 

 in 1842.f Since 1852 these mines have been opened extensively 

 and their producing capacity has been increased, so that they rank 

 with the largest iron mines of the country. The output has aggre- 

 gated as much as 428,000 tons in a single year, and 8,846,000 gross 

 tons in the period, 1840-1888, inclusive.! 



BURT HILL MINE, Elizabethtown, Essex County. — The 

 Champlain Iron Company owns the Burt Hill mine, on lot No. 55 of 



* Watson : " History of Essex County," Albany 1869, pp. 391-2 and 398. 

 f Emmons : " Survey of Second Geological District," pp. 237-244. 

 Beck : Mineralogy, pp. 15-16. . 



X Statistics communicated by Mr. Walter C. "Witherbee, of Port Henry (of With- 

 erbees, Sherman & Co. 



