THE MINING AND QUARRY INDUSTRY I909 49 



in the short run last year were reported to have been very 

 satisfactory. A feature, novel to the Adirondack region, is the 

 use of producer gas which is supplied by the company's plant; 

 gas engines of 750 horsepower are installed and their power 

 is transmitted to the mine and mill by electric current. The 

 company operates its own branch railroad which connects with 

 the New York Central lines at Dolgeville. 



Lake Sanford. The development of the titaniferous deposits 

 of this locality has been continued during the past year. San- 

 ford hill has been largely cleared off and the ore exposed in 

 several places. A few thousand tons of the ore were taken out 

 and hauled by wagon to North Creek to be shipped for experi- 

 mental purposes. Exploration with the diamond drill has been 

 chiefly directed during the year to the Cheney deposits which 

 He to the west of Lake Sanford. The ore here occurs in gabbro 

 and is mostly a fine grained mixture of magnetite and silicates; 

 though in places it has a coarser texture like the usual grade 

 of Sanford ore. 



Sufficient work has been done to insure a large ore supply 

 when mining is once started. Prominent metallurgists have 

 expressed confidence that the magnetite can be reduced suc- 

 cessfully in the blast furnace, at least when used in mixture 

 with other ores, and offers have already been made for a large 

 tonnage. Active operations can not be undertaken, however, 

 until a railroad is constructed to the mines. The natural out- 

 let, which is by the way of the Hudson river valley to North 

 Creek, unfortunately seems to be blocked by the necessity of 

 crossing State lands. The other alternative, to run the line 

 east to some point on Lake Champlain, means the laying of 

 from 50 to 60 miles of track over a rough country, whereas the 

 distance to North Creek is only about 30 miles. It is hoped that 

 a satisfactory solution of the difficulty may be reached, for the 

 opening of the mines would give a great impetus to the iron 

 ore industry of the State. 



Clinton hematites. The production of ore along the Clinton 

 belt was larger last year than in 10,08, and it will probably show 

 a further gain during the current year. In Wayne county the 

 Ontario Iron Ore Co. started operations and the Wayne Iron 

 Ore Co. made preparation^ for an active mining campaign at 

 the opening of the present season. The Furnaceville Iron Co. 

 contributed about the usual output from this region. At CllC- 



