56 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



of the gangway. As the ore measures 30 inches on the average, 

 approximately 2 feet of the overlying shale is taken down for con- 

 venience in working. This material is packed some distance behind 

 the face for roof support, while between the pack and the face 

 wooden posts are placed from 5 to 10 feet apart for further security. 

 As far as possible the posts are removed with the advance of the 

 workings to be again used in the same manner. The bottom of 

 the face is taken out first by drilling diagonally from the top of the 

 ore bed. Upon blasting the lower portion of the ore is loosened 

 and taken out, after which horizontal holes are drilled into the 

 shale and the upper part, including the remainder of the ore bed, is 

 removed. Tracks are laid to the working face and the ore is 

 trammed by hand or by mules to the mine dump outside. The soft 

 character of the Clinton strata is an advantage in this system of 

 working in that it tends to produce a constant and uniform settle- 

 ment of the ground with the advance of operations. There Is thus 

 little or no danger from roof falls. The only drawback seems to 

 be that of occasional creeping of the floor in the gangways which 

 requires attention from time to time. 



The few data bearing upon costs that have been obtained would 

 indicate that when the covering does not exceed 20 feet or so the 

 ore can be removed most economically by open cutting. With a 2 

 foot ore seam, which yields approximately 8000 gross tons to the 

 acre of surface, the cost of stripping and removing the ore under 

 ordinary conditions may be placed at about $1.50 a ton. It has been 

 reported that underground mining has been carried on at Clinton 

 for somewhat less, but here the ore is from 30 to 36 inches thick. 

 Account must be taken also of the expense connected with develop- 

 ment work and equipment, which is considerably larger in the case 

 of an underground mine than in surface work. 



DESCRIPTION OF ORE LOCALITIES AND MINES 



Cayuga county 



The outcrop of the fossil ore is encountered near Sterling Station 

 where mining operations were first instituted about 35 years ago 

 and have recently been revived by the Fair Haven Iron Co. Sterling 

 Station lies at the eastern end of the ore belt which stretches across 

 Wayne county. East of this point the ore diminishes rapidly and 

 within a short distance becomes too thin to be workable. 



Fair Haven Iron Co. The property of the Fair Haven Iron 

 Co. comprises 280 acres situated just south of Sterling Station 



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