50 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



During 1907 the exploration of the newly opened Short Tract 

 or Granger district in northern Allegany county was carried on 

 with vigor and additional discoveries are reported. This district 

 was prospected to some extent five or six years ago, but without 

 definitely establishing the presence of oil. The first of the pro- 

 ductive wells is located on the Van Nostrand farm, 5 miles 

 from Fillmore. An area of about 1000 acres in the vicinity has 

 been proved to show good indications. The construction of a 

 pipe to connect the wells with the railroad at Fillmore was 

 begun during the year. The oil is clear and light in color and 

 gravity, closely resembling the product from the Tiona field of 

 Pennsylvania. Some of the wells when first opened flow under 

 natural pressure. 



Discoveries of oil were reported from Rexville, and in the 

 town of Wayne, Steuben co., but as yet nothing definite can be 

 stated concerning their importance. 



PYRITE 



As was anticipated in the preceding issue of this report, the 

 pyrite industry of St Lawrence county experienced a notable 

 advance during the past year. The production amounted to 

 49,978 long tons, as compared with 11,798 long tons in 1906 and 

 10,100 long tons in 1905, and was the largest ever recorded in 

 the State. The St Lawrence Pyrite Co. at Stellaville and the 

 American Pyrites Co. at Gouverneur were in active operation, 

 the latter company, however, closing down its plant in July. 



The property of the St Lawrence Pyrite Co. is situated i mile 

 north of Hermon and includes the old Stella mine, the first to be 

 opened in the district. This is not worked at present. The ore 

 is taken from two new mines, to the southeast of the Stella shaft, 

 developed since 1904 when the present company acquired the 

 property. Most of the output is obtained from the mine ad- 

 jacent to the mill. The other mine, situated 54 mile south, is 

 still in the development stage though producing some ore. An 

 average of from 250 to 300 tons daily is mined. The whole 

 mine output goes to the mill where it is concentrated to a product 

 assaying from 47 to 48 per cent sulfur. A preliminary crushing 

 is performed at the mine shafts by means of jaw crushers which 

 discharge directly into cars. The ore passes through a Gates 

 gyratory crusher and rolls at the mills. The first concentration 

 is effected by Hancock jigs, while the middlings from this treat- 



