676 GEOLOGY OF OHIO. 



shows a large quantity of good ore in small nodules,, mingled with 

 nodules of calcareous ore ; the exposure 'is made by sinking a pit near 

 the outcrop, and the condition of the opening was such when visited 

 that an accurate measurement could not be made. About fifteen feet 

 above it is a limestone from one to one and a half feet thick, of good 

 quality, and by analysis said to contain eighty per cent, of lime carbon- 

 ate. This ore I regard as the equivalent of Prof. Andrews' Latta ore, 

 which he locates fifteen feet above the Stallsmith coal; it is found in 

 nodules or blocks sometimes two feet in thickness, and he traces it 

 through all the hills of this region. If this is correct, the Iron Point 

 ore, when exposed, is not as rich in this neighborhood as about Shawnee, 

 and the gray ore below it, which is largely developed and of excellent 

 character, will be of the most importance. I have, however, noticed 

 various outcrops of ore about twenty feet above the horizon of the Latta 

 ore, of fine quality, and explorations will doubtless be rewarded by impor- 

 tant and valuable developments. This is regarded by local explorers as' 

 the true horizon of the Iron Point ore. The " Mbxahala Iron Company'' 

 has Ii":3n organized for the manufacture rof iron at Moxahala. A shaft 

 has '■ -i^n sunk to the coal, the thick bed of ore, above described, opened, 

 and i T tparalions made for the immediate erection of the furnace. There 

 is n.- question as to the abundance and excellence of the materials for 

 iron-making in this neighborhood, provided the ore opened on the slip 

 shall be found of similar character on its true horizon. The coal at the 

 shaft is slightly melting, and will probably produce the best results if 

 used with a moderate quantity of coke. This is to be determined by trial, 

 and I think everywhere in the Great Vein region, where coke is required, 

 it can be supplied by coking a part of the two lower benches of that 

 seam. One fact ought to be considered and one caution regarded in this 

 whole territory. Iron-making is yet every where largely conducted by 

 what is called '-the rule of thumb," and in a region where there is so 

 great variety in the character of the ores and limestones, the first trials 

 should be made with some care ; should be rather tentative until by prac- 

 tical tests it ia determined what ores, or what mixture of ores, work the 

 best and produce the best results. One temporary failure in the begin- 

 ning of enterprises of such importance, and when success is practicable, 

 is a public calamity which ought by all means to be avoided, and can 

 easily be, if proper care is observed in the first experiments. 



These remarks are not made because of ariy special danger in this 

 locality, where all the material appears to be of excellent quality, but 

 ar.' applicable to the whole territory, and because of the tendency to con- 

 cliul ■. when experiments have been successful in one part of the field, 



