MINERALS. 



421 



■works. These mines are capable of supplying all 

 the United States with lead and shot, which readily 

 sells from 35 to 40 pounds sterl. per ton. Congress 

 have patronised them, by laying a duty of 5 pounds 

 sterling per ton on all shot imported into these states. 

 For the accommodation of the works and workmen, 

 the Company have built a number of houses, stores, 

 tradesmen's shops, furnaces, corn mills, and saw 

 mills, Sec. 



The great road toKnoxville, Kentucky, and Ten- 

 nessee, passes through this place, where there is a 

 public tavern, ferry, and post-office, &c. 



A very valuable lead mine was discovered a few 

 years since on the Perkiomen Creek, near its junc- 

 tion with the Schuylkill, the ore of which yields T5 

 per cent. 



Lead of the finest quality, as has been long known, 

 abounds in the Illinois country j it is also found in the 

 Cherokee mountains near the boundary line of South 

 Carolina, according to governor Drayton. But the 

 most extensive lead country within the bounds of the 

 •whole Union, is in Upper Louisiana. No less than 

 ten mines are worked near St. Genevieve, on Grand 

 river. The mineral is found within two feet of the 

 surface, mixed with gravel, or imbedded in sand 

 rock, or red clay under the rock. The masses of 

 ore vary in size from one to live hundred lbs.* 



Colwnbiuin.n.^ln arranging some minerals in Sir 

 Hans Sloane's Museum, now called the British Mu- 

 seum, Mr. Hatchett found a dark-coloured heavy 



* See a full account of these mines in the President's message t© 

 X;ongress of N«vemljer 8; 1804. 



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