223 



THE GEOLOGIST. 



trade is thought to be in a distressed state if less than a million of tons 

 are produced in a year. 



From the time of the general adoption of Dudley's patent for smelt- 

 ing iron with pit-coal in 1740, the spread and rapid growth of this 

 manufacture in other districts where coal was raised, caused the Forest, 

 from ranking first among smelting localities, gradually to decline into 

 comparative insignificance, from which, however, during the present 

 century, it has in a great measure recovered ; and, without tracing in 

 detail the changes which have occurred, I append the following table, 

 compiled from reliable statistical sources, which will afford a com- 

 mercial summary showing the yield from the Forest mines and furnaces, 

 commencing with the year 1828 ;~ 



Years. 



Tons of Ore raised from 

 tlie Mines. 



Tons of Iron manufactured from 

 the furnaces. 



1828 



9,800 



2,600 



1836 



20,408 



5,327 



1889 



72,800 



18,200 



1855 



92,000 



19,-500 



1856 



109,268 



24,132 



In the commencement of this paper I adverted to the fact that the 

 ore, the fuel, and the flux exist as associated minerals in the Forest of 

 Dean, thus constituting an important iron-making centre; and when 

 the central line of railroad, now in progress, and the extension-line 

 from Coleford to Monmouth, shall have been completed, there cannot be 

 the least doubt but that the Forest will soon take rank again with rival 

 districts, especially when it is considered that the finest quality of iron 

 can be produced at the lowest competitive cost. 



The physical geography of the Forest of Dean presents us with an 

 irregular elliptical basin, approaching somewhat to a triangle, two sides 

 of which are bounded by the rivers Severn and ^Yye ; the greatest 

 length being in the direction of north and south, about 12 miles, and 

 the shorter axis from east to west spanning about seven miles. The 

 high lands take a north-easterly bearing through the centre of the area, 

 where they are chiefly the result of valleys of denudation, and then run 

 ridge-wisc — the conscq.uence of upheaval — round, at least,, two-thirds of 

 the basin; forming a mountain-group of which the highest point is 

 Yoiklcy Uill, the average elevation being upwards of 800 feet above the 



