42 [ASiSEMBLY* 
iron in this State. And if from the review about to be made, any 
suggestions should arise calculated to improve and extend it, one 
of the great objects of this whole inquiry will be attained. 
Present condition of the Manufacture of Iron in the Slate of 
JsTew- York. 
The value of the iron manufactured in the State of New-York 
in 1810, has been estimated at #859,895. At ihai time there were 
in the counties of Clinton and Essex, one bloomery and 12 forges, 
at which 259 tons were manufactured, besides 100 tons from the 
furnaces.* In 1830, the number of iron works and trip hammers 
in the State, was 335, of which the Fourth and Fifth Senatorial Dis- 
tricts contained no less than 176. According to the census re- 
turns made in 1835, the number of iron works and trip hammers 
, was 434, and the value of the iron manufactured was 84,713,530, 
being an increase since 1830, of nearly 100 iron works and trip 
hammers, and in the value of iron manufactured of upwards of 
81,000,000. And I have reason to believe, from the spur which 
has recently been given to this manufacture, that the number of 
iron works, and consequently the value of the iron manufactured, 
will be greatly increased during the ensuing year. Should this be 
the case, the manufacture of iron will be to us a branch of indus- 
try second in importance only to that connected with our agricul- 
tural productions. 
The prosperity of the manufacture of iron in any country must 
depend mainly upon the abundance of the raw material, and the 
low price at which it can be obtained. It is essential also to its 
success that the iron produced be of good quality. 
From the sketch which has been presented of the geographical 
distribution of the ores of iron throughout our State, it is evident 
that there is a supply for the utmost demand. There is, however, 
a considerable difference in the quality of these ores — or what 
amounts to the same thing, mauufacturers give a decided prefe- 
rence to those from particular localities, which thus have a greatly 
increased value, while others have been in a measure neglected, 
or at least considered of little importance. Making every allow- 
ance for the natural superiority of some ores, this result may in 
part, be ascribed to the want of skill in conducting the mining ope- 
rations, and in following out the details of the manufacture. 
* Tench Coxe's Statement of Arts and Manufactures in the United States. 
