132 
[Assembly 
Falls. Such communications, either by water or by rail-roads, 
would be the means of developing the immense wealth of this part 
of the country in iron and lumber: and unless some means of 
transportation be provided, they must remain as they now are, in 
the bosom of the earth, or upon its surface, yielding none of their 
almost exhaustless stores of wealth, either to individual enterprise 
or to the community. It would be well worthy the attention of our 
Legislature to inquire into this subject, and if there are any feasi- 
ble means of developing the resources of this region, it will doubt- 
, less be the policy of our State government to put such means in 
requisition. 
There is an extensive territory in the northern part of this State, 
occupying most of the portion between Lake Champlain and the 
St. Lawrence river, except the northern and western portions, to- 
gether with a narrow belt along the lake, which is now nearly un- 
productive, not that it is destitute of resources, for, on the contra- 
ry, it is one of the richest parts of the State in its mines of iron 
ore and forests of timber. 
The ore in the north part of Keene, Essex Co. was formerly ma- 
nufactured at the Elba iron works at that place, but has long since 
been abandoned, on account of its unfitness for working. Its par- 
ticular position is somewhat different from the other beds: it oc- 
curs on the side of a mountain having the same inclination as its 
strata, and lying between limestone and granite, the limestone be- 
low and the granite above. This mountain, which will be men- 
tioned in another part of the report, has its interior composed of 
limestone, while the outer crust, from a few feet to a few yards 
in thickness, is granite. 
Iron ore exists in several places in Warren county, associated 
with granite and gneiss; it has not yet been worked extensively, 
though it doubtless exists in large quantities. 
In Franklin county, iron ore occurs in large quantities, though 
few beds have been opened. It has been more extensively worked 
at Duane than any other place; several beds have been opened, 
and one or two considerably worked. One bed, called the steel 
ore bed," has been opened to the depth of 80 feet; the bearing is 
the same as those before noticed, though the dip is easterly. The 
width of this bed is very variable, sometimes almost disappearing 
and again widening to seven or eight feet. The walls are much 
