142 
[Assembly 
strength of the rock, and if the supports are not sufficiently strong, 
they are crushed. 
A want of foresight or proper caution is sometinnes observed in 
sinking shafts, for ventilation, &c. At the Palmer bed, a shaft was 
sunk, to a considerable distance in the granite, with the expecta- 
tion of opening into the bed where it was worked below; but after 
having penetrated deep enough for the purpose, it was suspected 
that it might be out of the course of the bed, which'on examina- 
tion proved to be the case. A little attention to the course of the 
bed, would have saved the labor and expense here thrown away. 
Much improvement might be made in all the operations of min- 
ing, &c. if properly conducted. Several exceptions to these re- 
marks might be named, but such individuals are themselves con- 
scious of the propriety of their own course, and of the justice of 
what I have said. 
Quantity of Iron manufactured in the different Counties, 
Warren County. 
There is but one forge in Warren county; the manufacture of 
iron has scarcely commenced, though there is abundance of ore. ^ 
Essex Coynty. 
I have not been able to visit the different forges and furnaces in 
this county, but have obtained information from various sources 
showing that there are about from 1,200 to 1,500 tons of iron 
manufactured annually; more than half this amount is malleable 
iron. The principal forges are at Port Henry, Crown-Point, 
Westport, Elizabethtown and Schroon. 
Clinton County. 
There is nearly as much iron manufactured in Clinton county 
as in all the other counties of this district; the aggregate amount 
being about 3,000 tons annually. Of this amount 800 tons are manu- 
factured by the Peru Iron Company, at Clinton ville; the remain- 
der by the different forges, principally along the valley of the Au- 
sable and its branches. No pig iron is made in this county; the 
* Since writing this report I have been favored with specimens of iron ore from seven 
or eight different localities in the vicinity of Chester and Schroon, Warren county. The 
ores of this vicinity have been but little investigated, and when they shall be, will doubt- 
less prove abundant and valuable. The specimens referred to are generally of good quali- 
ty, and suitable both for furnace and forge manufacture. 
