280 
[Assembly 
the qualities of the iron produced, the granular ores, make iron faster 
than the hard ones. Facts of this kind, are not entirely explicable ; 
though undoubtedly, the state of division, has much to do with the faci- 
lity of working, as a state of minute division, favors the action of heat. 
It would appear, however, that the nature of the rock in which the 
ore occurs, is of more consequence than any other consideration, both 
as it regards facility of working, and the quality of the iron produced 
When the rock is silicious, the reduction is uniformly easy ; when 
of labradorite and hypersthene, though the reduction is not so readily 
effected, the iron possesses some remarkable qualities unknown to the 
ores connected with a silicious gangue. 
The ores of Essex and Clinton counties are capable of furnishing 
every variety of iron which can be found, either as it regards hardness, 
or softness, or tenacity, and we have reason to believe that many of 
them, if properly manufactured, would furnish iron equal in character to 
the celebrated old sable. There always has been, and still is, a suffi- 
cient reason why American manufacture, is inferior to the best foreign, 
viz : the want of capital and skill ; and so long as manufacturers must 
depend on the immediate sale of their products for support, just so long 
will the quality of the article remain below the best foreign manufacture. 
Another constant difference which is found to prevail in different veins 
of ore, is, that some are better for the forge, while others are more pro- 
fitably reduced in the high furnace. Many ores which cannot be worked 
in the forge, make an excellent iron when first worked in the furnace ; 
some make better castings than others, and those which make an excel- 
lent iron in the forge, do not work so well, or furnish as good castings 
as those which make a very inferior iron in the forge. The presence 
of a little sulphuret of iron is useful, for making smooth and handsome 
castings. Again, it is found that the lean ores are better for furnaces, 
than the rich. As4t regards fluxes, silex appears to be the natural flux, 
when reduced in the forge ; while carbonate of lime is preferred in the 
high furnace. 
SECTION VIII. 
Processes f preparatory to the reduction of the magnetic oxide. 
Previous to the assay, the magnetic oxide requires generally, roast- 
ing, pulverizing and washing, or to undergo some operation, by which 
the earthy matter may be separatedffrom the metallic. The object of 
