292 
[Assembly 
Leaving considerations of this kind, I have only to remark, that pro 
bably no ore in this country or any other, has produced iron of a better 
quahty than the vein now under consideration, or perhaps it would be 
better to say, capable of producing better iron. Without entering at all 
on the statement of facts in proof of the assertion, I shall refer the rea- 
der at once, to Prof. Johnson's report, where he will find a statement 
of the experiments which were instituted, for the trial of this iron. 
When it is considered, that this iron was not manufactured by the most 
approved process but in rather a rough unscientific mode, it seems to 
be clearly established, that there is something very extraordinary in 
this ore, to produce the kind of iron which is proved by experiment it 
actually does. 
And who can doubt, but that in scientific hands, it will prove fully 
equal to the best Russian and Swedish irons, which have been so 
long celebrated, and used in the manufacture of steel. Such at any 
rate I conceive to be the qualities of the iron, that it is a matter of na- 
tional importance, that the operations in its manufacture should be con- 
ducted in the best possible mode. There are some particular uses to 
which this can be applied, and for which there is nothing equal to it 
made in this country, viz : where there is much wear or friction, and at 
the same time great tenacity required ; as the axles of locomotive en- 
gines, rail-road cars, or chain cables for ships of war, large spikes, nails, 
&c. Iron is so much used in the present state of society, and so many 
lives depending on its quality, that it is a subject of great importance, 
to secure for public use, that quality of iron, which shall not jeopardize 
life and limb in the public conveyances on the great thoroughfares of 
the nation. It is in this light, that an article becomes important to a 
nation, and though its patronage benefits in a pecuniary point of view, 
the individual proprietors, yet, the nation is after all the most benefited 
by promoting safety and expedition, on the ocean and on the land. 
SECTION XXIII. 
Of the Vein called the Fine Grained Ore. 
This ore constitutes a distinct variety, and is peculiar in its charac- 
ters. At the surface, it is always more or less granular, the grains 
rarely exceeding a common buck shot, and generally much finer. In 
many parts of the vein, it is quite friable, and belongs to that variety 
which is termed by miners, shot ore. 
