CLINTON COUNTY. 
307 
McIntyre Vein. 
This vein, though situated on the same hill as the Palmer ore, cannot be considered as a part 
of the Palmer vein. It is on the south face of the hill, and has a course about northwest. It is 
a new vein, and has been explored to a small extent only ; but from its appearance, the indi¬ 
cations for a valuable ore, and abundance of it, can not be doubted. It has a width of from 
six to ten feet. Many parts of it, as now exposed, are the soft granular varieties. So far as 
I observed, sulphuret of iron is not present in the ore. It is associated with black mica, 
hornblende and quartz. For reduction, it requires either separation of the earthy matter by 
washing, or by the magnetic machine. 
Entire width of the veins in the Clintonville district. 
The preceding account of the iron ores in the vicinity of Clintonville, is drawn from facts 
and observations which were made during the summer of 1839. The entire width of all the 
veins which I then examined amount to one hundred and thirty-six feet, after excluding the 
Burt and Winter veins. Some of them are new, and have not been opened sufficiently deep 
to reach their most valuable parts. Many of them are the richest ores in this country, the 
Arnold alone being sufficiently so to be reduced directly without a separation of earthy matter. 
Those which have been described, are in the circuit of six or eight miles of Clintonville. 
It must be confessed, however, that in consequence of the consumption of wood, the pro¬ 
spect for the future is not so cheering to the enterprising manufacturer of iron, as could be 
wished. Unless means of communication are furnished to the wooded districts of the Saranac 
and Upper Ausable, the present highly flourishing establishments for the manufacture of iron 
must in time be abandoned, and, as it would appear, at a period when the demand for it will 
be greater, and when every attending circumstance will be favorable to the production of a 
better material at a diminished cost. 
The amount of ore is inexhaustible, and it is quite accessible. Its value at the mine, after 
it is raised and dressed, varies from four to six dollars. The establishments for this manu¬ 
facture are increasing. Though they are generally small, still they are profitable ; and could 
the forest at the western boundary of the county become more accessible, it would be all that 
is required to give perpetuity to the present establishments, and also encourage many more, 
all of which could not fail of making this district one of the most flourishing in the State. 
Veins of Iron Ore west of Plattsburgh. 
An important vein of magnetic oxide of iron exists about twenty miles west of Plattsburgh, 
and seven northwest of Cadyville. It is a distinct vein in reddish granite, whose structure is 
unusually coarse for the granite of this region. It is black, and quite pure ; in parts of the 
vein, the outside is mixed largely with decomposing feldspar. The ore itself is coarse, and 
