ORES OF THE AZOIC BELT IN NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK.
"In the Highlands of this State and New Jersey the principal mines occur in two great ranges or systems. Those in the more easterly are the Forest of Dean, the Greenwood, and the Sterling, in this State ; and the Ringwood, on the New Jersey side of the line. For the next 12 or 15 miles of its course, no mining operations of any account are carried on at present; but in the same range of mountains, in Morris county, we find the Beach Glen, the Hibernia, the Mount Pleasant, the Mount Hope, the Richard, the Allen, the Swede, the Irondale, the Byram, the Dickerson, and other mines,—all within a breadth of two miles from northwest to southeast.
"The Forest of Dean is five miles from the Hudson River at Fort Montgomery, with which it will shortly be connected by a railroad five miles long, with a descent of 600 feet. The property was recently purchased by the Poughkeepsie Iron Company, who are making improvements with a view to making the mine more productive than for merly. Since the 1st of May about 2500 tons of ore have been taken out and shipped. The number of miners now at work is 25, and about 20 others are engaged in making repairs. The vein worked is 60 feet wide at the depth of 135 feet perpendicular. Iron made from it is of the best quality.
"The Greenwood mines comprise three: the Bull, the Surebridge, and the O'Neill,— the last yielding a celebrated ore. These, with a tract of 8000 acres of land, and an anthracite and a charcoal furnace, are owned by Messrs. Robert P. and Peter P. Par rott, whose guns, manufactured at the West Point foundry, have been in the habit of speaking for themselv.3s to some purpose. The product of these mines last year was about 20,000 tons, out of which were made 6800 tons of metal. The anthracite furnace is now idle, but preparing to resume. Number of miners now engaged, about 75; and the whole force of employees is nearly 200.
"The Sterling mine has lately been sold by Mr. P. Townsend to a party of Pennsyl vania capitalists, known as the Mount Sterling Railway & Mining Company, who are constructing a first-class railroad to their principal mine, to be operated by steam. They are also converting a charcoal furnace into a hot-blast anthracite, to be driven by a steam-engine of 150 horse-power. Product of the works last year, about 8000
tons of ore, or 3500 of metal. The number of employees in all departments, except railroad-building, is about 135. Mr. Charles T. Ford is superintendent.
"The Ringwood mine, with two forges, belongs to Messrs. Cooper, Hewitt & Miller, who purchased that extensive tract from the Trenton Iron Company. A branch rail road to the Erie is in contemplation. Quantity of ore taken out last year, about 2000 tons. Mr. Philip R. George is superintendent.
"The Beach Glen, the Swede, the Orchard, and the Mount Pleasant mines belong to Messrs. Fuller, Lord & Co., whose extensive works are at Boonton. Number of em ployees, about 120; quantity of ore taken out last year, about 24,000 tons. Mr. Robert Oram is superintendent, and in his absence, Mr. Joseph Richards.
"The Hibernia mine is leased by the Trenton Iron Company. A substantially-built railroad connects the works with the Morris Canal at Rockaway, four miles. Raised last year between 15,000 and 16,000 tons of ore. Number of employees, about 40. Mr. Richard George, superintendent.
"Another mine on the Hibernia tract belongs to the Glendon Iron Company, who employ about 125 men. Raised last year nearly 20,000 tons of ore. Mr. George Richards, superintendent.
"The Trenton Iron Company own the Allen, the Dell, the Rosedell, and one of the llurd mines. Quantity of ore taken out last year, about 20,000 tons. Number of em ployees now, about 20: three of these mines lying idle. Ore shipped to Philipsburg, where are the company's blast-furnaces. It is thence sent to the rolling-mill at Trenton.
"The Mount Hope mine, with a railroad four miles long, belongs to the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company, who transport the ore by canal and railroad to Scranton, Penn sylvania, where it is converted into pig and bar iron. Number of employees, about 350, under the superintendence of Mr. Richard Stevens. Quantity taken out last fiscal year, 58,572 tons, of which 7260 were raised in June. Included in the above are the products of the Taylor, the Febo, and the Brannin mines.