"The Thomas Iron Company, of Pennsylvania, own the Richard mine, which turned out about 19,000 tons last year. Mr. D. Jenkins is the superintendent. Number of employees at present, about 75.
"The Irondale mines, half a dozen in number, lie on the south side of the Morris Canal and the Morris & Essex Railroad. They belong to the Sussex Iron Company, who sell the ore to various interests. The number of employees is about 70. Quantity of ore raised in 1864, about 25,000 tons. Mr. John Hance is superintendent.
" The Lehigh Crane Iron Company, of Pennsylvania, own the Randall Hill mine, under the management of Mr. David Jenkins, with 25 men, who took out 4500 tons last year; also the Hilts, the Solomon, and a few others in the western range. Most of these are for the present doing little.
"The Dover Iron Company own the Byram mine, the deepest in New Jersey, the incline reaching to 550 feet without any appearance of exhaustion. A magnificent steam-engine of 100 horse-power has just been put up on the property, under the direc tion of Mr. Charles King. Nothing has been done here for some years; but operations will soon be resumed.
"The Allentown (Pennsylvania) Iron Company lease and work the Dickerson mine, one of the richest and best in the country, which yielded last year 12,000 tons, and is still keeping up to that figure. Number of employees, 72, under the general superin tendence of Mr. Canfield, assisted by Mr. W. F. Potter.
"The Bethlehem (Pennsylvania) Iron Company own or lease the Logan mine, which yields about 500 tons annually; also the Birch and Wilkinson mines on the western range. About a dozen men in all are employed in these works. (New.) "The principal mines in that range are the Hurd, the Weldon, the Schofield, the Ford, and the Ogden.
"The first of these, on the northeastern shore of Lake Hopatcong, is leased by the Glendon Iron Company, who employ about 45 men. Took out last year, 13,000 tons. Mr. George Richards, superintendent. This year the product is expected to be only 10,000. There are two principal veins on this property, each from 6 to 10 feet thick, and somewhat sulphury, especially near the surface. The Ford mine, also leased by the same company, is now idle; last year, shipped 2200 tons, besides a considerable quantity which could not be sent off.
"The Schofield mine, also idle, is owned and operated by the Lehigh Crane Iron Company, who shipped about 4000 tons in 1864. This and the Ford are expected to resume shortly.
"The Weldon is an old mine, which lately passed into the hands of a gentleman in Morristown. At present, about 30 men are at work, mostly sinking shafts and driving levels. Took out last year about 4500 tons.
"The Ogden mine is the most valuable on that whole range. It belongs to a com pany of Pennsylvanians, known as the Ogden Mining, Railway & Manufacturing Com pany. As implied by this title, they are constructing a first-class railroad, 10 miles in
length, from Lake Hopatcong to their property, to be operated by steam. They are also authorized to extend it in both directions, and engage in the manufacture of iron. No ore is being raised at present, on account of the difficulty of transportation. Last year, employed about 25 men, who took out 35,000 tons. Mr. George Richards, super intendent. These veins, five in number, are entirely free from sulphur, and yield iron of the best quality.
"Besides the works mentioned above, there are probably a dozen others, each em ploying about as many men in brisk times, but for the most part now idle. They are owned by individuals, who sell the ore at the pits or on the canal.
"We are now able to sum up the numbers of men employed at present, and the quantities of ore raised last year, which will be found nearly as follows:— "Besides nearly 10,000 tons of zinc and franklinite ores, employing 200 men." It seems scarcely possible that greater availability than this can exist in any of the iron-producing regions of the world. The deposits of ore are large, rich, and pro ductive. The amount of labor required to produce it should be much less than that re quired to produce the ores of Wales from seams ranging from six inches to two feet in thickness. The coal and limestone exist in quantity and quality superior to any other deposits known. The distances between them are limited, and the means of transport ation are ample and cheap. The brown hematites of the valley limestones are con venient, rich, and abundant, and furnish an excellent admixture for the more refractory magnetics.
Under such favorable circumstances, it seems impossible that iron can be produced with greater economy in any other part of the world, since it is impossible that avail able means should offer greater natural advantages. In fact, they can only be rendered abortive by unwise legislation, or that short-sighted policy which opens to the im poverished, starving, and crowded communities of the Old World the markets of the New, by placing our labor and resources in competition with theirs, and levelling our condition, our toil, and our resources down to their miserable standard.
As before stated, the continuation of this metallic or magnetic range continues through New Jersey into New York, extending through Orange, Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess counties, and from thence, sweeping around through Connecticut, Massa chusetts, and Vermont, re-enters New York by Lake Champlain, and produces the cele brated ore deposits of Essex, Clinton, Franklin, and Lawrence.