KENTUCKY IRON ORES AND FURNACES. A correspondent of the Farmer and Mechanic, residing at Greenbush, (Kentucky,) furnishes the following account of iron ores and furnaces in the vicinity of Greenbush, Kentucky: This section of country, like almost all iron regions, is somewhat broken. The vales and flats are rich and fertile, whilst the mountains are worth but little except for their forests and minerals. The iron ore from this neighborhood is known as the Hanging Rock iron; it is of a superior quality and bears the highest price in the market. The iron formation or deposit is here somewhat singular, generally lying in three veins, except on high hills, where the fourth is found. The first or lower vein is near the base of the hills, the second about midway up, and the third, which is the one mostly used, is near the top of the smaller elevations, having on the surface rich deposits of the kidney ore. In many places is found upon the lime rock what is termed the black ore, which will fuse at a moderate heat, making a very good quality of iron, but when subjected to a strong blast it wastes more than ordinary ore and becomes very brittle. The furnaces lately built in this section are generally put up on the most approved and economical plan, having their boilers placed upon the stock, by which all the requisite power for working is obtained without any extra fuel. Messrs. Hallister & Brothers, of this place, have their boiler forty-three feet above the base of the stock and thirty above the melting point, and by turning the gas under it, are continually generating more steam than is required for their operations. ON THE MANUFACTURE OF SALTPETRE. The successive Governments of France have, for many years, says the London Mining Journal, encouraged every invention and improvement in the production of nitrate of soda, to render them, if possible, independent of England for the necessary supply to the gunpowder works. The artificial nitreries, or nitre beds, collected for this purpose, consist of animal matter, the rubbish from the walls of old houses, stable litter, refuse of plaster works, &c. The decomposition of the animal matter produces carbonate of ammonia, which, dissolved in water, in connection with air charged with oxygen, is transformed into nitrate of ammonia. This product, under the influence of the solar ray, and the action of time, decomposes the calcerous and magnesian carbonates in the plaster rubbish, forming nitrates of lime and magnesia, and reproducing carbonate of ammonia, which, set at liberty, serves anew to form the nitrates. According to this theory, the nitrate plays a double part; it serves to reunite the elements of the atmosphere to produce nitric acid, and it causes this acid, formed under its influence, to act on the insoluble carbonates, to change them into nitrates. But this action is not the only one; for Kuhlmann discovered that, in most instances, the ammonia itself was decomposed, and that its nitrogen, combined with the oxygen of the atmosphere contained in the water, is thus transformed into nitric acid. These calcareous and other earthy nitrates, dissolved in water, are decomposed by sulphate of soda, thus forming nitrate of soda and sulphate of lime by double decomposition. The nitrate of soda is then heated with chloride of potassium and nitrate of potash, (saltpeare,) and chloride of sodium (common salt) obtained. METHOD OF WELDING IRON AND STEEL. (Translated for the Journal of the Franklin Institute.) In an earthen vessel melt borax, and add to it one-tenth of sal-ammoniac. When these ingredients are properly fused and mixed, pour them out upon an iron plate, and let them cool. There is thus obtained a glassy matter, to which is to be added an equal quantity of quick lime. The iron and steel which are to be soldered, are first heated to redness, then this con pound, first reduced to powder, is laid upon them: the composition melts and runs like sealing-wax; the pieces are then replaced in the fire, taking care to heat them at a temperature far below that usually employed in welding; they are then withdrawn and hammered, and the surfaces will be found to be thus perfectly united. The author asserts that this process, which may be applied to welding sheet iron tabes, never fails.-Rec. de la Soc. Polytech., February, 1847. There are forty blast furnaces within twenty miles of the Hanging Rock, including those on both sides of the river. IRON WORKS AT WHEELING, VIRGINIA. We give below an extract from a letter addressed to William H. Starr, Esq., of New York, touching the iron works, &c., at Wheeling, Va: In this place there are two large iron establishments. The mill of the Virginia Iron Works is nearly new, built after the most modern style, with the boilers over the furnaces, and flues conducting the smoke from the furnaces to one chimney, which is more than one hundred and fifty feet in height, and as a specimen of good workmanship is equal to anything I have ever seen, and although only in part filled with machinery, is turning off about 1,000 kegs of very superior nails per week. These nails are made of the Missouri and Tennessee iron, and will clinch almost as well as wrought, yet stiff enough to allow being driven into the hardest kind of oak. This iron is probably as good, if not the best, in the United States, for the manufacture of wire. From it, D. Richards & Co. are now preparing the wire for the new suspension bridge now in the course of erection across the Ohio river at that place, the span of which will be 1010 feet from centre to centre of the supporting towers, and the height of the flooring at its greatest elevation 97 feet above low water mark. The summit of the eastern tower is to be 153 feet above low water, 60 feet above the abutment on which it stands, and about 214 feet above the summit of the western tower. The carriage way is to be 17 feet wide, and two foot-ways 34 feet wide each. The whole to be supported by 12 wire cables 1,380 feet in length and about 4 inches in diameter, of nearly equal strength, to be made of No. 10* wire, having 550 strands in each and laid in pairs, three pairs each side of the flooring. The whole cost estimated at $150,000. MANUFACTURE OF PLATE-GLASS. We learn from the Pottsville Miner's Journal that Mr. James Hartley, of Sunderland, has recently patented an improved mode of manufacturing certain descriptions of plateglass. It has heretofore been the practice, in making plate-glass, to ladle the melted "metal" from the pot into the cistern, and then to heat the cistern for some hours; after which the metal or glass is poured on to a table and rolled out. Rough plate-glass has, within the last few years, been used to a large extent at railway stations and other buildings, and such glass has been made in the manner just described. This invention relates to the manufacture of rough plate-glass, and consists in dispensing with the operation of ladling the melted metal into a cistern and heating it therein, by ladling the metal direct from the pot on the table, and then rolling it out in the ordinary manner. The patentee finds that, when several ladlesful of metal are to be used in making one sheet, it is not requisite that they should all be poured on the table at the same time; but they may be poured on successively, as each preceding ladleful is rolled out. By this means, sheets of rough plate-glass are produced with less labor and expense; and such sheets are annealed by piling in the same manner as is now practised in annealing crown and sheet-glass, whereby the use of the costly furnaces now employed for annealing plate-glass is avoided. The patentee claims the mode of manufacturing rough plate-glass, above described, whereby the metal is ladled directly from the pot, and the expense of ladling it into and heating it in a cistern is avoided. DISCOVERY OF A LEAD MINE IN VERMONT. The Boston Mercantile Journal says:-A truck load of bar-lead was on exhibition in State-street recently, and attracted considerable attention. This lead is from the mine discovered about 18 months since, in Thetford, Vt., about a mile and a half from the line of the Connecticut River Railroad. The mine, and several hundred acres of land appertaining thereto, is owned by Mr. A. Stowell, formerly of Charlestown. It is only about four or five months since that a furnace was erected on the ground, and the smelting of the ore commenced. Thus far the product exceeds the most sanguine expectations of the owner, the ore yielding about 75 per cent of pure lead. The lead is pronounced of an excellent quality, and one house in the city has contracted for a large quantity. The vein which is now being worked, is from 4 to 25 inches in width, and has now been worked to the depth of some 25 feet, and appears to be inexhaustible. Mr. A. Stowell, Jr., the agent for his father, informs us that two men, with one cord of wood, will turn out in twelve hours, a ton of the pure article. We believe this is the first lot of New England lead ever brought into market. * 20 feet of No. 10 wire should weigh one hundred avoirdupois. MERCANTILE MISCELLANIES. BUSINESS OF MASSACHUSETTS. We are indebted for the following article to NAHUM CAPEN, Esq., the Editor of the "Massachusetts State Record and Year Book of General Information," one of the most carefully compiled and valuable local annuals published in the United States. The statistics of bankruptcy in Massachusetts, collected by Mr. C. and embodied in this paper, furnish valuable data for calculating the chances of success in the different branches of business. The business events which have transpired within the limits of our Commonwealth, during the past year, have been characterized by no new feature worthy of special remark. Some have increased their incomes and some have lost them. Some have speculated with success, without much labor, and some have labored hard to lose all they had acquired. Some who were rich have become poor, and some few may have exchanged poverty for a condition above want. In regard to the amount of business during the past year in the United States, it has been unusually large. A famine in a foreign country opened a new market for our produce, and our farmers and traders have realized profits on their surplus stock altogether greater than they have ever known before. It was a singular spectacle to behold the business man with one hand liberally extending charity to the suffering Irish, and with the other grasping the profits on speculations growing out of the dire necessity that a starving people must be fed. The business consequent upon the famine became great and active, in all countries within reporting distance of the scene of distress, and it is difficult to say whether the famine, or the privileges of speculating, cost most to the traders of the world. The result to our country has been important, inasmuch as the producers were our citizens. The intermediate buyers aud sellers, or speculators, have in some cases done well -but in most instances they have been heavy losers. They have been made to realize the truth of the old proverb, " The devil take the hindmost." In Massachusetts, the year has been one of plenty and prosperity. The trader hopes that his business will yield a profit, but he cannot tell with much certainty until his debts are collected and he has ascertained whether his present stock on hand is suited to the market. The mechanic knows the amount of his profits, provided he has not made investments beyond his means of control. The farmer is happy in regard to demand and prices, and in respect to everything else, excepting the potato-rot, and in view of probable foreign demand he has almost become reconciled to that. The manufacturer has had nothing to complain of, except, indeed, the Tariff and the Sub-Treasury, and these supposed evils are exerting a conservative influence rather favorable than injurious to their interests. A high tariff leads to destructive competition, and a system of Finance without a reserved power of control of the currency, independent of the spirit of Trade, is without a firm and sure basis. Our Banks and Insurance Companies have gladdened their stockholders by good dividends, and our Railroads have done a much larger business than was prophesied by their most enthusiastic projectors. Our fishermen have returned to their homes with light bearts and with heavy freights from the mighty deep; and we may add that, as far as we are able to judge, all classes have been blessed with those opportunities for enterprise and industry which are calculated to render a people comfortable and independent. It is not enough for us to contemplate the general prosperity of the country, if we would secure, beyond all question, the permanent good of our institutions. When in health, we should study and trace out the sources of disease in those who are likely to be the subjects of it. So in business, if we hope to succeed in placing it upon a sure and permanent foundation, we must examine the cases of failure and ascertain their causes. The following table will show the number of failures which have taken place during the last 14 months, or from August, 1846, to October 1, 1847. It must be borne in mind, as we have before remarked, that the past year has been one of prosperity; and also, that a large number of failures are constantly taking place which are never publicly reported. Our only regret, in submitting this chapter of bankruptcies, is, that we cannot give a history of their causes. Such a history, made with a discriminating particularity, would form a most important work for the study of the statesman, and a practical lesson for the study of the rising generation. This we hope to accomplish at some future day.. Whole number of failures in Massachusetts, counting firms as individuals.......... 1,335 Number settled by Chancery..... Of these, 413 took place in 1,287 .Boston. ..Cambridge. ..Charlestown. ...Lowell. ..New Bedford ..Roxbury. ...Springfield. .......Worcester. The others, 641, were mostly in towns having trade with the cities. The professions of the bankrupts, before failure, appear in the following statement:— Merchants and traders,* 261; farmers, 75; grocers, 10; shoe dealers, 8; shoe and leather dealers, 3; boot and shoe manufacturers, 52; booksellers, 11; furniture dealers, 2; contractors, 11; wood and coal dealers, 2; stove dealers, 4; provision dealers, 15; gentlemen, so stated, 22; tailors, 40; physicians, 8; dentists, 4; attorneys at law, 8; schoolmaster, 1; printers, 11; engravers, 2; brokers, 6; clerks, 15; laborers, 73; hack and stage drivers, 5; stage proprietors, 2; bakers, 11; hatters, 5; upholsterers, 2; confectioners, 5; watchmen, 3; engineers, 2; editor, 1; gentlewoman, so given, 1; widow, so given, 1; music teachers, 2; milliners, 4; bookbinders, 3; architect, 1; dealer in crockery ware, 1; forwarding merchant, 1; mathematical-instrument maker, 1; musical do., 1; express-man, 1; barge-man, 1 ; barbers, 2; house-wrights, 133; turners, &c., 2; stairmakers, 2 ; stonecut ters, 21; sash and blind makers, 5; masons, 20; brickmakers, 6; manufacturers, 16; ship builders, 11; wheelwrights, 8; mechanics, so stated, 6; stone potters, 3; morocco dresser, 1; plasterers, 4; cork manufacturer, 1; miller, 1; weaver, 1 ; shuttle maker, 1; chair dealer, 1; pump makers, 2; truckmen, 3; erector of lightning-rods, 1; paper makers, 3; ice dealer, 1; marble workers, 2; paper ruler, 1; watchmaker, 1; tin plate workers, 10; pianoforte manufacturers, 5; tanners and curriers, 6; machinists, 17; blacksmiths, 15; plane makers, 2; makers of shoe tools, 2; teamsters, 16; stablers, 7; beer makers, 2; mariners, 17; fisherman, 1; boarding-house keepers, 9; innkeepers, 18; victuallers, 11; butchers, 10; rope makers, 2; painters, 34; cordwainers, 46; coppersmiths, 2; weigher and gauger, 1; plumber, 1; curriers 2; lamp maker, 1; silversmith, 1; junk dealer, 1; coopers, 3; hat and cap manufacturers, 2; manufacturer of refrigerators, 1; jewellers, 2; trunk makers, 3; tobacconists, 2; tack manufacturer, 1; straw bonnet manufacturer, 1; silk dyer, 1; dealer in horses, 1; manufacturers of carriages and harnesses, 20; cabinet makers, 14; auctioneer, 1; and 78 others not classified. Our returns of failures, last year, were so imperfect, that we did not publish them. They were made up without regard to Court records of cases in Chancery. We insert them in this place, however, for a double purpose,-showing that some towns are exempted from this source of suffering, and for future reference. They were communicated by the editor of this work to the Hon. Truman Clark, of the Massachusetts Senate, to be presented at one of the Legislative Agricultural meetings, held weekly during the session of the State Legislature, at the Senate Chamber. The subject under discussion was the "PROFITS OF FARMING," as compared to the profits of other kinds of business. HON. TRUMAN CLARK. BOSTON, March 22, 1847. My Dear Sir: In accordance with your wishes, I send herewith such statistics, in regard to failures in Massachusetts, as I received last year, in reply to a circular which I sent to every town in the Commonwealth, for the purpose of collecting information for "The Massachusetts State Record." As these returns were imperfect, I deferred any publication of them till another year, when, probably, I should have the means of doing the subject more ample justice. Number of towns represented, 144; estimated population of ditto, 242,186. Number of farming towns, 79; manufacturing and farming, 56; number engaged mostly in navigation, 9. Number of failures reported, 357. Business of bankrupts: farmers, 59; manufactures and mechanics, 182, including 70 boot and shoe manufacturers; laborers, 9; innholder, 1; speculators (farmers,) 4; minister, 1; traders, 53. Business not stated, 48. 28 towns reported 70 failures during last year, 1845 to 1846. 21 towns reported 126 failures during last 5 years. 22 towns reported 161 failures during last 10 years. *These words are used synonymously. 22 towns reported no failures during the last year. 12 towns reported “none of consequence," during last 10 years. consequence of bethat an industrious, Small gains, gradu It does not appear, from my returns, how many farmers failed in coming speculators, intemperate, or indolent men. It seems to me temperate, and frugal farmer can hardly do otherwise than succeed. ally accumulating, are safer and surer than large profits, or sudden fortunes. Their influence is favorable to the growth of good morals, and they do not endanger the habits of prudence. If Governor Carver had invested £70, on his arrival in this country, at compound interest, the accumulated sum, at this time, would be sufficient to buy the whole State of Massachusetts, and it would exceed the whole banking capital of the United States. If a young man, at 21, were to lease a farm, and make an annual profit of one hundred dollars, and invest both principal and interest from year to year for 25 years, his fund would amount to $5,000. If he were to own the farm, he might have a fund at interest of $10,000 in 25 years. A trader, however, may begin with a capital of $10,000, on the credit system, as now managed; and in 25 years there are ninety-seven chances to every one hundred that he will be $10,000 in debt beyond his means to pay. This per centage of success and failure has been alluded to in your discussions, as being true of Boston. I believe it to be nearly correct. I have been advised by very intelligent gentlemen, who have the means of knowing, that not more than one per cent of the best class of merchants succeed without failing, in Philadelphia, and that not more than two per cent of the merchants of New York ultimately retire on an independence, after having submitted to the usual ordeal of failure. These calculations, it must be observed, are based upon periods of 25 and 30 years. The lot of the merchant is one of great labor and anxiety compared to that of the farmer. He labors harder, his life is shorter, and he is less sure of a competency in old age. PRODUCTION OF COTTON AND SUGAR IN TEXAS. The Galveston News furnishes the following summary of the progress made in Texas, in the production of these great staples of commerce: COTTON. In the absence of any accurate statistical information, we can furnish a statement of our cotton crops which will be a sufficiently near approximation to the truth to answer all practical purposes. In 1829 the whole cotton crop of Texas was about 500 bales; from that time to 1835 it had increased to between 3,000 and 4,000 bales. In 1840, it amounted to about 8,000 bales, since which time there have been three seasons of nearly a total failure, one occasioned by heavy rains and two by the worm or caterpillar. The crop of 1846 amounted to about 8,000 bales, which was probably not more than half an average crop. The crop of 1847, all of which has not yet reached our market, will exceed 40,000 bales. This shows an increase of about 33 per cent per annum for the last eight years. In these statements we omit altogether the crop of Eastern Texas, which has been shipped by way of Red River to New Orleans, and the amount of which has been estimated variously, some even making it equal to the whole crop of all the rest of Texas. It is necessary here to remark, that the aggregate of our cotton crop has been diminished by the increased attention paid to sugar, to the amount of 2,000 to 3,000 bales, and the same cause is likely to operate more effectually in future as a check upon the increase of cotton. Previous to the declaration of our independence, our cotton crop was nearly all shipped to New Orleans, and indeed our whole trade was pretty much confined to that city. Subsequently, and previous to annexation, a large portion of our cotton was shipped direct to European ports. In 1831 and 1832 some shipments of cotton were made from the Brazos River to Tampico, where it was repacked in bales of about 150 lbs. and taken by mules to San Luis Potosi. At that place it was manufactured by machinery. It was sold at Tampico at 30 cents a pound. SUGAR.-Sugar has been made in Texas to a very limited extent and for domestic use for many years; but no mills for manufacturing it as an article for market export, have been introduced till very recently. The first export of sugar was about 50 hhds, of the crop of 1846. Of the crop of last year (1847) the export has amounted to 500 hhds., which will be increased to about 600. The whole of that crop does not vary much from |