THE CUMBERLAND IRON AND COAL TRADE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 34, 9 February 1874, Page 2

THE CUMBERLAND IRON AND COAL TRADE.

The following remarks from the * Newcast'e Chronicle' will be interesting to Nelsou readers as showing what may be done for a district by the developement of its coal and iron mines. We hope that the day ia not very far distant when a somewhat similar notice may be written of the Collingwood district: — In the county of Cumberland, Workington is at the present time the most busy and important centre of metalj lurgical industry. Unlike either Barrow or Middlesborougb, Workington is n place of considerable antiquity, and has long held some amount of distinction on account of mining operations. But it waß not until the epoch to which we bave referred that it becoroo a centre of the iron trade. Tho first blast, furnaces erected were those of the Workington Hematite Iron Company. This Company have six furnaces erected. Four are now blowing; the other two are temporily out of blast. The West Cumberland works wero next erected. Here there are five blast furnaces, three of which are now blowing. Closely contiguous to these two establishments, tho North of Eng land Hematite Ironworks are now in a course of erection. One furnace ia already in blast, another is nearly completed, and it is intended to add four more. About a mile antl a half from these works there are the blast furnaces and rolling mills of the Moss Bny Hematite Iron Company, which has just blown in their third furnace; and between Workington and Whitehaven there are four furnaces of the Cleator Moor Iron Company. A Scotch firm has acquired a site for tho erection of blast furnaces near to the Workingtou Bailway .Station, and on the opposite side of the Derwent from the other works mentioned. It is pioposed, we believe, to start with four furnaces, and the firm has just brokeu ground. The Parton Ironworks, about six miles from Workington, comprise two furnaces, recently erected; but several others are about to be built. At the Lonsdale Works, near Whitehaven, there are three furnaces in blast, and another in courso of erection; and about three miles from Workington thore are the Harrington Works, with four furnaces in blast. All of these works are constructed on similar principles, although varying in matters of detail. The ironstone used iu tho Woi kington furnaces is chiefly obtained fiom the Cleator district, abeut twelve miles from the works. The local hematites average 56 per cent of meta', and fiom this high percentage and their comparative freedom from the vitiatiug elements found iu the ores of Queensland, they are well adapted for tho production of steel by tbe Bessemer process. Of lato there has been an extraordinary amount of activity ia the extension of mining operations, notwithstanding that the royalty payment has been fixed in some cases as high as 3s Gd per ton. It is difficult to assesa the exact cost of mining the stone, from its peculiar formatiou. It is not found in regular, well-defined seams, as iu Cleveland, but in veins or " pockets," which aro extremely irregular and uncertain, and in the working of which a great deal of cost is often incurred for the poorest possible results. We are, however, indicating the opinion of oue who is able to speak with authority when we say that it will not cost more than 10s per ton, on the average to bring the ore to the surface — that is inclusive of royalty payment and all extras— and aa the stone is now sold on the spot at 25s per ton, the mine owners must be reaping a rich harvest of profit. Along with the local ores it is customary to mix a small quantity of the pure areanaceous Irish ores, imported from Antrim and Down. The latter ore contains about 42 per cent of iron, 20 per ceut silicia, anJ 10 per cent alumina, so that it has a fluxial action in the furnace. The limestone used as a flux is quarried at Biigham, about six miles from Workington. Most of the Cumberland ironmakers use a considerable quantity of South Durham coke, which is harder than the coke obtained from their own coal measures aud capable of sustaining a greater burden in the furnace; but as the freight, to Workington is about 9a per ton, it is now impossible to buy Durham coke delivered at the furnaces for less than 42a 6d to 453. At the West Cumberland works, however, tho local coal is converted info coke ou the spot. The company have seventy coke ovens in operation. Cumberland coal contaius about one per cent of sulphur, but this percentage is considerably rednced in the coke ovens. The crude iron contains *07 per cent of sulphur, and *02 to *03 per cent of phosphorus, as compared with "16 per cent of sulphur, and l^ per ceut of phosphorus in the ordiuary brands of Cleveland. It is to the comparative absence of sulphur and phosphorus that the Cumberland iron owes its suitability for sfceel-making purposes. In point of extent and importance, the finished iron trade of Cumberland is very much subordinate to that of the manufacture of crude iron. Much progress has nevertheless been made in this direction, and there is every likelihood of a Btill further development. At the West Cumberland Ironworks, Workington, there are 40 puddling furnaces, some of them worked on the Siemen's principle. These are the largest works of their kind in the county. Workington has, to all appearances, a great fiiture bpforo it. It has eyery advantage for the successful prosecution

of industrial enterprise. It is centrally situated, has excellent facilities for communication with the rest of the world, either by land or sea, and possesses nil the natural resources necessary to the development of a very extensive trade in coal and iron. ]t"s harbor, however, requires extension and improvement, and steps will shot fly require to be taken in thia diiectioD. At present, it ims only one dock, of limited extent. Thero would not be much difficulty in the way of dredging ih'3 Der went so as to make it suitable for the purposes of a harbor up to the point where it is crossed by the railway bridge. If this plan wero undertaken, a enfe anchorage and a coramodioue harbor might be obtained r.t a trifling cost. The domiciliary rfquiremenis of the industrial classes also requite better attention. Houses suitable for workmen are Bcarce, and many of tbem are far from being what they should be. These, however, are deficiencies which 1 time may be expected to euro.