p. 8

6

Having overcome the objection then, to Illinois coal
as a fuel for steam purposes, let us see if we cannot
use it for smelting the valuable minerals that surrouud [surround]
us, and also if we cannot influence an increase in our
manufactories. With reference to the smelting and
manufacturing of iron in our city, it is only necessary
to repeat a statement that was made by one of the
largest iron masters in this country, at the recent con-
vention of iron and steel manufacturers held in this
city, "that the difference in the cost of transportation of
the ore from the Superior mines to this city, less what
it costs to Detroit, Cleveland, Erie, Buffalo, or Pitts-
burgh, is a satisfactory profit to the manufacturer—
being from $5 to $7 per ton." We have at last found
the article that will smelt these Superior ores, and, if
such proves to be the fact, all we have to do is to let
it be known to the world, and we shall soon see the
borders of our city illuminated with the ever burning
blasts of smelting furnaces.

There are other important reasons why the atten-
tion of our citizens should be called to the FUEL
QUESTION. Governor Bross, in his recent lecture be-
fore the Mercantile Association, presented some highly
interesting details, as to the absolute necessities of the
Territories laying between the Mississippi River and
the Rocky Mountains; and among the most important
was his statement of the valuable minerals deposited
in this mountain range. All this mineral product, he