"N. Y., _Mar. 26th, 1864_.
"MY DEAR SIR,--I send some specimens from various locations in Lake
Superior country on which I desire information and your judgment.
"No. 1. Hematite is claimed to give 61 1/3 per cent. of iron. They
call it granular hematite. I should like to know whether it will
produce so much in order to judge whether it will bear very distant
transportation. I should like your judgment of it in all respects.
"2 and 3 are of the same general character.
"_Next._ I want to know whether No. 6 has any admixtures which may
affect its value in working. It is called specular and slate iron.
"_Next._ I want to know about No. 4. The analysis given me is 41.885
metallic.
"31. ox iron manganese.
"It is called massive hematite pyrotistic.
"I should like to know about its working character and its availability.
"5, I believe, is similar. 7 and 8 are specimens of slate iron.
"8 claims to be 43 per cent.
"7 claims to be 57 per cent., with traces of manganese. It feels too
light. I should like a test of it.
"I should be glad of your ideas on the subject at as early a day as
practicable. Send me results as they can be obtained without waiting to
complete all.
"Truly,
"S. J. TILDEN."
"_Mr. Kent._"