"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.