t. Louis.

The quality of the iron is highly spoken of by the manufacturers, and
the capacity of the smelting appliances has reached to over 150,000
tuns per annum. The coal is well suited for reduction of ores,
either by hot or cold blast treatment. The Scotia Iron Co. commenced
operations in January, 1870; and, although the materials for building
blast furnaces had to be carried 80 miles into a desert, the first
furnace was blown into blast in August, 1870. This furnace will run
about 24 tuns per day. The company procures ore from a hill, near the
furnace, in which there is an apparently inexhaustible supply of red
oxide and brown specular. This ore yields 60 per cent of pure metal.
The erection of mills for making wrought iron is contemplated, and the
high quality and prodigious quantity of the raw material will justify
and reward any outlay of capital in this direction.

The shipment of ore to other States goes on constantly, the last
year's account showing that 246,555 tuns were dispersed over Indiana,
Ohio, and others. The furnaces at Kingsland, South St. Louis, Lewis
Iron Co.'s Works, Carondelet, and Maramec are all well situated as
to coal and limestone, the Maramec Works having a most valuable
water-power. These latter works also ship about 40,000 tuns red
hematite ore yearly.

* * * * *

SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE.

According to _Petermann's Mittheilungen_, the new German empire,
including Alsatia and Lorraine, will embrace 9,901 square miles, with
40,148,209 inhabitants. Russia alone will exceed it in extent and
population, for Russia in Europe has 100,285 square miles with a
population of 69,379,500. France, after the loss of Alsatia and
Lorraine, will have 9,588 square miles of territory, with 36,428,548
inhabitants. Austria will number 35,943,592 inhabitants spread over a
larger extent of country, namely, 10,980 square miles. Great Britain
and Ireland has 5,732 square miles, with 30,838,210 inhabitants;
and Italy, including Rome, has 5,376 square miles, with 26,470,000
inhabitants. In the order of population, the Governments will stand:
Russia, Germany, France, Austria, and England; but in military power,
the first position must henceforth be accorded to Germany.

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING ENGINEERS.

A circular has been issued by several mining engineers, proposing
a meeting at Wilkes-Barre, some time in April or May next, of all
persons interested in the