From Mining magazine First half year 1854
Quote:
NATIONAL OIL STONE COMPANY
The works of this Company are located on the Carp River in the iron region Lake Superior Among the slates which occur there is one extremely hard and of a fine grained silicious quality found to be admirably adapted for sharpening steel This Company has been steadily engaged in cutting up and polishing hone stones for market They have become distributed over the Union aud though the amount of business which the company has done is limited it has been sufficient to establish the name and reputation of the article It is stated to bo their intention to enlarge and extend their works next season