Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-03-16
Superior.
From the New York Tribune.

ri'ii '"e w" ioiN iitoune'
Southwark of Lake Superior stretches,
Tor more than hundred miles, a wild
erness broken by but few mining settle
ments or lumbermens camps. The
eastern half OF this region was most
absurdly attached to Michigan on her
admission as State, with intent to con-
sole her Tor the loss OF Ioledo-con-
ceded to the power rather than the
right OF ONO. The western hall forms
apart OF Wisconsin. Ultimately, Michi-
gan and Wisconsin Will cede II all to
form new State nearly OF the size and
conformation OF tennessee, which Will
probably be named Superior.
This region is the seat OF the only
considerable copper production as yet
developed IN our country production
which has thus far absorbed many more
dollars than 1t has returned; A very
few companies have protlted ny copper
mining, but many more have lost. We
trust that, with rlpened experience and
greater accessibility, the copper district
Will yet prove source OF wealth. The
product is the finest in the world the
copper being quite generally alloyed
with silver, which gives 1t unusual
value: Many specimens OF pure silver
have been obtained, but no silver mines
OF decided value have yet been dis
covered though just across the lake,
on petty islet near the shore, there
has recently been opened what appears
to be one OF the richest veins OF silver
ever yet discovered.
But by tar the most important mineral
product OF TINS region is IRON. The
iron OF the Marquette district is mar
velously pure and abundant. VI the
scant two mllllon tons OF pig IRON
smeited IN this country In 1871, very
nearly one-thlrd was fused from this
ore; nearly one million tons having
been mined and sent away. The fur
naces OF northeastern OHIO and north
western pennsylvania are largely sup
pied with the Marquette ore, though 1t
costs them an average OF ~ per ton, or
Sl2 Tor the ore that makes ton OF pig
metal-the yield being nearly or quite
90 per cent. II the metal were not re,
markably good, and largely required
Tor CONVERSION into bessemer and other
steel SO high a price could not be
Afforded. But Michigan, Wisconsin,
limos, and Indiana, also largely pro,
duce IRON from the Marquette ore, and
are rapidly increasing the product.
But Tor the railroad from Marquette
10 Escanaoa on bay OF Lake Michigan,
IL would not nave been possible to ex-
port halt OF this volume OF ore. That
railroad, early constructed through
painless and swampy wilderness, has
greatly aided the development OF our
good investment to It's enterprlslnP
STOCKHOLDERS. we learn that all the
IRON mines yet opened have satisfactory
orders tor an the ore they can supply
throughout le'2.
But southwestward OF the Marquette
district, on the Menomlnee river, whlch
gan and Wisconsin, there is another
iron district, larger than the former and
claimed to be equally rich, pure, and
faclle, which IS very soon to be opened
by the extension thereto of the Chicago
and Northwestern railroad, now not
many miles distant. This region is
mainly owned by the Portage Lake and
Superior Ship Canal Company. Its ores
have been thoroughly tested and pro-
nounced entirely free from phosphorus,
sulphur, End arsenlc-ln short, contain
ing the best iron. 1t is calculated that
large quantities OF charcoal pig Will be
made on the ground, clearing 1t OF the
heavy timber which now covers 1t, and
that the almost fabulous growth OF the
Marquette product, from l,5OO tons OF
ore IN 1920 to nearly 100000 tons IN
1871, Will be ecllpsed by the develop
M n hn Nnfn h a