Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1879-03-05

are generally free from the vice
which prevails in some mining re
gions. The mines nearest e
Ishpeming are the New York
Lake Superior, Barnum and the
Cleveland The New York mine
is better known through the
country as the Tilden mine, Mr.,
Sam1 ]. Tilden being now almost
the sole owner. There is an in
teresting story connected with the
opening of this mine. Nearly
twenty years ago, a Mr.. A. r Har-
low was head clerk for the aijoin-
ing Cleveland mine. On adjusting
the taxes one year he discovered
that forty acres on which the Com
pauy had been paying taxes as o
part of its property did not belong
to the Company. He purchased this
strip Of land for a small sum. and
afterwards leased it for a period Of
years TO the New York Iron Min
ing Company, organized in 1865,
with Mr.. Tilien at its head. Sub
sequently Mr.. W. L. Weuuore as
sumed the management of the
mines, Mr.. Tilden furnishing the
funds. Differences arose between
them, were carried into courts, and
are still unadjusted.
We descended the ladders, into
the mine and CROPPED about the
dark passages, under the guide Of
a miner, who seemed to have a
morbid relish for designating spots
where various workmen had been
killed at different times. Here"
said be, as We entered one chamber
about twenty feet high, "a man
was killed the other day by piece
of rock falling from the ceiling and
striking him on the head" On
our inquiring if there was danger
of other pieces dropping, be repli-
ed: "Oh, yes, they are liable to
drop at any time; we all have to
take our chances" After this
cheerful announcement, we did not
tarry very long in that quarter.
But there was a sad story of some
poor fellows death connected with
every division of the mine we en-
tered. i have visited mines In
Pennsylvania and elsewhere, but
there was a feeling of insecurity
and danger here which / had not
before experienced. Still there is
a fascination about the life for
the miners, and they rarely ex-
change it for other avocations. As
We entered one tram-way, We could
hear the sounds of the miners
blows far in the bowels of the
earth. Following the sounds, we
crawled through a very narrow
passage for a long distance, aud .
emerged into an opening where
the miners were at work upon a
new vein of ore, and preparing
blasts. Water was trickling down
the sides of the passage, the air was
cold and damp, the lights feebly
the half-dozen workmen
begrimed and bronzed with dirt,
presented an unnatural appearance,
and we were glad to retrace our
steps and ascend to the surface Of
he earth. The large chambers of
be mine from which the ore has
lready been taken, are divided
" strong pillars of ore, which
ave been left to support the over 9
angling walls. The veins extend
1g eastward have been pretty well ]
'orked down to the line of the 5
leveland mine. There is believ- il
d, however, to be an abundance
ore extending westward under
he surface on which the buildings 0
onnected with the mines now a
tand. Ten thousand tons of ore .
ERE taken out of the mine during S
he first year it was opened 1S64), d
nd the aggregate product up to e
ne present time has been nearly a i'
,illion of tons. Il
While the adjoining mines sold b
be ore produced during the past a
ear, Mr.. Tilden held on to his for "
etter prices. 1t is computed that
be advance in prices so far has s.
iade difference to him of forty
lousand dollars. Three engines t
re used in hosting the ore. Form 81
rly seventy-five horses were en- o
10y ed. Now the work is almost a
ltirely performed by machinery. u
ormerly over $50 men were en- Il
,ca1 abo,t H. ,.,;..oo III - | IA