The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-09-30
EDIToE TRUE NoRrHERNER :

We are now enjoying pleasant visit
among the copper mines of Lake Superior.
This is delightful country-we enjoy very
cool weather here, having as general thing
bat sixty and seventy degrees of heat, very
seldom does the thermometer reach ninety
degrees.
One of the finest sights on the trip is at
Sault st. Marie, where the government is
constructing new canal around the rapids
in st. Mary's river, at a cost of $3000O00
1t is very fine piece of engineering. The
walls are 40 #. high, II #. wide at the bot
tom, and it. at the top. The gates are to
be managed by hydraulic engines,-six of
them-by which they will have almost I'M
limited power. but Will use an accumulation
that stores 10000 lbs. to the square inch.
There is nothing like it in this country.
The next point is Marquette, place of
5000 people 1t is delightfully."- situated on
a bay of the same name. Here thousands of
people from all the States and some from
England, visit every year. This is not to be
wondered at, when you consider the delight
full climate they have here, one can sleep
comfortably under blankets the year round.
1t is near this place that the iron mines are
found. The principal mines being at Negau-
nee, Michigamme, Republic, and Campion.
Taking the railroad from Marquette to
L'Anse, and boat to Hancock, we reach the
first of the copper regions. Hancock and
Houghton are situated on opposite sides of
Portage Lake, the two places being con-
nected by draw-bridge There are three
copper mines in each of these places. There
is narrow gauge railroad from Hancock to
Calumet, distance of twelve miles, which
has rise of 600 fit. between the two places
Calumet is a very level place. quarter of a
mile to the north is the town of Red Jacket
built on one long street. One-half mile
west of Calumet is the town Of Osceola. q
place of 1000 inhabitants. The town OF
Calumet having several hundred houses, is
owned by the mining company. They allow
in the place but two general stores, one hard
ware store and a meat market-not saloon
in the place. This is quite remarkable
when here in towns of 1000 inhabitants
can be found thirty saloons. There is one
frst-class hotel in the place also owned 10y
the company. The mining company gives
the ground and $4,000 to any denomina-
ton wishing TO buid church. They have 9
very fine school building, costing SSO,O00
which was built by the company and pre-
sented to the people. There is an attend.
ance of 1000 pupils. This is one of the
richest companies in the country: they pay
a yearly dividend to the stockholders OF
S2,000,0 1000 100000 every three months
Each share draws dividend of $4,000 pei
year. They now have a reserve fund OF
S3,000,O00, and intend making it S5,OOO,OOO
They control two mines, the Hecla and
Calumet, and about 1920 men are employed
in them. Here is the largest mining ma.
chinery in the world; they are now putting
in an engine Of 5000 horse power. l be.
lieve the next larger engine is the one al
Pullman, Chicago, of 1000 power. They
have now at work in the Heca mine a shaft
that is 20 #. long, #. diameter, solid steel
This was made at Krupp's gun works in
Prussia If any machinery be invented that
is better than they have in use, the old is
pulled out and the new put in. The mines
are worked day and night, and they have
now reached depth of 1900 feet. The
copper rock is hoisted in small car, up an
incline track, and is then taken to the crush
ing mill, crushed up, and then it is taken to
the stamping mill, where it is stamped and
washed, coming out, fro m as fine as powder
to the size of an apple, each grade by itself.
The miners go into and return from the
mines by means of man engines. These are
formed by two timbers, 20 feet. long by 20
inches in width, placed side by SIDE These
have steps at distance of 10 It., and as one
side goes down 10 f., the other comes up
10 it,, so that 10y stepping from one platform
to the other. one soon reaches the bottom
taking about twenty minutes to descend
The mine is lighted by means of electric
light, and has communication with the out
side world by telephone. The officers of the