The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-07-01
THE STORY OF A MINE.

Mountain, Mich, enjoys q royal income
and that, too, with no exertion on his part.
Twice n ear a check that would make
most men independent for life is passed
to him from the treasurer of the Menomi-
nee mining company as a royalty. This
fortunate man became the owner OF
eighty-nine acres of land in what Is now
known as the Menomince range some
years ago. II was a bit of wild land. not
worth fencing. situated in that triangular
portion of the northern peninsula between
Green bay and the Menominee river,
which is the dividing line from Wisconsin.
The land was originally heavy timbered.
As the rest of il had been nov few
would nave accepted IL as a gift for agri-
cultural purposes.
The prospectors came with pick n
shovel and in ten years n great change
had been brought about. The wilderness
had i'm a Measure disappeared. The
hillside is Covered with n large
mining plant. Deep down in the earth's
bosom many hundreds of men u,3DO)
Of every nationality lnd employment. A
city of 5000 souls has grown up about this
mine. Some idea of the Importance of
such q great industry is understood when
il is learned that the support of all this
large number of people comes either di-
tGftlt VI fttttt VI tbt M
DIR. Chaplin has had really nothing TO do
with the development of this great body
of ore. A royalty is paid him for every
ton mined. This ore came into the mar
ket in 1880. AT first 30 cents royalty per
ton was paid. Three years ago IL was re-
duced to 40 cents.
The Menominee mining company de-
veloped the mine and established the
largest plant in northern Michigan, and
probably i'm the world. The body of ore
is the largest known. Ii has been tested
for half a mile in length, is 30 feet wide
anda, 300 feet deep. Three hundred thou
sand tons of this rich hematite ore are
sent to the market every year, and when
the plant is worked to its utmost capacity
10000 will be the output. This gives a
very handsome royalty to the owner of
the mine.
The mining plant changed hands last
year. 100000 being paid for the lease
Repeatei efforts have been made to in
duce DIR. Chaplin to part with this mine
for a very handsome consideration, but
without avail.
There is quite a little story connected
with the possession of the Chaplin mine.
Years ago DIR. Chaplin, then a young man,
went To a small Michigan town 10 preach.
He was poor n the church TO which he
was called was poor and had n struggle
for existence. Ii is not ON record that
this minister ever thought that his duty
called him to some richer church where
he could be sure of a salary. He set
about providing for his own necessities.
He started n store which furnished
amongst other things supplies for logging
camps. This was a money making busi-
ness generally and the minister managed
TO provide for his family, help his poor
p~arishloners and nave something left
over. Sometimes he taught the school.
In fact he was ready to turn his hand to
any honorable work that came i'm his way.
Thu writer has heard upon good author
ity that this man preached for years with
out a dollar of salary and often had the
cottas es of his poor repaired, the little
lots fenced and much OF such work done
at his expense.
There came n time when business was
not prosperous, an open winter or some
thing OF that nature kept the loggers from
work. All the supplies were advanced
for payment when the lumber was fioated
to market in the spring. The men could
not get money out of lumber In the woods
to pay the supply merchant, neither could
he meet his Indebtedness. There was no
other way; he must make an assignment.
Every dollars worth of property he pos
sessed was placed at the disposal of the
creditors. There was not SO very much
of 1t, bu 1t was the best that the unfortu-
nate nan could do to meet his debts.
The creditors had a meeting TO arrange
matters and divide the assets.
Al this meetlng n OF the men felt
sorry to take everything from the poor
minister, and he said to the others:
ats too bad to strip the poor devil this
way. Let's give him hat bit of wild
land"
The others were willing to consider the
plan. The 80 acres of land were thought
to be good for nothing. Not one of the
creditors cared to take il as a part of his
share. So IL was given to the minister as
a donation from his creditors.
Gould these men have known what
changes a decade would bring about they
might have consented to take the minister
i'm as a preaching aItner-well, no, as a
silent partner, from pity. But they would
not have thrust upon him what was even
tually To make his future.
Verify, this turn of fortunes wheel
poured treasures into very deserving
hands.-CIereidnd Plain Dealer.
Not Altogether Crushed.
From the Chicago Tribune.