The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-06-11

The time was never more opportune
for the development of the iron
of this region. The completion of the
Belt mountains railroad provides cheap
transportation at every stage o.. the iron
industry.
This region is so favored with all ma
terials that enter into the production of
iron and steel that nought remains but to
secure the capital and skill to turn them
to account. Systematic efforts should
therefore be made to secure the attention
of the leading iron-masters to this dis.
trict. In the first place the widest pub,
liclty should be given to the analyses
which Paris Gibson recently procured
and which have been published in the
TRIBUNE. These reports should be &C
companied by details of the deposits anG
with all other information which iron.
masters would desire. Specimens of the
ore should also be distributed.
We believe that If the Board of Trade
would provide this information and senC
it to the organs of the iron trade In the
east, west and south that they would readi
ly publish it free of charge. The facts
will come under the attention of thought
tut men at home and abroad in the col
umns of such papers rs the New Yorl
Iron Age, the st. Louis Age of Steel, the
Chicago Wood and Iron, the Boston Com
mercial Bulletin and the Bulletin of the
American Iron and Steel Association
published in Philadelphia. Secretary
Swank Of that association, would readily
give the names of iron-masters or would
have our letters sent to every iron-mastel
in that powerful body.
Good results might be speedily expect.
ed from such publicity. The iron indus
try is thriving. Iron-masters are on the
look out for places where iron and stee'
can be produced cheaply. They are pay
ing close attention the steel business
being encouraged by the growing demand
for nails and the many new uses which
have been found for Bessemer and like
products.
The experience of other places should
spur our people to Immediate action
The iron mines of Tower, in the north
east corner of Minnesota were undevelop.
ed until about six years ago when Mr.
Stone of St. Paul succeeded in interest
ing the late Hon. Charlemange Tower OF
Pennsylvania, who, with his associates,
built a railroad 80 miles long, from the
mines to Lake Superior, whence the
iron ore is shipped to Cleveland, Ohio
and forwarded thence to furnaces in
Pennsylvania. About 100000 tons of ore
are now shipped yearly from these mines
which, including the railroad, have been
purchased by Chicago parties for 5000,
600.
In like manner have the southern iron
regions acquired importance. Capt. Moi.
felt of St. Paul, who made surveys III
West Virginia for enterprisins capitalists
devoted their attention to the Alabama
and Tennessee iron belts which might
then have been procured for q moderate
sum. These capitalists neglected the OPP
portunity, but before long others became
interested and the South now undersells
Pennsylvania in her own markets.
So in like mi may the iron depos-
its here be neglected, but before their
merits will be discerned and capital will
flow in freely for their development, As
Mr.. Gibson has shown our ore exceis
that of the south for steel making and
will meet the most exacting demands.