The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1895-10-18
NEWS FROM THE iron MINES.

INTERESTING NOTES RELATIVE no
OUR PRINCIPAL INDUSTRY.
Mesaba and Other Iron Ranges.
The Oliver closed it's season S
shipments yesterday, the grand
total from the Lone Jack and
Missabe Mountain mines for the
season being slightly in excess
Of the half million mark. OF this
enormous aggregate the Lone
Jack contributed 100000 tons,
while to the Missabe Mountain is
accredited 10, 900 tons, approx.
mately. Shipments from these
properties would have been
greatly augmented had the mines
been furnished with cars more
regularly, and shipments would
doubtless have been continued
until the close of navigation had
not lake freights advanced to q
point nearly equaling the present
price of ore, The mine will re-
tain practically the same force
for a time, cleaning up and pre-;
pairing for winter, and will also
probably do a small amount of
stripping by hand on the east
end Of the Lone Jack c,,t. AS
to the work to be done on these
properties another season, moth.
ing is yet known, but with the
advanced price of ore it is more
than probable the mines will be
worked to their utmost.
The Franklin and Bessemer
properties present the same ap
pearance of activity that has
ever characterized the mines op-
Grated by this company, and all
preparations are now being made
for a big winters work. Stock
pills grounds are in readiness on
both properties, the new shaft
at the Franklin is being sunk,
the new plant of machinery is
ready to start upon The arrival
Of the hoisting cables, and an
air of expectant prosperity seems
to pervade the atmosphere. The
Franklin group of mines will
be q telling factor in Virginia's
prosperity the coming winter, it.
being the present intention to
work all men possible at the
Franklin, Bessemer and Victoria
and the combined pay-rolls of
these mines will exceed the five
hundred mark throughout the
winter months. i.
At the Victoria, drifting cast
and west continues from the bot
tonic the shaft, at depth OF
III feet. A top drift is also be-
ing driven, IN ore, at a depth of
IS feet from surface. Work on
the old rock shaft continues and
a fine three compartment hoist
ing shaft will be made of same,
with double skip and ladderway.
At present about thirty five men
are employed on the property.
in preparatory and development
work. AS the ore is taken from
the drifts it is loaded, and from
three to five cars are shipped
from the mine daily.
At the Commodore, the man
agement still wrestles with the
water question, but with the
machinery additions now beng
made the water can easily he
cared for. On Wednesday after
noon a No. 10 Cameron pump
being put in to assist the No. 9,
and a third boiler, will. soon be
placed in position, as a power
reserve. Drifting from the bot
tom of the shaft has been COM
menced.
A churn drill is now being run
at the Norman, at a point some
500 feet southeast of the shaft.
Stock pile grounds have been
prepared and every indication
would suggest an intention to
open the mine to the east of the
shaft. stocking this winter while
rooming out and0developing this
portion of the mine.
Under the supervision of Fred
Lerch, six crews have this week
been started to work on 34, 58.17
on lands held by J. T. Hale, of
Duluth. Cole & Mcdonald also
operate a diamond drill on this
property.
The Juniata, the coarse red
ore found next to the surface on
the Lone Jack property, is at
tracing much attention and is in
great demand among furnacemen