The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-04
IT IS A POOR OUTLOOK
The Condition Of the Upper Michigan
Mines.
PRICE OF ORE BELOW COST
As a Result Many Have Closed
Down-The Output For 1894
Aggregates 7.S76.547
Tons.
RICE OF ORE BELOW COST

IsHPEMING, Mich, Jan. 3.-Ihe produc-
ton of iron ore in 1894 by the five districts
or ranges of the Lake Superior iron region
is nearly 2,000,0 900 tons greater than the
output of 1898, tho year when the bottom
dropped out of the iron trade, but tho ore
production this year has been sold for less
money than the smaller output or the
previous season, when prices were sup
posed to have reached the very lowest
possible notch. The ore producers who
cried wolf in previous years found the
beast really Mt their doors this year.
The Lake Superior iron region is now
the most important source OF the worlds
supply of iron ore, both as regards quality
and quantity. The Ironstone of England,
which is commonly reinforced with the
richer ores of the Bilbao district IN Syain,
for furnace work averages but a trifie
over half the metallic iron to tho unit of
ore that the Lake Superior orc docs. Lake
Superior ores that average under SO per
centum metallic iron are rarely mined,
and scores of mines equal in richness 20
those of the Cleveland ore district in Eng
land are idle and abandoned on the shores
of Lake Superior, with no prospect of
their low grade ores ever being in demand
again. With such vast quantities of high
grade orc as arc on every manu-, Nlo loWtT
grades find no demand.
The Lake Superior mines supply practi-
cally two-thirds of the ore smelted in this
country, and owing TO their exceptional
richness, moro than two-thirds of the pig
iron smelted in tho union comes from this
ore. A ton of high grade lake ore makes
30 to 80 por cent. more iron than the low
grade bog ore of Alabama.
IN T,aE In SuDorinr ora district has five
great ranges, on the south and &c the
west of the lake. The Marquette, the
oldest range, was prospected in the early
forties, DIR. Douglass Houghton, tho pio-
ncer explorer and minoralogist, finding
numerous iron outcroppings near Negau-
noe. The first ore was taken from tho
jackson mine, at NeGaunoe, in 1916, and
during tho next nino yeais few FORCES
and bloomeries were erected near tho
mine and n small amount of ore smelted
in a primitive manner.
In 1855, on the completion o. the first
ship canal ut Sault Ste. Marie, ~ pments
of ore were for arde> by several mines
at Negaunee and lshpeming, and since
then, for 40 years, there has been steady
progress, barring an occasional period of
depression, as in 1873, and in the past Is
months. In 1877 tho Menominee range
made its first rail shipment, and the Cog
chic and Nermillion ranges were born
twins. both getting out their first cargoes
in 1884. The Mesaba is the baby of the
group, at least in age If not in stature,
having made its first shipment of n little
over 1900 tons in the last days of tho sea-
son OF navigation of 1892. The Marquette
range is wholly in Michigan. and its north
ernmost mines but nine miles from tho
big lake; the Menominee and Gogebic
ranges are mainly in Michigan, with few
overlapping mines in Northern Wisconsin,
while tho Vermillion and Mesaba districts
are located wholly within the boundaries
of the state of Minnesota.
The total production of this group of
ranges, including 1894, is but few thou
sand tons under or over Sl0OO,000 gross
tons of 2,2i0 pounds each-enough to put
n girdle of loaded ore cars almost around
tho equator. Tho water shipments of ore
for the season of 1894 were 7,776,547 long
tons. An allowance of 100, 900 tons for all
rail shipments would DO liberal enough to
cover all ore forwarded in that manner.
Owing TO the refusal of the railroad COM
NAMES operating the docks to make public
detailed figures of shipments rs was
formerly done, it is difficult 20 separate
the shipments of the Marquette. Menomi-
nee and Gogebic ranges, each of which
ships from two or more ports, and the
port of Escanaba, on Lake Michigan, for
warding cargoes from all three of the
ranges named. The 1894 production of
the Lake Superior mines was 7,176,5i1
tons.
The output of the Mesaba range was
I.793,996 tons. n vast increase over the
output Of 1898, and a wonderful showing
for SO young a district.
The orc producers have been hard