The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-04-11
From The Mines.

for the ore delivered at Lake Erie ports
It is upon this basis the consumers will
have to figure, as the producers OF besse-
rncr ores have decided amongst them
selves that they viii strictly adhere to
the agreemeemcnt. This will give a
living price 10 all the companies that
are mining ores OF the better class. and
all the big producers should make fair
living, and pay their men fair wages, at
the selling price as announced. Ii will
make IL easier TO operate mines than
when low prices OF ore prevailed, for,
with the ridicuously low market OF the
past few years there WAS nothing in the
business for the men who owned the
mines or for those who worked in them.
It was 4, season full OF troubles, and Iron
Ore is greatly pleased that there is to be
a living price demanded. We have adj
vised such course ever since the big
slump in prices was announced. We
have called attention to the good that
would be secured by AN understanding
between the producers ofores Of bessener
grades, and we now advise similar under
standing on the part Of those who are
mining non-besscmers. IL can be brought
about, but it will take caution and skill
40 that all may be treated fairly.
The iron ore business does not look ms
promising m it did few months ago,
and because OF this the ore dealers have
decided TO cut down former estimates by
two million tons. This will be ielt more
kecnly on the Marquette, Gogebic and
Minnesota ranges. The Menominee pro-
duces comparatively little Of ores OF
bessemer grade. 1t will mean the lessen
ing OF mining forces ut the properties
where bessemer ores are mined, but there
will be the satisfaction that those who
are retained will be paid fair wages.
Early in the new year the different
mining companies on the several ranges
were given their apportionment Of pro-
luction for the present season. The
result was a considerable increase in the
number OF men engaged. and stockpiles
grew with amazing rapidity. Nowcomes
another order that reduces the amount
given each mine by considerable, and the
result will be a shortening OF iorce Iron
Ore regrets that this is to be, but those
who are kept will be able to earn wages
at which they can live well, and this
means much.
On the Menominee the principal bosse-
mer producer, the Pewabic, has let off
100 men, and we hear that more are to
be discharged. On the Mesab range the
Canton will be closed for the season,
ceasing mining work entirely. They have
large stockpiles, enough TO meet the
amount assigned them. This will throw
several hundred men out Unemployment.
The Norrie, OF the Gogcbic, that has
been working 80 strong, will make con
siderable reduction as viii the 1'ilden,
(better known us the Colby, on the Go
gebic. Both OF these are immense mines,
the biggest on that range.
On the Marquette range, the Lake
Angelina. Lake Superior and Cleveland
Cliffs are the heaviest producers, and all
OF these have large stocks on hand. We
have interviewed all OF these companies,
and they inform us that they have re-
ceived orders to produce considerable
less ore than was first assigned them.
AS yet they have made no reduction in
force. They are undecided whether IL IL
best TO work strong until they have
mined the amount apportoncd, and
then 60 slack off during midsummer. or
TO let off certain percentage Of their
men now and work this throughout the
year. They are comforting with their re-
spective arrangements as To- the best
plan to observe. 10 will probably result
in the letting out OF such number OF men
now and keeping force that can he
steadily employed in mining the amount
apportioncd This would probably
bring less hardship TO the labor than TO
bring things to an entire close-down in
the middle Of the summer.
The several companies ln tins place
much regret the order that cuts down
the amount formerly apportionod to
them. They say they can mine ore at a
less cost per ton when they are working
full-handcd and pushing things at all
points. With decreased forces there are
certain expenses that must he met that
will bc ms large as when several hundred
more lnen are employed, and II ~ the
knowledge OF this TACT that gives the
eastern arrangements reason for talking
OF closing down solidly IN the summer.
The local representatives argue against
this that the entire disclosure would dis
organize their forces. Tho mon would
scatter, the better class would seek en-
ploymcnt elsewhere. and this would
leave the poorer on their hands when
they were ready TO resume operations.
They win probably influence the com
pauics 90 let them work a fall force that