The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-04-25


MAR the past three months Is
QUErTE about TO happen. The prn-
RANCE. cipal mines OF Ishpeming are
TO make heavy reductions in
the present number Of men employed.
This Is occasioned by the lowering OF the
amount apportioncd to them about the
first OF the year, due to the change Tor
the worse ia the ore market. Mr.. w. q.
Pollock, representing the Lake Angelina;
w. G. Mather, president OF the Cleveland
Cliffs, and w. ID. Recs, managing director
and treasurer OF the Lake Superior
mines have been there during the past
week, and have issued the orders that
we're feared would come
The Lake Angelina has mined within
90, 900 tons Of the amount apportioned
TO il, which can be raised in six weeks at
tho present rate OF production. Mr..
Pollock desired to close the East End
mine soIdly the first OF the coming
month. but Capt. Waters, the superin-
tendent, is obiccting to this, and will
make an effort TO keep the mine working
II with but n small force. About three
hundred men will he laid off by this com
pany, and the start in this direction will
be made on Monday OF next week.
AT the Lake Superior they have mined
within TO- 900 tons OF their allotment,
and reduction fully equal, II NOT greater
than at the Lake Angelina, will result.
The Lake Hematite will be closed solidiy
a week from today laying off 154 men,
and reduction OF $50 men will take
place at Section Twenty-one. II the
market does not improve the latter
minc will be closed in May. Mr.. Rees
says that their company has not sold a
pound OF ore for this seasons delivery
as yet. They will begin shipping, and
will place considerable tonnage on
docks ut Lake Erie ports TO make room
for new stockpiIes, and TO give their
boats something TO do. Regarding the
probable time that the reduced force
would DO employed before additions
were made, he said he could not form
any opinion, that depending entirely
upon the condition OF the market. but it
would probably not be announced this
year Mr.. Pollock said he expected that
another reduction would be made
at their mine in about six weeks unless
there was n pronounced strengthening in
the demand.
The Cleveland-Clifis company have n
greater tonnage to secure than their
neighbors, the combination having given
them more to do, and they will not lay
off to exceed one hundred men at the
present time, probably.
The lcssening Of force is great disap-
pointment To all the people Of Ishpeming.
Early in the year il was expected that
we would enjoy a most prosperous sea-
son. Everything indicated it. and the
merchants and others made prepara-
tionsiorit. Many are just recovering from
the hurtfuI strike OF a year ago. and the
blow will cause great hardship. There
Is not the movement in iron that was
hoped for, and business generally has
dropped of within the past few weeks.
The money market is not ia n satisiac-
tory condition. There is stringency
that is getting as marked MS it was two
years ago. The lack OF confidence still
remains on the part Of the capitalists,
and prosperity cannot come until men
with money invest il freely.
Mr.. James Reed, who has been mining
captain at the Winthrop for the past
year, has resigned that position and
accepted another on the Mcnominee
range with the Antoine Ore company.
Samuel Hoar is preparing TO open the
Lucy mine, at Ncgauncc. lie has pur-
chased lot OF secondhand machinery,
will unwater the mine, and expects to
have twenty-five men working the com
ing week. The ore is manganiierous and
can find ready market by reason OF
that mineral.--Iron ORE.