The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-04-17
NEWS FROM THE IRON MINES.
INTERESTING NOTES RELiTIrE 70
OUR PRINCIPAL INDUSTRY.

Mss~ba and osher Iron Ranges
The convention of the North
ern Mineral Mine Workers Pro-
g,essive Union held at Ishpem-
ing this week closed it's labors
yesterday. The most important
question considered was the
matter of demanding shorter
hours, which matter was left to
|. an executive committee for fur
ther consideration before any
definite decision is made. Prior
to the adjournment the Mesaba
was given representation in the
executive council. This action
on the part of the miners will
avert any open rupture for a
time at least, and in considera-
ton of the market and the def
erence of the mine owners it is
altogether improbable that any
serious trouble will result.
Edwin Ball, superintendent of
the Minnesota Iron company's
mines at Soulan, was arrested
on Tuesday evening charged with
violating the statute which pro-
vides that a. man shall not be
discharged because he is a mem
Der of a labor union. The COM
plant was sworn out by G. !.
Rim, who was discharged by
Capt. Ball some weeks ago.
Rim states that when he asked
Ball what it Wasfor he saidit was
because he was a member of the
miners union. Rim further
says that Ball had openly stated
that he would employ none but
non. union men, and that union
men need not apply. The case
is on trial in Duluth today.
Although No. / shaft at the
Franklin is temporarily closed,
the Franklin group IS still fur
nishiny employment to some $50
men, and from 1900 to 1900 tons
per day is being added to the
stockpiles. The new shaft, No,
2 Franklin, is now down about
10 feet and will be continued to
a depth of $50 feet, or to the
bottom level. The new shaft
house is in course Of construc-
ton. and should it be found ex.
pedient to do so considerable ore
could be shipped from this shaft
the latter part Of the season.
In our last issue, The Enter
prise erred in stating that Capt.
Trezona had been placed in
charge of the Victoria as super
lntendent, The Victoria is one
of the Franklin group, and since
the demise of Capt. Whitford the
property has been placed in
charge of Capt. Harris, who is
superintendent Of The Franklin
and various connecting proper
ties, Capt. Trezona continues
as mining captain at the Frank
lin group:
The Fayal has from 100000 to !
100, 900 tons in stock and are
raising ore at the rate Of about
1000 tons daily, Some 300 men
are furnished employment, and
should no labor trouble arise
work will doubtless be continued
throughout the season. On Mon
day last, the first cars for the
seasons shipments were loaded
from the shaft.
John Obloc, an Austrian miner
at the Fayal, was killed by a
fall Of ground, on Monday night,
and his partner was seriously in
jured. An inquest held under
the supervision of Deputy-Cor.
norer Darms exonerated the
company, the failing of the body |
of ore, several tons in extent, be-
ing unforeseen and purely acci-
dental.
The Canton, at Biwabik, was
closed on Tuesday and the ma
chinery is being prepared for
long season Of idleness. Load
ing from the stocSpile will COM
mence at any early date.
The trouble between the min
ers and employers at the Vega,
reported in these columns last
week, was amicably settled and
the men returned to work the
last of the week.
The Drake & Stratton company
are gradually getting to work on
their various stripping contracts
here and at Biwakik, and will do
a great amount of work on the
range this year.
The first ore loaded at the Oil
YER for the season was yester'