The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-08-18
VERY INTERESTING.
sSta, at the Meeting Of Mining Engin-
GERS Mt Tower last Month.

GERS nj Tower last Month.
"Nearly ali men are too busy with
their own affairs TO keep Informed of
the progress in other lines From
time to time we read statistics show
ing the development III some industry
that cause us great establishment, but
the feeling OF surprise soon fades, to
be followed by Others that likewise
pass away. a short resume OF what
has been doae in one line may be of
interest.
During the late fifties the ore pro-
duct of Lake Superior was handled
over a mule tram road to Marquette
Now the Duluth South Shore & At
lantic. the Chicago s. Northwestern,
the Wisconsin Central, the, Duluth
Superior & Western. the Duluth, Mis-
sabe & Northern. the Duluth & Iron
Range and the Lake Superior &
Ishpeming railroads serve the ship
pers. Up to nearly 1870, a 7oo-ton
was an enormous craat, the loading of
which required two days. the unload
ing being seldom accomplished in
that time. Now the cargoeS reach
5000 tons, the loading requiring less
than three hours. and the unloading
ten hours. In 1871 the largest ore
barge carried 1000 tons and made II
trips per season. Now the mines
cover more land than was familiar to
even the timber cruiser when the
Jackson mine was opened The an
nual shipments have grown from
few thousands to 10000, 900 tons, and
the ability Of the mines to produce is
not taxed. Lake freights are one
eighth of early prices, and rail freights
one quarter.
THE deeper water ways, commod-
ious locks and large ships of today are
in greater measure due to the move
ment of ore than to any other cause.
Great savings have been made in each
detail of each department. The only
cost that has not been lessened, am
glad to say, is the cost, for money
paid to men; for wages: measured by
what they will buy, are as high now
as at any time past except 1T were
one Of feyerish activity.
LAS illustrating the cheapenfng
that has been effected, ore is today
sold at Lake Erie ports at for 1 per
ton less than in early times it actual
ly cost to mine, and this is done with
out loss. And further economies may
be expected. Young men remember
sales of ore in Pittsburg at SIS per
ton, or about the present price of
rails.
1.-THE first mines were opened in
Marquette county, and were of what
is commonly known as ''hard ore"
Previous to 1873 soft ore, or ''hema-
tite," was not popular but the buy
er was often obliged to take some in
order to secure the needed quantity
of hard ore. In those good old days
the ore buyers came to the sellers as
penitents approach the shrine, but l
am told that custom in this respect
has changed somewhat of late.
Beginning with a few grades, the
Lake Superior mines now offer ores
from the purest and best to those that
will not bear transportation; and
within these limits can be found the
varieties needed for general or special
products and in quantity equal to any
demand. The men who were early in
charge of the mines had some knowl
edge OF mining and.quarrying. Many
of their methods are now out of date
but experience, daily observation and
study, techinal schools, and the me-
chanicals ability SO common with
Americans have enabled those in
charge to meet all difficulties and to
carry the industry toa point that is
complimented by visitors from
abroad. In the discovery of new
fields. the miner of iron ore, like the
miner of more precious metals. has
led the way, the explanation of the
geology being left to the student.
As viewed from this distance the
early methods were very crude.
Horses furnished the power and they
worked in all possible, and some al
most impossible places. The little
machinery then in use was poor and
often but i'll adapted to the work.
The first hosting plant of large size,
economical design and equal to fu-
ture demands was set up at the Lake
Superior mine in 1880. Now single
compound and triple and condensing
engines of large power are found
throughout the iron ranges for hoist
ing pumping and COMPRISING The