The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-06-19
Mesabl Range

The Commodore Mining company IL
reported to have sold 10000 tons oil
ere, and IL IL mining and shipping NJ the
rate OF $50 tons day. Some thirty-iiye
men are employed.
The Mahonng Ore company has put a
second shovel m the ore and * now
sending out about 200 carloads daily, q
rate il will keep mp for "a long time.
The sale OF orc that is being sent for
ward from the Ohio Mining company's
mine amounts, 30 far rs arranged "A
vet, 90 only 5000 tons and this Is being
loaded by hand shovels and wheelbar-
rows into ears. Wages paid at the mine
are from 81 % 20 ST. day, and
some fifty men are employed. IL is
thought that when this shipment has
been completed work will continue.
A contract for track from the Du-
luth and Iron Range main line to the
Roberts Mining cOmpany's mine hns
been let, and work IL under way with Il
good force. The track * but short
one, however, and will be completed
ready for shipments in July. II il under
stood that 10000 tons will be shipped
this year.
The shipments Of iron ore from the
Minnesota mines now average 40, 900
tons per week IL ia easy To zee why
Minnesota will rank first this yeur M an
iron producing state and why the other
Lake Superior mines are closing down
and waiting for ore sales.
IL is reported that the ore sold by the
Biwabik mine. and which ~ now being
shipped, brought about $2.25 a ton in
Cleveland. AT this price II - difficult to
see how the company can get out with
out without a loss, M the cost al nm
ing, freight and royalty will equal II not
exceed this figure. Men who have
watched the iron ore market closely fear
that mime operators who have thus lar
been unable 10 sell orc are becoming
desperate and that still greater falliug
of in prices is imminent So far, the
schedule adopted has been rigidly adj
hercd to, but even at those prices there
has been little demand for ore. Opcr-
ators whose leases make IL necessary To
affect sales have been earnestly soliciting
buyers, but the sale OF the Biwabik ore
IL the first one that It is thought has
been made at so low Il iigure that not
the slightest chance Of "A profit remains.
The officials OF the Minnesota Iron
company on their trip over the ranges
paid special attention 10 the Pioneer
mine ut Ely and II is possible that that
mine will bc worked ia the iuture 10y this
company. Ii is said that an option on
Il large block OF Pioneer stock was Sc
cured which expires on July LIST, aud the
mine will become the property Of the
Minnesota Iron company will be settled
by that date. Should the company
secure il thoy will have one of the best
bodies OF high grade ore ON the ranges,
aud il can be worked 10 great advantage
by the Minnesota Iron company, lying
adjacent, as IL does, To the Chandler
mine -Nermilion Iron journal.
Ex-Govcrnor Roswell j.. Flower Of
New York, in an interview at Duluth,
denies the statement that the Mime
soto Iron company has any present in
tention OF acquiring the Pioneer proper
tv nc Ely or any other option held by
that company which expires July first.
Governor Flower believes that the iron
mining interests of the state are entering
on period oi prosperity and that i'm
provement IN all branches OF business
will come with the settlement OF the
tariff