The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-29

TSf. Paul tNfnn.) Cor. New York SUM-
The strange story Of the Ashland mine
and the fortunes Of the Hayes brothers
are just now topics OF intense interest in
this part OF the country. After a. cheek
cred history, in which the mine has been
variously rated, first as one Of the most
magnificent properties on the range, and
again as a played-out proposition not
worth a days labor, the Ashland is once
more in full swing and there is ore
enough in sight to insure its operation at
a tremendous profit for many years to
come.
The Hayes brothers, E. A. and J. O.,
came to this part of the country from
Madison, Wis, in 1884, accompanied by
their mother who had a statewide rep
utation at that time as a spiritualist.
The whole family were spiritualists, and
they carried their beliefs to extremes
that aroused much soothing among the
experienced miners operating in the vi
cinity. 1t is related that Mrs Hayes
used to travel over the pine-clad range
with a cane, indicating to her sons
where they should dig in order to find
the fortune which it had been revealed
to her awaited them in northern Michi-
gan. Wherever the cane was driven
into the earth there the shafts went
down. One of Mrs Hayes finds was the
Ashland mine which has already paid
many millions of dollars, and the Ger
mania, on a nearby hill, which at last
gives promise of paying for the money
expended on 1t.
Dr.. Harrison and other Ashland capi-
talists, with Hugh Richards of Jackson,
Mich, became interested with the Hayes
boys in the development of the Ashland
In 1886 the mine was so far developed
that the property was turned over to
the Wisconsin Central under a limited
lease for 81 o00 600. The Hayes brothers
retained a sufficient amount of stock to
the property and they continued to OPP
crate the Germania, sinking about S12,-
600 a month in the pit. which for years
never realized them a dollar.
In 1889 the Hayes family removed to
California and expended an immense
sum of money in the construction of a
palace al Santa Clara, the intention at
the time being to establish Spiritualist
community which should be the head
quarters for the sect in this country. A
succession of reverses so depleted the
fortunes of the family that on the ar
rival of the panic the Hayes brothers
were reduced to practical perjury. There
are a good many people in Hurley and
Ironwood today who hold correspond
ence showing that in 1896 the Hayes
family was unable to pay even small OBJ
legations There was never any acknowl-
edged failure, but the brothers frankly
stated that they We're unable to pay, al
though they expected within a year or
two that all their obligations would be
met.
In the meantime it had developed that
the Wisconsin Central company, in its
opera tiOnS of the Ashland property, was
taking cut all the ore in sight without
expending a dollar for exploration. 1t
became spread abroad that the Ashland
had "pinehed out"--and that it would
very soon have to be closed down. About
this time the California palace Of the
Hayeses burned to the ground. A year
ago last spring the brothers returned to
Wisconsin and began an action against
the Wisconsin Central to recover the
Ashland property on the claim that the
company was running the property.
After somewhat extended litigation the
courts gave the hayes boys complete
possession.
Last spring, with money raised on sup
possdly yalueless stock in the east the
young men recommended operations at
the Ashland, and in a very short time
developed new veins of ore which seemed
inexhaustible. The mine has been run
ming with a full force ever since. The
HayeSes have paid every dollar Of their
old obligations, have constructed a pala-
tial residence close to the mine and are
once more on the high tide of prosperity.
The property is now paying $3.50 900 a.
year net. The main tunnel has passed
under the Montreal river. which is the
dividing line between Wisconsin and
Michigan, and its head is now squarely
under the main street of Hurley, ], 400
feet below the surface.
In addition the Germania is now doing
a paying business, and there is every
prospect that it too, will become a vail
liable property