The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-06-15
{ WEEKLY ( Current Topics,
MINING RE- l" the
! VIEW. Iron World

VIEW. Iron World :
l~~~~~~0~~
/ Three options for mining leases
or to purchase the east ha'f Of
the southwest quarter; the south
! west quarter of the southeast
quarter and the southeast quarter
of the southwest quarter of Sec
tion 31>59>18, have been filed
with the register of deeds, by
which John G.. Brown, Athol M.
Miller and Andrew Gowan OBJ
tain the right Of exploration and
a lease of the lands described.
The option extends to November,
1900. with proviso that explor-
alton shall have commenced be
fore June 1. The lease is to be
for a period of 20 years and a
ground rent of $1,000 is to be
paid annually, which is calcu-
lated on a basis of 15c per ton
for $4,000 tons of ore. Should
any ore be mined in excess of
that amount the same royalty is
to be paid. The option is for
$50. 900, Of which the parties
granting it are tc receive amounts
proportionate to their interests.
The names of the parties and
their interests are as follows:
Alfred Merritt. one twentieth; !;
James A. Nichols, one twentieth; {;
Northern Security company, one
twenty-tifth; Eliza N. Arnold
and Henry S. Ely, three-twenti.
eths; Gilbert M. Stevenson, four
twenty~ffths; Walter E. Graham.
one fortieth; Thos. Adams, one
tenth; William G. Collins, one
fortieth; the Interstate company,
three tenths, David F.. Merritt,
one tenth.
Factory Inspector Moersch, of
st. Paul, made an official visit
to the Mesabe and Vermillion
ranges a week since and reports
encouragingly upon the outlook.
He finds forty-one mines operat~
ing, where there were but twen-
ty-two in 1899, and an average
increase in force of forty per cent
IS reported. The average daily
wages of miners has also in.
creased from $1.86 in 1899 to
81. II this season, and any able
bodied man seeking employment
may find it here.
] A. N. Thompson returned
, Tuesday from a short trip to
: :Denver and Camp Francis. Col
orado, where he had been to in
spect the Big Five mines. In
this group many Virginians hold
stock, mostly in the Tim berline,
and Mr.. Thompson brings back
a good report of the property.
A handsome specimen from the
Diana drift of the Timberline is
on exhibition in The Enterprise
window and attracts much atten>
ton.
The Drake & Stratton company
has secured contract for strip
ping 100000 cubic yards at the
Sharon mine, and are getting ir
readiness to commence work al
an early date. Messrs. Stevens
and Eddy who have the contract
for clearing the land have a large
crew employed and are pushing
matters with due haste. The
Sharon is to be worked on the
milling process. and the property
will present lively appearance
the latter part of the season.
Capt. Harry Roberts this week
disposed of his one-third inter-
est in the option of the Fay mine
to Pickands, Mather & Co., ot
, Cleveland, receiving meat checl
of $4,000 therefor. The Fay, ir
charge of Capt. Sam Roberts, *
being developed into big propo
sition, and another season will
see 1t in shape to make a bis
. record as a shipper.
T, Fl. G.. Daft. of Pittsburg, aud
itor of the Oliver Mining com.
pany. died at Ely Saturday
; Mr.. Daft was on the range a yeal
! ago, and his trip this time wa
J for the benefit Of bis declining
health,