The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-17
IRON ORE SHIPMENTS
ALMOST FOUR MILLION TONS HAVE
ALREADY LEFT TWO
HARBORS
STOCK NEARLY EXHAUSTED
Conditions for Shipment Unfavora-
bic for Past Three Weeks, Ovy-
ing to Rough Seas and
Continuous Rains.

TWO HARBORS, Mimi, Oct. 16.-(Spe-
clad)-Shipments of iron ore from this
port, which have been constantly increas-
ing since the establishment of the Duluth
d IRON Range Railroad companys docks
at this place in thepyear 1884, have been
heavier the present season than at any
time previous. ST
During the month of September, 1901,
the shipments amounted to 1861 gross
tens, an increase of 175,04S gross tons
over September, 1900 During the season
of 1901, up to and including the month Of
September, the shipments aggregated
3,S53,S79 gross tons, and during the same
period in the<year- 1900 the total ship
ments were 3,267,422 gross tons. making
an increase in 1901 over 1900, to Oct l, OF
$50, 457 gross tons.
Shipments for the entire season of 1860
amounted to 4,014,373 gross tons, and the
shipments for 1901, to date, are thought
to be considerably in excess of that
amount.
The weights given above are mine
weights. and no deductions have been
made for moisture or loss in transit.
Shipments are now unusually heavy
for this time of the year, and espec ally
so in view of the fact that most of the
stockpiles have been sent forward.
Ordinarily the ore shipments continue
until about Dec. l, and if the present
ratio is kept up until that time this
seasons, it is evident that over 5,00S,000 tons
will be handled from this point During
the year 1900 more ore was handled at
this port than at any other point in the
United States, and it is estimated now
that at the close of navigation this fall
Two Harbors will be still farther in the
lead as an ore shipping port.
Considerable delay has been expert
enced during the last three weeks, prin-
cipally on account of the heavy storms
on the great lakes, many of the large
ore-carrying vessels being obliged to run
for shelter and remain at anchor for days
at a time. This has caused a congested
condition at the docks, which has greatly
delayed the dumping of cars; and in some
instances it was necessary to stop the
supply of empties for loading at stock
piles, only enough being secured to take
care of the actual mining. Some delay in
dumping cars and loaunG boats at the
docks has also been experienced on ac-
count of the heavy AMI continuous rams
which have prevailed here for the past
three weeks. An extra effort has been
made, however, ID load boats promptly
on their arrival, regardless of weather
conditions, in order to relieve the situa-
ton as much as possible.
The ore docks of the Duluth & Iron
Range at this point are the largest, in
point of storage capacity, of any on the
great lakes, and it is estimated that if
vessel tonnage could be secured regular
ly so as to keep them from being con-
gested at times, the road and docks as at
present equipped and operated are cap
able of handling at least 6,O00Cs0 tons
during the season of navigation.
Another industry which has developed
at this point within the last two years,
is the cutting and shipping of spruce
pulp-wood. Messrs. Colvin & Robb, con-
tractors and lumber dealers, located at
Biwabik, Mimi, are the most extensive
handlers of this commodity in this sec
ton of the state. During the winter of
1900 and 1901 between 12,OCO and 1900 cords
were cut on the line of the d. & l. X.
and shipped to this point for reshipment
by boats. This was sold to the Hammers
vile Paper company, of Erie, Pa, and all
but about 700 cords have already been
shipped. This one firm alone expect to
get out in the neighborhood of $4,000
cords during the coming winter.