The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1901-01-05

the "flling-in'' process of railroads. The
mining qoes on all the time; the miners are
divided into what they call day and night
shifts; the ore comes up in skips and is dumped
against the trestle work. The men who tend
these skips have al a very enviable job when
the thermometer is monkeying around Az
below zero. as it often does here, especially
at night
The miners are from Cornwall. England,
Sweden, and every other nation OF Europe.
They are Industrious law abiding and free
American citizens; they earn from ~. Is TO 20
and more day; it depends upon the position
There is general superintendent, Mr.. Cole,
who looks after all these mines; then there are
local superintendents. general managers, cap
tains and bosses, besides engineers, chemists,
prospectors, etc.
Besides the iron mines, copper is found IN
rich and profuse deposits near Marquette, on
the lake shore. The Calumet-H Hecla copper
mine is g 600 feet deep, and the most extern
siye and richest in the world. At first the
shares we're SIS, nov they are $500, and they
have paid out S78,000.000 in dividends.
expect to see into these iron and copper mines
in the near future, and may write you oil my
underground experience.
The schools here are lronwood's pride;
there are seven ward schools. and four OF them
have kindergarten departments. They ac-
commodate nearly 1000 children, and there
is a convent school with 200 or more pupils.
There are nearly 60 teachers, of which two
are men-the principal and principal 5of
the High School. Much attention is pasd 70
music, drawing and athletics, and there s,s 8
special teacher in each. The supervisors oi
music and drawing visit each class every third
day. the regular teacher supplementing the
obi ma INV n
whom we're born in the old country, aud re-
member their ocean voyage TO America-
write we'll and use good Epglish their singing
is fine and they read three part songs written
in any KEY. Their drawings are surprising,
MANY of them showing decided talent.
The High School is new $780, 900 building
occupying a beautiful sight on the highest
point in the city. 1t is surrounded by hne
Grounds, where they play foot ball and hold
their field day sports.
There are no hills here; toward the lake are
some large bluffs, and between here and the
lake are the forest where numbering IS carried
on very extensively. | have visited lumber
mill in Wisconsin, just over the river from
here, where they have acres OF lumber piled
very symmetrically, and forming streets,
through which we drove. The mill employs
about 900 men in the summer, but is shut
dawn in the winter. The saw dust is utilized
for fuel, and there is great deal of waste ma
terial that is burned up in huge iron cylinder
near the works. Everything bas been on
runners here since the 7th of November, and
this is the lumbernan's harvest. They bring
the wood and mining timber in on sleds; the
| Ioos for lumber are fioated to the mills when
the thaw comes in May.
One can count on months of snow here
| this doesn't all fall at once. but when it comes
it is here to stay, aud piles up very deep dur
ing the winter. The snow plow was out las
week opening up the car track; the streets are
opened the same way, but there hasn't been
| snow enough to make it necessary yet.
The natural forests have been cut away, and
trees grow very slowly. There are very beau
tiful poplars und naples here; the soil is fertile
and vegetables and flowers grow rapidly and
very large. Strawberries rpen in July, and
potatoes are dug in October. This population
requires great quantity of provisions; Ar
mours. in Chicago, have branch office here
and supply quantities of meats. In season u
} isn't unusual to see score or more OF deel
hanging in the markets. Deer hunting and
fishing are the sports here.
i Parties and families camp along the lakes
in summer as we of the East 60 to the ses
shore. There ism It so much dressing, and the
lovers of nature see it in the greatest beauty
here in the forests and along the beautiful
sheets of water The houses here are heated
by steam, hot water or hot air, and are lighted