The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-11-01

a nd the lengths are not uncommonly
half a mile OF more. The ores are,
for the most part slightly hynrated
hematites. Only two deposits on the
range are known TO contain sulphur In
iniurious amounts. The Mesabi ores
range in texture from large crystalline
masses requiring the use OF crusher'
as Biwabik, to fine, soft dirt which
runs like sand between the fingers.
THE looseness of the ore as IL lies
in the deposit is shown by the fact that
in computing the tonnage of Mesabi
ore from ili9 to Is Gu. #. are allowed
per long ton, whereas in the hard ore
deposits of other ranges the common
figures are : TO GU. fl. per long ton.
Because Of the bedded 'and jointed
structure Of the ore deposits water is
able to pass through them freely The
ore deposits are at present in part a
bove water level and in part below IL.
A good instance of this appears at
Virginia, where the Columbia mine
on low ground receives vast quantity
OF water. while the mines on the
higher ground adjacent are
comparatively dry.
Because Of the soft character of the
Mesabi ores and Of theirfccurrence in
shallow deposits much ore is loaded
directly by steam shovels on railway
cars ia open cuts The Mesabi iron
ores are transported 70 Lake Superior
by rail and hence by the lakes 70
terminal ports In 1891 the district
had not been opened MP. In 1895 the
Mesabi district became the largest pro-
ducer in the Lake Superior region,
passing In that year the Marquette
district, which since 1854 had held
first place. In 90l the total producv.
tion of the Mesabi distisct was "A PEI
cent Of that Of the Lake Superior re-
gion, and two and one-half times "a
much as its nearest competitor, the
Menominee which, in 1901. for the
first time surpassed the Marquette dis.
trict in production Largely on ac-
count of the Mesabi production the
state Of Minnesota IN 1901 passed the
state Of Michigan as the largest ais.
trict iron producer in the United
States. In total shipments the Mesabi
district is still behind the Marquette
district. At the close Of 1901 the
Mesabi district had shipped total Of
40 4O4, 901 long tons, and the Mar
quette district open since 1854, mad
shipped %, s47. 453 tons At the
present rate of production the NcsgL
total will pass that Of the Marquetta
district in about four years. The total
amount Of nigh grade ore that ~
containing above perhaps 50 or 80 per
cent of metallic iron at present in
sight on the Mesabi range has been
estimated NO 400. 600 600 to 600, 600 GOO
tons The commonly accepted figure
is 800, 600, 900 tons. OF this 20 or 25
pre- cent is Bessemer ore The ag-
gregate amount OF high-grade ore in
sight mp to 1902 on all the old ranges
of the Lake Superior region has been :
thought not greatly TO exceed $50 000
900 tons. Even il the estimates Of the III
Mesabi range and the old ranges ar
considerably away from the truth.
Is apparent that the Mesabi holds
commanding position in the region in
its reserve tonnage. I'm 1901 the United
States Steel Corporation sold about 72
per cent Of the total Mesabi produc-
ton. IL would appear that the Eastern
Railway Of Minnesota Great Northern
stands well mp among the leading iron
ore interests, and it the iron ore de.
posits not yet opened for mining were
taken into account the Eastern would
probably stand second only to the
United State Steel Corporation.