The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-01

48-inch drill and it took them many days
to make three holes AZ inches deep, for all
their blacksnithing was done at the trad
Ing post. five or six miles away. Finally
they filled their three holes with about
eighteen inches of powder and shot them,
making the first blast in the history of
iron mining in Minnesota. This was in
midsummer in 1875. These holes were
about three feet from the south edge of
the formation and several feet apart
When fired they made merely crack
some forty feet long and half an inch
wide. E-- b.. ..
There was not enough powder left for
another such blast and the only thing to
be done was to work with Wedges to
loosen. the ledge. They broke and dug
away for width of several feet. the per-
pendicular side Of the formation. With
ash wedges smeared with soap they wild
ened this until it was considered safe to
insert all their remaining powder. welt
mixed with sand to give 1t bulk. The
resulting blast broke off about sixty tons
Of ore and exposed the vein for width
Of thirteen feet. The ore, as was after
wards found, ran from IS to &c per cent in
iron and was Of Bessemer quality.
One Of the Indians was at once sent
down to Professor Chester, where he and
the party was at work on the Mesaba. He
arrived in due time and was astonished at
the result. Said he. why, with three
men you have opened more ore than
found down there with twenty -two.'' AL
though this excellent showing was then
made, and though Stuntz called Chester's
attention to the find further east at what
became the Breitung pit, the persons
backing Chester were so discouraged at
| the poor showing on the other range that
nothing was done. The Vermillion was not
! to be opened then.
First Real DeyeIopmsnt.
It was five years later. in 1880, that
George G. Stone succeeded in interesting
Charlemagne Tower, ST., father of the
present United Srates minister to Ger
many, Mr.. Munson and others, in these
finds and in getting second report from
Chester, at their request. Tower imme-
diately took hold with vigor. Stuntz was
employed to survey the township 62-l5.
and did SO In the summer of 1880. Sioux
scrip was laid on the land, or part of it.
and Chester, Stuntz and about twenty
helpers began the first real development or
| the land now embraced in the Minnesota
mine. They dug q series of trenches
across the formation, from what was later
known as the Stuntz to the Breitung shaft
and collectively made what was at that
| time probably one OF the greatest surface
showings ever known in an iron ore Local
| ton. In the following year Breitung and
his Marquette associates became inter-
ssted with Tower, through the report Of
one Wright an expert from that district,
and the following year the construction
Of the Duluth & Iron Road was COM
menced.
Stuntz remained in charge of work there
| till 1888, when he was succeeded by John
Armstrong. who in turn was followed By
z. Morcome still resident Of Tower,
and who gave way to D. H. Bacon m
1887. Mr.. Bacon remained in charge OF
sofpo {r = Tra,
until 1t had become vast concern with
mines and operations on the versnillion.
Mesaba and Menominee ranges and left
| 1t to take the management OF the Ten
nessee Coal, Iron and Railway company,
two years ago.