The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-09-19

"
ing for beth these mines, it being locat-
&c midway between them on the north
footwall. 1t is the manufacture of the
Sullivan Machine company. Drums are
10-foot, with 10-foot face, having a cap
acity for 1000 feet of Us -mch rope
with nine dead coils at each end. En-
gines are 2SXG0-inch, are steam jacketed.
There is an automatic stop device to pre-
vent overwinding, and the engineer has
to reverse his engine before he can start
inc The boilers are horizontal, tubular,
The air compressor, is from the Tilden
mine, being Il single-stage 40-drill mach
inc. The boilers are horizontal, tribular,
four in number, and $50 horsepower
each. The smollestack is brick, 12o feet
high. The building enclosing the plant
is frame, brick-flied with corrugated iron
sheathing \ force of 500 men are en-
ployed at these mines, the superintend-
ent being Captain Nick Cowlins
The hard ores of the Vermilion range,
Minnesota, were discovered in the early
eighties. Before this time pieces OF
float ore were heard of, but actual
prospecting did not begin until the pc
Rod mentioned. When an outcropping
was finally located it was found to be
much mixed with rock, there was con-
siderable phosphorus, some titanic acid,
and for a few years thereafter it was
given little attention. Finally more
enterprising spirits took hold Of the
property, sunk to greater depths, ana
ore of fine grade was discovered. Then
there was the transportation to be Sc
cured. 1t was considerable of an un-
dertaking to get a railroad built for a
distance of over ninety miles to the
ore deposit. Ore docks were necessary,
and no little time was consumed in
bringing these Improvements to COM
pletion Iron ore was not selling as
rapidly as now and the price was not
SO good. Besides it was q new district
and mining men hesitated about en-
tering it. Finally the road and docks
were obtained and the deposits at
tackled. The latter We're wonderfully
fine They came near the surface and
presented a handsome appearance. The
iron miners of the older ranges sighed.
It was freely predicted that these mines
would swamp those of the old ranges,
it being conceded that they could mine
ore for less money. We well remember
how several of the Marquette county
mining company agents predicted great
trouble from the Minnesota giant. Be-
hold how time has mellowed all this.
The hard ore properties of Soudan are
now scarcely ever mentioned in the talk
which tells of big. deposits. Other and
bigger mines have absorbed the atten-
ton, and the original mines of the
state have practically dropped out of
sight Notwithstanding the fact that
they have produced over seven million
tons.
The Minnesota mines, by which name
the Soudan properties are known. are
still active, however, although they do
not present the magnificent slopes of
few years ago. The ores are of a
very hard character and all are
crushed at the mine. In the former
mining they followed the back stopping
plan, putting in long holes which were
made with a diamond drill, firing reavy
charges Of dynamite, and breaking
down immense masses of ore. Since
Capt. Pengilly and the United Steel
people have taken charge they have
changed this in many places, and are
operating on the caving plan wherever
it is possible to put in into execution.
The main workings have grown deep
and the big slopes have shrunk greatly
in size. The trend Of the lenses is east
and west. In the extreme western end
they are now mining a silicious ore.
There is q large open pit here which
shows length Of ore of 200 feet by
80 feet wide In height they have it 800
feet, and it is still making downward.
This is known as No. 9, old No. shaft
having been put down here. The
ore broken in this open pit is milled
to the 400-foot level and sent through
a drift 800 feet distant to No. s shaft
where it is sent to surface. This ore is
used as q mixture for the Mesaba hem
atites of the company, it serving an
admirable purpose by reason of its ply
steal properties, and which are lacking
in the Mesaba product. They are put
ting in raises through the foot. and
bringing the ore. down into the bottom
getting cheap product. The ore av-
erages about So per cent and is of Bes-
semer grade.
The Minnesota is finding some ore in
ings. These lie about 800 feet north of
the main mine. They are to the 18th
level here and are mining from the 9th
to the 18th. The 18th is 935 feet below
surface. They are backstoping. The
recent finds give promise of adding sew
eral years to the life of the property.
The Minnesota is employing $50 men.
and will ship about 100000 tons the
present season. The mine lies well
above the surrounding level, occupying
a high ridge on the south of Lake Yer
million. This lake is a beautiful sheet
of water 35 miles long, with innumer-
able bays. 1t is claimed that it has
nearly thousand miles of shore line
due to the numerous indentations of its
boundary. Several boats ply here, this
being one of the routes to the Rainy
Lake country. Our old friend Doctor
n %a1