The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-11
MINNESOTA
AHEAD OF THE FULL SEASON
Lake Superior Iron Mines Have Already
Shipped 20, 500 900 Tons.

Lake Superior Iron Mines Have Already
Shipped 2o,5oo,ooo Tons.
DULUTH MINN.-Up to date the Lake
Superior mines are ahead Of the full sea
son Of 1901, that is. they have shipped
more than 2O5O0,0 900 tons, and have six
weeks of active business yet before
them. There has. been an unusual steadi-
ness of lake rates all summer and it is
not probable that there will be any change
to the close of the season. This Is un-
doubtedly due to the action of the United
States Steel corporation in preserving the
hyure at which 1t was willing to make
season contracts early In the spring. No
season has advanced as far as this on the
lakes In which there has not been more
or less violent fluctuations in rates for
carrying ore from Lake Superior to Lake
Erie ports These fluctuations have de-
moral1zed the expectations Of ore and steel
men and have made the lake freight bust
ness uncertain, This year there has not
been the variation of a cent from the
fairly remunerati"e rate established by
the steel corporation about year ago.
In Iron county. Michigan. in which the
chief mining center is Crystal Falls, there
are now 1900 men employed in mines, an
Increase of about $50 since the same
month last year Similar increases have
been made in Marquette, Dickinson and
Gogebic counties.
equal to those of all last year and far
ahead of any preceding year to that time.
1t is expected that the Gogebic range,
most Of whose ore goes out by the way of
Ashland, will produce at least $500, 900
tons this year, which will be heavier than
In any preceding season.
Shaft Not to Be Abandoned.
1t is stated by the Cleveland Cliffs COM
nany that the noted sand shaft in the
min whit nt,
under way for a year and has not yet
reached the ledge, $50 feet from the sur
face. Is not to be abandoned, but will
be pushed on as fast as possible and if
unsuccessful in finally reaching the ledge
will be replaced by another of the same
style close by. The shaft Is proceeding SO
slowly as to show no progress at all from
day to day and it's final outcome is one
of the most interesting problems of the
iron mining region.
Steel ore cars to the value of about
$500, 900 have been ordered by the Duluth,
Missabe & Northern road. In all, new
equipment of a value of not less than
$1.S00,000 has been ordered for the COM
Ing year by the three roads that carry
ore from the Minnesota ranges to Duluth
and vicinity.
The Union Steel company, which has
ben exploring the Holman tract on the
western Mesaba will give up the option
and has already stopped work. This was
the most extensive and elaborate explora-
ton ever undertaken on the west range
and was very complete. There was much
ore found but of a quality that is not
available, even for a company that uses
its own ore
The Roberts mine, eastern Mesaba, Is
to be abandoned this year and the ma =
chinery Is being shipped to the Morrow
near Hibbing. The Roberts has been a
no.
shipped In all about 100000 tons 1t was
one Of the Sellwood properties and in the
early days of the range was considered an
important mine 1t produced good non
beSSemer ore.
Work commences at once on the Cy-
press mine. the most recently acquired
property on the Mesaba. 1t will be
stripped and mined open pit and some
ore will be secured this year if possible.
The cost of stripping and mining is ex
pected to be less than in any iron mine
on the upper lakes, though the royalty
is higher than the average.
Atikokan to Be Explored.
The Canadian government and private
individuals and companies will explore in
the AtiSokan region north Of the United
states line, this winter and are taking in
drills and material. Much ore exists there
as is well known, but deleterious elements
have heretofore been associated with all
ore discovered so that development has
never taken place in the district.
President c. H. Van Hise, Professor c.
X. Leith w. S. Bayley and others have
just returned to the United States from
y trip through the ore regions north OF
the line. They are associated in the work
of the United States geological survey in
what Is known as the pre- -Cambrian ex-
plorations. with President Van Hse as
leader. They are making final explora
tions of the Lake Superior region and
will soon publish as government docu
ments. their complete researches.
Explorations will be carried on this
winter on Hunters Island. lying 'on the
international boundary and including a
large formation extending to the Vermil-
lion range easterly. The indications OF
ore in this large island are very plenty.
John W. Gates of New York and JOSEPH
Sellwood Of Duluth are developing large
ore find in Canada. north of Georgian bay
that promises to be important. They
have shown several million tons already
of a valuable ore and expect to find sew.
eral million tons more.
Penobscot Mine Sold.
The Donora Mining company has pur
chased the fee of the Penobscot mine a
Hbbing. and the steamers Howard l.
Shaw and Simon J. Murphy from Eddy
Bros & Co. Of Bay City, Mich.
The mine is operated under the name
of the Penobscot Mining company which
is owned by Eddy Bros. & Co. The con
sideratiOn is not known. but the mine ant
the boats are said to represent not les
than $2,000.000 The Donora Mining com
pany is the ore division Of the Union Stee
company of Pittsburg, with which H. c
Fricke and the Mellens of Pittsburg ar
identified.
The Penobscot is one Of the best know,
iron mines. in Minnesota. 1t was In tn
class known as independent 1t is sit
uated only a short distance from Mahon
ing. There are forty acres in the Pen
obscot property. The annual output i
about $4,000 tons at present The Donor
people control two other good propertie
on the MeSaba.
PlPESTONE, MINN.-The new Meth
odist church at Hatfield is completed an,