The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-24
Northwestern
HUNTING FOR iron
Work Was Never So Carefully Done
Before.
MESABA IS ESPECIALLY ACTIVE
Portions of Canada, Where Many In
terests Are DeIvinG, Come
Next.
Special to The Journal.


Duluth, Mimi, Jan. 24.-EXplor1ng TOR
iron on the Mesaba range is being carried
on with more activity than ever. One
firm working on the range alone now has
force of 205 men with some fOrty-fiVe
to fifty drills in operation. There is a
constant call for additional drills, and if
they could be furnished many more would
be set at work. Conditions are such that
the exploring contractors will not buy
additional drills, but demand that those
wishing work done provide their own ma
chimes, which is having the effect Of cur
failing the new work to some extent.
Work on the Mesaba is of different
character from few years ago, and what
would have then been called thorough
exploring is not SO regarded now. Not
only has 1t been abundantly proved that
ore Is to be found oftentimes under a
thickness of taconite, but under slate as
we'll. or under a rock closely resembling
slate.
The most elaborate explorations are in
the Republic trough, Marquette range,
for persons generally presumed to be the
Clergue syndicate. force of men is en-
ployed but nothing is known of results.
Explorations on the Menominee range
consist principally in work upon properties
that have shown satisfactory indications,
and most Of the work is by shafts and
openings. Few drills are employed.
Aside from the Mesaba districts there
is more drill exploration in Canada than
anywhere else in the Lake Superior coun-
try. This Is not confined to the Michlpl-
coten region, but to the west Of Lake
Superior, near Steep Rock lake, on the
upper Seine river, work is under way and
great things are planned Interests rep
resented there are the Clergues, r. Pun
pelly and associates, Mackenzie, Mann &
Co., Port Arthur, Duluth and Chicago
men, and persons supposed to be backed
by the United States Steel corpora
ton. Aside from the drill work several
shallow shafts will be sunk and much
prosecuting carried on during the
winter r
The Duluth & Iron Range railroad, a
property belonging to the United States
Steel corporation, is handling this winter
the largest pine log traffic of any rail-
road In the northwest. 1t has con-
tracts to move about 140 100000 feet OF
pine logs before the opening Of navigation
and Is bringing into Duluth from 22O to
$50 carloads of logs daily, or almost 1,250,
600 feet a day.
Captain W. H. Johnson, Marquette
range representative of the Oliver Iron
Mining company, now has charge of the
Negaunee mine. which had been under
care Of Joseph SellwOOd of Duluth, as
mining superintendent for the American
Mining company. The properties of the
American Mining COLIpduJ Oh oil Ranges
have passed under the management of the
general superintendents for each range
of the United States Steel corporation II
accordance with the plan outlined ii
this correspondence some weeks ago
Drilling has commenced on the
Breigung lands at Negaunee at a point
where ore was found some years ago.
The United States Steel corporation:
mines at Hibbing went into the winter
with clean stock docks at all but the Day
where there were $4,000 tons on sur
face at the Clark, where there were abou
$4,000 tons, and at the Pillsbury, which
had a small amount. The mines of thi
corporation in that district now working
are the Hull, Rust Burt, Sellers, Pills
bury, Clark and Chisholm.
All the Buckeye lands in section sc