The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-11
IRON ORE MOVEMENT
Lake Superior Season Far Ahead OF
a Corresponding Period.

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DULUTH, MINN.--Iron ore shipments from
the Lake Superior region for June were $780,
600 tons, making total for the year to that
date OF 100000. This is far ahead OF any
preceding season to the corresponding period
The shipments out OF Lake Superior, not In
cluding Escanaba, were for June 100000
gross tons, which ds the largest on record ex-
cept for the month OF July. 1901. when the
total was 200 tons more. Minnesota mines
furnished of the gross amount in June 2,135,-
900 tons. and Tor the season 4.720000 tons.
This latter zhgure is an increase OF 2,0O0, 600
| tons over last year ~ s. i, ss.sI ..y
An interesting feature OF the June shipment
this year is the fact that the Duluth, Missabe
Northern road. with docks at Duluth, has
led all other roads in the amount OF business
done, SOL 900 gross tons in the twenty six days
Of the month. Its total for the year Is almost
double that for the corresponding time last
season. The Eastern Minnesota shows the
greatest increase, owing to the number of
new mines opened along its tracks and oper-
ated with traffic contracts to 1t.
A fifth dock will be added to the loading
facilities of the Chicago & northwestern
road at Escanaha. 1t will be an immense AFT
fair, with storage capacity tor $1,000 tons
and Of modern height. In addition to the
dock proper, about 100000 cubic yards Of
earth must be dredged In approaches. Con-
tracts have been let to N. J. Peppard 8 Co.
OF Minneapolis TOR the Work. ~ -"..,.'
The lake copper mines, by the way, are not
having as rosy a time now they would
like. Two years ago copper was selling at II
cents a. pound or more Then the cost of
living was less than now. but wages were
gra dually raised with the advance in copper
values. With a third Topped of the price Of
the finished metal and with wages at the
same high. point, there ds no margin for
many of the large mines: It will be exceed
ingly difficult to reduce wages, as the cost Of
the necessities OF life and of what copper
mining people: have come through long pros
perity to regard as the necessities, Is higher
now than when wages were first put at their
present plane, and 1t will be doubly difficult
now to cut them down materially. =;
The Crystal Falls group of iron mines on
the Menominee range will this year make the
largest production In the history OF the dis
trict. The Crystal Falls mine has now
shipped It's large stockpile and the same COM
pany will send, down the stocks at the Ar
menia and Tobin, containing 10000 tons. This
is more than these two mines have ever pro-
duced i'll a single season. Other old mines
are being reopened and, with new shafts and
new machinery, will produce more than ever,
/ while the total number Of producers issgreatef
| than before.
What seems to be a valuable find was re-
Gently made on the Oliver Iron Mining COM
pany's Tllden mine on the GogebiG range
Superintendent knight noticed that where q
portion of the rock wall on one sideEof the
old cave at the west end of the property had
crunbled away. the exposed wall had an ore
like appearance. On making examination he
found that It wras ore and set men at work to
| tunnel. This has now progressed far enough
to show the new find to be OF some thickness
and OF good grade. It lis hoped that q large
addition may thus he made to the tonnage on
| the property. This Is one 5of the many in
| stances constantly coming out showing the
Importance ot the element Of chance in min
/ ing operations 80 a.. = z /