The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-25
MICHIGAN
GREAT iron FIELD.
All Surface Indications on the Moose
Mountain Range Are Simply
Magnificent.
Van Hise, the Noted Geologist, Wis
its the Region C. P. R. to
Build a Line In.

Special to The Journal.
Saulte Ste. Marie, Mich, Aug. 26.--A
trip of inspection to the district has de-
yeloped the fact that the reports that
Chase S. Osborn and associates have a big
thing in the recently discovered Moose
mountain iron range were no exaggera-
ton. Moose mountain, in fact, is
veritable mountain of iron ore and the
center Of a district that will furnish a big
tonnage for decades to come. The whole
country including that section is a wilder
ness uninhabited except by a few Indians
and trappers. Moose mountain is but 200
miles from Hudson bay, yet next year will
see a railroad extended to the district and
active development and mining work in
progress.
Mr.. Osborn himself, possesses the dis
tinction Of having discovered the new ore
field, the location of which was made as
the result Of a hunting trip to that por-
ton Of Ontario. The range is vast in ex-
tent, altho its limits have not yet been
determined. Starting at Moose mountain,
where ore was first found, one may travel
for hours, going either northwest or
southeast, and constantly encounter new
outcrops. In fact, after two years Of pros
pecting, which constantly changed the
limits of the formation, it has been estab-
lished that the length Of the range is over
100 miles-how much more is not known,
as both the west and east boundaries are
still apparently as far as ever from being
permanently fixed.
Van Hise's Opinion.
How many millions Of tons of ore--or
hundreds of millions-are contained in the
new iron region is something, of course,
that cannot even be approximately esti-
mated Professor Van Hise, of the Uni
versity Of Wisconsin, whose fame as a
geologif't entities his opinion to serious
consideration, has declared after a visit
to the range that the Moose mountain
section possesses a greater showing of ore
at the surface than any range ever opened
on the American continent, and like him
prominent mining men Of the Lake Super
ior ranges have been amazed at the extent
of the field.
The ore is Of good commercial grade
and much of it is of exceedingly high quail
ity That which protrudes thru the sur
face at least is a magnetic, as distin-
guished from the ores Of the Michigan
ranges, which are for the most part hema-
tites, and it is SO strongly charged that
each chunk of the mineral Is in reality
a perfect magnet. There is no trace Of
tttanium, the bette noir Of the Canadian
iron prospector, while phosphorus exists
in such limited quantities as to make con-
siderable Of the ore bessemer in quality.
Diamond drill behring's at Moose mountain,
the only portion of the deposits explored
in that manner, have proven that the ore
bodies extend to the depth of 400 feet.
The holes were put down to that depth
only, SO that how much deeper the iron
will be found is exceedingly problematical.
There is reason to believe, however, that
the deposits will be found to lie as deep as
to the south of Lake Superior, where some
iron mines are hosting from a depth Of
1000 feet and still are not at the limit of
their mineral wealth.
c. p. r. to Tap the New Range.
If more were needed than expert inves-
tigation to show the mineral value of the
Moose mountain country, the decision of
the Canadian Pacific road to extend it's
line to the new range offers ample evil
dence. The extension will be built from
Sudbury, which by trail and wagon road. is
some forty miles from Moose mountain.
The first survey has just been completed
and the location of the track is engaging
the attention of the engineers.
| Associated with Mr.. Osborn are several
| men of wealth, including Joseph Sellwood
| Of Duluth, the wellknown mine owner,
who purpose to develop their properties
themselves. No stock has been placed on
the market nor will it be, and only recent
~ an offer Of s2,00O,0 900 made by the Union
Steel company for the Moose mountain
tract alone, as it stands, undeyeloped, was
| refused.