The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-15
MINNESOTA
BLACK SAND MINING
Mission of Eastern Men Is to Dredge
Iron Beds on Northern Lake
Superior.
Concessions Secured From the Cana
dian Government for the Prose-
cution of the Work.
Special to The Journal.

Duluth, MINI, May 15.aEastern men,
accompanied by dredge experts from this
city, have gone on most unusual mis-
sion to the north shore Of Lake Superior.
On the Canadian side Of the lake, east OF
the Nepigon river. are immense areas Of
black magnetic sands. rich in iron and
1t is the intention of these men to develop
these beds and If found feasible. to tlredge
and concentrate the sand and ship the
concentrates to furnaces. The ore can,
it is stated, be made very pure by wash
ing from the silica in the mixture Mil
lions of tors of this sand are in the neigh
borhood. and the eastern men In the deal
have secured concessions from the Can
adam government on shore and other
necessary rights.
Mining operations have been resumed
on the properties Of the Antoine Ore COM
pany, now owned by the Republic Iron and
Steel company, and a large tonnage will
be taken out this year. From the An
tome mine alone shipments are to be
more than 100000 tons, while several
, other mines are to be worked more or
less and the Vulcan silica is to be opened
for mining. These mines produce a lean
ore, high in silica, which makes them
valuable for mixing with the almost pure
ores Of the Mesabi range.
Electricity In the Mines
Numerous electric projects are under
way for the development of power for
mines in the lake region. One Of these is
at Vulcan where preliminary steps have
already been taken. Another Is for the
mines OF the Lake Superior Iron company
at Ishpeming, which own the upper falls
Of the Escanaba river Another is near
Stambaugh, one the Menominee range
where there are vast powers running to
waste. Still another. and the largest Of
the lot. is at Duluth, where there is I'M
der development a power that will furn-
ish more than $4,000 horse power, and
part OF which will doubtless be used for
the mines of the Mesaba range. A last
Is near Ely, where the falls Of the Kawish-
iwaw river will give ample power for all
the deep mines of the Vermilion range
and at very short transmission radius.
Exploration is now active In the region
east OF the Crystal Falls mine, where
many small mines have at one time or
another been opened and then abandoned.
Pickands. Mather & Co.. working for
the Buffalo Steel company and the Penn
Iron Mining company. working for the
Cambria Steel company, have taken op-
lions on lands near Stanbaugh, Menom-
inee range, and are exploring there on a
goodly scale.
Great Northern Stops Drilling.
All drills at work for the Great North
ern road on the eastern Verrnillion have
been pulled out Others are going In In
the same country, however, and work will
probably continue there some time. New
explorers are also going to the Birch lake
country, on the very eastern end of the
Mesaba range, which has been gone over
more or less for forty-hve years and
without result to this time. 1t Is posi-
BILE that ore exists there in quantity, but
explorations to date have not been en-
couraging.
The Great Northern has let contracts for
lines into the Crosby mine and the Corri-
gan No. and No. 2. which lie west of
this week looking over the company s
mines and making examination Of the new
machines just Installed at the Arcturus
mine, which may work a revolution in
sandy lean ores Of the western Mesaba
range.
Latest Of the Crop.
The Houghton Development company.
capital $1,G00,0 900, was formed in few
minutes here and at Houghton this week
for the purpose Of taking over the claims
Of the Solomon Springs Copper company
at Bisbee, Ariz. A call Of $175. 900 was
made on the subscribers and development
work Is to comm ence at once.
This is the latest OF the crop Of develop
nnent companies in the Bisbee district
Heated here on the lake. Another to ex-
plcre a large tract in the Clifton region
Of Arizona was formed here during the
week and starts work in few days. It
has lands said to be well located and
plenty Of cash for exploration.
Coal Shipments Dropping or.
The tremendous movement Of coal this
way Is gradually diminishing and will
son be down to normal. An unprecedent-
ed volume OF coal has been received here
In the past three weeks.