The Minneapolis journal., 1903-12-26
WAGES OF iron
MINERS DOWN
GENERAL REDUCTION is COM
ING ON JAN. 1.
Retrenchment Until Conditions of the
Trade Improve, Which May Be in
Few notwithstanding of the Au-
burn Mine Wipes Village OFF the
Aap Of the Ranges.
Special to The Journal.

83ecta1 to Inc journal.
Duluth, Mimi, Dec 2s.-The general re-
ductfon that has been decided upon in iron
miners wages thruout the Lake Superior
region and which takes effect Jan. l next.
Is from per cent for unskiled men and
10 per cent for miners up to, in some few
cases, 80 per cent. The common labor in
mine employ is to be cut to $1.50 day.
which is the lowest, and the contract min
er will get an average of $40 a day. Lit
tie common labor is employed In mines
The cut will be general SO far as the
mines of the United States Steel Corpora
tion are concerned; it is to include every
employe. The reduction of 80 per cent
is in the nature of equalization due to
changes of duties Of q few men. In ad-
dtion to these cuts some employees will
be discharged for n time. But II cond1-
tions improve as they should in the COM
ing year both wages and the number OF
employees will probably be generally in
creased again.
Champion mine which has been closed
FOR the winter is the deepest iron mine in
the United States. 1t is down thirty-four
levels or $50 feet, and is still in large
quantities of high grade ore.
A Deserted Village.
All buildings are being moved from the
little mining village of Auburn, Mesaba
range. where is the Auburn mine, owned
by the United States Steel corporation.
and has no minimum royalty. SO it is to
be closed for a long time, probably many
years. The buildings and people move to
the neighboring village of Eveleth, where
the Fayal, Adams and Spruce mines are
very active.
1t is the policy of mining companies that
have enough mines to make choice pos
sible. to close all fee properties and mine
from leases. The Steel corporation is
very fortunate in possessing mines
enough to make such plan feasible. 1t
can choose not only what mines it wants
to maintain active. but what especial
grades of ore and what districts it cares
to operate in. It's enormous reserves OF
ore are its grea test asset.
At Mas mine Of the Cleveland Cliffs
company, Negaunee, they are cutting out
all immense chamber In the rock 200 feet
underground. where they will install a large
pumping plant. They have still 800 feet
to go in this mine before they reach the
ore they are. after and it will be a veal
before any considerable hoisting can be
done The 500 feet should be done ir
four months, With good luck,
$50 Lose Places.
The entire stripping. crew of $50 ne1
was made idle at the Leonard mine tht
other day because four steam shove
cranesmen demanded 30 cents a day more
pay and went out because it was refused
more to help out their men than for all.
other purpose for steamshovel work a
this time of the year costs much more
than in sulnmer. The whole force, includ
ing cranesmen. will be out till spring
These cranesmen were skilled men, gettins
$3.50 day.
The few mine arrangements that hav
received notice from their owners of tn
tonnage intended to be securd the coming
year do not indicate so great a decline a
some have estimated. A few will increas
over the past season. like Glen, Of the Uni
ted States Steel corporation at Eibbine
which is to produce four times as muc
as it did. Biwabik, which mined 500, 90
tons, will mine better than 500, 900 tn
coming year; Leetonia will add 25, 900 ton
to last years produce: Cyprus the same
and others will do about as they die
Many mines will not be busy. however
that sent out large tonnage this sea
SON Even some of these will ship heav
lily, as they have stocks on surface al
ready mined.
The Duluth, Missabe & Northern roa
will soon let q contract for a new line
much of it double track. to the ST. Clai1
Monroe, Shenango, Clark and Chisholr
mines. -....