The Minneapolis journal., 1903-03-13

MILLIONS OF TONS
Stockpiles at Lake Iron Mines Never
So Great at Any Time
Before.
Longer Season Of Navigation Will
/ Permit the Movement of
1,250,000 Tons.
Special to The Journal.

Duluth, MIMI, March 13.--Never during
a winter has so much ore been mined and
hoisted to surface at lake iron mines as
this season. Stockpies have been as
large as now, perhaps larger. but the ore
then on ground was an acculation which
several seasons of poor demand had helped
to make. Last fall there was very little
on the surface and shipments had about
years work. Now this newly mined ore
Is ready by the millions of tons for the
opening of lake navigation.
1t Is expected that navigation will begin
about April I, month sooner than the
average for series Of years. Last year
the first ships left winter quarters in this
city for the ore docks on March 29 which
was the earliest opening known. 1t is evil
dent that this season will be about as
early. With month added to the sum-
rner season at it's commencement and with
fifteen days added at the end, which Is
possible with the big and solid ships now
used. the same capacity of ships that in
an ordinary season can move 100000
tons down lakes will be able to deliver
1,250000 tons. This Is Of the utmost i'm
portance and Is very interesting fact
in considering the season rate on ore and
the earnings Of such companies as the
United States Steel Corpora tion.
The superintendent of the Sault' canals
estimates that not less than 10000, 900
tons Of freight will be moved through the
canals during the coming summer, an in
crease Of about 10 per cent over last year.
and about three times the biggest year
the Suez canal ever had. The great bulk
of this will be iron ore.
Dock improvements
With dock improvements now under
way, intended and provided for by appro-
priations. at the various ports on the up
per lake, by the United States Steel Cor
poratlon and other railway interests,
there will in another year be capacity for
shipping 100000 net tons of ore alone In
q single sea son. Most of these improve
ments will be made at Duluth.
The Duluth. Missabe & Northern and
Duluth & Iron Range reals. which sent
nineteen heavy locomotiE- to Pittsburg
In December to help out I freight con-
Eestton there, have given ntice that the
engines must be back in Duluth by April
], and they will begin arriving here in a
few days. They will be put to hauling
Iron ore as soon as received.
Old Minnesota Still Good.
The original Minnesota mine. that Of the
Minnesota Iron company at Soudan, is In
creasing its annual output once more, at.
ter a few years Of apparent failure. The
product this season will be 100000 tons
greater than two years ago. New bodies
OF ore found deep underground, are being
drifted into and the mine has many years
of life left 1t.
The Republic mine. Marquette range,
recently bought for $2.0O0.000 by one of
the eastern steel making companies. is to
be entirely made over, SO far as machin-
cry and equipment are concerned and a
great sum will be spent there.
In the Felsh Mountain District. where
G. A. St. Clair and others are re-opening
the long abandoned mines and prospects
several good mines are being found and
much ore will be shipped from there this
coming year. Felsh Mountain has been
idle since 1888.
New mines will probably be found in the
Swanzey district, Marquette range. where
the Princeton has for many years beer
the only worked property. Now drill eX
plorations are finding ore. and severa
shafts will be sunk soon.
Volunteer May "Make Good"
. The Volunteer mine, Palmer, Mich.
which Senator Alger bought through tn,
false representations Of trusted friends, il
In the hands of the United States Stee
Corporation. and is showing up more or,
than expected. It may turn out that AL
gers purchase, which he has been regret
ting for years, may finally make good tn
Investment ~". .r~.-
Work has been resumed on the Consoli
dated Lake Superior companys Josephine
mine Michipicoten district, and the sam
company's Helen mine is being pushed a
fast as possible. The Josephine was idl
but a few weeks. Indications there ar
FOR a large property. The company ex
poets that it's blast furnaces at the Saul
will be running early in the navigation
season. and is refusing steel rail order
until 1t can use pig iron from it's owl
!. flant. -