The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-02-17
Whether or MOI Biologist Win.
chell said the Mssabi was N. G.

|
first from Mr.. Woodbridge and the
other from c, Kenneth Leith of the
University of Wisconsin. Both
writer's speak only from their own
knowledge. Mr.. Wopdbridge says:
'eThe state survey conducted by N,
II. and Fl. V. W:nchnll, from 1872 to
recently, in its latteF years referred
frequently to the Mesabi. As early as
tile 18th annual report, in 1884, there
was some mentiopg 81 the district.
1t has been a commoR report among
prOspectors that tire Survey In early
years denounced the probability of
the discovery of mGchantable ores
upon the NIesabi, Gut the Messrs
Winchell deny this,g aad l have never
been able to find arg statement to
that effect. CertailiN in 1891. soon
after the original discoveries of eco
nomic Importance. bet prior to the
beginning of mine operations, the
survey gave full creoHt to the prob
abilities of this new Ange, it stated
that although there Sat present no
mining OF these ores In Minnesota,
they are we'll known many places.
They were, indeed, tie first to attract
attention, and wera surveyed and
analysed by Professor A. Fl. Chester
in 1875" fPrpfessor uesler's reporr
was upon tue magnt les Of the far
eastern Mesabi, and IS unfayorable. j
They are destined ID ay very I'M
portland part ia the yelopmeut Of
The iron Industry oFsa state.
i--,-s ~ i'm u per-
sonal letter written by Prof. Leith in
reply 20 i letter calling ATTENTION to
what Mr. Woodbridge had said:
Replying to yours OF he 29th /
would say Tat Professor Winchen
positively denies that he has made
statements such as are attributed to
him. 1t is charged that he turned
down the range in an article publish
ed in one of the Superior or Duluth
papers. So far as l know his writ
Ings, the only approach TO an adverse
opinion on the Meabsi range appears in
his record of field observations in 1888
published in the 18th Annual Report
of the Minnesota Sarvey, where he
describes the explorations of John
Mailman, miles south Of Hinsdale,
near the Duluth and Iron Range
track, calls attention to the similar
ity OF the iron formation here with
that Ut Guntiint Lake, and suggests
that there is little likelihood of ore
being found here similar to that at
Tower. There is given also brief
account of a study OF Pokegama Falls
and of the country TO the eastward
for l6 miles to Griffin's camp 1.-THE
Diamond mine), accompanied by a
sketch map of this area. The simil-
arity Of the iron formation to that of
Gunfiint Lake, and on the Penokee
range, and the difference between
this iron formation and that on the
Vermilion range are emphasized.
Especial emphasis think should
be place on the 1891 report of N. H.
and H. V. Winchell. This was writ
ten in considerable part before the
discovery of ore in tile Mesabi, but it
contains a brief note of the discovery
Of ore there the same year. He says
here. "The Mesabi ores are destined
to play very important part in the
future development of the iron indus
TRIP of the state" Up. 1l2). Later in
the same report, just after intimat-
lion had been received of the first dis
covery of ore on thesrange, it Is said.
There can be no reasonable doubt
there will yet be mined in the Mesabi
range even greater quantities Them
attic than have been taken from that
marvel of mining districts, the Pen
okee- Gogebic range" (p. 1907.
81 have already made these state
ments In the Monograph and would
not feel like criticising Mr.. Wood
bridges statements. lie has gone in
to the matter thoroughly and the
statement as he makes it is practical
ly correct. It is a common report
that Winchell turned down the
range.n