The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-07-07

ence upon the Ola world Tor It's iron
supplies to that of the largest produc-
er in the world. The first shipment
OF iron ore from Lake Superior was
made in 1850 and consisted ten tons.
This was hauled around the rapids
of Sault Ste. Marie, at the lower end
Of Lake Superior, on little strap
railway. Unloaded from toy vessels
above the rapids, it was reloaded be-
low them into others almost as tiny.
The first use of Lake Superior ore in a
blast furnace took place in 1853 in
Pennsylvania, when about seventy
tons, brought at great expense from
Lake Erie by canal, were used In the
Sharpsville furnace.
The first pig iron made in the Lake
Superior region was in 1858, in small
furnace near Marquette. It was 1867
that the bessemer process was devel-
oped to such an extent that steel rails
were available for commercial uses at
prices that were possible. The lake
region, containing large proportion
of ores so low in phosphorus and other
unfriendly elements that they are
available for the bessemer process,
Immediately became of the utmost
moment to the trade.
| The existence Of iron ore in Mime
sofa had been known for the past fly
five years, but no serious attempt at
its examination was made until the
70's. The first official note Of the
presence of iron in the state was by J..
G, Norwood, in 1850, in the report OF
D. d. Owen, on geological survey Of
Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota; page
Alt. In this report, Mr.. Norwood
mentioned the occurance OF ore on
the edge OF Gunf1int lake at the ex-
IRENE eastern end of the Mesaba
range, and then stated it to be in the
eastward continuance of the bills that
extended to Pokegama falls of the
Mississippi river. No Importance was
attached to this mention, and the ore
| where he found it is considered OF
very little economic value, even yet.
In reports in 1865, and 1866, II. II.
Games. then state geologist, referred
to the occurance of ores on the south
ern shore of Vermilion lake, where
ARE now the Soadan Mines the
Oliver Iron Mining company, and
mentioned the assayed ores from the
western end of the Mesaba from
points in 1924. At tile instance of
George G. Stone, now dead, Professor
A. III. Chester, then at Hamilton
college, was sent into northern Min
DesoUa ten years later. to investigate
for Charlemagne Tower, of Philadel-
phia, the reports of extensive deposits
of iron OIL what is now the eastern
Mesaba George Stuntz, the explorer
of the party, had been at Vermilion
lake, and endeavored to induce Ches-
ter to push on there; but was unable
to desc until he had himself brought
to his chief. who was unsuccessfully
seeking merchantable ore in the mag.
netic formations of tile eastern Mes
aba. some excellent specimens of
hard hematite from Vermilion. Lat
er investigation by Chester at Yer
million resulted in the formation of
the Minnesota Iron company, the
grant of swamp land by the state in
aid of railway to the northern ore
| fields, the beginning of active mining
operations by Tower, and the actual
completion Of the railway and ship
ment of ore in the summer of 1884.
Mr.. Towers Investment of some ST.
600, 900 was sold two years later, to
Chicago. Cleveland, and Marquette
capitalists. They, in turn, sold it to
the Federal Steel company, in 1900,
and the latter became part of the
United States Steel corporation year
latter. Each step in this progression
of ownership was attended by a profit
of at least 100 per cent.
IRON RANGE ROAD BUILT.
Il
In the summer of 1884 the Duluth
& Iron Range road moved eastward
81, 124 tons from the Vermilion 3raDge.
That was the first ore to go out from
Minnesota Tt was twenty years ago;
recently enough, but how far back as
measured by results! Since then the
road has increased its business con-
stantly till 1t is now of enormous pro-
portions. 1t is an interesting fact,
and still more interesting comment.
airy on the cfudity of ideas as to the
future held by these courageous pio'
neers who opened the northern ore
regions, that the production of those
mines to serve which this road was
built, was, in 1908. just 3 per cent OF
i the business of the road. And when
the line was built, and the daring
/ venture was successfully made, there
was no thought that other and fal
larger deposits lay contiguous, or thai
any other business might be secured
In 1889 and 1890 merchantable de
Iposits of iron were found on tue Me
| k;xvsf a. r