The Minneapolis journal., 1905-09-08
MINNESOTA
LITTLE ORE FOR
INDEPENDENTS"
SHIPS HAVE INCREASED FASTER
THAN CARGOES.
Mining and Steel-Making Companies
Now Possess Almost Enough Tonnage
to Garry All Their Own Ore-Large
Fleet Is in Waiting in Duluth Harbor.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Duluth, Minn., Sept. S-For ten days or two
weeks there have been ships of combined
tonnage of about 100000 tons in this harbor
awaiting of cargoes, Notwithstanding ore is
going forward from the three sets OF docks here
at the rate of 10000 tons a day. The fleet
the so-called Independent feets-that is, lines
having no connection with owners of mines and
steel works-and the fact is an important COM
ment the situation as to the future of ships
owned by those having no tonnage connections.
The report is sent out that these ships are
waiting cargoes on account of the long tinued
rains that have checked mining at the big open
pit mines but this is not more than half true
The facts are that ships have increased faster
than cargoes, and the mining and steel-making
companies own most enough tonnage to
carry all their own ore. -'
Several large new shafts are being sunk on
the Gogebic range All these of the largest
size and in the footwall side of the lode They
are to be equipped for the heaviest possible
service, and viii be great addition to the
| capacity of the lake mining region They are
| being put down by various companies, chief OF
which is the Oliver Iron Mining company, and
their combined cost will be well above mil
lion dollars.
The General Electric company will get its new
| 900 horsepower plant at the Calumet q Hecia
! mine in operation this fall, and expects to fol
low it by several other plants of the same
| style at mines of both the iron and copper re
| gions. The company now has an office at Du
, luth from which all its mining business in th'
northwest is controlled, and this office has man!
projects hand
The old Iron Belt mine on the Wisconsin enc
of the Gogebic range has been bought by thu
Cleveland Cliffs Iron company which is to begil
operations there at once The mine has beef
full Of water for long time, but this will b
pumped out and new development carried OF
in the hope that other and larger ore bodie
may be found There are several old mines o.
the Wisconsin end of the range that are having
a revival, and from which, much is hoped TO
the coming year two.
| At Florence mine, of the few good prop
critics on the Wisconsin side of the Menomine
range, new drilling has opened into large an
apparently valuable bodies that will b
developed by shafts the coming winter.
More and more drills going upon the ney
ore is being shown up, tho most of it is o
inferior quality. Some explorers say they ar
getting good ore, but it is So badly mixed wit
phosphorus and manganese that its value
probematic. There is much suppressed excite
ment and many time explorers Of the M
| and in the woods. The price Of wild land ha
advanced to a Drohibitory figure, and most
! the explorers are working on leases. 1t
probable that at some time merchantable or
may be found in the district possibly in
quantity sufficient to make mine. The onl
shaft now going down ts drowned out, and a
work will be very much hindered by excessi1
water.
No. shaft Of the Negaunee mine, whic
caved in three years ago. killing several mel
has not been used since, but 1t is to be r
opened and timbered new and will become
Y important avenue from the mine.
! At the Mas mine at Negaunee large for,
Of men is drifting from the bottom of the sha
toward the ore, which is still some distan
away. This mine has been about three yea
r in preparation, and it will be at least ye
more before it can commence hoisting ore
t any important scale