The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-16
IRON MEMS EYES
ARE ON ITASCA
Steel Trust Gobbles Rich Proper
ties-To Extend Railroad
from Hibbing to Bovey.

There is something doing in Itasca
county. This vast domain hitherto sup
posed to be important chiefly for its
great timbered tracts has suddenly be-
come the center Of interest to the iron
mining interests. The western end of
the great Mesaba iron range, which fur
nishes so many rich ore bodies thru st.
Louis county on til east, lies in Itasca
county. For years mining experts have
the western end Of the range in Itasca
county were clean ''sand not nearly SO
valuable as those taken out5in St. Louis
county. Nevertheless, prospectors and
drillmen have not overlooked the Itasca
possibilities. and within few years the
course Of the range westward into that
county has been pretty, thoroly investi-
gated and numerous pockets Of ore To-
|cated. 3S>x 2 @<s.'
Now, very much to the surprise Of
the experts, the 7Yestermost of the
mines has been found to yield perhaps
the richest Bessemer ore located on the
range. This is the Canisteo mine at
Bovey, seven miles east and north Of
Grand Rapids. And simultaneously
with this announcement comes the news
! that the steel y trust which watches
Minnesota iron developments with the
intentness of a haWk-has secured con
CIO1 VI GuS l>OI only
has this been done, but the steel trust
thru it's subordinate company, the Oil
yer Mining company, has closed an OPP
ton on the Arcturus property, and has
also secured the Diamond property, both
just east of the Canisteo and practically
part of the same deposit. =
Extension Of Trust Road.
The first result Of this invasion of
Itasca county by the steel trust will be
| the extension Of the trust railroad,
the Duluth, Missabe@& Northern some
thirtyfive miles westward from Hib-
bling to Bovey. Eventually this branch
will. be extended1sp Grand Rapids, thus
giving that thriving county seat a new
| railroad and a connection with Duluth
in addition to that it has by way of the
Great Northern. Two surveys for this
extension have been completed each
winding up. at Bovey, and it is under
stood the road will be built this sum.
mer. go. ....' ie.2-~
There are also signs of great activity
on the part Of thesteel trust in develop.
ing it's new properties. Contracts have
been let for laysg' s - Gown 4 200 tons OF
coal at. Bovey, 4ias now yssthout
railroad to be, usesX,s in connection with
a vast quality of eeordwood already &C
! Cuululdteu LII NpuSlAlHR opc1o t1ollo' Liz
explanation of the trusts eagerness te
begin the work Of stripping and deer
mining at the Canisteo is said to lie il
the fact that it is desired to use the
rich ore for mixing with it's ores mineC
farther east. The Itasca ore is low, il
phosphorus and thus becomes very val
|uable for mixing purposes to bring the
st. Louis ores up to good furnace stand
ard. The deposits are understood to bt
very extensive, drill penetrating 30(
feet without going thru the. deposit.
Great Northern Caught Mapping.
In this connection there has beer
q very interesting contest on between
the Great Northern and the turst roat
for the prospective tonnage Of this nev
territory. The Great Northern by, build
ing eight miles of road from Nashwauk
Itasca county, where there are mum
, Der of valuable properties, to Bove,
might have secured this tonnage an
prevented the trust from getting in