The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-30

there are many grades and varieties
the technicalities descriptive of these
need not be here set down. One grade
of ore is the complement Of another.
The exhaustion of one grade might put
its owner at the mercy Of another COM
pany which could make it's own price
for the ore that could only be worked
proftably in combination with it's prod
ucts. Under the old striving these re-
serves were being decimated without
regard to the future and ore was being
used for purposes which did not take
out all its values. Chemists and engi-
neers, mining captains and captains of
transportation worked together in adj
justing the operation of the corporation
to the outstanding of all its resources,
whether In ore, power or consumption.
Certain mines that may be more profit
ably worked when other deposits that
are in more immediate demand are ex-
hausted were allowed to lie and the
men were moved into fields where they
were more useful The" extent of the
deposit was closely investigated, ex-
ploration promoted and extensive buy
ing for future use was gone into. The
amount of ore in sight was approx
mately fixed and the ultimate posi-
bilities of the range worked out. Ore
that was not regarded as merchantable
was experimental with and vast GUAM
titles of it brought to the uses Of the
ironmaster. 1t is in this enormous in
crease in the ore assets of the range
that the Steel corporation has been sig
nally efficient.
From the first there was an increase
in the output of the properties oper-
ated by the companies. It was as though
every man associated in this vast and
complex machine had felt a sudden in
spiration to put. more energy into his
work. AS a matter Of fact the work of
the individual was lightened by the in
telligent conservation Of energy. I'm
heard Of records were made in the TAX
ing out Of the ore. Five thousand tons
of ore taken out Of single mine in
day was at first a startling perform
ance; now it goes unmarked The year
after the formation of the United
States Steel corporation the Mesaba
range produced about II, 900, 900 tons of
ore. This year the output will be about
250O0,000 tons-and still there is no
room for doubt of the fact that the
range is richer in potential wealth than
it was five years ago. The paradoxical
statement may be explained by refer
ence to the Steel corporation 8 method
of providing for reserves.
The price paid for ore in new dis.
coveries is higher than before the ad-
vent of the Steel corporation and higher
bonuses are paid on leases. The policy
of the big company toward the indie
pendent shipper has been that Of
fostering interest. The price is just,
so fairly just that a complaint about
the price or the charges made for rail
or lake transportation is unheard of.
Comparative prices would mean moth
ing to the average reader and they are
not quoted.
The face of the earth on the Mesaba
range bears some frightful scars. The
open pit mining which required the
stripping off Of the surface down to
the ore bed; the milling process which
leaves immense chasms from which the
ore has been taken out through chutes
leading down to the underground rail
road; all the impediments Of vast and
ceaseless activity which in it's every
manifestation changes the aspect Of
nature-al these have brought about
condition almost inconceivable to one
who saw the Mesaba range dozen
years or so ago, when it was wooded
wilderness with scarcely an evidence
of the presence of man. The woods
have disappeared from the vicinity of
the active workings. Towns have
sprung up in the wilderness. The silence
of the ages has been hunted hence by
the screaming of the steam whistle,
the grooming Of giant steam shovels,
the snorting Of innumerable locomotives
and the incessant discharge Of dyna-