Bisbee daily review., 1906-02-04
MICHIGAN MINES
 WERE FIRST
Copper First Produced in U. 5. in Lake Su-
 pGfiOr District
CBy Homer A. Guck.D


 The first copper mining ever done in the United States was here in the Lake Superior district It wasn't much over 50 years ago either. That seems strange but it is a fact never the less. The Cliff mine, with the exception of some desultory sXplOra- tions, on the lake shores in Kewee- naw county, waS the first paying copper mine opened up in this country. Soon after the opening of the Cliff work was started in South Carolina. Since that time the Montana copper camps have opened, Arizona is a large and important producer of the red metal Utah cuts quite a figure and there are various other copper prOduc- ing states. The Lake district, however, vas the first to open extensive cop per mines IL has expanded and en- larged its magnificent mining indus tries until today they are extensive in their scope and magnificent in their possibilities. And Montana has out stripped Michigan's production in gross and Arizona is running close be hind. And the copper industry 's just in it's infancy.
 An interesting fact was brought out last week in the sale of the lands ur the dead Dacotah company. Under orders from the circuit court the lands of the company were sold at public auction. There were two parcels and they brought just $2S,4 ,4G0. Most of the land will be parceied out into farms, but one portion is valuable for building lots on account of it's con tiguity 10 Houghton. It seems from data presented that the Dacotah con- rany was organized years ago. For forty years the property has been idle. But the stockholders are the same as originally put their money in the deal, the Hussey- -HoweC CoopeT-Avery inter ests. Or course, the maority ot the original stockholders are deceased, but their estate hold the stock. In the early days of the copper in- dustIy these people were conspicuous in the exploratory work done here abouts. They were interested in the original Cliff property, and by reason Of their dividends from that and their services in the employ of the corn. g.
  atior- This was invested in smelti1g interests, in iron and brass manufac' turing and the estates are now very valuable, having incomes in the mil lions.
 Captain William Wearne has been transferred from the Superior property to the Besl, or as now known, the Lake property. Captain Wearne has been l in charge df the mine work at the Su. perior under Reginald Pryor, and was largely instrumental in bringing about such an excellent underground condi' ton as now prevails nthat property The Lake work is also under Ar. Ply or's charge, and Captain Wearne's transfer means that it VIII be hustled along with all the speed possible un, 1 der conservative and painstaking man asement Captain James Biscombe | who recently resigned his position al the Fri Mountain takes the place as underground foreman at the Superior The Lake property is more than likely | to attract good deal of eastern atten- ton in the near future. The work si mvaIering the shaft is well under l way, and the drill win be more than likely to show up something soon There is plenty of copper in the shat DOW, and it's is believed that there will be market activity of no small meas ure as soon as the Eastern people wake up to realization of the true condi- 1 tions at the mine.
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