Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-29

for 1t by the presence Of iron somewhere In
the ground around them. The government
biologists had reported officially that iron
existed in large quantities, but the lumber
men were so absorbed in their legitimate
work that they paid no attention to such
Stories and. as have told you in previous
letter the owners Of the Mesaba range. who
lived at Saginaw. Mich. offered to sell the
whole tract to Mr.. Weyerhauser of Rock
Island for 100000. He had already paid
them 100000 for the timber. Since then
the range has produced over $500. 600 900
worth of ore and the earth still holds ten
times as much more. Thus fate often tribes
with fortunes.
Discovered by the Merritts.
The real discovery of the wealth in the
Mesaba range is already subject of con-
troversy. The most accepted theory is
that the iron ore was first disclosed by
the roots of a falling tree which ripped up
the earth around 1t. and although the
hono- is claimed by several persons. there
is no question that Alfred and I.eonidas
Merritt, two brothers, are entitled to the
honor
The Merritt family came to Duluth from
Clean. n. Y, IN 1889, bringing five sons.
Two more were born after arrival, and all
of them have been presidents of iron min
ing companies at one time or another. The
family is very large. AT a recent reunion
eighty-three relations and descendants of
Louis II. Merritt appeared sons. grand
sons. brothers, sisters. cousins nephews,
nieces and other immediate relatives.
LeOnidaS Merritt and Alfred Merritt were
''cruising' for lumber-that is, inspecting
trees in the forests that covered the
MeSaba range at that time-when they dis
covered what is known as the Mountain
Iron mine, on November 49, 1890 They
set a crew of workmen digging almost inn
mediately afterward under the direction of
Capt. J. A. Nichols. who was in their employ.
This much is undisputed history. Leondas
Merritt Is still living. and is now in the
real estate business at Duluth. He made
a fortune and lost it, but is still we'll to do
He bears his honors gracefully, and tells
an interesting story.
Leonidas Merritt also discovered the
Biwabik NINE the second to be developed
and commenced shipping ore in June. 1893
Mr.. Merritt and his brother sold the prop
ETY. to Mr.. P. l. Kimberly of Sharon
Pa. and his associates. Messrs. Todd
Stambaugh & Co. of Cleveland, who stil
own and operate it. The Biwabik has pro-
duced nearly 100000 tons OF ore, valued
at something like 100000 600, making it
the fourth in the order of production on
the Mesaba range. 1t is outranked only
by the Mountain Iron, the Fayal and the
Mahoning.
The Mountain Iron, which was the
original discovery. is still the greatest
mine on the range. 1t has produced alto
gether about IA 100000 tons of ore, valued
at not less than S5o,o0o,ooo. 1t belongs to
the steel tcust and is operated by the
Oliver Mining Company.
The Merritts have been one of the most
prominent families in this part of the
country. All the brothers have been enter
prisng. progressive. daring men. and have
been engaged in numbering. mining, real
estate speculation and commercial affairs.
Their identification with the two great
mines will always be matter of history.
The third discovery was the Fayal mine
by J. Uuo Sebenius. d. T. Adams ard NJ.
Van. Buskirk in 1882. They commenced
shipping ore that year The Adams mine
was discovered shortly after and the
Stevenson mine in 1898. These first dis
coveries. with the Ontario. which was
opened in 1880 are still the greatest pro-
ducerS on the range.