Bisbee daily review., 1908-03-14
GREAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE
 IN FEW YEARS
History of Copper Country Shows Wonderful Advance .ment-Number of Men Em- poyed Is About Normal.

HOUGHTON, Mich, March 12.-The total forces employed by the mines, mills and smelters of the three coun- ties of Keweenaw. Houghton and On tonagon, that constitute the Lake Su- perior copper district aggregate about ,000 at the present time. as compar- ed with 19.100 men at the time Of the annual census of mine workers on Sept 30, last. The reduction in forces of a trife more than 1000 men is only the normal lessening brought about by the winter season, it being impo5- sible to employ men at certain work on surface during the time of the heavy snows. It Is certain, however, that at least 1000 men will be added shortly after the snow goes in the spring, and In all likelihood another thousand men will be put at work in and around the mines, giving total force of 10000 men. Fifteen years ago little less than 1000 men were EIployed in the copper industry of this district, there being only eight produC ing mines, 1 while at present there are tweatyf four producing mines. and a dozen explor- ations employing considerable forces. Mining operations, which had shrunk in 1893 to district of less than thirty miles in length. from the Central mine in Keweenaw county on the north to the Atlantic mine, four miles south of Hougnton, now extend from the Della ware mine of the Manitou company, controlled by the Calumet & Hecla mine, west of the Ontonagan river. The copper industry of this district has shown steady growth for many years past and the rolicy of the lead | ing operating companies has been to make copper and sell it at the best i price obtainable, regardless of market | fluctuations. This has given excep- tionally steady employment, and has caused the lake district to be given the preference by the steadier class of miners, as they know that good workman is certain to nave steady employment the year round, regardless of low prices or other troubles in the metal market.
 Looking into the future, it is appar- ent that not less than 3e,0e0 men will be employed in the mines, mills and smelters of the lake district within ten years, and 1t is probable that this force will be closer to s5,oo0 than to the lfgures previously named. Of the de veloning properties, at least 8 hali dozen are of considerable promise, and bid fair to make good producing mines in time.
 The effect of this large increase in forces has been to build up two con siderable towns in Houghton county one of whicn, Calumet, has popula
 tion of about 40,O00. while the Portage Lake towns. Houghton and Hancock which are separated merely by the Portage river, 1000 feet wide, have
 with their suburbs about 25,00 people
 Within ten years Calumet should have i60,000 people, and Houghton and Han
 cock combined population Of about 4. .0,000. The great movement in trans
 portation facilities, now including fivt
 steam lines, an exceptionally good trol ley line, with another trolley line build
 ing, gives a present po9ulation ot
 about S0,000 along the main lines O communication The Houghton County
 Street Railway company is planning t
 expend nearly s1,0O0,O00 during tnt
 present year in extensions of it's trol ley lines, by which the South Rang' towns along the Copper Range lines
 will be given exceptionally good trans
 portatien facilities.