The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-12-04

So. so DEssEnER $500 MON-BEs.
IRON Contents Has Been Shrinking 30 Thss
It's impossible to Keep Many Ores
up to the Present Standard.

declining quality OF Lake Superior ores
by the prospect that the base guarantee
on these ores Will DO reduced for the
coming season. There was a reduction
for the season OF 1907. and 1t was not
supposed then that in three years an
other reduction would be made. There
is only gossip as to what the new basis
will. be. but the figures which have
been suggested compared as shown be-
low, the 1906 basis having prevailed
for years prior 60 that year
Non
Bessemer Bessemer
1906 SO 20 52 so
l907-s-g 55 90 81 80
Forecast, 1910 SO 90 80 90
The figures refer to percentage Of
iron in the ore, in the natural state.
In which state IL Is customarily used
in the furnaces. Ordinarily there is
no washing. roasting, or other bene-
ficiating. What will amount TO AN
important Innovation, however. is
promised.for some of the Hill ore leas-
ed In 1906 to the United States Steel
corporation. and on which active min
ing is to commence next year. Some
expensive washing operations will be
conducted.
In the ninetes. when Lake Superior
ores were cheap. compared with recent
prices. the ores earned premiums rather
than experienced penalties, since as a
rule they ran above the base guarantees
In the past three years, with lower
guarantee. there has been more penalty
than premium business. 80 unsatis-
factory had the ores become. as to iron
content. that when the base guarantee
was reduced for the season OF 1897 an
innovation was made, In that the pen
alties were put upon a progressive
basis, instead of upon the straight unit
basis. When the ores were rich there
was no strong objection 10 the use OF
some ores running below the base and
paid tor at the straight unit price. for
they were still satisfactory. Some Of
the ores were too rich, not furnishing
the proper slagging material. and the
use of some leaner ores with them was
necessary. With the progressive pen
atty basis established for the season OF
1907, it was recognized that the iron
content had become so low that II cost
materially more to make pig iron from
ores below the basis than IL did from
the base ores, hence the imposition of
heavier penalties so that the unit price
would decrease as the iron content de-
creased.
SO sharp has been the decrease in
iron content in Lake Superior ores that
attempts nave been made 10 estimate
the average decrease per year, ana two
or three years ago 1t was estimated
roughly that the decrease had been at
the rate OF more than one unit or.epr
cent per year The decrease has con-
tinuued. and that practically through.
ont the trade which mines Lake Super
ior ore. IL has been distributed over
the merchant mines and the producer
consumer mines. not excluding the
steel corporation itself Indeed the
mining of large tonnages Of the Hill
ores will add fresh influence TO the
decrease in iron content at the Steel
corporation ores.
The time was that large part OF
the pig iron made from Lake Superior
ore showed a ratio Of abont l.. tons of
ore per ton OF pig iron. but the ratio
now. for large part Of the iron pro-
duced. is very close 20 2 o tons. In
deed, on the suggested basis for non
bessemer ores for next season. 80 per
cent, the ratio would be almost exactly
. tons OF ore per ton OF pig iron. IL
10 true pig iron 10 not all iron. being
only about "a per cent iron. but all the
iron in the ore aoes not get into the
pig iron. and the two factors are not
far from balancing.
Obviously II costsI great deal more
10 make pig iron than u did, measured
In terms of ore prices. and disregard
ing the fact that the cost OF ton OF
ore-.such ss IL is-nas greatly increas-
ed. When the iron content OF the ore
is reduced. 10 is by no means the same
as the ore seller giving short weight.
Furnaces would be only too glad 10 get
a 90 per cent ore. with corresponding
short weight. instead Of 30 per cent
ore. When the iron disappears. some
thing takes It's place. and that solne-
thing IL Objectionable, Freight must