The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1910-09-24
v
development OF Our Mining Industries

Peninsula, both In the copper and
iron fields. have progressed under ex-
treme difficulties and only BY the
greatest exertion on the part OF those
who are entitled 20 the credit for the
development Of the mineral lands, ana
at the risk OF enormous amounts OF
capital. Millions of dollars have been
expended In exploration and in ventures
which have proved Improbable. The
mines now existing and in operation
are the survivals of hundreds OF enter
prises of a similar nature upon which
enormous sums were spent. tor which
on return whatever was received. as
explorations and developments nave, in
a majority of instances, failed to dis
close commercially profitable ore
bodies
As the production OF iron and copper
has increased the price has fallen. un-
til pig iron now commands but
slightly higher price than the ore
brought when the Marquette Range
was the sole producer OF iron ore on
Lake Superior. Thus the consumers OF
iron and copper land every farmer be-
longs in that category have been the
benedciaries of the exploration aud de-
velopment OF both the iron an copper
districts of this region. which has
cheapened tor them the cost of the two
metals most extensively used in the
country's manufactures.
While the production OF iron ore on
Lake Superior has become enormous
it should be borne in mind that about
three-fourths of the Lake superior out
put of iron ore comes from iron fields
in Wisconsin and Minnesota, which
find their shipping ports on the Great
Lakes. The iron ore in some OF the
Minnesota mines is found in the most
easily mined deposits in the world,
and IL is with this product, as we'll as
with the large production of other
states, sucn as Alabama and Colorado,
that the mines of Michigan are requir-
ed To compete. Owing TO the depth OF
the deposits and the character of the
ore, the mining in Michigan is more
expensive than elsewhere. To add any
additional burden to the cost Of pro-
ductlon Of the ore would inevitably
place Michigan in disadvantageous
position in the market, and such dis
advantage, in the face Of strenuous
competition, would assuredly result
in disaster to one of the most irnpor-
tant industries Of the state
Following the history of che growth
of the mining industry Of the Upper
Peninsula, it will be seen that for
many years at the beginning 10 pro-
ceeded by slow and uncertain steps.
But the bare figures showing how tar
Oily it gained Roadway give no ade-
quate idea of the losses met with, the
disappointments encountered and the
discouragements and hardsmps endured
by the pioneers OF this great industry
during the first half century of its exis-
lance. la the early days both the
trained skill and the applied science
now at the command OF our mine man
agements were wanting. AS were also
the improved machinery and appliances
and the high-power explosives now
used in exploratory work, both in
opening up mines and operating them
when they have been located. These
have come gradually, as result Of per
sistent effort TO compel the stubborn
formations in which nature stored this
wealth of minerals to yield mp their
holdings tor the use OF man, and but
for them the enormous production and
low metal prices OF our day would not
be possible
The diamond drill and dynamite
have had much to do with lessenlng
the cost of mining both iron and cop
per, not to speak of the further advan-
tage obtained from the use of improv
ed machinery for drilling and hosting.
from the installation of electrical
haulage plants underground. aud
through the enhanced knowledge and
skill gained by those in charge OF the
work during the sixty years OF inces
SAINT application to the manifold pro-
blems that 1t presents. BY the use OF
the DIAMOND drill 1t is possible to To-
cate the ore bodies at great depth
with such that shafts TO reach them
can be placed with reasonable GER
tainty that the expense Of sinking
them will not be a mere experimental
outlay. AS result. exploring for and
mining ore bodies has come to be
scientific work, whereas in the earlier
stages OF the industry 1t was almost
wholly blind cropping after hidden