The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1911-09-02

deposit on the N. e. 4 Of S. W. Il Of
Sec. 81 4332, the forty east OF the
Fairbanks. This discovery. taken A.
Tong with the Fairbanks led the Crys-
tai Falls Iron company T. believe that
the big ore deposits existed to the east
Of the Paint river
The Crystal Falls iron company felt
that the locality warranted the build.
ing Of town ane began to look about
for site, They decided upon one on
the banks Of Runkle lake, close to the
west line of Sec % 1882 and the
original survey for the railroad con
templated the running Of the main
line to the shoers OF Runkle lake. In
the meantime Mr. Shafer. operating on
Sec 81. had sold his find TO the Union
Steel company and right here comes
the story of how Crystal Falls comeg to
be located on a side hill instead of up
on the level plain about Runkle lake
When the Union Steel company lear
ned that the Crystal Falls people inten-
ded locating the town so tar away
from their mine they entered protest
which finally resulted in the threat OF
plating another town on Section 81
only 2lS miles away-in case the orig
inal idea OF plating Crystal Falls on
the banks OF Runkle lake was carried
ont. The Crystal Falls people would
not conseLt to locate the town on Sec.
81 and the Union Steel company relus.
ed TO cooperate with the project IL il
was located on Sec. 81 The outcome
was compromise and the nearest
piece Of property THAT could be pur-
chased just then was the S. w of
N. f. Il of Sec. 80, 1872 So the
property was purchased and the town
plated on the side hill amidst incon-
veniences that we've very hard 10 over
come Before the controversy was set.
tled the railroad grade had approached
the locality and a portion OF the APP
proach TO the proposed townsite on
Runkle lake was graded and may be
seen today near Railroad lake The
survey was changed the road run TO
the new site and harmony reigned TO
the inconvenience of later generations.
Crystal Falls had the ups and downs
experienced by the 9th iron districts
during the sos and 90's The ore be-
ing OF a lower grade than that of other
sections the explorers and operators
attracted to this section were not ss
strong financially AZ in other sections
and much hardship was experienced
because OF the irresponsibility of the
mining companies during those days.
The panic of 1898 acted as a cathartic
TO clear out the business system.
Every property in the district was
closed by that financial catastrophe
and when they re-opened the owner
ship had passed TO stronger hands.
The connection OF the present oper-
ators dates from the renaissance OF
1897 and subsequent years. Corrigsn.
Mckinney a. Co. WAS known in
small way previous 10 the panic un-
der the old firm name of Georgian.
Ives a. Co.. They were sales agents
for some OF the companies then oper-
ating miles in this section. princi-
pslly the Mansfield mine under the old |
regime. In 1897 the new firm OF
"Corrigan, Mckinney a. 90. I" &C.
quired the Crystal Falls mine, which i
until that time had been Ia the hands
OF the Buffers OF Youngstown, Ohio, /
and was not regarded as OF much
worth. They did but little further
exploratory work before encountering
the large ore deposit which extended
to within few feet OF the surface.
They Immediately stripped the ore
body and were enabled TO produce ore
very economically, very necessary re-
quisite In the stormy commercial per
iod following the panic. with this
ns a nucleus they extended
their operations by the acquisition Of
the treat Western and Lamont mines
optioned and explored the Tobin, which
they later developed into the nlagnif-
cent property u now Il, The Dunn