The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-06-15
IRON ORE EDITOR MADE A TRIP
THROUGH COUNTY
SEES A GREAT FUTURE FOR US
Not Alone in Minerals But in Farming
Lands Also is This County Abun-
dantly Rich.

There is a large number of diamond
drills searching the rocks in Iron conn
~ Menominee range. the thickest
portion of the fleet being found in the
vicinity OF the village OF Iron River
where many machines are seen and
where diamond drill contractors have
much work ahead.
Iron county has been remarkably
successful in finding ore through the
medium Of the diamond drill the past
few seasons and this naturally induces
men to seek for further mineral riches.
Much OF the ore recently discovered is
OF better grade than that Of the early
ore development in this district when
there was practically no bessemer
grades at any of the mines. Better
ores have been disclosed with depth so
that now there is considerable tom
mage that Will come up to the Bessemer
requirement.
The former field has also been ex
tended greatly laterally. and still the
zone OF naturalization spreads as work
progresses and formations are followed.
One ses drills setting up in new
locations and hears mucn Of discoveries
that have accompanied the recent
search IN some OF those now places.
hurried trip in an automobile gives
one only bird eye view OF the scenes
OF activity along the travelled way, but
one soon gets the idea that there is
big work in progress. Out from the
village of Iron River a few miles the
New York State Steel company is Just
completing new power plant house
and has several new residence dwellings
for the accommodation of its men. ItI
shafts are to the ore, and the stockpies
show that the ore deposits are being
developed energetioally. Capt. Rudolph
Erickson, formerly OF Ishpeming, has
charge there and is making record
that should be Of value to him as time
goes on.
Adjoining the New York State Steel
company mines, the Jones a. Laughlin
company is iast getting il position TO
mine Capt Sleeman. while be has
been here only few months, has nc
complished much. He has new plant
house completed, sis neat dwellings
and is now installing plant Of ma
chinery whloh ne much needs, the old
having long been overtaxed IL has
been "A bad foundation upon which to
get started. being OF clay. with too
much water for solid foundations
This will improve a. the mine Is open
ed and the surrounding country Is
drained. The machinery plant now
being put in was formerly used on tho
Gogeoic range where the company has
ceased operations temporarily at least
W. I Cole, OF lshpeming. was looking
after the stacks while John swan was
attending 20 The masonry.
The company aas single shaft down
POO feet, its dimensions being iOxI2
feet a drift from this shaft at II
ieet below surface has reached the orc
so that there viii be a chance for addi
tional miners here in the near future.
About fifty men al told are now beng
employed. More dwellings are to be-
constructed for the shelter Of the force
that will be needed j. S. Wahlman.
who has the contract tor the power
plant aud residence dwellings has about
finished his original contract with the
exception Of barn. work upon which
has just been commenced.
The New York State Steel and the
Jones 81 Laughlin concerns will be i'm.
portant in the field. as large ore
tonnage has been developed here with
the driIls, and the quality is slch that
insures IFS ready marketing.
The recent improvements In steel
business volume is having the effect of
starting mp some ot the mines on this
range that mad been shut down or
working only part time While prices
are too low the demand has much
improved and the activity OF the pro-
pcrties is good thing Tor the labor Of
this district.
There is q large number Of men
working on the highways Of Iron
county at this time. In our trip we
ran across several crews, with steam
rollers, steam shoyels and all the ac-
cessories required for fast road making.
The roads here are wide. we'll crowned,
and good material is being employed.
In places we saw wftre crushed rock
was beng handled from the crusher