The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1912-11-22

General Manager John H. Mac
Lean and Assistant General Man
ager John H. Hearding, Of the Oliver
Iron Mining company, made special
trip to this city Monday evening in
their private car, "The Frontenac,"
on matters pertaining to the Nor
man mine. While here the officials
were interviewed by an Enterprise
representative, to whom they stated
they expected this winters mining
operations on the Mesaba range to
exceed that OF the 1911-1912 sea-
son. Though not questioned regard
ing their mission here, is was learn
ed the Duluth officials desired to
discuss matters with local mining
men pertaining to the renewal of the
Oliver lease on the Norman mine
which expires April next.
The officials informed their inter-
viewer that the 1912 shipping sea-
son from Oliver properties had
closed on Monday and that the past
season wac the banner one in the
history of the mining industry on
either the Mesaba or Vermtlion
range, easily exceeding the record
made in 1907 or 1909. The figures
for the 1912 season have as yet not
been fully compiled, but according
to the visitors the total amount of
ore shipped during the past season
will be ready to be made public next
month.
The managers expect the coming
winter season to exceed that Of the
1911-1912 winter work as many Of
the strippings will continue mining
work during the colder months. At
the Adams mine at Eveleth stripping
operations will be continued, while
the new Graham mine at old Mesaba
will be veritable hive Of activity.
Steamshovels and other equipment
are being sent to the eastern range
property, and both underground and
open work will be done at the new
mine this winter. At >Eveleth un-
derground operations will be con-
tinued at the Fayal, Spruce and
Adams mines. The Troy: mine. an
Independent mine near Eveleth,
which has been idle for many years,
recently resumed operations. Strip
ping operations will be continued at
the Alpena mine. while the usual
force of men will be employed in the
underground work at the Norman
mine here,
Mr.. Hearding ridiculed the state
ment that an ore famine existed and
stated he had at no time announced
any scarcity of ore. The visitors
also stated the shelters were work.
ing at over ninety per cent of their
capacity and that no let-up in work
Is anticipated.
With the ceasing Of Oliver opera
tons on the Hill leases in 1913, the
eastern Mesaba range towns will be
benefited as evidenced at old Mes
aba, where shaft is now being sunk
at the new Graham property. The
Graham is also an open pit PROPOSE
ton and many steamshovels will be
kept busy at work there.
At Gilbert the Genoa mine shipped
over a million tons of ore the past
season. while the Gilbert mine,
which was idle for a few years, has
resumed operations with a large
force Of men. The Independents are
also keeping busy and will continue
their regular winter underground
operations. and in some cases active
stripping operations will be con-
tinued by the smaller mining COM
panies.
Tuesday morning the Duluth
party returned to their Offices in the
Zenith City. The officials Of their
company together with Vice Presi-
dent D. G. Kerr, Of the steel cor
poration, recently inspected this dis
trict, and accordingly the Duluth
managers do not expect to visit local
mines for sometime.