The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-11-15
ACTIVITIES AT ALPHA
GREATEST. IN COUNTY
BALKAN PEOPLE HAVE THEIR SHAFT
WELL ANCHORED IN LEDGE
JUDSOn MOVE A WISE ONE
Ilndsrlsy Shaft Will Reach the Ore
About the First OF Next Month With
Record OF Small Cost

When it is considered that seven
months ago there was not thing at
Alpha in the way of development OF
the ore body, the advanced position OF
the work there today can well be
wondered at. This is especially true
Of the Judson work which was plann'
ed at the outset 10 arrive at certain
end towards which every effort has
been bent since work was initiated.
The Balkan people have been hamper
ed because of an indecision as TO just
what they intended doing. The origin
al intention was stripping PROPOSE
developments caused them 10 change
their minds and TO start dropping a
shaft OF timber
TINS shaft is now into the ledge and
securely anchored thereto. The shaft
is 14xl4 inside timber giving plenty
of room for workmen to move about
in The most difficult portion of the
WORK of getting this shaft down 70
the ledge was that part which pene-
trates the quicksand. A volume Of
water measuring little over 200
gallons per minute is being pumped
out at the present time The shaft il
all boarded around the sides with
matched material so that water is con-
Quoted to the bottom of the shaft and
not allowed 70 drip down onto the
Workmen along rs entire coutse.
This makes the working much
pleasanter for the men employed.
The shaft Is situated l30 feet 10 the
north of the ore body and Of the pro
posed open pit. The rock is a jasper,
not hard 20 work in The shaft will
be continued something over 100 feet
when the level will be run of and
work started at opening up Of the ore
body.
Ia the mean time il is planned 20
start stripping operations. As noted 10
these columns few weeks ago. a sec
ond invitation was extended TO con-
tractors TO submit bids on the strip.
ing work and number OF the conlrac.
tors visited the location since that
time and looked over the altered
boundaries of the PIT. The estimated
yardage was reduced from l.S00, 600
TO /, 200. 600 by the shortening up of
the pit. The water problem is the
one that IL bothering the contractors
There is n layer Of clay between the
ore body and the quicksand and il IL
feared that this clay will not allow
the water to be drained Oft by the
underground openings from the shaft.
The work at the Balkan is under the
immediate charge OF Mr.. WJ. Perkins,
n NJ. G. NJ man ana the underground
work is looked after by Roy Whitehead
who has grown up in the mining bust
ness with the Pickands. Mather people
M Amasa. Chas f. Lawrence, range
superintendent. mas charge Of this pro-
perty as we'll as all others OF the firm
on this range
found Mr.. PERKINS busy with surface
equipment work, all Of whicn has
been planned out and some Of which
has already been started The boiler
house portion OF the power plant is in
process of erection. Trenching for the
foundations was started last week
The hniiding will be- of brick with
concrete foundations and the material
is being accumulated nov. Several
large return tubnlar boilers arrived q
short time ago and Green economizer
stands on the hank ready for installa'
tion.
The inside Of the shaft will be con-
creted, 80 we are told 10y Mr.. Perkins,
thus shutiing oil the water permanent
ly from dripping down the shaft.
It is the intention To have stripping
operations started next spring early sc
as 70 he completed within year. Tn.
doubtedly. sufficient underground work
will be done TO admit Of sample
cargo Of ore being shipped next year
but ID is not probable that any viii 20
forward until after the stripping IL
completed, IL it Ia started.
From the Balkan property we treck
ed across the clearing 20 the shaf
which the Judson people are sinkinI
and we found q number Of interesting
things about the work there. Under
gronnd. Captain Holman, an old Ne
gaunee miner, has charge with + J
pearce in local charge Of the propert
under Earl Richards. general manage