The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-02-01
LABOR SHORTAGE
WILL REDUCE OUTPUT
LOCAL MINES ARE HANDICAPPED
FOR THAT REASON
MANSFIELD MINE SOON TO QUIT
Hilltop To Ship to Alsoms Furnaces
Florence Iron Co. Stopped Work For
The Time on Section 80. ABB.

The shortage OF labor in keeniy fe
by the mines of the upper peninsula
and Crystal Falls mines are not az
empted from, the general rule although
the supply is better than was thought
possible last fall. Almost all Il the
mines could add very materially 10
their forces If the men could be found.
Wages are kept up 10 the high plan
where they have been for two years
past and there is no complaint on that
score The reason for the shortage
seems TO be tnat we are too prosperous;
30 prosperous that there are too many
men for the jobs. II any new mines
were to open mp here today II would be
necessary TO go outside to get labor or
take from one of the working proper
ties.
The gradual additions that are being
made to the working forces of the M.
A. Hanna company serve to take up
the slack at the Armenia and Mans
field 30 that there is a constant In.
crease, instead Of a decrease 10 the
number of tho working force.
THE MANSFIELD.
The threat of the Oliver Iron Mining
company TO close down the MANSFIELD
mine seems about TO be brought 10 q
realization. The working force is be- x
ing constantly reduced and every indi.
cation points 10 shut down. In fact.
the operators have announced that the
mine will be closed soon perhaps In
six weeks
The Mansfield is not exhausted.
neither are the conditions about the ore
deposit such as TO indicate that the
present ore is all that there is on the
property. There remains body OF ore
about 500 feet long and 10 feet wide
which diamond drill work has shown
extends to depth OF 200 feet at least
In addition there is a large area 10 the
south along the formation that has
never had "A bit Of exploratory work
done upon it, This territory is looked
upon as quite likely bat owing TO the
nearness to the end OF the lease the
present operators didn feel like show
ing mp any ore that they couldn't take
out during the lifetime Of their lease
hold.
Two years ago negotiations were
started to get new lease but the par
ties TO the deal split on the length Of
lease. The Oliver people want 90.
year lease while, some OF the Zee own.
ers. at least, are adverse 20 giving
lease Tor that length OF time. The
present lease has several years vet 10
run and the operators have a lot OF ore
in stock 40 that IL will he some time
probably before there is any settlement
of the controversy.
THE HILLTOP.
Captain G. T. Roberts is mining ore
at bis Hilltop mine and has completed
negotiations for shipping the product
20 the Algoma furnaces provided the
railroad rates can be ironed out satis.
factorily. Mr.. Roberts has mighty
spruce looking property in the Hilltop.
The ore is OF a good grads and while
the deposit is not largo one. no one
can say what win happen as depth is
attained and some openings made b.
low.
The owners of the Victoria property
which adjoins the Hilltop have been
negotiating with Mr. Roberts for some
time with view TO having their ore
mined and shipped at the same time
that the Hilltop ore il being mined
II this arrangement can be made ID
will be happy one for both parties.
THE FLORENCE IRON co.
The Florence Iron 20. has suspended
operations on section 90. 44--33 but we
understand, they have not SURRENDERED
their option and may return there Inter
ON. The suspension is not becauso no
encouragement was met with for they
got fine formation but in none Of tho
holes put down during the year wac
ore OF n grade met with that would
pay 10 mine.
The formation IL narrow like the
HemlocK, and IL is only question OF
happening 10 strike the enrichment in
IL.
Another draw back on This work war
the deep surface met with and the fac,
that the drill rods couldn't be held a.
an angle that gave good crescent Of
the formation. Invariably the pitch Of
the hole righted as depth was attained