The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-09-13
WHAT is REASON
FOR STOPPING WORK?
ST. PAUL ROAD WILL NOT BE COM
pLeTED TO IRON RIVER THIS YEAR
RURORED NV HAS WHIP HAND
Also Says That Proposition Is For North
Western To Deliver Ore To ST PaLl
atRoesrs Mine Yards

Ihe 81. Iaul fOau is not 10 DC COu-
pleted 10 Iron River this year. and IL
the rumors that are aHoat have any
grain of truth in them, il may be sew
eral seasons before that system reaches
our west side neighoors unless the
North Western, which now has mono
poly Of he ore handling in the west
side district gets what il wants. These
are only rumors, TO be sure, but they
are so persistent that there must be
sorae grain of truth in them.
Positively, II is known that work on
the extension is suspended for the
year and the road will not be complet.
ed further that the Rogers mine where
big yards are planned in the vicinity
Of the new town of Earl Orders were
received here two weeks ago TO close
up all the work and lay off all OF the
men. The orders have been obeyed.
The balasting crew that was at work
between Chicogan creek and the Rogers
mine has been laid off and Maurice
Hastings who had charge OF the work
had returned to Menominee The
engineering force has all been trans
ferred to other parts. Division En-
gineer Frick being the only one at
present in the city and his departure
IS expected to take place soon The
Flick Construction Co., which had the
construction contract, mas about closed
up all of it's operations and Is prepar
ing 10 leave these parts. That there
will be no more work on the extension
is certain but for how long work will
be suspended is another matter and
herein comes the interesting part OF
the story.
In brief, the rumor that has been
given currency is that the Norh
Western has set in to obstruct the st.
Paul's entering the district and as the
North Western is firmly eItrenched
with pocket and mine tracks at each
and every property in the Iron River
district, IL is almost in a position to
dictate, always provided the mining
companies are willing to put mp with
IL.
AS the bulk of the companies operat-
ing in the west side districts are very
friendly TO the North Western. it
seems 10 be hard shedding for it's rival
70 get foot hold
The most interesting part Of the
rumor is that the North Western has
made proposition to the st. Paul to
do all of the switching in the west
side district and deliver ST. Paul ore
10 that road az the Rogers mine yards
No one dreams that the ST. Paul will
accept such proposition but the
alternative is fight and as the first
gnn OF the battle the North Western
raised the grade of the track at the
Rogers mine crossing about two feet
the day before the 81. Paul got there
10 cross IT, That means long della y
20 bring is grade up to crossing
grade when the chances are the first
mentioned system may again alter the
grade. II the Rogers mine crossing
was the only one, the battle might be
won In a short time but when il IL
considered that there are innumefable
tracks 70 cross and then the pocket
tracks must be got possession of IN
some way II can readily be seen thai
the North Western has the whip hand
and can almost drive any bargain II
chooses.
Whether there 10 anything in tho
rumor or not 10 is certain that pretty
fight is on between these two SYSTEM
over the entry Of the ST. Paul into the
Iron River district and that the North
Western doesn intend 10 give up th'
monopoly it has there enjoyed with
out hard struggle.
In this connection il might be point
cd out that recently the Hoose q
Person company, which has a gradinI
contract on the ST. Paul, sought q
transfer its equipment across tn
main line of the North Western nea
the Stambaugh depot The only pos
sible way 20 get across was on North
Western cars and accordingly the car
were ordered. the equipment losde'
and billed 20 the Sheridan mine spur
Before the cars reached their destina
tion information reached Escanabl
and Supt. Andrews ordered the car
returned TO the Tully mine and
short spur was built purposely to se
them out on.