The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1915-07-10

anu tOhtlHuco thAN"eH e't~ - r-t -
the west line OF the property up
against a big breast OF elegant ore on
the Wilkinson property.
Captain Greer told us that an aver
age OF 7S-feet per week was made by
the miners when this tunnel was
driven. The miners were paid $500 per
day and a bonus on all over 5o-feet
per week. Three drills were carried
along the breast and the miners work
ed like Trojans 70 earn their bonus
and every week they were found 10 be
on the bonus side OF the books
Three Systems Of Minisg
Ii must be remembered that Captain
Greer has the most diffcult part OF the
mining operations on his hands on this
level, the opening OF the mine on a
system and in such way that the
most economical results may be at
tained
The sub-lesel plan was adopted.
Then the question came as TO the
best method TO win the ore from the
sand overburden without losing any
great quantity. The surface is very
irregular so it was decided not to have
the upper subs run off at any ocular
intervals, One sub was cut off at 40
feet and another at 30-feet. these fig
ures fitting i'm with the multiples OF
the timber sets used Above that the
subs are run off as the occasion best
suited, some OF them encountering the
sand at 11S feet from the main level
and some at 100.
In that part Of the mine where
rock Gaping was encountered the sys-
tenn pursued is that OF the open stope
and in those portions where the ore
lilies against the sand the square set
method was employed but both OF these
lsystems are being worked on with a
view to getting the ore away from the
surface overburden and merging
eventually into the top slicing method
for all operations below the present
1level.
To this end plank floor is laid in
the subs just as fast as they are open
ed Supt. Martin favors the use OF
plank instead OF the tagging as with II
much tighter floor can be laid. The
mine is equipped with small mill in
which the timber is stabbed up into
plank
4, All The Ore Taken Out ga
II is surprising how clean the ore is
being taken out. In one small stope we
saw the earth OF the overburden ex-
posed. the ore having been taken away
slick and clean. In most OF the balance
OF the upper subs the ore is taken TO
within four or Eve feet OF the ore, 1t
takes considerable more timber to do
this than IL would II the operators
were not so particular but they. are
rewarded in a much larger tonnage
and better satisfied fee owners.
The ore stands very well in the
drifts and slopes, some OF IL being
very dry This enables Captain Greer
TO cary out his plans much easier than
II the ore was slippy and wet. In one
part OF the mine we saw a big stope
which was being worked from the
first sub without timber. the miners
working on the dirt up against the
back. This stope will be carried up TO
the top before any or the ore will be
pulled away and will make fine
stockpile for supply later on
The milling system OF handling the
ore is employed throughout, the ore
being milled from all OF the subs to
the main level. Three gangs OF tram
mers handle the product easily on the
main level the mine having an cleo
trie tram for handling the ears from
the main drifts to the shaft.
The Waugh yaIveiess Drill
One OF the chief objects OF interest
TO us in the equipment line was
Waugh valyeless drill This machine
has been out but short time and the
Carpenter managed 10 get two OF the
first put out. II is Just what Il says. a
valveiess drill. The body or Il looks
something like the common Jack
Hammer but at the top end In place
OF the handle there is rod about two
inches in diameter that works inside
OF casing. The casing and rod are
about two feet long. This forms the
feeding mechanism. The drill is fed by
compressed air as we'll and operated
by IT, In drilling an upper the head is
rested on a plank or rest OF any kind
and the air turned on. As the drill Is
projected up into the ore the machine
climbs on the feed rod until the en-
. ~ Il