The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1916-04-07
AT The McCOMBER
Hematlte Ore Being Holsted from No.
aft---SInking to the 300-foot Level

A visit to the McCOmber prop
erty at Armstrong lake last week
by a representative of the Miner
proved an eye opener of the most
agreeable kind. Late last fall the
company decided to resume work
in No. shaft abandoned some ten
years ago when Geo. A. St. Clair
was forced by stringent financial
conditions and the large expense
he was under at the Section 80
proposition to discontinue work at
the McComber, with the idea of
later thoroughly exploring the ore
veins found in No. l shaft.
Shortly after Mr.. St. Clair drop
ped the lease on the property other
parties secured the same, the
Mutual Iron company was organ
lied and active exploratory work
begun. Shaft No. 2 was sunk and
a vein of hard magnetic ore dis
closed. In the exploratory work
conducted, a large stockpile of ore
was raised. Last fall it was de-
cided to quit work on the magnetic
formation and explore the old shaft
where good hematite ore of Bes-
semer quality had been hoisted and
quite a stockpile had been placed
on the surface by the former opera.
tors.
A temporary plant of machinery
was installed. A so H. P. boiler
to furnish steam and Lake Shore
hosting engine. The water was
pumped from the shaft and thing:
put in shape for further explora.
tons. No. l shaft had been sunk
to a depth of 100 feet and drifts
run in on the so foot and 100 fool
levels Capt. Rodgers is in charge
of the property but was away al
the time of our visit and Capt. Geo
E. Kelly, we'll known on both the
Vermilion and Mesaba ranges had
charge. Mr.. Kelly was one oil
Ely's oldest mining men and was
prominently identified with the
Chandler and other properties in
this city. We were informed tina,
Capt. Kelley would continue at the
McComber and work on opposite
shifts with Capt. Rodgers.
In the drift on thesI0 foot level
a vein of high graes hematite was
struck and in the course of develop.
ment and exploration, ore is being
placed on the pile at the rate oil
about 80 tons a day. Assays show
an average of 63 per cent ore of &
Bessemer quality. The vein is
about 20 feet wide and of an equal
depth and dips apparently at an
angle of As degrees to the north.
A three shift crew of 80 men is
employed and the vein is being
followed. The crew is being in
creased as fast as room can be
made for them.
A pumping station has been cut
on the 100 foot level and two
pumps installed, one No. 9 Fair
banks-Morse and one No. 9
Cameron. These are supposed to
handle all the water encountered
here easily and take care of the
water in the sinking of the shaft to
a depth of 800 feet which will be
done at once. At the 800 foot
depth another drift will be run to
the lead shown on the upper levels
and it is confidently expected that
a large deposit will be shown. All
indications point to mine of con-
siderable size as the vein encount-
cred in the upper levels seems to
be widening considerably and at
the 800 foot level should be of
goodly proportions. The jasper
and soapstone formations so familiar
on the Vermilion and sure indi-
cation of ore is in place.
The ground for shaft sinking is
excellent and it is expected that
rapid progress will be made. The
work of sinking was begun
the first of the month and so far
excellent progress is being made
in the greensboro formation in
which the shaft is located. 1t is
expected that later in the season
the machinery will be moved from
the No. plant and installed al
shaft No. L. At the former shaft
ESQ II. p boiler. twelve drill