The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1918-10-26
MOVE CLAIMING
TO CRYSTAL FALLS
PERSISTENT RuM0Rs AFLOAT THAT
DIVISION POINT WILL Be CHANGED
LACK OF WATER The REASON
More Yard Room Must be Had AZ
Once to Handle Increasing Ore
Traffic From This District

is Charming going to be moved to
Crystal Falls?"
That question was asked many
times during the week by persons on
the street who heard the rumor. None
were In position to confirm or deny tho
rumor which seems to have emanated
among the railroad men. When any
OF the railroad men have been asked
Tor their source of information they
have been unable to give any definite.
authentic source, but they all contend
that the matter is up" and that the
chances are that the division point
will be moved.
What Is Known About IL.
About all that any person, outside
OF the immediate high officials of the,
st. Paul road know about this propo-
sition is that the Milwaukee people
are not satisfied with Charming and
that there has been some Investigation
by the higher officials on the subject
or moving the terminal point. It is
understood that Kelso was considered
as we'll as Crystal Falls, but, with the
exception of water supply, the move to
kelso would be no better than Chan.
ming is.
The reasons for the dissatisfaction
with Charming are water and living
conditions. The increasing ore busi-
ness OF the Milwaukee road is putting
big demand upon the yards at Chan
ming IL is calling for larger supply.
OF water, coal and other material as
well as shop labor.
In addition It is calling for an in
creasing number OF trainmen. The,
yards at Charming must be enlarged.
A complete survey and plan OF i'm
provement was gotten out by the diyis-
ion engineers about two years ago for
improvements to the yards that would
cost a large sum OF money. II was
given out that the work would begin
In The spring. Suddenly the work was
called of and, although they are I'm
very cramped condition over there. no
additions have been made TO the yards
to date.
Water Is very necessary require
ment, and that isn't obtainable
Channing, either in quantity or qualf-
ty sufficient to operate the big en-
gines without much bother.
Living conditions are, perhaps. as
big drawback as any OF the many in
ierior conditions. Trainmen prefer TO
live at other points. They don't want
to take the ore runs II they can get
any other This Is due to the liv-
ng conditions at the town OF Claiming
which, while they are good, and bet
ter in many respects than could be ex-
pected at such point. yet are not
such as induce men to buiid homes and
bring up families there.
Many houses have been erected at
Charming by railroad men and thew
would suffer loss should the divis-
on point be moved However. the
uetion point will always remain ana
he place will be commercial center
llways.
The lower paid workingmen anf
nen who don't want TO invest there.
ither leave their families elsewhere
n live In temporary quarters such as
'ox cass and small uninvitIng home
hat do not lend to contented labor
upply.
All Would BE Changed.
Ii Is claimed that the higher Of
cials feel that should the terminals
e moved TO this city the unstaisfac.
Dry conditions would disappear. II.
ne first place the location OF the sllopst
nd round house would be right be-
Ide the ore business and the grcar
xpense and loss OF time incident tn
ie running back and forth of switch
ngine between this district and the.
'wn OF Claiming would be eliminated
The water problem would be solved
Icely by the consumption OF the city
ater or the erection OF a separate
ipply plant on the Paint river. 70
-.