The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1919-02-14
will not take more than Is years.
That would call for an average Of
about 65,000,000 tons per season.

1 Will uOC lake IuOIc Cudu i D years
That would call for an average OF
about 65,00O,0OO tons per season
1t appears that we have passed the
50-million-tons mark for good, and
lake shipments already have passed
the 60-million-tons mark three years
in succession, and the lowest es-
innate for this year, in the face of
the industrial quiet, is 55 million
tons. If we witness anything like
the expected expansion of business
and industry the Lake Superior re-
gion will have added second billion
tons of iron ore to the shipping rec
ord at the end of 1885.
That looks quite awhile ahead, but
SO did the present Is years ago. The
wonderful development of the iron
and steel industry in the past Is
years may be duplicated much quick
er than people think. The possibili-
ties for expansion in this country
have not yet been fairly tested.
But we would like to observe that
by the time another billion tons of
iron ore is removed from the Lake
Superior region it is going to be no.
ticed, regardless of the optimistic
views Of biologists who have esti-
mated these resources at as high as
five billion tons. Long before that
second billion tons is delivered at the
various destinations there will be
much diligent search for more ore.
When we ship as much now in two
years as we did in the first AZ years
of the industry, there is something
happening to reserves, be they ever
so large. 1t is quite within the bounds
of reason that Lake Super or mines
within few years will be called upon
for as much as 75,00D.0G0 tons in a
single season. 1t takes money to
hold iron ore properties if they are
not in immediate denaud, but they
are well worth holding if one ran.
even if they are of low grade. Low
grade ores are succe ,sfull;; treated
to improve the grade, and this pro-
ceedure will become more and more
the custom in the, future years. While
there is great abundance of low
grade ores there is no surplus of
high grade direct shipping ores.
These latter are always in demand.
While tonnage lax fanatics and
Others harass the mi, ins Industry,
rohlic sentiment viii, prevail to pre-
vent gripping such an important
factor to the state ard to The nation.
The people who spend good money
on the chance of getting an iron ore
mine are entitled to some reward.
They are taking twenty chances
where the farmer who sows his crop
takes one, of meeting failure.
: The day is not so very far distant
when there will be an active move
ment for the acquiring of new prop
critics. The Steel Corporation and
the numerous strong Independents
are all expanding, and if the country
continues to expand, and grow in
population and wealth, they will con-
tinue to grow and their operations
be enlarged Furthermore there may
be expected to be other independent
iron and steel companies, control
ling mines and furnaces and pos
sibly lake boats. Who is to say that
the iron and steel industry is not
even now in its infancy in these
United States?
It is quite to be believed that
there will be strong Independent con-
Germs who will undertake the bust
ness of exploring, and developing
mines, for the purpose of leasing or
selling them to consuming interests.
Such corporation should of course,
have ample resources to keep up
taxes and royalties until such prop
critics are desirable and can be
placed. It would be financial suicide
for "a weak concern to try it and un-
oSltdnS W WcdIueT uuu SCr6Icn.
Some corporation approximating the
Great Northern Ore should be able
to enter the Lake Superior mining
field, and by the exercise of care and
patience make big returns in the
next ten years. It would require a
considerable investment, but there is
every reason to believe that the pres
ent feeling of great security about
ore reserves by the consuming in
terests is not going to last many
years. The demand will increase
and as time passes the estimated re-
serves will look less and less sub
stantial. As far as Minnesota is con-
cerned, the new ore reserves of the
future may be expected to come for
the most part from the Guyana and
Vermilion ranges. The limits of the
Mesaba are now pretty well known.
-Skillings' Mining Review.