The diamond drill., 1920-06-12
IHTERFERENcES TO SHIPMENTS,
LACK OF COAL CUTS ORE OUTPUT
STEAM SHOvELS WORKING
All Labor 0btainabIe Is Employed
And Their Are No Signs
OF A Stoppage

While II is quite certain that the
Crystal Falls district will send out
much more ore than it did last year
and that all OF the mines will be
worked continuously, II is also GER
tain that the activity in the iron busi-
ness that was figured upon at the OPP
ening OF the year will not be realized.
As one well informed iron man put II
TO us, there will be a diminuendo rath-
er than crescendo movement for
the balance of the year.
Why? Because OF industrial con-
ditions primarily and because Of the
rehabilitation Of credits secondarily.
Coal Is the one niger in the wood
pile. The coal shortage is real so far
as the consuming interests are con-
cerned. let the cause OF the shortage
be what II may. Most we'll informed
people say that the coal shortage is
a manufactured one in which the coal
men are taking a leaf from the note
book OF the sugar men with deter
minatlon to get all that they possibly
can while the getting is good. The
congested transportation condition is
contributing cause, Of course, but
many hold that II is more welcomed
by the more ayericious OF the coal
producers than deplored.
Boat Dispatch Getting Better
Reports from the ore docks and the
unloading ports are that the boat dis
patch Is better than II has been by a
long way but that II is yet far from
normal. The chief trouble seems TO
be in the car dispatch for ore sent
direct from dock 10 furnace and for
coal intended both for bunker and
cargo purposes. Coal dumping Is get
ting better gradually but in compare
tive slowness.
The result IS that boats are held in
port and many are compelled 20 return
light instead with coal cargoes. This
backs up on the ore docks and cars
are refused mines for ore. SO far
the pockets have been kept going all |
around but shovels have worked very |
internationally.
The Mckinney Steel shovel Is work |
ing at the odgers mine. 1t was
started on a schedule of S5 cars per |
day, about one-half OF what the shov- |
ell could load II the cars were sup
piled to It. The allotment was in
creased TO 40 cars and remains at that |
figure.
The Bristol shovel is working inter
mittently as cars can be got to take |
care Of the ore loaded. The pocket |
output OF the Bristol is large and re- !
quires lots OF cars TO care for that
alone.
The NJ. A. Hanna shovel was at |
Alpha. The old Judson pile was |
cleaned up week ago and for nearly |
two weeks the shovel has been at
work on the small pile accommodating
during the Hanna operations. That
was cleaned up this week and the
shovel was moved TO the Monongahela
where II will be kept busy the balance
OF the year loading up the pile at that
property and at the Carpenter.
The Balkan shovel has considerable
OF the old ore, mined by the Winston
Bros. when they completed their first
stripping contract, TO load yet, pos
sibiy two weeks work after which II Is
understood the crew will go TO Amasa
and load out the Amasa-Porter and
warner piles before loading the new
accumulation at the Balkan mine.
West Side Shipments Heavy
From the west side mines ore Is
rapidly going forward. Most OF the
ore from that district Is handled by
the NORTHWESTERN and that system Is
doing the best Il can to supply cars
and keep It's docks in shape to care
for pocket out puts. The shovels run
there much as they do here, when
cars are available and that means
when boats are In sight 20 care for
the ore.
The ordinary number Of switch en-
eines necessary 10 care for the west
side is from fifteen 70 eighteen, one
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