The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-09-23
VISITS ELY MINES
LAST WEEK.
CHAS. SKILLINGS AN ELY VS.
ITOR AND IS VERY FAV-
0RABLY IMPRESSED.

Chas. Skillings, editor of Skill
hngs' Mining Review, published at
Duluth and an authority on the
mining situation of the country,
was an Ely visitor last week and
while here looked over the mines
of the city. The editor of the
Miner was away at the time of his
visit and thus missed very pleas
ant visit with an old friend. Upon
his return to Duluth Mr.. Skillings
penned the following for his most
excellent Review:
"The Vermillion range is giving
very good account of itself in
these days of depression of the
iron mining industry. The mines
are operating at about SO per cent
of capacity, but they are also ship
ping from last winters stockpiles,
and it is expected that most of the
.ore now in stock will be moved be-
fore the close of navigation.
This means that room will thus
be made for the stockpiling of new
ore next winter, and that means
work for many hands. The ten
dency of mining companies to move
as much of the ore in stockpile is,
of course, not confined to the Yer
million range, it is policy quite
general throughout the Lake SUI
perior district. It has been dull
year in the mining industry, but
the iron and steel industry is now
coming back, and the fact is re-
cognized that the mining industry
will fare much better next year,
and operations may be conducted
with confidence the coming winter.
''The operating mines of the Yer
million range are the Pioneer and
Sibley of the Oliver Iron Mining
Co., the Zenith of the Vemillion
Mining Co., the Chandler Mining
Co., operating the North Chandler,
and the South Chandler, operated
by B. M. Pattison, all of them stu
ated at Ely; and the Soudan mine,
situated near Tower. The South
Chandler is down, but all other
mines are operating about SO per
cent capacity, and all are shipping
from stockpile except the North
Chandler.
''The announcement last week that
the Zenith mine shaft is to be deep
ened 65 feet to permit of opening
up the ore for mining on the 18th
level, at depth of LOO feet, at
tracts fresh attention to this great
iron ore property. The ore now
being produced from the Zenith
comes from the 18th level, which
is at 1000 feet depth.
''The Vermillion Mining Company
is subsidiary of Pickands, Mather
& Co. They are now employing
about 100 men underground and
35 on surface. The work of sink
ing the shaft an additional 65 feet
is conducted by the night shift, and
the day shift is engaged at ere pro-
duction. The Vermillion Mining
Company has completed the install
lation of a condensing system, and
has just got in city water con,
nections. A 6-inch main was laid
for a distance of three fourths of
a mile, from the city water supply
to the mine. The mining company
did all of the excavating, which for
the most part was through solid
ledge. This company has made
other substantial improvements at
the Zenith mine the past year.
"The mines of the Vermilion
range are notable for long life.
Conspicuous among the iron mines
of the state of Minnesota is the
Soudan near Tower. It entered
the shipping list in 1884, the first
iron ore producer in this state, and
is still going strong.
"Oliver Iron Mining Co., has built
9 dwellings at the Pioneer location,
and 9 others at the Sibley Loca-
ton, at Ely.