The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-11-03
VERM|L|ON MINES
HEAVY SHIPPERS.
FACTS IN CONNECTION WITH
MINES OF THIS RANGE.
(From Skillings' Review

(FrOm OkllllHSS ncflcW.J
The history of the Vermilion
Range goes back nearly 40 years,
and ore discoveries preceded those
of the Mesabi, but only the two ore
bodies at Soudan and Ely have
proven of importance. Four mines
of this district have passed the B
million ton mark.
The Pioneer mine at Ely heads
the list with 12,26S,936 tons. Ore
was first discovered here probably
in 1886, or a little earlier, the
credit being given by the best au-
thorities to Captain II. r. Harvey,
an early vermilion explorer. The
fee owners are DR.. w. ]. Conan, R.
B. Whiteside, the VIM. Pattison
estate, the last three named being
identified with the history of the
range from the start. The Pioneer
was first operated by Independent
companies and did not get into its
full swing until 1898 when its pres
ent so year lease was made to the
Oliver Mining Co. From that date
it has been operated very heavily
and has for years been known as
the largest underground mine in
the state. Its greatest shipment was
83O,700 tons in 1907. It has a
very large uniform ore oody Of
high grade ore, has two deep shafts,
one of which has reached depth
Of 1,465 feet, and is splendidly
equipped. 1t has recently been
producing at the rate of over $780,
900 tons per year and has a wealth
of ore in reserve.
The Chandler mine lies west of
the Pioneer and was the first ship
per in the Ely district. The fee is
owned by the Pattison, Bradley, Sib-
ley and Meyers interests. 1t was
early acquired by the Minnesota
Iron Company, and was explored
and developed by Captain John Pen
gilly, under Captain Joseph Sell
wood. From the very start the
Chandler was a big producer, the
first shipment being in 1888. In
the year 1899 it is credited with
808,359 tons. Captain Pengilly was
in charge for years and it was un-
der his direction that the Chandler
made such a record for costs and
prouction. After the Oliver Iron
Mining Co. gave up the lease in
1908 it was operated by two con-
Germs, the north forty by the Chand-
Ter Mining Company, under Cap
tain Frank Kent, and the south
forty by B. M. Pattison.
The Soudan mine at Tower was
the first shipper of the range, and
is still going strong in its 39th
year. This great property is one
of the most famous of the Lake
Superior district and gave start
to many men later prominent in
the mining field. The early history
of the Soudan was linked with the
names of George C. Stone, George
r. Stuntz, Charlemagne Tower, H.
II. Porter, d. H. Bacon and others.
Mr.. Tower and his associates first
controlled the Soudan, Captain Eli
sha Morcom was the first superin-
tendent and Nick Cowling the first
mining captain. In 1886 the mine
passed to the control of the Porter
syndicate, and then to the Mime
sofa Iron Co. d. H. Bacon was in
charge of the Soudan from 1886 on
for number of years and it was
under him that the mine reached
its largest production, and worked
as high as 1000 men. He was sue
ceeded by Captain John Pengilly,
who was in turn succeeded by Cap
tain Charles Trezona, who is still
in charge of it as well as the Oliver
mines at Ely. The Soudan ore is
the hardest of the Lake Superior
district, but very high grade and is
a very desirable furnace ore. Pro-