The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-12-19

served as a memorial to the Thirty
Year Veterans Association Of the
Duluth & Iron Range. It occupies
a positiin of prominence near the
, company's station at Two Harbors,
and it was formally dedicated ~ q
memorial July 10, 1928. Honors
were showered upon the old path
finder of the Duluth 4 Iron Range
by orators, and there was fine
program which included music and
! flowers. One is reminded that the
war horse Commanche Of the Sew
enth U. s. Cavalry the sole suryiv-
or of the Custer massacre, by regi-
mental command, never bore rider
afterward, but was always led to
parade at Fort Abraham Lincoln,
and after he died he was given q
military funeral
Jack Armstrong and Soudan frea
Mine.
John N. Jack Armstrong, for
many years was an early day min
ing engineer and explorer for iron
ore in Michigan and Minnesota, and
In which quest he was very success
ful. He was known TO the pioneers
OF the Marquette and Menominee
ranges of Michigan and of the Yer
million of Minnesota for about %
years, from the late fifties to, and
including, the early eighties. Jack
Armstrong was very efficient and
picturesque character, and was noted
for his success in the discovery Of
iron ore, the development of WHICH
made Edward N. Breitung of Mar
! nm oh - Il
years, a millionaire.
As stated elsewhere in this paper,
Breitung decided to become interest
ed in the development of the Sou
dan iron property on the Vermilon
because of the favorable report Of
Jack Armstrong. Charlemagne Tow
er, ST., of Philadelphia also looked
upon the property with favor be-
cause of report of his own min
ing engineer, Professor Chester, but
he was not yet fully convinced. He
gave the project unreserved support,
however, when he learned that Ed
ward Breitung favored it, and be-
hind Breitung's faith was the report
of Jack Armstrong. Prior to all this
others had called attention to the
Soudan prospect, but what is here
designed is to set forth the final in
tiuences that put the Soudan mine
enterprise over. Much consideration
has been given this matter, and the
analysis appears to disclose that the
report of Mr. Armstrong on the
Soudan property exercised important
direct and indirect influences which
resulted IN the development of Min
+ut-
ago., and which is one of the very
valuable and conspicuous iron mines
of the state and district today.
1t was Jack Armstring that discov-
cred the Mastodon iron mine, which
was developed five miles south Of
Crystal Falls, Mich, and which was
an important early day producer.
This mine made its last shipment In
1895, and had a record of about
500, 200 tons. G.. T. Roberta,
brother of Capt. Harry Roberts. was
superintendent. The Mastadon was
developed for both shaft and open
pit operation.
Jack Armstrong was born in Tor
onto, May %, 1887 and died in New
London, Wis, in June, 1889. Hs
received an excellent education in
Toronto which was supplemented by
a course at the Michigan University,
at Ann Arbor. Mr. Armstrong was
twice married. There were two sons
by the first marriage and two daugh-
tiers by the second. One of the sons
is A. G.. Armstrong, who is now
superintendent of shops for the
Sante Fe railroad, at San Bernardino
tol L. -
MeGonagle of Duluth, who likewise
knew Jack Armstrong.
The New London fWiscensint
Tribune, in eulegy of Jack Arm
strong, at the time of his death,
said of him: "John N. Armstrong
combined in his nature the in
tegrity of the Scotchman and the
generosity of a broad minded nat
i've of Americas liberal West"
Jack Armstrong was rewarded
literally by Mr.. Breitung for his
judgment of the Soudan iron prop
erty, putting him in comfortable
financial circumstances.
eff Gold Is Precious, Iron 10 Price
less"
Nature in the distribution of iron
ore, has been made most liberal.
The ore of no other metal is found
in anything like such numerous and
abundant deposits and it is largely
this fact which has made feasible
the fabrication of iron and steel
products at such low costs and in
such huge quantities as to make
possible their geeral employment in
practically all lines of industry.
There is perhaps no single indus
try which has had so important q
part in shaping our modern mode
of living, which has contributed 80
generously to the comfort and
security of civilized people, as the
manufacture of iron and steel
The Vermilion range, concerning
the early history of which this
story deals, is one Of the six pillars
of the iron and steel industry in
the Lake Superior region.