The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-05-01


amounted to 59,392 tons, with pro-
duction somewhat less. The normal
annual output here is from 10000
to 100000 tons and it is expected
that 1925 will see normal ship
ment. The Soudan ore is an ex-
tremely hard, dense non-Bessemer,
with a low moisture and high
natural iron. 1t is distributed
throughout the Steel Corporations
funaces and is priced very highly be-
cause of its structure. The property
is mined by the back stopping and
filling system. The Soudan mine is
the oldest in the state, having oper-
ated steadily since 1884. Total
shipments to date amount to $780,
822 TONS
The early day history of the
Soudan is linked with the names of
many pioneers in the mining and ex-
ploring field, among them being
George C. Stone, George r. Stuntz,
Charlemagne Tower, H. H. Porter,
d. H. Bacon, Captain Elisha Nor
com, John Pengilly and others.
Formerly known as the Minnesota
mine, the Soudan is one of the most
famous properties of the whole Lake
Superior district and it is of great
interest that after 40 years of op-
Grafton such an extensive improve
ment program should be carried on
Work done here since May IL, 1924
includes concreting the shaft from
the surface to the l 900 foot level
concreting the footwall from the l..
600 foot to the l ,472 foot level, and
coupling the entire shaft to the 1 ,472
foot level with steel sets, collars and
ladders. A new steel head frame was
erected, Allis- Chalmers electrically
operated air compressor, mine pumps
pumping plant at the lake and filtra-
ton plant were installed. A new
crusher house was built, engine
house was remodeled, electric tram
ming system installed from shaft to
crusher house.
A new dry house will be built, a
new heating plant has been provid-
ed, fire pumps installed, storage
battery locomotive tramming system
from shaft to crusher house install
ed The Soudan mine has now one
of the most modern and up-to-date
plants in the Lake Superior district.
The operations of the Oliver Iron
Mining Company on the Vermilion
range are in charge of Charles Ire
iona as general superintendent, with
B. o. Strachan as his assistant.
Pickands, Mather Operate Zenith.
The other large operator on the
Vermilion range is Pickands, Mather
& Co., operating the Zenith mine at
Ely, as the Vermilion Mining Com
pany. The Zenith has been operat-
ing double shift all winter and has
large stoekpile of Bessemer ore
available, with a small tonnage OF
non-Bessemer ore. The ore is hoist.
ed from the 18th and 18th level:
through vertical shaft, the depth
to the bottim level being 100 feet
The top sicing system of mining i.
employed. The development of the
new 18th level has been in progress.
for the past three years, and is al
this time practically completed
Double drum hoists and scrapers are
used in slicing operations with ex
cellent results. Shipments from The
Zenith last year were sol ,804 tons
production being somewhat larger
The total output to date from thi!
| property is given as 6,940,771 tons
| Shipments began in 1892, and have
run as high as 100000 tons in {
| single year. The Zenith mine wa:
taken over from the Oliver Iror
Mining Co. by the present operat
| ors six years ago and extensive i'm
provements have been made to the
plant since then. Last year a new
steel trestle was installed, a mine
rescue and first aid building con-
structed, and new dwellings erected
An active season is indicated for the
Zenith mine in 1925 and shipments
should equal or surpass those of last
year. Kenneth Duncan is superin-
tendent for Pickands, Mather 4 Co.
in charge of the Zenith mine.
Chandler Mine A Steady Producer.
The Chandler mine at Ely is oper-
ated by the Chandler Mining Co.
with Captain Frank Kent as gen
eral manager and w. H. Nicholas as
superintendent. While only a small
properly now, the Chandler operates
very regularly and has worked double
shift all winter, employing about IS
men. A stockpite of approximately
10000 tons is available at the pres
er& time. The product has been go
ing to the Zenith Furnace Co., at
Duluth, hipme nts continuing
throughout the winter. Shipments
and production were about 5000
tons last year, and present opera
tons are at about the same rate.
The company recently purchased a
small steam shovel for loading the
stockpile. The Chandler is the old
est mine of the Ely group, having
shipped first in 1888. Total ship
ments to date are reported as TO-
993,073 tons-this includes both the