The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-11-23
LAKE SUPERIOR
ORE DISTRIBUTION
CSkillings Mining Review.)

The mining and shipping of vast
tonnages of iron ore yearly from the
Lake Superior iron ore district of Min
nesota, Michigan and Wisconsin re-
quires great organization of men and
equipment, and is tremendous un-
dertaking The transportation of the
ore from the ranges by rail to the upper
lake ports, by vessel to the lower lake
ports, thence by rail to the eastern
furnaces, constitutes an important
branch of the industry.
Taking the season of 1927, which
was a typical year, 1t is OF interest to
trace the iron ore movement from the
ranges to the consuming districts,
most of which are located in the east.
small percentage of the lake ore is
shipped all rail to nearby furnaces
The amounts of ore imported from
foreign countries and its distribution,
and the relation of eastern ores to the
industry are also of interest.
Lake Shipments From Six Ranges.
The lake shipments of iron ore in
1927 comprised about 51,000,000 TONS
and this year are expected to total
over 100000 tons. This tonnage
comes from six different ranges of
Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin.
The Vermilion range of Minnesota
last year shipped 100000 tons by the
Duluth and Iron Range r. r. dis
lance of from 100 to 100 miles to the
docks at Two Harbors, Minnesota on
Lake Superior The MeSabi range Of
Minnesota, the largest and most i'm
portant of the iron producing districts,
shipped approximately 32,200,000 tons
an average of 80 miles via the Duluth,
MiSSabe and Northern Ry. to the
docks at Duluth, Minnesota via the
Duluth and Iron Range r. r. to the
docks at Two Harbors, Minnesota and
via the Great Northern Fly. to the
docks at Superior, Wisconsin. About
6Go of the Mesabi's tonnage goes to
Duluth, 1870 to Superior and 1870
to Two Harbors.
The Guyana range of Minnesota in
1927 shipped about 100000 tons via
the Northern Pacific Ry., and via the
500 Line, both to the docks at Super
ior, Wisconsin.
The Gogebic range of Michigan and
Wisconsin shipped 100000 tons via
the Chicago & Northwestern Ry. and
via the 500 Line to Ashland, WiScon-
sin.
The Marquette range of Michigan
sent forward about 100000 tons, on
the Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul
Ry., to the docks at Escanaba, Michi-
gan on the Duluth, South Shore and
Atlantic Ry. to Marquette, Michigan
and on the Lake Superior and
Ishpeming Ry. to the docks at Mar
quette, Michigan on Lake Superior.
rrl,o nf n
shipped approximately 100000 tons
via the Chicago & Northwestern Ry.
and the Chicago, Milwaukee and st.
Paul Ry., to the docks at Escanaba,
Michigan on Lake Michigan.
All Rail Shipments.
In addition to the lake shipments
of iron ore there were something over
100000 tons shipped all rail from the
ranges. The Vermilion range for
warded approximately 100000 tons,
most of it to Duluth for the Zenith
Furnace Co. The Mesabi range shipped
100000 tons all rail, chiefly to. Du-
luth, where the Minnesota Steel Com
pany's plant was the principal con-
Stunning interest. The Guyana range
shipped 100000 tons all rail to Duluth,
st. Louis, Marquette and other points.
The Gogebic range shipped 10000
tons to Mayville, Wisconsin and New
berry, Michigan. The Marquette range
shipped 100000 tons to many differ
ent furnaces at Mayv..le, ST. Louis,
Marquette, Wells Newberry, Mancel-
ona, Cadillac and other localities. A
small tonnage was sent from the Men,
ominee range all rail, and the May
vile district in Wisconsin shipped
100000 tons, chiefly to the furnace at
Mayville, with some to Duluth and
South Chicago.
Most Ore Shipped Through Duluth.
The heaviest shipper of the upper
lake ports is Duluth, which forward
err 100000 tons in 1927, this being
largely the Steel Corporations ore
from the Mesabi range. Superior ship
ped 14,5OO,0O0 tons, largely the indie
pendent ore hauled by the Great
Northern Railway, with the Guyana
range tonnage. Ashland docks load
ed out 100000 tons of Gogebic range
ore, and Escanaba on Lake Michigan
loaded into vessels 100000 tons of ore
from the Menominee and Marquette
ranges. Two Harbors shipped $780,
600 tons, comprising all the Vermil-
ions lake shipments, with some from
the eastern Mesabi Marquette docks
handled 100000 tons from the Mar
and the valley furnaces.
From the upper lake ports the ore is
transported by vessel to the lower lake
ports of Lake Erie and Lake Michi-
gan. In 1927 the largest tonnage was
received at Cleveland, on Lake Erie,
which handled 100000 tons, this 60
ing to the furnaces at youngstown
and other valley points, Pittsburgh,
Jackson, Portsmouth, Ironton, Column
bus, Wheeling, Canton, Steubenville
and Johnstown. Conneaut received B.
100000 tons which was distributed to
the valley furnaces. Pittsburgh and
eastern Pennsylvania. The port OF
Ashtabula handled 100000 tons
which went to Wheeling, Canton,
Pittsburgh, Steubenville, YOUNGSTOWN
AMI the velley furnaces.
Shipments to Chicago District.
South Chicago, Ill, on Lake Mlchl-
gan received $4,000 tons and Gary,
Indiana, also on LAKE Michigan, H.
100000 tons, which with the 100000
tons received at Indiana Harbor, ccm-
prised the tonnage consumed at the
furnaces of Chicago and Gary and
surrounding districts.
Buffalo, New York, the eastern port
of Lake Erie, is an important one, re-
ceiving 100000 tons in 1927, most OF
which was consumed at Buffalo, with
some ore going to Troy and eastern
Pennsylvania. Lorain, Ohio, on Lake
Erie, handled 100000 tons, which
went to the furnaces of Lorain, Wheel
ing, Canton, Pittsburgh, Steubenville,
Youngstown and other valley points.
Fairport, Ohio, received 100000 tons,