The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-06-01
..VermiIion Iron Ore Jubilee


Tower and Soudan, where Minnesota's
iron ore treasures first yielded to pick
and shovel, will observe the fiftieth an
niversary of shipments from the Ver-
million Range July 30th, 1884, in a
celebration which viii assuredly attract
thousands of people. One Of the first
settlers, a man Of outstanding talent
and Vision-which has propelled him
far-iS in general charge OF a COM
mittee which is developing ambitious
and noteworthy plans for the occasion.
He is William P. Chinn, Duluth, now at
the head of all Lake Superior mining
operations for PickandS, Mather &
Company. Mr.. Chinn's progressive rise
to leadership in great industry from
the first humble start at Tower is a
narrative Of the romance Of mining, as
well as rejecting the background of a
pioneer home and environment which
produced men and women of vitality in
principle and action With him on
the committee are Charles E. Carlson,
president of the Duluth, MiSsabe & Nor
them railway; william G. Sargent,
treasurer of st. Louis county, both Of
Duluth; Thomas Owens, Two Harbors;
Elisha Morcom, Jr., Soudan; Bruce
Strachan, Ely, and @. c. Carlson, Tower.
Fifty years ago, July 30th, 1884, the
first train of red hematite left in
fragile, wooden cars over the Duluth &
Iron Range railroad, now the Missabe,
for Two Harbors. Rover was already
a flouriShing city, booming in every way
Its resources of ore and timber were at
tracing many who had already ventured
in other localities, notably Upper Michi-
gan. They We'd with the Indians, Of
which there were many, in giving color
and zest to those vigorous early days.
Monday, July 30th, 1884, has been
chosen as the day best adapted for
commemoration of the historic event OF
the past.
No one can say for a certainty when
iron ore was first discovered in Mime
sofa. Fur traders and explorers Of two
or three hundred years ago made fire.
quent reference to its presence in the
Lake Superior region. George Stuntz,
a government surveyor of Duluth, is
given much credit for bringing about
the development Of the Vermilion range.
He it was who noticed outcroppings of
iron ore in the vicinity Of Tower. MIR.
Stuntz interested George C. Stone of
Duluth in the discovery, following which
Charlemagne Tower Of Philadelphia,
Pa, a capitalist who was extremely
prominent at the time in the affairs Of
the nation, was induced TO back ex-
tensive exploration. Funds supplied by
Mr.. Tower and associates paid for the
actual mine development as well as the
construction of a railroad to Two Har-
bors, the first locomotive for which was
shipped from Duluth ON scow.
Mr.. Tower, for whom the Oldest
mining town in Minnesota was named,
sold his rail and ore properties to the
Minnesota Iron Company, predecessor
of the Federal Steel Company, later the
United States Steel Corporation. First
developed under the direction Of Cap
tain Elisha Morcom, ST., whose SON,
Elisha Morcom, Jr., Is still resident
Of Tower, the Soudan group Of mines
have given a good account OF them
selves in the annals Of ore produced.
Don H Bacon succeeded Captain Nor
com and was in turn followed by Cap
tain John Pengilly, who yielded to Cap
tain Charles Trezona when u. s. Steel
came into the picture. Bruce Strachan,
Ely, is now in charge OF the Tower
Soudan operations for the Oliver Iron
Mining Company.
In those earlier days of Tower and
Soudan, Fourth Of July observance
would witness 1900 miners, nearly as
many lumberjacks and sawmiH workers