The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1941-01-23
Forty-nine Years Ago
From the Ely Times
Friday, January %, 1892.

The excitement over mineral lands
which prevails at present and is grow
ing, bids fair to become far greater
in a few days by reason of discovery
which is said to have been recently
made. This is nothing less than the
finding of petroleum on one of the
ranges north of Duluth, says the
Duluth News Very little, however, can
be learned of the find and at present
it is nothing more than a rumor.
Nearly all the mining men are in
clined to call it fake and say that
it has been spread to stir excitement.
A News reporter found one man who
says that oil has been taken from one
of the mineral ranges. This is S. H.
Moer, of Moer & Harris, attorneys. He
was asked if there was anything in
the rumor and said there was, but
how much was only conjecture. There
has been oil discovered near here" he
said "but of course you would hardly
expect me to say just where. have
had samples of it in my possession and
it is genuine petroleum, but as to what
quantities it can be found, we do not
know at present. We shall however
take every means to find out how
much there is of it. We have found
no cola" The Merritt's knew nothing
of it and did not believe it. They
say they have never discovered any
evidences of either petroleum or coal
on the ranges, but wished they could
find them. eve have got the iron and
lumber and all we want is coal and oil
to make this the cheapest point in the
country for the manufacture of iron"
said G. c. and A. r. Merritt.
One of the Duluth Lumber firms,
Bradley & Hanford, are arranging to
open the Zenith mine as a shipper.
The Zenith has been called a possible
shipping mine for years but has not
as yet shipped anything. The new
owners who secured the property at a
reasonable figure last year are the
Bradley interests of Bay City, Mich
igan, Hartman & Mallet Robert
Whiteside and G. F. Howe of Duluth.
The property is being developed and a
force Of IS men are at work. A 40-foot
vein has lately been sunk into and
across and the ore that is being taken
out is as fine as anything yet mined
on the Vermilion, finer than the ore
of the celebrated Chandler lying close
by. A small stock pile is growing and
the company has stuck in peg for
this years shipments at 100000 tons,
which can hardly be expected, but the
Zenith is in it for business, there is
no question.
VIM. Scott has purchased a new
team of horses for his livery business.
Ye editor had an attack of the
grippe Wednesday and he hasn't done
anything since. Work on the
ice rink is being pushed with vigor
and is expected to be completed in a
few days. Iron mining stocks are
selling well. Some Cincinnati Iron Co.
stock sold Monday at 16. Biwabik sold
on the same day for $685. **A. R. Nc
Donald has gone to Duluth to resume
the practice of law.
Last Tuesday morning was the cold
est of the season, Thermometers regis
tering from so to Sc below zero &C
cording to location. John Labor
and Miss Mary Anderson were married
Saturday evening at Sakrison's hall by
the Rev. Sandstrom of Tower. =
Married at West Superior on Tuesday,
Thomas Jury to Miss Kate O'Brien.
Both bride and groom have long re-
sided here. The Chandler is
stocking an average of 1900 tons daily,
The hosting capacity will be greatly
increased when the No. 4 shaft is COM
pleted.
Mrs. Mclean, the aged mother of
Mrs. James Sheridan, passed away at
the home of the latter on Saturday
morning. She was 80 years of age. The
funeral services were held at the Pres
byterian church last Sunday afternoon,
also the last sad rites of Mrs. Samuel
Cheynoweth and Anton Johnson were
conducted at the same service.