The Ely miner. [volume], July 24, 1895, Image 1

About The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986

Image provided by: Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN

                
VOL. i, NO. i.
1 /
I
Thug* and ToujjhM Employed By Contestora
The disgraceful proceedings at the
doors of the Duluth laud office on the
opening of every new and valuable
township for entry, were repeated
again last week, by the gang of pro
fessional contestors and dishonest
locators who infest this country and
others as well.
Honest settlers who go to the land
office to file, have no show against
these parasites, simply because they
are not stong enough to hold out at
the entrance against the outslaught
of a mob of Minnesota Point thugs
and toughs, who are hired for the
occasion.
J
The dirty, rotten gang who for the
past years has been in the habit of
'•making it hot” for every honest
homesteader or pre-emptor have near
ly run their race. At one time there
were land sharks, enough in the busi
ness to help each other out, but now,
owing to the fields of labor becoming
smaller every year, the vampires are
forced to hire the offscourings of the
•earth to assist them in their nefarious
work.
The method employed to hamper
the settler is as follows:
A certain locator secures his men
who are to enter the different tracts
of which he has the minutes. Then
he gets a number of roustabouts and
toughs and places them in the line to
push these men forward. Time and
again one of them has been seen to
grab a settler who was near the front
and then the others pull and the man
would be jerked out of his place in a
j i ffy. J mmediately one of the locator’s
henchmen would be pushed into the
place. By continued jostling and
crowding they manage to get these
fellows to the front. Then they hold
them there until the land office is
open and they get in. All of them
then disappear, their work being done.
Ever since the little unpleasantness
at Tower, a year ago, in which Mee,
■Cook. Shannon and others, figured so
conspiciously at the end of a rope,
with a body of fifty able*&died home
steaders at the other eEid. the land
sharks have given Towei’i * wide berth.
There are several new townships to be
opened in this vicinity and the settlers
should see that none of this class of
animal gets into the towns. It is
■easier to keep them out than it is to
get them out after they are in. Get
a rope and lay for them.
The May pay rolls of the Duluth &
Iron Range railway were 'of unusual
size, but those for June are larger yet.
The pay rolls for the operating de
partment are about $65,000, 'while those
for the construction department pos
sibly may reach up to S3O,
It is rumored that a large reduction
works is to be established 1 at Rainy
Lake City, on the lake fron t east of
the townsite and that the will do
custom work. An enterprise of the
above kinci would be a boon to land
owners and miners in thegol|lcountry.
CY.
h
Although there is no Hush the Gold Fields
are Coining to the Front.
Late advices from the Ra'iny lake
and Seine river country are to the
effect that work is progressing stead
ily, on the numerous workings and
that although there is no greq.t influx
of people into that country al the
present time, developments are never
theless being rapidly pushed. Al
though the Duluth & Iron' Range
route via Tower is by far the (shorter
and cheaper way to reach the feldora
do, the Winnipeg and Rat Portage
route is meeting with the larger part
of the travel now, owing to the enor
mous amount of rain that has fallen
this season and the muddy condition
of the 28-mile portage between Ver
milion and Crane lakes. The money
recently appropriated by the county
commissioners for the portage, will
suffice to put the road in first class
condition.
.7
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Capital has not fallen over itself in
its effort to reach the gold country.
For this there are several reasons.
The most potent among these is the
fact that too high a price was asked
for surface indications. The several
stamp mills have also tended to hold
the country back. Surface rock was
Xound to be free, milling, but after
DIRTY" BUSINESS.
and Locators at the Land Office.
What We Need.
Good Thing.
THE GOLD COUNT
THE EL
sinking shafts to a distance of from
30 to 60 feet the ore became refractory,
which the stamp mills could not
touch, although the assays of the
refractory ores showed more gold than
did those of the free-milling. It has
been clearly proven that to secure the
gold from the new field, a complete
set of new machinery is required.
Some of the monied men controlling
several of the properties, will put in
the machinery, but according to all
accounts, several “freeze out” games
are on the tapis and consequently the
country will suffer.
Late reports brought from the Lyle
mine on Dry weed island in Rainy
lake, say the quartz is again running
into free milling as a depth of over
60 feet is attained in the main
shaft. The Ilillyer-Steele property,
on the Seine, is also improving in
quality of ores as depth is attained.
The latter mine has been proven by
assays to be the richest in the country.
Notwithstanding this the poorest
stamp mill results have been obtained.
With scarcely a color showing in the
pan, the wash rock glistened with
particles of free gold, showing the
stamp mill not capable of taking care
of the quartz.
The wealthy New York syndicate,
who last fall secured options on $250,-
000 worth of Seine river properties,
have failed to make their options
good, mot because the ore was not
good, but because is was of such
a refractory nature, the numerous
smelters would have nothing to
do with it, unless they could retain
the greater part of the shining metal
for their work, leaving the property
holders a bare subsistense and no
returns on their investments.
Another Saw Mill.
It is reported, authentically, that a
Michigan concern has in view the
erection of a large saw mill in this
city, on the banks of Long lake. The
firm having the mill in mind, control
at the present time about 125,000,000
feet of pine on the streams tributary
to Burntside and Long lakes, and are
rapidly accumulating all the pine
lands they can secure. The name of
the firm is not being publicly men
tioned although almost everyone in
the city is aware of whom we speak.
We hope the report is not unfounded
and that soon Ely will become the
home of another valuable industry.
Imagination at Rainy Lake.
According to the Rainy Lake Jour
nal word has reached Rainy Lake
City that early in the spring an
Indian, while on a hunting trip was
dismayed at the sight of a brilliant
stone, that gave forth all the colors
he could think of, including the sun,
moon and stars. Full of superstitious
dread he paddled away from the spot
with all possible speed. He did not
mention the matter to other Indians
until quite recently, when it reached
the ears of a half-breed who had some
notion of gems, and thought it might
be a big diamond.
After some persuasion and setting
at comparative rest the superstitious
fear of the Indian, he finally prevailed
upon him to take him to where he
had seen the strange sight, but owing
to the high water coming on the
Indian could not locate it. However,
later on the half-breed will make
another attempt to find the stone and
it may be something equalling the
famous Kohinoor diamond may yet be
discovered in the Rainy Lake region.
Tower and Ely Road.
The county road between this city
and Tower, for a very small appropri
ation, could be put in good condition
for both pleasure and business pur
poses. From this end the road is fair
as far as Robinson lake and the Tower
end is also good for about six miles
this way. With the coming of the
bicycle there appears a new phase to
the road question throughout the
land. In all southern sections the
roads are being put in good condition
for bicycle travel and the road com
missioners are recognizing the rights
of the “bike” as a vehicle. With a
good highway between here and Tower,
the social, as well as business rela
tions of the two towns could be much
increased. No doubt the .county com
missioners would be only too willing
to make an appropriation if properly
approached. As the road is now, it is
no good and not in use with the ex
ception of a few miles towards and
from this city..
ELY, MINNESOTA, WEDN
New Machinery and Track Going In and
the Property Taking on a Lively Aapect.
At the Pioneer mine about 200 men
are at present finding employment.
About 120 men are employed in the
shaft drifting and taking out ore to
the amount of 250 tons daily.
The ore is being taken from the sth
level up. Below the sth level the
work of opening up and developing is
taking place to a depth of 740 feet, or
the 9th level. 80 men are at work
grading for the spur to the stockpile
grounds, which will be completed in
about three weeks. The grade of ore
being hoisted by the Pioneer is of an
exceptionally high quality,going about
67 per cent metalic iron with scarcely
a trace of phosphorus.
The compressors in the new build
ing, built for their receptance, are in
position and as soon as the boilers are
set on their foundation near the com
pressors, the plant will be ready for
business. The compressors are the
Ingersoll Sargant, with 18 by 42 cyl
inder and a2oby 42 air cylinder and
have a 30 drill capacity.
The two mammoth new pumps to
be set, one in the 7th level and one
in the 9th, are stored on the grounds
ready to put in on short notice. The
pumps are the Prescott duplex with a
9| by 24 inch plunger, ? high pressure
cylider 18 by 24 and a 24 by 36 low
pressure cylinder and have a capacity
of 800 gallons per minute, built for an
800 foot lift.
In addition to the pumps and com
pressors, the company are putting in
something new to this country in the
shape of boilers. They are the Stir
ling water tube safety boilers, manu
factured by the Stirling company, of
Chicago, at their shops in Barberton,
Ohio. These boilers attracted con
siderable attention at the World's
fair and were honored with first pre
mium. There are four boilers of
150 11. P. in two batteries. They con
tain 132, 3i by an average of 14 feet
tubes and have a heating surface of
1,700 square feet with a grate surface
of 36 feet. They are guaranteed to
evaporate between Tllne and ten
pounds of water with one of coal
under ordinary circumstances.
There are three 36-inch upper drums
on an iron frame 14 feet high with a
mud drum below. All the tubes from
the upper drums, 132 in number, run
into the lower drums. The water cir
culates through the lower drum to
reach the upper two front drums, the
sediment remaining in the lower
drum. The upper drums are connec
ted by short water circulating tubes.
The boilers are tested at 200 pounds
water pressure. The whole is enclosed
by an 18-inch brick wall, retaining all
gases, heats, etc., ; n.l is surmounted
by a 48 by 70 stack.
Mr. S. A. Shindel, the gentlemen
who is setting tlie boilers, says his
company have from 15 to 20 men set
ting these boilers the year around
and their field covers the entire
United States and a great many of
the foreign countries. One battery
at the Pioneer will be ready by August
1. and the other will follow soon
after.
Nearly 4000 Tons of Chandler Product
A bustling scene of activity prevades
at the Chandler mine these days.
The steam shovel is kept busy every
day and part of the night in its efforts
to reduce the size of the stockpiles.
The management have the shipping
of every pound of ore on the stockpiles
in view and no effort or labor will be
spared from now on to reach that end.
The daily products of the Chandler
exceeds 1600 tons a day and in addition
to the daily loading of the steam
shovel, it is figured the Chandler is
shipping to the docks nearly 4,000 tons
a day.
The steam shovel has about cleaned
up No. 4. stockpile with the exception
of about 4,000 tons on the bank which
must be loaded by hand. With over
three months yet to ship, there is no
doubt, all the stocked ore, with the
daily output will go forward. In
order to clean up the stocked ore the
company were forced. to curtail the
output from in the neighborhood ..of
55,000 tons per month, to 38,000 tons a
few months ago.
The ore train is making four and
sometimes live daily trips between
between here and the Junction with
35 loads, in the. aggregate 800 tons
Twiner
DAY, JULY 24, 1895.
THE PIONEER.
THE CHANDLER.
Daily Beiug Shipped.
to a trip. On July 13, the Chandler
had shipped 268,660 tons and have In
stock at the present time, according
to the estimate of Manager Pengilly,
about 174,000 tons.
The new vertical shaft being sunk,
known as the new No. 4, is now down
to a depth of about 100 feet and good
headway is being made. The shaft
was begun on May 27, and is located
about 300 feet north of the old No. 4
shaft. About 600 men are at present
employed in the Chandler.
NEW OPERA HOUSE.
Dedication to Take Place Tonight By a
Grand Concert.
This evening at 7:30, the doors will
open at the new opera house for the
lirst time and during the few brief
hours that follow the people of this
city will have the pleasure of helping
to dedicate the beautiful hall, erected
at the corner of Camp street and
Second avenue, by listning to a musi
cal programme such as has never been
equalled in this city.
To the Finnish Temperance society
belongs the honor of having given Ely
the hall long longed for, and also the
musical event to take place tonight.
In their preparation of this entertain
ment, they have been ably assisted by
our musically inclined citizens who
felt the need of just some such institu
tion as the one just completed by the
society. The programme to be ren
dered this evening will be found below
and by glancing at the names attached
to the various numbers, it can be
plainly seen the entertainment will
be a success. Mrs. Aubolee, Mrs.
Brownell, Mrs. Shipman, Mrs. Gilbert,
Miss Cowling, Miss Goldsworthy, Miss
Stewart and Messrs. Anderson, Cas
tren, Sheridan and all those taking
part are too well known as entertainers
to need an introduction to our people.
Following is the programme of the
evening:
Glorial2th Mass Mozart
Ely City Band.
Chorus“O. Italia Beloved”from “Lu
crezia Borgia.” By class, with violin,
piano and cornet accompaniment.
Finnish National Song "Our Land”...Paclus
Finnish Quartette.
Cornet SoloFloctonian Polka Casey
Mr. O. Castren.
Duet. (Comic). "Mrs. Brown’s Mistake”..Amos
Miss Stewart ami Mr. J. Sheridan.
Piano Solo.."Aufforderung zum Tanz”.. Weber
Mrs. E. J. Gilbert.
Quartette“Ahtl”Lindblad
Finnish Quartette.
Vocal Solo" Zia the Gypsy White
Miss Goldsworthy.
Cornet 5010...” Cleopatra Polka”...Hungerford
Mr. M. G. Whitford.
Chorus .“Cobbler’s Song”.from opera ’Jupiter’
Mr. J. Anderson and class.
Duet.“ Till We Meet Again” Bailey
Mrs. Shipman and Mrs. Aubolee.
Chorus with Duet. ."Beautiful Rain” .Bliss
Misses. Stewart. Goldsworthy and class.
Cornet Solo"Nankeag Polka” Casey
Mr. O. Castren.
Duet and Chorus..."Lullabye”...from Erminie
Miss Cowling. Mr. Lawrence and class.
Euphonium Solo Stella PolkaHerndon
Mr. Laitala.
Serenade (Comic)“To Dinah” Ripley
Ely City Band.
The society began building their
hall early last spring. The building
was constructed by Chas. Lachti and
is 36 by 80 feet, with basement. The
interior is finished in oils and alabaster
and presents a neat and tasty appear
ance. The wainscot ing is of basswood
and floors of curly maple with oil
finish. On entering the outside en
trance one is confronted by a comfort
able little ticket office, and entrance
to the gallery. A cloak room is also
at hand. The ceiling is 16 feet and is
finished in basswood. In the north
end of the hall the 16 foot stage looms
up in tn e opera house syle. Curtains
have been ordered, also several scenes.
The stage dips to the front, thus
affording an excellent view fre-m the
remotest end. The building costs in
the neighborhood of $4,000 and will
comfortably seat 500 people. In the
south end of the hall a 12-foot gallery
is constructed for the benefit of those
whose ideas run Higher and who love
to hear sweet strains wafted from
below and not above. Taken all in
all, the hall is by far the most beauti
ful this side of Duluth.
Homesteader Wins.
In the case of James Longwell vs.
Ole C. Mork, the Duluth land office
has received a decision from the com
missioner affirming the decision of the
register received. The decision is in
favor of Mork. a homesteader. The
land is in 35. 67-20 and is said to con
tain about 100.000 feet of valuabe
pine.
Acting Commissioner E. F. Best
has rendered a decision in.the case of
John Burke, timber and stone
claimant, vs. Peter Murray, pre-emp
tion claimant, involving the of nwj
of section 17-61-23. findings for Murray,
•as did the local officers.
About 3.000.000 feet <»f logs are ycb
boomed at the upper end of Fall lake.
These will '«><> brought down ass-xmas
the booms near the mill are cleared
enough to allow ot' their acceptance.
The towing is done by the little
steamer "Paul" which formerly plied
the waters of Long lake. Jolm Dens
more acts as captain with E. J.Poirier.
Job work at this oiiiee. All kinds. |as engineer
• • ’v (-A
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lAa 1 / - U . • 1f O !
$2.00 PER YEAR.
KNOX LUMBER CO.
The Mill at Winton Hawing" at the Kate of.
90,000 Feet DaUy.
A visit to the Knox Lumber com
pany’s mill, at Winton, a few days
ago, found everything running smooth
ly and the mill turning out about 90,-
000 feet of clear band-cut lumber every
24 hours, day and night crews being
worked. Owing to the absence of the
entire managing personel on a trial in
Duluth, we are not enabled to give as
comprehensive an account of the
workings of the plant as some may
expect, but will try in a vague way to
give a few impressions of what wesaw
on our visit to the mammoth lumber
manufacturing concern, situated in
our immediate midst.
The village of Winton is located on
a hill overlooking the saw and planing
mill and the lumber yard, with a good
view of the lower end of Fall lake
filled to both edges with logs. Alto
gether the embryo city of about 300
inhabitants, is situated on a most
beautiful spot. The Duluth & Iron
Range extension of the main line
leads to Winton and a first class
wagon road can also be used to reach
the little city on the Cashaway.
The mills are of the best in the
northwest and are under the manage
ment of S. P. Ireland, a mill man of
life-long experience. In the engine
room we found Engineer F. B. Tor
rance in charge of the Lytle, 20x24
engine. Mr. Torrance has been with
the engine for 13 years steady and
helped set up the same new, 21 years
ago, in upper Michigan. In addition
the engine room contains a 10x12
engine which runs the 150 candle
power dynamo built by the Commer
cial Electric company, of Indianapolis.
Steam is generated for the engines by
a battery of four 16 foot, 16 inch steel
Otis boilers. Everything in and
about the engine and fire room looks
neat and clean and Mr. Torrance is a
pleasant gentleman to meet.
On the lower, or ground floor, is
also located the shingle manufactur
ing department, under the supervision
of James Wilkinson. The mill is at
present not rushing shingles very
hard, as the demand does not meet the
supply. Nevertheless about 20,000 are
daily being turned out.
On the upper floor, we found the
band saw in a decidedly active con
dition. Cyrus Greenlaw and Andrew
LaDuc, handle the lever alternately,
every other week, one day, and the
other night shift. S. W. Berry • and
Felix Brow'n, also alternate as setters.
The edger is handled by F. Gustavson,
and R.. Erickson manipulates the
trimmer.
Nels Hamlin and James Simpson, do
the gradingas the lumber leaves the
trimmer. A. N. Snapp, in his position
as tiler, does not have the condition
his name implies in keeping the
45-foot band saws in g<x>d trim. John
Vincent, who acts as mill-wright and
circular saw* filer, takes pleasure in
pointing out the numerous attractions
about the mill to visitors. Frank
Mason holds the position of mill fore
man, while Ole Weeks, “does the
grand” on the outside. li. S. John
son has charge of the lath mill and is
considered an expert at lath-sawing.
In the yard is piled about 15,000,000
feet of drying lumber and cars are at
all times on the track being loaded,
for shipment. At the time of our
visit, a shipment of 275,000 feet was
loaded ,ready to go forward io the
docks where it was to complete a
cargo destined for eastern points.
The planing mill is equipped with a
powerful engine, a battery of boilers,
and two matchers and a combined
matcher ai:d surfacer. This mill has
been entirely refitted and remodeled
and is now in excellent shape for
turning out large quantities of dres ed
lumber.
The entire yar’d and the two mills'
are lit with electricity generated in
the saw mill engine room. The waste
sawdust and other offal is conveyed by
means of endless chains to a mamm >: h
refuse burner near the mill and in
consequence the entire surroundings
arc neat and clean and entirely devoid
of the usual spatteri Jigs of sawdust,
chips, etc., that characterize saw
mills.