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Peta Aron: Mining. { -... WALUE OF LEADING STOCKS. «Quoted by Chas. H. Potter & Co., No. 104 Superior St. 1 eres Stocks. ay See Par Value. Bid. Asked. Cleveland Iron Mining Company............ $ 25 00 $ 1600 }§=6$ 18 00 Champion Tron Company..............c00008 25 00 go 00 100 00 Cuandier Tron Company...............00.c000 25 00 39 00 40 00 — Chicago and Minnesota Ore Company..... 100 00 0 essessees 110 00 > ANRE ike APO Com Pany.ccicciec.scsseeccses OOO fe sabe cs ine 125 00 Jackson Iron Company......secsesceeereeeiee Be io ,, go 00 100 00 Lake Superior Iron Company.............06 25 00 65 00 68 00 Minnesota Iron Company....... Seeeseeseesesees LOO OO 70 00 80 00 Pittsburg Lake Angeline Iron Co.......... 25 00 145 00 seeeeeee f Peper: IrOi COMPany.... 6... eis 25 00 27 00 29 00 Me at Soc. esate Leese PCOS US LTEE eee 25 00 8 50 10 00 _ Professor Winchell, state geologist of Minnesota, is about to publish a review of the iron industry of the state, advance sheets of which have already been given out. The documenf will be read with considerable interest, in view of the important position now held by minnesota as an iron ore producing state, and es- pecially on account of recent developments on the new Mesaba range, south of the Vermillion and extending west almost to the Mississippi river. Although development has progressed in this new district without opening up any important mines, it is gen- erally admitted by practical leaders of Lake Superior mining companies in Cleveland and elsewhere that the situation might be different were it not for the depressed condition of the iron ore market at this time. Mr. Winchell, of course, predicts a great future for the new Minnesota territory. On the question of future transportation, he says: ‘‘In the event of the develop- ment of our iron ore industry between Duluth and the Mississippi river, there can be no doubt that the Mississippi river will be- come the chief avenue of transportation and that the coals of Iowa and Illinois will be the objective points. The route from Grand Rapids to the Mississippi by river to points near the coal fields of Illinois and Iowa would compete successfully with that by lake to Cleveland. The Mississippi is navigable without im- provement between Grand Rapids and Aitkin and between St. Paul and the Gulf of Mexico. There are rapids and waterfalls between St. Paul and Aitkin where locks and canals would have to be constructed. It is only when, by law, mining companies and all similar corporations are required to keep open books, showing their expenses and receipts, that a reliable statement of the cost of production can be made Some of the soft Bessemer hematites on the Gogebic range have been mined.at a cost of 75 cents per ton in large quanties, but that was when it required but little more than excavation and shoveling the product into cars, which were run even into the hillside where the ore was found. In general, however, the cost of mining the soft ores is much greater. At Ely it may not exceed $1.25 per ton. This, of course, does not include transportation. At Tower the ex- pense is greater, and at the same time the company has entered upon extensive and expensive improvements. The cost per ton there is nearly $2, allowance being made for all improvements and explorations and for depreciation. ‘The net profits, based on these fignres, and allowing for cost of transportation to Cleve- land, amounts to about $1,000,000 for the mines at Ely, since they were opened in 1888, and about $9,000,000 for the mines at Tower since 1884.” There is a particular interest in the actual work on the dif- ferent properties in the Mesaba district. The ore is all low in phosphorus and shows a percentage in iron that is equal to the run of the best Lake Superior product but deposits that would warrant heavy investments are not reported. On the property of the Stone Iron Company, for instance, the ore has been stripped for a considerable extent in length and breadth and is of fair quality. It is very hard, resembling in appearance the Vermillion ore at Tower, rather than the other Mesaba ores yet found. Sur- face samples analyze about 58 per cent.; but nothing has been done to determine the vertical extent of the deposit. At the Mallman, another leading prospecc showing ore of about the same percentage in iron, a shaft is now down about 60 feet, and it is said that this shaft has been in ore for the last 40 feet. The ore is a peculiar mixture of hard and soft ore in streaks. The Mesaba syndicate has quit work in one section, while the Minne- sota Iron Company’s operations in the new field have been given up.altogether. A recent report from the Cliffs Shaft, Marquette range says: The diamond drill in ‘“B” level of “A” shaft, east drift, is in 350 feet east, of the diift. A drill hole from the surface, about 500 MARINE REVIEW. 7 feet east, showed a good body of ore and the purpose is to deter- mine which way the ore is making. An immense body of ore is exposed to view in this mine and comparatively little stoping has been done in it. ‘The.drifts are very wide and high and fol- low the jasper, keeping on the left. The hanging is so solid and the backs of the drifts so firm that.no timber in the drifts is re- quired. Sinking “B” shaft to the third level will soon be com- menced. ‘The level is already opened through under the shaft. Another level in ‘‘ A” shaft will also soon be started, 40 feet be- low the present bottom. Water Columns and Gauge Glasses. Eprror MARINE REVIEW:—This subject ought to be interesting to marine engineers. It1s universally acknowledged that a good water col- umn and gauge glass are almost as important a part of the outfit of a steam boiler as the safety valve; and 1 am of the opinion that they should be considered quite as important. Why not? With the steam gauge be- fore him the engineer has danger staring him in the face while he is crowding his steam beyond the proper limit. Butif he has no gauge glass the water may drop to a dangerous level either by accident or other- wise before he thinks to try his gauge cocks; and good engineers are often in doubt as to the true level of the water by gauge-cocks when the boiler is foaming badly. Gauge glasses, however, should only be relied on as auxiliary attach- ments, and the gauge cocks should be tried often. Allthe gauge cocks should also have cords leading into the engine room and within hand reach of the engineer; otherwise they will be neglected. The true value of a water column depends on the way in which it is connected, and that it will indicate absolntely the true water level. The steam and water connections should be of ample size; never less than one and a half inches, while two inches would be preferable. The steam connection should be taken either from the top of the shell or the side of the dome, and should never be taken from any pipe through which steam passes with any degree of velocity. 8 Particular care should be taken to have the steam connection so that it will drain either into the water column or back into the boiler. Itis best to give it a good pitch toward the watercolumn. But be sure that no water can stand in the pipe, or it will turn your column into a magazine of danger instead of an agent of safety. The water connection should be taken from the boiler at the part where it is least liable to become stopped by sediment deposits. There should be as few bends as possible in the pipe, and tees or crosses should always be used instead of elbows. The openings of those tees and crosses not connected with the pipe should be fitted with plugs well coated with plumbago so’ that they can be easily removed for the purpose of cleaning out the pipes. Valves should invariably be placed in water column connection pipes, both on the steam and water side, and in such a place that they can be closed without the engineer getting scalded in case the gauge glass breaks. And now I am going to say something that will cause a great many engineers to disagree with me. Every boiler should have alow water alarm attachment. Careful engineers shonld not object to this, as, if they never let the water get Jow, the alarm will never be sounded; and the other members of the crew are entitled to this cautionary protection against careless or forgetful men. Some of our most careful engineers might be surprised to find how often the alarm might be sounded even on their watch. ‘There are some of these appliances that are perfectly reliable and are tested every time the water isdrawn out of the glass while under pressure. None but the very best of fittings should be used on a water column and its connections, as the fittings should be handled very often in order to keep the pipes, column and glass as free from sediment as possibie. If they are not kept free your column is worse than worthless; it is danger- OT) peceabls four-fifths of the breakage of gauge glasses is done in put- ting them in or in tightening up the gland nuts when the stuffing boxes become leaky. This is caused by the tarsional or twisting strain, due to the fact that both glands are threaded in the right hand manner. The manufacturer who first puts upon the market sets of glass gauge fittings with one gland nut threaded right-hand and the other one threaded left- hand should received the patronage of every engineer In theland. Such fittings would be the means of reducing the number of glasses broken and also reducing the number of unholy adjectives indulged in by my not over-pious brother professionals. : s : ‘ Another great objection to all the glass gauge fittings in existence 1s the bottom fixture known as the pet-cock It may be pretty to look upon, but there is probably no one thing about the engine room that causes more profanity than this harmless looking little piece of brass. It always leaks, and when it quietly lets a drop of hot water down the back of a man’s neck he isliable to forget the prayers his mother taught him. Ifa boss were substituted for the pet-cock, and tapped for quarter inch pipe, the improvement would be appreciated by all the members of the craft, © F, B. SmirH, Marine Engineer. fice AeA SPS [ ; ) |