LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL STATE OF MICHIGAN Office of Commissioner of Mineral Statistics Calumet, April 1, 1908. HON. FRED M. WARNER, GOVENOR OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN: Sir:—In fulfillment of the duties of my office, I have the honor to submit herewith the following report upon the mines and mineral interests of the State for the year ending March 31, 1908. Respectfully your obedient servant, James L. Nankervis, Commissioner of Mineral Statistics. INTRODUCTORY. HON. FRED M. WARNER. GOVERNOR STATE OF MICHIGAN In its varied forms of development and operation, no STATE OF MICHIGAN interest has lately excited more curiosity and wide- spread attention among business people and the general public than the industries of mining and MINES metallurgy. These industries during the past few years AND have prospered and grown at an unprecedented rate MINERAL STATISTICS and to an extent practically beyond ordinary comprehension and almost beyond belief. Every now and then, the discovery of new mineral bearing districts are announced by prospectors, which are developed and put in shape to send out an economic product at record speed. Financial stringency or not, there is always a plenty of money within reach to finance a mining proposition of merit. As a natural consequence, the mineral and metal producing capacity of the country is expanding in a wonderful manner and in practically all directions. The evolution of mining and metallurgy has kept pace with trade and commerce. Progress toward By James L. Nankervis bigger and improved results has been continuous and Commissioner of Mineral Statistics substantial. The success achieved all over the land has been little short of phenomenal. In the modern way of doing things, industrial enterprises are developed and BY AUTHORITY put in condition to make returns, unless of very large proportions, in an almost incredible short period of time. GAZETTE PRINT, HOUGHTON, MICH. Operating companies with established records are strengthening the physical condition of their properties Mines and Mineral Statistics, 1907 – Page 1 of 105 and getting them in position to send out increased surface. Human intelligence may apprehend such a products. quantity, but it cannot comprehend it. If it were possible to load this ore in ships at one time, it would take 38,000 The value of mineral products recovered annually from ships about the same size as the United States Steel the earth's rock beds is enormous and now increasing Corporation's steamship "Wolvin" to carry the amount. faster than in any former period of the world's history. At The Wolvin is about 600 feet long and carries about the present rate of production, in the course of a few 10,000 tons for a cargo. If placed in line across the years, the mineral values produced in the United States Atlantic ocean with the bow of one ship touching the will reach an amount beyond comprehension by the stern of the next ship ahead, the line would form a ship- human mind. By illustration, the mind may apprehend bridge stretching from New York to Liverpool and a the amount, but it will be incomprehensible by human double line of ship bridges across the Straits of Dover intelligence. Since 1903, the annual product of minerals connecting England and the United States and France and metals in the United States have increased from and England. After these bridges had been formed, $1,107,020,352 to $2,087,119,999. The product of coal there would still be a few thousand ships left over to fill in increased from 263,537,465 tons to 463,493,303 tons. gaps occasioned by accident. Over such a Iron ore from 27,553,161 tons, long, to 48,907,900 tons. thoroughfare, people might walk to and from the Eastern Pig iron from 13,789,242 tons to 25,740 tons. Copper and Western continents dry shod. Try and imagine such from 606,000,000 pounds to over 916,000,000 pounds. a structure and then think of its value. Barrels of salt from 20,869,342 to 36,978,198. Other products increased in like proportion. But to go back a Deep pessimism prevails in many localities and I refer to little further. The value of mineral products of the United these excellent results out of the many splendid ones States increased from 1885 to 1906 from $434,137,994 obtained for the special purpose of showing what we to $1,902,517,565 or on increase of one billion, four have accomplished in the past few years. The success hundred and sixty-eight million, three hundred and achieved can be more than duplicated and we shall soon seventy-five thousand, five hundred and seventy-one be doing it. The panic of 1907 struck Michigan rather dollars. hard, but not so severely as some other states. Most of its industries were operated at full capacity and many A careful compilation made by The Mining World shows had record years. The annual product of copper in the that 114 mines and metallurgical works in the United state, however, was 3,186,973 pounds less than the States paid dividends of $81,601,426 in 1907 making a product for the previous year. Cement manufacturers grand total of $538,734,083 since organization. These also report a smaller number of barrels of cement figures represent our growth in production of actual produced in 1907 than in 1906. A few other industrial wealth. With such figures and facts in view, is it any concerns likewise report somewhat reduced outputs for wonder that people with means and energy should 1907. Products, however, brought better than average invest heavily in mining, metallurgal and other industrial prices and upon the whole, the year was a fairly enterprises. There are but few more desirable prosperous one. investments going than one in a good, solid mine that is well and honestly managed. In the estimation of the At the present time, business in general is dull and business and commercial world, legitimate mining dragging, but this condition of affairs will not continue stands higher today than ever before. That the mineral always. It is merely a matter of sentiment,—confidence. and metal industries are destined to further grow in Confidence again established and the wheels of popularity with the public in general, there is no doubt industrial enterprise will soon be going on as briskly as whatever. ever with employment for all who wish to work. In fact our furtherest seeing financiers claim to see an An eminent authority has well said that "the flag follows improvement coming about now. The encouraging crop the pick." Nothing truer was ever said. But the remark reports and the steady accumulation of money in the may be amplified by stating that the locomotive likewise banks are making for increased confidence. There is a follow the pick; also the plow, the mill, the factory, the growing desire to employ the idle money and this is school-house, the church and all industrial enterprises having a distinct bearing upon corporate and mercantile and privileges of modern civiliation. The aptness of this credit, as well as upon investment securities. That the observation is being splendidly illustrated in many places worst is over is confirmed by the reports that come in and especially so in South Africa, Australia, Canada, from every source. People should take a cheerful view Alaska, Arizona, Butte and in many other parts of the of things for there are better times ahead. The United States, but in no place more forcibly than in our improvement may be a little slow, but it is sure to come. own Lake Superior region. For instance, between 39 The world must and will have our iron and copper; coal and 40 years ago, the author of this work was employed and cement; salt and other products for it couldn't get in an official capacity in the old Edward's mine near along without them. The time is not far away when they Humboldt, Marquette County. Mr. Pentecost Mitchell, will be wanted and in larger quantities than ever. Sr., was superintendent; Mr. A. A. Kidder, agent. Since that time, the Lake Superior region has yielded up It affords me much pleasure in being able to announce 375,000,000 tons of iron ore. If placed in one pile, this that my previous reports seems to have given general output would form quite a little bump on the earth's satisfaction. A great many more applications for copies Mines and Mineral Statistics, 1907 – Page 2 of 105 came to this office than I was able to fill. The unfilled ones were referred to the Secretary of State at Lansing. MICHIGAN'S COPPER DURING Many complimentary letters were received, which is YEAR 1907. gratifying and I am sincerely glad the work is appreciated. I have again endeavored to prepare this report with just as much care with the hope of giving Unlike the mines in most other mining camps of the such a work as may prove useful to them and also full country, in 1907 the Michigan copper mines, like the iron value for the amount appropriated for its preparation and ore mines of the Lake Superior region, were operated, in publication. On different occasions, I have visited the most instances, at full capacity and had a successful mines and properties of the Lake Superior districts and year. In some particulars the year was troublesome, have seen what the properties are like, the methods disappointing, short of expectations, but it could have used for recovering products and the mechanical been worse. Productions of copper obtained in a equipments in service.