History of Michigan's Upper Peninsula
Early History Of The UP
LIFE IN THE COPPER MINES OF LAKE SUPERIOR BY JOHN H. FORSTER Mining in the upper peninsula of Michigan is not essentially different from mining elsewhere. But when we contrast this leading industry with those pursuits which engage the attention of the busy people of the lower peninsula of the same commonwealth, there are so [...]
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The embryo town was built among the charred stumps without order, on dry ground if possible, among drift boulders or knobs of trap. It often happened that The lode to be worked passed under a cedar swamp, wet and tangled. This added to the difficulty of the situation as well as the gloom of the [...]
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But to return to my subject. The work of developing our mine was a slow process, at an early day, before the invention of power drills and high explosives. The shaft was sunk in the solid rock with hand drills, one man holding the drill and two striking it with steel hammers. This party worked [...]
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Great attention is given to primary education. Graded schools, with all modern appliances, are found there to-day. And to give the young men that kind of education which they most require, to fit them for their duties as accomplished miners and engineers the state has wisely established a school of mines at Houghton. ‘ Churches [...]
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The ten hour system prevails �though often, owing to peculiar circumstances, a gang works only eight hours. The night “shift” dine at midnight in the depths of the mine. They carry down with them a tin pail containing coffee and meats. A Cornish-man when he is going to dine says, “I must take my meat. [...]
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We are now on the surface, leaving the Cyclopean mines to their special sphere. Here we can view the immense hoisting, pumping and other engines which do the hardest work. The machinery of its class, is as fine and powerful as any in the world. When the mine was new a windlass, rope and barrel [...]
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A great mine is a vast industry, a source of incalculable wealth, with a life extending through many years. It benefits not only its immediate people, but the whole mineral region and state at large. Its annual or quarterly dividends to stockholders, however remote, are always appreciated. From $10, 00fr to $100, 000 are distributed [...]
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He is a first rate miner and possesses a certain sturdiness of frame and -disposition that commends him to the observer. He works hard, eats well and fights bravely. He is, numerically, very strong in our northern mines, and, being, as a rule, steady, conservative and skillful, he finds ready employment. He likes mining; esteems [...]
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