USA > Michigan > Marquette County > Beard's directory and history of Marquette County with sketches of the early history of Lake Superior, its mines, furnaces, etc., etc > Part 15
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"At this point the western boundary of the cemetery has been estab- lished, and the monuments and improvements show a very complete sys- tem already adopted for carrying out the plan of improving and beautify- ing this depository of human dust. About eight acres have been set apart for this purpose, which nature seems to have especially intended to be made very beantiful by the least assistance. In the rear and forming a part of the cemetery grounds-the whole comprising some sixteen acres in addition to the front park-are prominent elevations and depressions, of such character as to be converted into as beautiful a spot as one can desire to see.
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VII
APPENDIX.
"'Near the center is a large depression of from five to six acres, with irregular margins, its northern extent terminating near the north bounda- ry on Eighth street. This depression is now being excavated to be formed into a lake. It was evidently the home of a colony of beavers, centuries ago. A small stream passes through it and a beaver dam had been con- structed at the outlet, and now in trenching to drain it and in taking out the vegetable accumulation of years, timber is found as having unmistaka- bly been placed there by the work of beavers. The soil is brown, a coarse vegetable fibrin, from three to four feet deep, lying on a pure white sand bottom, and when removed and the depression allowed to fill with water, a silvery-bottomed lake of a depth of four feet will cover the space. The largest area of water will be located directly at the head of the central drive through the park and cemetery from Washington street ; and to the right, as the lake is approached, extending off at an angle of forty degrees with the approach, is a mound some three hundred feet in length, its crown and the side looking upon the lake, covered with full growth trees, with a wide lawn and drive between the mound and the lake. Fronting the mound, and near the center of its length, there has been left in the lake within a few feet of the shore, a formation which is peculiarly adapted to a small island. This island will be cultivated in shrubbery and a small observatory placed upon it, to which access will be given by an arched bridge sufficiently high to allow of the passage of boats beneath it.
"From this point looking to the north, and about six hundred feet dis- tant, lying parallel with the east shore of the lake, with but a narrow chan- nel between, there lies a monitor-shaped island, with a huge granite rock rising from the middle some six or eight feet high, and twelve feet across the top, having the appearance of a turret. In the crevices of this rock moderate-sized maples and evergreens have taken root, and it is susceptible of being converted into a most beautiful and novel object. With shrub- bery upon the deck and the rock dressed to conform to the appearance of a turret, covered with evergreens, nothing could be made more striking or novel.
"To the left of this point is another island, sufficiently large to be adapted to the cultivation of evergreens and such shrubbery as will be best adapted to beautify it.
"A series of arched bridges will extend in an east and west line, con- necting the evergreen and monitor islands with the shores of the lake, and the amount of beauty and interest which may be added to the approaches, the bridges and the island will be governed entirely by the amount of labor and taste expended upon them. The situation of each, and their relative position, is such as to admit of any amount of ornamentation, and the whole can be made a reality, far more attractive than most pictures so far presented of any park or garden thrown open to the public in America.
"The interest does not cease here. East of this lake are several acres of wild and primitive land, with hill and valley, rock and forest, which can be converted by the mere touch of the engineer into pleasant walks and drives without disturbing the natural beauty of the location. Near the extreme north-west boundary of the grounds is a rocky prominence which commands a view of the lake in the cemetery, the cemetery and a large portion of the city and Lake Superior. This seems especially in- tended for an interesting spot, and will be the most attractive feature of the entire ground on account of its prominence. And all that portion of the tract north and east of the lake is of a character which furnishes the best plat possible for adding, at little expense, to the most interesting natural scenery, such artificial embellishments as will make it attractive beyond measure.
"Gondolas are to be placed upon the lake, which in their voyage over its entire surface will pass under four bridges, around three islands, enter
,
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APPENDIX.
several coves, and pass in front of the lawn on the south side, which voy- age for charming and poetical beauty caunot be surpassed.
"This comprises the leading features of the park and cemetery of Mar- quette, but does not by any means comprise the beauty, or interest, in de- tail, which can be found in the combined attractions of the place. We believe the country has not yet furnished its equal, however much has been done in many localities by the occupation of hundreds of acres of land and the use of innumerable auxiliaries for adornment. We have all the attrac- tions of hill, valley, lake, forest, rivulet, fountain, lawn, evergreens, shrub- bery, rock, ravine, bridges, boats and the panorama of the surrounding country, to please the eye and the taste, or to answer the call of scholars in vegetable or geological science.
"Several hundreds of the pines which stood upon the Washington street face of the park have been cut down-maples are to be substituted, and a lawn cultivated next year. Engineers are now engaged in survey- ing the property with a view of fixing upon lines by which it shall be landscaped. Two or three acres of the lake have been excavated and the soil has been piled with lime to hasten its decom position, for the purpose of having it. ready to use next year in all cases where it is demanded to assist vegetation. The avenues are being graded with granite soil ; and a great amount of other work is being done preliminary to the completion of the whole.
"It may be thought that we are over enthusiastic, or that we are claim- ing too much for our little pet of twenty-five acres, in Marquette, but having visited the leading parks and cemeteries of the country, including those at Philadelphia, New York, Brooklyn, Boston, Baltimore, St. Louis, and other important localities, we are prepared to say, that for beauty of land- scape, points of especial interest to the lovers of the curious, novel and beautiful, we believe the Marquette park will surpass them all.
"The plan of combining the two, it seems, is original with Marquette, and the influence of the plan must result in their mutual advantage. The premises will be properly policed and the park will be protected, while the tombs of the dead, and the respect due those who have passed away, will instill a spirit of decorum, and an appreciation of the good and the beauti- ful into all who enter the ground, which feeling will pervade and surround the place as with a charm of ease, and repose, and admiration."
The Holly works improved furnish an ample supply of pure, fresh water to its 7,000 inhabitants, while extensive gas works illuminate the city with a pure and brilliant light.
And now, in bidding adieu to Marquette, and its hospitable, enterpris- ing and liberal citizens, we wish them all the success, prosperity and growth which they most assuredly deserve, and wending our way to the depot of the Marquette, Houghton and Ontonagon railroad, prepare to give our readers some account of other towns in the interior, and in order that they may not think we are blindly enthusiastic in all that concerns this region, we append the following account made by another stranger in these parts, Yusef, the very able correspondent of the Detroit Free Press, who writes :
" That the Marquette, Houghton and Ontonagon Railroad has other means of income besides those derived from carrying ore and merchandise and disposing of land grants is evident. The passenger destined for the iron mines will find a throng of people at the station in Marquette await- ing the departure of the train for the mining region. Every seat in the coaches will be found filled, many persons standing in the aisles, and all available space in the baggage car occupied. The larger number of the passengers-men employed in the mines in the vicinity-have been down to Marquette on matters of business ; others are new arrivals just going into the interior in search of jobs.
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APPENDIX.
A BUSY ASPECT.
"Among the rest are several swedish and German miners, who are con- ducting to their future quarters relatives and friends, fresh immigrants, just landed from the lake steamers. There are contractors and builders, very busy, having much work on hand that needs attention and rather drove for time, and life insurance men who are urging the insecurity of life and the necessity of making provision for the future on not unwilling ears. Age ts and managers of mines are going out to look after matters, and owners of developed property and prospective locations guiding strangers to a view of the richness of the land.
"Iron and furnace men from Pennsylvania and other States have come to satisfy themselves of the advantages offered by the use of various ores, and drum mers for mercantile houses with ponderous sample cases, anxious only to make good sales. Railroad men and vessel captains are intent on hurrying up shipments, and summer tourists on seeing the strange sights of a mining region. Every one has something to talk about, and the flow of conversation is strangely in contrast to the usual reserve and silence of passengers in railroad cars in other localities.
THE ROAD TO NEGAUNEE.
" Laden thus heavily, the train toils up the steep grade from the lake level at Marquette to the heights of the iron range, stopping at three or four stations at which blast furnaces are located, but retaining most of its passengers until at a distance of twelve miles from the starting point Ne- gaunee is reached. This is the site of the first iron mines, a number of which are located within the corporate limits of the city, for Negaunee is an incorporated city, with business activity and life pertaining to that dignity. In 1870 its population was set down at 2,560; at present it has more than double that number.
THE FIRST IMPRESSIONS.
" Probably the first thing that will arrest the attention of the stranger will be the concourse of people on the station platform awaiting the arrival of the train. Having made his way through the crowd he will next won- der at the meantng of the large number of carboys of vitriol beside the rail- road track, and when informed that nitric acid to the value of $7,000 is every month con- sumed in the nitro-glycerine factory, a mile or so from the town, will begin to appreciate the labor of extracting from rocky interstices the precious iron ore.
AN ACTIVE PLACE.
"Then if he cares to inspect the place before visiting the mines he will find extensive stores in all the lines of trade and all apparently doing a profitable business, two or three banks, a number of good hotels crowded with guests, churches, schools and private residences of neat appearance, but none of architectural pretensions. Negaunee has the advantage of two railroad lines, the Chicago and Northwestern and the Marquette, Houghton and Ontonagon.
THE MINES AND THE ORE.
"South of the city a considerable elevation, styled a mountain, rears itself. The original growth of timber has been cut off, and the operations of the miners reveal a number of openings in the rocky side. These mines are distinguished as belonging to the Negaunee hematite range. The ore is red and brown color, easily mined, and, in places, so friable as to be readily loosened with the pick and removed with a shovel. The hematite ores, though valuable, if not indispensable to mix with the harder quali- ties, are of the lean character-that is, averaging in a given weight but 44 to 55 per cent. of iron.
X
APPENDIX.
OPENING A MINE.
""If a person connects with a Lake Superior iron mine the idea of a subterranean working in the ground to which access is had by means of narrow shafts of uncertain depth and constant gloom and darkness, he will be quite disappointed on witnessing the reality. Operations in mining are usually begun at the side of a hill or mountain, upon which explorations and test pits have revealed the presence of ore. The timber is first cut down and the surface soil removed. Then, if the vein is immediately at the outside or foot of the hill or mountain, as is sometimes the case, nothing remains to be done but to attack with drill, and powder, and pick and shovel, load it into carts or railroad cars, and draw it away. More fre- quently a cut wide enough for a road has to be made through the interven- ing rock until the vein is reached, whose course afterward determines the direction of the workings. In other places the outcrop of the vein on the surface is followed down, often of such width and depth as to resemble monstrous craters.
WIDE MOUTHED PITS,
" Iron mining, in short, is conducted much on the same principlea s quarrying, and the vein vary in width from a narrow passage in which but one man can be employed, and he sometimes unprofitably, to openings so broad and cavernous as to contain a regiment. In all cases the configu- ration of the vein regulates the shape of the mine, but generally speaking, the dimension of the surface opening are retained to the very bottom of the cavity.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE IRON MINES.
"The veins dip at tolerably regular angles from the perpendicular, and when they are pursued for any distance the hanging wall is supported by timbers. Sometimes an island or "horse" of rock obtrudes itself in the very midst of a vein. In such cases, if very large, it is suffered to remain and the windings of the valuable mineral followed around it. In some mines, as the Jackson; interposing walls of rock between large deposits of ore are tunneled through, giving admission to railroad cars, into which the ore is shoveled direct from its original bed.
MODUS OPERANDI.
"At the first opening of a mine horses and carts are driven into the opening, and the ore removed to a " stock pile," which is a vast heap con- tiguous to the railroad track, or carted direct and dumped through shoots into the railroad cars. As the mine progresses in depth, of course it be- comes inconvenient, if not impossible to drive into its abyss horses and carts, as however great the superficial opening the impracticable point will ultimately be reached. So in some of the older mines are used inclined railway tracks and cars, in other tracks well nigh perpendicular, traversed by cars of boiler-iron denominated "skips," and ingeniously devised to dump their contents when at the summit without jumping from the track. Powerful engines are used for hoisting in such mines, and for pumping, though in the summer season, but little water finds its way into the bottom.
AT WORK ON THE ROCKY FACE.
" Into these broad pits, open alike to the sunlight and the rain, the hardy miner betakes himself, and with his sledge and drill attacks tho glistening face of the ore-bearing rock. The miners proper work in gangs of three, usually, and are paid by the foot or cubic fathom. Perching himself where directed by the captain, at a convenient place, upon the side or the bottom, he starts his drill, an instrument of steel, of no great length, which is driven into rock by the repeated blows of his stalwart colleagues.
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APPENDIX.
BLASTING.
" When a sufficient number of holes of the proper inclination have been drilled to give a " good throw," the cavities are charged with giant powder or nitro-glycerine, and a warning signal given, hearing which all hands quit work and seek shelter until the blast has taken place. These blasts are usually made four times a day-at ten o'clock and at one, at three and at siv. When the blast is over, the other workmen set about removing the ore, and also the other rock which may happen to be disengaged with it. Some " throws" loosen larger quantities of ore than others, as some mines are more favorably situated or easier worked than others. New York mine, situated at Ishpeming, has a vein sixty-five or seventy feet in width, the opening being 500 feet superficial in length, and down at the present time some sixty feet, dipping at an angle of about 30 degrees. Re- cently, at a single blast, 1,075 pounds of giant powder being used, over 4,000 tons (8,000,000 pounds) of ore was thrown from this mine.
DIFFERENCE IN VEINS.
" The hematite veins are easier worked than the specular or the mag- netic. At Negaunee, upon some of the same locations are found both classes of ores. It may be said, however, that the hematite mines have not been so energetically worked as those containing ores of the harder varieties.
EXPENSES OF A MINE.
"A considerable expenditure is attached to the working of a mine, so that if valuable ore is found upon a side hill, awaiting the pick and shovel of the miner, he cannot attack it without first making extensive prepara- tions. In the first place dwellings for workmen have to be erected, which is no slight task when the number reaches, as it does in most cases, fifty or more, several locations have a hundred. Then roads are to be cut, and switches and side tracks made, platforms and spouts for loading cars built, and repair shops put up. In places remote, stores have to be supplied, and goods of all descriptions kept for the use of the laborers and their families. It frequently happens that months are consumed in this prelim- inary labor.
THE MINER'S HOMES.
" The dwellings of the workmen are either frame or log houses. If the former, sometimes painted, but in all cases made exceedingly comfortable. There is a certain sameness in the structures, and the stranger notes the absence of fences and inclosures, and the lack of gardens that he is accus- tomed to see attached to dwellings of like character " below." Most mines have school-houses and teachers upon their locations, though not all of them are thus provided. In such cases of course the reason is the neglect of the parents themselves, who are quite as well satisfied to have their boys earn wages as to lay up.a store of " book learning."
DOCTORS AND LAWYERS.
"A physician is an indispensable attache of every mine, hisservices be- ing paid for by retaining from each single employe's wages seventy-five cents monthly, and from each married one $1.25. Mining accidents, how- ever, are not so numerous as one might naturally suppose. Preachers are not so common, but occasionally one deems it his duty to visit the mining locations and attend to their spiritual wants. There are lawyers, too, but few of them thrive in this region. Each mine is contiguous to the rail- road, and thus communication is made easy ; moreover, at each is a post- office and a telegraph station. As for justices of the peace and constables, a distribution of the offices is made at each election-two or three, or more mines comprising a township, and law and order reigns as well as in any other well regulated community."
We must beg to differ from " Usef" in regard to the hotels in which
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APPENDIX.
Negaunee is so sadly deficient. This is a great loss to this thriving town, as people from Marquette, tourists and others, make it a poiut not to stay over night in the hotels at Negaunee, if it can possibly be avoided. This is a great damage to Negaunee, and we understand that some of her enter- prising citizens are about erecting an elegant building for a first class hotel. When this is done, Negaunee will increase in wealth and population. We would like to do full justice to the enterprising spirit prevailing amongst her citizens. But Negaunee must be seen to be appreciated, and we prom- ise the tourist or capitalist ample fields for both pleasure and profit. Many large fortunes have been made here in an incredible short space of time, and the whole town looks healthy, busy and well to do, while one meets at every turn, shrewd, sharp, honest appearing men, who carry an air of prosperity about them apparent to all.
Three miles from Negaunee brings us to Ishpeming, first settled in 1853, incorporated as a village in 1872. Located in the very heart of the iron region, it is dependant upon the surrounding mines, of which there are five, the products of which, in 1872, amounted to 387,322 tons of ore, The Lake Superior Co. and Deer Lake Co. each have a blast furnace in operation here. The town is finely located, very well laid out, ra idly growing, and is supplied with water by the Holly system. Banks, school houses, (one of the latter now being built at a cost of $30,000) and churches are adequate to the wants of the inhabitants.
Like Negaunee they sadly need a hotel. A better investment could . be made no where than in a first-class hotel at Ishpeming.
We saw the bank account of one small clothing store, with one clerk besides proprietors, in this town, that averaged a daily deposit of $250.00, (representing sales to that amount), and one day the receipts were over $750.00.
Quite a large foundry is also located here, and employs a large force in turning out all description of boilers, engines and different kinds of machinery, for which they find a ready sale. There is really no necessity to go away from home to purchase anything produced at the Superior foundry, as a better article, in their line, cannot be manufactured anywhere.
On the cars again, and away we speed on our way to Michigamme. We are on a single track and it is astonishing how we manage to pass the numerous and heavily iaden ore trains without accident. To a nervous person collisions would seem inevitable, but we have been behind the scenes and don't feel nervous at all. One day straying into the office of the Superintendent of the Marquette, Houghton & Ontonagon R. R., we ob- served a gentleman seated at a table before a large chart which was crossed and re-crossed with lines and marked over with numbers very mysterious to us. With a reporter's inquisitiveness we interviewed the aforesaid gen- tleman, and was very courteously informed that on the chart before him was laid down all the stations, switches and crossings on the above named R. R., with the time when each train was due or should depart. Between his thumb and finger he held the key to the mighty electric telegraph. The first click of danger draws his attention to the chart, where at a glance he sees when and where every train for that particular minute was either due or ought to be due. A few movements of his hands holds great trains of ore or sends them flying down grade out of all danger. The lives of thous- ands are beneath the thumb of that one man. A single false sound and the loss of life, to say nothing of the wreck of property, would be immense. But he is a faithful steward, clear, cool headed and competent, his quick ear and sharp eye is ever on the alert, and we doze away in our seat in perfect security, flying over the rails on our road to Michigamme, feeling assured that our trusty sentinel is on duty and watching over us. With this knowl- edge before us it is not at all wonderful that so very few accidents occur on a road where trains follow, one after the other, at intervals of only a few
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APPENDIX.
minutes, the livelong day, and far into the night. Our train sweeps past a lovely lake of clear, cool sweet water, and in another moment we find ourselves in the depot located in the town of Michigamme.
We wend our way up town around stumps and over large stone bold- ers, through the principal streets of Michigammi ; a town that dates its birth to but a year ago, when, after an existence of eight months, the 160 houses which its enterprising citizens had erected were destroyed by fire in a single day. Two months afterward, with a zeal and energy seldom, if ever, sur- passed, there rose from the late ruins 210 well built and substantial frame houses. The greater number of these buildings are used either for business purposes or boarding houses.
There are five iron mines located around Michigammi and the popula- tion of the town is about 1,500. This seems to be one of the most flourish- ing, growing and enterprising towns in the county. Money is plenty and trade is brisk, everybody seems to be cheerful, happy and prosperous.
There are several other mining towns in the county, of more or less importance. Humbolt, a mining town on the M. H. & O. R. R., has a population of about 2,000, consisting mostly of miners, and consequently may be considered more or less floating. This may be said of most of the other towns and villages, important as mining districts, but as in giving an account of the mines these places may be said to be incorporated, we do not deem it necessary to particularize in regard to them.
Marquette county covers a large area of mineral land. It is essen- tially a mining county, and a description of one town will do for all. Suf- fice it to say, that as a county, that of Marquette is a very rich, prosperous, and rapidly increasing in importance every day of its existence. Taxes are not high, business chances of almost any kind are good, mechanics and laborers are always in demand, and opportunities for safe-paying i: vest- ments are plenty. The climate is lovely the year round, the air in winter being cool, clear and bracing, in summer pure and healthy. There is an air of enterprise, prosperity and contentment about its citizens seldom seen anywhere else, and at no distant day the county of Marquette will be de- veloped as one of the richest counties in the Union.
FINIS.
E
MELCHERS
PATENTO
HITCHING POST.
These Posts possess advantages over all other posts. The head being of metal, they cannot be defaced by horses teeth.
The Posts being of CEDAR, are stronger, and will not break as easy as an iron post. The chain passes through the mouth into the post when not in use-and is not always covered with rust, dirt, snow or ice.
They are the most convenient, dura- ble, ornamental and cheapest post manufactured. Finished in sand they have the appearance of a stone post.
They require no hitching strap- saving time and trouble.
There is no spring or anything about the post that can get out of or- der. They give entire satisfaction and are warranted to be all they are represented.
B-
TJ.MEL CHERS.
6
D
a
C.
W. L. BEARD & CO., Manufacturers,
No. 1 Russell House Block,
DETROIT, MICH.
Or SCOVILL & JOHNSON, Marquette, Mich. Or NEELY & EDDY, Negaunee, Mich. 'Agents.
J. P. WEISS,
72 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Wholesale and Retail Dealer in
Piunus,
Ornans
AND
Stei
ORR N.Y.
Musical Instruments.
Sheet Music and Music Books of Foreign and American Publication. Strings for all Instruments and warranted to be of the best quality.
I AM GENERAL STATE AGENT FOR THE CELEBRATED
STEINWAY PIANOS,
Universally acknowledged as being the best Instruments in the entire world.
Parties at a distance are requested to send in their orders direct to me and satisfaction is guaranteed in every respect or no pay, Every Piano sold is warranted. Pianos sold at great bargains for cash. Pianos sold on monthly payment system. Old Instruments taken in exchange. Remember the place and direct to
J. P. WEISS, 72 Woodward Avenue, Detroit.
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