09-002
Mining In The Michigan Copper Mines (1853)
The following is a popular account explaining the basic organization of some of the copper mining companies' operations on Michigan's Upper Peninsula in the 1850's. It originally appeared in the Detroit Advertiser newspaper, and was reprinted in Mining magazine in 1853
SYSTEM OF MINING OPERATIONS AT LAKE SUPERIOR
Mining Magazine
Vol. 1 No. 3 (Sept 1853)
The mining enterprises of Lake Superior, employing a large number of men, are in general of a common organization. The men are divided into "surface men"and "miners." The surface men are employed by the month, at wages averaging about one dollar per day, and do the work above ground, such as getting out timber, erecting whims and other machinery, laying railroad tracks, moving waste rock, and in doing the various kinds of necessary heavy work, incident to mining. The operations of farming, which are largely carried on by all the principal mines, are distinct from the mines, and are under the superintendence of a head farmer, who receives about $45 per month, and is responsible for his branch of the work.
The miners are employed nominally by contract, and are settled with, like the surface hands, once in each month. I say they are employed nominally by contract, for the reason that these contracts are so arranged by the management of the companies that the men shall receive about $35 per month, and are of short duration, so that in case it turns out that they are for a short time making more, the difficulty may be remedied speedily. Every sixth underground man is a contractor; who at the expiration of his job waits upon the mining captain, and makes a bargain to excavate so many feet of shafting, drifting, cross-cutting, adit-work or stoping, at a given price per foot or fathom, he picks his men and they go to work upon the job in common, the contractor having no advantage whatever over the rest; they are charged upon the books of the company with the necessary mining supplies, viz., so much powder at 14 cents per pound; so much safety-fuse, at $2.50 per coil of 500 feet; so many tallow candles, at fifteen cents per pound. The steel drills with which the rock is blasted, are weighed out to them at so much per pound, and when returned they are again weighed, and the miner is credited with them, but the sharpening of the drills, which is a constant and considerable expense, is done by the company. The contract being finished, the contractor reports himself to the mining captain, who measures the work, accepts the job, and reports it to the clerk of the mines, who enters upon the books of the company, credits to each of the men employed upon it proportionately, for which at the end of the month they arc paid.
The working hours at the mines differ; a day's work in Point Keweena mines being 8 hours, while in the Ketonagon a day's work is ten hours. I sought for some reason for this difference, but found none except that the difference has existed from the first organization of the mines, and had grown out of the fact that the Point Keweena mines being in general deeper than those of the Ontonagon. the necessary ascent and descent occupies more time.
The underground operations of the mines are under the implicit control of a mining Captain, who is responsible to no one except the direction of the company.
The chief officer above ground is the agent and superintendent, who makes contracts and purchases, and conducts the general above-ground operations of the enterprise. A master mechanic and machinist is also employed, who superintends the section of buildings and machinery, and keeps the working machinery in order.
The clerk of the mine has charge of the books, accounts and moneys, settles with the men, with each of whom he keeps a separate account, and furnishes statedly a financial account of the condition of the mine to the stockholders. Very little money is kept at the mines, as there is no security for it in case of outbreak or violence, but the men when settled with are paid by drafts at sight upon the company at Pittsburg, Boston or New York, as the case may be. The large mines, such as the Cliff, Minnesota, etc. have places of public worship, erected by the companies, and maintain preaching, mostly of either the Methodist or the Catholic persuasion, the Cornish men being mostly Methodists, and German miners mostly Catholics.
A physician is supported by every two or three mines, within a convenient ride, by the levy of a monthly tax of half a dollar upon every single man employed in the mines, and one dollar upon every man of family, which is retained from their pay. and paid to the physician.
The several companies enforce such rules as they deem necessary for the punishment of disorder, drunkenness, violence. etc., by deducting from the pay roll, or discharge of the offender, at their own option. No ardent spirits or other intoxicating liquors are sold to the miners, nor allowed to be sold upon the premises of the companies, and all use of them is forbidden; a state of things which has been brought about by sheer necessity, as their use among large bodies of wild and ignorant men, was found to lead to constant riots, rendering the condition of the officers and their families disagreeable, and at times precarious. The miners who have families are furnished with cheap and comfortable houses, at low rents, by the companies, together with ground for gardens; but the great majority of them live in boarding-houses, kept by agents of the companies, at the rate of $9 per month. Each working mine has a store, at which the men are supplied at reasonable prices by the companies, with such articles as they need.
