A panorama of the Alpena Mine in Virginia, Minnesota, shows the open pit mine in September of 1915 as it opened up the underground drifts. Both open pit and underground mining took place in the same time period.
Catenaries support the electric cable which powers ore cars (70-78). The cars were moved with a manned electric engine; no diesel or steam engines were used in this process. The Susquehanna was one of the first electrified mines on the Mesabi Iron Range.
The merchant mill building at the Minnesota Steel Co in Duluth is unfinished in this winter photograph, which does not seem to have been taken in August during the U.S. Steel Traffic Committee visit.
Cable to power an electric shovel is laid by Snyder Mining Company at the Webb Mine near Chisholm. This truck shows signs of wear; its crew of four is visible.
5 out of 8 photographs which depict the process involved in lowering a mule into an iron mine. In step 5 chaps or harnesses are cinched securely and the mule is brought to the ground.
7 out of 8 photographs which depict the process involved in lowering a mule into an iron mine. In step 7 the trussed mule is slid onto a pallet, and is now ready to slide over to the nearby headframe.
2 out of 8 photographs which depict the process involved in lowering a mule into an iron mine. In step 2 tethers are attached to the mule's forelegs, not tied to a pole.
1 out of 8 photographs which depict the process involved in lowering a mule into an iron mine. In step 1 the mule is fed a heavy meal from a feedbox at the headframe to make it sedate.
8 out of 8 photographs which depict the process involved in lowering a mule into an iron mine. In step 8 the mule in the headframe skip is now ready to lower tail first to the underground mine.
6 out of 8 photographs which depict the process involved in lowering a mule into an iron mine. In step 6 the mule's legs are securely tied to prevent injury to the mule in the headframe.
4 out of 8 photographs which depict the process involved in lowering a mule into an iron mine. In step 4 leather chaps or harnesses are placed on the mules sides and neck.
The structure of the main open hearth furnace building at Minnesota Steel Co. in Duluth appears mostly complete. Large flues for construction of the blast furnace lie on the ground in the foreground. The auxiliary buildings are under construction.
Seven members of a track gang cleans and repairs track in an open pit mine. They are using a motorized air compressor. Gas cans can be seen on the track maintenance car.