PROGRESS AND MINING INDUSTRY 449 



is undoubtedly largely responsil)le for the early completion of 

 our transcontinental railroads. 



The exploitation of iron and copper ores of the Lake Supe- 

 rior region has been a most potent factor in the material ad- 

 vancement of that district, and in the development of the lake 

 marine. The depth of these mines, the quantity of mattTJal 

 handled, and the distance from points of consumption and 

 from fuel supplies, have inspired the mechanical engineer to 

 design hoisting, pumping and concentration plants second to 

 none, and the marine engineer to supply vessels of superior 

 construction and equipment. 



The new south also owes its present advanced ])osition 

 more to the exploitation of its mineral wealth than to any other 

 feature. 



Coming nearer home, we may properly ascribe the con- 

 struction of the canal system and the earlier railroads to the 

 necessity of conveying the output of our coal mines to market, 

 and of handhng economically in large volume raw materials 

 to, and the products from, furnaces and mills, and the prtv 

 eminence of Pennsylvania as an industrial state is directly 

 traceable to the utilization of its stores of fuels, ores, stones, 

 and clays. 



The exploiting of mines, therefore, has not only called 

 into play the abihty and energy of the geologist and the min- 

 ing engineer, but has demanded also the best efforts of the 

 metallurgist, the mechanical engineer, the electrical engineer, 

 the civil engineer and marine engineer, to supply drilling, hoist- 

 ing, ventilating, pumping and beneficiating macliiner>-, or ap- 

 pHances for handling and transporting the product by land or 

 water; and has called on the chemist for the analyses of min- 

 erals, metals or gases and for the production of explosives. 

 These specialists have been able to accomplish the desired 

 results by placing the execution of their plans in the hands of 

 intelligent mechanics, and to such artisans we are indebted 

 for many of the mechanisms which to-day make cheap mine 

 handhng and transportation possible, and which permit of 

 transforming the materials won from the earth into forms ap- 

 pHcable to general use. 



Vol. 6—29 



