48 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



been taken over by the Bethlehem Steel Co. and Witherbee, 

 Sherman & Co., under the title of the Cheever Iron Ore Co. 

 Many improvements to the mining and milling plants are nov^ 

 in progress. 



The Weldon and French shafts on the south end are the 

 principal openings through which the exploration of the old 

 workings has been conducted. These shafts have been retim- 

 bered and inclosed and are once more in operation. They afford 

 access to some promising territory. A good ore body has 

 already been found on the north side o^ the Weldon, in the 

 interval between that mine and the northern w^orkings. This 

 body supplies most of the output at present. It averages 8 or 9 

 feet thick and is of good grade. There is a possibility of dis- 

 covering similar deposits under the valley to the south of the 

 Weldon mine, as indicated by recent magnetic surveys. The 

 northern workings also will be explored for ore that may have 

 been left from previous operations. 



An important improvement which is now being carried out 

 is the change from steam to electric power for driving the mill 

 and air compressors and for hoisting the ore. The necessary 

 electric current is to be supplied by the Port Henry station. 

 Under the new system both shafts will be operated from a 

 central hoisting station. The compressed air service will be 

 enlarged to provide for about double the former drill capacity. 



The mill is equipped for handling 500 tons of crude ore a 

 day. From the shafts the ore is carried by a gravity system to 

 the receiving bin whence it passes through coarse crushers 

 preliminary to the first separation. This is performed by a 

 magnetic cobbing machine. The remainder is then recrushed by 

 rolls and is run through the usual drum and belt machines, with a 

 further crushing between the separations. 



A gravity tramway connects the mines Avith the railroad at 

 the lakeside, a few hundred feet to the east, where the concen- 

 trates are loaded onto cars for shipment. 



Salisbury mine. The first shipments of concentrates from 

 this mine, near Salisbury Center, Herkimer co., were made in 

 1909. The new mill was not completed, however, until late in 

 the year, so that actual productive operations were limited to a 

 short period. In the equipment of the mine and mill the 

 Salisbury Steel & Iron Co. has adopted the most modern 

 machinery suited for the conditions, and the results obtained 



