Mine: Bates Mine, Iron River, MI

Johnson Mine → Bates Mine → Closed

Operated for 22 years.

From: 1915

Location: W 1/2-NW Sec. 19 (west half of former Bates lease) and N 1/2-SW and part of S 1/2-SW Sec. 19 of T43N-R34W (Johnson Mine)

Owned by: Bates Iron Co.; later by Hanna Iron Ore Co., M.A. Hanna Co. agent.

Produced: Iron Ore, soft, yellow, high phosphorus. Crushed.

Method: Underground by stoping method. 2 main shafts.  Depth: 2,040 feet.

Railroad connection: C&NW and MILW to Escanaba docks.

Until: 1947

Lifetime Production: 4,054,666 tons between 1915 and 1947.

Source: [LSIO-1947]

Notes

Bates Mine was located northeast of Iron River in Iron County. This was the farthest east in the Mineral Hills area.

No production from Johnson lease, acquired in 1947.

Time Line

1885. The township of Bates, where the mine was later located, was named after a state representative named Bates as a compliment. He is from Allegan and was chairman of the Committee on Townships and Counties. [DFP-1885-0330]

1917. Iron County mines have an order for 3,000 car loads of iron ore and Marquette range mines 2,000 car loads, all of this ore to go all-rail via the car ferry to Frankfort and Detroit. The mines from which the ore is to be shipped are the Carpenter at Crystal Falls from which 1,500 cars are wanted, the Bates at Iron River, from which a like number is wanted, and the American mine at Diorite from which 2,000 cars are wanted.

This ore is to go to Detroit via the C&NW, AARR and the DT&I. It is for use in the furnaces at Detroit which have not and cannot get adequate boat service to handle the ore that is needed to keep the plants going. Orders have been placed with the railroads for cars but so far not a single car is in sight.. The ore must be shipped in the big steel gondola cars used in handling coal. [DD-1917-0818]

1936. Shipping from stockpiles was speeded up as four mines put their shovels on a heavy operating schedule. The properties loading from ore in stock were the Bates and Hiawatha, the James and the Forbes. According to railroad officials, it was estimated that 60 cars, each containing from 48 to 50 tons would be loaded at each mine. This is the heaviest tonnage to be sent to the Escanaba docks so early in the season since 1928. In addition to loading from stockpiles, all active mines are shipping from the pockets. [IDG-1936-0505]