PART II-COPPER MINING AND SMELTING IN MICHIGAN.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTION.

Location of the region-History of the Michigan copper country-Employees for whom information was secured-[Text Table 71 and General Table 51].

LOCATION OF THE REGION.

The entire mineral district of northern Michigan is divided by the geologists into four distinct ranges: First, the copper-bearing range, extending along the western shore of Lake Superior; second, the Gogebic range, extending along the northwestern borders of Wisconsin; third, the Menominee iron range, extending along the northeastern borders of Wisconsin; and fourth, the Marquette range, bordering on Keweenaw and Huron bays. For the purposes of this report the copper-bearing country on the northern peninsula of Michigan, north of Portage Lake to Mohawk, is taken as the territory for investigation. The location and extent of this region may be seen from the accompanying map.

HISTORY OF THE MICHIGAN COPPER COUNTRY.

The copper region of northern Michigan, otherwise known as the Lake Superior field, was the first important American copper field to be operated, and at the present time it is one of the principal copper-producing districts of the world, being third in size of output. The first survey of the upper peninsula of Michigan was made by Dr. Douglas Houghton, who came to Lake Superior in 1830. The first miners were two men of unknown nationality who came to the region in 1843. For one year after their arrival they endured many hardships. In the following year they were joined by a number of Cornishmen, who came from Cornwall, England, where they had been employed in the coal mines. For many years the Cornishmen were the principal employees. In later years, when the supply of labor became insufficient to meet the demands of the operators, it was necessary to secure other immigrants.

EMPLOYEES FOR WHOM INFORMATION WAS SECURED.

In addition to historical and descriptive data and a detailed study of households, information was received for 5,632 employees of the mines and smelters. The data secured from the households investigated appear in Part I, the general survey of the industry. The

information received from the employees on the Michigan copper range is used as the statistical basis of the tabulation of this part of the report. The following table shows the male employees of each race for whom information was secured:

TABLE 71.-Male employees for whom information was secured, by general nativity and

CHAPTER II.

RACIAL DISPLACEMENTS.

History of immigration-Period of residence in the United States of foreign-born employees-Racial classification of employees at the present time-Reasons for the employment of immigrants-[Text Tables 72 and 73 and General Table 52].

HISTORY OF IMMIGRATION.

Immigration to the Michigan copper range started in 1844 with the arrival of the Cornishmen, who preceded other foreign races in the successful operations of Lake Superior copper mines. The Cornishmen, having been miners before their immigration, carried on their work successfully and in many cases made large fortunes. Their descendants are now living in the region and are as thoroughly Americanized as the native American. The Cornishmen were followed by the Finns, who also have made great progress in the district. They for the most part occupy laboring positions, however, and have not been so successful as were the early Cornishmen. The other races, the Magyars, Scandinavians, North Italians, and Poles, which have been in the community only a few years, are working merely as laboring men and are making little progress beyond that position in life. The racial movements to the copper region as well as the present racial composition of the population may be best seen from the history of immigration to the principal localities. For this reason the racial movements to a number of representative communities are submitted below.

MOHAWK.

Mohawk, as can be seen from the map, is located in Keweenaw County, about 20 miles north of Houghton on the northern peninsula of Michigan. It is connected with Houghton and the other towns of the peninsula by an electric railway, and also by the Copper Range and Keweenaw steam roads. Ten years ago the shaft now operated by the local mining company was opened and, proving successful, led to the building up of the present community. Before that time the site now occupied by the town was nothing but a wilderness, as is now a large part of the country north of it. With the successful opening of the copper vein at this point there was an influx of employees, consisting principally of Finns, English (Cornish), North Italians, and representatives of different Austrian races. These people secured employment at the shaft, and by making their homes near the plant they have built up a town. At the present time the population is about 3,000. One mining company conducts all the operations in this community, and is the only industry offering general employment. As a result the entire community and its activities center around the copper-mining industry.

a See Chapter I.

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The population of Mohawk by races at the present time is estimated to be as follows:

At the time the shaft was opened at Mohawk the earliest laborers to come in were, as elsewhere throughout the region, Cornishmen and Finns. Some of the Cornishmen had drifted into the lumber business in southern Michigan, and at the time of the opening of the mining shafts on the northern peninsula they went there in search of work. The Cornishmen were experienced miners and they were gladly received by the mining company. About 1901 the North Italians began coming to the town in small numbers and they continued until about three years ago. The so-called "Austrians" were the next to arrive; they commenced coming in 1902 or 1903, and were mostly of the Slovak and Polish races. All of these peoples were employed in the mining industry. They rented houses from the company and have become residents of the community. There being no other industries, the immigrants have been employed in the mining industry exclusively.

WOLVERINE.

Wolverine is located in Houghton County on the northern peninsula of Michigan, and is 2 miles northeast of Calumet on the electric line and also on the Copper Range steam road. Mining is the only industry in the community and furnishes employment for 450 men. The shaft of the mining company was developed eight years ago and before that time this community was nothing more than a wilderness. With the opening of the Wolverine shaft there was an influx of population, which has steadily increased until, at the present time, the estimated population of the locality is placed at 1,500 people, apportioned by races as follows:

The first immigrants to come to the village were the Cornishmen. At the beginning of mining operations in 1901 they came in large numbers from other mines in the region where the wages were not as high as those offered in the new community. In 1902 or 1903 about 200 Finns sought work in the mines, and since that time about 200 more have arrived. The Finns who came to the community at that time had mostly lived in the copper country south of Houghton, and were attracted to this community by high wages. In 1905 the first Italians arrived and since that time they have steadily drifted in, until they number about 150 at the present time. The Magyars, of whom about 100 are in the community at present, have come the past two years.

CALUMET.

Calumet is situated in Houghton County, on the northern peninsula of Michigan. The only industry in the community is the plant of a copper mining company which is reputed to be the largest in the world, and which offers employment to approximately 4,500 men. This plant began operations about twelve years ago. Until that time there had been no inhabitants in the present community. With the opening of this very resourceful mine, however, there was an influx of population, largely foreign, which has developed the community into a city of 20,000 inhabitants. Calumet is a modern city with conveniences such as a street-car system, electric lights, waterworks, paved streets, etc. The residences of the working people are especially comfortable and commodious. The town is locally divided into two sections: (1) The section in which the executive and skilled employees of the mining company and the tradespeople live and (2) the business section around the mine. This section is called Red Jacket, and in it a large majority of the immigrants live. The estimated population of Calumet is divided according to race as follows:

When mining operations were first started in the vicinity of Calumet about ten years ago the first race that came into the community in any noticeable numbers was the Finns. Very few of these early Finns had come direct from their native land, most of them having lived formerly in Wisconsin and southern Michigan who, when they heard of the splendid opportunities for work in the opening of the new copper country, migrated to the northern peninsula of Michigan, a great many of them settling at Calumet. The Cornishmen were the next race of immigrants to come into the community, but only a few persons of that race were employed in Calumet at the beginning. Through the letters of the first of the Cornishmen to their homes and to their countrymen in other parts of the United States a decided immigration occurred about the years 1899 and 1900. Polish immigration and that of other races from Austria-Hungary began about five years ago, or in 1904. Very few of these immigrants came to the community directly from their native land, but most of them had lived and worked elsewhere in the United States. The history of Italian immigration to the community is in no manner settled or definite. The Italians have drifted into the community gradually, and not in large numbers at any one time.

FRENCHTOWN.

Located 5 miles southwest of Calumet are two mines, around which has grown a community called Frenchtown. This locality is nothing more than a small mining camp and is located on the outskirts of Hancock. It is of about ten years' growth, the shaft at this point