In 1909, the Lake Superior Mining Institute (LSMI) returned to the Marquette Iron Range and Ishpeming. About 200 members and guests were present and again they used the Nelson House as their headquarters. There were plenty of visits to area mines, including the Maas mine in Negaunee, which the LSMI visited in 1903.

There was also a visit to Munising with an excursion to Grand Island and inspection and on Friday the group headed to the south part of Marquette County to tour William Mather’s ‘Model Town’ of Gwinn as well as the area’s mines.

While the visits were noteworthy, some of the papers presented during the evening sessions and/or published in the book of proceedings command attention, since they seem to represent a paradigm shift in the mining industry.

The first such paper was the Presidential address by Murray M. Duncan entitled “Compensation to Workmen in Case of Injuries.” In his speech he opens with “At present workmen have no protection or remedy for accidental injuries. Employers are only liable for negligent injuries, that is, such as result from the neglect on the part of the employer of some duty the law imposes on him.” (LSMI Proceedings, Page 47) He further points out; “As civilization advances and human needs increase, we find that the hazards incurred by the workman become greater. This is noticeable in every industry.” (LSMI Proceedings, Page 47)

“Under our form of government, federal laws governing this question, except possibly as applied to interstate commerce, are not constitutional and therefore each state must act independently….This has not proved to be a satisfactory way of helping injured workmen or their families. On the contrary, it seems rather to be a system devised to help energetic and unscrupulous lawyers.” (LSMI Proceedings, Page 48)

Duncan advocated for a thorough investigation into compensation and possibly enacting laws designed to provide compensation on the state level.

Reinforcing the need for a system of workmen’s compensation for the mining industry, a paper by John Quine dealt with Mine Accidents. Quine was the Marquette County Mine Inspector and part of his job involved investigating fatal mine accidents.

“The accident question in and about the mines is a very serious one and one that commands the attention of all employers of labor both at home and abroad; it is a question that we have always had with us and will continue with us, as long as we are engaged in the mining industry.” (LSMI Proceedings, Page 71) Perhaps one major reason for the emerging focus on mine safety, workmen’s compensation and the increasing use of corporate paternalism can be found in this statement. “The labor question is the most serious one we have to contend with at the present time. Skilled labor is getting scarcer every year in our mines, due in part to the greater demand from new properties which are being opened; also some of our best miners have gone to other fields. “ (LSMI Proceedings, Page 71)

The last paper representing a shift in the mining industry came from W.H. Moulton, who ran the welfare and pension department for CCI. The paper was entitled “The Sociological Side of the Mining Industry.”

“The mining industry must be considered as having one paramount purpose, that of producing ore at the last possible cost and disposing of it at the highest price. Usually this is the only side of the industry that has been presented to the public or its owners, but there seems to be another side that should command our attention. To the officers and stockholders, the business must first appeal as a money making proposition. To the public it too often appears as the taking away of the treasures of a community without making adequate return. “ (LSMI Proceedings, Page 82)

“We must study to learn of the man’s relation to his work, and find out if possible the responsibility that the employer has, not only to his employee, but to the public or to the community in which his business is established. It is not to find what you may do for the man’s welfare, but to find what is necessary so that the man may do the best for himself and those with whom he is associated.” (LSMI Proceedings, Page 82)

Moulton then went on to detail what had already been done, first in France and then in our own country. He also talked about the foreign population: “The foreign non-English speaking population of our mining communities is rapidly increasing. The question of assimilating these large additions is of vital moment. As we accept them as our employees, we must in some measure accept a degree of responsibility for them.” (LSMI Proceedings, Page 86)

Moulton also touched on a number of other topics including education, civic activities, club and social organizations, the Y.M.C.A., sanitary conditions and medical services, visiting nurses, prevention of accidents, benefit funds, and pension systems and concluded with this statement; “I know of no one question connected with the mining industry that will pay better from every standpoint than the study of the sociological conditions.” (LSMI Proceedings, Page 98)

Many of the Lake Superior Mining Institute books have been digitized and are available online. Thus the entirety of each article can be read.