ODDS ‘N’ SODS — Mine-makers extraordinaire

I’ve had occasion to meet a very select group of mine makers in my travels across Canada, and these men — namely Karl Springer, Earl Gillanders and Thayer Lindsley — are deserving of the highest honors and recognition.

Prospector Karl Springer was unique, quiet and unassuming, yet willful, determined and a true visionary. He spent his life as a student of the mysteries of geology, mineralogy and the diverse elements that comprise the Earth’s crust. Karl experienced countless failures in his efforts, but he also achieved monumental successes, some of which survive to this day.

Karl possessed a strong will and an equally large measure of stubborn perseverance. Once he got his teeth into a project, Karl gave his all, including the resources of his companies. Highland Bell, Leitch Gold Mines and Canada Tungsten Mining financed numerous mineral exploration and mining ventures. He influenced the highest political offices and moved mountains to achieve his goals.

Earl Gillanders, an exceptional person and geologist, cut his teeth developing and managing the Eldorado uranium deposit in the Northwest Territories during the Second World War. Some of the output from this mine supplied the Manhattan Project, which led to the development of the atomic bomb.

With Franc Joubin, Earl helped develop the huge uranium operations in Elliot Lake, Ont. He ended up as president of Rio Algom and had a hand in bringing seven mines into production.

As mine superintendent at the Panel mine in Elliot Lake in the late 1950s, I was overseeing the conversion from trackless to conventional track mining.

The mill was ready for production, and two shafts were being completed. I well-remember the day Earl visited the site — George Jewett sent him on a tour of the underground mine with me. I had only my enthusiasm to offer, and humbly told him that the mine was a mess. We inspected level after level until Earl finally sat down on a powder box and confronted me.

“We’ve already spent some $38 million here,” he said.”Will it pay off?” “Give us another six months and we’ll never look back,” I replied.”But be prepared for some more capital orders.”

I continued:”The campaign is nearing completion and we’ve outlined nearly 2 million tons of possible ore reserves. All we need now are 20 or 25 producing stopes and we will flood that mill and supply a few more mines.” He got up without comment and we moved on.

Earl must have believed me — we went on to produce more than 7,000 tons per day and, at one point, provided feed for several mills. I didn’t hear from Earl until the Panel closed three years later. Karl Springer phoned to offer me the mine manager’s job at a Canada Tungsten operation.”Earl Gillanders said you could handle it,” Karl informed me. Earl was possessed of uncommon pride, will, judgment, vision and courage.

I also had occasion to encounter another mine-maker of outstanding credentials when, in 1962, Thayer Lindsley visited the Canada Tungsten mine in the Northwest Territories. One day, an elderly gentleman wearing corduroy”plus fours” and a straw hat descended from a float plane that landed on nearby Flat Lake. It was Thayer, and he was on an unscheduled tour of our mine, mill and plant. We were not yet in production, but he wanted to check our progress on behalf of Falconbridge.

I spent that morning in the company of one of the most pleasant people I have ever met. He listened attentively, made notes and took a few pictures with his small camera — he didn’t miss a single detail. Here was a man well over 80 years of age, quietly and graciously attending to the business of the far-flung Falconbridge empire. I received a courteous thank you note a month later.

I have often reflected on these three mine makers, and believe we can compile from certain of their shared qualities a composite for success.

Each man was proud of, and devoted to, his responsibilities. These men were also entrepreneurial and possessed of great faith, and they knew that certain enterprises in this vast country would yield results to justify the time, money and effort involved.

— The author, a retired mining engineer, resides in Vancouver, B.C.