The largest plant of this type yet erected is that of the Calumet and Hecla copper mine, at Calumet, Mich.  There are two lines of pumps, varying in diameter from 7 inches to 14 inches, and with an adjustable stroke varying from 3 feet to 9 feet.  The object of the adjustable stroke is to diminish the capacity of the pumps in the dry season.  Each line of pumps is driven from a crank placed on a steel spur-wheel shaft 15 inches in diameter, making ten revolutions per minute.  The mortise spur-wheels have a diameter of 221/2 feet at the pitch line, with two rows of teeth, each 15 inches face.  The pitch is 4.72 inches.  Engaging with the mortise wheels are pinions of gun iron 4 feet 6 inches in diameter, placed on steel shafts 12 inches in diameter, and making 50 revolutions per minute.  The 12 inch pinion shafts are driven through mortise wheels 12 feet in diameter, and 24 inches face, by pinions 3 feet 9 inches diameter, which make 160 revolutions a minute.  The pinion shafts are driven through a wire rope transmission from an engine located 500 feet distant.  The rope wheels are 15 feet in diameter, and make 160 revolutions a minute.  The engine is 4,700 horse power, and, in addition to driving the pumping machinery, does the hoisting and air compressing for the Calumet mine.

In the same building with the mine pump gearing is a duplicate arrangement for operating the man engine.  In order to operate the mine pumps and man engine for the Hecla mine, it was necessary to use rock shafts, which are made of gun iron, and hollow; they are 32 inches in diameter outside, with 41/2 inches thickness of metal.  The pump rock shaft is 39 feet 41/2 inches long over all, in two sections, and weighs 40 tons.  There are rockers placed on each end of this shaft, one of which is connected with a crank on the mortise wheel shaft, and the other with the surface rods that work the pump-bobs.  These rods are of Norway pine, 12 inches by 12 inches in section, and 1,000 feet long.  There are two bobs, one above the other, with axes at right angles, each weighing about 25 tons.  The connection from the upper bob to the lower has hemispherical pins and brasses to accommodate vibrations in right angled planes.  The slope of the main pump is 39 degrees, and the machinery has been designed to raise water from 4,000 feet depth.  The pumps are of the usual Cornish plunger type, with flap valves.  There is an auxiliary engine, of the Porter-Allen type, for driving the pumps and man engines when the main engine is not working.  It makes a 160 revolutions per minute, the same as the rope wheels The seeming complication of the arrangement is due to the fact that it had to be adapted to existing works, for increased depths, and put in without interfering with the daily operation of the mine.