The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-01-17
THE RANGE METROpO1ls,
Continued from First Page,

fiding syndicate. The form of
municipal government Is like
that of other cities of the same
class. The city council consists
OF eight aldermen, representing
four wards. The council holds
. large appointive power, al.
though the mayor names tie
police officers and the people
choose the treasurer. The d.
nancial standing of Virginia isl
envied by many older towns. AL.
though it has nearly everything
desirable in the way of munich
pal improvements. the city has a
debt of less than $4,000, which
represents money spent upon
sidewalks and streets. The lat.
ter are the pride of the people.
Good roads extend far out into
the township to accommodate
the several stage line which op.
crate between Virginia and 9TH
er places.
Virginia also boasts of a fine
private hospital, capable of car.
ing for perhaps SO people. How
ever, the climate is so whole
some that there is but little need
OF a hospital. except fol- the care
and treatment of victims of acct
dents and chronic Affections.
People here do not seem to
lack for money!" remarked The
Tribune to Mayor McGruer.
mo. they do not lack, and
here is a state Of affairs you will
not find in an older country. Our
charitable ladies told me .yester,
day they seldom had an appeal
for assistance, and that is some.
thing remarkable. I think near.
ly everyone has enough to keep
properly clothed, bedded and
amused"
How do you account for it, =
! was asked.
1t is the natural result of hav-
ing a good class of citizens, and
an industry which fspermanent. y
"How much is paid out in wag.
es a month";"
Il suppose during the busy
season the total wages paid for
labor alone fcots up to perhaps
$12C, 600 month. This puts a
large sum of money into the
hands of a class of people who
spend it for sustehance. In ad.
dition to that sum, q large
amount is being constantly spent
for improvements at the mines
for machinery. etc. We have
had one bank constantly dol. g
business, and another is just
starting up"
What do you look to for the
future?"
Il look for a wonderful exten
sion Of the mining industry
This whole section is constantly
being explored by prospectors,
and new mines are being dis
covered. The ore lays in such
unusual formations. that the
cost of mining and Transports
ton is materially reduced. Owe,
half the mines near Virginia are
on the surface, and all that is
needed to get at the ore is a pow
erful steam shovel, a side track
and crew Of men,"
/ do you expect to ever see
the smelters of Pittsburg, Cleve-
land and Chicago come up into
this territory?"
| Il do as soon as the fuel ques.
ton is solved, and the marke'
moves u little further westward,
1t IS bound to come in time"
! The mining industry of Vir-
g!nia which. as said before, is
the prime reason for the exist
ence of the city, will always last
With the constant raise IN the
price of ore and iron. as eyi.
denced during the passed year.
there seems to be no doubt blu,
that Virginia has come into {
heritage of phenomenal prosper
ity. With new road tapping
the territory, the shipping facil-
tiles will be still further increas.
ed. The freight rate for ore
from the mines to the lake ports
IS 80 cents per ton, and even al
this rate. traffic In the busy ship
ping season is seriously congest-
ed. although the railroads strive
to carry all the output. It is es,
timated that the Virginia mines
sent down nearly 100000 tons
during the season of 1895. The
Oliver and Lone Jack shipped
over 500, 600 tons, although the
Oliver was not pushed, owing to
the fact that it is located on
state land, and the owners are