The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-01-17
Is finally Settled.
The Famous Section 80 Case
Adjudicated by u. S. ST.
preme Court,
FOUR NEW DULUTH MLLlONNIRES


day in Duluth, created quite sen.
sation, and well it might, for it is
not often even in Duluth that four
millionaires are created in single
day, says the News Tribune.
The decision, which confirms the
decision of former Judge Moer, of
the district court of Duluth, and the
supreme court of Minnesota, makes
Frank w. Eaton, Leonidas Merritt
and Richard II. Fag IN, of Duluth,
and George J. Lonstorf, son of the
late Nicholas Lonstocf, of Milwau
kee, all millionaires by comforta-
BILE margin. These gentlemen are
the owners in fee sim pie of 800 acres
in 80, COLL involved in the case, and
they are worth the sublime sum of
from 100000 to $S,000,O00, accord
ing to the estimate of one of the
men who will profit by the decision.
1t lifts Frank w. Eaton from the ev-
eryday life of man of compara-
lively small wealth to the pinnacle
of afluence. His share will be con-
siderably more than 81 100000. The
report that he relinquished his in
terests, and allowed them to become
hedged about in such a manner
that he will realize little or nothing
is denied by him and his associates.
Leonidas Merritt was already in
comforta bic circumstances, as was
Mr.. Pagan.
Section 80 lies three miles east OF
Ely. The $40 acres involved in this
case contain large deposit of high
grade red hematite ore, one of the
best on either of the Minnesota iron
ranges, and one of the best in the
entire Lake Superior region. Il az:
says from 65 to 80 per cent metallic
iron. The big stake that Eaton and
others have been fighting for has
been in litigation for the past eigh.
teen years. 1t has run the gamut
of the land department and courts,
and it is estimated that the cost OF
litigation and other expenses Incl
dent to it has amounted to 81 100000.
L. 6. Harris. of Duluth, was the at
torney for Eaton and Lonstorf, and
Washburn & Bailey represented
Merritt and Pagan. The successful
attorneys, it is understood, will re-
ceive fees in each case that would
make it possible for them to retire
and live in comfort for the rest of
their days, even if they had no other
incomes, and were 80 disposed.
1t is understood that parties de-
string to lease and develop the Eat
on lands have awaited the decision,
and it will not be surprising if in
the near future the announcement
of deal of this kind is made. The
Midway company is controlled by
A. NJ. Miller, who has felt that his
interests were destined to win in the
long run. He is very rich man,
however, and the loss of the case
will not affect him seriously. The
Minnesota Iron company was a big
figure in the case about the time it
was before the land department,
but dropped out of it when the case
went into the courts.
The story of the property, as relat.
ed to reporter. is as follows: "In
1888 Edward Byrne was head explor.
er for the Minnesota Iron company
and Joe Clements was his packer
There was no railroad to the ranges
in those days, and it was five day
trip each way to and from the Yer.
million range. One day in the yea,
mentioned, Byrne and Clements dis.
covered the now famous section 80
They had not been out very long
and when they showed up at the 10.
cal office of the Minnesota Iron com.
pany in Duluth the local officials
were surprised to see them. H.
Thompson was solicitor for the
company, ana, seeing Byrne enter
exclaimed: What are you doing
here, old fellow? Do you think the
company pays you to run back and
forth on the trail?' The words were
not intended to be harsh, and were
spoken more in surprise than any
thing else, but Byrne, burdened
with his great secret, was sensitive
to the remark, and turned and left
the office without word. He neve,
worked for the company again, and
turned the minutes to the land over
to some of the parties who have
just won the long drawn out litiga.
ton. OF course, nobody realized al