The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-10-14

The Duluth NeWS-Irlbune in Mon
days issue editorially comments on
the propose move to divide The county
ty and in its characteristic way flaunts
the strength of st. Louis county,
politically and otherwise, as those
who dare to assert that the county
should be divided.
The stand taken by the News-Tri-
bune is not consistent with the
figures as they appear. Should the
ranges secede and form a county of
their own, the strength of st. Louis
county would be nil, while the new
county could yield a sceptre in politics
and state matters that would be of
vastly more benefit to us than we are
receiving.
The tax sheet shows that the
country north OF township So pays 60
per cent of the taxes and the delin-
Quent list shows that only about 3
per cent of these 60 per cent are not
paid. Duluth and the immediate
vicinity, or the country outside of the
district mentioned before as compris-
ing the ranges, pays 40 per cent and
the tax list shows that only about %
per cent of this amount is.paid yearly,
the balance going in as delinquent.
These figures are not mere idle gossip
but are approximately correct. Be-
sides, the ranges are continually
growing richer and the raises in valu-
Eation are becoming very marked. For
instance the mines were raised $l2.-
100000 this year by the board and the
same will be paid WITHOUT a kick.
This raise brought the valuations Of
the various mining properties up to
S42 ,O79, 189. In two years the yalu-
ations will probably be increased still
farther.
Not only in the matter of mines is
the county improving in value. The
rich agricultural districts are growing
richer and it will only take a few
years until the territory to be en-
braced in the new county will have
Duluth beaten in the matter of farms
and farmers. The country opened up
by the Virginia, Rainy Lake q
Northern road is composed OF the
finest agricultural land in the United
States and settlers are flockiEg to
these parts. In several other places
have settlements been established and
it will take only short time before
we will not oaly be mining but an
agricultural county.
The Tribune says that should it
be divided" meaning st. Louis coun-
ty, 'its power and its ability to guard
its interests in legislation would be
materially lessened" 1t most Ger,
tainIy would. st. Louis county
would then be as naught but the new
county would be the whole thing
Duluth, which seems to be the entire
of ST, Louis county in the eyes Of
denizens of that city. would then bt
placed in the the political column il
which it belongs, being a Democratic
city, and the territory embraced
about it would not be able to keep i
from going into the Democratic place
In Republican state, this would b.
not much of boost for st. Loui
county. The ranges have for year
! kept ST. Louis county influential il
political matters and in return have
! not even been given a mark for thu
/ services. Duluth men have filled TIL
offices and taken the credit for all
Duluth has been ST. Louis count
long enough. The ranges cast abou
5000 Republican votes and it ha
!! always been noticeable fact that ST
Louis County went Republican b.
about 5000.
Out of the legislative body, TIL
ranges have enjoyed one member Q
the lower house and one member O
the senate. The latter even make
his home for the larger part in Du
luth and can almost be considered
resident of the Zenith City. In re
turn for our holding the county j
the Republican column, we have bee
graeiously conceded one represent
alive, Hon. p. e. Bowling, of Evelet
and one senator, Hon. e. B. Hawkins
of st. Louis county. Democratic Du
9 has generously appropriated for itsel
) five representatives and two senators
The primary election last mont
! nominated two range men for repre-