The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-10-06
ST. LOUIS COUNTY
Greatest County in the Country in
the World of Commerce.

In the News-Tribune of Sunday
there appeared an article on the i'm.
portance of st. Louis county which
proves of interest to the residents and
we reproduce the same. The Tribune
says:
"In another page of this mornings
News Tribune appears an article de-
scriptiye of ST. Louis county's peculiar
claims to the eminence in the world
of commerce, the argument that
proves it the most important county
of any in any state of the union, in its
resources and relation to prosperity.
illustrating the article In question is
a simple map, featured by figures
showing the population bystownships
and Indicating the railroads in exist
ence and in course Of construction.
The evolution of the railroad system
in this country is au interesting story
in itself Considered from the stand
point of the county's intrinsic great
ness it is merely an important detail.
LAS the iron and steel market fiuc.
tuates, so varies the prosperity of the
nation. 1t is the recognized index to
commercial conditions. The mighty
German empire is the only political
division in the world that is greater
producer in iron ore than is ST. Louis
county, and there is nowhere on earth
single deposits of the mineral of eX-
tent and Importance approaching
those of this region-which is coun-
ty of the great state of Minnesota.
The gigantic known reserve of ore OIL
the ranges here, the fact that the pro-
ductive field is so near the important
port, and the further fact that the
ore can be mined so cheaply, combine
to make the value of the deposits all
fabulous. The iron industry is the
most important in the United States.
and it is the deposits Of st. Louis
county that it its pre-eminence. He
who runs may read the fact that gil
gantic steel plants are logical indus
tries of the future here.
.'It is the raw material from the
local iron country that feeds the great
steel plants of the United States.
Seventy-tive per cent of the 100, 500, 900
tons of ore, taken from the ranges Of
this county, has been mined since 1892,
when the Mesaba range loomed into
prominence.
Population figures show rapid and
healthy growth of which ST. Louis
county may well be pardoned for boast
ing. The state census figures show a
gain in Duluth's populati0n of nearly
~ 600 II i've years. WINE s5{f6 gdfes
of the Directory company place the
present population uf the city at TO-
262, showing gain over its figures of
of five years ago OF more than $4,000.
The directory figures include Proctor,
of course. The census figures show a
splendid gain in the county generally,
a gain exceeding that Of any otner
county in the state.
"The agricultural possibilities of
the county and its remarkable fertil-
ity in growth of grasses of all sorts,
vegetables, grain and fruits peculiar
to this latitude have not been fea-
tured. Neither have they been adj
mitted until lately. Now farmers are
settling over tue areas and the soil is
shown to be productive to most graz
tifylng extent. Nearly two thousand
farmers have made their homes ia
this region, so long given over by pop
ular prejudice to mineral productive
ness and vegetable sterlity. Of the
4,224,0 acres comprise the county,
more than half is adjudged suitable
and fruitful for agriculture.
Flew Duluthians, even among those
who pride themselves upon being well
posted as to local affairs, have any
idea of the Importance of this county
in its relation to railroad traffic. Ii
one take terminals, docks, mileage
and yard areas into consideration, one
may get an idea Of what the big roads
consider the commercial and Stragetic
advantage Of this point. The air is
rife with rumors of important new
lines, and the 1880 miles of track now
traversing the county will be greatly
augmented during the next few years
when the empire to the northeast Is
developed. Already 100 miles are I'M
der construction and the evolution Of
the logging will bring with it branch
railroads holding important Relate MS
to the citizens who have taken up
homes and will take up homes in this
section and become growers and ship
pers of produce.
"The rapid growth Of railroad mile
age here is significant In itself. Rail-
road builders are far-seeing men. They
tap no Improbable, unproductive
regions. They push their rails
through an area for the golden gain
the enterprise will bring. They have
been richly repaid in st. Louis county
and look for far greater returns in
the future.
'.The vast timber resources, much
less important than the mineral de-
posits, and better known than the
agricultural quality of the land, make
a big item of the immense whole.
mo public spirited Duluthian
should be without the knowledge cpl
tomized in the article and illustrated
in the map. tt excellent informa-
ton to have, to disseminate, to file
away for future and frequent reference
Leaguers Entertain.