Evening star., 1907-10-16
s7s. 900. 900 and collect about 100000 in

taxes.
1t was proposed to assess all other
mines on the same basis. but the latest
information il that the commission will
be more moderate and will recommend a
horizontal increase from about $7O.O0OOOO
last year to S1s8.00O.O0O. which will not
be unreasonable.
Those who have studied this question
care fully sac several dangers ahead. In
the first place, they agree that big valua-
tions and high taxes will produce q rev.
enue so large to encourage extrava-
gance and corruption. 1t will give the
municipal and state authorities large sums
of money TO spend and offer temptation
to graft and dishonesty. In the second
place, 1t will be apt to tempt the mining
companies to take a hand In politics.
which they have studiously avoided from
the beginning. Furthermore, during some
year of future depression owners unpro-
ductive of property may not be able to
pay the assessments and would be un-
fairly embarrassed
The proposition to increase the taxes is
causing considerable agitation and excite
ment on both sides. but the tax officials
commission of Minnesota and the board of
equalization are composed of intelligent.
fair minded men. and they may be relied
upon for square deal.
What immigration Has Done.
People who have looked with apprehen-
sion upon the enormous flood of immi-
grants that is pouring into this country
as a peril to the state. will be apt to
modify their opinions if they visit these
parts 1t is a remarkable fact that all
the mining operations in Minnesota, Wis
consin and Michigan depend entirely upon
foreigners for labor. Native Am maricans
will not work in the mines. They are
employed as superintendents, bosses,
stationary engineers civil engineers, ma
chinists, railway hands, teamsters, car
penters and in clerical capacities, but the
hard labor. the work of handling the ore,
is done exclusively by recent immigrants
from Austria, Hungary, Poland. Sweden.
Finland. Italy and other countries. Many
of them perhaps a majority Of them, are
unable to speak or read or write the Eng
lish language. If you will go to any of
the mining towns you will find that IS or
SO per cent OF the population are aliens
who have come into the United States
within the last three or four years. In
the little mining settlement the races are
so mixed that six. seven and ten different
languages are spoken. Most Of them are
honest Industrious. law abiding citizens.
but everywhere you go you will find the
usual percentage of roughs and toughs.
socialists. anarchists, and other dangerous
elements. In the town of Calumet thirty
one different races are represented; in the
town OF Hlbbing, on the MeSaba range,
which Is only one-fourth as large, are
eighteen or twenty different races. And
everywhere throughout the mining regions
of Lake Superior the same conditions pre-
vail.
We are told that the present prosperity
OF the country is due in a large degree
to the remarkable development of the
mineral resources Of Lake Superior. which
Is probably true. because It has brought
an average of SSO.000OO0 worth of raw
material annually to the furnaces and
manufactures of the central states as
a basis OF industry. And this develop
ment could not have taken place without
the aid of the immigrants that have ar
rived from Europe in the meantime.
What the Schools Do.
Almost everybody testifies that they are
desirable citizens. and that the next gen.
GRAFTON will be truly American in instincts
and sympathy. The free schools furnish
the machinery by which this raw material
In human form is being converted into