The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-09-01
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lures StduUllS Out lllOSt plO1Oul4C
ed in reviewing the history of the
Minnesota Iron Range Country
throughout its length and breadth
during the year 1911. In every
clement that tends to material
unl continued advancement, tC
prosperity and progress, and to
tie peace and happiness. OF it's peo-
pie, the range district has moved
forward with sustained and vigor-
Gus strides. Nowhere else Oh the
round surface OF this earth has
there been found so concentrate
so accessible, and so valuable a
mineral deposit as has already
been discovered in the region of
ancient mountain stumps, extend,
ing from Aurora on the east to
Colecaine Oh the west, known as
the Mesaba Iron Range. In this
small territory of rugged mineral
and timber wealth, scarce Is
miles long and ten miles wide.
glance at the names of the loca-
tons, towns, and cities in which
dwell eighty thousand of the most
active, hustling, and prosperous
people on this continent: Mesaba,
Aurora, Elba, Mckinley, Sparta,
Biwabik, Gilbert, Eveleth, Virgin
ia, Mountain Iron, Buhl, Chisholm,
Hibbing, Stevenson, Keewatin,
Nashwauk, Coleraine-and be con-
yinced that the Aladdin lamp of
wealth and prosperity in the
Bread and Butter State of Mime
sofa, is in the hands Of the dwell
lers Of this favored region, known
as the Range Country At least
the local taxing power of this
wealth is in their hands, for the
capital necessary for developing
these great natural resources
came from outside.
Virginit sits as the Peerless
Queen City in the midst Of this
lavish natural wealth, having sus-
tanned her position as the indus
trial, commercial, and residential
center of the richest and best sec
tion OF Northeastern Minnesota.
A magnificent prospect spreads
out before the people Of this city.
Built as Virginia is, upon the solid
rock of natural location, pnhanc-
ed by every facility for ore pro-
duction, numbering, transportation
and general industry; developing
as she goes forward the splendid
resources at hand with progress
as a watchword and failure ex-
plunged from her lexicon. the fu-
ture holds for her a glorious adj
Vancement. The past can be re-
called with pleasure. 1t is a rec.
ord Of obstacles overcome; Of
steady gain under all cirru,u-
stances, and Of position reached
where continued and uniform
prosperity is assured.
Twenty-Five years ago the prim-
eval forest grew where today sits
Virginia, as mistress of the Mesaba
Range, thriving with the impulse
OF the mining industry, commerce,
trade, manufacturing, and grow
ing agricultural center. Unheard
was then the sound of the wood
mans ak, the miners pick, the
clanking steam shovel, the dyna-
mite blast, or the shrill whistle of
the locomotive, yet destiny had
decreed that in a few short years
the forest wild would be swept
away, and where for untold ages
the lofty white pine and giant
Norway stood guard, and the vast
bessemer ore deposits lay buried
beautiful homes, paved streets.
spacious parks, mighty mills with
their screaming saws and whirring
planes, tremendous mines with
theI yawning pits, and miles of
underground mains and subways,
to say nothing of magnificent
school buildings and substantial
business blocks, would arise as if
by magic. When in 1890 a few
pioneers with prophetic eye Sc
lected the site Of Virginia, they lit
tie dreamed of the prosperous city
that within a generation of time
would be known and admired
throughout the whole country.
The strenuous activity that
characterizes the people of the
West has been nowhere better
manifested than in the upbuilding
Of Virginia. From a small vii.
lage, dependent upon a sigle mine
and a portable saw-mill she has
become the first city Of the Iron
Range Country. 1t is doubtful if
similar example of development
50 swift, so well-ordered and com.
plete can be summoned from the
pages Of American history. Yet
Virginia has neve3 had boom
Some few mere mining camps may
cite like rapidity Of growth, but
there the comparison ends, for the
transition in those cases has been
made at the sacrifice of beauty
and regularity. In Virginia all