The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1911-08-19
IRON MINES SPOTTED
Rumor Has il That They Are In For A Big
Tax Boost

TAX Boost
For several weeks there has been .
rumor going around that the iron
mines of Michigan are to get big
boost by the state board OF equalization
which meets AT Lansing next week.
One story has il that Mr.. Finlay. the
mining expert who appraised the mines
last month, will make a report advising
that the valuation be increased from
it's present figure. about $25, 600, 600, TO
about 1926. 900. 600. IL is doubtful IL
Mr., Finlay gave out any advance in.
formation as to what he intends doing.
1t is more probable that the story is
the result OF some one s guess.
But, why guess that the iron mines
only be raisedS The cry OF the lower
peninsula tax advocates has been 'the
mining country including both cop
per and iron. Now it's the iron mines
The explanation for this comes in
the disasterous depression that has ex-
listed since the panic of 1907 In cop
pers. Before 1907 copper and copper
mines were bulled all over the worl1.
A mine with any copper rock in il was
something akin TO gold mine. The
investing public was being caioled in
to investing their money in copper
stocks and IL WASH good for the game
to decry copper mine values for taxa
tion purposes wnen they were being
boosted for stock speculation. Hence,
Houghton county was assessed at an
enormous value and the assessment was
swallowed because those who were
paying the exorbitant tax were getting
their money back ont OF another pock-
ct.
But. the bubble burst As gentle
man of our acquaintance predicted in
1905, the streets of Michigan are "pav-
ed with copper wrecks. It's now adj
mitted that the great Calumet a. Hecla
Is grossly over valued even in its pre-
sent shrunken stock market condition.
It's no longer OF advantage to put mp
with the valuation placed ON copper
properties from stock market intorma-
tion and the copper fellows are sqnirm-
ming have been tor some time
Iron mining is carried on mainly by
close corporations No stock Is listed
or iobbed in. therefore iron properties
have escaped notice TO great extent
in the past TO be hauled out of their
obscurity by the present tax agitation,
aided and abetted by our copper. r.breth.
rem who want to unload II possible and
II not to forestall an increase
Thus the upper country is divided
behind the scene. IL not in the open.
on this taxation matter and conditions
are ripe for first class family row.
The consensus of opinion is that the
iron country will "get h--I'. One
wireless report is that hi will be
dealt ont in tre following order;
Marquette county first. Iron county
second Gogebic third and Dickinson
next.
AZ any rate the proceeding before
the state equalization board next week !
Will be eagerly watched. IL promises
to be long drawn ont affair with a
red hot time
Representatives. are ON hand from /
every county in the state. each trying
10 keep down values The railroads
will be on hand with an array OF stat.
istics to show that they have been the
only sufferers. The manufacturers and
the railroads will join hands. so report
says 10 raise the miner and the farm.
8r. The miner and farmer will strive
10 keep their own down and boost the
)ther and the farmer. especially. will
be on hand 30 show that the high
lrico Of fertilizer and the worn out
condition OF the soil makes the farm