The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-05-02
ROUTE FOR HIGHWAY IS
DESCRIBED N / Letter
Way Of Exit from ths City 10 Fertile couhtll
North Must Be Chaaget--ls On
Mlae Property.
April 25th, 1918.
Commercial Club,


Clty.
Gentlemen:
The road running north to this
city makes a large detour to the
east to get around the Alpena and
Minorca mines, while the Silver
Diversion Of the Canadian North
ern Railroad turns at right angles,
and goes almost a mile due west
to get around the Silver mine.
We are advised, it will My be- a
short time until an open pit will
extend from the Columbia mine to
the Commodore and Lincoln mines,
cutting off approach to- this city
from the north and northeast even
by the present devious route.
eith's Geologic map. of the Mesabi
district, of 1914, shows very clear
ly and accurately the location of
the Canadian Northern Silver Di-
version, county roads and the
range and section lines.
The International road coming
from the north is some distance
west of the Canadian Northern and
follows the range line quite closely
for some distance, until three miles
north OF this city (north line OF
section 30-57-17) it bends towards
the east for one-half mile then
crosses the Canadian Northern at
about the. center Of the SEA of
section 80, then goes over a mile
further east to about the east line
cf section 80, comes to the Higgins
school and then goes Yves t and
southwest to reach this city, over
the road which befor long is ex-
pected to be an open pit.
AS you know, that same range
line bounds the western limits OF
Virginia and crosses the Mt. Iron
wagon road a few rods west OF
our cemetery and between the Sill
YER Spur OF the Mesaba road and
the main line of the Canadian Nor
thern. Three miles of road built
straight north from the Mt. Iron
read, at that point, along this rarge
line will make the straightest pos
sible connection between this city
and the northern country. There
will be no heavy grades. The Mt.
Iron road is along the south line
of section 6, therefore, if deemed
wise, the first mile of this road
could be built just within the city
limits. The remaining two miles
Of road could be built just within
the city limits. The remaining two
miles of road could be built by
the town Of Nichols or the town
of Wouri, or by the county, or by
all acting together.
Just a year ago, l walked along
ih,s proposed route the entire dis
tancr. a week or two later Mr..
Coe, Of Duluth, the county road
,n2ineer and one of tho cOnuty
commissioners, with one Of the
settlers and myself, walked from
Virginia along the Silver Diver
SION of the Canadian Northern for
the purpose Of ascertaining what
grades would be found. OF these
three miles of proposed road about
two miles would be practically lev
and the other mile would be- on a
very slight grade. A creek bed
gives a good opening through
rocky ridge, two miles north of
) >,eere, which can be utilized at a
~; expense. The road engineer
sai0 that $4,000 mile would build
q first class road through the level
swampy lands and less sum would
undoubtedly build the third mile,
making total cost Of $500 for
these three miles Of road.
This road would avoid all ore
bodies and would cross the Cana
dian Northern just once, the same
as the present International road
does. but at different point. The
newly discovered ore bodies north
Of this city could easily reach this
road by crossing section 81
There seems to be ample room, fol
good public highway, between
the Alpena dump in section 81, an6
the Canadian Northern track
These proposed three miles o.
road would save travellers from tn,
north gong two miles east and thel
one mile west TO- get into this city
This road would be- a permanen
highway. The only known ore bod!
near this road is in the Sc " O.
section 36-59-18 west Of the Cana
dian Northern, while the propose'
road would be east of the Canadian
Northern.
Believing this might be an op
perfume time to take action look
ing to the establishment of such
road, in the near future, I am tax
ing the liberty to advise you full
what has been done and what ca
be done.
Very truly,
0HITC H nNnnnN