The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1914-02-06
TWenty Years Ago

From the Virginia Enterprise Of
February 9, 1894.)
While not altogether an unexpect-
ed denoument still the story that
John D. Rockefeller has gained con-
troll of the Merritt properties to-
gether with the D. M. & N. road, as
published in a New York paper Sun
day morning, created a great deal Of
comment among citizens and mining
men on the range, and is seemingly
viewed in hopeful manner by the ma
jority Of range people. The story of
the contamination Of the deal whereby
the Merritts and their colleagues have
lost control of the property referred
to is told as follows by the New York
Press:
"John D. Rockefeller has obtained
absolute control Of the most import
ant iron mines in the United States.
By a deal that was closed on Friday
he absorbed all the Lake Superior
mines and all the big ones in Cuba.
This places him in the same position
toward the iron mining business that
he has long held toward that of oil.
There is not single mine in the Lake
Superior region or in Cuba that he
does not control today. To do this has
only cost him between 100000 and
$10,OO0,0O0. He was able to accom-
plish this because of the recent finan-
cial crisis. The owners of these mines
have been developing them at such a
rapid rate that they had not enough
cash to carry them through the hard
times. Mr.. Rockefeller seized the OPP
portunity to buy everything in sight.
On the / o'clock train for the west
yesterday were Mr.. Gates, Mr.. Rock
efeller's confidential man and a party
of trusted employees, together with
several members Of the Merritt fami-
ly. They were on their way to Du-
luth to take charge of the mines,
docks and railroads in the name of
John D. Rockefeller"
j. H. Fleming announces that he
is liable to be out of town for an in
definite period after February IL.
1894 and hopes that those ladies and
gentlemen who left watches and jewe-
lery at his establishment for repairs
will call for same at once.
The Virginia Aid society held it's
second meeting Monday with Mrs. E.
N. Raymond. Since organizing the
ladies have been thoroughly investi-
eating the conditions of the needy in
our midst and orders on our local
grocers have been issued to about 20
families. Owing to the fire many Of
our poorer people are badly in need of
clothing suitable for our severe whit
Cl "CoCIC1. L IS 1dOlSS gave uO-
nations of food and clothing.
F. A. Watkins, attorney at law,
West Superior, was Virginia visitor
the past week. Mr.. Watkins looked
over the city with view to putting
in the second bank here in the near
future, and seems we'll pleased with
the apparent prospects of the place.
February 49,, one week from Mon
day next, marks the 3Oth milestone of
Pythianism and in honor of such event
the local lodge X. of P. have decided
to hold appropriate exercises at their
hall in the O'Donnell block to which
they invite all true and loyal knights
who may be in the city at that time
whether of not members of Northern
Light lodge No. 1877.
A Virginia lady was heard to re-
mark few days since that she must
go home and sew a democratic badge
for her husband. In reply to a ques-
ton as to what was meant by demo-
cratic badge she replied: "A patch on
the seat Of his pants made necessary
by sitting around waiting for work"
w. j. Olcott, formerly with the
Penokee & Gogebic people, on the
Gogebic, has been elected president of
the new consolidation. The Enterprise
is pleased to note this fact, knowing
Mr.. Olcott to be man of ability and
pusher at every stage of the game.
Within ten days there will be no
less than 600 men working in the i'm
mediate vicinity Of Virginia.
At the Iron King night and day
shifts are being worked and some 60
men are employed at the present
time, but the working room is being
enlarged by the removal of some $50
cubic yards of earth a day. The En-
terprise is reliably informed that the
working forces will be doubled within
the next ten days. The stripping is
started near the Great Western line
on the north and is now in about 300
feet from the starting point. This
ont will bo IN thu oo,% fo~.