The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-03-05
DULUTH AGAINST
COUNTY DIVISION
Hot Fight in Legislature Over
Move to Split St. Louis.
LARGEST SUBDIVISION IN STATE
Contains an Area Greater Than the
States Of Connecticut and Rhode
Island Combined.

ST. Paul-(SpeciaD- county
option out Of the way, and it at last
is a stern reality, attention naturally
is now conferred upon what will be the
next big disturbing factor in a legis'
lative way. Some have woman suf
frage in mind, others statewide prohi-
bition, but to the majority of the mem
bers of the two houses county division
looms up as the one big bit of legis
lation ahead. ! refer to two bills, one
in each house, calling for dividing St
Louis county. The proposed acts are
fathered by what are known as the
Iron Range members. Naturally all
the senate and house members who
answer to a residence in Duluth are
opposing the scheme. What the bill
provides is of little moment here, as
its present terms are due to be mate
rally changed as far as reaching the
desired end is concerned, but suffice it
to say an election is proposed and at
this election the voters of the county
are to be permitted to say whether
or not they want the division suggest
ed. Both sides are now buckling on
yOu Sdh DCI II VIII
be fight to finish. While it is gen.
orally known that st. Louis county
is the largest subdivision of the state
few possibly realize that in area it is
larger than the states of Connecticut
and Rhode Island combined. Rhode
Island, if placed in one corner of the
county, would be lost in it's vastness.
Its total area is 6,612 square miles; it
is sixty miles wide and from 107 to
1872 miles long north and south. This
vastness of area, with it's tiresome
travel to reach the county seat at Du-
luth, is what hurts, and it is actual
ing those residing in it's remote cor
ners and on the range proper in their
efforts to bring about division.
AS the literature now being dis
tributed by the new county boomers
points out st. Louis county, aside
from Duluth, now has four Incorporate
ed cities and fifteen incorporated viii
lagos. OF this urban population it is
proposed to incorporate four of the
incorporated cities and twelve of the
incorporated villages in the new d.
vision. This would leave Duluth,
with it's population Of about $4,000,
and three incorporated villages as
they now are. AS the promoters point
out the travel necessary to reach Du-
luth, the present county seat, is be-
yond reason and in this connection
they name dozen towns and cities
IN he r{xy xuyit
ing from 500 to 10000 which are from
seventy-five to 116 miles from the
county seat. Under the division pro-
posed the new county would have an
urban population Of 47,593 and a rural
population of 1854. The old county
would be left with an urban popula-
ton of 1880 and a rural population
of 8,707. The new county would have
an area of approximately $500 square
miles. That there is more or less
merit in the claims of the hackers of
a new county is not denied, but wheth-
er the legislature can see it in the
same light is another question.
i. /. !.
After many years county option is
i
passed the house Wednesday, was
sent to the senate the following day
for concurrence of amendments made
to the bill and on Monday was de.
livered to Governor Hammond for his
signature. The state will now have
a chance to see what county option
really is and what it really will do in
advancement of temperance.
!. !. !.
In its consideration of the county
option bill the house put in an entire
day. The vets fought like tigers, but
they were outgeneraled at every turn.
Do what they could they could not
stem the tide and when the end came
they accepted the decision with bowed
heads. If the claims of the Anti-Sa-
loon league are to be taken seriously
nearly thirty counties will at once
start movements for the adjustment
of the saloon in their midst. The list
includes Hennepin and st. Louis. That
the vets in Hennepin county antici-
pate trouble is shown by the fact
that they have already organized and
dIc pI0pdIllS W Iu0SI Iuo issue. Sp0- |
cial elections are provided by which |
each county so desiring may put the |
question of saloon or no saloon up to |
voters.
:. !. !.
Albert Schaller of Hastings, former
state senator and known as the dean
of that body, has been named by
Governor Hammond to fill the vacan- |
cy on the supreme bench caused by |
the death of P. E. Brown of Luverne. |
The appointment was in Difference to |
the demand for a German on the |
bench and was we'll received. Other |
judicial appointments made by Gov
0nor Hammond were James C. /
Michael Of st. Paul, to fill the new
Ramsey county judgeship created by |
the present legislature, and R. T.
DAILY of Renville, to succeed Judge |
Gorham Powers of Granite Falls, who |