The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-04-27
CONSISTENCY.
VIRGINIA Virginian.l

Virginia NlTSllldI.t
Consistency is a virtue few OF US
possess.
Many of us who pride ourselves
on our consistency are consistent
only so long as consistency does not
effect our pocketbooks.
For instance, at crossroads at
the edge of Virginia there stands
a huge signboard, blaring forth IN
rainbow-hued paint the message OF
"Patronize Home Industry. The
cleverly-worded text of the message
on this signboard convinces the
reader-if only for the moment
that he who patronizes his home
merchants is blessed, and he who
sends his money out of town is
doubly damned and damnable.
Certainly one would think that IN
that instance at any rate the sign
board would have been erected by
Virginia carpenters and painted by
Virginia sign writers-that those
who were responsible for the sign
board would have practiced what
they preached and patronized home
industry. But, did they? They did
not! A smaller signboard attached
to the large one emblaZons to all
the world that the sign is the work
of a Minneapolis concern.
The merchants and industries OF
Hibbing maintain Chamber OF
Commerce. The development not
alone of Virginia, but the entire
northern St. Louis county Is the
primary object of this organiza.
tion's efforts-at least that is what
the printed literature of this or
ganization says. One of the prin-
cipal features in this work of de-
velopment is stated to be the at
traction of tourists to northern ST
Louis county, to the end, OF course
that Virginia shall share IN the
prosperity that follows in the wake
Of heavy tourist traffic. A consid,
cradle part of the time of an expert
secretary is devoted to the orepara.
ton and distribution of booklets
pamphlets, maps and brochures al
aimed at telling in storied picture
and convincing printed word OF the
scenic beauties, the marvellous lakes
set like gems amidst the yerdurt
of the forest, the myriads of game
fish that await the angler, the game
that is to be found on every hand
In all of this literature stress !:
placed on the highway development
already in operation and projected
which makes all these wonders read
ily accessible to the tourist. Ant
emphasis is placed on the weicom'
that awaits the tourist in northern
Minnesota.
And Sfill-----
About two weeks ago meeting
was held at Duluth to settle tn
controversy for or against the con
struction of scenic highway from
Ely to Buyck-a project that woul'
have opened to tourist traffic Scent
beauties the like of which are un
equaled elsewhere in Minnesota
that would have given not oni
tourists from out of the state. blu
from our own part of norther
Minnesota and the rest of the state
access to trout fishing grounds tina
are comparable with the best In tn
Rockies. Prominent among the BIT
ter opponents of the opening O
this. road was an instructed delegs
ton from the Virginia Chamber Q
Commerce-the organization ths
stresses so greatly its work OF ure
ing tourists to come to norther
Minnesota. Stranger still is tn
fact that the, strongest stated reaso
for the opposition of this delegate
to the construction of the FL.
Buyck highway was on the groune
that its opening would render thu
part of the Superior National fores
which they termed ga virgin par;
disc of primeval beauty" accessible
to tourists.
A merchant decides to erect
store building or dwelling, or pei
haps to remodel his present buiie
ing. Does he unhesitatingly call ]
a local contractor and give him tn
lob? He does not! Contractor
here, or in Hibbing, or Eveleth,. Q
Duluth, or Minneapolis are invite
to "bid on the job. And the Joi
be it understood, belongs to tn
man who bids lowest whether b
spends his earnings in Virginia
Timbuctoo.