The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-11-05

of governmental expenditures and OF
public wastefulness unrivaled IN the
history of the United States. Added
TO local taxation has been the super
tax imposed by short-sighted law
makers.
"With these conditions and with
taxes the predominating element OF
mining costs, the Lake Superior dis
trict may hold its domination in the
iron ore industry only by adopting
for itself certain fundamental prln-
ciples of government and taxation.
"Taxes may be reduced by bring
ing on to the Mesabi the normal
rather than the abnormal view OF
public expenditures. Bring to the
Mesabi the same regard for the pub
lie dollar that exists IL other places
in Minnesota, bring to the range vii
lagos the same standards of econ
omical government that exists IN st.
Cloud, Albert Lea, Rochester, Man
kato, Winona or other Minnesota
cities, and the taxes of the Mesabl
would be reduced by an amount SUI
fcient to give iron ore to certain
Eastern furnaces, if such action were
necessary to maintain its domination
of the Lake Superior district. The
difference between normal and the
present taxation would offer induce
ments which would promote the utii-
iZation of low grade ores and thus
insure a mining life of generations
rather than decades.
Mex, the people of the Lake Su-
perior district must realize the dill
ference between the tax dollar and
the industrial dollar. The fundamen-
tai use of taxation is to meet the
reasonable expenses of government.
On the Mesabi range the tax dollar
has been given strange and unusual
uses. 1t has been substituted in part
for the industrial dollar. The use OF
public monies in such ways hasb4n
very much like hypodermic to a.
individual. 1t has been an immediate
stimulant but it has left both habit
and a weakness. Prosperous COM
munities do not predicate their pros
perity upon taxation but upon the
payrolls, upon the industrial dollar,
which multiplies itself hundred fold.
The prosperous communities of the
Northwest and of Minnesota base
their prosperity upon welcome and
respected industry.
Fundamentally the people Of this
section and Minnesota must realize
the Importance of the iron mining
industry. We are living in a great
age of iron and steel. In 1900 we
used five pounds of iron and steel
per person; in 1910, % pounds, in
1880, 100 pounds, and today zoo
pounds. Horses have turned to steel.
Houses and buildings are turning to
steel. The nation which has within
it's limits great possessions of iron
ore may rule the world whether that
world be one of war or peace. Min
nesota has the greatest mineral heri-
tage bestowed upon any state IN the
world. 1t is an asset which may
bring to this commonwealth indus
trial domination of a great industry.
This the people of Minnesota have
not realized. Instead of a policy of
encouragement and protection we of
Minnesota, we of the mineral Sec
tions, have done all that we could to
hurry this great possession of iron
ore beyond the limits of the state.
Perhaps you think the tone of this
talk is very pessimistic. If the pres
ent conditions on the Mesabi were
due to depletion of its ores, ineffi-
cheney in its mining methods, or to
the barriers of trade and transporta-
ton, the situation would be hopeless.
Fortunate, indeed, is the iron region
that it's difficulties are artificial and
thus subject to correction by it's citi-
zens. 1t is not often that such a con-
dition or such responsibility con-
fronts the people of great indus
trial section.
"The iron regions of Minnesota
may be what you and the other citi-
zens of the state may wish it. Its
life may be shortened and its future
uncertain, or the mining industry
may limit its activities only by the
limits of iron and steel and its fu-
ture may extend into distant CEN
turtles. The choice rests with you and
with the citizens of this common
Mr.. and Mrs. Andrew E. Berg