The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-11-05
WHATS THE MATTER
WITH THE RANGEs?.
ANALYSIS BY L. A. ROSSMAN
OF GRAND RAPIDS is A CLEAR
STATEMENT OF WHAT AILS
THE MINING INDUSTRY.

Two weeks ago Editor Rossman of
the western end of the Mesaba range
was the principal speaker at the Ro-
tary Club meeting and in his address
he called attention to several things
which affect the ranges and their
future. His address follows after
deleting a few Introductory remarks.
The address is we'll worth reading
and should merit consideration by all
right thinking people. In part he
said:
"But the mineral region of Mime
has, in the solution of its mechanical
problems, perhaps lost sight of its
human host Industrial achievement
is today at the mercy of the tax
gatherer. Today the Lake Superior
district finds itself in competition
with other great mining sections. 1t
is subject to the economic forces
which prevail throughout the nation
and world, and it is upon some of
these factors that l wish to speak
briefly this evening.
great pride in its natural resources.
In its pride the people of the state
have imagined that these resources
Only a few decades ago the lumber
man said that Minnesota had suffi-
cient timber to supply the northwest
for all time. Yet today you may
travel for miles throughout north
eastern Minnesota without seeing
virgin Norway or white pine tree.
Last year the people of this state
paid over S12,000,000 in freight alone
on lumber imported from the west;
over S12,000,000 in freight on lumber
into a state where 40 years ago it
was predicted that the timber supply
would last until eternity. We have
told the world quite effectively about
the wild life of northern Minnesota.
We have built highways into nearly
every township. Today / venture the
statement that unless we launch
program of wild life conservation
more extensive, more scientific and
more vigorous than any yet con-
ceived, that in 10 or 20 years there
will not be a game bird in the air,
agame fish in the water or a game
animal in the woods of northern Min
neSota.
'But forests will grow, game and
fish may be protected and propegated.
Iron ore once removed is gone for
ever. Forests and fish are important,
but when mining goes there is gone
the support of a score of cities and
villages and the industry upon which
100000 people in northern Minnesota
depend for their present exis-
tence. A capital investment of $780,
100000 will lie idle and useless.
But we have made the error in
believing that the iron ore situation
was local problem, problem for
northeastern Minnesota, for st. Louis,
Itasca and Crow Wing counties. We
have failed to realize the Importance
of the mineral industry to the entire
state. We have overlooked the fact
that 1,750,000 people are directly en-
ployed in industries in the middle
west that are dependent upon the ex-
istence of the iron ore deposits in
the Lake Superior district. Over
100000 people of the middle west,
that area stretching from the Allie
ghenies to the Rockies, are depend
ent upon the iron ore industry of
this section. Over three-fourths of
the industrial capital of the middle
west is invested because of the prox-
unity of an iron supply. When the
iron ore industry of the Lake Super
ior district fails, the activity so es-
sential to the prosperity of the middle
west will gradually move to the
Atlantic seaboard The iron ore in
dustry is statewide, section-wide and
nationwide in its Importance. 1t is