The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1926-12-23
SAUK CENTRE HERALD
ad valorem tdirect) taxes of $685.
90, 900.

ad valorem tdirect) taxes of $685.
100000.
"This total of $113, 900, 900, is
by a coincidence, just million dol
lars more than the labor and every
other item which enters into the
cost of taking the ore from the
ground.
During the pase We years the
value of the ore at the mines was
close to $5O0,0O0,000. The taxes
paid amounted to 22.8 per cent
of the value of the almost
one-quarter.
eff every time a farmer MIXED
gallon of milk he had to give a
quart for taxes there would be a
revolution in Minnesota.
And believe Mr.. Rossman is
right and that every farmer who
reads his statement will be strong
ly inclined to the same belief.
What would the average farmer
think if he were called on to pay
in taxes one bushel out of every
four he raised? Ore one-fourtl
the value of every hog or steer he
sold?
l hold no brief for those en-
gagged in the iron mining industry,
but l am frank to admit that Mr..
Rossman's speech (which l have
before me in it's entirety has set
me to thinking along a somewhat
different line than had been my
wont as regards iron ore taxes.
| l wish every thinking citizen in
Minnesota could have opportunity
either to hear this address or to
read it in full. And I certainly
trust a copy of it will be placed in
the hands of our legislators.
Iron ore has been political
plaything in Minnesota" further
declared MIR. BOSNIAN. "The
people Of this state have had Wis
ions of the tax dollar, not the in
dustrial dollar.
"We must realize that the prob
lens of iron ore production are ns-
sentially economic problems. On
the range the sentiment has de-
veloped that the problems of min
ing rest in the relationship be-
tween a mining company on one
hand and the municipality on the
other.
"a ming company represents
but condition. If economic con-
ditions are favorable, it will enl-
ploy people and these people will
buy goods. If con litions are not
favorable, as in Michigan AMI On
the western and eastern Meseuha
range, it will transfer it's opera
tons to other sections, and if all
mining proves Improbable it will
cease its work. fhe loss, how
ever, to mining companies End
their stockholders is but a mill on
the dollar which is lost to the
community"
And then he proceeded to call
attention to the development of
the iron mining industry in India,
South America, Belgium and
other places, and the resultant
competition with the Lake Super.
Tor region. Because of a subsidy
OF 81. 80 ton by the govern.
ment of Great Britain, he said
the mines of India can now under
sell the Minnesota mines on botl
the Pacific and Atlantic seaboards
/ I can't leave this subject before
giving just a few "close tx
home" figures, as given by Mr.
Rossman, which throw consider
able light on actual conditions OF
the range, brought about largel,
by the past policy of "super-tax
ing" the iron industry.
Quoting from the report of tn
mine Inspector for st. Loui
: county the speaker said the mum
: Der of men employed in mining OF
the Mesaba range is today onl
about 60 per cent of the numbe
, in 1915, and that in the Caniste
district the number has decrease,
: from 1900 to less than 500 in
decade.
families are moving out o
! Virginia almost daily" he said
: "In Hibbing there are 335 enpt
: houses and apartment and il
: August last 10 families move
, out of the community.
: "The mining communities hav
4 never faced more unstable pros
+ poets for the future Z"
: Verify, it is to be hoped tia
7 Minnesota's legislature will no
/ seek to emulate the sagacity G.?
: of the fellow who '.killed the goes
: that laid the golden eggs. :,
III The members of the state com
j mission of administration and #
2 inance-better known, for short, a
j the Big Three-have been es
tremely busy for many weeks o.
their first biennial budget, as pro
vided for by the reorganizatiol
act.
Blanks were furnished to al
state departments and boards TO
making their respective estimate
: of expenditures for the comm,
| two years. After these had BEEF
filled out and submitted, the Bi,
Three held lengthy conference
with all heads of departments, go
+ ing into detail as to all estimate,
i expenditures, particularly as t,
7 the "whys and wherefores. 7"
Besides, the Big Three have per
sonally visited nearly every stat
institution educational, pena
and charitable-to get first han,
I information as to needs for re
: pairs, alterations or new build