The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-10-21
STATE RESOURCES
LEADING nation
S TATE AUDITOR CHA S E
DWELLS ON MINNESOTA RE-
SOURCES AT DULUTH CHAM
Der OF COMMERCE install
LATION DINNER.

Minnesota is a great state and
Ray P. Chase is a great auditor,
has been demonstrated time and
again. Whenit comes to analys-
ing Minnesota and it's various re-
sources, our state auditor has the
figures to prove his assertions and
check up has found his analysis
invariably correct.
In his talk at the meeting of the
Duluth Chamber of Commerce on
Tuesday evening, he again came out
with truths that appeal to the pa
triotism of residents of this great
and glorious state. Speaking on
Development in Minnesota" Mr..
Chase pointed out that the early pio-
neers came to this states for re-
ligious freedom, for better educa-
tional opportunities for their chill
dren and for material advancement.
eve have all these in Minnesota"
he declared, placing agriculture,
first, manufacturing second, tourist
business third, timber fourth and
mining fifth. He made plea for
each of these five great industries
in the state and for their future de-
velopment and especially urged that
mining be worked out from an
economical angle and that the ton
mage tax no longer be kicked around
every election year as political
football"
"The immediate puzzle in agricul-
ture is to get for the products of
the farm, prices proportionate to
what farmers must pay for goods
they buy. A second question at is
sue is the fertilization of farm lands
that they may remain productive
for the benefit of the coming gen
erations. A third IS the settlement
OF our unused farm lands. During
the past few years some 100000
acres of land have reverted to the
state for nonpayment of taxes.
These farmers are better equipped
for agriculture than for any other
pursuit. When economic conditions
are adjusted or adjusted themselves
these farmers will be looking for
farms. Our task is to bring together
the Minnesota farm needing an
owner and these ex-farmers seeking
new farm homes. We can't do that
by preaching to the world at large
that farming in Minnesota is fail
ure, that the Minnesota farmer can
not make living, that high taxes
and low prices have accomplished
this ruin. The problem must be
solved by constructive thinking, not
destructive lamentation. The last
federal farm census shows that in
st. Louis county you have developed
6,951 farms-this county's answer
to the charge that farming in Min
nesota is a failure.
"Our second GREATEST industry is
manufacturing. State records show
that the average value of the an
nual factory output of Minnesota,
using round numbers is $1,000, 000,-
900. We need more factories in
this state to utilize our raw ma
terials, employ our men and young
men, and furnish an immediate cash
market for farm products. Secur-
ing these factories is a major func-
ton of the Duluth Chamber of Com
merce and of all other chambers of
commerce in this state. But it is
a short-sighted policy to throw on
civic bodies entire respon-
sibilities for the successful accom-
plishment of this task. 1t is properly
a state function as well, and there
should be state chamber of COM
merce, co-ordinating all local units
and presenting a united organization
created for the purpose of acquiring
more industrial plants for the state.
We need more factories, more mills,
more steel plants, more Ford plants.
cit is difficult to tell the sum the
tourist trade now leaves in Mime
sofa. Although we know it is i'm
nense, at best any figure is only an
estimate. Whatever present profits
may be, this great industry is GER
tain to grow, the tourist dollar is
as profitable and desirable as the
wheat dollar or the cream check,
and we should establish the tourist
business now on a substantial, per-
manent basis that will bring to our
Northland not only the touring
transient but the wealthy summer
home owner.
Minnesota is great timber
state. This fact has been overlooked
Of late. Lovers of the out-of-doors
have pointed to the cutover tracts
Of the coniferous area as a land of
desolation and devastation. It is
the price we pay for the extrava-
CANT, wasteful, thoughtless methods
Of the past. Yet, in spite of criti-
cism and antagonism, the timber in
dustry is a tremendous one.
''To farming, manufacturing, sum-
mer resort and timber, the Creators
bounty has added a fifth employ
ment-mining. Our deposits of iron
ore are one of our greatest assets,
the mining of that ore one of the
states greatest occupations. No per-
son considerable of Minnesota's future
can doubt that the use of all low
grade ores and perpetuation of the
industry is problem vital to the
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