The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-12-28
LOWER MINE TAXES
MINERAL SURVEY
BOB" WHITESIDE MAKES .SUG-
GESTIONS TO LEGISLATORS
WHICH WILL BEAR LOOKING
INTO.

Robert B. Whiteside of Duluth, who
has expended more money than any
other individual in the exploration for
iron ore in Minnesota, and who has a
nationwide reputation for extensive
explorations for oil and minerals of all
kinds, says that the Minnesota legiSla-
ture during the coming session has a
Singularly good opportunity to diStin-
guiSh itself for constructive states
manShip says SkillingS Mining Review.
There are two things that the Min
neSota legislature can and should do"
said Mr. WhiteSide. "One of these is
to relieve the iron ore industry of a
substantial part of the tax burden and
the other is to appropriate a sufficient
sum of money to have expert inveSti-
cation made of further mineral posi-
bilitieS in this state. I refer not only
to iron ore, but to copper and oil.
1T will cost something, to be sure,
to have an expert survey made of the
possible extensions of the various iron
ranges, to ascertain if explorations for
copper may not be made with reason
able prospect of success, especially in
the northeastern part of the state,
and for oil and gas in the western part
of the state. They have discovered oil
to the northwest and to the southwest
of Minnesota, on formations identi-
cal with that which exists in the
western part of this state, namely,
limestone.
Should Adjust Mining Taxes.
1.-The drastic policy of taxation in
Minnesota as respects mineral has dis.
couraged private enterprise, and it has
been further discouraged by high roy
alties on iron ore existing in state
owned lands. All these unwiSe things
should be adjusted on a sound econo-
mic basis, one which will encourage
the expenditure of private capital The
situation is we'll enough understood
and requires no extended reference to
it by me at this time.
Il am convinced that the state by
appropriating perhaps 100000 or more
for research work, for the further pos
sible extension of ore bearing areas of
the iron districts, for the better un-
derstanding of the possibility of de-
veloping copper mines in northeastern
Minnesota, and of oil in the western
part of the state, the commonwealth
would be well repaid by the results.
The money required would be but a
drop in the bucket compared to the in
come which the state has had, and will
continue to have for many years, from
the known mineral deposits, and may
result in adding many millions to the
wealth and much to the prestige of
the state. The state doesn't neces-
sarily have to own the prospective adj
ditional mineral deposits to profit by
them. Through the increased employ
ment of men, the purchase of equip
ment and the expenditures which ma
turally go with development and oper-
alton of mineral properties, to say
nothing of taxes, the state would en-
JOY the assurance of a prolonged pros
perity in its mineral industry. The
legislature has it in it's power to revive
exploration in this state, but it should
also be helpful, by revising taxes
downward to a reasonable level, and
assisting in providing information con-
corning the existence of probable min
eral areas as have suggested.
Little Work Done on Copper.
Speaking more in detail of the min
efal possibilities in Minnesota, Mr..
Whiteside continued:
I'VE have copper range on the
north shore of Lake Superior which
can be traced from the eastern side
of the state through as far as Cloquet
and there is a possibility of it contin-
uing on to the southwest and con-
Meeting with the copper range that is
mapped out through Wisconsin on the
south shore of Lake Superior, and thus
making loop. I believe these two
ranges will come together in the vicin-
ity of Hinckley, Minnesota The range
is covered there with a sandstone and
probably cannot be seen, but I be-