The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-04-19

The voters of Ely three years ago
frowned on the subject OF building
city hall without the necessary money
with which TO pay tor II. Al tnat
time they most decisively voted down
a proposition 70 bond the city Tor the
building and let it be known in plain
language that they would not stand
for further Indebtedness. While the
voters and taxpayers recognize the
fact that Ely should have a building
of ample proportions to house the city
affairs. built in a modern manner 70
last for a lifetime. they also feel that
with an economy program the council
can in about two years more have
money enough in the treasury to pay
for it without going in the red for such
a building.
At the end of this year. the treasury
will have in the building fund a mat
ter of $50. 900. With an equal levy this
fall and the coming year, there would
be almost enough TO complete mod
ern structure suitable to the needs OF
the city without the necessity OF 60
ing into debt. This money IN the
banks would be drawing interest and
this also would swell the fund. Even
some Of the council members concede
that this is the better plan Taxpay-
ers would be better pleased were such
a course followed and feel that TO be
free of bonded debt would be con-
dition that would make for better
city.
The city council thanked with sew
eral of the heads Of departments
visited several cities on the Mesaba
range last week and looked over city
hall buildings constructed IN Grand
Rapids, Hibbing and Virginia IN or
der TO get line on the needs, prob
able cost. etc. We have not ascertain
ed the decision arrived at but learn
that it is proposed to hire an architect
and arrange for starting operations
It is a matter of pride to a city
council and mayor to leave as mon
ulnent something Of Intangible benefit
after their terms in Office. The same
idea has prevailed the school boards
of the range towns for years. The
result in the most cases has been that
not only did they leave monument
for themselves but a load Of debts for
their successors. In our opinion a
more fitting monument and one that
would be appreciated would be a
building free from debt with nice
name plate adjoining the same with
Erected by so-and-so without cent
of debt. A city hall for Ely can be
built in two years and IN all truth
such a plate can grace its walls pro-
viding the council keeps adding TO
the fund as has been done the past
two years.
We may be mistaken, but that Is
the way we feel about it.
Delegations from all the range
towns went to ST. Paul where on
Wednesday they met with the legis-
lative committees to further the bill
now before the legislature to divide ST.
Louis County. The matter was dis
cuSsed from all angles The range
delegation was composed of prominent
men from every town in the district
proposed TO be set apart and was OPP
posed by a delegation from Duluth
The range delegates wore ribbons set
ting forth the fact that Merritt" was
the name decided on for the new
county. The range delegation made
considerable of a showing and also
created most favorable impression
with the legislature.
The appeal for the separation was
presented by John Cannon Of Hibbing,
former mayor; Chas. WagenSteen of
Chisholm; Luke Burns Of Virginia; A
II. Refman Of Hibbing; z. j. Larson
Of Virginia; L Simons Of Bull and
Mayor Victor ESsling of Eveleth.
Against the measure were Senator
Adams Mayor Snively, Donald S.
Holmes, P H Martin, Francis F.
Dacey and A L Jedlica of Duluth
Unless there is united action on the
part of the legislature the matter will
die in the bill hopper as adjournment
viii be in order on the 18th, next
week
There are several things that can be
said against county division and also
many for it The county is large and
of varied interests. The part that