The Ely miner., 1930-10-24
MINING IS VITALITY IMPORTANT To
THE GREAT STATE Of MINNESOTA.

taconites. The life of our mines would
be greatly prolonged thereby and the
cost of production considerably reduced.
If all low grade ore and iron bearing
taconite could be concentrated, the eX-
pense of stocking these materials would
be lessened and better mining con-
ditionS would result.
Another important fact to be taken
into consideration in the work of pro-
longing the life of the mining industry
is that the present mining district is
equipped with all facilities for the pro-
duction of ore. Railroads, wagon
roads, cities miners homes, schools,
are all there. If the industry is per-
mitted to go into serious decline, these
very necessary instrumentalities will
fall into decay or disappear entirely.
"Intermingled with the iron ore of
the Guyana Range, manganese is
found The Importance of this element
was forced upon the attention of the
world during the Great War. The
country had no manganese mines of
its own and had been dependent upon
Russia, India, and Brazil for this most
important mineral in the production of
high duty steel. The foreign supply
was cut off by war and the nation was
forced to call upon the manganiferous
ores of Minnesota. Many such pro-
perties were feverishly opened, but the
close of hostilitieS brought back the
foreign high grade manganese ores,
thus forcing the mines to close. The
University of Minnesota investigated
the matter of separating the manganese
from the iron, but more work should
be done. Congress placed a duty on
foreign manganese which has enabled
some of the mines to reopen. We
must develop plan whereby the nation
may be freed in time of war from
dependence upon foreign countries for
this important element; one which, at
the same time, will build a great in
duStry in our state.
Iron ores of Minnesota today are
being subjected to numerous processes
of beneficiation. There are plants for
washing, crushing, screening, jigging,
drying, and sintering them to improve
the grade or structure. All do fine
work, but constant improvements in
machinery are being made. More in
tensive work should be begun now, un-
der the supervision of trained experts
experience. If research is delayed un-
til the direct shipping ore is reduced in
volume until it can no longer be used
to ''sweeten" the lower grades or to
help reduce the cost of beneficiating
ores, there will be serious slump in
the industry Any such slump, ac-
companied by unusual tax burdens, will
operate as bonus, paid by Minnesota,
toward the development of iron ore
resources elsewhere.
Research if conducted on a large
and comprehensive scale may ultim-
ately lead to the reduction of the ore
to pig iron and steel within the borders
of the state.
In bringing this about, our great
peat deposits offer fertile field for
the scientist, but advances need not be
expected without early and hearty sup
port from the people of the state and
their chief executive.
Research does not endanger buSi-
ness. 1t is simply the means whereby
changes can be made gradually and
with out disturbance. 1t may prepare
the way for making Minnesota an i'm
portant steel producer when the door
to the world markets via the Great
Lakes is opened and barges are freely
passing up and down the Mississippi
The prize is worth the effort.
"If elected governor, it will be my
earnest effort to encourage by every
proper means, beneficiation and use of
low grade ores, that the permanent
trust funds of the state may be in
creased, that the life of the mining
industry may be prolonged, that the
people of the whole state will be bene-
fited."