The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-06-06

confuse the public mind, the above
may present beautiful picture of in
dustrial activity and prosperity. This
statement would be positively true
10 years ago, but since the close of the
World War-damaging factors-un-
seen economic forces-the artificial
and abnormal political factor has so
influenced the mining industry that
we have come to a grave turning point
in the history of Minnesota'S greatest
industry. Minnesota is turning the
corner in regard to the healthy con-
dition of this industry. This state
ment must bear proof and the purpose
of this paper will be to show those
evident symptoms operating in an
economic way that has caused and
given the people of Minnesota a real
fear. The writer Of this article is not
hireling of the Steel TruSt-in fact
he wouldn't recognize Steel Trust
man if he saw one. Neither is he a
special privilege henchman or is he
being paid to write the articles. The
facts of these papers are to be taken
from one Source-not even one figure
from the Mining Company paper-but
the facts will be compiled and de-
Quoted from the State Auditors re-
port and from the report of the
Minnesota Tax Commission.
One of the questions of today is,
iron ore for midwest industries? The
average layman does not realize that
there is less and less iron ore being
shipped beyond the Alleghany's. The
nations of Europe are underSelling
American pig iron producers and
Europe will get most of her wheat
from Russia. During the past years
many Minnesota mines have been
closed down and the iron ore that they
once furnished comes from South
America. Men in Minnesota mines
and the midwest furnaces are unem-
ployed, as India places pig iron on
both the eastern and western coasts
of the United States. In 1927 the
United States imported 100000 tons
of iron ore.
In 1926 Chile alone exported to the
United States 1,354,000 tons.
Since the World War the iron and
steel manufacturers of Europe, with
Germany and Belgium taking the lead,
are forming "cartels" or combinations
to control the world market of iron
and steel on the eastern coast of the
United States. The country with the
richest ore deposits in the world is
India. The India steel industry is
given complete protection by the
British government and bounties are
paid for production. This ore is
shipped by water to the United States
for $525 a ton The freight rate on
pig iron from Buffalo to the eastern
cities is $4.65 ton.
In Canada the Canadian government
paying the operating companies soc
ton for mined ore as a bounty to
stimulate the industry and the Pro-
vincial government adds SOC more
making bounty of $1.00 ton.
In Alabama the hundreds of millions
of tos of ore may be made into pig
iron with nearby coal and low
priced labor, white or black, southern
pig iron may easily take the place
of iron ore made in mid west fur
naces. Birmingham will buy its butter
from farms nearer than those of
Minnesota.
Therefore the loss of the eastern
market, the foreign competition in
iron ore and in steel products have
thrown thousands of men out of en-
ployment in Minnesota alone and has
reduced the Minnesota mining regions
by more than 5000 people. 1t will be
interesting speculation to note whether
there will be grave decrease in the
population from these figures after the
Federal Census have been completely
tabulated