The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-09-19
On This
!: Occasion
\ Just few thoughts by the Editor
> ON things Material and Immaterial.

. JUST b lew tilOuSntS Wy Vic G0heoA
q ON things Material and Immaterial.
j.
One of the finest pieces of paving in
the state, the AT miles on No. in
Commissioner Pete's district, was
opened for traffic last Friday. The
entire distance between Tower and
Virginia Is expected to be paved and
completed in 1892. The unpaved por-
ton is being put into shape under
state specifications and two years will
be allowed for settling in anticipation
of the paving With this stretch COM
pleted in 1892, a paved highway Will
extend from Tower to the south line
of the state.
Here is where Ely must get busy.
Pressure must be brought to bear on
the State Highway Commission to pave
No. IS between here and Tower and
thus when the No. pavement is COM
pleted and opened in 1882, No. IS can
be opened at the same time. Ely has
frequently asked for paving on this
stretch of highway but it was out OF the
question. Paving disconnected piece
was not practical according to highway
authorities This disconnected" OBJ
stacle will be removed two years hence
and it would be fine idea to have
pavement opening celebration extend
from Ely, to the southern state line.
BY that time Iowa and Wisconsin Will
have completed its trunk systems and
connected with highways east, west,
north and south, would allow travel on
pavement to all parts OF the United
States.
Civic clubs and public officials,
tourist outfitters and proprieters OF the
many and handsome summer lodges
in this Playground of a Nation
should get behind this movement and
agitate constantly until the thing is
accomplished. We are certain that
Commissioner Babcock will do all in
his power to bring bout the desired re-
suit 1t us have united action and
do our best in the matter. A large
amount of the travel from Virginia is
destined for Ely and the pavement
should be cimpleted to Ely. Let's get
together and find out where we are at.
The finding of iron ore in Fillmore
county in the southeastern end OF the
state as stated in news item In
another place in this paper will GER
tainly not CD be hailed with LOUD
huzzahS by the. owners of the farms
upon which the discovery is made.
There may be occasion for unholy glee
on the part Of certain members OF the
legislature who will see in the ind
another spouting bunghole in the iron
ore taxation barrel, but to the owners
4~fxr fHn
ore will be q calamity which will
spread over every piece OF property IN
the county the same as it has spread
over st. Louis county, providing the
same system of taxation is followed
as Is followed in the four northern
iron ore counties of the state. There
Is no valid reason to suppose it will
be different. The heritage" OF the
people must be protected by the granger
legislature even if it so happens that
q few farmers own the land upon
which the discoveries are made.
ssss
Since the occupational tax, royalty
tax. increased ad volorem tax and
several, other kinds of exclusive rackets
against the mining interests have been
added to the curriculum of the down
state legislators, diamond drills and
churn drills have been idle on the
iron ranges and everyone who had a
prospective ore deposit, on his property
has been living in mortal dread OF
being taxed out of existence. Hence,
no ore discoveries of paying nature
have come under the eagle eyes OF
the taxing authorities and those who
had ore kept very quiet about it.
Not alone have prospects suffered, but
l29 producing mines have shut up
shop in this county alone out OF l86
mines on the ST. Louis county list.
Those who know, make the statement
that all this has come ABOUT since the
plethora of taxes have been hung on
to the industry. To find iron ore on
your property means poverty unless
you are lucky enough to unload on
some corporation whose interests out
side of mining is strong enough to
stand the strain and loss attendant
ON the mining game and the taxes i'm
posed thereon.
In 1910 in st. Louis County, 1881
men were employed in the mines. In
1920 the number had dropped to 12y043.
At the end of 1929, the men employed
In the mines of the county numbered
e,O08. Not all this can be attributed to
tax legislation which is responsible for
at least four-fifths of the slump. 1t
Is a foregone conclusion that If 8,008
men are needed to operate 81 prop
critics, more than twice that number
would be needed to operate the l86
mines on the list. The loss OF ten or
more thousand miners from the pay
rolls makes quite a hole in the circu-
lating cash of the communities where
in the mines are located and while the
legislature was taking wallop at their
DOGGY 1.-The Steel Corporation" they
most effectively hung the Indian sign
on everybody, including the business
interests as well as the laboring man
and his employer in many of the range
towns.
What we are trying to say is, we
feel sorry for Fillmore County If they
get iron mines into their system. The
county comprises 545, 434.16 acres eX-
elusive of town lots and buildings
thereon. The average value per acre
Is given at $2680, whereas the value OF
the St. Louis County 3,271 ,693.03 acres
is given as $72.04 per acre for taxation
purposes because of the mines. Fill
more county in the last census showed
S,186 farms. Three of these farms have
shown iron ore according to reports
If the valuation per acre of the county
increases on account of the few acre.
containing iron ore in comparison with
the increase in this county it will NEAR
that its tax rate will increase from
1880 at present to God knows where
by the finding of mines. The county.
total valuation for taxation purposes
will be doubled or trebled. At leas
this is the conclusion arrived at judg.
ing by the actions of the legislator
from that section of the state during
The TONNAGE taY and ner canita ta1