The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-02-14
,On This
Occasion
, Just few thoughts by the Editor on things
0 Material and Iminaterilai

ing second 10 none on une ranges not
withstanding the fact that many of
the range towns have invested much
more money in their city hall buildings
Another notable thing in the new
building for Ely will be the fact that
by the time it is occupied, which is
expected to be about the first of next
year, the building will be paid for
without bond issue or the issuance of
certificates of Indebtedness.
The present City Hall was built in
1899 during the incumbency Of U. s.
Grant McMahan as Mayor At that
time this building was considered one
of the show places of the ranges, con-
veniently arranged and of much bene-
At to the city and it's officers. Since
that time the building has met with
the requirements up to a few years
ago when the increase in business
cramped the quarters. AT this time
new city hall was thought of and pre-
liminary measures were taken for its
erection.
However, the city had no money and
bond issue was put up to the voters
and defeated by a heavy majority
The city fathers were informed thai
there were no objections to a new city
hall but there were objections to bond
issue and that the proper way to ges
a new building would be to establish
building fund, and levy enough in a
few years to complete and pay for it.
ssss
The City Council saw the logic in
this advice and at once established
fund for the purpose of a new building.
On January 1st, 1929, the building funa
contained $13,09921. On January LIST,
1880, the fund had grown to $50, 996.45.
On January 1st 1881, there will be over
S150, 100000 in the fund.- enough to COM
plete the building and have it paid for
before the dedication expected to take
place shortly after the first of the
year 1881.
The new building will occupy the
site Of the present City Hall. This
structure which has so acceptably filled
the needs Of the city for thirty years
will be RACED but the work of razing
will not be begun until the very latest
thus cutting expenses as much as pos
sfble for rent etc. until the new build
ing Is ready for occupancy. The Marcn
term Of the District Court will occupy
the old quarters while the October
term will either be held in the new
quarters or. if possible, some other
suitable place, probably the Washing
ton Auditorium or the large room in
the Community Center.
AS regular District Court sessions
are to be held in this city, it was at
first thought that the County of ST.
Louis would go into partnership with
us in the building to be Jointly used
as city hall and court house. This
was prohibited by law and precedent
The county did feel however, that Ely
was entitled to something more and
raised the rental which it will pay for
court purposes, double the sum paid
heretofore, or $4,000 per month as
soon as the new building is occupied
Discovered at last! The south end
of the state admits that the north end
Is In one thing superior Heretofore
the only use credited to the northern
end of the state by the south end was :
That 1t Is fine place to get tax
monies with which to bolster the trust
funds and get actual cash to pay sal
aries and other running expenses,
through state mining leases state tim
Der and land sales, regular tax, ton
mage tax, royalty tax-and what have
you.
A few months ago it was discovered
that ST. Louis County had more farms
than any other county in the state
Also that the butter shipments from
the county were greater than the ship
ments from any other county. Now
comes G. D. Williams, chemist for the
Federal prohibition bureau with the
statement that the moon manu-
featured in the northern end of the
state has it all over the moon" made
In the southern end by from S to per
cent in actual kicking power.
ssss
Gradually are we being discovered.
Our tax-paying power has been known
for years, long enough to have fur
nished some sixty-odd millions to the
trust funds of the state for educational
purposes. Our farm or butter power
as well as iron ore and tourist power
has come to light. Then there is the
water power now in the public eye and
which Is the bone of contention in
and BackuS dam matter along with
the timber power on the Superior Nat
ional Forest. Last, but not least, we
have been handed the moon" power
Having thus been conceded another
power by Federal Chemist, Williams,
it Is to be inferred that our cup should
be filled to the brim, but we are not
&c VIA ryof
lack and that is, the voting power, by
which we in this northern tax-paying
and money furnishing end could mus
ter enough votes to allow us to run
our own affairs and not have our
course of conduct continually shaped
by the Twin Cities and points further
south.
We will be minus this voting power
for many years unless we get more
voters into the northern end of the
state. This power is being anticipated
in the southern end and in order to
counterfeit any such tendencies, all
kinds of barriers are in course Of
erection. Personally, we figure that
the greatest of these is the idea OF
making a park of the entire northern
boundary and south as far as line so
We are in full accord with the move
to stop the damming of border waters
but feel that 1t is not necessary to
hamper timber, iron and farm develop
ment In territory miles remote from
the border waters.
We are not in accord with the
measure to stop timber cutting, as
practiced by the u. S. Forestry Ser
uico uyithip Am foot of anv lake N,