The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-03-27
(Skilling's Mining Review

cludes within its boundaries the
CRATER part of the Mesabi iron range
and all Of the Vermiion range, and
contains many of the greatest mines
of the Lake Superior district. Many
cities, villages and townships in st.
Louis county have valuations made up
almost entirely of mineral properties.
The mining companies operating these
properties pay from 600 to $3.50 of
the taxes of these communities, and
in most of the localities the tax bills
are enormous. AS the heavy ship
mentS are made year after year in
these mining districts, the valuations
show a corresponding decrease. The
tax rates have been showing gradual
increase, making the annual tax bill
about uniform from year to year.
Heavy Shipments Cut Valuation
The 1890 real estate valuation on
iron ore properties in st. Louis county
was $2O8, 42l 1892, and the personal
property valuation $8,344754 making a
total valuation of $216, 766, GAG, as COM
pared with s225, 040,75O in 1929. The
heavy 1929 shipments from the mines
of the county caused the large de-
crease in valuation, while the average
tax rate went up from 67.0 to 69.4 mills,
making the 1880 taxes paid on mineral
properties $14,938,717.94 as compared
with $15,077, 904.73 in 1929.
Mineral valuations decreased from
1921 to 1922, then increased up to 1924
reaching $268,254, 955 that year. Since
1924 a pronounced drop has been re-
corded each year, with a total decrease
in mineral valuation Of $51, 100000 in
six years. A comparatively small de-
crease is noted in personal property
valuation with most of the reduction
taking place in real estate values.
Mining Companies Share High
The percentage Of taxes paid by the
mining companies in ST. Louis county
averages about the same each year. In
1926 it amounted to $3.50, 93.1 % in
1927, 1880 in 1928, 1920 in 1929 and
$3.50 in 1890.
Tax rates have shown an alarming
increase since 1921, rising from 500
mills to 694 mills in ten years. Some
yearly decreases in tax rates are
shown, largely on account of the re-
duction in state tax rates in the even
numbered years. The local municipal
and school levies have in all cases been
responsible for the increased tax rates.
Hibbing Shows Largest Drop.
A comparison of the total valuations
of the local communities reveals the
fact that in practically every instance
q decrease occurs from 1929 to 1880.
A slight gain is shown in the case of
the village of Gilbert, which increased
from $5,096 602 in 1929 to SIS, 1884, 1913 In
1880. The township of White also
shows a very slight increase. In all
the other communities decreases are
shown. The largest decrease in valu
alton since last year is in the village
Of Hibbing with drop of $3,400000.
The township of Stuntz, in the same
district, has valuation lower by
81 100000 than last year. In the Hib-
bling district are located the Hull-RuSt,
Sellers, Mahoning, Morris and other
large mines from which heavy annual
shipments are being made. The vii
lage of Franklin, which contains the
heavy producing Missabe Mountain
mine, decreased $1,350,000 in valuation
from 1929 to 1880. The city of Eve
leth, wherein is located the Adams
Spruce group, showed decrease of
$650,000. The township of Balkan,
which contains the Hartley-Burt and
Dunwoody mines decreased $500, 900 in
valuation, while the village Of CHS
holm, containing among others the
Shenango, Wellington, and Godfrey
mines, had 1880 valuation lower by
100000 than in 1929. Other cities,
villages, and towns showed smaller
decreases in valuations.
In all important mining communities
the operators pay very high percen-
tage of all the taxes. The highest per-
centage is noted in the village of
Franklin, near Virginia. Here the
total tax bill is 1894 ,284.50, of which
the companies pay $685., 48776, or
5000. In Fraser the percentage is
S94%o, in Mountain Iron, 1920, in
Leonidas, 1890, in Balkan township
974To OF the important mining dis
tricts the lowest percentage of min
eral valuation and taxes occurs at
Aurora, 1880. Other localities having
unimportant mineral reserves show a
smaller percentage of taxes paid by
mining companies.
Tax Rates Increase in 1880
Increases in tax rates were the rule
in nearly all cases last year. Excep-
tons were noted in Virginia, Aurora,
LeonidaS and Balkan township, which
| decreased somewhat in tax rate from
| 1929 to 1880. Of the important dis
| tricts the highest rates are noted at
Eveleth, 1853 mills; Bull, 1149 mills;
Ely, 104.7 mills; and Aurora. 1908 mills
| The lowest rates are at Fraser, IA
mills; Balkan. $50 mills; Leonidas, 45.3
mills; Franklin, 1913 mills; anu Stuntz,
| 498 mills.
Several of the communities can be
| grouped as districts and it is interest
ing to note the large total of taxes paid
by mining companies in the most i'm
| portant mining centers The village of
Hibbing and the township of Stuntz
compose the Hibbing district, the most
important iron ore producing area IN
the Lake Superior district. The min
eral valuation here totals $92, 319, 1888