The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-10-06
On This
Occasion
Just a few thoughts by the Editor
On things Material and Immaterial

Inc CIIy OOuIlCl anu City
officials are being patted on the
back and generally commended
for their action in bringing
order out of the tax chaos in
which we have found ourselves
since May when the mining in
dustry announced that the last
half of the 1882 taxes would
not be paid. The decision of
the industry to pay their Ely
taxes followed a conference by
the city council and others with
representatives of the mining
interests and upon the adoption
of a resolution stating that the
levy to be made this month
would be kept down to $780,
900, a reduction of about $751;
600 under last year.
This action is being generally
applauded by the taxpayers of
the city. Other range town
taxpayers are also compliment
ing Ely officials for the action
taken and there are prospects
that the mining industry will
receive the asked for relief
from the excessive tax burden
to which they have been SUBJ
ject on the ranges in addition
TO the occupation, royalty and
other tax payments TO which
they are subject, amounting to
almost confscation. Meetings
with other community heads
are being held by mining in
terestS and a similar result is
anticipated.
Be that as it may. Ely will
be assured of its second half
taxes to take up existing in
debtedness accrued by unem-
ployment and furnish where
withal TO keep above board.
On top of the tax settlement
came the announcement that
the mines would open sometime
this month with a payroll of
about $4,000 of 100000 a
month more than was at
present being paid, thus re-
moving the necessity of the in
creased expenditures by the
city in caring for the unem-
ployed situation which became
acute when the mines ceased
operations.
In addition to limiting the
levy $4,000 less than was
levied last year, the city council
in its resolution went a step
farther in the right direction
when it recommended: "The
adjustment, equalization, and
reduction after a thorough
study by the Minnesota Tax
Commission beginning with the
year 1884 of the valuation for
taxation purposes of the min
eral properties of the City of
Ely TO be in line with the valu-
atoms placed by said commits
sion on the year 1882 upon city,
farm and practically all other
classes of taxable property in
the state, all in recognition of
the marked decline in the valu-
alton of such properties result
ing principally from the exist
ing business depression"
In other words. The resolu-
ton adopted by the City Coun-
Gil calls for a tax on mining
property on the Constitutional
basis of equal taxation for real
estate and personal property,
be it a city property, farm
property, or other property
subject TO taxation. At present
mining property is valued on a
basis of so per cent while other
real estate is 40 per cent at the
most and farm property at
80 1-3. Then there is the
mined and unmined iron ore
tax, the occupation tax of 6 per
cent of the value of ore at the
mouth of the shaft, the royalty
tax, supposedly to have fallen
on the fee owners but also paid
by those holding the lease, and
other taxes, in addition to the
regular ad-valorem taxes.
The occupational tax law on