The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-03-01

and pays only $1.4O per ton to ship to
Chicago. The competing firms saving
of $130 per ton means the loss Of con-
siderable business to the local plant.
The company doesn't expect a re-
duction to $1.40 but they must have a
lower freight rate if they are to remain
in Ely.
Local electric power rates are also
prohibitive to the operation of the plant
here, it is said The power company's
minimum rate to the firm Is so high
that in slack months, when the pro-
duction was reduced, the power cost
per ton was too high. Using only ap-
proximate figures, it was explained that
where the plant might operate for only
a few days some months, the minimum
rate of $875 would have to be paid. In
another instance, when the plant oper-
ates at capacity of about 10000 tons
month, the power bill would be $1,000.
At present the company is considering
a location at Dresser Junction, Wis,
approximately 65 miles northeast OF the
Twin Cities. The site is near another
rock crushing firm from which the
Emeralite plant could purchase rock
already quarried and delivered by con-
veyor belt.
The Dresser Junction location has
many advantages in its location. Lower
freight rates to Chicago, lower power
rates, and the fact that the rock could
be purchased from the other firm at
reasonable price.
The question of quarrying the rock
brought out the fact that the company
has another problem here in the pur-
chase price of dynamite. Although the
Emeralite company uses about the same
amount of explosives as the smaller
mining companies, it was required to
pay approximately $50 ton more fol
dynamite. This is explained with the
statement that the explosive manufac-
turers have a special reduced mining
price" which is not applied to the Emer-
alite firm because its business is not
classified as mining"
The advantages of remaining in Ely
were also brought out. The quality OF
the rock found here is superior in many
respects to that available anywhere
else. The plants Wausau competitor
uses a white quartz rock which breaks
into flat surfaced pieces, and, the color
of the rock at Dresser Junction is OBJ
iectionable. The color of the Ely rock
is closer to that desired for the finished
product and, therefore, easier anc
cheaper to finish. The fact that the
Ely rock breaks into surface with
points which enable roofing paper com
panies to work it into felt and asphalt
base with less pressure is another Inn.
portant fact in favor of the location
here.
Rock available at Dresser Junction i
of dark grey color and the Ely rocl
is pale green. Since the demand is To-
a finished product of light green it i
obvious that the Ely rock is more suit
able for the company's need.
The firm still has approximate.
$lOO, 600 invested in the sections OF th'
plant unchanged by fire and that il
another fact in favor of continuing
here.
Realization of what the loss Of tn
plant would mean to the community ha
moved the Commercial Club and Cit.
administration to throw every effor
into the campaign to keep the industry
The plant employs between forty ant
fifty men and its payroll and expendi
lures for materials and freight charge
here are in the neighborhood of tn
quarter-million mark.
It was brought out at the meeting
that the company was considering tn
construction of a washing plant in con
junction with the coloring department
shortly before the fire. If the plan
remain here the new washing depart
ment will be Incorporated in the re
building of the coloring plant, official
said.
The meeting divulged the fact tina
the city administration was cooperating
with the company, before the fire, Oh
the problem of water supply for thu
proposed plant.
City officials said that the compan.
had been offered the services and CO
operation of all municipal officers il
the solving of problems now being con
sidered. The aid of City Attorney Thos
j. Carey's Office has been offered to the
company in legal phases of the freigh
and power rate situation and the hell
of City Engineer w. j. Somero will b
available for the solution of othel
problems.