The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-02-10
Interview With Pioneer Reveals
Interesting History of This Area
u. S. Steel News Lauded for
Articles of Interest; Thos.
Owens Interviewed.

among the employees of the organiza-
ticn, was Of particular interest TO the
Vermiuon and Mesaba iron ranges.
Not only did the U. 5. Steel News give
a summary on Who Pays the Taxes
but a fins two-page illustrated account
of the conveyor Syst2m Of handling irc-
ere at the Spruce mine at Eveleth,
besides a most colorful title page of
dump trucks delivering ore to the
underground conveyor.
who pays the Taxes" showed that
from 1928 to the end Of 1896, United
States Steel paid taxes in the sum of
S379, 100000. The article then went on
to explain that this vast amount can
not not long be paid out of the savings
out of yesterdays work. They must
be paid out Of production-out of the
results of today's work. The days
work is the days purchasing power. A
tax is taking of purchasing power by
the government to use for public pur-
poses. The person taxed yields to the
government the right to spend a portion
of what he might spend himself.
Every man who has ever owned a
piece of property knows there is a
limit to the amount of taxes that the
property can pay. Everyone equally
knows that there is a limit to the
amount Of taxes that a community can
pay. Since the nation is only COL
lection of communities, there is a limit
to the amount of taxes the nation can
pay. That limit is set by value of the
days work of the nation"
The news then goes on to enumerate
the taxes paid by the corporation and
its SubSidiaries-for convenience called
simply U. S. Steel. To state and local
units Of government are paid real es-
tate and personal property taxes, fran
chise and privilege taxes, net income
taxes, gross sales, gross earnings and
gross income taxes, occupational taxes,
royalty taxes and a horde of miscel-
laneous taxes such as sales taxes, auto
mobile licenses, investment and credits
taxes, excise taxes, gasoline taxes,
stamp taxes and vessel tonnage taxes.
Each state has its own variety of taxes
To the Federal government are paid
income taxes, SurtaXes on undiStributed
profits, capital stock taxes, excess pro-
fits taxes, stamp taxes and long list
Of miscellaneous and excise taxes. In
addition to all of these taxes, social
security taxes are now paid to forty
six states, to the federal government
and to many foreign countries.
The average number of employees
during the period was $4,000. Invest
ment in plants, mines, tools, ETC., were
S2,157, 100000 or an average per en-
plcyee of S11 ,534. Gross sales were
s5,921 900 amounting to $31 1858 per
employee. Goods and services pIr-
chased from others amounted to ST.
142 ,O00, 900, S11,454 per employee. Taxes
paid amounted to $2,O27 per employee
Depreciation and depletion amounted to
s457yO00,OO0. Wages and salaries were
s2,502, 100000, averaging $13379 per en-
ploye. Interest paid $77,O0O,OOO Divi-
dends paid out of earnings for the use
of assets as above which made possible
the production of the goods and the
wages being return of less than 2.5
per cent, 1854, 0OO,OO
In concluding the article says, "Of
course the expenses of government must
be paid for. 1t is for the people to
decide how much government they want
and how much they are willing to pay
for. That is one thing. It is something
else to imagine that the other fellow
will do the paying. There is no other
fellow"
In another place in the issue is given
an interview with Thomas Owens who
became an employe Of the Duluth g.
Iron Range in 1883 and was the engin-
eer who hauled the first ore from the
Soudan mine and the state of Mime
sofa in 1884. Later Mr.. Owens became
ore dock superintendent and in 1892 be-
came superintendent of the company.
He retired from service in 1881.
The interview is of historic interest
to the old timers of the Vernilion range
and on the railroad. The issue of the
News will be preserved by the reader as
of high historical value and while the
larger parts of the facts have been
printed in previous issues of The Ely
Miner, we think it of enough interest
to reprint as taken from the U. S. News.
The story is headed "An Interview With
a Pioneer" and reads:
e-ai,ee-ai," the Indians chanted as
they danced to the rhythmic beat of
tom-toms. 1t was day of celebration
Bonfires had been built, and in great
steaming pot, feast was being pre-
pared. The scene of the "pow-wow'
was a space about 100 it. square, the
only clearing in the forest for miles
around
The celebrants, Chippewas, numbered
about one hundred, and included chiefs
braves, squawS and children. Freshly
painted and gayly decorated with
feathers, they were carefully groomeo
in savage fashion for gala ceremony
AS they danced in single file in wide
circle, singing the while in a monotone
two or three would leave the line tt
perform in the center. Then these
would rejoin the file and others woule
follow their example.
When, at length, the drums ceased Il
throb and the dance came to an end
the Chippewa chiefs, escorted by an in.
terpreter, STROBE forth with dignifiet
mien to seek out the great white chic
and to pay him their respects. AS {
climax of the parley the conferee
smoked the pipe of peace, whereupol
the white chief presented all the as
sembled Indians with shining tokens o
esteem-bright new ten-cent pieces.
The generosity of the paleface was il