Grand Rapids herald-review. [volume], January 08, 1919, Image 2

About Grand Rapids herald-review. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Itasca County, Minn) 1896-current

Image provided by: Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN

                
TWO
MINING AND INDUSTRIAL NEWS^ GREATMESABA RANGE |
WHAT SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
THINKS OF THE MESABA RANGE
Southern Minnesota lives almost in entire ignorance
♦f the iron mining industry in this state. If asked to
^ive the geographical location of the Mesaba range, they
would place it somewhere in relation to one of the three
points of Duluth, Winnipeg or Hudson Bay. In size, some
_ consider it small, while others, especially those who own
tend north or west of Duluth, seem to believe it extends
♦ver the entire area of northern Minnesota. Some think
of the Mesaba range as a group of mining camps char
acterized with all of the roughness which may be attri
buted to such institutions, while others consider the range
the home of capital and luxury, liberal and progressive
government, or the scene of ruthless municipal extrava
gance. Many of the opinions are indeed interesting with
ffaeir great variety of theories based on prejudice, mis
aonception or misinformation.
Industry is Localized
It is natural that southern Minnesota should not
understand mining operations. They have little or noth
ing in common with this activity. Farming and mining
Slave fewer features in common than farming and other
' industries. The mining of iron ore might be termed a
localized industry. It cannot be practiced in southern
Minnesota as can the manufacture of products from wood
or finished iron and steel, but it must be carried on where
the mineral deposits lie and, due to geological creation,
iron ore deposits are quite commonly found under condi
tions which have not been favorable to agricultural or
other industrial development. Consequently large centers
of population have not grown up about the industry and
those who live near it are, as a rule, dependent upon its
existence. The iron mining industry does not come into
direct contact with many people who make up the popu
lation of our state. The Mesaba range is geographically
rather detached from the rest of our territory. It is not
necessary for many to pass by or through it in carrying
on their business. In fact, it is further from the people
of southern Minnesota than are the great centers of popu
lation of the states of Wisconsin and lowa. It is a harder
and a longer journey for the residents of Mankato or
Rochester in southern Minnesota, for instance, to reach
the Mesaba range than it is for them to reach the heart
of industrial Chicago. Minnesota is a great state and its
St. Louis and Itasca counties and their great mining in
dustry is both physically and actually far from the people
of the southern section. The Mesaba range, unattached
from the rest of the state having no centers of popula
tion which contribute large memberships to legislatures,
carrying an industry generally foreign to those not actu
ally engaged in it, is a victim of many false ideas or
erroneous opinions.
There are many wrong conceptions concerning the
actual size of the range and the physical characteristics
ore and ore deposits. Some believe that the range is
wide — in fact, this is the common conception of it. They
talieve that if a man owns property within ten miles of
gay producing mine, that he, too, is a possessor of mineral
wealth and if one travels throughout southern Minnesota
Be hears many strange and wisely propounded prophesies
concerning the development of the iron ore industry and
4he discovery of mines throughout the whole and entire
area of northern Minnesota. This conception is, of course,
COHASSET DEPARTMENT
Quarterly Report Red Cross
Balance bro’t forward $50.11
Memberships 3.00
Mrs. Dorholt .25
Bp-river auxiliary 1.20
Total receipts $54.56
Express .42
Duluth Chapter, membership 3.00
Express .82
Express and postage 1.69
Total disbursements 5.91
Total in treasury at end of
year $48.65
MRS. R. K. STOKES, Sec.
Mrs. Earl Parker, chairman of the
Bospital' garment department, re
ports 30 suits of pajamas finished.
Peter Barney was a business caller
a town Saturday.
Ed. Barrett of Vermilion was in
town Saturday on business.
Miss Gertrude Palmer made a
Business trip to Duluth Tuesday.
Miss Lilly Payment of Coleraine
•pent New Year with her parents.
Mrs. John Skelly will entertain the
Altar society next Thursday after
noon.
George Raines was called to Su
perior Sunday on business, returning
Monday.
The M. E. Ladies’ Aid will be en
tertained by Mrs. Charles Brown on
Thursday.
Mrs. R. V. Stewart will entertain
There was
. a Crowd in
the Store
and they were trying to josh the Tobacco Man
; “Have a chew on
me,’’says he.“ Break
off just two or three
squares. That’s a
i man’s size chew of
Real Gravely. It
holds its good taste
PEYTON BRAND
Real Gravely Chewing Plug
each piece packed in a pouch
a wrong one. No one can tell the exact situation of ore
deposits, but the Mesaba range and the other Minnesota
ranges are definitely defined. The Mesaba range runs in
length approximately one hundred miles, but in few places
is the iron bearing formation of three miles in width
Northern Minnesota has a great area in acres, but the fact
that one may own some property in either St. Louis or
Itasca county does not mean that he'is to become an opu
lent possessor of a producing iron mine. However, as com
pared to the rest of the ranges, Minnesota may feel es
pecially fortunate in that speculation and consequent loss
to the small investor has not characterized the Mesaba.
There has probably been less advantage taken of mineral
formation to defraud people here than in any other min
ing region.
People have queer ideas concerning iron ore. They
believe that all ore is of value; that if they or their
friends possess some land on which there is a few thousand
or hundred thousand tons of iron formation, they immedi
ately think that this deposit or property becomes of great
value. This, however, is another ^erroneous idea, as iron
ore is of no value unless it is merchantable—unless it can
be used and can be sold. Some ore deposits cannot be
mined to compete with the product of other properties as
they are too deep in the ground; they are too wet; th;
deposit is too irregular or the tonnage too small—even
though in numbers it may sound large. One hundred
thousand tons of iron ore is, after all, not a very large
amount. Again, ore may be too low in iron content. In
fact there are many times as much ore in northern Min
nesota that is not merchantable as can be used, though
present industrial conditions are making use of ore with
a smaller percentage of iron than heretofore. Ore may
contain chemical elements which make it useless. There
is probably more ore of titaniferous variety—that is con
taining some of the element of titanium—in Minnesota
than of any other kind, but these cannot be used with
present blast furnace equipment. If ore contains just a
few hundredths of a per cent too much phosphorous, it
becomes useless. If it contains too much sand it may have
to be treated at an expense which cannot allow it to be
sold at a profit. In fact, the possession of an iron ore
deposit, while an essential thing, is but a very small part
of a successful and productive mining.
Southern Minnesota knows that the chief methods of
mining in northern Minnesota is by the open pit method.
They have various ideas concerning an open pit. Some
of them believe that overburden that is removed is two
or three hundred feet in depth, while some think it is but
two or three feet. They fail to realize that one company
alone has moved more dirt on the Mesaba range than was
removed in the construction of the Panama canal. The
operations are on a great scale, with the largest type of
equipment and the most progressive method of manage
ment. After all, the method of mining in Minnesota is a
thing that is easily understood. The most common method
is to remove the surface covering of the ore body with
steam shovels and after this has been removed, to take the
ore out on cars. Yet few understand that the operations
are as simple or as large as they really are.
the Christian Aid next Wednesday at
her home.
William Findenkelles returned
from Wisconsin, where he has been
for some time.
Norma Watson and Elizabeth Foi
rest of Grand Rapids were Saturday
visitors in town.
J. D. Randall of Remer is here re
pairing cars, and expects to be in
town several days.
R. D. McCabe returned from Hib
bing Saturday, after a few days’
visit with friends.
Mrs. George Raines is substitut
ing as teacher for Miss Wheeler, who
is in poor health.
Remember the dance at the village
hall Friday evening, January 10.
Good music and supper.
A. A. Axtell and family were
guests of the Earl Parker family at
dinner New Year day.
Mary Coleman returned to Crooks
ton to school, after spending Christ
mas with her mother here.
Daisy Comstock returned from
Deer River last Saturday, after visit
ing her cousin several days.
Beth Watson of Grand Rapids,
who is teaching the Leighton Lake
school, was in town Saturday.
Kathryn Costello of Grand Rapids
and Dora Lalliberta were Sunday
guests of Mrs. George Raines.
Louis Mohler and family spent
Sunday with Mrs. Mohler’s grand-
so long it costs noth
ing extra to chew
this class of tobac-
co. • • • •
It goes further —that's
why you can get the good
taste of this class of tobac
co without extra cost.
GRAND RAPIDS
Tremendous Operations Involved
Relation to Politics
Northern Minnesota and the Mesaba range is watched
mother, Mrs. D. Gill of Grand Rap
ids.
Ed. Baldwin has let a contract to
Adolph Burton to get out logs, ties
and other material from his place at
Vermilion.
Father O’Reardon called on friends
here Thursday enroute to Duluth
as he is called to take up work in
this diocese.
Mr. and Mrs. Martin Berg of Su
perior are the guests of Mrs. Berg’s
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Best
of West Cohasset.
Mr. and Mrs. James Hanchett,
who have been visitipg their son and
daughter at Rhinelander, Wisconsin,
returned home last Friday.
Mrs. George O’Brien went to Be
midji last week to visit her parents.
Mr. O’Brien spent Sunday there, re
turning with Mrs. O’Brien Monday.
J. W. Proper accompanied Mrs.
Proper to Warba Monday, where Mrs.
Proper will assist in teaching until
a permanent teacher can be secured.
R. J. Entrekin of the Brown Land
& Lumber company returned last
week from Bay City, Mich., where he
pent the holidays with his family.
Miss Hazel Sommers returned to
her school on the county road, about
four miles out of Deer River, after
spending her holiday vacation with
her parents.
Miss Wildes, formerly a Cohasset
teacher, went through here Saturday
enroute to her school. Her many
friends were pleased to see her for
a short time.
Miss Alice Tuttle of North Dakota,
formerly a Cohasset school girl,
stopped here over Sunday with the
Bilock family while ehroute to visit
friends in Wisconsin.
Dunn & Marcia, who have a saw
mill about seven miles from here on
the Deer River road, are hauling logs
to that place. Peter Hanson is as
sisting with the work.
Anton Munson, son of Mrs. Ole
Munson of West Cohasset, arrived
home last Friday from Camp Mor
rison, Virginia, and will- spencT the
vinter with his mother.
Miss Robinson, principal of the
school, returned Sunday evening.
Miss Rhodes, Miss Dorr and Miss
Anderson have returned while Miss
Wheeler was unable to return until
the last of the week.
Our people will all be glad to
welcome our postmaster back again.
Lieutenant G. H. O’Brien is now at
the old stand. Mrs. F. Woods has
been assistant postmaster since Mr.
O’Brien left a year ago. -
Miss Helen Lathurn of Superior,
has been visiting friends here dur
ing her vacation. Miss Helen was
an active member of the Winners
class of the M. E. Sunday school
and was a welcome guest.
Mrs. James Crawford received a
telegram last Thursday that her
father had died at his home in Neb
raska. Mrs. Crawford’s father and
Jways Valuable.
JW WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1919.
quite closely from a political standpoint by the rest of
the state. The range has generally stood together on
most issues. Some claim that it is dominated entirely by
the bigger business interests, while as a matter of fact,
one sees greater independence from a political standpoint
in northern Minnesota than is found in southern Minne
sota. There is less prejudice in favor of established in
stitutions. The Mesaba range, for instance, is a place in
which practically all of the interests of the people are
identical, where all are interested in the mining industry.
It is not surprising that all should stand together in re
gard to issues which affect the state at large. There has
been more or less, within the last two or three years, of
political tribulation over the mining town situation but this
has been largely exaggerated by many publications. It
is not surprising that it should be. One reporter visited
the range to view the local conditions surrounding certain
villages. He made eleven different reports to as many
different publications, as to conditions and colored every
one of them to suit what he thought the publications and
its readers might like to read most. There has been no
ynr eiud.ced or accurate publication of political affairs
as they actually exist on the Mesaba range. Most reports
are colored by the prejudice of those who write or who
read. As a matter of fact there is neither the strife,
parsimony or corruption which is sometimes attributed to
northern Minnesota. Most matters of disagreement are
J>eing settled amicably and, considering the fact that in
each village there are several different classes of people
representing many different ideas, conditions are most
peaceful. The mining companies have been most liberal
in the payment of taxes. In fact, some say that they
have been too liberal and that the government has been
setting a too careless or too extravagant standard in the
management of public affairs. Graft has been frequently
charged but, strange as it may seem and true as it is.
very little of it has been discovered or proven. In every
new community, especially in as rich a one as that in
which the people of the Mesaba range live, there is a
tendency to spend money liberally and to sometimes take
it unlawfully. Where a village of three hundred popula
tion has a most modem school house, an elegant library
and a most extravagant village hall all built within che
course of two or three years, together with paving, water
and public improvement contracts, there is certainly a
temptation for those who would graft to take unlawful
advantages. However, as the Mesaba range is growing
older and large taxpayers are watching the expenditure
of their money as they should watch it, this tendency to
waste is being eliminated and we can make the assertion
that even at the present time municipal affairs are con
ducted in as fair and honest, though on a more extravagant
basis, as they are in any of the other smaller cities of
southern Minnesota. It lies with those who are big tax
payers to supervise and watch carefully the expenditure of
the money. Their policy oTliberality is one which should
be endorsed and which will doubtless be continued. The
villages or governmental units of northern Minnesota have
been treated most excellently and they are beginning to
realize that this has been the case. There will be in the
future absolutely no conflict between governmental and
taxpaying interests on the Mesaba range as all will un
derstand that the other fellow’s motives are correct and all
purposes and desires the same.
brother drove here last summer with
their car to visit the family.
Mrs. Stackhouse called a meeting
of the surgical dressing class at the
school house Tuesday after school, to
give out the new crosses. Miss West
said they deserve them, for the very
efficient work that was sent in.
Joe Schamren received a telegram
from Montana saying his brother
was very ill. Mr. Schamren left
Saturday evening and Sunday an
other message was received by the
family that the brother was dead.
Morris Hursh, who is attending
school here, spent the holidays with
his parents, Mr. and Mis. C. Hursh
at Henning, returning Sunday. He
will stay at the home of Mr. and
Mrs. O. V. Bartels the remainder of
the term.
Mrs. Alexander Dunn, Jr., who is
yisiting her husband’s parents, left
Monday for Sheeboygan, Michigan,
where she will visit her sister-in-law,
Mrs. Frank Ballard, and will return
about the middle of February, then
Returning to her home in Oregon.
A surprise party was given to Mr.
and Mrs. Len Clark last Saturday
evening, in honor of their wedding
anniversary. A most delightful
evening was enjoyed in games and
music. There was a sleigh load of
our people that drove out to meet
the West Cohasset people.
M’s. Parker, chairman of the hos
pital department of the Red Cross,
has just received a large order of
ladies garments to be made and has
called a meeting for the ladies of the
Red Cross to meet at her home next
Thursday evening. The work will be
distributed, so it may be completed
as soon as possible.
Word has been received from Red
Cross headquarters that a certificate
in| recognition of loyal service to
the nation through the Red Cross,
shall be awarded to all persons who
have given regular service during a
period of not less than six months,
in which period of activity^ work
shall be done equivalent to 800 hours.
Mrs. Cook received a letter from
her son Thomas, who is now on Ger
man soil: “The weather to date is
Sympathy’
Sweetly expressed by
Floral Offerings from
DULUTH FLORAL CO.
Duluth, Minnesota
fine. No snow and not cold at all.
We have been through a few fairly
large German towns, but we are now
very near our journey’s end. This
country looks very much like France
so far, except for the people, and
they are of the peasant type and live
in combination house and barn. It is
all in one except for the partition and
many have moss roofs. They make a
very picturesque scene. This coun
trv is surprisingly filled with a lot
of pine and maple forest. The farm
ers are plowing. The other day we
saw a farmer plowing with a horse
and cow hitched together. We have
The school system on the Mesaba range has been a
thing which has probably attracted more people from
southern Minnesota than anything else. Minnesota is en
thusiastic in educational matters, especially certain sec
tions of the southern part of the commonwealth. North
ern Minnesota and the Mesaba range is noted for its
schools. Their educational problem is somewhat different.
There are two classes which must be educated. One are
the children of the mining men and townships. For them
their parents insist upon the best facilities and demand
them. The other class of children are those of the miners
themselves, usually of foreign birth. With them the prob
lem of education is more serious than in southern Minne
sota and educational methods must be more strenuous.
With these educational requirements, coupled with a plenti
ful supply of money to meet them, has grown up the most
wonderful school system in America. School building
equipments are of the most modern type. Management
and teaching is said to be of the best. It may be said
that great good has been accomplished, though it can also
be asserted that the Mesabai range is the home of the
theoretical and advanced educational methods and it is
often times asserted that many of the things which are
demanded are put into force because there is money to pay
for them, where they do not really add a great deal to the
educational accomplishments of the institution. There are
some who say that the schools are setting too great an
example of extravagance to the pupils, that they are
setting a standard which cannot be ever reached or enjoyed.
This is undoubtedly true, but it can be also asserted from
a broad educational standpoint that even if the stand
that all motives are correct and all purposes and stand
ards, which are now called too high and which can never
be reached, can exert some influence and raise the present
standards of living, it will accomplish its good. Taxpay
ing interests of Minnesota are enthusiastic in the cause of
education and when our school system is compared to
that of other mining regions or other sections, its super
iority is immediately shown. .
Some southern Minnesota people, especially those
with a big and dyspeptic imagination, seem to imagine
that there is some kind of a conflict between themselves
and the northern sections. This idea should be eliminated
by every way possible. The people of southern Minne
sota should realize that the Mesaba range and the mineral
wealth has contributed great sums of money to our edu
cational institutions. The state university itself will re
ceive $35,000,000 through the possession of this wealth and
the mining industry pays to the state of Minnesota over
$3,000,000 a year in direct revenues in royalties and gross
earnings taxes from the transportation of its ores. Be
sides that the Mesaba range has created centers of popu
lation, made markets for their farm or manufactured pro
ducts, populated their state and by providing a variety of
industries, has given greater industrial stability. South
ern Minnesota should seek to understand the Mesaba
range and its characteristics and the Mesaba range should
seek to be understood by the people of southern counties.
From a mutual understanding will undoubtedly spring
better feeling and mutual profit to both sections.
Indigestion
DO YOU KNOW that indigestion can be cured,
permanently cured, so that you can eat any
kind of food that you crave? It has been done
not only once, but in almost every case when Cham
berlain’s Tablets are used. An instance: Mr. J.
Pominville, Stillwater, Minn., who had spent over
$2,000.00 for medicine and treatment was perma
nently cured hy these tablets.
Chamberlain's Tablets
——————— —— « - ]
A Fat Bank Account
is generally evidence of the owner’s industry,
integrity and wisdom. It marks him as a man
of standing and entitled to business credit and
other advantages.
The First National Bank
School Systems Par Excellence
Minnesota Is Minnesota.
moved over quite an area of Ger
many and are now about 25 miles
from Coblenz. However, our travel
has been necessarily slow, as we had
to wait for the dough boys to move
first. We have five motor bricks
and a number of mules and v^^ns,
and as yet have not had to' nike.
Nearly every town] we have been
through has a beautiful church, very
elaborately decorated inside, and it
is noticeable that they are the best
buildings in town. Have also passed
many shrines and worshipping
places.”
Grand Rapids