Duluth Township (part 1 of 15)

The Incorporated Village Of Eveleth

The city of Eveleth, one of the leading and most active incorporated places of the ranges, had its beginning in mining explorations. Therefore, properly, a historical review of its development should begin with data regarding its mining. And no more authoritative information could be obtained than from the man who, above all others, was chiefly responsible for the founding of the village of Eveleth.

David T. Adams, a mining explorer of Duluth, whose first trip over the Mesabi range was in 1883, when he "was attracted to the possibility of the existence of commercial bodies of hematite ore on the southern slope, or in the lowlands of the Mesaba," was one of the most successful of the .early explorers of the Mesabi range. He was the first to discover marketable ore, finding it on the Cincinnati in 1891, Captain Kehoe almost simultaneously finding blue ore on the Biwabik workings. In the next year Adams, acting for A. E. Humphreys, George G. Atkins, and others, "had seventeen camps in operation in township 58-17," mainly in the Virginia district. In a narrative written specially for the current historical work Mr. Adams makes the following statements regarding his early operations in the Eveleth district:

"In, or about, the month of July, 1892, I discovered coloring on the south line of section 30, 58-17, by means of a spring pole drill, operated by Hugh McMahon and Noble Beatty - the first operation of the kind undertaken on the range.

"In the month of September of that year an option was acquired by the late Peter L. Kimberly from the late Simon J. Murphy, George O. Robinson, E. M. Fowler and others, on three quarter-sections, which I had previously selected, in sections 31 and 32 of 58-17, and were designated as selections Nos. 1, 2 and 3, and the explorations on these selections were known as Adams Nos. 1, 2 and 3. A little later, George L. Cheeseborough secured an option from these same parties, on the sw. qr. of section 31, which I had previously selected and which was selection No. 4, known as the Cheeseborough explorations.

"On or about the first of October, 1892, I started explorations in the northern part of section 31 on- the Adams No. 1, and the first ore discovered in what is now known as the Eveleth Group of Mines, or anywhere on the southern slope of the hills running down from \"irginia, was discovered there in my first pit. (On this, as on all former and later explorations I always located my own pits.) Thomas Short was in charge of the men, and under him work proceeded rapidly. It was not long before a very large body of what is now the standard ore of the range was discovered.

Duluth And St. Louis County 513

sidered a commercial ore at the time, and as Kimberly Jones and myself wanted the land for townsite purposes, the exploration was abandoned, our option surrendered, and the surface rights finally purchased by us.

"On January 9, 1893, the Adams ]\Iining Company was organized by Mr. Kimberly, Mr. Jones and myself, on Selection No. 1, in the northern part of the section.

"The next deposit of ore to be discovered by me in the vicinity was on the nw.-nw. of section 5, and the n. half of section 6, township 57-17, in the month of November, 1893, which is now known as the Fayal No. 1. Fifty-one per cent of the capital stock of the Adams Mining Company was sold to John D. Rockefeller, for the Lake Superior Consolidated L-on Mines, in the month of July, 1893." (The cash consideration for the transfer was $410,000.)

"The Fayal No. 1 was explored by the Mclnnis Mining Company, which was organized by me on the 31st of January, 1894, in honor of the late Neil Mclnnis, who had been my purchasing agent of goods to supply the camps, and paymaster during the latter part of my explorations in connection with Humphreys and Atkins, on the Virginia Group of Mines, and who also acted in the same capacity for the Adams Mining Company, during their development of the Adams mine. The late ]\Iarvin Van Buskirk was in charge of the men, and under him the work of development was rapid indeed. The Mclnnis Mining Company finally sold their lease on the Fayal No. 1 to the Chicago Minnesota Ore Company on September 6, 1894.

Winchell's Review (1894). - Horace V. Winchell, in the winter of 1894-95, wrote of mining development in the "Eveleth Group of Mines" as follows :

Adams Mine. - "This property is being developed by the Consolidated Company. The mine is in the north half of section 31, 58-17. It is operated on a lease from Chicago and Michigan lumberman, who own the fee. This deposit of ore is supposed to be one of the largest on the Mesabi range, and to contain ore of more than average value, because of its granular and shaly nature * * * It is being stripped at present. Ore was discovered here by Neil Mclnnis and D. T. Adams, of Duluth, in 1893. The superintendent is ]\Ir. J. H. Hearding.

Vega Mine. - "West of the Adams is the Vega, lying under too great a burden of glacial till to ])ermit of open cut mining. It produced 5,628 tons of ore in 1894, and is under the direction of Mr. Geo. St. Clair.

Fayal Mine. - "This is one of the recent acquisitions of the Minnesota Iron Company. It "^^ * '^^ was first discovered in 1894. Other properties in this vicinity, and in section 34, 58-17. are known to contain more or less ore, but are not being very rapidly developed at present. This mine is also under the direction of Captain \\'allace, assistant general manager of the Minnesota Iron Company."

The Vega, referred to by Mr. Winchell, was "operated for a time as the Cloquet by Joseph Sellvvood" stated another writer, adding that Sellwood "finally turned it over to the Minnesota Iron Company." It later became part of the Adams-Spruce mine. It included part of the old townsite of Eveleth. Regarding the Adams Mine, the same writer (1906) stated that "Credit for discovery of the first ore in the Eveleth field * * =^ is due to D. T. Adams and Neil Mclnnis, who commenced explorations on * * * the Adams mine on October 1, 1892. A lease on all the land in sections 30 and 31 was taken by D. T. Adams, Neil ]\lclnnis, P. L. Kimberly and John T. Jones, from Messrs. Robinson and Flynn, the Detroit lumbermen. Ore was found in the first test-pit put down under the direction of Mr. Mclnnis. The writer visited the camp in his company soon after . the explorations were started."

Neil Mclnnis, in 1906, put into writing his "Recollections of early mining explorations." After referring to the excitement that followed the discovery of blue ore on the Biwabik in 1891, stated :

"The winter coming on shortly after this discover3% not very much was done until the early spring of 1892, when numerous companies were organized, and prospecting commenced in great earnest. March of that year brought the writer from Tower, and associating with A. E. Humphreys (one of the chief promoters of that day), had immediate charge of twelve camps, beginning at the Hale and Kanawha mines, section 1, town 58, range 16, to town 58, range 19, the principal camp, known as headquarters, being in section 9, town 58, range 17, near the present city of Virginia. The results of these explorations amounted to the following: the Kanawha, Cincinnati, Lincoln, Commodore, Franklin, Lone Jack, Moose, and Auburn mines.

"Mention should be made of David T. Adams, of Duluth, as the party selected by Mr. Humphreys to go out into the wilderness during the severe winter of '91 and '92, and select the land above-stated for exploration, and who, after severing his connection with Mr. Humphreys and associating himself with John T. Jones, of Iron Mountain. ]\Iich., and the late P. L. Kimberly, of Sharon, Pa., secured option and afterwards leases on land now occupied by the great mines - the Adams, Spruce and a portion of the Fayal.

"This brought the writer down from the Humphreys camp, and on the first of October, 1892, began the exploration of lands in section 31, town 58, range 17, and showing up what is now known as the Adams mine. A camp was established. One or two of the log buildings can yet be seen. A force of 45 men was used during the winter of 1892-93. Buckets and windlass, picks and shovels were the only tools used to show up the big deposit and in the early summer of 1893 the lease of the Adams mine was turned over to the Consolidated Mining Company, on the recommendation of their chief and capable mining expert at that time, Mr. W. J. Olcott.

"With the summer of 1893 came the depression in the iron business, and consequently in the prospecting, nothing doing; men we had paid $40, or more, a month, and their board, now could not get a day's work anywhere.

A small start was made to establish the town of Eveleth. Hank Hookwith came in to open a saloon. Archie McComb had a hotel building (afterwards destroyed by fire), and Jerry Sullivan had a boarding house on the site of the future town * * * in September, Mr. Adams, already referred to, and myself, in looking over the prospects around the neighborhood, thought of doing a little work on lands now covered by the great Fayal mine. I made known to the population of Eveleth at that time, which consisted of the three named above, that I was going to start a crew test-pitting, and the result was ]\IcComb, Tookwith and Sullivan worked six months, sinking pits, at $1.25 a day, during the fall and winter of 1893, resulting in showing to the world the beginning of that great mine on section 5, town 57-17."

Duluth And St. Louis County 515

A study of the foregoing gives one an idea of the principal mining operations that were destined to find communal expression in the estabhshment of Eveleth. And one should not leave the subject of pioneer mining in the Eveleth Group without making reference to one worthy pioneer of mining as w^ell as of Eveleth. Marvin Van Buskirk, first president of the village of Eveleth, was one of the early lieutenants of David T. Adams. He directed the operations that discovered ore on several valuable properties, although he apparently did not profit much by his work. David T. Adams, in a letter to his friend, J. C. Poole, another pioneer of Eveleth, stated, on February 7, 1920: "The greater part of the explorations are what is now known as the Adams mine was done by Thomas Short, under my supervision, until I replaced him by the late Marvin Van Buskirk. The iate Xeil Mclnnis was paymaster for the company, timekeeper and purchasing agent for the camp."

, Adams Mine. - The property, combined with others, was lor many years under the direction of Capt. John H. Hearding, as snpcrintcndent, the mining being mostly underground. The mines are now known as the Adams-Spruce. Captain J. H. Hearding became assistant general manager of the Oliver Iron Mining Company in 1909, and thereafter had to devote the whole of his time to executive affairs in the head offices of the company at Duluth. The present general superintendent at Eveleth is Charles Grabowsky. Work has been almost constant since the beginning at the Adams-Spruce, which has been one of the principal mainstays of Eveleth. Up to the end of 1919, the Adams mine had shipped 22,310.351 tons, in some years shipping a million and a half tons. Included in that total are the outputs of the Cloquet, or Vega, mine, the Hull 40, and the Nelson, all adjoining properties and grouped as one. The Spruce gave 11,182,140 tons to end of 1919.

Fayal Mine. - That also is a combination of several, and, as in late years constituted, is classed among the great mines of the Mesabi range. Adams and Mclnnis were interested in the "forty," nw.-nw. of section 5, 57-17, which "forty" they leased from E. F. Fowler, of Detroit, Mich., forming the Mclnnis Mining Company to operate it. Their lease they sold to the Minnesota Iron Company. Louis Rouchleau purchased 80 acres adjoining the Mclnnis for $50,000, eventually transferring to the Minnesota Iron Company for $125,000. The remainder of the Fayal property was leased from Murphy, Dorr and Flynn by the Minnesota Iron Company direct. Eventually, of course, the Fayal' mines passed to the Oliver Iron Mining Company, which has since controlled them. Captain Richard R. Trezona was superintendent for many years. Of late years Wm. F. Pellenz. Jr., has been superintendent of the Fayal mines, of sections 5 and 6, 57-17. The mines are designated the Fayal Fee, Fayal No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4; and to the end of 1919 they had yielded an aggregate of 29,908,246 tons, more than a million tons a year since the beginning. At first, the mining was by shaft, but later three different systems were being operated concurrently. There were two large open pits, milling being carried on in one and loading direct into cars with steam shovels in the other, while underground mining was continued.

The Leonidas mine, which may be considered to be within the Eveleth group, is referred to in the Nichols township chapter. And several of the mines reviewed in the Gilbert chapter may be con- sidered as within the sphere of Eveleth. Nevertheless, if Eveleth be credited with only the Fayal and Adams mines, the available ore deposits on these two are sufficient to ensure Eveleth a definite deg^ree of prosperity, probably .e:rowth, up to the time when it will have other interests and assets to supplement or take the place of its present dependence upon mining activities. The Adams-Spruce mines have proved deposits of iron ore aggregating to more than fifty-two million tons, and the five Fayal mines have a reserve of about seventeen million tons, enough to keep Eveleth in its present degree of prosperity for at least a generation. And a generation should see the development in agriculture of all the outlying land, a development which will ensure stable and permanent prosperity to Eveleth, assuming it does not in the meantime become a manufacturing city, or that other large ore deposits are not "shown up," which is always possible. Eveleth, therefore, is reasonably sure of prosperous continuance as a city.

An Eveleth Mine

Platting of Original Townsite. - Again, it is proper to refer to, and quote, the narrative of David T. Adams, who was the founder, or was the most active among the founders, of the village of Eveleth. He writes, under date of December 7, 1920: "I promoted the townsite of Eveleth in the year 1893. The original plat consisted of the w. half of the se. quarter of section 31, township 58-17. It was surveyed by C. E. Bailey, and the plat was filed for record April 22nd of that year. My associates in the original townsite (project) were Peter L. Kimberly, John T. Jones and Fred Robinson, the latter of Detroit. Michigan. Shortly after the plat was filed for record, I bought out Mr. Kimberly and Mr. Jones. Mr. Robinson held a tenth interest, and remained in the townsite throughout.

"In finding a suitable name for the town * * * j h^j my troubles. I wanted to name it Robinson, that being the name of one of the fee owners of the Adams mine. Elisha A. Flynn, law-partner of Mr. Robinson, however, objected. I never knew why, but I always surmised that he thought that the town would never amount to anything, and did not want his name attached to it. I then asked the name of the cruiser who estimated the timber on the land when they bought it, and they told me his name was Eveleth. I thought over the name of Eveleth for some time, comparing it with other names, such as Iron Point, Iron City, etc., and the more I thought the name Eveleth over, the better I liked it ; and as it seemed to be an easy name for the Scandinavian element to pronounce, I decided on that name. I then wrote to Mr. Eveleth for permission to use his name. He consented; hence the name 'Eveleth' was adopted."

Neil Mclnnis, who evidently was consulted regarding the naming of the city-to-be, wrote, in 1906, upon that point: "Many a name proposed * * * had to be abandoned, because it was already in existence in some other portion of the state. However, we finally settled this matter by naming the town after a woodsman from Michigan, sent up here about twenty years ago in the interests of Robinson, Flinn and Fowler, to pick up pine lands. This man's name was Eveleth."

Primitive Living. - For a year or more after the platting of the townsite, life in Eveleth had a spartan aspect and rigor. "On the slope" Dr. More had "a little red shack," which, because he happened to be a physician, and a good one, and in emergency could handle a surgical case in it, was called a hospital ; the company ofifice was a small log cabin; the men of the camp lived as best they could, some in "boarding houses," and some under canvas, and worked "for grub stakes," some, if not all of them, during the peri'od of extreme financial stringency of 1893, and considered themselves fortunate in having work at all. It is said that at least two of the pioneers lived "for a time" on moose meat. The mail came in from Virginia by dog-team during the winter of 1892-93, and possibly 1893-94; and even well into 1894 there were only four or five buildings on the townsite, according to one account, so that newcomers had to "make-shift" under canvas, until a frame building could be put together. Another account states that "about a dozen buildings were erected in 1894 upon the first site."

Petition to Incorporate. - Seeing that the county commissioners approved the holding of an election, in August, 1893, to decide whether Eveleth should be made an incorporated place, or should not, it is rather surprising that the first election of officials did not take place until October 18, 1894.

A petition, presented to the county commissioners on June 9, 1893, by Neil Mclnnis, Joseph Elliott and Thomas Short, sought permission to proceed with the legal measures whereby the residents "upon the western half of the southeast quarter of section 31. of township 58-17 (which lands had been platted, and the plat duly filed, on April 22, 1893, with the Register of Deeds), might, if the majority favored it, institute corporate government of the community under the provisions of chapter 145, Laws of 1885." The signers of the petition were: Neil Mclnnis, Joseph Elliott, Thomas Short, Archie McArthur, John Nelson, Rt. Fogarty, Thomas Simpson, Henry Hook with, Archer McCombs, John White, Fred Whitney, Aaron Johnson, John Gray, L. Jacobson, Fred Nelson, John Johnson, Ole Johnson, John Goodwin, Edward Grayson, John Elfstrom, Peter Elfstrom, John Hill, Martin Webber, John Morrow, Peter Enright, John Mullens, Axel Johnson, Martin Erickson, John Graham, and Fred Reynolds. The three first-named testified to the accuracy of the statements made in petition, one important statement being that at the time of the circulation of the paper for signatures (June, 1893), a census then taken of the residents within the territory for which incorporation was sought disclosed the fact that there were then living on it two hundred pers6ns.

Commissioners Approve Petition. - On June 13, 1893, the petition was considered at the session of the Board of County Commissioners, and resolution was passed, approving of the proposed incorporation, as the Village of Eveleth. Consequently, a date was set upon which legal voters should assemble and cast a vote for, or against, the sought incorporation. The commissioners ordered "election to be held on July 25, 1893, at the building of Thomas Short, lot 23, block 8, Eveleth." And they appointed "Neil Mclnnis, Tom Short and Joe Eliot" to act as inspectors of election at that gathering. Copies of "Notice of Election" were posted "at McComb and \\'ilson's boarding house, at H. Hookwith's store, at Thomas Short's building, at Jerry Sullivan's boarding house, and at Edward Simpson's place of business," by Neil Mclnnis.

The voting, apparently, took place, and, presumably, was in favor of the proposed incorporation, for the county commissioners, on August 11, 1893, "gave notice to the legal voters to meet and organize and elect oflficers for the ensuing year," on August 26, 1893. No record of election is on file in the county offices, as is required by law, and, presumably, the election was not held.

Spruce No. 4 Mine. Eveleth

It is possible that the population so dwindled during the depression of 1893 that tlie few remaining decided not to proceed with the election. Indeed, Neil Mclnnis. in his narrative, before-quoted, stated that he drew to the Fayal exploratory work in September. 1893, the whole of the man-power of Eveleth, namely. Hank Hookwith, Archie McComb. and Jerry Sullivan ; and these men were too busy digging for their bread, "at $1.25 a day," during that fall and winter, to have much inclination to pursue matters of town-planning and corporate government."

Marvin Van Buskirk either had not yet come into the neighborhood, or was subordinate to Thomas Short at the Adams camp. Soon, however, he was in charge of the mining operations, and during the next year seems to have become very popular, and much respected, among his co-workers. So much is evident in the result of the first election.

First Officials. - On October 5, 1894, the countv commissioners again "gave notice" to the legal voters of Eveleth "to meet and organize and elect officers for the ensuing year," on October ISth, 1894. "at the corner store of the Adams Block." Accordingly "a meeting of voters- of Eveleth" was held on October 18, 1894, states the first entry in the minute book of the trustees of the Village of Eveleth, "at 9:00, a. m., for the purpose of nominating a board of judges of election." Marvin Van Buskirk was ''appointed chairman of committee on nominations" and Frank Kempffer, secretary. John Salvo and Frank Kempffer were appointed judges, with Joseph Leach and Annie Burnett acting as clerks. The voting then proceeded, and the result was in due course announced by the judges, who found Marvin Van Buskirk legally elected to the office of president. Ninety-one votes were cast in his favor, his candidacy having been unopposed. The trustees were Henry Hookwith, John Grey and W. H. Shea, having received 60, 91, and 57 votes respectively, the unsuccessful candidates being Alfred Riff and John Anderson, with 31 and 34 votes respectively. A. S. Erickson was elected recorder, having received 57 votes; S. S. Childers became treasurer, receiving 91 votes; John F. Towell and Chas. Wyman were elected justices of the peace, and Jerry Sullivan, constable, having received 90 votes.

First Council Meeting. - The first meeting of trustees was held "in the back room of Stetton's store," on October 25, 1894. Present at the meeting were: M. Van Buskirk, president; John Grey, Hy. Hookwith, and W. H. Shea, trustees; A. S. Erickson, recorder.

Marvin Van Buskirk was "appointed a committee of one, to secure room and furnishing, to be used as a council chamber," which appointment supports the statement that the first meeting of the village council was held "in the townsite company's frame building." Possibly, the "back room of Stetton's store" was the "room and furnishing" secured by President Van B"skirk, after that first meeting in the townsite company's building. It is known that council meetings in the first year "used to be held" in Stetton's store."

First Village Hall. - After a year or so of the use of a rented room as council chamber, the village ofificials moved into a building of their own. The first village hall was a two-story frame structure, erected at a cost of $656.69, in 1895. It was built upon lot No. 36, in block 12, of the "old town," the village paying the townsite company $200 for the lot. Eventually, the hall was moved to the new town, and now stands on Grant Avenue, "next to Max Stipetich's saloon." Latterly, it has served as a cinema.

First Marshal. - Jerry Sullivan was appointed marshal on November 1, 1894, at $30.00 a m'onth, having secured the office by competitive sealed bid. The marshal's hours of duty were from 9:00 p. m. to 7 :00 a. m. In 1896, the salary of the marshal was $75.00 a month.

First Fire Company. - A volunteer fire company was formed in June, 1895. It consisted of fifteen members, the compensation to firemen being fixed at one dollar for each call, with an additional fifty cents for each hour after the first. One of the first measures instituted for the purpose of fire protection was the employment, in January, 1895, of "a force of men to cut, pile and burn, for a distance of 250 feet back from the borders of the village."

First Board of Health. - A board of health was organized on February 4, 1895. Members of the board were Dr. II. L. Darms, John Grey, and ]'>. J. McCormick. Dr. Darms was also one of the village trustees in its first vear, taking the place of W. II. Shea, who "moved away" early in 1S''5.

First Hotel. - The first hotel was jirobably that l)uilt in 1893 by Archie McComb. F.ut it was "not of much account." In May, 1895, owners of lots on Jones Street petitioned the trustees of the village "to condemn, as a street, the east 120 feet of Jones Street, between blocks 10 and 11, and allow some to revert to the townsite owners," the Duluth Mining- and Investment Company, provided they deed the land to David T. Adams *'for immediate construction of a good first-class hotel building" thereon. Although that project did not carry, it is stated that David T. Adams built the first hotel in Eveleth. It was called the Mclnnis Hotel and was situated on the southeast corner of Grant Avenue and Jackson Street. Charles Jesmore was the first manager. The building still stands.

First SchooL - The first school was "in the valley by the creek." It was opened in 1895, and the first teacher was Florence Kent, who came from Virginia. The schoolhouse was "a. one-story frame shack," and its furniture consisted of "two benches and a plank table," with a small table for the teacher. Some of the pupils enrolled at that school in 1895 were : Charlie Higgins, Rosie Walker, Fred Chilters, and several of the children of the Gross, Springer, and Van Buskirk families. There were five or six of the Gross children, three girls and two or three boys ; they drove to school each morning from their homestead, about two or three miles away. There w^ere two Spring- ers, Bert and Otis ; and of the Van Buskirk family, Tony, Mae, and Anna attended the first school. By the way, Tony Van Buskirk, now city clerk, was the first boy to come to Eveleth, it has been stated. He came with his mother and sisters, from Crystal Falls, Michigan, in 1893, or 1894, to join their father, who had come earlier. They came by rail as far as Virginia, or rather as far as the Auburn mine, walking from there into Eveleth. The family had to live in a tent for a couple of weeks while a house was being built for them.

First Church. - The first church built in Eveleth was in 1896, for the Methodist Episcopal society, which was organized on September 17. 1895. Services were held in the schoolhouse until March, 1896, when "a neat frame building was dedicated." The Rev. Olin J. Gary, a local preacher, was the first pastor. He and Russell and Howard Buokthought were the first trustees, and the church was built under his supervision. "On February 12, 1896, lots were secured, as donation, from E. M. Fowler, of Chicago, and a subscription paper was then started for the purpose of raising' funds for erection of a church building." The next pastor was L. F. Merritt (1896-97). He was succeeded by C. H. Stevenson, and in 1898, Rev. M. O. Stockland was in charge. A new church was built during his pastorate, which ended in October, 1901, when Rev. R. J. Taylor came.

Pay of Pioneer Village Officials. - In 1896, the president received $10 a month ; the recorder, $25 a month ; the street commissioner, $2.50 a day, "for actual services" ; the marshal, $75, and his deputy, $60 a month; the waterworks engineer, $75; the janitor at Village Hall, $30 a month, it being also his duty to light street lamps, without extra pay. Unskilled labor was secured at $1.75 a day, and a team at $4 a day'

First Teamster. - John Morrow was the first teamster in Eveleth. David T. Adams, in February, 1920, wrote : "John Morrow, who I believe is now living in the old Adams camp, was teamster for the company during the explorations, and is the only one of the old employees left on the Mesabi range." He lives with his wife in the log cabin which was originally the office of the Adams Mining Company, which cabin it was recently stated had "been purchased by the city, and will be given a permanent place in one of the city parks as a monument to the early mining industry."

First Storekeeper. - The first storekeeper was Stetton, it has been stated, so possibly the "store" of Hy. Hookwith, upon which "Notice of Election" was declared to have been posted in June, 1893, was not a store at all, but a hotel.

First Sawmill. - The erection of a sawmill was a necessity as soon as it became evident that a community would develop near the Adams explorations. One was built by David T. Adams near what is now No. 5 shaft of the Spruce mine. It was burned down in 1896 or 1897.

First Bond Issue.- - On May 9, 1895, the voters approved the issuance of bonds to the amount of $3,000, "for the construction of a system of waterworks." Bond No. 1, of one thousand dollars denomination, and bearing date June 1, 1895, "payable one year later," was bought by David T. Adams. The interest was 8 per cent, and Mr. Adams became "security" for the whole issue. In July, 1895, he took up the whole issue, "at face value."

Water System. - Thus, the village was enabled to build its first water plant. It served until 1905, when a new system was installed, at an expense of $60,000, providing "an excellent supply of water from St. Mary's lake, two and a half miles distant." In 1914, "an entirely new system of waterworks" was completed, at a cost of $65,- 000. The water plant in 1920 comprised two motor-driven centrifugal pumps, with a capacity of 1,600,000 gallons daily, and two steam pumps of one million daily capacity. Two mains, one 16-inch and the other 10-inch, "carry the water from St. Mary's lake to the elevated tank of 300,000 gallons capacity, located at the highest point in the city." The water is "soft and pure." About fifteen miles of water mains are in use. In July, 1920, 26,000,000 gallons were pumped at a cost of 6 cents a thousand gallons. The superintendent is F. E. Forristel.

Lighting. - On IMay 28, 1896, Frank McCormick. of Duluth, was given a franchise, "for ten years," to supply Eveleth with electric light, the village "contracting for seven arc street lights at ten dollars each per month." and stipulating that private users be supplied at

"not to exceed one cent per hour per light of 16 c. p." McCormick did not complete the installation within the time limit set, but, receiving an extension of time, he ultimately established a satisfactorylighting system. His plant and franchise eventually passed, by sale, to C. H. Webster, who later met his death at the plant, being instantly killed when struck by fragments of a flywheel that broke. His widow sold the plant to Alexander Hughes of Duluth, who, on August 9, 1901, was confirmed in the ownership of the franchise, and also some time later was granted a franchise to establish a heating system. In 1914, there were, on Eveleth main thoroughfares, fifty-one standards of five lights each, making a "white way" for seven blocks ; and in addition, eighty-four arc lights. A public heating system had just been installed, extending "to most parts of the city." At about that time the "Home Electric and Heating Company, of Eveleth," ofifered to sell its plant to the city, for $134,655.05. The proposed bond issue, however, did not carry, and the lighting, heating, and power utilities at Eveleth are still in private ownership. The Minnesota Utilities Company, of Eveleth, was organized in 1917, with an authorized capital of $650,000. The first president was Neal Brown, of A¥ausau, Wis. He was succeeded by Cyrus C. Yawkey. Mr. R. M. Heskett is the only officer living at Eveleth ; he has been secretary and treasurer since the organization. In addition to the Eveleth service, the company supplies power to Chisholm, and at various places from Eveleth to Deer River, and the company maintains local electrical distributing systems in Kinney, Chisholm, Carson Lake, Kelly Lake, Stevenson, Nashwauk, Calumet, Marble, Taconite, Bovey, Coleraine, Grand Rapids, Cohasset and Deer River. It is only at Eveleth, however, that the company furnishes steam for heating purposes. That utility is a comprehensive one, "most business places and a considerable number of residences" in Eveleth being connected with the steam mains.

Moving of Village. - It was evident, even in 1895, that the village would soon, or eventually, have to be moved from the original townsite, because needed iron ore lay underneath. But it was not a matter that could be disposed of in a short period of time. Indeed, it seems that the removal was not completely effected until the early years of the present century. David T. Adams writes:

"In 1895, I re-explored the townsite of Eveleth (which was originally No. 2 of the Adams selections), for the mineral owners, on a percentage basis. I developed a large body of ore on the townsite, and thereafter gave it the name of Spruce mine. It then became necessary, in order to mine out the ore, to vacate the townsite. To do so, I withdrew the lots from sale, and in company with the mineral owners, proceeded to lay out the First Addition to Eveleth, on the east half of the se. quarter of section 31, in the same township. The plat of the First Addition was filed for record on the 31st day of August, 1896. The Village of Eveleth then annexed its first addition, and the moving of the Village of Eveleth, with its twelve or fifteen hundred inhabitants, on an average of one-fourth of a mile, up the hill, to the east, ensued, at a cost of about $125,000, for moving and repairing the buildings alone, and exclusive of the bonuses paid to each improved-property owner, in the way of an additional lot, or in cash, according to their discretion."

Municipal action regarding the First Addition to Eveleth did not come until 1899. A "petition to annex land platted and designated 'The First Addition to Eveleth' was filed with the county auditor on

April 4, 1899, and on June 26tli, of that year. Village Ordinance No. 22 was passed. Said ordinance ordained that "the east half of the southeast quarter of section thirty-one, township fifty eight north, of range seventeen west. * * '^' designated as the 'First Addition to Eveleth' (be) declared to be an addition to the said Village of Eveleth, and a part of said village, as effectually as if said territory hereby added had been originally a part of said Village of Eveleth."

x-\t that time, apparently, the removal had not been accomplished, or had not been completed. A 1910 history of the City of Eveleth states that "manv of the buildings were moved thither ( to the First Addition) in 1900."

''The opening of the Spruce mine, by Peter L. Kimberly. who had taken another lease on it after the ore body had been thoroughly developed, and the additional men employed in the vicinity by the opening ot the mine>. slimulatcd llic' business and growth of ICveleth. The property started to rise in value, and it was not long before a business lot on (irant .\venue. 25x110- feet, would bring from $12,000 tf) $15,000. or more, ])er lot. according to the location. But the townsite ])eople had disjjosed of all their lots, on the business streets. in the way of bonuses, and the inhal)itants miK- ])r()hted. The result was that in a few years there were more well-to-do Inisiness men along the business street of I'Aeletli than there were on a like street of Virginia or Nibbing, the other twd i)rincipal cities of tlu- Mesabi range."

That was a gratifying outcome, for in the early days of the village, its slow advancement nnist lia\e caused its pioneers many regretful nximciit-. I)a\id T. Adanis, writing, on l-"ebruar\- 7. 1^)20. stated :

"1 * * ''' had some di^ai)])ointments with my early townsite enterprises. The influence of so many nonbelievers in the existence of ore in the southern part of town>hi]) 58-17. had its eflfect. and was plainly revealed when I platted \i)ur now beaiuiful City of Eveleth. Platting the townsite (if \ irginia a few \i'ars earlier, and holding it up as the coming metropolis of the Range, made it. indeed, hard for me to induce people to purchase lots and settle in the Town of Eveleth ; and it was a long time * * * before Eveleth started to growas it should have grown, and not until the old town was vacated and moved to its present location, to give room tor the mining of the Spruce mine, did Eveleth come into its own. But now it is a beautiful and proud city, with enough of the best ore on the Range surrounding it on two sides to continue it as the most steady, prosperous, and longest lived city on the Range, by a margin of many years."

Eveleth Becomes a City. - A petition was circulated in the village in January. 1902. by certain residents, who desired to advance the status of the ])lace. which had reached a state of development that entitled it to a place among the cities of the state. The petition was delivered to the comity commissioners on January IMh, and sworn to by Patrick McClory. Eric Gastrin. John A. Healy and Mather Prettner. Hearing of arguments for and against the chartering of the village was set for February 7. 1902. by the county commissioners. On March 4. 1902. they issued a certificate, ordering election to be held on April 1st. The voting showed that a majority of the residents wished the change of status, brought into effect. 98 voting in favor, and 55 against.

So, Eveleth became a city. Charles Jesmore becoming first mayor. There was no further change in status until 1913, when, as the result of an election, held on October 7, 1913, a new city charter was adopted, and the city government changed to what is known as the commission form. The mayor and four commissioners assumed direction of, and responsibility for. city affairs. The council, in 1920. consisted of : Victor E. Essling. mayor, with direct responsibility for the departments of Public Health. Sanitation. Police, and General Welfare : Robert Meyers, commissioner in charge of the department of Accounts and Finances : William Alorrey, commissioner in charge of department of Parks. Public Grounds. Buildings, and I-'ire Protection; D. A. Murray, commissioner in charge of department of Waterworks and Sewers; Andrew Anderson, commissioner in charge of Streets and Alleys. Anthony \'an Buskirk is city clerk.

City Hall. - -The present city hall has been in use for many years. It was built in 1906, at a cost of $20,000. The architect was W. T. Bray, of Duluth. and the contractor. Edward Jackson. The cornerstone was laid June 16. 1906, and the hall was at first fitted so as to serve the purpose of police and fire departments on ground floor, and the second floor was alloted to the several other city purposes. When the Fire Hall was built, the quarters in City Hall, vacated by that department, were at once taken over by other departments.

at a cost of $35,000. The main hall is 68x72 feet, and is provided with opera chairs for 780 persons. The stage is 50 feet wide. There are club rooms, shower baths, kitchen and dining room. The building is open at all times to the free use of all local associations that may have need of its hall for free gatherings. In the basement is a rifle range. The auditorium is in keeping with the community-hall spirit that was engendered by the leveling of class distinctions during the war, but it gives Eveleth this distinction - that it was projected before the time when the shock of war demonstrated that currency is but a symbol ; that the world goes forward only by the good will, confidence and fellow-feeling of its peoples.

Recreation Building. - The Recreation Building is another indication of the community spirit that manifests itself in Eveleth. It was built in 1918, at a cost of $125,000. There are two main floors, the first being devoted to the winter sport of curling, and the second to indoor skating in the winter, and to various athletic games at other times. The institution is a municipal enterprise, and the membershp of the Eveleth Curling Club embraces all classes in the city. The city did its work thoroughly, engaging, as director, Robert Dunbar, curling champion of the Northwest.

Masonic Temple. - In October, 1920. the Eveleth Masonic bodies dedicated a new Masonic Temple, having elaborately remodeled a somewhat historic building for that purpose. The Masonic Temple, which stands at the north end of Adams Avenue, was until 1910 outside the city limits. The building was originally built by the township administration. W. T. Bray was the architect, and Harry Pearson, of Duluth, the contractor. Construction began on August 20, 1906, and the 1)uilding was ready for occupancy on December 20th of that year. The cost was $10,000, and, until it came within the city limits, the building served as the Missabe Mountain Township Hall. Other quarters were eventually found for the township administration, and the building passed to the local Masonic fraternity at a satisfactory price. The furnishing of the old township hall, as a Masonic Temple, has been thoroughly, but tastefully, carried out, the handsome furnishings and exquisite interior decorations giving Eveleth a Masonic Temple of very high grade. One of the most active and enthusiastic Masons res])onsil)k' for the liousing of the local body of that order in this magnificent center, was J. C. Poole, chairman of the building- committee. Others associated closely with him in that work were W. R. Van Slyke and A. E. Bawden.

Transportation. - The city is served by two steam railways, the Duluth and Iron Range, and the D. M. and N. In early days, the D. and I. R. station was "on top of the hill, about three-quarters of a mile from the village, the D. M. and N. station being nearer the village." By the way, Mike Maxwell operated the first dray line in the village, and it was well patronized.

On January 4, 1910, the city passed an ordinance granting to W. H. and E. M. Prindle, "the right to maintain and operate motor railway lines * * * in and over streets and avenues of the City of Eveleth" for a period of twenty-five years. In due course thereafter, the street railway that connects Eveleth with Gilbert, on the east, and Hibbing, on the west, came into operation.

GRANT AVENUE, EVELETH. (BUSINESS LOTS ON THIS AVENUE WERE ORIGINALLY GIVEN AWAY, AS BONUSES, LATER TO BE WORTH FROM $12,000 TO $15,000 A LOt)

Banking. - Eveleth has three banks, the First National, the Miners National, and the Peoples State. The combined deposits, more' than two and a half millions, indicates the wealth of the city.

The First National Bank of Eveleth was organized in 1900, with the following named board of directors : D. H. Bacon, G. W. Wallace, W. J. Smith, W. E. Harwood, and G. A. AVhitman. The original capital was $25,000, and the first ofificers were : George A. Whitman, president; and Walter J. Smith, cashier. In 1901, the private banking firm of O. D. Kinney and Company was absorbed, E. B. Hawkins joining the directorate of the First National. A cash dividend of 100 per cent was declared in 1910, and. by unanimous consent of the stockholders, was used to increase the capital to $50,000. In 1920, the bank had a surplus of $25,000, undivided profits of $15,000, and deposits of about $1,000,000. Present directors are: Geo. A. Whitman, R. J. Mitchell, Peter Peterson. Thomas H. Davev, R. N. Cornwall, W. P. Chinn, and Dr. C. W. More.

The Miners National Bank of Eveleth was incorporated in 1903. Its original capital was $25,000, and the following-named people of Eveleth and vicinity were its principal organizers and first officers : Walter j. Smith, president; las. A. Robb, vice-president; R. H. Pearce, cashier; C. W. More, 'F. \\\ Bullen, N. B. Maxwell, R. R.

The Peoples State Bank of Eveleth was organized on July 2, 1918; with capital of $25,000. The first officers were: J. S. Saari, president; C. R. McCann, vice-president; Joseph A. Quinn. These three, with Sam Seigel, Peter Peterson, J. J. Brince, and E. M. Moline, formed the original directorate. The only changes since 1918 are: II. J. Coleman, cashier, in place of J. A. Quinn, taking that gentleman's place on the directorate also; and Edward Smith, director, in place of Peter Peterson. The capital is still the same, but there is now a surplus of $12,000. The directors of the Peoples State Bank of Eveleth have good reason to be pleased with the development of the bank during tlie few years it has been in existence.

Public Library. - The Eveleth Public Library, one of the city's most elevating influences, is also one of the citv's most artistic buildings. It was built in 1913-14, at a cost of $30,000, half of which amount was contributed by Andrew Carnegie, of worthy memory. The library has already outgrown its quarters, and plans have been passed for its enlargement. Tlie cost of maintenance in the first year was about $8,500, and its circulation of books was about 45,000. When opened, on July 1, 1914, the library h.'d 1.721 books, but in the first year of service was increased to 4,387 volumes, "acfjuired by purchase and gift," and an inter-library loan gave Eveleth readers facility of collections from Duluth, Virginia, Hibbing. Chisholm and Two Harbors libraries. It was estimated that 43.872 people were "accommodated in the reading room of the library during the first 305 days of its operation," and that 2,463 men had used the smoking room. "The Sunday attendance has totaled about 6,784 readers," stated the same review, adding that "The juvenile department has maintained a steady growth, the children having borrowed 26,405 volumes."

According to the "Sixth Annual Report, for the Year Ending June 30th, 1920," the circulation has increased to 67,970 volumes, with corresponding increase in other phases of the work. The clubroom, for instance, was used for 226 meetings during the year. The juvenile department had growni so much that the number of juvenile books on the shelves in 1920 far exceeded the total number of books owned by the library when it first opened.

Public Library

Credit for the gratifying growth of the library service has been earned by the library board, which has proved to be an active, alert and interested body, and by good direction of the library work by Miss Margaret Hickman, who has been librarian since the institution opened, in 1914. Mr. D. W. Freeman, who, until recently, was vicepresident, has also given much time to the affairs of the library. The present library board is as follows : Dr. C. W. More, chairman ; Solomon Sax, George McCormick, Mrs. G. E. Peterson, Miss Hilma Berg, C. B. Hoel, H. J. Coleman, Peter Peterson, and W. H. Harvey. Cost of maintenance is about $15,000 a year, the city appropriation for the year 1919-20 being $15,429.11. Books to the value of $1,792.18 were purchased in 1920.

Church History. - Eveleth Church history began with the efforts of local members of the Methodist Episcopal society, which was the first to erect a church building in the village. The establishing of that church in the "old town" has been referred to earlier in this chapter.

Duluth And St. Louis County 529

erected in the "new town," Rev. R. J. Taylor in charge. The present Methodist Episcopal Church is at Adams Avenue and Monroe Street, Rev. I. J. Thorne, present pastor.

The Presbyterians early had a society in Eveleth. It is thought that the Rev. E. N. Raymond, who, for a few years, from 1893, was minister at the Virginia Church, held services in Eveleth, in 1895, or 1896, using the schoolhouse for that purpose. The First Presbyterian Church at Eveleth (the new town), was "moved over to Eveleth on logging sleighs, in 1899," from the Auburn location, where it had been used as a schoolhouse. It "broke away coming down the hill, but nothing serious happened," the early account further states : "It was used for two years at Fayal location, as a school, then moved to Eveleth for a church." The Presbyterian Church "was organized November 21, 1900, by Rev. S. A. Jamieson." The first elders were James May and John Urquhart. Early ministers were J. M. Todd and S. M. Marsh. Pioneer elders, George Turner and J. E. Rankin. "The church building near Fayal School was dedicated November 2, 1902." The present Presbyterian Church is situated on McKinley Avenue, near Monroe. Rev. Wm. Jobush, pastor.

The Catholic Church now has three church buildings in Eveleth : the Church of the Holy Family, corner Adams Avenue and Pierce street. Rev. Anton Leskovic ; the Church of the Holy Conception, corner Jones street and Elba avenue, Reverend Elias, pastor ; and St. Patrick's, corner Jackson street and Roosevelt avenue. Rev. D. P. Pratt, pastor. The Church of the Holy Family was built in 1900. "It stood all alone at that time." The Reverend Father Bilban "came from Virginia to minister," and later became resident priest. Reverend Father Hogan succeeded him, in 1903. The St. Patrick's Church was built in 1905, "for English-speaking Catholics." Reverend Father Floyd was one of the first pastors.

The St. John's Episcopal Church Society was "founded by Mrs. Caroline Barrett, and a few others of Episcopalian faith." The Rev. W. E. Morgan, of Virginia, was "instrumental in raising funds for erection, in 1905, of the first building, corner of B avenue and Pierce street. The Rev. Albert Carswell was pastor, in 1906. The present church is on the corner of Pierce and McKinley streets. Rev. James Ward is pastor.

The Swedish Baptist society built a church in 1900, and in 1906 had a membership of thirty-five. Rev. I^. E. Peterson was then pastor. The present pastor is Victor E. Anderson, the church being on Adams avenue, between Hayes and Garfield streets.

Of the Lutheran churches (which now are the Finnish Lutheran, Adams avenue, near Monroe, Reverend Mcrijarki, pastor, and the Swedish Lutheran, corner Adams avenue and Pierce street. Rev. S. E. Johnson, pastor), the Finnish Church was the first to be established. That society "built on Grant avenue, near the M. E. Church, in 1900, soon after the town was removed up the hill." There was a Swedish Mission in 1906, in charge of C. O. L. Peterson.

The residents of Hebraic faith congregate at the Agudath Achim, situated at the corner of Jackson street and Adams avenue. M. Cohen is present Cantor.

Fraternal and Benevolent Societies. - There arc many strong local organizations of fraternal orders, among them Masonic, Elks, Eagles, Moose. Odd-Fellows, Owls. Workmen, and Lady Maccabees; and many other benevolent societies of Swcdisli. Italian, Austrian, and

Public Parks. - Eveleth has three public parks, and the people in general realize the value of them, and appreciate the facility. The Central Park has an area of 6 acres, North Side Park has 6.5 acres, and Lake Park consists of about 200 acres, at St. Mary's and Ely lakes. Central Park is well fitted for such a use. It was purchased in 1912, and has been well improved under the direction of J. A. Spurrier, park superintendent, who has made it "one of the finest" in this part of the state. North Side Park "was donated by the townsite owners, w^hen Highland Addition was platted, in 1910." This also is a very beautiful park, and greatly appreciated by the inhabitants. Lake Park has been allowed to remain more in its wild state, with the virgin timber preserved, where possible. A zoo is maintained at Lake Park, and the "holding of band concerts in Central Park has been a feature for a number of years."

Lakes and Summer Resorts. - ^^'ithin easy reach of Eveleth are several beautiful sheets of water. Ely Lake is within two miles of the city. Long Lake and Horseshoe Lake are about five miles distant, southward. Six miles south is Half Moon Lake. There is good bass fishing in these waters.

Real Estate. - Eveleth real estate has never "boomed." but the city's growth since removal from original townsite has been sturdy. "Ground values on Grant Avenue, the main business street, range from $2,500 a lot to $5,000 for inside lots, and up to $10,000 for corner lots." Residence lots range from $350 to $1,000.

Agriculture. - The development of outlying lands within the Eveleth sphere of trading is fostered by the city administration, and business organizations. "Much good land is available at from $15 to $25 an acre, according to location. Close-in wild land has been sold at $40 an acre." The land pays well for development from its "cut-over" state. Potatoes are an excellent crop on new land, then a three-year rotation, oats or other grain, timothy or clover, and potatoes is recommended. Clover is practically a weed in St. Louis County, and in an average season it has been asserted that the yield is "in round figures $100 worth of forage from an acre." Cleared and ploughed land in the vicinity of Eveleth "is worth not less than $100 an acre." It is excellent sheep land, and the pioneer farmer, Wm. F. Haenke, has had surprisingly good results in sheep raising. To Eveleth belongs the distinction of being the first city in the Range country to establish a Farmers' Market, and "every year Eveleth holds a Farmers' Day, at which the products of the surrounding farms are displayed and prizes awarded." Much of the future prosperity of Eveleth lies in the proper development of surrounding agricultural land.

General City Improvements. - "More than 95 per cent of the streets of Eveleth are paved. Bitulithic pavement is the most common, with a few blocks of concreted block pavement. The total yardage completed with the six years to end of 1919 was 105,256, all of which is bitulithic on concrete base, excepting 14,241 yards of ereosoted blocks on concrete base. The sewage-disposal system includes a septic tank, built in 1916, at a cost of $20,000. There are ten miles of sanitary sewers and five miles of storm sewers, and the streets are kept clean by modern motor-driven flushing equipment. There is a detention hospital, and several other public facilities that indicate that Eveleth is a good place in which to live. The system of playground activities directed at the public expense is thorough and effective. The supervisor of playground activities, A. W. Lewis, is paid $2,280 a year.

The local newspaper, of course, is a direct and ever-present means of publicity. The Eveleth periodical goes by the name of the "Eveleth News," and is a well-edited newspaper. Its history may be said to embrace all the newspaper history of Eveleth, for in it have been merged all the other papers ever published in Eveleth. The "Star" was the original Eveleth paper, and was published for many years by P. E Dowling George A. Perham founded the "Mining News" in 1903. It later became the "News," and was owned and edited by Mr. Perham from 1903 to 1909, when ownership and direction passed to David Yarin, of Alayville, N. D., who, one year later, sold to A. E. Pfrcmmer. In 1914 the ownership passed to T. H. Peterson and L. O. Magee, who conducted the consolidated papers, "Star" and "News," under the name of the latter, until 1915, as a private partnership. Since that year, the business has had corporate existence, the newspaper and printing business being incorporated under the trading name of the Eveleth Printing and Publishing Company. Mr. Magee was a stockholder and an active associate in the editorial direction of the jiaper until 1918, when he entered the Ignited States military forces. In due course he reached France, and met his death on the battlefield, at Argonne Forest, on October 1, 1918. (Further reference to his national service will be found in the World War chapter of this work.) Since the departure of Mr. Magee from Eveleth in 1918, Mr. Peterson has been in full charge of the paper, as manager and supervising editor. The "News" is a seven-column weekly, all "home print," 8 to 16 pages; its circulation is about 1,350 copies weekly, and its advertising patronage is good. The company owns a good printing plant, having the latest typesetting machinery.

Cemetery. - The Eveleth Cemetery was established in 1910-12, J. H. Hearding and George H. Perham being those chiefly instrumental is securing the necessary land for that sacred purpose. In an ordinary community, such would not be a very difficult matter to negotiate, but in a mining community where all unexplored land is potentially valuable in mineral deposits, negotiations are more difficult to carry through.

Taxation. - To indicate the development of Eveleth, the following comparison is given. The taxable property, real and personal, within the village of Eveleth in 1895 was assessed at $28,571. In 1919 it was $17,303,737.

Population. - Another comparison, but not so striking, is in the census statistics. According to the original petition for incorporation 200 persons resided in Eveleth in June, 1893. In 1900, the population w^as 2,752; in 1910 it was 7,036; and in 1920 residents cognizant with the growth of the city in most of its phases in the preceding decade, were somewhat surprised to learn the federal census-taking only recorded 7,205 persons as then having residence in Eveleth. A recanvassing was suggested, but apparently was not made. However, with that population, Eveleth takes fifth place among the incorporated places of St. Louis County.

Old Settlers Association. - Reference to the society which, above all others, is pledged to devote itself mainly to the preservation of Mesabi range history, must not be forgotten. The Mesabi Range Old Settlers Association had its inception at Eveleth in 1919. Charles Jesmore being the most active promoter. An organization was affected at the county fair held at Hibbing in that year. First officers were: Chas. Jesmore, president; W. E. Hannaford, secretary; Frank Ansley, treasurer. There were several vice presidents, the endeavor being to elect one pioneer of each town to that office. Those elected included: Dudley W. Freeman, Eveleth; \^^ J. Eaton, V^irginia; Joseph Haley, Hibbing; Fred Talboys, Aurora; George Smith, Mountain Iron ; Frank Caldwell, Biwabik. The first annual meeting was held at Biwabik in August, 1919. Nearly 600 pioneers of the ]\Iesabi range have now joined the society.

School History. - Last, but certainly not least in importance, comes a review of the history of Eveleth schools. Indeed, when a stranger first enters one of the cities of the Mesabi range, and views the magnificent school buildings, which are generally the outstanding landmarks of the place, he is forced to the conclusion that those responsible for the public weal in the Mesabi range have a proper appreciation to the importance of the community of an adequate system of education. Certainly, the future prosperity of the city depends in great measure upon the excellence, or otherwise, of its public schools of the present. Eveleth recognizes that ; and so apparently do the directors of the principal mining companies. They have resisted increase in municipal taxation on many occasions, but have never seemed to adopt a niggardly attitude toward a levy for school pur- poses. The school levy for Independent School District No. 39 (Eveleth) in 1919 was $444,981.57, and some school districts have an even higher levy, the bulk of which is payable by the mining companies ; yet it seems that the latter have always been ready to co-operate in the establishment of an even better educational system than can be found in other communities of even higher social status. To the public schools of the range go children of very many nationalities (thirtynine being represented in the enrollment of one school district), yet they are afforded as fine schools as can be found almost anywhere in America. And the standard of education is ecjually high, the school districts having the financial means wherewith to attract into service the best public school educators of the country. Consec^uently, the children of the range communities, mostly children of hardworking, honest, but in many cases illiterate, parents, will be able eventually to pass out into the world, or into higher schools, well-grounded in "academics, and possibly in vocational knowledge.

The first school established in Eveleth has been referred to earlier in this chapter. The little school erected in 1895 was evidently only for the smaller children. Those of higher grade used to go over to Virginia to school. And the Eveleth schools up to the year 1903 were under the direction of the Virginia District (No. 22 School District), Mr. John H. Hearding, of Eveleth, however, being one of the principal members of that school board. From 1903, Eveleth has been the administrative center of Independent School District No. 39, and, fortunately, the school history from that time to 1915 was compiled for, and published in, the Eveleth High School Annual for 1915. That review is the basis for the following.

It appears that in 1903, "Virginia had the greater part of population, but the southern end of the district (Eveleth) objected to have part in paying for the new building in Virginia." There was "some excitement." but eventually Eveleth separated, assuming $13,500 of current debt, and 69 per cent of bonded debt. Independent School District No. 39 was then organized, having responsibilitv for public education in the whole of Fayal Township and in six sections of Missabe Mountain Township, a resolution passed March 22, 1903, by the county commissioners describing the new district as "all of township '^7 n. of range 17 w., and sections 28, 29, 30, 31, Z2 and Z2), of township 58 n. of range 17 w."

"The first election brought into office J. H. Hearding, director, G. H. Dormer, treasurer, and W. J. Smith, clerk. They found themselves to be in debt, to the extent of $35,000 to old district," and in possession of what is now known as the Spruce School, the "first real school building erected in Eveleth." It has been added to and repaired, and is still giving good service. They also had at the outset one other school building, the Fayal, a frame building, "built by Mr. D. T. Denton in a picturesque country clubhouse style." The new board found a deplorably overcrowded condition existent in the tw^o schools, and immediately applied themselves to the task of remedying that condition. Martin Finucan was given contract to erect two small school houses. These became known as the Adams and Fayal kindergartens, and were erected at a cost of nearly $4,000. They were only intended to serve a temporary need, but have been in almost constant use ever since, the enrollment increasing more rapidlv than the school accommodation.

work was resumed. It cost about $48,000, and served as the high school until June, 1908, when it was gutted by fire. The present Junior High School now stands upon its site. The burning of the Fayal school house, on April 25, 1911, placed the district again in a very much overcrowded state, notwithstanding that the Adams school house, now called the Lincoln Annex, was built in 1908, and a new high school had been built. The Adams School was begun in October. 1907, when J. A. Roberts, of Duluth, secured the general contract. The building is of red brick, and of eight-room capacity. It cost about $33,000. Bids for the building of the high school, to replace that burned in June, 1908, were opened at the October, 1908, meeting of the school board. Henry Henricksen secured the general contract, the total cost being about $73,000, and for many years it was considered "one of the finest school buildings on the range." W. T. Bray was the architect.

In June, 1910, the form of organization changed. Mr. Hearding, who had fathered the school district and had given very much of his time to school matters since he first settled in Eveleth, removed to Duluth, and could no longer take part in local school administration. He was succeeded by T. H. Davey. Members of the new board of education were Dr. C. W. More, G. H. Dormer, J. J. Murnik, Albert Rohrer and H. S. Sherman.

A new school was built at Fayal in 1912, to take the place of that destroyed by fire in 1911, and it was thought that adecjuate provision for growth had been provided by making the capacity of the new school ten rooms, for 420 children. The old school building could only accommodate 200 children. The contractor was J. Donlin, and the total cost $60,000.

Educationally, Eveleth attained an unique distinction in 1914, when it opened its Manual Training School, "the first school building in Minnesota devoted entirely to boys' industrial subjects." It cost about $60,000, and has drafting room, printery, mill shop, elementary wood-working, and many other industrial departments. The building is of Menominee pressed brick, and is supposed to be fireproof.

In 1918 another school building was added to the impressive group on Jones Street. The Senior High School is the third of the group, beyond the Junior High (wherein are the administrative offices), and the Manual Training schools. And soon will be added "another modern building, for use as a Grade and Girls' Vocational School, on a site to the north of the Senior High School."

"An open-air school has been maintained at Ely Lake during the last two summers. This school is composed of one school building and two sleeping cottages," and is intended for sickly children. There is a rural school in section 36 of Fayal Township, a rapidly-growing agricultural center.

Independent School District No. 39 now has eight large school houses and several smaller. The enrollment for the school-year 1919- 20 was 2,992. Forty-one male and 101 female teachers were employed in that school-year, the average monthly salary of the former being $180, and of the women teachers, $146. School property was estimated to be worth one million dollars in that year. The present Board of Education is: J. M. Stearns, clerk; T. H. Davey, treasurer; Dr. C. H. More, chairman; James A. Robb, W. R. Van Slyke and C. B. Hoel, directors. J. V. Voorhees, district superintendent of schools, assumed supervision of Eveleth schools on July 15, 1920. He came from Winona, Minn., with a good record as an educator, and executive, and he is maintaining, perhaps advancing, the standard of thoroughness demanded from principals and teachers of Independent School District No. 39. Thus will Eveleth schools maintain their good repute among range schools, which are ecjual to the best of their kind in the northwest, perhaps in the whole country.

A review of Eveleth school history would be incomplete and an injustice would be done, unless it included reference to the excellent work of Mr. B. O. Greening as school superintendent for more than a decade. He was appointed superintendent of Eveleth school district in 1904, and continued in that capacity until 1917, when he entered upon military service, being one of the first to leave Eveleth after war was declared. As to his work as superintendent, the following opinion is given by one who well knew the results obtained :

"Mr. Greening came here in 1904, as school superintendent, and continued in that capacity until 1917. "-^' * ''' During the period in which he was in charge of the schools most of the buildings were constructed, and he organized, or laid the foundation for the junior college course we now have in connection with the school system of Eveleth. As an educator, Mr. Greening stood high among school men of the state, and much of the credit for the high standing now attained in our schools is due him ; as an executive Mr. Greening was progressive and thorough, a good citizen always promoting things worthwhile."

Chapter Xxiii The History Of Hibbing, Minnesota

The history of Hibbing, "the Place of Big Things," is a wonderful and holding story, a record of great doings, of wonderful achievements, and of immense wealth and possibilities - even from the beginning. Everything connected with Hibbing's history has been big. In the first place, the stand of timber was such that the lumbermen made money rapidly in logging it. The seekers for iron had a similar experience. They made great discoveries. Nothing small was possible in the Hibbing district. The explorers found such deposits that the mines subsequently developed have been the most wonderful of the many stupendous mines of the most wonderful iron range of America. Hibbing proved to be the center of the treasure country, the richest portion of the Mesabi Range. And, as she grew, she held to her original status of supremacy. Hibbing has excelled in most things, as will be appreciated by a reading of her history. She is a village, it is true - the "richest village in the world," by the way, - but she has forged ahead of all other communities of the Range country, in population and wealth, and is the richest incorporated place in the county - exceeding Duluth even in wealth, by almost as much as is the total wealth of the City of Virginia. Hibbing's nearest rival on the range. It can, therefore, be readily understood that her place in the state is that of a very important, very promising, and very aggressive city.

In the Days of the Timber Barons. - To appreciate the story of Hibbing fully one must have some knowledge of the earliest activities of white men in its vicinity. The story has grounding in the operations of the timber barons, the lumber kings, who became the land barons, and by sitting still soon had the "grubbing ore men" paying them fief.

Passing briefly over the earliest pre-settlement history. Northern Minnesota, until 1855, was the hunting ground of the Indian; and it was not until the seventies were almost spent that white men settled far from the shore of Lake Superior, at its western extremity. In the middle sixties and seventies some had passed over the eastern end of the Mesabi Range - in great numbers during the "gold rush" to the Vermilion in the sixties, and spasmodically in the seventies, hoping against hope that the lean magnetite formations of the Eastern Mesabi would bring a little money to the well-nigh empty pockets of Duluthians, after the panic of 1873 had taken away Duluth's first treasure, Jay Cooke. But very few had been in the middle and western parts of the Mesabi Range until the eighties ; and those who did pass along the range, or touched parts of it, were mapmakers, geologists, or timber cruisers. Geologists, of course, had eyes mainly for mineral indications, but the cartographers and timber cruisers might be grouped, the mapmaking being in most cases incidental to timber cruising. Northern Minnesota was the land of white pine.^ St. Louis County had an especially heavy "stand" ; and Stuntz township was, it seems, among the best areas in that respect. But nothing could be done until the government survey had been made and the vacant lands had been thrown open to entry, which was done in the seventies and early eighties. The period 1875-1884 was, perhaps, as fast as these vacant lands were thrown open to entry, two or three townships at a time, the pine-land crowd was waiting at the land office, with purse and scrip, to take their pick of the pine * * * The explorers, who had been crossing and recrossing the lands to be offered, came in with their estimates of standing pine, their rough maps showing what streams could be used to drive the logs and where the boom should be, and their rumors of iron. To which, since the cruiser was a bit of a seer and a prophet, the land men listened indulgently; but when he spoke of pine, they hearkened - for the cruiser knew. Iron was not in their books; buj'ing land at a dollar and a quarter an acre, and holding it until the timber fetched fifty dollars an acre was profit enough for their modest desires * * *

Many of these bewildering prizes that Fortune thrust on the pine-land men were bunched in two fall openings, in 1875 and in 1882 * * * These were largely offered lands, sold under a law of 1854 (repealed in 1889) by which any lands that seemed especially choice were to be auctioned off at a minimum bid of $1.25 an acre. More often than not that was the top price, for baronial truces were formed from time to time, each land man marking off his selection. Sometimes, however, there was lively bidding.

At the big sale in Duluth. in 1882, when lumbermen from all over the countrj' were present * * * some feeling had risen. One group of big buyers, fearing the price would be run up on them, asked a young cruiser to put in a bid for a thousand acres they wanted. The lad made his bid. "That for yourself, George?" asked A. J. Whiteman * * * George gulped hard and admitted it was. "Then I'll not bid against you." "How many pieces are on your list?" asked one of the Pillsburys. "Twenty-six" the young man said, breathing hard. "Looks like a good deal for a cruiser," said the big lumberman, "but if all the rest will hold off, I will." And so, much to his confusion, the whole block was knocked down to the young man at his opening bid. When his principals heard it, they were so delighted that they had half a notion to give him an interest in the mineral rights - for all the country was under suspicion of value - but they compromised on a twenty-dollar bill. The same land contained seventy million tons of ore.

The Pillsburys * * * were buying pine lands in the country in 1875, sometimes at public sale, and often by soldier's additional scrip. An ordinary citizen who exercises his homestead right thereby exhausts it; but a soldier or his widow who failed to take all he might claim could have scrip for the remainder, good anywhere at any time. And it seemed as though every veteran had been taking up a homestead that left something coming to him. Anyway, the Pillsburys filed on thousands of acres at a uniform price of $200 a parcel.

Well, years later, H. M. Bennett of Minneapolis came to them, saying he thought there was iron under some of their lands. Naturally, they were pleased to hear it, though they did not feel like spending money on an improbability. But they would give him a chance to prove it. If he could show up lOO.OOO tons of ore, he could have a half-interest in the mineral riiihts. With that contract in his pocket, Bennett went to John M. Longyear, of Marquette, an experienced explorer then operating on the Gogebic, offering him one-half of his half for all the ore he could uncover. They found some millions of tons, the Monroe, Glen, Pillsbury and a number more. These mines are paying the Pillsbury estate and the Longyear-Bennett partnership immense royalties * * * {qj. ^he husks of a pine-land deal * * *

Likewise acquired by scrip and sagacity, the 50,000 acres of timber land of the Lorenzo Day estate, and the holdings of T. B. Walker and Pettit and Robinson and others * * * jiave turned out a number of good ore properties.

Fortune playcfi many whimsical tricks. Tames McCahill. a carpenter and capitalist in a small way, loaned $1,000 on a homestead up in the woods. The homesteader, tickled to death to get that much out of his claim, hurried away, thinking what a cute trick he had played, leaving McCahill to bemoan his folly and worry along under the carrying charges. Last heard from, the Shenango mine was paying him close to $100,000 a year royalties on that abandoned homestead.

But the big prizes fell to a comparatively small group of men. most of tliem members of the Saginaw crowd. Wellington K. Burt. Ezra T. Rust. Elbridtrc M. Fowler. Clarence IVL Hill and .Aaron T. Bliss, the Wriizht and Davis syndicate * * * Simon J. Murphy," Morton B. Hull, of Cliicag"!, U'iliiam Boeing and W. C. Yawkey, nf Detroit, and others, on whom Opportunity lay in wait, with a richly upholstered club.

In the heart of the Hibbing district is a solid 'body of ore two miles long, half a mile wide and a hundred million dollars thick, known as the Burt-Pool and the Hull-Rust, as the government line crosses it. Burt, formergovernor and otherwise prominent in Michigan, followed the pine bargains into the new country, buying in the same district from 1883 down to 1888. His best purchase was in the last year, when George X. Holland bought for him a few forties from Eaton and ]\Ierritt * * * and about 1,500 acres from the C. X. Xelson Lumber Companj'. Xow the Xelson people, who had a confidence in mineral values that was hardly warranted by the developments up to that time, were reluctant to let the land go. But they happened to need the money just then, and so Burt bought the land, timber and all, for $17,000. That was in 1888. Two years later, the first discoveries (on the Alesabi range) were made, and inside of five years Burt was leasing his mining properties at a rate that has paid from the Burt mine alone as high as $250,000 a year.

The Hull and Boeing lands also shared in the capital prizes. In 1882, Hull and Boeing engaged with Marshall H. Alworth, a reliable Saginaw cruiser, to look up lands for them in the towns that were about to be opened. They would furnish the money on his judgment, and after they had been reimbursed, with interest, one-third of the profit was to be his, "in consideration for his services in locating and selecting these lands." He brought them several good tracts on which the pine yielded a profit, and at the big December sale they bought 7,500 acres. Their total outlaj- for the several tracts was $22,500. Alworth's one-third, which cost him a summer's campaign, through woods and swamps, fighting mosquitoes * * * has made him a millionaire a dozen tirnes over. These mines were in the group uncovered by Frank Hibbing in 1893. In a few months he showed up 10,000,000 tons - not onetenth of the deposit - and sold for $250,000 a half-interest in his mines, on which the lessees reckoned they could net a dollar a ton, on a guaranteed product of 300,000 tons a year (a million was nearer the actual figure).

Clarence M. Hill and Aaron T. Bliss paid about $50,000 for some 11,000 acres picked up by F. R. Webber in 1887. scattered over a tract sixty miles one way and thirty-five the other. Most of the land yielded nothing but pine, maybe half a million dollars worth; but in four 3'ears they were making leases at twenty-five cents a ton for the ore in a few of the forties, and after the known deposits were disposed of they sold the remaining mineral rights, on a chance, for $150,000.

High and low, the fairies scattered their favors. One poor cobbler homesteaded a forty, and, as soon as he got his patent, gave an option on it for $30,000. He died soon after. It was more prosperity than he could endure.

But speaking of fairies whose favors were scattered so widely. The Wright and Davis syndicate had 25,000 acres near Swan River. In the hard times of 1894, they would have been glad to sell it for $75,000. They kept it because nobody wanted it, and in a few years the ]\Iahoning had developed on this land. In 1904, James J. Hill, coming into the ore market bought the Wright . and Davis lands. "The Michigan people had oflfered it to Weyerhaeuser for $3 an acre," says Hill. "I paid them $4,000,000: it will yield $60,000,000." As happy over it as a boy who has got the best of it, swapping jack knives.

Which narrative by Mr. Pardee gives the reader an intelligent idea of the fundamentals of Hibbing history. The timber barons were the land barons, and are the lords of the manor today. They, or their heirs, are still enjoying the favors of Fortune, without risk or labor. A feeholder, royalty taker, has an enviable existence. "The ore is found, and he may, therefore, sit at his ease; the mining company will mine it for him." If the mining company should fail, the feeholder need not worry. Another operator will "turn up." Meanwhile, "the ore will keep." As James J. Hill once said: "The ore won't burn up. and it won't go out of fashion." His treasure is moth and rust proof.

That was the happy psychology of the land baron, the feeholder. The tragic failures of Mesabi history have been among the operators, the mining men ; the great fortunes yielded by the Alesabi have gone to the land barons, the feeholders, mainly.

Duluth And St. Louis County 541

Early Explorers. - Frank Hibbing was on the range from 1888, but until the end of 1891, or early in 1892, was to the eastward, it is believed. Captain LeDuc, a mining man, was in the vicinity of Hibbing in 1887, and found "drift ore and quartz on the surface" in many places, but he passed on to the westward. Other early explorers were more or less conversant with conditions and prospects along the range, and the Merritts who, from the early 'eighties, "hovered over the Range," and seemed to know "every foot of it," may be presumed to have stood upon the site of Hibbing long before E. J. Longyear cut his "tote" road through, to Nashwauk, in 1891. But it seems that the first to engage in actual explorations, that is, to establish a mining camp, within close proximity to what now is the Village of Hibbing, .was Frank Hibbing. He was in township 59-14 in 1891, but several leases of land in the Hibbing district were granted to him late in that year, or early in 1892, so that the time of his coming to Hibbing may, with fair assurance, be recorded as 1891.

The first indication, in lease record, that Frank Hibbing had been in township 58-20, is lease of December 29, 1891, from Wellington R. Burt, of Saginaw to Frank Hibbing, giving the latter right to mine ore deposits found on "parts of sections 13, 20, 21, 23, 24, 28, 31, 32,, and 34 of township 58-20. This lease was transferred on March 17, 1892, to the Lake Superior Iron Company, and called for a 35- cent royalty, and $6,000 advance payment. Another lease bears date of January 1, 1892, and is from George L. Burrows and Ezra Rust, of Saginaw, and Gilbert B. Gofif, of Edenville, ^lichigan, to Frank Hibbing, the leasing being of lands in sections 4 and 5 of 57-21, at 30 cents a ton royalty. Another from Burrows and Rust to Hibbing. same date, leased seven forties in 58-21 and 57-21. These also were assigned to the Lake Superior Iron Company, on March 17, 1892. And at the same time that company received transfer of lease secured of Alworth and Trimble, from Foster Lumber Company of Milwaukee, of lands in 58-20, at the same royalty.

Burt-Poole Mine. - These activities of Frank Hibbing had incentive particularly in his discovery of merchantable ore on what was known at the outset as the Lake Superior mine, but eventually came into record as the Burt-Poole mine. "To Frank Hibbing," states an early record, "belongs the honor of discovering the first merchantable body of ore in the Hibbing District." The record continues : "In 1892, Cai)t. T. W. Nelson, working for Mr. Hibbing,- discovered ore on the property known as the Burt-Poole, and the I-Jurt bears the reputation of being the first shipping mine" (of the Hibbing District, presumably, seeing that it was not until 1895 that the first shipment was made). Winchell confirms the discovery of ore at the Lake Superior Mine in 1892.

The Lake Superior Iron Comj)anv was organized on March 15, 1892. by A. J. Trimble and Frank Hibbing, of Duluth ; W. D. Vernam and William Munro, of Superior, and W. H. BufTum, of New "\'ork. The capital authorized was $5,000,000. in shares of ^25 denomination.

The Lake Sui)erior Iron Company became the operating company for many holdings of Hibbing, Trimble and Alworth. many leases being transferred to it during the next vear or so. Among them were: Lease October 8, 1892. M. H. Hull to A. J. Trimble and M. H. Alworth, lands in section 2-57-21. in 12-57-21 and 13-57-21 ; lease h\-bruary 23, 18<)2. C. L. Ortman to l-rank Hibbing and M. 11. Alworth, thirteen forties in 58-20. sections 11. 12. 13, 14 and 15; (October 8. 1892, M. P.. Hull to Trimble and Alunrth. 11-57-21; same date and lessor, to Hibbing and Alworth, section 14-58-20, and other leases sections 14, 15, 22 of 58-20. Further leases from Hull to Trimble were filed in 1893. In March, 1893, E. B. Bartlett, of Brooklyn, and C. W. Wetmore, of New York, come into the record. These promoters, in March, 1893, working with the Merritts, sought to effect a consolidation of the more important Mesabi mining companies, and an arrangement was made by them, on March 6, 1893, with the Lake Superior Iron Company, by which a one-half interest in the Hibbing group of mines was to be transferred to the new company, for $100,- 000 cash, and a further $150,000 in deferred payments over eighteen months, the promoters to guarantee that the Duluth, Missabe and Northern extension to Hibbing "would be in not later than September 1, 1893." The agreement was assigned by Bartlett and Wetmore to the ill-fated New York and Missabe Iron Company - the new holding company organized by these promoters, with the Merritts, - as was also assigned the Hibbing-Trimble contract of April 11, 1893, to them, covering seven forties in 31-58-20, leased by Lorenzo D. Day and J. W. Day to Hibbing and Trimble. The intracacies of the financial endeavors of Wetmore are referred to in the chapter that deals with the general history of the Mesabi Range, and need not be restated here. Suffice it therefore to state that the New York and Missabe Iron Company's assets eventually (in August, 1893) passed to John D. Rockefeller, and in November to the Rockefeller subsidiary formed to operate the mines. The importance of the Hibbing group is reflected in the name of the new company, the Lake Superior Consolidated Iron Mines, by the forming of which and the eventual merger into the subsidiary of the United States Steel Corporation (in 1901), Hibbing and his associates became millionaires.

The Lake Superior (Burt-Poole) mine development was placed under the superintendence of Capt. P. Mitchell, in 1893, when the Rockefeller subsidiary, the Lake Superior Consolidated Iron Mines, was formed, W. J. Olcott becoming general manager of all the mines. In 1894 the Lake Superior, or Burt-Poole, mine was being developed for underground mining, and Wlnchell stated that the basis of operations by the Rockefeller Company was "a 30-cent lease, and the profits * ''' * divided between the Consolidated and the Lake Superior Companies.'' In other words, Hibbing's original company still held a one-half interest in the property, or, to be exact, in the mining lease.

The Duluth, Missabe and Northern Railway Company reached Hibbing in the fall of 1893, but although there were several mines then in process of development, no ore was shipped from the Hibbing District until 1895, the Burt-Poole being the first to reach the shipping stage. Only 201,938 tons were shipped to 1900, but up to the end of 1919 the Burt is shown as having yielded 16,347,691 tons. This total covers shipments from the Poole Mine. There are today several Burt reserve mines, in Stuntz and Balkan townships, all controlled by the Oliver Iron' Mining Company. They show available deposits of approximately 24,000.000 tons of ore.

Sellers Mine. - The Sellers Aline was opened in the same year as the Burt. The feeholder, M. B. Hull, in 1893, gave John M. Sellers mining right to much of section 6 of 57-20, lease of January 17th covering the n. half of nw. qr., on the basis of a 35-cent royalty, with $7,000 cash advance ; lease, April 5, 1893, was for n. half of section 6, on similar terms ; and another lease of that date and terms referred to the sw. of ne. and nw. of se. of section 6. The first lease was transferred on October 20, 1893, to the Sellers Ore Company, "a combination of Pittsburg furnace men." C. H. Munger became superintendent, and shafts were being sunk in 1894. Winchell noted, in 1895, that the mine then had "an unpleasant amount of water to contend with."

Up to 1900, the total quantity shipped from the Sellers mine was 188,102 tons, but the mine has been yielding fair quantities almost every year since that time, the total mined to end of 1919 being 8,952,358 tons. The property passed to the Oliver Iron Mining Company, present operators, and shows an available deposit still of about thirteen million tons. What is known as the Sellers Townsite mine, also an Oliver property, has an available deposit of 33,373,500 tons, to be able to work which is one of the reasons for the recent removal of part of the Village of Hibbing.

Mahoning Mine. - The Mahoning Mine was purchased from the Wright and Davis Syndicate, and the great property has been termed "the largest open-pit iron mine in the world." It probably is, in combination with the other adjoining mines, which, by the ceaseless shovelling of the many and tireless steam shovels, have become merged into one vast gaping chasm. One writer thus describes the chasm, and the activity:

Stand on an edge of an open pit near Hibbing. One looks across a gulf a quarter of a mile wide and deep enough to, lose a skyscraper in its huge trough. As far away as Grace Church from City Hall Square (New York) in one direction, as far in the other as from City Hall Square to the Battery, a pufifing steam shovel is gnawing at the steep purple bank, perhaps a dozen of them here and there nipping at the rim of the bowl. Each thrusts its dipper against the bank, its jaws creak, the derrick groans, and five tons of ore are swung over the waiting car. As the bucket lets go its burden, one can hear one dollar and twenty-five cents clink into the feeholder's pocket, while another dollar and twenty-five cents jingle in the till of the leaseholding company. Ten of these bucket-loads fill a fifty-ton car that looks, from the brink of the pit, like a match-ibox on spools, as it crawls on the bottom. Another car is warped into place and the steam-shovel again groans under its burdening wealth. All day long, all through the summer, these shovels are scooping up six, eight, ten thousand tons a day of fusible wealth.

Such activity has been going on for a generation, not only in Hibbing, but in all parts of the Alesabi Range, the excavations (of earth as well as ore) being approximately as much every three or four busy years as were accomplished in the whole of the work at Panama Isthmus. But at Hibbing, from the brink of the Mahoning- Hull-Rust Mine, the result of the ceaseless delving is impressively evident. The Hull-Rust-Mahoning open-pit alone has yielded more than eighty million tons of ore up to the present. That means, roughly, one hundred million yards of excavation, and probably another forty million yards could be added for original stripping; say, 150,000,000 yards of excavation, in all. The Panama excavation represented only 80,000,000 yards up to July 1, 1909, and it was then estimated than only another 100,000,000 yards would complete the work of cutting the canal. This comparison will give the general reader some indication of the stupendous work daily proceeding at Hibbing.