1921 Duluth & St Louis County MN, Van Brunt.pdf - Garon.us

DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 731
ship 56-20, which was at that time part of the Township of Lavell,
appealed to the commissioners to detach that congressional township
from Lavell and add to Stuntz. Action was not taken until November
6th of that year; the commissioners then increased the limits of
Stuntz by those two townships (see Lavell, this chapter).
Erection of Balkan,—In 1913 came the first and only reduction
of territory placed within the jurisdiction of the Town of Stuntz.
In June section one to thirty, inclusive, of township 58-20 was added
to the Township of Balkan, as described under that classification in
this chapter. Today, the Township of Stuntz consists of townships
fifty-six, fifty-seven and fifty-eight north of range twenty-one west,
fifty-six and fifty-seven north of range twenty and one tier of sections
(one to six, inclusive) of township fifty-eight north of range twenty
west.
Valuation.—In 1894, the assessed valuation of the Township of
Stuntz was only $129,625. Add the valuation of Hibbing, the only
incorporated place in the township in 1893, $31,318, and the total
is only $160,943. In 1919, the total assessed valuation of Stuntz,
including that of Hibbing, was $117,029,409, on the realty alone. Thus,
one may get an idea of the extraordinary development that has
come to the township in less than thirty years. xA.n even stronger
indication of the place and importance of Stuntz in and to the County
of St. Louis is conveyed in the tax figures. In 1894, the tax levy
in the Township of Stuntz was $2,644.35, that covering the budget
for all purposes. Add the 1893 figures for the Village of Hibbing,
$963.03 and the total would be only $3,607.38. In 1919. the Township
of Stuntz, including the Village of Hibbing, was called upon to contribute
to the tax-levy in St. Louis County the enormous sum of
$6,240,634.06, out of a total tax levy, for the whole county, of $20,705.-
448.24. The Township of Stuntz contributes almost twice as much
to the revenue of St. Louis County as does the City of Duluth, and
in wealth it dwarfs every other township of the county, probably
of the state. The total taxes paid by Stuntz are even greater than
the figures quoted above, although the addition of Kitzville levy is
insignificant by comparison.
Population.—The whole territory was practically uninhabited
until the late '80s or early '90s of last century ; in 1900 the population
was 3,564 ; in 1910 it had increased to 14,409, and in the last
census, 1920, the federal tabulation showed that 19,010 people then
lived in the Township of Stuntz, including 15,089 in the X'illage of
Hibbing (which now takes second j)lace among the incorporated
places of the county), and 480 in the Village of Kitzville.
Hibbing.— Hibliing will be the subject of a special chapter, as
befits its place in the history of the county. Kitz\-illc is referred to
later herein.
Schools.—For school purposes, the Township of Stuntz is
included in the excellently-directed school administratiun known as
Independent Schocjl District Xo. 27. Its history will be reviewed as
part of that of Hibbing, in which village it centers. So there is no
need to make further reference to school matters here.
Township Officials.— 1'he township officials in 1*^20 were: I. B.
Messner (chairman), W. G. Brown and John L". Eastman, supervisors;
Ben McDonald, clerk; {(jsejih Moran. assessor; jerry .Sullivan,
treasurer. Josej^h Moran. a xeteran of the Civil War. has been
assessor for very many years. He was a cruiser for Wright, Davis