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

DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 569
when one realizes that from one alone of Hibbing's open-pits, the
Mahoning-Hull-Rust, came about 9,000,000 tons of the 40,0000,000
tons won for the world and the allies from the Mesabi Range in 1917.
Moving of the Village.—While it is erroneous to state that Ribbing
as a whole is being removed, it is proper to assert that all buildings
on the original townsite will have to be removed. The removal
will be undertaken gradually, and even when completed, about twothirds
of what is known as the "old town" will remain undisturbed,
the Pillsbury and another "forty" not being needed by the mining company.
The Minneapolis Daily Tribune, of May, 1920, stated :
For twenty years it has been common knowledg'e to the townspeople
that the ore body in the east, west, and north sides of the original townsite
of Hibbing- extended under the principal business section. * * *
For the last ten* years the most densely populated district of Hibbing
has been surrounded by open pits, making it impossible for the town to expand.
The northerly extremity extends out thumb-like and somewhat like a
plateau, some of its buildings being perched on the edge of a wild gorge,
hewn deep into the earth. Since the original townsite was laid out, the mines
have steadily encroached on it, the Sellers' from the north and east, and
the Rust from the west.
The Oliver Company * * * ^a^j already acquired the right to the
minerals under part of the town by lease, in 1899, and two years ago began
to buy the surface rights. It paid $2,500,000 for them, and today owns the
majority of the lots and buildings in an area of more than eight city blocks.
After these purchases were made, it became necessary to acquire a new
location for that part of the town that had to .be transplanted. One mile
away was the Central Addition, owned by the mining company, and here is
to be the "New Hibbing."
The first buildings moved from the original townsite to the new addition,
in September, 1918. All frame buildings in good condition have been
transferred. * * *
The moving of the buildings had to be done by steam log haulers and
tanks (traction engines) of the caterpiller type.
The Central Addition is growing very rapidly. Since last September
sixty-two buildings, dwellings, and three store buildings have 'been moved
onto the site, and twenty-four new buildings have been built. * * *
* * * Within another year, the mining company officials say, there
will 'be little left of what was the original business section of Hibbing.
Recently fifteen persons residing in the southern end of the business
and residential district, the Pillsbury and Southern Additions, and in the
township of Stuntz, just outside the village, began an action against the
Oliver Company, the Town of Hibbing, and the Mesa'ba Electric Railway
Company, to enjoin the town from disposing of its property in the original
townsite, enjoining the vacation of streets,- enjoining the railways company
from removing its tracks, and enjoining the Oliver Company from doing certain
things which would permit the mining of the northerly forty acres.
They suggested that the Oliver Company purchase their property, but
it has no interest in the ore underlying the Pillsbury or Southern Additions.
The application for a temporary injunction was argued Novemiber 28 and 29,
and was taken under advisement.
An issue of the "St. Paul Dispatch," that of September 8, 1920,
stated that $20,000,000 was being expended in the removal of the
town and the building of the new. Other estimates place it at $18,-
000,000. And the "Hibbing Daily News," of July 4, 1920, thus tabulated
the cost incurred in removal and new construction :
New business buildings $3,000,000
New hotel and hospital 1,00(),(XX)
New power and iheating plant 1.(XK).000
New homes, already constructed or under construction 1,000,000
New school Iniildings 2.^i00,000
Water and sewer mains 650,000
Street grading 450.(XX1
Recreational building 750,000
City hall 500,000