Rhetoric 1315 Questions

I found it interesting that Washburn was the governor of Wisconsin after he made his fortunes there in timber. It just goes to show that things haven't changed much since then. I also enjoyed the part about the different devices being built for milling grain more efficiently and how the millers were trying to spy on each other in the heat of competition to get the best product the quickest.

The speed at which the land changed from mountains to pits must have been alarming.

It is amazing how fast people rip up the ground when they hear that there is a chance that something might be buried underneath.

Tower must have been extremely pleased when he heard the tax on one ton of iron mined or shipped was only 1 cent. Minnesota must have been desperate to encourage mining as a major industry. Throughout Three Frontiers it seems as though the state government was the one that pushed for the exploitation of Minnesota's resources.

On page 196, it reads "The Mesabi had become the greatest source of iron in the United States and Minnesota had become the ranking iron producer in the nation." Where does Minnesota rank in mining today? Is the Mesabi still the largest iron ore mine in the nation?

I guess I never realized so many people would want their hands in finding new deposits of iron ore. You always here about gold rushes or silver rushes, but never iron ore rushes.

It's really hard to imagine what the land on these rangers looked like before all this mining took place. What kind of regulations state how mining companies restore a site after they have used all its resources?

I wonder how much longer mining will go on in Northern Minnesota? These extraction industries tend to have boom-bust cycles that go along with them that, in my opinion, wreak havoc on the towns that depend on them. I appreciated the contrasts that were drawn between iron mining and gold mining. Iron mining was a businessman's venture, requiring planning and large crews. Gold mining could be done with metal pan and a pocket full of dreams...(*lame*)

I wonder how much longer mining will go on in Northern Minnesota? These extraction industries tend to have boom-bust cycles that go along with them that, in my opinion, wreak havoc on the towns that depend on them. I appreciated the contrasts that were drawn between iron mining and gold mining. Iron mining was a businessman's venture, requiring planning and large crews. Gold mining could be done with metal pan and a pocket full of dreams...(*lame*)

An overall trend that I have noticed in my readings is that, for the most part, Minnesota was built by large industrial men that were looking to profit wherever they could find it. I wonder, if Minnesota had not been so rich in resources would it have been settled as quickly or become as prosperous?

The Merritt brothers were listed as heroes of Minnesota because of their venture in the Mesabi Range and because they went up against the big mining companies. By today's standards would they still be considered heroes since they didn't become all that wealthy from their business?

What does the land in Northern Minnesota look like today? Is it just pit after pit? What is done with the tailings?

What is mining like now? Is there much iron left? Is it profitable or is it really just a lost venture?

I am not sure if I agree with Tristan's comment. Although there was some strategy to the ore mining (more business-like qualities), they all had the same mantality as the gold miners, get rich quick.

The town of "Tower" was named after a man who never even stepped foot in the state but who did more for mining that anyone else. Are they implying that he just had a lot of money and deserved a town named after himself?
If I had a town named after me, I would go visit it once and a while.

I enjoyed learning a little bit more about the history of other minerals in Minnesota besides just iron.

I was also very amused to see that one man's name was "Charlemagne Tower Jr.". It just seemed funny to be named after the famous emperor!

Going back to nick's comment about how fast people would rip up the ground if they thought something was buried there. I think that is just the mentality that people still have today, that if they think that they can get rich quick, they will do almost anything. the same thing happened with all the gold rushes.

The history of industiral developement in Minnesota is based on, in a way, foriegn investment from "back east". The three major industries of the state all were influenced heavily, lif not dependnt on, investment from big-time business men from the east coast. In reality Minnesota was pretty much a treasure-trove waiting to be opened by whoever had the determination to do so.

Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! tjsowsguosjvfx

It is alarming and sad, how fast people rip up the ground when they hear that there is a chance that something might be buried underneath.

Hello