Government Records
Office files of Frank A. Wildes, superintendent of state mines. Wildes, headquartered in St. Paul, was responsible for administering the state's program of mineral leases, inspection and oversight of mining operations, minerals research and analysis, and general management of mineral lands as well as of state lands in general
His files focus on iron mining activities on Minnesota's Iron Range, including information on current mineral leases and prospecting permits, ore production and shipments, valuation, royalty payments, status of operations at the various mines, and iron ore analyses. There is some information on other minerals or on attempts to locate them, including gold (especially Vermilion River Mines, Inc.), copper, titanium, marl, sulphur, manganese, and peat. The files include numerous memoranda and reports from staff of the department's Hibbing office, particularly office head Dennis C. Bow and chief engineer Raymond J. Moore, with some from general inspector D. A. Mitchell, state squatter agent Albert E. Allen, and others. Several files contain historical information on Minnesota iron mines and mining.
Wildes' responsibilities involved other aspects of state lands administration as well, and he appears to have cultivated a personal interest in conservation of natural resources in general. His files contain information on surface leases of various sorts (sand and gravel, hay, rights of way, power pole lines, billboards, hunting cabins, muskrat farms); examination and leasing of lake shore lands; use of state waters; general land ownership and timber matters; a few specific land sales or transfers; dams, water levels and water power development on boundary waters lakes, particularly Gabbro and Bald Eagle; and surveys and ownership determinations for unsurveyed islands.
There are data on lands and minerals staff, budget, property, offices, and research facilities; copies of attorney general's opinions relating to land and mineral matters; and correspondence regarding exhibits of Minnesota's mineral resources prepared for county and state fairs. A few folders found with the 1921 files contain items of earlier date. A number of typescript articles, most apparently written by Wildes, discuss iron ores, other mineral resources, and conservation issues in general.
Scattered throughout the files are photographs of mining operations and buildings, lakes, and related areas; and blueprint sketch maps of mine sites and of the locations of various types of leases and rights of way.
Organized by year, and thereunder by office file number.
Succeeded by Conservation Department: Lands and Minerals Division: Director's files. Companion series is Conservation Department: Lands and Minerals Division: Mine inspection files.
Accession number(s): none; 978-13
Refoldered, extensively weeded, and integrated with related materials in 1985. A detailed report is in the accession file.
Catalog ID No.: 0900320063
Personal property at Hibbing.
R. J. Moore at Hibbing to F. A. Wildes.
Wildes as chief inspector of mines (Hibbing) to Rukard Hurd, director of mines and minerals, Minnesota Tax Commission.
Relating to individual mines, etc.
Annual shipments from each mine for the past 20 years.
Correspondence and opinion re rejecting bids.
Copy of letter, E. V. Willard to governor, on the status of water levels of boundary waters lakes.
Mainly lists and blueprints showing locations.
Of land and timber characteristics on lake shore sites.
Wildes recalls history of iron mines.
Printed summations by state auditor and St. Louis County auditor.
Total tonnages of merchantable ore on each mining lease site.
Printed summation.
Newspaper ads for sale of prospecting permits.
Articles and pamphlets on Minnesota peat and on peat resources in general.
Includes informational summary by Wildes on Minnesota's mineral resources.
Reports of prospecting on Susie Island at the northeast tip of Cook County in Lake Superior.
Prospecting on Susie Island.
Information on principal topics discussed.
Reports of two inspection trips to Hibbing, January and February.
Correspondence re annexation of Section 8-57-20 to Hibbing.
Wildes' memoranda to A. E. Allen, squatter agent, re leases on state lands.
Mainly memos to Allen and others.
Memoranda to Allen.
On examinations of state-owned lake shore lands. Includes some photographs, and a pamphlet issued by the state auditor's office listing all such lands.
Background data on Minnesota iron ore resources and leasing and production history.
Near-print summation.
Wildes' reports of inspection trips to the Iron Range.
Copies of court documents concerning leasing and valuation matters.
Correspondence, background data, sample leases.
Wildes' and state auditor Ray P. Chase letters.
Copies of memos and reports from Drainage and Waters Department files.
Of state-owned lake shore lands.
Re raising Rainy Lake water level.
Names and addresses of persons requesting assistance in planning trips to Minnesota. Includes number in party, activities desired, and whether interested in lakeshore property.
List of state lands suitable for hunting cabins.
Use of state waters.
Summary statistics.
Summary statistics.
Policy statements.
Copy of article by unknown author.
To Wildes by R. J. Moore. Includes photographs of plant, equipment, and area, and blueprint sketch maps of mine sites.
Summary tonnage analyses, 1913-1925.
Includes typescript articles by Wildes.
Photographs of iron mining and virgin timber stand near Bemidji; typescript articles (anonymous) on Minnesota and the office of state auditor.
Miscellaneous information on Great Lakes-St. Lawrence canal and on Mississippi River improvements.
Mainly re on-site inspections of departmental Iron Range operations.
List, with full names (rarely found elsewhere in the files) and employment histories; job descriptions.
Correspondence, memos, reports, applications, map, and photographs regarding Minnesota Power and Light Company application to the Federal Power Commission to dam Gabbro and Bald Eagle lakes in Lake County.
Land acquisition.
Includes lists and maps of state-owned lake shore land.
Includes blueprint map.
Same as 1925.
Includes data on production, royalties, current leases, economic conditions.
Summary statistics, and an incomplete set of weekly "Report of Ore Shipped."
Re mining and prospecting for oil, etc., in beds of meandered waters.
Memorandum.
Memorandum.
Includes photographs of plant, equipment, and area.
Of mine inspection activities.
Includes maps.
Includes blueprint showing exploration sites and readings.
Memorandum.
In St. Louis County. Memo with blueprints of lands proposed for sale to Pickands-Mather Company and of rights-of-way formerly belonging to Mesabe Electric Railway Company.
Correspondence, blueprints.
Same as 1925.
Includes Lake Superior Directory of Mine Operators and statistical data.
Correspondence regarding exhibits. Includes state fair.
Especially use of state waters. Includes reverted lands and St. Croix Wisconsin Improvement Company project.
Reports by Wildes on hydro-electric basins, with photographs, newspaper clippings, and miscellany.
Listed by name of lake.
Reports on their land and timber characteristics and suitability for leasing for various purposes.
Includes lists, reports, and maps.
Laws, shipments, school land leases, article: "How Much is Iron Ore Worth?" by Thomas T. Read.
Drafts of a water power code for Minnesota.
Articles, questionnaire, and forest policy statements.
Notices of sale.
Includes list of leases, to whom, where, and rental price.
Letter re valuation of state timber.
Government land subdivision details.
List of state lands suitable for muskrat farms.
Copies of reports filed with Minnesota Tax Commission, regarding gross royalties from each mining lease.
Inspection reports of test pits and leases for dumping.
List and memos.
Article on conservation of iron ore.
Maps and license for Federal Power Commission Project 310, to build a dam and water power development on the St. Croix River.
Published list of state land to be offered for sale.
Child falling into mining pit.
Copies of reports filed with the Minnesota Tax Commission.
Reports of work done under permit.
Articles and memo.
To requests for exhibits of Minnesota's mineral products.
Letters, memoranda, and blueprint re proposed research facility and program for Mineral Lands Division, especially for testing low grade iron ore.
List and sample lease.
Correspondence re leasing policy.
Regarding leases.
Summary of mineral royalty on state mines; extracts from State vs. Hobart Iron Co.
Typescript articles on state mineral lands and iron ores.
Summaries for 2d and 3rd quarters of 1931.
Summary of increments received through land and resources sales and investments.
Includes blueprints and cyanotype photographs of mine sites and locations.
Lists, sample lease and prospecting permit, reports of work done under permit.
Leases, agreements, correspondence.
Reports, correspondence, maps of mine property.
Includes lists and 2 photos of exhibit panels.
Wildes' reports on mineral land activities and a tour of a direct ore reduction plant in Buffalo, N.Y.; miscellaneous correspondence between Wildes and Cox.
On matters concerning organization of Conservation Department.
On Little Vermilion Lake; topographical, geological, and soil surveys on trust fund lands; research.
Offer to the state of lands in northern Minnesota.
Reports, especially from Withers Clay, research engineer.
Memos and sketches for Hibbing office and new Lands and Minerals state office.
Memo and list.
To mining companies, 1917-1928.
List, Attorney General opinion, miscellaneous correspondence.
Wildes' letter re management procedures.
Includes letters from Hansen Evesmith, Minneapolis, regarding history of various mining leases, and several lengthy letters from Wildes in response to inquiries about Minnesota iron ore resources and industry.
Includes reports filed with the Minnesota Tax Commission.
A few miscellaneous letters and statistics.
List of leases in force on January 1, 1932, and some information on the status of individual leases.
March-November. Includes January-February reports to commissioner of conservation.
Responses to Wildes' letters requesting information on marl deposits.
Assay reports; reports of work done under permit; inspection reports, mainly by general inspector D. A. Mitchell; related correspondence; copy of permit; mine map (blueprint).