Environment: Crisis in Silver Bay

When the Reserve Mining Co. opened its huge iron ore plant in northern Minnesota in 1955, there was no problem attracting labor. Thousands of workers jumped at the promise of high wages, dazzling views of Lake Superior from an attractive company town called Silver Bay, and the good moose and partridge hunting in the area. Now, however, the jobs, the plant and the town itself are in danger of extinction. In a complex court case now in its twelfth week, the Government is suing to halt Reserve Mining from dumping 67,000 tons of ore wastes per day into Lake Superior, charging...