along which the customers lounged, and a number of small tables, at which others played cards.7

Developments in Eveleth moved along a questionable line, if the article written by D. Mattson for the Suomalaisen Raittiuskansan kalenteri for 1944 is to be believed, for Mattson gave the following account: "The saloons were along the main streets of town. There were 42 of them, each paying the city $500 in annual fees and $25 to the state. Hotels and inns also were allowed to serve liquor if they paid the city $25 per year, and there were 180 such drinking places in town. Every week some six or seven freight car loads of beer were brought to Eveleth, and for holiday periods there were additional shipments. Scores of delivery wagons were kept busy hauling liquor to the saloons. These saloons also served as branch offices of the city government, for there matters were discussed and decided, there election affairs were discussed and the primaries resolved, and usually whatever was said in the saloons was what counted. Besides that, the saloons were involved in gambling and supported prostitution. The feeling was that anyone could do what he pleased, just so long as he paid the tax. The saloons did pay their taxes, and the gambling dens and houses of prostitution paid their fines, which were collected in advance, permitting them to operate without interference up to a given time."

According to Mattson, the city's income at the early period he describes was $30,000 per year: $20,000 from the saloonkeepers, $5,000 in fines from gambling places and $5,000 in fines from the `houses.' The Finns of Eveleth, however, played a decisive role in changing these conditions.

The Temperance Societies in Eveleth: In discussing temperance activity in Eveleth, not one but several societies must be mentioned in a complicated history of events. A temperance society was first founded here in July 1895, with 24 Finns gathering to elect as their chairman Nikolai Kari, vice-chairman John Koski, secretary Kalle Hekkala and treasurer Erick Nieminen. A program evening was promptly held at the home of Erkki Lake, who was paid $1.75 rent on this occasion, and in a meeting in August it was decided to buy land for a building for the new society. Meanwhile, a meeting room continued to be rented for the time being from Erik Virta, for $4.00 in rent. The building site was bought with a $10 down payment and $5.00 per month installment payments. Having also joined the Brotherhood League

7. Interview with Liisa Rantaaho. Archives of the Minnesota Finnish-American Historical Society.

439