Solution for Iron Range economy

Ok, I just did the math and it works out to $2500/ton at $20/gallon.  Currently it looks like iron ore pellets go for ~$50/ton.

someone is stealing those pellets from someone. i realize they're sitting all over the ground by the railroad tracks, but still ...

He's looking to corner the market one gallon at a time :-O

I wonder if the seller ships them via ore boat?

First time I visited Duluth as a kid in the 70's, my little bro and I were so fascinated by the industry we hauled back a few pounds of taconite and other similar "Iron Rangeish" souvenirs. That was some heavy luggage!

I'm thinking about the potential buyers....are there many backyard smelters out there? Is there some sort of nostalgic-need for people that have moved away? Is the cost of metallic weights really high? Are the little pellets an attractive home design option?

Taconite pellets are the ultimate slingshot ammunition

kettlebells cost $105 for a 45# weight.

Beverly's comment reminds me of a story my Grandfather told me. When he was a kid, they'd pick up spilled coal along the tracks with which they'd heat their crappy little worker shacks. If one of the railroad cops (dicks, goons, insert perjorative here) caught them, they'd drag them to the Sheriff's for prosecution of theft. To his (Grandpa's) knowledge, the Sheriff always let the coal "theives" go.

Some of my old relatives recently told me a story about how during the Depression trainmen would throw extra coal out the window for children to collect and take home.  My great-aunt remembers being told to go out to meet the train and wait for the coal.  She also said that some trainmen threw candy at Christmas.

What Eric said. As a kid, I used taconite pellets in my wrist-rocket and they truly are superb ammo -- aerodynamic, extremely hard, and literally deadly. There's nothing finer.

+1 on wrist rocket ammo.

This reminds of a story a few years back when birch logs were for selling for $50 a piece on Manhattan to decorate non-functional fireplaces.