Exhibit 99(a)

                          CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC COMMENTS
                         ON RESTRUCTURING OF STELCO INC.

         Cleveland, OH - January 30, 2004 - ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Inc (NYSE:CLF),
commented today on Stelco's Order for Protection under the Companies' Creditors
Arrangement Act in Ontario, Canada. Stelco is an equity participant in three
mines managed by Cliffs. Stelco has a 44.6 percent ownership in Wabush Mines,
which has facilities in Newfoundland and Quebec, Canada. U.S. subsidiaries of
Stelco (which are not believed to have filed for bankruptcy protection) own 14.7
percent of Hibbing Taconite Company-Joint Venture and 15 percent of Tilden
Mining Company L.C.

         As of the time of the Order, Cliffs had no trade receivables with
Stelco, and Stelco was current on its cash funding obligations at all three of
the mines named above. It would be premature to speculate on Stelco's actions
subsequent to obtaining the Order.

         John S. Brinzo, Cliffs' chairman and chief executive officer, said,
Cliffs has a long and valued relationship with Stelco which we expect to
continue. We are optimistic that Stelco will restructure and emerge a stronger,
more competitive steel company.

         ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is the largest
producer of iron ore pellets in North America, and sells the majority of its
pellets to integrated steel companies in the United States and Canada. The
Company operates six iron ore mines located in Michigan, Minnesota and Eastern
Canada.

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         References in this news release to the "Company" include subsidiaries
and affiliates as appropriate in the context.

         This news release contains predictive statements with respect to the
Stelco bankruptcy that are intended to be made as "forward-looking" within the
safe harbor protections of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Although the Company believes that its forward-looking statements are based on
reasonable assumptions, such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties.


Contacts:
Media:  (216) 694-4870
Financial Community:  (800) 214-0739 or (216) 694-5459
News releases and other information on the Company are available on the Internet
at www.cleveland-cliffs.com


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