Exhibit 99 (a)
NEWS RELEASE                                         Cleveland-Cliffs Inc
                                                     1100 Superior Avenue
                                                     Cleveland, Ohio  44114-2589


                           CLEVELAND-CLIFFS ANNOUNCES
                          ELECTION OF TWO NEW DIRECTORS


CLEVELAND, OH --- July 13, 1999 --- Cleveland-Cliffs Inc announced today the
election of two new Board members, Ranko "Ron" Cucuz and Anthony A. Massaro.

The elections of Mr. Cucuz and Mr. Massaro increase Cliffs' Board membership to
12 persons. Mr. Cucuz is chairman, president and chief executive officer of
Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc., Northville, Michigan. Mr. Massaro is chairman
and chief executive officer of The Lincoln Electric Company, Cleveland, Ohio.

John S. Brinzo, Cliffs' president and chief executive officer, said, "We are
delighted with the additions of Ron Cucuz and Anthony Massaro to our Board.
Their broad international manufacturing experience, coupled with being consumers
of steel products, will be a strong asset for Cleveland-Cliffs as we confront
issues of global competition and focus on Company growth."


RANKO "RON" CUCUZ

In 1992, Mr. Cucuz was elected president and chief executive officer of Hayes
Wheels International, Inc. In 1997, under his leadership, Hayes Wheels acquired
Lemmerz Holding to create Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc., the world's number
one supplier of wheels to the auto industry, with Mr. Cucuz becoming chairman,
president and chief executive officer.

Before his position with Hayes Wheels, Mr. Cucuz spent one year as president of
the steel wheel business unit of Kelsey-Hayes Company following fifteen years in
various management positions at Acco Babcock Industries, including four years as
president and chief executive officer - automotive mechanical controls group. He
has also worked in research and development and manufacturing management in the
steel industry, with such companies as LaSalle Steel Company and U.S. Steel
Corp.

Mr. Cucuz also serves on the Board of National-Standard Company.

Mr. Cucuz earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering at
Purdue University in 1966 and received his master's degree in business
administration from Purdue in 1972.


ANTHONY A. MASSARO

Mr. Massaro became chief executive officer in 1996 and chairman in 1997 of The
Lincoln Electric Company, a world leader in the design and manufacture of arc
welding products. Prior to that he held positions of president and chief
operating officer, and executive vice president-international operations.
Massaros joined Lincoln Electric in 1993 as president and chief executive
officer - Lincoln Electric Europe, based in London, U.K.

Mr. Massaro began his career as an engineer with Westinghouse Electric
Corporation in 1967 and continued with Westinghouse for 26 years holding various
management positions, including that of president, environmental systems group.



Mr. Massaro earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from the
University of Pittsburgh in 1967 and did post-graduate studies in nuclear
engineering. He also attended the Harvard Business School's Advanced Management
Program.

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc is the largest supplier of iron ore products to the North
American steel industry and is developing a significant ferrous metallics
business. Subsidiaries of the Company manage six iron ore mines in North America
and hold equity interests in five of the mines. Cliffs has a major iron ore
reserve position in the United States, is a substantial iron ore merchant, and
is beginning production of hot briquetted iron at a joint venture plant in
Trinidad and Tobago.


                                       2