The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-10-23
MONTANA IMPROVEMENT COMPANY.
Prosecution Suspended.
.Snecinl 10 Pioneer Press.

Special 10 Pioneer Press.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15.-The Montana
Improvement Company's case has taken .
turn for the better. The first suits have
been suspended by order Of the Secretary of
the Interior until the question of trespass
can be further considered In the department
here. Z. L. Bonner, the Manager of the
Company, Is here, and to day obtained an
order for rehearing Of the case against the
Company on Monday. His application for a
rehearing set forth that the Montana I'm
provement Company Is ready TO pay for all
timber that has been cut illegally ny its EN-.
ployes. Mr.. Bonner says there is ample
legal authority for all the timber cutting his
Company has done, and he Is perfectly con-
fident Of success In defending the charges
made against the Company. He claims
that the laws sanction timber-cutiing for
mineral aud domestic uses, and says the
copper mining interests of Montana depend
upon the timber cut by the Company for
working their mines. He says:
Not less than ffty thousand people will be
affected by this crusade against the Montana
Improvement Company. Why, In Butte
alone eighteen thousand people are depend
ent on mining. Stop the supply of timber
for the operation Of those mines, and you
throw these people into financial depres
sion. Already our people are panic. stricken
and business Ia suffering. Men are afraid to
buy or 90 on with their operations. Every
body wants to wait aud see what will be
done. think that when the officials of the
Interior Department learn something Of the
guarantee given by the law, and something
also of the nature OF the country, they will
be disposed TO change their minds. We put
out $40, 600 q year In ores Of all kinds.
Wood to run smelters is indispensable to
that large industry, and as long as we are
within the bounds Of the law, think the
thousands OF people and the commercial
safety of Montana should have some sort Of
consideration shown them. l understand
that new suits are being made up right along
in the General Land Office against the Mon
tana Improvement Company, but the first
suits have been suspended aud these later
ones will probably be held up also. What Is
the use of the Government going TO the ex-
pense of suing us out there In . long, hard
fight? We think we are right, and should
FIGHT for all we are worth, when the parties
are right on the ground here In Washingi on
ready to pay up il we have done wrong. We
are, however, pretty sure We bsvn't gone
wrong, as will be seen later on.
Mr.. Bonner had no hesit alton In denounc-
ing the Haley report as malicious and un-
true. Haley be regarded IS crank. Bon
ner has taken quarters at Welckers', and
says be shall stay here and 6gt his battle
out II It takes all winter. The land Office
authorities expect Bonner TO claim that most
OF the timber mentioned In the Haley report
was taken from Northern Pacific sections,
and thst owing to the want Of surveys bis
men cut some over the line on government
sections. In the absence OF survey, and 1t
being impossible to determine the extent Of
the trespass, the department will have Va
riety OF chances to let the Improvement
Company compromise. a.a..