The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1886-08-07
THE SILVER WAR.
Outlook in Glendale and Other Silver Pro-
ducing Camps.

Visiting Glendale this week we were
sorry to find such a gloomy outlook to this
prosperous camp. The facts is simply
that silver having reached such low
price, it is impossible to run the Hecla
works without loss. Glendale is by no
means an exception. The inevitable must
come, it is only question Of time, and in
this terrible state Of things it may be we'll
for the laboring class to act wisely. Dur.
ing the past seven years there has been a
steady decline. Silver, the principal pro.
duct of our territory has gone from 1.,o
down to 90 cts. Provisions Of all kinds
have declined 20 to IS per cent.
Railroad freghts have been reduced. The
labor question is the only one thai has re.
manned firm and refused to share in the
steady decline. 1t is in our territory
not question Of capital against labor,
for capital is the only party that has been
and is the sufferer, but the question is will
labor willingly share its proportion of the
losses that are being daily endured and so
in measure at least prevent the general
prostration and suffering which certainly
is in store for our hitherto prosperous terri.
tory.
In speaking to the officials Of the Hecla
people on this subject, they expressed
themselves unwilling to reduce wages; in
fact Mr.. Knippenberg stated that reduc.
ton of wages now could not possibly save
them from loss. He gave us this exam
Pile: In 1S76.1S7o the Hecla Co
sold silver at t.e9; now we get 0octs
showing difference OF value each month
on basis Of 10000 or. Of $,3,ooo-deae
, loss. Now supposing that labor WAS Il
come down even 81 day, and we have 3oe
men at work. That would be reduction
. of $4,000 month, leaving loss OF some
| $4,000 each month. There is no question
that this argument: is correct and is a straigh
, forward business statement.
r Mr.. knippenberg's idea of the situation
is simply this: Close down the works
Keep them closed down, until every thin
is adjusted, and everybody bears his shar
s of the burden, and silver is restored in pric
# to at least ST.
u The Hscla mines are looking wei
Il The Cleopatra alone is producing consie
e cradle ore. July was the largest shippin
$ month in the history Of the compan.
!. averaging $50 tons daily list and I'd elias
We were glad to see Mr.. Knippenber
It looking Tranquil. He said the issue ha
4. now come and the decision Of closing u
had taken a great load off his mind, h
only regret being that it it would be tar
on many families that he highly esteemed
as we'll as many valuable young men.
This picture with slight change of detail
=, will represent all silver producing camp
The so,nber wells OF smoke hitherto er
:. shrouding the cities of Butte and Anaco,
da, are rapidly giving place to the dark
or clouds Of anxiety caused by the perple
=. ing silver question. Some of the small
l., works have already closed down and II
i, leading ones running at loss, hopir
-, and waiting for something to turn up,
Meanwhile groups of anxious citizens CO
>. gregate at street corners and as they ca
&c vass the situation, pour blessings lin d
~ guise, upon the devoted heads OF our q
tutc lawmakers and loudly chant Il
praises of our glorious administration.
no The President has signed the OleOms