Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-05
THE sxoKEHOUsE INCUBUS.

In our local columns will be found sew
eral PRACTICAL reasons for the speedy and
absolute termination OF the Smokehouse
controversy. This threat over the titles
to lots in the city has always been a detri-
ment to it's upbuilding. Now that it has
assumed the shape of an actual judgment,
with all the power OF law behind it, the
matter ,s all the more serious. 1t is keep
ing active business men away from here
and prevents our own people from making
improvements. as testified to by Mr.. COIN,
who held off from making improvements
fora whole year, or until he also secured
the Smokehouse title.
Such q state Of affairs is an absolute
curse to d community. The MINER under,
stands fully the excitement this contro-
very at one time originated. 1t fully
realizes the bitterness and animosities it has
left, Yet it does not believe that an
amicable adjustment is impossible. The
MINER has no fight with Mr.. Murray, nor
has it a specially friendly interest in his
welfare. He may be all that his enemies
represent him to be. 1t matters not, since
he appears t. have ''the pole" in this in
stance. He has done what probably
few men would have the nerve
to do, but what nearly every specu-
lative nature would be quite willing to do.
Conceiving that he had a priority OF title
he fought it out in the courts. The bitter
personal fight made npon him has not
made him feel any too peaceful. He has
now succeeded in obtaining string of judg-
ments almost as long as our tax list and
he feels not a little elated. Naturally so.
too, for what was previously with him but
an idea has been by the act of law crystal
lied into a reality. By the fiat OF the Court
he has become, in a moment, the one
sixth owner of n large portion OF the
very best property in the very heart
OF the city. This decree will stond
and become q lien, with four years
of back rents, against all this property,
unless a successful appeal should be had.
An appeal means time and increased ca
pense. It also means death to our bust
ness center, since it will prevent improve
Expensive as the litigation has al
ready been it will be still more expensive
the higher it goes. The sensible and level
business men who long since l'ur-
based their titles outright and kept out OF
the litigation made money by their course.
amicable settlement of these
now would mean none" to
Mr.. Murray, to the property-holders
md to everybody interested in the up
and prosperity OF the city. 1t
would restore confidence and strengthen
We understand that a syndicate OF the
oroperty-holders is being organized with a
view of bringing about an amicable ar
rangement. The I ar seems to be that Mr..
strong in his new position, will be
arbitrary and exacting. Mr.. Cohn does
not seem to have found him 80. AS we
have already said, we do not believe that
Mr.. Murray can afford to set his face so
against the people OF this com
with whom he has cast his for
tunes. He could better afford to accept
$50, 900 for his claim now than
to continue the litigation and embitter the
ceiling already existing and eventually
oerchance obtain a quarter of a million OF
He should consider the value Of
the immed ate use of money and the in
crease in real estate values by the lifting OF
this incubus, which is in his control. The
MINER trusts that the proposed committee
will be created and that Mr.. Murray will
,ot be found SO hard a man to deal with
Ia he has been represented. Let the clold
De lifted!