Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-09

70 AB1rE THE SMOKE.
me Board Of Trade Appoint . Committes
Is Confer with h smelter Men
About r.
In compliance With b requestfrom several
members. the President Of the Board 81
Trade called q meeting for last evening 10
the rooms over Clark q Larabie's bank, to
devise some means Of remedyingt the smelteI
smoke nuisance that has been the cause q
such general complaint within the past lev
weeks. Not more than q dozen. members
complied with the request, but they were
all representative men OF the business IN.
terests OF the community.
The lone Of discussion was extremely
temperate. There was nc denunciation OF
the nuisance as something that must be
put down at any or all hazard: no inten-
lion to make the smelter men remedy it,
no matter at what cost to themselves; no
assertion Of the supremacy OF the munici-
nal rights inherent in the corporation over
the rights oil any one else-in short. no de-
sire to s-crowd the mourners." On the
contrary, there was every wish to meet
the gentlemen in charge OF the industries
principally responsible for the annoyance
complained OF in the most reasonable
spirit, and to endeavor to enlist their Coz
operation in some course that Will result
benefcially to the community.
In this respect, the sentiments expressed
last evening may be said to reflect those
entertained by the community at large.
It is felt hat the industries that crs ate
30 unpleasant to inhale are among
the most important in the county. There
is no more intention on the part OF any
sensible inhabitant OF the city to dispense
with the smelters than there is to shut
down the mines, and it is sale to say that
whatever conclusion the Board OF Trade
finally comes to on the subject win be In
conformity with this self-evldent condition
precedent.
After the meeting had been ..called to or.
der and it's purpose explained, a communi-
cation from Ernest Grenier, NJ. E., was
read. Ia it, after defining What the fumes
by which the city is overhung consist OF,
he asserts that the main obnoxious ele-
ments are the sulphur compounds, and
continues:
In order to do away with the fumes.
three systems are available:
First-Absorption by liquids or chem
icals.
Second-Utilizing the fumes for manufac.
turing.
INSTRUMENTATION in long f1pes.
or those three, the first one has been ex-
perimented on in Germany ut considerable
State expense, but withsuch unsatisfactory
that / shall not consider it any
longer in this case.
The second one would effectually remove
the SMOKE, but it's economical conditions
have to be carefully looked into, such as
OF establishing lead chambers for the
manufacture Of sulphurie acid, cost OF
operating the same at present wages, and
finally how and at what costto market the
product in presence oil Eastern competition;
this can be studied. but / doubt whether
the conclusions would be favorable to this
means OF abating the nuisance.
The third one has been tried all over the
world and even not many miles from Butte
City. The results were that lead dust, ar
senic, volatilized silver, zinc and many
compounds were recuperated in the
dust chambers, but the volatile sulphur |
remained in the smoke, and
the only practical and economical way
was found and resorted TO was to
carry the fumes by a fiue far enough
so az not to be injurious. To
Prof. Carl Hesse belongs the credit
Of trying this process success
fully in Montana, and as / was placed
in about the same circumstances at Boul-
der / followed with equal success.
With these facts in view, | satisfied my.
self by an sctual survey OF the feasibility
OF carrying the fumes OF the different mills
and smelling works TO a point four miles
~ f~nrr. thu nItu anA q n fanf i
above it, which, l think, would be amply
efficient to protect the town, as, should
even the wind blow from that direction,
the fumes would be high enough iE the air
to pass over the city without striking it.
In this case there will be for it two ques-
lions to consider:
First-What size flue win it take to carry
the fumes by natural draft.
Second--Wil the use of pneumatic VEN
be advisable, economical, or neces.
sary.
In both cases thu question preeents itself. |
what sort OF 1ue will be most advisable
masonry, earthen pipe. or iron pipe. pro-
tected inside against the corrosive influence
Of the fumes. The main points to be con-
sidered will be. cost OF installation, cost Of
main enance. and durability, all questions
can only be determined by q careful
study OF the topography and nature OF the
to be traversed, and by the nom
cal conditions OF the different systems.
1t is natural that in either case, utilizing
The fumes in the arts or carrying them off
q lurs, heap roa sting will nave to be done
away with, and will have to be replaced by
tails, or any other continuance which will
sllow Of the gathering OF the fumes into the
main fiue.
The reading OF the communication pro-
IL Isa.r...1- Ik,,4-~ vi. n.4-,1. .-L~ L
vis present, and members OF the Board. in
which nothing further was elected than an
duplication Of the ideas set forth by the
1t a utterly impossible to
i've al approximation OF the cost OF the
,lan proposed. and that, it was felt, was
he principal item for consideration.
On motion OF John f. Forbis, the chair
appointed a committee consisting OF
Forbis, Hoge, Caplice, Leggat and
rvine, to, whom the communication was
with instructions to confer with
he gentlemen interested in the various
mines and smelters in relation to the sub
and report to the Board when
hey have reached some conclusion.
Further discussion ersued as to the pswer
the city OF Butte, whose rights of control
Fere stated on the best authority to be abb
dilute. But no one was seeking to prohibit
hV VI IL Guy u AhAPAtA chOAh
lsefulness. 1t was generally conceded that
one wanted to shut them down, for the
Of the town is large'y dependent on
heir maintenance.
One gentleman asserted the opinion that
the oity were to levy an assessment on
he inhabitants to raise funds to provide
ONE means of disposiug of the smoke
very one would gladly contribute his
hare to such an end.
The chair produced q letter from Mr..
Of the Blue Bird, stating that Mr..
Henry a.. Vein OF Great Falls would be
a town in a day or two who would be able
y furnish considerable Information on the
The meeting then adjourned subject to
he call OF the committee when they are
eady to report.
THE PENN FAN.