The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-07-18
DISASTER THREATENED.

the smelling works and the manage
ment of the Montana Union railroad
threatened a suspension of operations
mt the plant I'm this city. Negotiations
have been going on since that time.
They have failed and, unless there is a
renewal of them before shutdown, the
delivery Of ore 10 the works will cease
and, as soon as the stock on hand ut
the works is exhausted, the smelters
will shut. Preparations to this end
are progressing at the upper works and
at Carroll.
Switching charges which the Mon
tana Union is resolved to impose are ut
the bottom of the trouble, the general
manager of the road demanding that
the works shall pay the expense in
Cured in shifting cars that bring ma
terial to the yards in this city or that
take shipments from il. The PROPOSE
ton made by the railroad company has
curious features. IL proposes to go
ahead with men employed under its
own authority and with power and
rolling stock which IL controls, TO do all
the switching required Ia reach the
various departments at the works. Its
plan is 10 keep track Of these expenses
and send to the smelling company a
bill for them, or n general average of
the same. IL will be seen that awk-
ward complications and certain dissat-
isfaction will follow this arrangement,
yet we understand it to be Mr.. Bald
wins idea: indeed, il is reported that he
has already rendered a bill and de-
manded payment for services per-
formed on this odd plan.
The owners of the smelling works
have resolved not 10 go into the ar
rangement. They declare that they
will resist the proposed new charges on
account of the extra expense which
they assert is unfairly put upon them
and of the exactions 10 which i'm the
future they will be subjected il they
yield to the present demand. In be-
half of the railroad company, General
Manager Baldwin was quoted in the
STANDARD several days ago as saying
that the Montana Union is u loser and
he proposes to make il pay. That is
IN ambition worthy of any railroad
a The STANDARD asserts, how
ever, that the Montana Unions rolling
stock would earn dividends, with the
Anaconda company's rates practically
at the present figures. il the road EN-
joyed its fair share of the earnings made
jointly with the Northern Pacific or
the Union Pacific. AS we understand
il, the heads of both these through
roads admit that the Montana Union
is entitled TO more than IL gets out of
this joint business. If we get IL right,
both roads offered 10 make a new pro,
rate arrangement intended To be help
full to the Montana Union and Mr..
Baldwin declined il.
IL the STANDARD gets the honest fig
ures the Montana Union receives forty
cents a ton for the delivery of ore TO the
works In this city. The average haul
is say 81 miles. The Great Northern
hauls to Great Falls, a distance of say
116 miles, for 65 cents a ton. That is
the figure given by u prominent officer
of the road, and Mr.. Hills associates
saw the Great Northern can afford TO
do il. IL seems to us that Mr.. Bald
wins plan savors of discrimination
against his roads largest patron. No
charge like that now proposed is en-
forced against any smelling establish
ment In Butte on coal or coke. No like
charge is made against Denver. Omaha
or any point on the main line or the
branches of the Union Pacific railroad.
yet that road carries material to and
rom smelters miles more remote from
the main tracks than the most distant
point reached by the Montana Union
in handling material for the Anaconda
company.
There are details 10 the question al
issue which must remain with the two
corporations whose business relations
IL concerns. The serious danger threat.
ening the community is that involved
In the closing Of the works. That re.
suit would be unspeakably deplorable
at this time. IL is fraught with disas,
ter to hundreds of workmen in this
city and TO other hundreds at the mines
OF the Anaconda company In Butte
Whatever the merits of the case in ia
minor points, trouble of this sort will
always threaten Butte and Anaconds
IA long as the Montana Union is main
tanned under its present abnormal con
ditions, which came about not by the
demands of trade but through the con
nivance of railroad schemers who's,
presence aud whose interests are in tn,
distant East. IL becomes a serious
question how long this ~ill-devised. ex.
Dqnsiye and unfair ranpemen will