The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-24

Request From the Miners for Eight
Hours Work ut the Old Rate
Of Wages.
BUTTE, Nov. 22.-[Special. THE final as
surance that the camp is to have an abund-
ant supply of water, which was made this
past week, means q great deal to this camp.
Almost every year for great many past. q
number of the more important properties
have been obliged to shut down couple Of
months in the late summer and early fall
because of failure in the water supply,
and this is now to be averted. The pri-
mary object of the new companies il to sup
ply the city with pure mountain water. but
incidentally the mines will be allowed to to
draw upon the same source Of supply.
which will be ample for all. The company
first in Importance and in the amount Of
money it expects to expend will be COM
posed entirely Of eastern capitalists, who
propose to put s., 0OO, 600 in the undertak-
ing. Their plan is to take their water
from the summit of the divide about TWEEN
ty-fve miles west Of the city. Here sever
al creeks head in together and all Of them
can easily be diverted into common reser-
voirs. To receive this water two supply
reservoirs will be constructed with joint
capacity of fully 5O0.OOO,OO0 gallons. A
thirty inch main will be run to the summit
back of this city. where distributing res
ervoir will be built containing at least two
weeks' water supply for the entire city.
This pipe line will be fully twenty five
miles in length and will cross
the valley which separates the two
mountain ranges below Silver Bow
junction. It will have head
of 300 feet at the reservoir back of the city
and this fall with thirty-inch main will
make the daily water flow about OOO0, 600
gallons. The fall from the reservoir to the
city will be sufficient to furnish all the
power that the mains could stand and will
enable the fire companies to throw stream
over the highest buildings in the city di-
rectly from the plugs.
The second scheme of this kind is the
one proposed some time since by the Ana
conda company. They have secured the
water in Elk park and propose to bring it
to this city. 10 do this they will be obliged
across the valley on the east of the city.
They have purchased an old prospecting
tunnel that was run nearly half through the
mountains in the early days and that will
cut down the expense there considerably
but they expect to expend about ;2oo, GOO
distributing reservoir where all of the Ana
conda group of mines can be connected
with it and any one of them flooded at q
moments notice. At the same time it will
cover the town and can be drawn upon for
the ordinary uses without tho great additional
have supply of the very best water that
will be ample for all time to come.
OF late years the number of large smelt-
ers about this city have grown until their
smoke has become something of nuisance
and it's consumption the great question OF
taken up in earnest and will be followed up
until some solution has been found. The
first step in that direction will be confer
ence between the smelter men and the
members Of the Board of Trade to be held
in the court house next Tuesday night. The
and express themselves az being willing to
do anything in reason to bring about the
reform desired. OF their own accord they
have been working to do away with pile
roasting, which has contributed most
generously Of all causes to the smoke sup
is roasted in piles on the ground and in the
open air causes all the sulphur smoke to be
generated next to the earth and unless
high wind comes up to carry 1t OF it rolls
over the city without rising. Where the
ore is roasted in furnaces al the fumes are
carried off through tall stacks and have at
least the advantage of that height when
started, an advantage which frequently
saves the city. These furnaces are being
generally adopted and, as the smelter mon
are willing to do anything else within their
power the question will doubtless be settled
to the satisfaction Of all within short
time.
For some time the leading men of the
miners union in this city have been dis
cussing the advisability Of inauRurating a
movement in favor of eight hours for a
days work. It was the opinion of most
that anyone obliged to follow the arduous
and dangerous calling of a miner should
t. ssr The Ss
been thoroughly discussed in all its bear
ings and the leaders thoroughly understood
each other, action was taken In the oonser.
vatise manner which has always been
characteristic of this organization. let
owner and superintendent in the camp, as
the first step in the direction of the desired
change. Il requested that hereafter
working day for underground miners shall
consist of eight hours. and that the pre-
vailing rate Of wages. &3:50 per day, shall
OO AA0AusoAuoOs 4u0k0 - no Ul1t Oh Tue
force behind this modest request, which is
no less than an active membership of 5000
miners to say nothing of these on the out
side who will readily join in the movement
1t 10 too early to forecast what the outcome
of this movement will be but it would be
idle to denv that it may DO serious. The
very fact however that both parties thor
ouQhly understand each otherSa and are dis
posed to seek common ground upon which to
effect settlement, and that all concerned
are inclined toward conservative view of
the case makes it almost certain that an
amicable agreement will be reached and
that without much delay. No action will
be taken by either side before Monday and
1t may be postponed much longer.
The kreutzer Sonata ct Encore hall this even
Ing at $50. Reserved seats ct Pope & OCOnnor's.
The Kreutzer Sonata at Encore hall this even
Ing at $50. deserved eeats At Pope d O'COnnor'a
= full line Of smoker's sets just opened At The
Bee Hive.
To the Public In General.
am now fully prepared 10 do better
work and give better satisfaotion than any
photographer in the city. having re4itted
my studio throughout.
LsMus1os.
We have one OF the largest stock. Of oysecoats
IN Helena. and coll them 1t = bargain Montana
Consolidated company. Granite block
Ladies, ribbed underwsar only 5 ssnts Il Ths
Bes Hive.