The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-07-19
BUSINESS At AN END.

- VI,
at O o'clock last night. Operations will
not be resumed until differences be-
tween General Manager Baldwin and
the owners of the smelling works are
adjusted. The matter in difference has
already been presented in the STAND
ARD as plainly as we know how to tell
il. Mr.. Baldwin has been delivering
the mines in Butte to the works In this
city. lie demands that the smelling
works shall pay the charges incident to
switching from the yard to the several
departments at the works. lie has
rendered n bill for switching charges In
June, that bill was referred to the
gentlemen who manage the smelling
company's affairs and payment was re-
fused. Mr.. Baldwin then gave notice
that II the account remained unpaid
until Thursday night, the Montana
Union would stop work in this city's
yard.
There is material on hand at the
works for a short run. When this stock
in exhausted the works will close and
SO will the mines at Butte. With the
copper market in its present condition,
il is a natural inference that the own
ers of the Anaconda works would not
easily pursuade themselves to suspend
operations. IL the STANDARD gets the
truth i'm the cast Mr.. llaggin, In June,
was anxious that the works, recovered
from last years unavoidable Interrupt
tions, be kept steadily in motion, and
this feeling was cordially shared by Mr..
DAILY. Aside from the check to produc-
ton, il costs a great deal of money
TO stop and start the vast plant in this
city. Its owners do not engage in that
sort of business for fun. Possibly they
could make 1t pay to meet the extra
charge rather than take the loss in
volved I'm closing down; probably the
railroad company has reasoned that
way. IL this is the case, the road has
reasoned wrong. There is evidently
more at issue than the dollars and cents
per month that have been demanded,
and now that the shutdown is upon
us, there will probably bet general ad-
justment of matters. The STANDARD
has no wish to be a prophet of evil, yet
il would not surprise u IS We're the inter
ruption to be prolonged for weeks or
months.
The STANDARD isn't going to he in
anv hurry in taking sides on this ques-
ton. IL has presented some features
of the case for the side of the smelter,
il has not thus far met any refutation
on behalf Of the railroad company.
The interruption To business touches
the public in two cities SO closely that
the controversy will rapidly become
one of general interest. II seems to us
that a railroad company must be very
sure of its grounds before il brings TO
a halt traffic that concerns the daily
bread of hundreds of families. TN the
other hand, If the owners Of the smelt-
ing works are in the wrong, the STAND
ARD will not hesitate to condemn their
course in all that relates to the people
Of this community. If there is any
thing i'm this matter which the public
il entitled to know the STANDARD will
willingly give every word of IL honest
presentation. II has already stated
some of the facts from the standpoint
OF the smelter, IL will gladly give to the
public anything the railroad company
may choose to convey.
These facts have been developed:
The Anaconda company asserts that IL
Is willing 10 discuss a revision of
freight rates, but il refuses the charge
and the peculiar form of charge which
Mr.. Baldwin insists on. The
Anaconda company does not adj
nit or deny that the railroad
company is losing money, but il
asserts that if there is a loss
IL is due to other causes than
TO the rate paid for hauling ore. I'm
der contract that rate is 10 cents. Sew
eral months ago Mr.. Baldwin advanced
the rate TO IS cents at a jump, but that
action was recalled. At the time, the
STANDARDS information was that this
rate holds until next January. for haul.
ing ore 'from the mines in Butte to
the shelters I'm this city" Mr.. Bald
win has stated the amount of loss i'm.
CURED in the operating of the Mon
tana Union. In reply, m of the owners
of the smelling works lately offered to
buy the road, spot cash. at a figure
which, we confidently believe, would be
considered very high for the property,
were any group Of competent railroad
men TO pass judgment on ii.
We believe il 10 be a proposition
susceptible Of easy proof that large
local patrons of the Montana Union
will have to pay more than a just
freight rate in order to make the Mon