The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-11
THE SITUATION IN BUTTE
Something About the Labor Troubles
and the Annual Smelter
Smoke Nuisance.
How They Are Viewed by a Core
spondent, with Sugges-
tons.
Tina Copper Market-News OF mines ana
Prospects in Various Parts
of the State.

This community seems to be passing
through tn, bulent period. SAYS Butte
correspondent of the Engineering and Min
mo Jonrnal Last month the Carpenters
nrion which had Just been formed, raised
the rate of wages from 81 per day of ten
hours to $40 per day OF nlne hours. AS
there WAS considerable work in process
which had to be completed before winter
net in. the carpenters won an easy victory,
at least for the time being. The success OF
this move probably had its effect upon the
members of the Miners union. This BODY
aerved n nrinted request on all mine owners
and snnarintendents to the effect that the
honrs oe labor be reduced from ten hours
mar day to eight hours; the rate of wages
was to remain $3.50 per day as before. The
mine superintendents held a meeting and
retnrned to the union written reply signed
by all interested.
The purport of this reply has been with,
held from the public up to the present time.
The reply was to have been READ AZ me
meeting of the union on Tuesday, the 23th
inst, but for some reason 1t was not. from
this silence it is inferred that the reply was
not satisfactory, and that the leaders are
consulting over the matter before proceed
ing further in the movement. I've il 9t,
served by the union on the Improvements
stated that the subject had been under con-
Alteration for some time past, and the re-
ouest was made at this time as 1t felt the
present was the time for action. Ii this
statement, that the matter had been under
discussion for some considerable time 10
correct it is hardly possible that the union
ill hoo G IN the first DENIAL or It's re-
Quest, If it insists on an acceptance OF Its
terms, the result may be the closing down
of all the mines in camp If the union
does back down, it would be quite in the
order of things for the superintendent TO
make counter demand. Such action would
doubtless have the effect of closing down
the mines.
It is the writer's opinion that the tlowery
accounts which are being continually pub
lished by the local press Of different mines
has created an uneasy feeling among the
men. One newspaper in particular IN It's
ardent desire to boom things make some
very ludiorous statements. 1t frequently
publishes the statement that the Lexington
mine, which is 1900 feet deep, draws con-
siderable ore from its lower levels for use IN
the Lexington MILL and says that this
proves that the mines here have only to at
tain depth in order to establish the position
OF this camp as a town which shall last for
ALI time. In reality the sinking of the Lex
inRton has been the loss of a very large sum
Of money without any return, or prospect OF
return. Very little ore has been taken out
of the Lexington mine below tho 7OO-foot
level. On the 1,0cO-foot level the company
ran crosscut south about 1900 feet, ano
north 800 feet. The vein run east and west, and
while several veins were cut. no ore of any
value was found. The company found very
little ore on the 1,5O0-foot level that will
assay above ounces and this is altogether
too low to work. In consideration of this
and similar statements it is not to be Won
dered that the miners obtain an exagger-
ated idea Of the profits of mine owners and
make demands that are beyond all reason
1t is doubtless the poor success that the
Lexington mine has met with in sinking
that leads the owners OF the Moulton tC
hesitate about throwing money away IN
similar manner. However, tho Moulton
has q prospect in view. The Alice mine,
which is east of the Moulton, and on the
same lead, is taking considerable quanti-
ties of rich ore from the 1.OOO-fOot level.
We understand that it is from the rich ore
opened up in the lower Levels of this mine
that the recent dividends have been OBJ
tanned. The superstition is that the Alice
ore continues into the Moulton ground.
The townspeople are after the smelterf
this year with their usual hue and cry. Fol
about three months from the middle OF
November to the middle Of February. the
town is troubled with the smoke from these
smelters. The natural climatic conditions
of the seasons and country give rise to fire.
quent fogs or mists. These fOSs hold the
smoke in suspension. 1t is estimated thai
there are in the neighborhood of $50 toni
of sulphur thrown off every twenty-foul
hours by burning and calcining the ore
At a Board of Trade meeting last Tuesday
evening committee was appointed Will
instructions to formulate scheme to abat'
ho mn Tho CStS rounci1 MT tn h
behindhand, has instructed its attorney t.
draw up an ordinance to regulate tn
OF piles. This roasting in piles is bet
noir of a section of the community
The fact that the sulphur is thrown o
other calcining furnace, as in the heap'
does not seem to be recognized IN tins nc
ton. 1t is claimed that if the smeltel
would roast their coarse ore in stalls, an
carry the fumes through stacks 100 fe
high there would be no trouble. AS the'
to gain, it is natural that they would like
see the experiment tried. even IT 1T INQUIRE
great expense to the companies. The on
possible solution of the difficulty is n pls
to, draw the smoke and fumes throut
dampened diaphragms by suction. thus a
sorbing the sulphur; Water, however,
readers may be able to express an opini
upon the feasibility of this scheme. i
suggestion has been made that tho city
vertise for plan providing for the be
means of getting rid of the fumes.
The Copper Market.
The market has been rather fiat duri
the week, and on the exchange 25C
pounds of lake copper sold at 16c for l
cember delivery. Further quantities a
offered at about l6. 15(d16.55, hut buyers
not come up at these prices although at
sales could be made. The larger lake col
panies are still holding for tic. and it
understood that lake copper from q
hands cannot be bought noy below Il
figure 1t is understood that Arizona c.
per also Sold somewhat below the pri
given last week, but the figures are
recorded. For casting copper quotatit
arc fully upheld, and we have to quote l
@l411.
The London market was rather irreeu
aid prices declined to E55 5s., but af
ward much better feeling set in,
after touching Esq Is. Cd. the market Gle
6rm at ESQ t56 %. Cd. for spot and f56
GEES It's. 81. for three months. We Qu'
English tough. EGO los. "a Sol: best sslec
G61@e61 1Os.: strong sheets, SOS; Ir
sheets, E63G eA. Yellow metal sheets
quiet at 6d.d614d.
The Boston News Bureau says: Col.
oYmore. the treasurer of the Calum
Hecla Mining company, denies that he
- II. 90.