The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-17
The Big Ok Company in Troubles
Twenty Miners Demand
Their Pay.
News Of the Montana Company
Review Of tho Copper
Market,
General Information from Deer Lodge,
Jefferson md Mesghsr County
Mines.

amounts due range from $50 to 800 n man
and the total will aggregate about $4,000.
Ths only hops Of the men getting thor
money depends upon the SUCCESS Of Mr.. A.
p. Dodge, general mansge Of the COM
pany, in selling Big Ok stock in Boston.
which he Ii said to DO now trying to do.
Yesterday morning about twenty men
who were employed at the Big Ok came
down to Helena TO demand their money.
Mr.. Jay Comstock, the secretary, WIS at
Mnrysvile, and used his best persuasive
powers at the railroad depot to stand the
men off. He read kilograms from Dodge
TO them, asked them to wait q few days
longer when he would probably be able to
settle and implored them not to attach tho
property, as IL would interfere with Mr..
Dodge's work in Boston. The men listened
~attentivsly and were very cool
about the matter, but they said
they were going to Helena
anyhow. They had no further business at
the mine since work was ordered stopped.
Upon reaching this city they repaired to
the %company's Office in the PjttsburR block
and repeated their demands for the money
due them. Mr.. Comstock told them he had
no one and repeated all he had said be-
fore. The men made no demonstration or
threats and were probably tho most peace.
able set OF miners ever seen under similar
circumstances. Mr.. II. s. Porter, the as
sayer, TO whom money 10 also due, wss ap-
miners. Mr.. Comstock told them he hour
ly expected some encouraging word from
Mr.. Dodge and asked the men to wait two
or three days longer. They finally walked
away and held a conference among them
"Why don't you attach the ore2'' was
asked Of one of the men.
because there is non to attach. There's
nothing but a hole in the ground" WAS the
response.
II WAS learned that the c~oncentrator had
been shut down and work stopped on the
ordered closed up. The company owes
money to every employe about the Big Ok.
At the Upper Big Ok three shifts are still
Mt work and it is understood the miners up
there have money coming to them also. II
10 probable that to-day work will be stopped
on tho upper property also.
That the Lower Big OK has proved a fail
ure as a mining proposition is not denied
by the officials of the company. They have
had at times some ore but il never paid for
the working. The company has a 3O-ton
concentrator at the lower mine. and its
purchaPe also seems to have besn a mistake.
Mr.. Comstock was seen by a reporter for
the purpose Of securing his statement of
tho case. He attributed the failure of the
company to pay its men to the financial
%strinRency in the eastern money market.
"It's like this" said he; what money we
use to take up the bond on the Upper Big
Ok mine and owing to the tight money
market we have been unable to get the adj
ditional funds We expected through the sale
OF the stock IN the east, Mr.. Dodge has
been negotiating for the sale oil several
1nPUa hlnOka Int tho N boV~ that, .,1-x.
tied up in securities and had to put him off
for the present. but he is confident that
only a few days will elapse before he will
secure san re the w money; We want to raise about
the men and bnild a 2o.stsmp, mill to treat
worth Of ore in sight in that property and
several old miners have told me that
the mine is good for half d
million dollars and that they
are not afraid to wait for their money. I
am not a practical. mining man and Of
worth. l know we had twenty tons of Up
per Big Ok ore run through one Of the Mon
tana company's mills and 10 averaged S22
pr ton. Mr.. Bayliss said the cost was
about So per ton for milling. Now we
must get the mill and then we hope to place
tho mine on a paying basis"
"How about the Lower Big Ox?' was
asked.
we'll, that hasn't come up to expecta-
lions, and it is doubtful if we shall try to
do anything more with IT,"
Whore 10 Dan Simpson,"
II think he is in Syracuse, New York, He
has nothing more to do with the Big OK
though he still holds his stock"
." expect" continued Mr.. Comstock, ITO
be called away upon important business
this morning. but I shall leave a man here
to open kilograms and keep the men in
formed as to what Mr.. Dodge 10 going to
do"
The miners have placed their grievances
in the hands Of Attorneys Shedd Il Botkin,
and i is probable that the property OF the
Big " company will be attached to-day
and liens placed on it for the various sums
due the employees.