The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-18
ALL PULL TOGETHER
The Chamber of Commerce Will Have
a Full Attendance Tonight
SECRETARY BAKER RESIGNS
Discussion of the Project In Re-
gard to a Mining Exchange for
Butte-Delegates to the Hell
ena Meeting March 10.

1t is expected that every member OF
the chamber of commerce will be pres
ent at to-night's meeting promptly at
o'clock 1t will be an important meet
ing. The officers of the chamber believe
the time is ripe for active measures to
be taken to make Butte a greater
Butte, and they believe that with a lit
tie pulling the present year can be
made the best year ever had. The res
ignation of ]. A. Baker. the efficient
and faithful secretary, will be received
at to-night's meeting. Mr. Baker was
one of the leaders in the formation of
the body and has been its secretary
from the first meeting. His resfgna-
ton is deeply to be regretted, but a
stress of business and other duties COM
pei Mr.. Baker to take this step. He
will, however, remain an active mem
Der of the organization and will do his
utmost to promote its interests and the
interests of Butte. Mr.. Baker on the
occasion of his resignation will present
a full report of the transactions, ac-
complishments and endeavors of the
chamber of commerce since it was or
ganized. Mr.. Baker is a firm and san
guine believer in Buttes future. He
is confident that there are $4,000 people
in Butte at present and that within
five years Butte, in its natural growth.
will reach a population close to 100000.
Only events now unforeseen can pre-
vent Butte from reaching this figure. II
is likely that w. McC. White, another
active member of the chamber from
the start will be elected to the vacancy
which will be caused by Mr.. Bakers
resignation.
The specific purpose of to-night's
meeting is TO discuss ways and means
and offer suggestions for the grow tn
and development of Butte. Naturally
the first thought of every citizen Is that
the surest and quickest way to develop
Butte is to restore silver to it's rightful
place as a money metal. But while this
is admitted by all, 1t is also urged that
Butte cannot afford to wait for the
free coinage of silver. 1t may be years
before that is accomplished. Even
without that 1t is believed the present
year can be made Butte's greatest
year.
One matter which has been discussed
and will doubtless be presented to-
night is the project for the establish
ing Of mining exchange in Butte.
This city is the center of a vast min
eral belt. including jefferson. Madison,
Beaverhead. Deer Lodge and Granite
counties. All these counties have dis
trictS which appear now as promising
as Butte did Is years ago, and with
capital all would be developed. There
is also untold wealth in Silver Bow
county still undiscovered. Montana
produced last year more mineral than
any other state in the United States,
yet there is not a mining exchange in
the whole state. Colorado, Utah and
even Idaho have mining exchanges and
consequently those states are attract
ing plenty of the eastern capital look
ing for investment in western mines.
The members of the chamber of COM
merce believe that an honest presenta-
ton of the states wealth would be
mutually beneficial to eastern capital
and to Montana. They WILL however,
oppose any schemes and wild cat''
enterprises.
Another matter that will come be-
fore the chamber tonight will be the
selection of delegates to the immigra-
ton convention to be held in Helena
March 10. The chamber is entitled to
the appointment of three delegates.
The matter of attracting immigration
to Montana will probably be discussed
in all its phases.