The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-12

Among the guests at the Butler yes
terday was Mai Martin Maginnis, Of
Helena. one Of the oldest and best known
citizens % Montana. He represented Mon
tana during territorial days as a delegate
IA congress for twelve years. or six sue
cessivc terms. from 1879 until 1854 During
his term in congress Washington was rep
resented by three different delegates,
Hon o. b. McFadden. since deceased,
from 1s7Z until 1874. Hon. Orange Jacobs.
now one Of the superior judges OF King
county. from 1874 until ISIS. and Hon.
Thomas Brents. then and now Of Walla
Waiia county. from 1875 until 1S4.
A representative Of the Post-intelllgen-
Ger called on Maj. Maginnis al the Butler
last evening and talked with him for
while upon politics and mining matters
There is very little politics in Montana
al present" said the major. for the rea-
son that our people were almost a unit
upon the issue presented In the last cam
paign: they are almost solid for free sill
yer" The major certainly ought 10 know.
for ne was upon the fusion ticket rs a
candidate for presidential elector, and re-
csived rather more than four-fifths OF all
the votes cast In the state.
On the Dingley tariff bill, as al present
framed and as affecting the mining in
emphatically dissented from the PROPOSE
ton that an enhanced duty In lead ores
was IN the interests Of the silver-lead
miners OF the country. why" said ne.
when silver-lead ores containing a larg-
er value in silver than in lead were adj
mitted free OF duty. there were few
thousand tons shipped across the Mexican
border. A heavy duty was imposed upon
such ores. ostensibly In the interests OF
the miners OF this country. As a result,
many large smelters were erected in Mex
leo. some OF the largest with American
capital exclusively, and these smeiters
have ever since been running. BY reason
OF the building OF these smelters new
mines have been opened out in Mexico
which otherwise would probably have re-
mained untouched for a hundred years.
These mines and smelters have flooded
the market with lead. and brought down
the price far lower than IL was before
the duty was imposed
Continuing he said the proposed duty
on lead ores would work even more ser
ious injury TO this state. '+The duty is
IL cents a pound. That is $50 a ton.
Thirty dollars a ton is Itself a good price
for ore. The imposition of such a duty as
this will simply kill the smelling business
IN this state. The ores OF the Rosslaud.
Trail creek and other British Columbia
mines. which now. 20 a very large extent
come 10 shelters Ia Spokane Everett
and Tacoma. viii BE shut out Instead OF
coming here for reduction. smelters will
be erected In British Columbia. and they
VIII reduce all their own ores and ore
from this side as we'll"
Mai MaginBis said there were no symp-
toms OF improved times to be observed in
Montana. but "a a mater OF fact there
had been no such hard times there as ne
was informed had been Witnessed in other
parts Of the Pacific coast. The great com
modities which Montana produced had not
declined IN price Gold and copper were
not affected by the commercial depres-
sion. the former. for various reasons. and
as for copper. the great increase in the de-
mand and use for that metal had kept up
the price and in fact considerably adj
vanced it above the price OF five or six
years ago. The great copper producing
mines OF Montana had consequently been
in steady operation all the time. and the
heavy pay rolls prevented any hard times
being experienced In Montana. The major
pesslmistically observed. however. that
gold and copper were the only things
which could be sold. for no one could sell
town lots, farms. houses or anything else
| at present
As 90 the prospects OF mining develop
ment on the coast. Maj Maginnis said n
was quite apparent that Eastern capital
was commencing 20 look IN tho direction
| - mining Investments The trouble was
| that 81 was unfamiliar ground 10 them
The American people particularly those
| % the East were not mining investors II
vas different with the English. The lat
/ ter had put their money into mines Cor
| years. and We're always ready 20 take hold
| OF any good mining proposition II one
/ was presented % them they promptly sent
/ out competent expert TO examine Il
/ bought II the proposition suited them. and
/ put up abundant capital 10 develop the
! property. and put 70 on its feet rs a buss
] ness proposition. The Eastern investors
/ IN this country had not as yet approached
/ mining investments in any such business
/ Ike way They handled the propositions
/ ginWerly and teuderly. looked upon them
| more az speculation than a business
| proposition. put Wp the money necessary
! for development work grudgiuEiy. and
| generally entrusted the management 10 81.
| competent persons In fact the English
| were miners. and the Americans were not
Any good mining proposition could AZ
/ any time ~ hosted in London but q IS
/ difficult matter for the best OF such
| schemes 70 End persons - take hold al
u IN the proper share in the Eastern
/ states Tho result IS that some Of ~.
/ richest and bes, paving mining ropertle.
I !n the United Statrs ARE owned abroad
Z Is would. undoubtedly ~ % the hirhez
I possible benedt 20 the whole United state,
/ ~ che capitalists 90 tne East would follow
+ tie English initiative in this matter. and
/ assist in tire Development ~ Western min.
trF properties tn a business like way.
+ Mas MfEinnis leaves this morning POI
/ OLYMPIA Whore De goes o. Join hss wifi.
/ wro has seen visiting friends ia Oregon
/ ara Washington for some tirne past. The1
| VIII refuru 10 Seattle wtthtn "a few sevs
/ and make "a mere extended stay