Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-12-24
ZINC AND LEAD NINE OWNERS FORM
An ORGANIZATION.
OBJECT TO PRICE CUTTING
MINERS CLAIM SUPPLY AND DEMAND
DO NOT CONTROL.
Say Ore Prices Are Fixed Arbitrarily
by SmeItrrs-Their Grievances
set Forth in m Address
Proposed Chnnges in
Mining Laws.

JOPLIN, MO- Dec. 2G.-JSpeJiLID The
mine owners OF the Missouri-KanSas zinc
end lead mining district organized d mu-
tual protective association here to-day.
Representative mining men from all parts
Of the district were present and expressed
their determination to make a strong re-
sistance 10 unwarTanted cutting Of the
prices Of zinc ore by what they denomI-
nate the smeltrr combine Al address
was prepared and adopted setting forth
The mine owners grievances. The address
says:
During the past few years. mine op-
orators have seen and felt The necessity
of a permanent ana united organization in
order To protect and promote their inter-
ssts and 10 secure for themselves just
and equita BILE price for their product. In
the earlier DAYS OF zinc mining. when the
buyers wer= independent of combination.
The mine operators were satisfied TO allow
The law of supply and demand 10 establish
The price Of ore. They are Yet satisfied and
content that an unrestricted law OF supply
snd demand shall establish the market
price, as III other products OF the earth.
But it is well recognized in the mining
community that such rule does NOT pre-
vail. that prices are nNed arbitrarily. totally
regardless of the law OF supply ana de-
mand. The smelter-s have perfected an
prices on our products to suit their own
peculiar whims and fancies entirely r--
gardless Of the district output and value
of Spelter in the markets of the world.
it has become fixed maxim In the dis
t-ict that the price of spelter affects not
the price OF jack. and the jack buyer him
self makes no pretense Of impusninS the
truth Of this maxim. Jack is down when
spelter is up and spelter is down when jack
IS up.
During the past three weeks We have
been the unwilling victims of an arbitrary
cut Of 81 per ton in the value of ore. and
hut p cents per 100 in the value of spelter:
I'm other words. a depreciation OF nearly -
Ter cent in the value Of ore ana ) per cent
in the value Of spelter. This cut OF - per
ton Is "A loss 10 the mining community Of
$4,000 per week. Such condition OF affairs
Is a direct menace to the mining operators
and TO the community al large. To couu-
teract its influence, organization among
the operators seems an absolute necessity.
Such an organization should command the
fullest cooperation of every operator in
the district aud the fun sympathy of the
community whose interests are so Vitally
affected.
We recognize the fact that the smelters
have rights to be respected. in that they
shall receive fair price for every ton
of ore treated by them. As TO the method
of fixing the price of ore. We believe 1t
can only be adjusted by a payment for the
ore, based upon its assay value, governed
by the true metal value in the broadest
market.
As to the best plan of carrying out the
purposes of the organization. your commit
tee would propose that enrolment lists be
made up i'm the following form: We, the
undersigned, producers of zinc ore. do
hereby aSSOCiHfa ourselves Together under
the name of the Missouri ana Kansas
zinc Miners Association, and We agree to
abide by, and conform TO. the rules and
regulations of said association
EN-Mayor e ID. Porter Of Joplin, was
elected president of the association. and
the following vice presidents were elected: /:
0ronoga, Charles Reed: Webb City, J. c.
Stewart; Carerville. W. L. Patten; Jop-
lin. John u. Holmes: Central City, p. H.
I.eddy: GaIena W. W. Hun; Carthage, \.
@. .Ihiseng: Bellevilie, Thomas Adams;
Allen: Hells Neck, j. Il: Daniels: Alba, j.
n. Brennerman: Lehigh, George ".
Iayne:: Empire city; James Murphy: Au-
Stotts city. J. b. Davis; CRANKY John
Kingston. Hugh McMdoe. of Joplin was
elected secretary. and john Mardock. of
Galena, treasurer.
State Mine Inspector George T. Quinby
i having bill prepared, TO be introduced
for the lead and zinc miners. II provides
for separating the mining bureau from the
Ia Dor bureau. and requires all mine opera
tors 10 take out permits to mine. and ma ke
requires all mines to use safety hooks or
their hOistinE tubs and buckets. prohibits
the use of metal tamping bars IN mining.
aud OF fuse in sinking shafts. requiring all
shots in shafts TO be fired by electricity
The bill also authorizes th,. state mine iI'-
speCtor to call upon county attorneys for
advice and assistance whenever needed
Inspector Quinhy says the present state
laws are 9etriment 10 lead and Zinc