The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-31

night ago.
I'VE are reminded OF the Arkansas
travellers leaky roof. who. you will re-
member. when IL rained. said: 1t rained
so hard the roof could not be mended.
and when the rain ceased IL vas so dry
the blasted roof did not need mendlng.
1 think this may be used as an Illus
tration of Butte's treatment of this
whole subject. When we are troubled
by the presence OF the smoke. our dear
people cough and storm around. many
not stopping short OF abuse of the min
Ing companies. but just as soon as the
smoke rolls away we heal nothing more
about III abatement of the nuisance
until the next siege of Il.
In my opinion. Butte has reached a
point In its history when we must AXE
up this matter with a settled determi-
nation that h smoke. must be abated.
FROM a commercial point OF view we
can no longer allow the outside world
TO get the impression that Butte is I'M
desirable as a place of residence. The
climatic conditions are such that IL n
were not for the presence of smoke,
take IL the year round I doubt IL a more
pleasant or comfortable town can be
found to live in In this part Of the
Northwest.
After talking with many OF our early
pioneers. l give IL as my opinion that IL
he smelter fumes were abated there
Is no reason why we cannot eautif
our homes by the raising OF grass and
shade trees. These old pioneers have
toId me that before the smelter fumes
got IN their deadly work grass grew on
the slope OF this hill up to the horses
knees.
There are literally thousands of peo-
PIE IN THIS ci;y whose all Is here. They
couiu not get away IL they would, and
they should have the great American
privilege of living comfortably and hap
ply, and this they could do II they had
vegetation and verdure around their
homes and were no longer subjected to
the discomforts of the smelter fumes.
This talk o the closing down of
the smelters Is ill-advised. Men of good
and who have at heart the
interest or the entire community should
frown down all such talk.
The committee appointed by the
has found IL impossible to get
an OF the members present. Mr.. Harper
Delng absent from the city and Judge
Mediation not being able to meet with
US. Malcolm Macdonald kindly met
WIN us several times. explaining to US
the report and maps which Mr.. Har-
per prepared in 1892 and submitted 70
the council. Mr.. Macdonald has fur
nished us with much valuable informa-
ton and very man. valuable sugges-
tons.
Many smoke Messiahs.' so-causd
nave appeared and their schemes have
been carefully and respectfully consid-
ered by the people In the years gone by.
believe the public have a, last he
thoroughly convinced shat the
only method Of handling this problem is
the one suggested by Mr.. Harper years
namely, that recommended by the
~ m nllf - NAaa.
iues for carrying off the smelter fumes
above the summit OF the hills surround
ing us and high enough for the cur
rents or ali 10 carry them of and dis
rlbut them. The members of the COM
are keenly alive To the magni-
of such an undertaking.. We do
not consider IL our province to recon-
menu plans for the carrying To a sue
completion of such an euterprise
although we discussed 1t in many of IT'S
important features. The cost of such an |
enterprise has been varlously estimated
20 be from $500. 600 to $500, 900.
lhe discussion OF the methods NV
when such an enormous sum could be- !
'alsed would take up more space than
would care to give. even TO this inn
portant subject. in one issue OF your
paper. Allow me to offer a sug-
,estlon. and IL can only be such. for
ne mere mention of IL opens up a field
nat should be carefully gone over
mere are many cities and towns i'm our
ana that to encourage the location
lmong them of manufactures have
'iven as bonuses or subsidies tracts OF
and n large sums of money to locate
n their midst.
Butte is known all over our land. not
My as a mining camp. but as a CITY
II large commercial interests. and All
nat we nave here has been built up by
no through the mining industry. As
Deen so aptly said by some of our
inning men, the closing up of our smell
means the closing down of our
1lnes, temporarily. We cannot afford
40 thls' but we can afford to encour-
&c the undertaking of such an enter
rise as has for its object the handling
the smoke n fumes from our smell
ars.
our committee believes that the sug-
estion made by MIR. Harper years ago
worthy OF consideration and unit "a
ction. namely. that the county and the
lty contribute TO the erection of these
ues' rms ald. in connection with what
ileht DE oHered through popular sub
(every man and woman In ,bo
ny should be willing TO contribute
offered as a bonus would
ncourage men of means to undertake.
us work. The details of such a plan
eed 10 be gone over thoroughly and
considered by competent men.
1t may be necessary in order 10 AL
w the city and county to give their m
'tporated aid to have some legislation
the coming session of the legislative
We believe this whole matter should
, placed In the hands of thorough
Dlng and capable men and, II needs he
placed at their disposition 10 paw
necessary expense. and. II needs be :
'mpensate them for their time. This
after VIII be disposed of IL IN is
ade everybody's business. for certain !
>there never was a matter that inter- J
ted a community more than this inter- !
Us Butte. But through organization
lly can this problem be solved. This
lphazard, don't care. Indifferent spirlt
meets upon us as a people and il is I,
that we organized for effective .