The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-31
FAVOR The FLUt IDEA
Managers Suggest . Commission
Of Engineers.
TO FORMULATE A PLAN
b Shelter Managers Have Not Yet
Agreed on . Feasible schems-Their
Letter TO stapleton-Heinzs's
Ofer to Klepetko.


torney embodying the results of the
conference held a few nights ago by
their managers on the smoke question.
The communication says the smelter
managers ave not yet agreed on any
practical plan. but favor the fiue idea.
1t is suggested that a commission OF
engineers be appointed to ascertain the
practicability and cost Of such a fiue rs
the first step toward a solution of the
question. The letter from the smelling
companies was delivered to the county
attorney by Judge Mediation and is as
follows:
Butte. Mont. Dec. 30. 1s9S.-Guy w.
Stapleton, Esq. County Attorney OF
Silver Bow County. Butte. Mont. Dear
Sir: At a meeting held on the 18th
day OF December, 1898, whereat there
was present a representative from each
OF the undersigned companies. which
are operating smelling plants in the
vicinity of Butte, the matter of how to
prevent smoke from the smelters about
Butte settling at times over the city
was considered. This meeting was held
for the purpose of determining what
could be done with reference to the
matter and as to what was the best
thing to first be lone looking to a So
luton Of the smoke question.
Much has heretofore been said as to
the possibility of ~disposing of the
smoke from the smelters so that the
same might not enter the city of Butte,
but no practical plan has as yet ever
been agreed upon. We are anxious to
ascertain whether any practical plan
can be put into operation whereby the
smoke from the smelters can be dispos-
ed of. and the city of Butte be kept
free therefrom. We believe that you,
as county attorney. have authority to
make a full investigation of the matter.
The plan of constructing a large flue
or fues connected with the smelters TO
carry the smoke to a point from which
II would not reach the city seems to
have met with most favor. We are each
anxious to bring about a satisfactory
settlement of the smoke question, and
stand ready to do our part. and IL there
Is any way of ~disposing of the smelter
smoke so that there will be no further
objection, We are most anxious to ascer-
tain Ii n to cooperate in putting II
into successful operation.
Believing hat you have the au-
thority so to do. we request that you,
as county attorney, select and appoint
a commission of at least three compe-
tent engineers, not interested by rea-
son of employment or otherwise, in any
of the companies owning or operating
smelling plants in Silver Bow county,
80 80 ~ ~ B,oBA1 oio Nilt
county. and that such commission make
a thorough investigation OF the sub
tect and submit plans for the con-
struction OF a fiue or fiues to be con-
nected with the smelters for the pur-
pose of carrying away the smoke there
from, giving the location thereof, the
character of the material to be used,
and careful estimates of the cost OF
construction, including cost of the nee
essary right of way the length OF
time necessary to construct such fiue
or fues, and all other matters necessary
to be considered in connection there
with, and to make a full and complete
report on the subject, which, with said
plans, shall be filed in your office as
soon as made, and to which we may
have access.
This would enable your Office and
ourselves to determine upon a plan of
action which would. we think. be salts
factory to all. The report of such COM
mission would furnish a starting point
and we believe that the selection OF
such a commission is the best practical
first step which can be taken in the
matter. and that IL would be in the m
terest of the residents and taxpayers of
Silver Bow county.
I'VE feel that TO accomplish the re-
suit desired there must be unity of ac-
ton in support OF one practical plan.
1t is of the highest Importance that
SUFFICIENT Time Ne dllONtu 10 lQlly ue-
velop the plan and to be assured before
it's adoption and the execution thereof
is begun that IL will be successful when
completed and put in operation. We
shall be pleased to render such a com
mission, IL appointed. every assistance
in its work and to furnish II all infor-
nation at our command.
Hoping that this suggestion will
meet with your favorable consideration
and action, we are respectfully. yours.
Montana Ore Purchasing Company, by
John Maginniss. Vice President and
Assistant General Manager.
Parrot Silver and Copper Co.. by Rob-
ert d.. Grant, Secretary and General
Manager.
Butte Reduction Works. by A. H.
wethey. Secretary.
Colorado Smelling and Mining Co.. by
III. Williams, General Manager"
The signature of the Butte q Boston
had not yet been obtained to the letter.
County Attorney Stapleton will to-day
make his report to Judge Lindsay.
The county attorney yesterday also
received the following on the subject
from the Montana Ore Purchasing COM
pany:
Butte, Mont. Dec. 80. 1sss.-Mr. Guy
w. Stapleton, County Attorney. Butte.
Mont: Dear Sir-Answering your es-
teemed favor of the 2lst instant. and
SpeohihS " Ooh NOhhbo-ys Il "caha s1s
that while we do not consider that much
of our smoke. on account Of our works
being situated in the valley to the
East of the Anaconda-Rarus hill.
reaches the city during the period when
IL Is particularly offensive. nevertheless,
we realize that IL there is any feasible
method Of doing away with this smoke
from the shelters. the welfare of Butte
n its good people demands that 1t be
discovered and carried TO a practical
conclusion. To that end we have re-
frained from giving superficial views.
but nave waited and carefully consid-
cred the ideas brought out at the meet
ing of the managers of the Butte smell
tiers, held Wednesday evening. The con-
sensus Of opinion and sense of that
meeting will be laid before you and the
honorable court TO whose order Your let