The Anaconda standard., 1898-03-07

| the coal debris into the Yellowstone. but
| the company so far has not seen fit to
make any move in this direction.
Now. however, the nuisance has be-
| come so great that an action is about to
| be begun to compel the company 10
abate it, For several days past the
waters of the Yellowstone as they flow
by Livingston and for some distance be-
low have been almost inky black from
the great amount of coal dirt carried IN
solution. The result is the contamina-
tion of the city water supply and II ever
| before there was any doubt about the
ability to maintain an action in abate-
ment. that doubt is now dfspelled, for
there can be no question that the poliu-
tion of the river has reached stage
which constitutes a public nuisance.
The coal company claim that there is
no feasible plan by which the difficulty
may be overcome. They say that water
from the fiume which carries the coal
from Aldridge to Horr holds fine par
ticles of coal in solution and that this
will not precipitate. There are many
persons, however, who have investigated
the question and who declare that pre-
cipitation viii result if a settling pool
is provided; at least that it will greatly
check the carrying of the fine coal into
the river and immeasurably decrease
the pollution of the river water.
Assessor Takes the Field.
Assessor u. H. Daniels is now ready
to take the field and begin the work of
annual appraisement. The memoran-
da and other papers have all been
prepared for beginning the work and
next Monday the city canvass will be
started. The assessor will appraise all
real estate, as well as personal proper
ty boards of appraisement for listing
real estate having been abolished by an
act of the last Legislature. Assessor Dan
iels will abide by the rates agreed upon
at the recent assessors convention in
Helena. This means that the assess
ment on sheep will be $3.50 per head and
on merchandise stocks 15 per cent. of
their inventory value. On about all
other property the assessor will exercise
his judgment as to value.
The Horr Smeiter.
J. Ii. Conrad. accompanied by two ex-
pertS sent out by Eastern capitalists, re-
turned from Horr Wednesday night. The
report of the experts sent out to investi-
gate the smelter proposition, it is said,
Will be an extremely favorable one.
From what they say, the establishment
of the proposed smelter will prove a
profitable venture. Mr. Conrad says
that the smelter is assured. and that 1T
may not be more than two weeks before
the preliminary work will begin. The
smelter will be erected at cost of from
$500,000 to 100000 and will be 2cond to
only one in the state, that at Anaconda.
Telephone Line to the Park.
Harry Sommers, superintendent of the
Montana branch of the Rocky Mountain
Telephone company, was in the city
Thursday looking up the matter of
building. a telephone from this city to
connect With the National park system.
Mr. Somners favors the proposition and
AKf ca tn ha cttn nd
ent at Salt Lake City. with whom the
final decision rests The company will
make connection With the local exchange
which }. r. Swindlehurst and associates
will establish here and upon which work
is expected TO begin in a month.
Repairs on the Park Branch.
Repairs are the order Of the day on
the Park branch of the Northern Pa
cific. The old iron rails are being re-