The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1899-03-31
TO RESUME OPERATIONS
The Working Of the Combination Properties
Among the Probabilities.
AFTER TROUBLES ARE SETTLED
The Management Have Been Carefully In
vestigating Various Processes and
Are Positive They Can Run
at IA Handsome Profit.

commenced an actlOn IN the district
court at Butte against the Colnbina tion
Mining and Milling Co. for 1908. So
claimed to be due him for services rem
dered the company. Another suit was
brought against the company on Mon
day by G. H. Coy for $445. S5 claimed to
be due F. H. Coy for services performed
prior to Feb. l. 1899 and duly assigned
to the plaintiff. Mr. Rhodes has for
number of years been confidential
employee of the Combination Mining
and Milling Co. and was in charge of
the companys general Office at Butte,
where the suit was commenced. Paul
A. Fusz, vice president of the company,
was in Butte at the time, and on Satur-
day forenoon called at the office and,
among other things relating to the bust
ness OF the company, he inquired of
Mr.. Rhodes if he was in need of money,
knowing that the employees of the com
pany had not been paid for some time,
but was assured by Mr.. Rhodes that he
could manage to get along until the
dlfflcultles OF the company could be adj
Justed. An assessment Of 10 cents
share has rec 2ntly been levied by the
board of directors, of which over SIS. OOo
has already been collected, and the time
for adjustment of claims is not very dis
tant Mr.. Fusz informed a represen-
tatlve Of The Mail that he could scarce
ly believe it true when later in the day
a copy OF the complaint and a summons
were served on him. He found Mr.
Rhodes at the Office and the only ex-
planation that gentleman had to offer
for his action was that he was looking
out for No. 1. Mr.. Fusz felt very much
grieved at such treatment, as he had
placed every confidence in Mr.. Rhodes.
The only way Mr. Rhodes action can
possibly be explained is that some in
f1uence had been brought to bear upon
him by certain stockholders of the com
pany who have been responsible for all
OF the difficulties with which the man
agement had of late to contend.
F. II. Coy, whose name is connected
with the second suit fled has for ). NJ A.
time been employed by the company
and was in charge Of the property at
Combination. He claims that the action
was commenced without his knowledge
and that he is perfectly innocent in the
matter That this difficulty from such
an unexpected source has resulted in
both gentlemen losing their positions
is unnecessary to state, and Mr. Coy has
freely expressed himself that while he
is an innocent victim he feels that Mr..
FusZ was justified under the circum-
stances in relieving him.
While the company was making money
everything went smooth, but the ore
and it's course in the mine are cratic and
for 70 ,l, 4
the character OF the ore has been so base
that with the means employed for treat
ment not a sufficient per cent Of it's actual
value could be saved to make it pay,
and the result was that the company
went in debt. As matter Of economy
the Office Of the company was moved to
st. Louis MO. Where the expenses were
considerably less. This act was ap-
proved by the Butte gentlemen repre-
senting the minority stockholders, and
some time later VIM. Thompson, in
their behalf, made a full examination
Of the company's books, then in ST.
Louis, and found everything straight
and entirely satisfactory, and the only
comment that gentleman had to offer
was that the works had not been shut
down soon enough. When the assess
ment Of ) cents per share was levied the
Butte stockholders by legal process en-
joined the directors from selling the de-
linquent stock The assessment had
been levied at st. Louis, Mo, and as the
company had no charter to transact
business out of the state it was found to
be illegal. The Office was subsequently,
brought back to Montana and located ut
Butte, and an assessment OF 10 cents Il
share was levied about two weeks ago
for the purpose Of paying the present
indebtedness OF the C mpany. A major
ity Of the stockholders have responded
and all claims against the company will
shortly be paid.
1t is believed that operations will be
resumed during the coming summer as
the management has been constantly
experimenting with various processes
for the treatment of refractory ores and
has closely observed the operations Of
improved methods employed elsewhere
until there is no further doubt that
process has been found whereby the ores
of the mines at Combination can be
worked at profit. Nothing positive is
as yet known how soon work will be re-
sumed at Combination, but there seems
no doubt that after the present difficult
ties among the stockholders are removed
the works will not remain idle very
long The Office of the company now
located at Butte will shortly be moved
to Combination, where all of the bust
ness will in the fl1ture he transacted