The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-03
. y, demonstration of silver

''Yes-the decentralization of silver
ITO what extent?"
1T has had the effect of closing many
of the mines, and unless the ores of a
property contain by-products which can
be worked up, it has been shown that
there is no longer any profit in the sill
yer mining industry. Dry ores have 10
carry from fifty to a hundred ounces
of silver to pay, and the veins should
be large enough to make the production
comparatively easy, at that"
The result of that legislation was,
then. to close down all purely silver
mines?'
Yes; it has done so in Montana and
Nevada, and that has compelled the
miners to seek new fields of occupa-
ton. with the exception of the young
men, who travel from camp to camp"
Railroad Rates.
What do you think of all railroads
charging the same rates to all par
ties?"
Il think they should do So
Have you studied the unit problem
in connection with the question:"
mo. but 1 think it should be based
on car lots"
You mean by that that the man
shipping one car should get the same
rate as the man who ships a train
load?"
while I don't own any railroad
stock. 1 think a very large shipper
should get better rate than the small
one, because the, profits to the former
often consists of the difference he may
be able to obtain in the way of a
freight rate. The man who ships a
single car, in nine cases out of ten has
ore worth many times the value per
ton of the shippers trainload. l admit
that a man might ship a lower grade
of ore in car lots if he was permitted
to tack his car on to the big shippers
trainload, and in any event the dis
elimination ought to be very slight. l
believe in sliding scale, according to
the value of the ore, and would have
very low minimum rate for poor ores
and gradually raise it till the railroad
got a good price. 1t would stimulate
the industry and give many men en-
ployment."
Concentration of Work.
How will the. concentration of min
ing interests affect the state?"
Il think it will be beneficial; mines
adjacent to each other-by the invest
ment of large amounts of capital,
backed by men well able to develop the
properties-will give en-
plOyment to a great many more men
than they have done in the past. when
held in severalty. AS matter of fact,
the individual. in most instances, is
unable to mine on his own account. The
of work at one shaft on
opening encourages men to invest. 1t
is not a monopolization of real estate,
as judged in comparison with other
kinds of real property. To illustrate:
The company which i represent started
a drain tunnel in 1883. at a time when
ii cost more to hoist the water than it
did the ore. The tunnel is now nearly
four miles long and cost about S7Ou 900.
When the mine was finally drained
saving was made of over 700 tons of
coal a day to say nothing of various
other expenses. The ordinary individ-
ual could not have accomplished that
work. The concentration of big COM
panies does not affect the little owner,
with possibly one exception-the COM
bination of big smelters-which might
shut out the small producer. The big
mining companies often drain the sur
mines and help the district in
which they are located in that way"
Effect of Smelter Trust.
What effect has the smelter trust
had on the mining Industry
so far as l am informe6-I don't
mink IL mas 0uTl II III Olth- OIhSA
wise, ] don't know"
Evidence before us goes to show
that the shutdown of shelters In
Colorado also shut down the mines. Is
Il YOUR Judgment that a vast combina-
ton like that is dangerous to the
Yes, sir"
What would cause it. in your judg-
nent?"
They would dictate the price of
smelling and the price to be paid for
pres. as il would give them chance
% discriminate on the values of the
,res TO them. They might be able to
lose some mines which are now rum
hing at a profit as so cents often COW
IT'S the profit per tom
Suppose all the smelters in this sec
ion were in combination and differ
noes should arise with the laborers;
suppose they were discharged and went
10 Colorado and found the same con-
iition of affairs there-the same at
omaha and Butte. Does not a-combi-
ration of that kind destroy the law of
supply and demand?"
ut certainly does"
Would this condition. combina-
ion of all SmelterS-cloSe all but rev
avored plants"
Yes: and it would destroy the value
# the homes surrounding the different
,lants. as they now exist.
DO you think it just to further con-
rest the big centers of population by
urther concentrating plants and peo-
lie at them?"
mo, sir"
FEao+ of Eicbthorr law