Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-04-24
THE COPPER B

LA WA @A
Probably no event in the history Of
Montana is of greater significance to the
business future of the state than the for
nation of the great copper syndicate that
will hereafter govern the output Of the
red metal. For many months rumors
were afoat as to the organization of this
gigantic trust, and the passage of House
Bill 1872 by the Sixth Legislative assembly
was regarded by many as indicating that
the plans of the promoters of the enter
prise were about to be consummated.
The Associated Press reports Of Sunday
conveyed to the Montana public what
appears to nave been the first authentic
information concerning the proposition,
and while not specific as to details, the
statements made have not been denied,
and may be accepted as in the main cor
rect. The Inter Mountain gave no cur
rency to the rumors that for months
circulated in this community, and re-
fused to prejudice the rights Of any one
by seeking to convert a purely business
undertaking into political capital. Like
all other business enterprises. it was a
matter to be considered only on it's
merits when ~consummated, and wholly
independent of political propositions that
tention Of our people.
The telegraph wires recite that the
Rothschilds and the Standard Oil COM
pany ave formed an organization to
which has been transferred practically
all of the great copper producing mines
of the country, including Montana prop
critics heretofore under the control of
Hon. Marcus Daily and Hon. W. \. Clark.
These properties are said to have an ag-
gregate value of $500. OOC, 900, making a
combination of capital in it's entirety far
in excess of that represented by any
other company on the American CONT
lei 1t is further stated that the Euro
pean interests of the country will be
looked after by the R~othschilds, while
the Standard Oil company will handle
the American end of the organization and
superintend the details of the cope out
put.
Speculation doubtless will be rife, espe-
cially in business circles in this state, as
to the influence which this great COM
bination of capital may exert upon the
Up1fa re of Montana and itc ,nIr1o T. l..
quite likely that unwise forecasts will
be made that are wholly unwarranted by
the situation. From force of habit many
will take a pessilnistic view of the situa-
ton, when there is in fact nothing to
justify the immediate alarm of the most
timorous. The Butte Miner and Ana
conda Standard, and other democratic
organs, have striven so hare in the past
to cultivate a popular prejudice against
trusts and combinations of capital, that
many of our people look with undisguised
alarm upon the advent of the new or
ganization INTO the business affairs of
this state. Whatever turn affairs may
take in the future, the Inter Mountain
feels justified in saying that at the pres
ent time there is certainly no ground for
the cultivation of %prejudices or the crea-
ton of purely imaginary fears.
No fair minded man will question the
right of Mr.. DAILY and Mr.. Clark, or any
other gentleman interested in mining, to
sell their properties to any organization
that sees fit to pay the price demanded
1t is a p~rerogative that belongs to every
citizen, and one that any man will avail
himself of when the opportunity is ripe
for a sale. Hence, there is no room for
prejudice or III feeling against any of
the Montana gentlemen who may have
disposed of properties to the trust.
With the vast capital under the control
of the new organization, which will en-
able it to keep up the market price Of
copper and enlarge the demand, it is
probable that the producing mines will,
through increased facilities, yield a
larger annual product, while new prop
critics viii be opened up. If this be the
chief result of the organization of the
syndicate our people will have no cause
for complaint.