The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-12-04
BUTTE LEADS THEM
JAMES B. GALLAGHER COMPARES
OTHER CITIES WITH IT.
Only ONE BUSINESS CENTER
Merchants Here Are Prosperous and
Need Have No Apprehensions-Utah
Mining Men and Business Men
Fear Drop in Price Of Lead.

James B. Gallagher returned today
from three weeks sojourn in the min
ing towns and cities of Utah and Colo
RADIO.
In speaking of the general conditions
OF the sections he visited as compared
with those Of Butte Mr. Gallagher states
that although there appears to be a
sentiment of dissatisfaction among the
merchants of this city in regard to the
business outlook, the merchants here are
far better off than those of the various
cities and towns of Utah and Colorado.
Il have been in nearly every mining
center from Boring sea to Hermasilla,
Mexico, within the last few years." says
that compares with Butte either from a
mining or business standpoint.
No Cause for Alarm.
I'm this city the apprehension seems
to center on the copper proposition but
l can see no cause for alarm. In Utah
apprehension centers on lead.
"A vast quantity of the metal is pro-
duced there, and while the price of it has
not yet been reduced mining men there
are expecting break and are quite I'M
easy
This feeling has of course extended
to other business interests in sympathy
with that of mining and has naturally
created a sentiment of uncertainty
among them. Therefore when the mer-
camille and other commercial interests
of Utah and Colorado are compared with
those of Butte our merchants have MOTH
ing of which to complain-they are real
lly and truly prosperous.
Butte, in my opinion, is still the great
est mining and business center in the
West.
1T is quite true that in an effort to
curtail the production of copper here it
has been found necessary to reduce the
working force, but from my observations
while away I can safely say that even
at the present time the number of men
out of employment in Butte is not any
greater proportionately than that of
other mining camps in Utah and Colo
RADIO.
| Cripple Creek Has Troubles.
THE Cripple Greek district. of Colorado
is strictly gold producing, metal the price
of which never fluctuates, but neverthe-
less that section has it's troubles. Mine
owners there have refused to lease any
of their property to either individuals or
companies, and as consequence the
newspapers are charging them with at
tempting to prevent the development of
the country. ..-a
+. fit is a well-known fact that the lease
system is a great factor in the develop
ment of any mineral district, and the
newspapers, realizing this have no hesi-
fancy in calling the attention of mine
owners to the unpopular stand they have
taken in refusing to allow others to open
up ground which the owners themselves
refuse to develop.
Labor Unions There.
1T is said that Butte is the greatest
labor union town in the United States
and that the unions are sometimes strict
In their demands, but they are not to be
compared with some of those in Utah and
Colorado.
For instance, in Butte the BARRIERS
union has set of rules which for fair
ness in dealing with the public discounts
those of the Salt Lake union.
I'm Salt Lake a shave after O'Clock
! the evening costs Is cents; here it is
only Is cents up to the regular hour for
closing the shops, which is 8 o'clock on
all days except Saturday."
! Mr.. Gallagher expects to leave for an
other section of the West tomorrow in
the interest of his occupation, that of
looking into general mining and other
business conditions, and will probably be
absent few weeks.