The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-10-08
CHANGE IN CUTIE MINES.

AS announced in the Inter Mountain
of yesterday, important changes have
gone into effect in the operation of soma
of the mines.
The Nj. o. P. company has dispensed
at the Rarus with one shift, SO that
hereafter it will operate two shifts of
eight hours each instead of three. It
was stated also that the rule in all the
M. o. P. mines. allowing the under
ground men to go down the shafts or
come up in going to work or returning
therefrom on company time, has been
changed 50 that hereafter they will go
and come on their own time. The time
thus saved to the company will depend
of course on the distance from the shaft
to the places where the miners do their
work. The reduction from three shifts
to two in the Rarus was courteously ex-
planned by Mr.. Heinze yesterday in an
interview as consequence of the loss
Of time after blasting, the smoke being
so dense as to prevent the prompt re-
sumption Of work at the end of each
shift.
From the Amalgamated mines the
Inter Mountain learned that for the time
being the mines will be closed on SUM-
days, except for necessary work. This
rule has long been in force in the mines
of the Boston & Montana. To some
miners the change will be welcome, as
it will give to those who would "remem-
Der the Sabbath day and keep 1t holy''
a day Of rest as enjoined by biblical pre-
cept. To others the change will be less
welcome, as they prefer to work the full
seven days in order to earn the extra
wages.
1t is probably to the interest of all
concerned, however, that copper produce
ton be not rushed at the present time.
In all the copper districts OF the United
States instructions have gone forth for
a curtailment Of the product in order to
avert disaster to the copper market and
ruinous fall of prices. The foreign
demand shows continued decrease. The
expectation to Germany has almost
ceased. while the French and English
orders are smaller than for many years.
With some concert of action on the
part of producers and the maintenance
of the domestic demand it is hoped that
the so-called copper trust will be able
to maintain prices and continue opera,
tions on a temporarily reduced scale
without loss to the labor and business
interests and without Decentralization of
the market
So far the trust is the only loser It
would be only too glad on it's own behalf
to continue production at full blast in
order to continue dividends, but mani
testify full production is impossible in
view of decreased demand. Rather than
reduce the price of copper, the ANAL
gamated people ten days ago reduced
their own dividends. That was doubtless
to assist in the carrying Of the surplus
as a protection to the market, but this
sacrifice in order to be effective must be
followed by a temporary curtailment OF
output.
With an improvement in European
business and a consequent increase In
copper consumption abroad, and with a
decrease in the surplus resulting from a
limited output, normal conditions will
soon be restored and full forces on full
time will be the rule again.
None can be more anxious for the
change or more deplore present necessl-
ties than the big producers themselves.
Their interests and those of their en-
ployes are identical in this matter. For
tunately there are indications of an early
ending Of the danroSSiop