The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-09-02
DOES NOT EXPECT A COPPER TRUST,
(Trom the New York Tribune.)

(From the New York Tribune.)
You ask If an International copper
combination Is likely or possible?" said
man who is acquainted with the ar
fairs OF many mining companies yester-
day. Il answer that world wide con.
per trust Is almost out of the question
now. 1t is extremely improbable that
this generation will see one. Nor is it
likely that there will be national COP
per trust. l have been amused at the
ingenuity of Western dispatch writer's.
VINO nave so often presaged these COM
Dlnations with all the assurance and
poSltlVeness OF one who was close to the
great copper kings OF the country l
may say from my knowledge of the tenn
permanent of these leaders that thew
VIII never agree to combine their in
terests. Their interests are SO large that
the maSnates would gain nothing by
consolidation. l doubt If any of them
would profit to the extent of $4,000 a
year by such move. The operation of
copper companies and railroads differs
In that we have no long line of man.
ayers, agents. assistant agents. district
heads and SO on. We have our man
ayers and our men. Consolidation in
our case would therefore, not mean a
noticeable curtailment Of operating ex-
penses. Nor would a trust be benef-
cial for the regulation Of supply and
demand. Although new companies are
springing UP everywhere in the west,
the mines cannot be worked fast enough
to furnish the world with the much
needed metal. The United States is not
only supplying It's own market. but it is
sending large shipments abroad.
I'm spite Of the fact that more and
more capital is going into copper min
ing in the west. the monthly produce
ton has been decreasing slightly for
some time. In Arizona, for instance.
not long ago there was a period of con-
tinued dryness. and one cannot mine
without water. Then came plenty OF
snow and rain. and we believed our
mines would again be worked to their
full capacity, but they were not. There
are many things to be considered, such
as a shortage of coal supply, posi-
BILE strike. a necessary overhaulng of
machinery. etc. Those set-backs will
all be overcome in time, though occa-
siOnal shutdowns seem to be almost
certain to occur. A trust is not needed
for the proper disposition of the pro-
duct. Copper almost sells itself. 1
wanted half a million pounds the other
wanted half a million pounds she other
with that amount on hand
Prices can take care of themselves,
or, rather, the demand sustains them,'
he continued. Copper is so essential
to modern industry, and the worlds sup
ply is so comparatively limited. that
there is no necessity of a combination
either to curtail it's production or sus-
tain prices. AS 1 said, it is amusing to
think over the vast consolidation
schemes which have been conjured up
by searchers for romance within the
last few years. There was the gigantic
trust of 1899. The Rothschild, who were
credited with having Anaconda hold
ings. We're to furnishs200, 900 900, the
Amalgamated group s1OO,OoO,O0o and the
Morgan interests another $1O0,000000.
How did that plan come out? 1 have
never heard. Even that fine array of
gold, had the scheme even been consid-
cred, would not have accomplished
much in the way of a national copper
trust.