Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-20
AN ENEMY TO THE STATE.

As the reading public hereabouts is
we'll aware the Inter Mountain has never
attempted to influence the public judge
ment or to Interfere in any manner with
the prerocatives of the courts respecting
the mining litigation which has for some
years been in progress between certain
corporations here in Silver Bow county.
From time to time we have recorded Tor
the information of the public the details
of the numerous cases filed and trials
had together with the judgments of the
courts, but we have done it without bias
or prejudice and simply a matter of
news. This newspaper has always felt
that the courts We're the proper tribunals
before which to try these causes and We
have had an abiding faith that in the
end justice would be done.
Holding this view we have Witnessed
with mingled sentiments of Indignation
and disgust the attempts of newspapers
and of individuals to try these cases in
their columns and TO make them an
issue in politics and upon the hastings.
Until very recent date however moth
ing had resulted from the bitterness
arising out of this litigation to MATERIAL
ly injure the business of the community
or retard its prosperity and growth. On
the contrary it is probable that the enor-
NOUS developments which have been
rendered necessary in order to prove or
diSprove the varying contentious of the
litigants. have led to the discovery of
great bodies of ore whose existence
might otherwise not nave been brought
to light for many years, and also in
rendering more apparent the wonderful
extent and richness of the camp.
Now, however. the eastern press it
seems is going to take hand, and the
World and other eastern papers recently
published a lot of unauthorized and UNI
warranted gossip touching the present
conditions and the past and present
management of the great Anaconda
properties, the purpose of which is to
make it appear that the mine IS worked
out and fast becoming valueless. 1t is
but fair to say, however, that some OF
these journals have said that they take
no stock in these reports themselves.
OF course there can be but one motive
in the publication of such falsehoods
and that is to injure the company and
the property.
The person responsible for the circu-
lation of these reports is, of course, an
enemy of the company. But he is moc
than that. He is an enemy of Butte
and of the state of Montana, for if what
he says of the Anaconda mine is true
then the great properties immediatey
adjoining and surrounding it are, OF
must soon be, in the same condition
and no greater calamity than this coulj
threaten the commonwealth. But every
we'll Informed and intelligent man know:
that it is not true. The evidence of tht
falsity of these reports is upon ever,
hand. 1t is to be seen in the increased
activity everywhere visible. in the adde,
value to every foot of available mimi!
property in the district, in the tremen
dous improvements which are hein'
made in every direction. in the vas
sums which are being expended for i'm
proved methods in the extraction an
reduction of ores and in the universal
knowledge that with depth the cope
mines of Butte have passed beyond tn
speculative period and their permanent
demonstrated beyond question.
The Anaconda mine is no exception t
the rule. 1t is magnificent nina
sp!endidly equipped and ably managed
II has been and is, and will continue t
be- a great producer for very man
years to come, and no man who own
stock in it need have any apprehension
or be alarmed by irresponsible an
anonymous screeds like those containe
in the New York papers.
Regardless of the conflicting interes
involved in the pending litigation ov'
mining claims, we feel quite certain thu
the people of Butte, and, indeed of II
entire state, will heartily condemn II
narrow policy of attempting to gain
temporary advantage over an adverse
through means which must of necessi
injure an entire community, for it mu
be apparent to all who are converse
with affairs in this vicinity that beh
these insidious attempts to injure t
standing of we'll known and stable m!
ing enterprises lies motive and vent
which would destroy a community
necessary to help it's own fortunes.