Durango semi-weekly herald., 1903-07-06
SMELTER TRUSTS AN
SWER TO MINERS

SWeh u MINERS
Denver Post: Replying to the re-
qest of Denver Mill and Smeltermen's
Union, No. SO, for an eight hour day.
Franklin Guiterman, general manager
Of the American Smelling G. Refining
company issued an address today ITO
The Employees OF the American Smelt-.
ing and Refining Company in Colora-
do"
Beginning Mr.. Guiterman repeats
his statement in yesterdays Post that
the company does not make any dis
unction between its employees with re-
Spect to union or non-union member
ship, and says that the company is not
disposed to stand on fine distinctions.
but addresses all of its employees
The issue which was the subject OF
The conference was whether the Amer
lean Smelling and Refining company
in Colorado could or could not grant
an eight hour day. The petitioners
plainly state that thousands of mem
Ders of a miners union with which
they are affiliated enjoy such hours.
and that the wages received by them
are in many cases greatly in excess of
those paid by the company for ten
and twelve hour day. This is an i'm
portant declaration, for il has vital
bearing on the issue as will subse
quently be shown, for it may truly be
said that the circumstance of large
mining expenses is an important fac
tor in the adverse conditions pertain.
ing TO the mining industry in Colora.
do on the success of which the smelt-
ing industry is entirely dependent.
The petition also recites that in
other states tmeaning Montana and
utah) this company has granted al
eight hour day and that the wages
paid to its employees there are also in
excess of the highest paid in Colorado
smelters for a ten and twelve hour
day. While the former part of the
statement is true, the latter is not.
THE inference to be drawn. how
ever is very plain, and may be
summed up in the conclusion that not
alone is an eight hour day for Colo
ryado smelters asked for, but that
This concession, If it could possibly be
granted. would only be preliminary to
demand for ten and twelve hour
wage for such eight hour day"
The conclusions precluding the
granting of the request are summariz-
ed as follows:
"Seventy-tive per cent Of the smelt-
ing ore production of Colorado is de-
rived from the Leadville, Aspen and
Creede mining districts. Since Janu-
airy /, 1901, there has been falling
off in this particular tonnage of 20 per
cent, while in silver contents which
give the predominating value to these
ores, there has been decrease of
over Is per cent. In other words.
with steadily decreasing ore produc-
ton there has been an unfortunate
lowering of grades and to make condi-
tons still harder there has been de.
cline in the price of silver. which
amounts in round figures to ten cents
per ounce from the average quotation
for the year 1900
What this signifies in dollars and
cents will be realized from the state
ment that the average ore produced
in the districts mentioned carry about
mine operator has in consequence sus-
tanned shrinkage in values of SO per
ton since the year 1900. This shrink
age, however, has been more than
made good by the American Smelling
and Refining company in the curtail-
ment of its~melting margins.
In Colorado the American Smelt-
ing and Refining company is purely a
purchaser and smeter of ores. II
does not mine and thus cannot enjoy
any profit which may be incident to
fortunate mining The mine operator.
however. very rightfully looks for
profit in the marketing OF his ore and
If he cannot realize it, very promptly
ceases operations.
The Smelling company, therefore
| If 1t desires the continuation of ore
production must make such prices as
will bring the ore out. and in doing
this the American Smelling and Re
fning company in the last two years
and half has curtailed its own reve-
nue. in the working Of Its ores by 81 so
per ton, thus confirming the state
in ore values has been more than alb.
sorbed
III 1t Is asked how this has been
accomplished without the reduction of
wages by the company and despite the
increased cost OF fuel. fux and mater
ial supplies which the smelters are