Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-10-26
MINES SHUT DOWN
AMALGAMATED PROPERTIES IN
MONTANA TIED UP.
Result of Decision by Judge
Clancy in Minnie Healy Case--
Fifteen to Twenty Thousand
Men Thrown Out of Employ
ment as Il Result.


Butte, Mont, Oct. 23.-As a result
OF the handing down of decisions yes
terday by fudge William Clancy, of the
Second judicial district court of the
state OF Montana, awarding the Minnie
IIealy mine, one OF the richest proper
ties in Butte, and valued at $40 ,000,-
600, to F. Augustus Heinze, and then
the granting of an injunction against
the Boston 4 Montana Company, the
principal property OF the Amalagmated
Copper Company in Montana, all the
properties OF the Amalagmated Compa-
ny in Montana have been ordeed closed
for an indefinite period.
1t is estimated by the officials of the
company that at least 5000 men will
be idle, and perhaps 20 900 by night.
The shutdown is the most complete and
extensive ever known in Montana. 1t
includes the great Anaconda, st. Law
renee, Never Sweat, Mountain View,
Leonard, East and West Colusa, Parrot,
Gagnon, Colusa Parrot, Diamond, High
Ore, Mountain Consolidated No. and
No. 2, Comanche, Silver Bow No. and
No. 2, and Blue Jay and many other
smaller mines, as we'll as a large nun :
Der of mines that are being worked un.
der lease.
withdrawn from the Boston 4 Montana,
Butte 4 Boston, Colorado and Washoe
smelters tomorrow. The Washoe smelt-
ers at Anaconda are the largest in the
world and employ 5000 men. The
effects of this shutdown will be felt in
all parts OF Montana, as there is hardly
county that the Anaconda company
does not operate in in one way or an
other Woodchoppers and lumbermen
will be idle. Coal miners will be out
OF work in half a dozen counties, in
Guiding Park, Cade, Gallatin, and the
big coal mines at Diamondville, Wyo.
The Amalgamated mines produced
9,400 tons of ore every day. All the
night shifts in the mines last night
were called off and TIE men notified
that the properties had been shut down.
Much excitement exists IN Butte, and
the city is thronged with idle miners,
UIOCNHls stIcct COIAcIb, uleCuSo'HS CIlo
situation.
Statement of Official.
The officials of the Amalgamated
company are rather reticent in discuss
ingt he situation. Superintendent John
ellis said:
"The managers of the various COM
panies met and discussed the situation
lal al
will be no use TRYING to do business in
Montana while the local courts are so
manifestly adverse to the company. No
orders have been received from New
York"
The matter was left solely to the
local officials, and Mr.. ellis did not
think the NewaY York people knew that
the shutdown had been ordered until
last night.
President William Scallon, of the
Anaconda company, refused to be in
terviewed saying he would issue de-
tailed statement soon.
Representatives OF the Amalgamated
company claim that by the decision
rendered by Judge Clancy in the Bos-
ton x Montana injunction case the
Amalgamated company is practically
wiped out OF business and cannot dc
business in Montana. The decision,
they say, in effect brands the Amalga-
mated as an outlaw Its stockholders
are prevented from receiving dividends,
although $3,000,000 are tied up await
ing distribution to the stockholders.
The Amalgamated people, finding that
they are barred from conducting their
own business, have ordered suspension
OF all mining operations in Montana.
All the mines and shelters of the
company have been ordered closed and
$4,000 workmen are thrown out of en-
ployment. How long the shutdown
will continue is matter OF doubt. 1t
may take nine or ten months before
they can get hearing before the SUI
preme court.
Statement by HeinZe.
Mr.. Heinze has issued the following
statement:
"The action OF. the AmaIgamated
Copper Company in ordeing a general
shutdown of ali the mines of Butte con
tolled by the subsidiary company has
no actual connection with the decisions
rendered by Judge Clancy.
Ellis order does not necessitate a
close down. As far as the receivership
suit against the Butte company is con-
cerned there has been no change in
conditions for over two years past. An
application for the appointment of a
receiver for their property has been
pending that long and was yesterday
refused by Judge Clancy. The injunc-
ton against the payment OF dividends
has also been in force for the same
length Of time, and yesterdays order
simply puts that matter in shape for
the supreme court to pass upon.
81 deeply deplore the action in clos
ing the mines as it will inhict hard
ships upon many"