The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-22
DEADLY FUMES LIFE
OF DUCKTOWk.
Stop Those Fumes and You
Kill the Place..
So the Owners Declare When Threatened With
Injunction by Three States---Duck!own
Has 5000 inhabitants.
Especial to News and Observer.)

|
Asheville, N. c., Oct. 21.-If all reports
are true there is likely to be a big law
suit over the fumes from the Ducktown
copper mines, or else the owners of the
mines will do as have others before them,
close up the mines and suspend operations.
1t is said that the fumes are gradually
but surely killing all the vegetation for
miles around Ducktown and the people
there are divided as to whether an attempt
should be made to remedy this.
In view OF the fact that Ducktown is
situated almost in the corner of three
States-North Carolina, Tennessee and
Georgia-any litigation looking to the
checking of the devastation by the fumes
would have to be begun in the Federal
courts, and probably with two or the
States made a party to the complaint.
Along this line Georgia has taken the
initial step. A special committee was APP
pointed under joint resolution of the
Legislature to investigate the conditions
that exist at and around Ducktown. This
committee has just returned from the
mines and has completed and forwarded
to Governor Terrell its report The Com
missioner of Agriculture of Georgia was
at the head of the committee and associat-
ed with him was the State Geologist, the
State Chemist, and Messrs. w. r. Chand-
Ter, and w II. Wetzel. The committee
finds that the complaint of number of
Georgia citizens is well founded; that
fumes charged with sulphur and other de-
leterious chemicals sweep down the Ten
nessee and have destroyed the vegetation
for miles. They also find that there has
been some similar destruction on the Ten1
nessee side, and it is we'll known fact
that a great deal of fine timber lands have
been virtually destroyed on the North
Carolina side. The committee says there
can be no question about the destruction
by the copper fumes. The committee also
fixes the responsibility on the Ducktown
Mining Company While the committed
doesn't make any recommendations, it says
that it believes those who have suffered
could find relief through the United States
court. 1t is also said that the State it,
self may bring an action in the United
States court for the protection of it's citi-I
zens.
But what would be the result of the
number of farmers. and land owners,
while on the other side would be the
Ducktown Mining Company and a town OF
1000 or 1900 people.
According-to a gentleman living III Ashe-
vile, who Is conversant with the whole
situation around Ducktown, any attempt
made to interfere with or enjoin the
Ducktown Mining Company by the courts
would be vigorously contested by theI
people and the owners of the mine.
While it is admitted that for four orI
five miles around Ducktown there is not
a particle of vegetatlon-it having thel
same appearance, it is said, as Butte,
Mont, yet the very life of the town de
ponds upon the mines. In fact the cop
per MINES arc all that there is to the town.
The population of Ducktown is said to be
about 5000, and the mines employ some
thing like 800, or nearly half of the en-
tire population.
The Ducktown Mining Company has is
sued an ultimatum, it is said, in which
the owners declare that if an injunction
is gotten out against the company it will
rot fight the injunction, but will do as
was cone in 1853, suspend work and close
the mines This is what the inhabitants
are afraid Of.
In 1858 an injunction was issued against
the company. not the present one, howev-
er, and the same day that the injunction
was issued instead of fighting it the com
pany paid off its employees, closing up the
mines and left, and for nearly forty years,
OF until about two years ago, the finest
copper mines in the South were idle.
man bo rpnoaIn bpI we'll tho daV the
former company closed up shop, packed
their goods and crossed the mountains
once and for all, it is believed that the
company means what it says and that an
injunction will mark the beginning OF the
end of the DucktoWn Mining Company