The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-12-29
FOR INDEPENDENT SHELTER.
Former Senator Kearns Voices SEN
timent of Mining Men.

The response to the subject Mines and
Shelters" by Senator Thomas Kearns
independent smelter for the Salt Lake
valley. The speaker took up the mining
industry briefly. showing by statistics
that Utah had one of the greatest min
predicted that within short time its
mines would receive the recognition they
deserved. Referring to the smelling in
dustry, Senator Kearns said:
Now. my friends, in regard to the
smelling industry. Shelters are a neces-
sary adjunct to the mineral industry We
must have them. They may be some
what of a nuisance when too close to us.
but a very desirable necessity when too
far away, and II is absolutely sure that
a big percentage of all the precious met
ais of the adjoining states. as well as
Utah, will be smelted within a radius OF
forty miles of this city.
The Natural Center.
1T is the natural center, where all of
the great railroads make a common
point, where the limestone and the iron.
the coke and the Goals can be furnished
distance and cost, and where great de-
posts of silicious as we'll as other ores
can be brought together in unlimited
quantities to support and maintain such
institutions.
With all the advantages pertaining to
this great smelling industry which has
been given to us by the kind hand of
providence, IL is necessary for every mem
Der OF this Commercial club as we'll as
for every producer of precious metals to
put forth his best efforts as we'll as his
means to establish a free and independent
smelling plant, owned and controlled by
the metal producers themselves and or
ganized and governed by just such men as
are present here, who have the ability.
the energy and the manhood to say to
the present owners of the great smelt-
Inc
fairly with the mineral producers. You
are entitled to a fair working charge, but
you cannot expect IL all. You should en-
courage the industry by living to the
prospector and miner what 1t is worth
oyer ana above a reasonable working
charge.
The members of the Commercial club.
the miner and the prospector will assure
you, Mr.. Smelterman. that if you do you
will be treated fairly in return by the
people of Utah, who realize full well the
benefit that you can be to this common
wealth, If you are inclined to adopt a
liberal policy towards the producer that
will live and let live.
II fear that the policies and tendencies
OF some of the representatives of the
great smelter combinations in this valley
have been so grasping lately as to force
an unreasonable charge for the reduction
of ores In many cases, but we must not
let that discourage us, my friends, for
the very men who had the strength and
force them to give up their treasures.
with the assistance OF the members of
the Commercial club. will have the cour-
age to say, and will say, to you, if you
pursue this course, there will be an in
dependent plant, which wal do justice
70 the producer. reducing ore within thir-
ty miles of this city, by Jan. 1, 1909.
Work Soon to Begin.
'T have reasonable grounds and en-
couraging assurances for the statement
1 make to you that within the next nine
ty days, or as soon as the financial sit
uation will permit, ground will be bro
ken and the construction of a new, free
and Independent smelter begun.
"If il should be constructed l trust that
you will all give 1t your support, for It
means a great deal TO the upbulding of
one If not two of Utah's greatest indus
tries.
And I would suggest to the members
of the Commercial club that they urge
seethrough their officers the cooperation
Of every commercial body in the mineral
producing districts of our great nation
70 see to it that they. as well as their
representatives in the national capital
put forth every effort to have a depart
ment of mines and smelters established
Immediately. or in the very near future
and represented by a cobinet member
This should nave been established
years ago for the protection maintenance
and development of the mineral producing
districts of our great nation"