The Holly chieftain., 1908-11-27
fHE OTHER SIDE OF the
SMELLING PROBLEM
THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE
SMELLING COMP ANY AN
SWERs RECENT CRITICISMS.


During the recent political campaign
the Denver Post made the American
Smelling & Refining Company its par
amount issue" That publication has
been criticizing the company since the
election and on Nov. Sth published a
long statement against the conduct of
aat company toward Colorado's min
.ng industry. Franklin Guiterman, gen
eral superintendent of the company for
Colorado. has written the following
answer, which We reproduce in order
that our readers may understand both
kides of this controversy:
Denver. Colo, Nov. 8, 190S.-(To
the Denver Post)-In the article of
Gen. Frank Hall in the Post OF Nov. 8,
we have at last something tangible to
deal with, to which such brief answer
can be made as may be of interest to
the public. For the first time we have
an admission that the statements made
by the Post during the recent political
campaign were not true.
Gen. Hall prefaces his article by
the declaration that an attempt should
be made to bring about more satisfac-
tory relations between the smelling
company and its patrons. The smelt-
ing company is not and has not been
aware of the existence of any such
friction as is claimed by the Post. If
Il were 80, would the calculated dis
semination of untruths by that paper
tend to bring about better feeling?
Gen. Hall says that the financial
eonvulsion beginning in October, 1907,
well nigh paralyzed the mining dis
tricts. This is a true statement, but
gas the American Smelling & Refining
;ompany responsible for such unfortu-
Rate conditions?
why should the discomfort (?)
which followed the panic have found
expression in furious diatribes against
~ . smelter IL such state of feeling
Nero not fostered by those who had
ehear own private ends to serve in Gre
ating such unjust sentiments?
IF Gen. Hall does not know it, he
could easily have ascertained that in
~ dire situation which confronted the
Colorado ore producers, the smelling
company stepped right into the breach
~ modifying thAexisting contracts in
tAvor OF the producers as it had done
time and again previously, and still
further reduced treatment charges on
such other ores as could not be pro-
ducsd under previous terms, whether
under contract or not
Gen. Hall correctly states some un-
1ust things were said and done. He
might, In truth, have said a great
nfny. but where have we found any
correction Of the unjust and SANDER
Gus statements?
"Gen. Hall says that If the capital
stock Of the company were reduced,
the producer of ore would receive bet
tax rates and conveys the impression
that these charges are extortionate be-
cause Of the necessity for the continue
0on Of dividends on closed plants. Can
Gen. Hall point to single instance
where treatment charges have been
raised on account Of the closure of any
plant in Colorado, which is practically
the only field where smelters have
been closed by the development of un-
fortunate mining conditions?
Does not Gen. Hall know full well
that Notwithstanding the closure Of a
p number of plants Of the American
0mslting & Refining Company in Colo
lAdo, smelling rates have been unin-
tDrruptedly reduced on all classes of
nose ores whose value, by reason Of
1Ailing metal prices. became so low as
~ nscessitate such assistance? If he
<oes not, let him make inquiry Of the
representative mining men of Colorado
= Ill mining districts. The policy Of
( - American Smelling & Refining
h 0empany has been open. consistent