The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1908-11-28

tt'tllOH ana on NOV, slu puDliSHea d
ious statement against the conduct OF
that company toward Calorado's min
Ing industry Franklin Guiterman gen
crai superintendent Of the company for
Colorado. has written the following
answer, which we reproduce IN order
that our readers may understand both
sides OF this controversy:
Denver. Colo. Nov Q, l9Os.-(To
the Denver Postl--In the article OF
Gen Frank Hall in the Post Of Nov s.
wr have at las, something tangible 10
deal with. TO which such brief answer
eau be made as may be of interest to
the public. For the first time We have
AT admission that tho statements made
~ the Post during the recent political
ctmpaisn were not true.
Gen. Hail prefaces his article by
The declaration that an attempt should
',e made to bring about more satisfac-
trry relations between the smelling
cs,ppany and its patrons. The smelt-
log company is nor and has not been
aware Of the existence of any such
friction as Is claimed by the Post, If
~ we're SO. would the calculated dis
scnination OF untruths by that paper
t"ud to bring about a better feeling?
Gen Hall says that the financial
Crnyulsion beginning in October. 1907.
we'll nigh pdralyzed the mining dis
trrts. This is true statement. but
was he American Smelling a. Refining
Company responsible for such unfortu-
nate conditions?
Why should the discomfort t?J
whicf followed The panic have found
expression in furious diatribes against
che smelter II such state of feeling
wrr" not footered by those who had
their own private ends to serve in ere
attns such unjust sentiments?
If Gen Hall does not know ii, he
could easily have dsCertained that in
tho lire situation which confronted the
Colorado ore producers, the smelling
company stepped right into the breach
by modifying the existing contracts in
ftYpr of the producers as IL had done
time and again previously, and still
further reduced treatment charges on
such other ores as could not be pro
unter contract or not.
Gen. Han correctly states some un
lust things were said and done. He
might, in truth. have said a great
many. 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
ter rates and conveys the impression
thtt these charges are eNtortionate be
cause Of the necessity for the continua
ton Of dividends on closed plants. Can
Gen Hall point to a single instance
whore treatment charges have been
raised on account OF the closure of any
piaut in Colorado. which is practically
the only field whore smelters have
h"ru closed by the development of un-
fortunate mining conditions?
Does not Gen Hall know full well
that notwithstanding the closure of Il
number of plants of the American
Smettng q Refining Company in Colo
RADIO. smelling rates have been unin-
trrcuptedly reduced on all classes of
those ores whose value by reason Of
ftitins metal prices, became so low as
t. uecessitate such assistance? If he
does not. let him make inquiry Of the
representative mining men of Colorado
iu .il mining districts. The policy of
the American smelling & Refining
Company has been open. consistent
aud helpful and can stand the most
searching Investigation and criticism
of all fair minded men.
In the matter of contracts. the ore
prpiucers are and have been free
agents to make them or not The sched-
ules are no different than they We're
when the smelters were in open com
petition. Can a single instance be
given where a producer has been
forced to sign a contract If it is true.
As has been repeatedly stated by Gen.
HaIl, that competing smelters now of
fer better rates than the American
Smelting & Refining Company on some
classes OF ores. does this not prove
cOnclusively that the American Smelt-
ing & Refining Company has no mon
opoiy. and that the ore producer is not
a. a Disadvantage
At Cripple Creek there are now two
sstnpling companies and they mutually
agreed upon sampling charges years
ago The American Smelling 4 Re-
fining Company has absolutely no con-
nection or interest in either concern.
la Clear Creek. Gilpin and Boulder
counties there is only one concern, the
Chamberlain Dillingham; Ore Company
In this neither the American Smelt
ing & Refining nor any of Its officials
have any interest whatsoever. Mr.
Fred w. Bonfils. one of the proprie
Tire Lions Roar.