Bisbee daily review., 1908-03-05
Douglas, March 4

Douglas, March A,
Editor Observation-Disclosures:
That the mining men Of this coun-
try must get together on all vital is
sues affecting the mining, shipping
and treating of ores there is no long
er any doubt. In many states In the
union there are antagonistic interests
at work directly effecting the well be
ing of the producer of ore. AS one
medium sized shipper remarked the
other day, it is time something was
done. Some five years ago the Ameri-
can Smelling and Refining people
made contracts with the big produc-
ers which were very favorable. and
cinched only the little fellow" but
as the years roll around and old CON
tracts have expired and new ones are
entered into, each year sees a gradual
Tightening on the shipper, and the
1908 contracts, in many instances,
mean a situation little short or con-
fiscation of the properties. At this
time Helena, Montana, is experiencing
the iron grip of the combine to such
an extent that movement is now on
foot to build an independent smelter
For several years the exploration par
ties of the trust have been busy in
Alaska, locating as rapidly as money
and men could accomplish it, the
choicest things in the territory. The
profits of the allied smelters have
been devoted to purchasing stock in
Transportation lines of all kinds, in
and leading to that territory, until now
in 1908, the mine owners of the entire
II Of a n
fsolnte control and domination of the
| trust, and from the moment one put:
| foot on the steamer at the wharf IL
Seattle, and all the time he is gon'
and until he again steps off onto thu
wharf, he is under the continued ser
VIGILANCE and exposed to the never end
ing extortlons of the Guggenneims
until the situation has become posi-
lively unbearable from the independ
ent mine owners point of view. II
| Utah the relations of the operator
| and the trust are strained TO thu
bursting point. The operators held
largely attended meeting in Salt Lax
| in January of this year IN order q
| devise ways and means to get from
under" One way to disentagle som
of the snarl is to segregate the item
| Transportation" and treatment,
there is more in just this one poin
than many a shipper has eve
| dreamed. OF course the mine owne
| is the farmer" of the mineral world
! He always is forced to ask, Wha
must pay my men; how much 10
my powder, fuse steel, caps, car
track, timber, machinery and all ott
er supplies. And when he has ore t
ship he must get down on his "praye
I sticks" and humbly inquire, "HoN
much will you allow me for my ore?
Never does he dictate anything, VI
less, fortunately, he is hooked up f
uancially so that, like Napoleon, h
can make" circumstances. Supposed
" we are suffering from a "financia
depression" From smiling, sum
-"unexamp1ed," the labE
was-we were suddenly plunged int
the darkest kind of adversely, and W
are told that he latter condition no'
| exists. The cost of labor and con
modities has fallen. Thousands of i'd
men and cars abound. Decreased raj
road and other earnings are the rule
But. in the face of all this, the "pov
der trust" has in many districts &C
yanced the price of giant powder 2
per cent. = Now, what do you knoN
about that? Isn't this nice lemo
to be handed the mine owner? Agar
We read now the the railroad report
coming in where it is claimed tina
thousands of cars are stored on sid
tracks, hundreds of engines laid o
the shelf; hordes of railroad men lai
off, etc. Has anyone had his ca
sufficiently near the ground to hear G
any announcement where rates o
non-competing lines had been reduce
sufficiently to do the shipper any good