Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1909-12-11
SHUTDOWN AT CALUMET.
Will Maintain an Open Camp - Super,
tendent Makes Statement.


i tendent Makes Statement.
For the first time in many years min.
ing work on the property of the Cont.
mental Copper Mining and Smelling
Company, at Calumet Camp has been
suspended and hundred or more men
thrown out of work. The first intima.
ton of the shutdown was the posting
of notices at the various workings of the
property on the morning Of November
9th, stating that mining and smelling
operations would cease at noon of that
day and that all employees, except top
engineers, would receive their pay by
calling at the Office of the Company.
The notice stated that employees who
desired employment with the Company
when work was resumed would be reg
istered and notice given them when
their services were required. This shut
down following so closely upon that of
the Homestake Mine, whereby $500
employees were discharged, has given
rise to various rumors as to cause.
Superintendent Overpeck makes the
following statement in the Mining News,
of Hill City:
ut is we'll known that The Conti-
mental Copper Mining & Smelling Com
pany have, for many years, been the
largest operators in the Southern Black
Hills, employing large number of men
and have carried on work without a
shutdown Of any kind.
In the carrying on of smelling opera.
tions We have been working our furnace
to its utmost capacity with the expecta-
tion Of making as good a showing as
possible by the first of the year.
1t was found that the furnace and cer-
tain portions of our power plant needed
attention and it was decided to stop
smelling operations for short time in
order to place things in proper shape;
simply repairing and cleaning up pro-
cess, preparatory to going ahead with
even more yigor than heretofore.
Before our intentions had been made
known, a committee from the Union re-
Gently organized among our employees,
waited on me, having for their spokes-
man, a man whom it has since devel-
oped, was in close touch with the officers
of the Union at Lead City. This gen.
tleman advised us that our men were
getting extremely restless and that it
was with difficulty they were prevented
from striking. For some time strong
efforts have been made to compel all
our employees to join the Union and
the talk of the spokesman Of the COM
mittee, who held no Office in the Union,
was along the lines of an ultimatum,
clearly indicating his intention of at
tempting to dictate the business policy
of this Company. This was just prior
to the shutdown of the Homestake
Mine.
Our Company contemplates the ex-
pendture of money, both in mining
operations and in the installation of a
large furnace in its smelling plant. Be-
fore starting In on this work, consider
it the part of wisdom to learn definitely,
the attitude of the employees, by letting
them all go with the privilege of return
ing, if they so desired, when work is
resumed.
1t is our intention to resume work in
the near future. The relationship be-
tween our Company and its employees
has always been of pleasant character
and I will have no difficulty in getting
men to carry on our work. We have
always maintained an "open camp" and
will adhere to that policy. There will
be no discrimination in favor of either
union or non-union men. Employees
may use their judgment as to joining
any union, but any attempt to coerce
them into doing so will not be tolerated.
I shall always be willing to meet and
talk with employees, but will not recog.
nize any Union in the conduct of Com
pany business.