Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-18
COPPER MINES LANDED UPON
Anaconda Shelter Subjected to In.
junction by Government.
PLANT S FUMES NJURE FORESTS
~sulphurOus Gases Destroy Natures
Gardens, and Besides, COmpany's
Methods are Unnecessary,
Recites Bill.

WASHINGTON. March dissatisfied that
the present methods Of operating its smelt-
ers by the Anaconda Copper Mining com
pany are not only destructive in widespread
degree to the surrounding natural forests,
but unnecessary, Attorney General Wicker
sham today caused a bill In equity to be
filed at Helena, Mont, against the COM
pany. The bill asks for a permanent In
junction to compel the company to operate
its plant at Anaconda in such a manner
as TO end the destruction.
The company has resisted the demand Of
the government that the methods Of smelt-
ing be changed and among other conten-
lions has represented that 1t would cost
millions Of dollars TO do so, besides the
loss accruing from the temporary shutting
down Of the plants. The attorney general,
however, announces that the suit will be
pressed vigorously, unless, as he hopes, the
company will cooperate voluntarily with
the government to bring about a termina-
ton Of the existing conditions.
FRENZY Acton of No Avail.
At the Department Of Justice the state
ment was made that the suit was not filed
until every possible friendly method had
been exhausted.
Amendments to secure accession Of the
injuries from the smelter were under way
some time before the close of President
Roosevelt's administrations. and the min
ing companies were then notified that suits
would be brought unless definite action
was taken by the smelters TO stop
the wholesale destruction OF the for
ests, resulting from the distribution OF
aulphuric fumes over a wide area Of the
Instead of attempting to remedy
the situation, the companies, II is declared,
represented to Mr.. Roosevelt that they
could operate their plants in no other
manner than that then in use.
President Roosevelt ordered a full lnves-
tigation and took a personal interest in the
hearings. The claims advanced by the
Anaconda company, under which they
sought to avoid being sued. it is declared,
were not new, but we're identical with
those made in two other suits under which
similar injuries were stopped, one case be-
ing by the government against the Noun
tain Copper company in California and the
other by the state of Georgia against the
Ducktown, Tenn, company,
Company FOresees Ruin.
In each of these cases II was claimed
that adverse action would mean the clos
ing of .-the mines n smelters and the
discharge of thousands Of men. ~InJunc-
tons, however, were granted in both in
stances, but neither mines nor smelters
were closed. Instead, the companies spent
the money necessary to convert the harm
full fumes into a valuable product and
many additional men were given work.
On behalf of the Montana smelters the
contention was made hat they could not
convert the fumes into acid as had been
done in California, but a full investiga-
ton of this claim by leading experts has
satisfied the government of the entire fea-
sibility of converting the fumes at Ana
conda into acid and that there are large
phosphate deposits near there, which may
be- used in connection with such acid in
the manufacture Of fertillzerss1,a e 7.