The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-02-01
But Admits Entering into Ger
tain lndenture with a
Mining Company.
AN IRON ORE LEASE
Is Admitted But Action is
Only as a Lessor for Ger
tain Purposes.

TRENTON. y. j.. Jan. 29.-Wa!ter
J. Hin. Louis w. Hin, James n. HIN!
and Edward r. Nicholas who. as trus-
tees Of mining interests, we're named
with other defendants in the anti
trust action Of the government against
the United states Steel Corporation
and subsidiary concerns. filed their
answer in the United States district
court here today
They deny that they have engaged
in any confederaey in restrain Of,
trade contrary 10 law.
The defendants admit that on jan
uary 2, 1907. the West Mlssabe Land
Company, limited. and certain of the
other defendants entered into GER
tain indenture with the Great Western
1 Mining Company OF Minnesota, which
lease covered certain pieces of land
containing or supposed to contain
large tonnages OF iron ore. They aver
that they became parties 10 the lease
solely as the agents Of the lessons for
certain particular purposes specified.
They deny that the defendant, j. H.
Gruber, joined IN the lease as trustee
or otherwise. They admit that the
performance Of the stipulations OF the
lease by the Great Western Mining
Company was guaranteed by the
United States Steel Corporation. They
admit that the lessee agreed to mine
the ore upon the terms of the lease
and ship it over the Great Northern
Railway, paying therefore royalty
and that it was provided that the
lease might be surrendered on Janu-
airy /. 1915, on giving at least two,
years previous notice in writing.
The defendants deny that they be-
came parties 70 the lease with the in
tent Of preventing the ore from. being
mined and sold to Independents or to
prevent the ore from being utilized
to build up a new and dangerous
competitor to the United States Steel
Corporation in the iron and steel bus,
mess. They deny knowledge whether,
the United States Steel Corporation
had any such purpose in view, They
deny that the practical effect OF the
lease was to forestall competition or
10 increase to any undue or improper
extent the United States Steel Corr
poration's control OF tbefere resources
of the country or to destroy or fore.
sian competition in iron ore. They
deny that the royalty agreed to be.
paid was unprecedehtedly large or in
any wise in excess OF the true value
Of the considerations granted by the
lease.
They admit that by the execution Of
the lease the position of the United
states steel Corporation was strength
ened but they deny that they became
parties to the lease with any intention
10 strengthen the dominating or other
position of the United States Steel
Corporation or for any purpose other
than the desire TO turn to account in
legal and proper manner the propSI
critics and assets owned and con-
trolled by the lesser company They
deny any intent to shut off competl-
ton by preventing the establishment
of n competitor to the United States
steel Corporation or to secure to that
corporation an undue power over the
steel business by controlling the
source Of supply of ore by taking it
out Of the market or otherwise, or to
~estrain trade or commerce or to
create monopolization within the
meaning Of the Antitrust Act or
otherwise.
The defendants aver that whatever
the effect of the lease may he, or be
considered to he, the defendant COM
panies were innocent parties thereto,
we're not participants in any guilty or
Illegal purpose or intent Gf any such
purpose or intent existed), which the
United states steel Corporation or
the Great Western Mining Company
entertained or may have entertained.
They deny that any system of in
terlacing or interlocking of director
ates exists or ever has existed where-
by any of the defendant companies
we're parties 10 the lease, are or nave
been officers or directors of the
United states Steel Corporation or Of
any other constituent, subsidiary or
controlled companies or whereby any
Of the officers or directors of the Steel
Corporation or allied companies be-
came or are officers or directors Of
any Of the lesser companies,
They deny that any of the defend
ants have at any time participated at
any meetings under the auspices of
the United states Steel Corporation
or otherwise, or of Representatives Of
any percentage or portion Of the iron
or steel trade " the United states;
and they likewise deny that in any
direct or Indirect way they have par
tIcipated in any such meetings or in
amy exchange Of Information, COM
mon understanding or expressions Of
opinion or concerted action or de-
claratlon Of intention or policy laid
ont. or concensus Of nplnian or agree