Mohave County miner., 1914-03-21
Facts Brought Out at the Cop. per Country Congress
 sional Investigation.

James MacNaughton, general mana ger of the Calumet X Hecla, and of dozen companies subsidiary to that company, gives the congressional in- vestigating committee much interest ing inform ation about ths great busi- ness under his control. He is the star witness thus far. and the attorneys for tho strikers improved to their utmost the opportunity to give him an sx. haustive grilling under cross-exami- nation. The chairman of the commit tee even felt under the'necessity of ad- monishlng Attorney Hilton, who has gift of sarcasm, to be "as polite as he can."
 MT. MacNaughton made the asser. tiOn that he took deep personal interest in the miners, that he had many warm personal friends among the underground men, whom he great ly admired, and that hs felt sure tho employees had no scruples in going to to him direct for the redress of griev- ances, Congressman Casey had his doubts whether workman with 10, II or l2 children families even run as high as Is here) would want to take chance on losing his job by going to the big chies himself with kick.
 You don't know our men, respond ed the general manager. "He would come and bring all his children, even borrowing few others, if he didn't have enough of his own."
 It was evident, from the testimony of MT. MacNaughton. in reply to ques tious, that the properties he repre-. sents devote a great deal of attention to dynamite gases in the loose rock, for instance: Mr. MacNaughton said it seemed to be nitrous acid gas from the powder. which was released when the loose, damp rock was stirred up, and caused headaches among the men. He said that a great deal of experi- menting was done to meet the demand of the mines for a powder that would give off such gases, but in the mean time the men are instructed after a blast to let the compressed air that runs the drills blow to drive out the smoke and gas. He maintained that in general the air and ventilation is good.
 Another thing touched on was tho temperature in the mines. In the conglomerate it is hotter than else- where. The company has made a study of this subject. Deep holes have been drilled and slow register ing thsrmom eters have been sealed up in them for weeks and months. In the Tamarack mine the hottest record was found in October, 1909, on the 39th level. It was S9 degrees. The ordinary temperature here is Sl to S4, and the amygdaoid veins 55 to 70.
 As landlord the company is pretty easy. It owns 764 houses, appraised at 9Sl ,5OOS, although they cost about 25O,0OO$ more. The average annual expenditure for repairs is 6l.22S 97$, and the income from rentals is 61, ,S63$, leaving a net annual income of 634$. Employss who wish to build thelr own houses can lease large lot for 5$ a year, which includes garbage removal. There are about 1000 such leases The company has also built F school houses at cost of 52,27O.3l$, and leases them to the school district for Ill., 026. .6SS-about 3 per cent. There are some very fine stone churches in the copper country, and the company has helped to build all of them.
 There is great deal more of it, but it would be long story. For instance, employees of 20 years service, on reaching the age of 50, are pensioned, or given jobs which amount to pen sions. This company carries charity account and spends l00$ month just in hauling free coal to the widows. Every widow is kept track of.-Mining and Engineering World.