Gilpin observer., 1914-01-08
INVESTIGATION Of SMELTER COMBINATION

Recent advices from Washington
regarding the investigations Of Attor-
ney- General McReynolds as to wheth-
er the American Smelling and Refin-
ing company is or is not trust,
state that the field work has been
completed and it is expected that a
report will be made to Congress in
the near future.
If the Department CT Justice made
no closer investigation of the condi-
tions that surround the ore shipper
who is compelled to accept the terms
and price offered by the Guggenheim
outfit, than was made in this camp
by representatives of the attorney
general in a fly-by-night trip here
last summer, we may expect that the
rascally leeches will be again white
washed. The investigation includes
the consideration of the labor condi-
tions in the several plants Of the
Guggenheims.
Former Attorney-General Wicker
sham reported when in office, that
there was no trust in the smelter In
dustry. The A. s. & r. contend that
they have a keen competition with
some source. This is, in a measure,
true, especially SO in Utah, where
they enter into competition with the
l,Ia Df Tnt "
at Tpoele, the United States company
at Midvale, the Utah Consolidated
company at Bingham, the Independ-
ent plant at Ogden and others at ST.
yer City and Bingham. Were we min
ing under those conditions with the
choice of several smelters for our
output, our burden would be lighter.
AS it is, with the exception Of the
plant of the Ohio-Colorado company
! at Salida, which serves limited ter
ritory. and that on a lead basis, we
are at the absolute mercy of the A.
S. "a R. in this state. Accept what
ever Illicit penalties, deductions or
determinations we offer you in set
'tlement of your ores or starve." is
their motto. A situation that every
producer of sulphide ore in this state
has to accept in realizing on his
shipments. The Department of JUS
tice in viewing the situation from
/ the standpoint of the trusts" op-
erations covering several states may
see semblance of competition, but
We who are suffering the robbery of
nearly one-fifth of our mineral pro-
ducts well know that there is no
competitive market for our ores.
The operators and lessees of Gilpin
county request the serious considera-
tion of Colorado's representatives in
congress to the above conditions that
they may be on their guard. should
clean bill of health be given to
the A S. & r. by the Department of
Justice at this session of congress,
that they may demand a congression-
al investigation by special commit
tee that will act without prejudice
and expeditiously.
Compare the situation today with
that of the early nineties prior to
the organization of the A. S. & r.
in 1899 when eighteen competitive
plants combined. Seven. including
the Omaha. Grant, Globe, Eilers, Bi-
metallic. Arkansas Valley and Dur
ango of this state entering the trust
with the Argo and Philadelphia as
sole competitors. Now the Argo is
dismantled and the Philadelphia, ther
owned by the Guggenheims part OF
the existing combination. With all
independent plants that dared to raise
their stacks in defiance of the mon
ster. crushed and throttled.
Prior to the organization of the A
S. & R. numerous public samplers
handled our ores, protecting the
shipper and obtaining the highest
price for them in free market. Col
orado was prosperous. mining. the
chief industry, and the investor clam
ored for a chance to share in the on,
industry whose product injured nj
one. The blight Of the Guggenheim.
like the trail OF the serpent in Eder
is upon us. The fact that we hav,
survived and prospered thus far
proves the stability Of our mines ant
gives us foundation on which t,
build the certainty that far great
er era of profitable mine production
awaits us, just as soon as competi
tive conditions are allowed fire.
field in our midst.