Gilpin observer., 1916-02-10

interest ana enthusiasm IN the
work OF the Gilpin County Chapter
Of the State Metal Mining assoc!a-
tion is increasing, as evidenced by
the spirit manifested at the second
in the district court room on Tues
day evening. The quarters in the
Observer building, where the meet
ing was to have been held were
found to be tCo small to accommo-
date the large attendance, so the
court room was selected.
The minutes of the previous meet
ing were read and approved and
Secretary Hazard reported that he
had collected the membership fee
from ninetytwo, who had stgnified
a Willingness to become affiliated
with the organization.
President Sayre was profuse in
his remarks, regarding the interest
being displayed in the movement as
meaning that the citizens of the
county had at last become united to
exert their efforts collectively in
gaining many things that were need
ed for the benefit Of the county.
He said that the principal proposi-
ton before the association at the
present tine was movement look
ing to relief from the unjust treat
ment accorded the miners by the
smelling company and the sampler,
but that this need not end the labors
of the organizat'o on He said there
We're other reliefs to be sought
which it was in the power of the
citizens Of Gilpin county to receive
through collective action.
The principal discussions of the
evening were confined to the smelt-
er and sampler situation, pertaining
particularly to a resolution to be in
troduced by the delegates before the
meeting of the State association in
Denver next week. urging the State
association to go on record as favor
, ing legislative action, placing the
smelters, samplers and ore buyers
under the control of the Public Utili-
ties commission. The necessity Of
having these corporations regulated
by the Utilities commission was set
forth in lengthy remarks, backed by
bundles of data.
w. NJ. Kirk, who like all the rest
of the mine operators of the district,
had a variety of grievances and had
any number of ore settlement sheets
| to show that the ere producer was
not only over charged for sampling,
| smelling, etc, but WIS underpaid fer
| his values.
! p. r. Alsdorf, who has been close
ly allied with tie mining industry
of the county for years, made very
Intelligent talk on the system adopt
ed by the Ameri; an Smelling & Re-
filming company in settling for the
values in ores. He said the system
was unfair and that it prevailed in
just four counties-Gilpin, Clear
Creek. Boulder ard Summit. These
counties. in smelling circles, are des-
ignated as A. S. e. r. territory, and
such has been tie case since com
| petition was eliminated in this ter
r!tory. In other Districts where there
| is competition, tie smelling compa-
ny has more sa 'isfactory system
Of settling for ores. Mr.. Alsdorf
felt that more s-eedy relief could
be obtained by committee from
the four counties aggrieved going be-
fore the officials Of the American
Smelling & Refining company and
showing them TIE injustice of their
method of ore set elements. and draw
ing a comparison between the pay
ments made for ores in these coun-
ties and those n ade in other coun-
ties where the A. S. & r. are buy
ing ores. Mr.. A'sdorf said he knew
OF instances where individuals had
gone direct to the smelter people
and had made satisfactory arrange
ments for ore statements. Mr.. Ais
DORIS suggestion was very good
one and will be more fully constd-
cred at future meeting of the chap
ter.
After much comment on the course
to be purSued by tie delegation to
the State Association in their eff
fcrts to have resolution passed
providing for bill to be submit
ted to the next legislature to place
| SIM e1tPrc carpp'erc opd 0ra h,vare