Montana labor news., 1944-03-30

SJIuCJluIl Ol Jlle ulBll SCHOOL DullQlQg.
I do not know whether any payment
has ever been made to the district by
the Butte Copper and Zinc company or
by the Anaconda Copper Mining com
pany that are undermining the south
portion of the town for the Garfield
school or not, but whether or not some
payment has been made it has doubtless
been made on such terms as the mining
companies adujudicated was sufficient
and we are powerless before any jury in
Silver Bow county to assert the rights
of the district for the loss of the Gar
field school building; that is doubtless
water over the dam, which will never
turn the millers wheel However, 1 do
suggest plan for saving the high school,
and that is that you request the Bureau
Of Mines Of the United States to imme-
diately investigate the underground
workings of the Emma mine It is quite
probable that if such investigation re-
veals that the high school is about to be
injured the War Production Board
would agree that there is no such imme-
diate demand for manganese in the
prosecution of the war as requires it to
purchase through the Metals Reserve
company any manganese from the Emma
mine It is probable that sufficient
stock pile of manganese has been pro-
duced to enable the Metals Reserve COM
pany to cease buying any product Of
mining operations which are destroying
millions of dollars Of surface improve
ments.
Many other people have been injured
in their property by the workings of the
Emma mine. A recent trial reveals
that there are three escarpments ex-
tending through the southwest section.
of the city Of Butte, roughly, from the
north side line Of wyoming street to the
north side line of Travona street, some
what above Silver street, and the ground
affected being 800 feet wide. Some of
these persons affected have requested me
to present their grievances to the Bureau
of Mines and the War Production Board
in Washington, and expect to do this
about the middle of next month. It
might be of financial benefit to the dis
trict if you would arrange for some rep
resentative Of the school district and its
board Of trustees to join in requesting an
investigation by the Bureau of Mines of
the underground workings of the Emma
mine, and a petition that if the manga
nese stock pile is sufficient from other
| sources to have the Metals Reserve COM
pany cease buying manganese from the
Emma mine, which is resulting in a
widespread destruction of property, for
which there is no redress in the courts
because Of the peculiar situation Of
Butte-that is, that the Anaconda COM
pany has such influence with jurors Chat
it is not possible for private persons OF
the school district to obtain a verdict
against that company, regardless of how
strong the evidence may be.
may add that the seven children OF
Mrs. Maury and myself have all gradu-
ated in the Butte public schools, and as
we now have eight grand children COM
ing on we still take an interest in the
welfare of the schools here, because some
of them might attend these schools.
If the high school grounds embrace
any portion of the Nellie lode, then the
school district doubtless owns the min
eral title, as well as the surface, because
as to the Nellie lode, the townsite title
carries the mineral rights.
viii you be so kind as to reply, and il
you will permit or desire, I would be
glad to explain this situation at greater
length in one of your meetings.
Respectfully yours.
LOWNDES MAURY.