The people's voice., 1959-01-30
CONTINUED From Page One)


they lacked in numbers, they mad,
up in thoughtful, to the point argu
ments in favor of the bill. Proponent,
included Ernest Salvas, representing
Mine-Mill Legislative Conference: DR.
G. d. Carlyle Thompson, executive
head of State Board of Health; Arthur
Peterson, Silver Bow rancher. repre-
senting Silver Bow Fluorine Commit.
tee; Sen. Eddie Dussault. Missoula
county, and the aforementioned Rob-
ert (David) Emmons.
Somewhere in between opponents
and proponents was DR.. John SAT-
ford of the Livestock Sanitary
Board who made a few inconse-
quential remarks and then skittered
for a neutral corner.
NEED FOR BILL EXPLAINED
Ernest Salvas led off for propon-
ents of HB "a, briefly explaining the
bills sections, defining the term pol
luton, the protective provisions for
existing industries while they gradu-
ally work toward elimination of air
pollution and contamination, etc.
SaIvas also consulted charts pre-
pared by the State Board of Health
showing how respiratory cancer,
particularly in mining and smelling
counties has been on the upgrade
since 1850 as compared with the
period 194O-5O.
The union official quoted at some
length from testimony given at the
congressional subcommittee hearing
conducted in Butte last year by Cong.
Lee Metcalf, which placed emphasis
on the cancer-causing effects of silica
dust, arsenic, lead, zinc and other
fumes. He said that federal studies
show that Deer Lodge county (Ana-
conda) has 1874 times the national
average of deaths from respiratory
cancer; Silver Bow has As times, and
Cascade, Az times the national aver
age.
DR.. Thompson started off his pres
entation by stating that someone
must take the initiative to find a solu-
ton Y. to this unsolved air contami-
nation ;" problem here in Mon
tana. He said legislation was equally
to research and education
in seeking solution.
Thompson referred to the Grenora,
Pa, "smog" tragedy of 1948 which
killed more than twenty people, and
to the even greater 1854 London,
Eng, "smog'' tragedy. And he said
the u. S. Public Health Service has
found that ''air pollution contributes
to cancer of the lungs ="
and a number of other ailments direct
ly related to the human respiratory
system.
The public health specialist also
referred to the substantially higher
incidence of lung cancer in Mon
tana mining-smelting counties as
compared with the balance of the
state and the nation as a whole, and
he said that Grenora calamity is
altogether possible here in Mon
tana.
The Board of Health, he said, has
been aware of and had a growing in
crest in air pollution the last couple
If years; an interest which has been
heightened by repeated complaints
# livestockmen in the Silver Bow
lrea over fluorine fumes given off
~ the Victor Chemical works which ,
lave caused material damage to their !
lerds.
Although pointing out that his
'oard would like some few amend
nents to broaden the administration
# the proposed act to include other {
gencies concerned, Thompson said he
vas in agreement with the funda- I
nental purpose of HB "a which is I
!. to protect the health of the t
eople of the state :" I
q
Ranchcr Peterson said the chemical
reduction process at Victor requires
reat heat. The heating process in
urn drives off many different gases f
rising from the processing Of phos- s
hate ores. A major one of these is
luorine gas which is very active in
ne air. s
He explained that in the fall of t.
956 cattle growers in a ten-mile h
adius of the Victor plant began no a