Anton
Eilers was named managing directorUnited Smelting and Refining Company
In late 1889, Anton Eilers began to talk to the big mining companies about a possible merger; however, the enormous financial challenge a merger of this magnitude would create, terminated the talks. He spoke to Samuel Hauser about a possible merger.
On July 22, 1890, Eilers, Hauser and others incorporated the Union Smelting and Refining Company in New Jersey. Two months later, the name was changed to the United Smelting and Refining Company.
Anton
Eilers was named managing director
Two
months after the merger took place, problems
erupted between Eilers and Hauser. Eilers had been having ongoing problems
with the quality of the coke and coal being supplied by the Livingston Coke and
Coal Company, a subsidiary of the Helena and Livingston Smelting and Refining
Company. Due to the inferior nature of the product, Eilers reluctantly
signed a contract with Livingston Coke and Coal. In retaliation,
presumably for his reluctance to sign the original contract, Hauser sent ore
from one of his other mines to Washington for smelting, rather than to Great
Falls as had been promised. One year later, Eilers broke the contract and
signed a six month contract with another supplier. Hauser was incensed and
named Eilers "the most selfish, insincere man that I ever met".
He characterized the Great Falls smelter as valueless and demanded that Eilers
be relieved of his duties as managing director.
By
late 1895, Anton Eilers resigned as managing director.
In 1899 the United Smelting and Refining Company sold their assets to the American Smelting and Refining Company, which was incorporated in New Jersey. Anton Eilers was a director on the initial board of trustees. To supply the Great Falls smelter, mine leases were purchased in the Neihart/Barker area. Unfortunately, shipments were not enough to keep the smelter open and it closed indefinitely in 1901.
© 2008-2009, GS Productions. All rights reserved.