Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-03-22
BALTIMORE AND CUBA SMELLING ASn
MINING COMPANY

One OF those great manufacturing Interests
such as should incite the pride of all interested
in the prosperity of Baltimore, as well as the
State at large, is the one named at the head OF
this article, and which in its heavy outlay OF
capital and great extent, excels any in the
United States, perhaps in the world. Covering
several acres of ground and large water front
in the eastern section Of the city, the details
of its working will probably interest the most
of our readers, since few can be indifferent to
the method of producing a metal which enter,
so largely into the every day business of life,
whether in its uses as coin, or the more homcly
purposes of household implements.
The works in question are comprised in q
range of immense sheds, underneath which
are the furnaces III which the ores are '.smelt-
ed the extensive Hues which pass off the
smoke extending to two brick towers, or
stacks, a little distance on one side These
furnaces are eighteen in number; and here,
any day, the workmen-nearly two hundred
in number-may be seen converting the Grade
ore into the purer metal, into ingots, bars an.
where.
We have spoken Of the extent of these
works. When in full operation, they turn out
thirty thousand pounds of pure copper per
day; the crude ore being put through seven
different processes before the dross is finally
separated from it. Seventy tons Of coal are
consumed each twenty-four hours in this way,
q suggestive fact in relation to the incidental
labor employed to mine, transport and handle
so vast quantity.
Then Tor the ore. About one-half to two
thirds of that used at the works is from Chill;
the balance is supplied from our own State,
from Cuba, Canada, Vermont, New jersey,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Ten
nessee and California. The last named State,
in its production of copper, bids fair soon to
rival Chill, whose great capacity in that par
ticular we have noted of late The ore
which comes from California--we may men
ton right here-is particularly rich in quality.
The Michigan product is what is commonly
known as 'Lake copper" Of which little OF
none is produced from mere ore, being formed
in the mines in the form Of what is termed
"native,n or almost pure copper, and is sent
to Detroit, Cleveland and other points, not to
be "smelted, but ''refned.i The Baltimore
works exclusively smelt from the ores, pro-
ducing nearly as much pure copper as the
entire lake product; and considerably more
than all the smelling works on the Atlantic
coast combined. The employment given TO
the shipping Of Baltimore by this vast estab-
llshment may be understood when we state
that the freighting business in ores and the
resulting product alone, employs annually some
seventy ships. Let the reader consider this
fact in connection with the large numbers Of
men employed to supply-in one way or
another-the works with coal, and we begin
TO get glimpse Of the Importance of these
works in putting in requisition the labor OF
this and other States and countries. Such
works as these are not only benefit to the
community where they are located, bat they
constitute a national benefit, as WELL in adding
to the trade and commerce of the country.
But there is a point we desire to make right
here in connection with this matter, which
ought to claim consideration from the Govern
ment. Whilst England is careful not TO lax
the ore of Chill, but rather does what is pos
sible to foster trade with that country. We
understand that it is in contemplation at Wash
ington to put tax on the importation of the
crude material, something which in this par
ticular case could have only the worst possible
effect, as ii would go well nigh to cxtingrlish
the small per centage Of trade, compared to
others, We as a nation already enjoy. The Sims
which bring from Chill the ORE return TO them
manufactured goods, in great variety; giving
thus an outlet TO G0ttonS and other product
of industry here. trade we shonld do all We
can to extend, instead of taxing measures 10
curtail. Fortunate as we are ii having the
very best article in the way of coal for s!nclt-
ing purposes, let the Government do what it
can to enable US to compete with England in
matter so essential to the national prosper
ity. With Chill already favorably disposed TO-
ward this country, it is fine opportunity 10
develop trade which wise craftsmanship should
regard, and which we cannot believe-with
the facts understood be disrcgardod at
Washington.