The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1870-07-26

northern terminus of Montgomery ave-
nue., that is to be. On the bay there is
ample wharf frontage, with depth of
water sufficient to accommodate the ves-
sells engaged in bringing ores and crude
bullion to the works, and carrying away
lead and silver. This bulkhead wharf is
being steadily pushed out into the bay
by the accumulations of Stag and other
matter-real estate being thus created at
a rapid rate. A railroad for hand cars
extends through the works to the water
front, serving the double purpose of con-
yeying market lead to the vessels at the
wharf, and for dumping the refuse col
lections at the brlkhead. The works,
which are indicated from considerable
distance by large stack, are approached
by plank road laid through the sand
drifts which here reach nearly to the
shores of the bay Formidable notices
of No Admission, posted over the gate
way, remind one that the inmates are
supposed to know how to keep their own
counsel.
OUTLINE OF THE PROCESS CT REDUCTION.
The entire works are under the gen.
eral supervision of Prentiss Selby, son
of the proprietor, who. from the begin
ming, has aided in bringing them to their
present state of efficiency, and who has
recently returned from a short visit to
examine the smelling facilities in the At
lantic States-a tour ofinspeetion, which,
it may be added, showed that the bust
ness as conducted in San Francisco is far
in advance of any Eastern competition.
The immediate Superintendent Il. W.
Thompson), who entered upon his du-
ties when the works were yet in an ex-
perimental condition, explained to MS in
detail the various processes. We do not
propose to risk violating confidence by
an attempt at description. Suffice it to
generalize by stating that the ore, landed
at the wharf, is brought by railroad into
the works, where it is crushed, sampled
and prepared for caleining; thence itgoes
to the blast furnace to be smelted; thence
to the refining furnaces, where it is
cleared of its base matter; thence TO the
desilvering furnaces which separate the
silver from the lead. Here II splits
and takes two directions-the lead going
to the refining furnace again, where it is
converted into market lead, is stamped
with the proprietor's name, and is
piled away ready for shipment. The
residue from the desilyering furnace
goes back to the smelling and thence to
the cupel furnace, where the small per-
centage of lead still remaining is ex-
tracted, leaving the silver pure, or nearly
so. This is melted again in crucibles, to
still further refine it; for although it
comes from the cupel furnace 990-l000
fine, which is suitable for the purposes Of
the Mint, il is not fine enough for ship
ment to China, where the standard is
996- 1000 The perfection TO which this
art may be brought is shown in one lot
of 10000 ounces, which assayed nine
hundred and ninety-nine and three-tenths
one thousands fine.
oENEDAL yIEw OF THE WORKS.
Upon entering tho works, the visitor
is impressed with their extent and the
amount Of business transacted. A pow
erful engine carries the blast furnaces
and crushing mill; and far and near,
through the smoke, the heat Of intense
fires, the clash of iron implements, the
glare of furnaces, and the clank OF ma
chinery, indicate n hive of industry,
where science and labor are intelligently
combined to unlock the treasures of the
mine to the purposes of trade and COM
merce. Everywhere the attention is
called to interesting and instructive pro-
cesses. In one furnace we are shown
about 6,000 ounces of melted silver.
From others liquid lead is being ladled
into molds placed in rows ready to re-
ceive it. Beyond, streams Of red-hot
litharge are being run from cupelling
furnaces. In another direction pyra-
mids of pigs of crude bullion are being
carefully sampled, by clipping of with
ehisels pieces from the corners and
edges Further ON gang of men are
piling up l,200 pigs of market lead,
weighing 1l5 pounds each-the results
Of one weeks work. In a huge iron safe
are stored quantities of silver in sheets
and heavy fragments, ready for transpor-
tation to the United States Mint. Near
one of the desilvering furnaces is piled
mass of silver 'dross' (the residue which
has been separated from the lead, and
carrying from | 200 to 1,50O ounces of
silver to the tun), awaiting the process
of the cupel furnace. The lead, after
each melting, is run into pig-molds, and
is conveyed TO the successive furnaces
by a system of miniature railroads,
branching off in all directions to distant
parts of the works.
THE AssAYISo DEPARTMENT.
Following our conductor, we enter the
assaying department where exists all the
most approved modern appliances for
dispatch and accuracy. This depart
ment is scene of scientific industry, in
which many interesting experiments are
made in furtherance of the object of the
works.
FLuxEs.
Situated over the main works, and
reached by an inclined road, is an extern
sive platform on which are collected and
arranged the various substances which
are fed down as fuxes into the smelling
furnaces below, in quantities as required
such as scraps and cuttings of iron
and other metals, lime, and a general
mixture of the bi-products of the works
-dross, agglomerated ore, ETC., which
are worked over and made to serve a
profitable purpose.
DIFFICULTIES ORIGINALLY ATTENDING THE
ENTERPRISE.
The remarkable success now attending
the works was only reached through
years of heavy outlay and careful study.
The idea that smelling is simple affair."
requiring only the throwing in of the
ore and the running out of the metal, is
effectually dispelled after the examina-
ton of the intricate procosses-the skill
and experience required in the business.
To an uninitiated spectator there is n
o Z A A.. IL. = II
metal pouring from flaming furnaces
these pools of molten lead confined with
in margins of glowing masonry and re-
ilecting like mirrors the delicate and
ever-changing colors produced by the
mysterious action of heat and chemicals.
In these smelling works fourteen furna-
ces are kept constantly employed, and
that number will be doubled as soon ms
the supply demands it.
DISBURSEMENTS AND PRACTICAL RESULTS.