, 1870-12-19
smelling Works-Lcttor from e. V.
tkoobtlls, Esq.y ex-PFcslleat OF the
Chicago HonFd OF Trade,

To the EiiaoT u The Chitaqo Tribune:
SIH: notlced win pleasure the report IN
The TRIBUNE recently Of \ meeting Of some
Of the leading citizens Of Chicago for the
purpose Of considering the feasibility of
erecting smelling and separating works In
your city for treating the ores snd base bull
ion Of this country. I regard it good move
iu the right direction, and An enterprise that
should be taken hold Of By men OF capital and
energy. The mining, milling and smelling
business OF this country Is only in its infancy,
1nd get It il branch Of business Of too much
importance, when considered in ali its besr-
inEs, to ba allowed to pass with so little At
tention as Chicago nRs thus far giyon it-a
fact which is easily accounted for when We
couside. the smount Of deception aud swiu-
ecrupulous and unptincipled men. Chicago
and other EaeteEn cities hare invested large
amounts Of mouey in mines or mining clAlms,
On the representation Of unreliable men.
until the entiro business has bssn brought
into disrepute and ID regarded IA species Of
gambling os \ sTiadlinG operation. But il
any canotd man will CONE to this country aad
examine for himself it's immense mineral
Eeeousces he cannot but be convinced that
miniDg and tho separating Of the precious
metals from tho ore. is \ legitimate, safe, and
profitable business, and bn=iness thRt will
eoon 70 tehAsuea ~ very 0lAe5eusASat than
1t noW ie. But it requires money, energy
economy, and integrity to insure SUCCESS,
The working Of mines, as we'll as the reduc-
tlou Of oree, has been greatly retarded for
want Of capital. In the tirst place, there ara
slose Who are termed proepectors, who have
tsr the purpose Of selling. instesd Of devel-
tp.ng them. Ank il they are 50 fortunate IS
TO be able to sell, 7 Is generally to men who
Of ls have money enough to psrhAlly develop
!hem, 20 as to enable them to get little better
price. The reeult Il, there are but few mines
in the country properly worked. The sua!t-
irg business is in f1et - crude state. Men
ceme here With oniy moueJ sufficient to build
furnace. and perhaps make one 1un OF b1s-
liop- and the first obstacle they meet is, there
is TO re4dy sale Tot their bullion for cash
Wig? Because men Of capital a. yet are not
to be found engaged In tho separating busi-
Mesa Theconsequeuoe is, our ameltars sre
obliged TO ship their bullion for separation,
and wait from sixty to ninety days for
returns, their furnaces standing idle meau-
while, thus loeine latge portion OF the tina.
AoW. II your mooied men will organize \
company with = sufficient capital to build tho
will bear shipment, md alao for Ill bullion
that can be diverted in that direction, they
will secure to Chicago, not only large trade
| in thoee a1ticles, but also "A extensive trade
in the way Of supplies, which is insepaEably
eoun6c&ed VIII IL AuQ WHICH WILL II AL c14ea,
follow the oEe md bullion And / ventura to
| eAy there Is no business In your city that ia
| n ore legitimate, a1te and prodtab1e-and 1t
! would also add another very important branch
| to tho commercial 1ntArests Ct Chicago.
Is to the supply Of ore in this State {Se-
ysda) md the Territories Of Utah and Colo
rado, there j. no limit, and, with cash mar-
let for the bullion, the smelling business
would be Increased tenfold within the na3t
twelve months.
write this letter simply to encourage the
enterprise, it there are those disposed to enter
t upon it-beGeyirg it would benefit Chicago
Eel, n9a etea.e .5 %sxet 1pr our 3!e 49, aaa bullion
| E. T. RoBBtSs.
l Dnr fS-n