Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1875-03-04
RICHMOND REFINING WORKS.

After a number of tests of the newly
erected refining works on the grounds
of the Richmond Mining Company,
the success of the venture exceeds the
most hopeful anticipat'ons of the orig
inator of the project, Managing Di-
rector Edward l.. Probert. The COM
plicated and massive machinery works
with the utmost accuracy, each por-
ton performing its allotted work with
out jar or hindrance to the other, and
reflects the highest credit on the me-
chanics employed in sitting the same
in such a skillful n But one
third Of the machinery to be used at
the refinery is now in position. An
other set similar to that o in opera
ton sill be up in a month, while a
third will he ready during the coming
Summer. The London Mining Jour
nal, speaking of the new branch of
industry, says: Hitherto all the gross
bullion produced at Eureka has been
forwarded either to New York or to
the Germania works, in Utah, t o be re-
fined. 1t thus takes nearly three
mon MS after production to obtain the
cash for it, and a large floating capital
therefore was necessary to cover the
interval. and this was obtained in
great part by mortgaging the bullion
to the bullion agent, who charged one
per cent. per month for his advances.
In orderio avoid the heavy freight ex-
penses nd the long delays in ~realiza-
ton, the company decided to erect
their " refining works at Eureka,
and after much investigation adopted
the ROzan proc ,sS, so successfully
worked at the Pontgibaud worxs, in
France, and at u of the leading
smelling establishments in England.
The Rozan process, though requiring
a costly plant, Is cheap and simple in
action, and therefore peculiarly suita-
bic for such a district as Eureka. 1t is
estimated that by refining its own
bullion the company will save $40 a
ton. aud realize The produce in three
weeks instead of three months. The
works of the refinery will soon be in
operation. and 1t will soon therefore ne
proven what they can effect. AS the
annual produce OF bullion IL about
5000 on 5000 tons, the direct saving
estimated will be large, but the indi-
| rect advantage Of rendering a much
smaller floating capital sufficient will
prove of great moment. The inter-
vening roadway between town and
the terminus OF the Narrow-Gauge
railroad j. a favorable portion Of the
route, and the now shortened dis.ance
for teatning will treble the value of
any interval OF fine weather. The
roads in October and November were
30 soft a to seriously interfere with
traffic. The stock of bullion began
therefore to accumulate, and the loss of
interest ON 1t would have been rather
a serious item but for the great inn
provement OF the reads during the lat
ter part of November, a. when thus
harde ned by frosts the roads are in the
est condition for leaning.
Since the purchase Of the property
in 1871, bv the Richmond Company,
considerable variations have occurred
in the quality and quantity Of the ore
developsd: and the ledge proved to be
very srrslic In section and in plan. oc-
casionaily lifting itself up and running
horizontally tor some distance. and
again re>uming its normal dip. From
the meiIce ment IL began 10 spread
in width ~ depth was attained till II
became nearly 2D0 feet wide. The
enormous mass consis ed OF various
qualities and descriptions of ore, some
of n poor, irony character, containing
gold AMI silver; Others, ~carbonates
composed of lead. silver and gold; the
latter occurring chiefly In bands and
streaks, assaying from one-haif to ten
ounces per ton.