Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1888-01-07

1
ing with the mining questions which
have confronted them. They have
found it necessity when the supply
CT ore from outside mines was so pre-
carious as formerly to run and work
their own mines, SO as to keep their
smelter in operation. But, un.
fortunately for them, the claims which
they bought in were not extensive
enough to afford lasting supply of
pay ere, and it would appear that
their time has been largely spent in
waiting. They have, f1om time to
time, bought a great many PROJECTS,
some of which have turned out i'll, but
an uncommon!y large percentage have
proved good mines, although not
nearly sufficient to keep their i'm.
mense Ketchum plant in operation all
the time. OF late however, having a
favorable freight rate on bullion ship
ments (sl5 per ton, while raw ore
pays *2O), they have been able to
keep up active operations. Their
shipment of bullion in Oatober, 1887,
was $50, 900 pounds, or ! G5 tons
The ordinary mode of lead smelt-
ing is followed, the ore being treated
in blast furnaces of large capacity.
The works are situated on Wood riv-
er at the mouth of a gulch, upon
whose side, at short distance away,
are several hot springs, of powerful
flow, which furnish enough water to
produce motive power for tho various
blowers, rock breakers, elevators, etc
and the water being still quite warm
when it arrives at the turbines, there
is no Inconvenience from freezing.
This is very exceptional advantage,
indeed. The buildings are very com
plete, having been added to as occa-
sion required, until now they are not
surpassed in extent by more than
three or four smelling plants out of
the hundred or more to he found in
this country. There are beehive char
coal kilns Oh the ground for supplying
fuel, although proportion Of coke is
used, which is shipped from Colorado
Iron ore for flux comes from Chase 5
mine on the East Fork, few miles
from the sm"lter. The most peculiar
lime lux is used. 1t is calcareous
sinter, mineral spring deposit, form.
ed in immense quantities by the set.
ting free of carbonic acid on exposure
to the atmosphere of saturated So
luton Of bicarbonate of lime which
originates in the tremendously thick
limestone strata Of the Wood river re.
gion. The substance is soft and pu.e
lime carbonate, at least as we'll adapt.
ed for use as flax as the purest mar
BILE would be. The ores heated are
almost entirely galena, with a per
centage of quartz ore gangue, the on
ly exceptions being very small
quantities of pyritous concentrations
from few mines, such as Tahorra Al
Atlanta, and a larger amount Of hand
sorted dry tirst.class silver ore from
the Sawtooth, Bayhorse, Yankee
Fork, and other northern districts
, The galena predominates heavily, ant
in former years a vast deal of irot
r matter was formed which, as at th'
{ Portland and other establishment.
y which do not have facilities for roast
ing, carried away considerable silver
and thus caused losses. At ketchun
: iron ore is more expensive than i
usual at smelters doing Il large bust
ness, and this material being used il
the proportion of over one ton iron or,
to three galena, compelled the adop
ton Of a system of previous roasting
S whereby the sui phur was got rid 0
, and the lead oxidized and placed i,
, good condition for the blast furnace
: The four roasters built by the com
! pany are of reverberatory pattern, di
vided into healths, and ars of tw
= sizes, two having a capacity of twelv
) tons per day each, the others of eigl
. tons. The fuel is used in coal an
> wood. The galena of several mine
: is contaminated with zinc sulphide
which interferes both with roasting
: and smelling. This is particular
= true of the ore of the Carrie Leonar
mine, very heavy producer, situate
:, in Smoky district, the ore proving S
) refractory that further consignment
have been refused, although the min
!, was lately furnishing large propo1
ton of all the smelter's receipts. TIL
grounds and works are very extensiv,
" The ore sheds have capacity for Sc,
= eral thousand tons of ore, being divd,
>. into bins, with overhead roads for cor
" veying the ore to the desired spot
: and elevators for handling it witho,
" trouble or labor. The furnaces use
=. eiyhtyinch Raschette water jackets
y the Denver style, the same in desig
:" as those of the Omaha & Grant SINE
\ ter. They are two in numb'r, on|
:. one being in use at present. The OF
" supply on hand is very short, the
- being almost daily prospect that II
. works will have to shut down.
= The charges for treatment at the
!" magnificent works is rather more thu
Is, $50 per ton, even for galena, one