Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-12-17

pufities of the ore properly huxed, is
drawn off at intervals through a tapping
hole ut the front of the furnace, while at
the side, through the syphon continual
stream OF lead is running, which carries
alleged with it the precious silver and
gold of the ores. This lead bullion is
received in basins, and thence adled into
ngots for shipment to st. Louis, where
he separation OF the lead. silver and gold
is performed. The Stag drawn off from
the front of the furnaces is received in
large iron pots on wheels, and is thus
handled easily, being drawn to the
edge OF the dumping ground where, after
cooling, the reguus or matte is separated
and saved, as it contains both gold and
silver, while the slag is thrown over the
dump, as it no longer contains ANYTHING
of value.
The matte is broken in fragments and
roasted in large piles and, after the roast
ing operation, is again returned to the
furnaces. There are, for the roasting of
the ores, two large
REVERBERATORY FURNACES,
which are continually in operation. Their
product is smeted with other ores in the
blast furnaces. The power for driving
the blowers and other machinery of the
plant is provided by a splendid l25-horse-
power Porter-Allen engine, and in the
blacksmith, machine and carpenters
shops are every thing necessary for making
all repairs.
The ores treated are drawn from every
source far and near, northern and south
ern Arizona, New Mexico and the states
of Old Mexico. They represent every
class aud variety, from the valuable hux-
ing ores OF the Sierra Mojado to the base
and refractory silver ores of northern Ari-
IONA aud New Mexico.
With such an admixture only can good
and economical smelling be done, and
the enterprise and push of the company
in asserting all the various grades of ore
is to the advantage of the miner ship
ping there quite as much as to their own.
The Rio Grande corporation now owns
these works, formerly the sole property of
Mr., Gustav Billing, who made smelling
scientific business in the west and who
tn hn
of New Mexico than can be estimated.
The list OF officers contains Mr. Billing as
president, Mr.. Justus Jungk as manager
and treasurer, and Mr.. 4. S. Austin as
superintendent. A few hours spent with
these gentlemen and their courteous as
sistants, examination of the works and
inquiries as to the workings of the COM
pany make The most agreeable impression
of business done and the
sKILLFUL AND FAITHFUL MANAGEMENT
under which everything connected with
the company and the works is conducted.
One hundred and fifty men work under
them and 250 names are on their pay
rolls. a years average production is
about $2,500,O00.
The ores are purchased outright and
paid for as soon as their assay value is de-
termined. The business of the company
indicates a decided increase in mining
products in every district of the vast ter
ritory reached by it and where such are
produced.
Coal is brought from Cerrilos, coke is
drawn from Starkvlle near Trinidad, and
Carthage, N. NJ, while the lime and iron
tiux comes from near at hand.
Most of the material used in their opera
lions is drawn from New Mexico as it is
so great in proportion to the ore smeted,
and the benefit to a locality to have
such works established there is very
great.
Socorro and in fact the people OF the
whole Rio Grande valley and of this
territory may we'll be proud of this
of industrial energy and enter
prise.