Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1891-12-18
ORE
TINE COST OF REDUCING 1T BIT
THE WASHOE PROCESS 81
PER HOUR.


The "Nigger In the Woodpile."
A suit of great interest 10 mining
men has been on trial for some time
in San Francisco. 1t was brought by
NJ. w. Fox and others to endeavor
to compel the Comstock mill ring to
disgorge some millions of dollars
stolen from stockholders IN the ma.
nipulation Of ores. The evidence
shows that the returns vary from IS
to 80 per cent. of the value of the
ore. the remainder geing to the mill
ring.
John w. Mackay was on the wit
ness stand in the case few days ago,
and in answer to plaintiffs attorney,
replied:
II have several superauous millions.
I deal in money, cables, ETC."
The examination proceeded, as fol-
lows:
care you interested in the Consoli-
dated California & Virginia mine?"
81 am"
"In your experience on'the Comstock
what was your percentage of pulp
assays returned on the ores?"
"About Is per cent.-sometimes
higher, sometimes lower"
"Were they ever as high as sc or
So per cent?"
"Yes, sn."
Have you not known the assays to
60 over 100 per cent?"
"Yes, when the ore is rich, as it
sometimes happened in the case Of
the Consolidated California & Vir-
ginis."
1T 1889 tons Of ore assayed at the
mine as being worth $4,000, and
were returned from the mint as being
worth only $4,000, wouldn't it show
that the ore was not properly han.
dled?"
"Cer'ainly."
"Isn't something wrong when assays
at the mine show $72 per ton and are
returned from the mill as worth only
S4O?"
"Certainly, there must be. The
difference should not be over 10 per
cent"
"What is the average cost Of milling
ores on the Comstock?"
"From $3.50 to Sc per ton."
elbow much should ore be worth
to work it profitably?"
"Not less than SIS per ton"
"lf you were to discover great diff
ferences between your mine and mill
assays, would you continue to send
ore to the mill without asking an ex-
.planation?"
Il would not give ore to millman
who is not a responsible person.
There should be confidence between
the mine and the mill. The settler
sample would show whether the mill
was treating the ore correctly"
"What percentage of the car sam
Piles should be returned by the mill?"
"Not lower than Is per cent.
When there is great difference the
only way to adja matters is to COM
pare the battery and the mine assays"
"Can ore be miled at 50 per ton?"
"No; the actual cost is about 81
per TOM
Mr.. Mackay's replies are doubtless
true to the letter; but it is to be re-
GREETED that Mr.. Baggett, the at.or-
ney for the plaintiffs, was not suff-
GENTLY informed of the details Of
milling to have elected more precise
information. If he had been he
would have shown that ore is some
times run through, though possibly
this would not be called ''miling"-
at cost Of less than 81 per ton.
In the milling of Comstock ores the
cost depends upon the length @! time
the pulp is left in the stsam-pans. If
the pulp is only boiled one hour or
less the cost Of milling is less than -.
But for every additional hour that the
ore in the condition OF pulp remains in
the amalgamsting pans the cost Of
milling is increased very nearly 81
per ton. Thus, if the pulp is steamed
two hours the cost is 81; three hours,
*3-and SO on. This is, of course,
with average one. There nigh. be
special runs Of freer or more refractory