The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1891-02-07
Assuming Practical shape.

The late articles in the KEYSTONE
urging tho miners to form them.
selves into a company or organize.
ton for the purpose of establishing
or procuring = plant and smelling
their own ores, has had the effect
of calling out letter from gentle.
man in New York who feels per.
sonal interest in the matter, in
which the statement is made that
the plant now here can be purchased
on good terms and at q reasonable
figure. His impression is that the
property can be purchased on the
installmsnt plan. and in such 4 way
that the profits of the business will
suffice to make all bat the first
payment. If this 10 true it is GER
tainly temptation for our claim
owners to come together and organ.
ize and make an effort to help
themselves. Nothing could be lost
and much might be gained by such
q course.
As matters stand just now the
outlook is not hopeful. The late
advance of 10 per cent on ore rates
will debar any but the owners Of
the very richest ores from shipping
their products to Eastern smelters,
and "a there are no other smelters to
ship to, the ore, if taken ont Of the
mines, must lay on the dump. But
the fact is that mine owners can
not take ores out and must shut
their mines down. This fact, how
ever, while interposing = serious
obstacle to the business of shipping
ores to Eastern smelters, oncoura-
ges home smelling and should be
taken advantage of by our mining
men in way to make it rebound
greatly to their advantage and the
advantage of the state. Ketchum
offers facilities to the smelling in
dustry unsurpassed on the CONT
nent. The fuel is here in abundance
and cheap.
The required fluxes are here
iron, lime and lead-the latter in
excess.
Late examinations into the con-
stitution of our iron pyrites indi-
cate the presence of gold in them
in quantities sufficient to pay for
mining them and delivering them
at the smelters. This being go will
still further cheaper the smelling
process at this place.
The prosperity of the camp as
we'll as the value of its mines de-
ponds, and must continue to depend,
for two or three years yet, upon the
problem of home reduction of ores.
If this can be done mining will
again become a remunerative bust
ness at Ketchum and mines will
have a respectable market value.
And we believe it can be done. The
freight rates charged at present
ST. per ton-equalss the average
value of ore mined in any country
on the globe. By owning the smelt-
ers and reducing their own ores at
home SIT per ton is saved, and in
addition to the legitimate profits OF
the Eastern smelters, may be placed
to the credit Of profit on home work.
"Where there is a will there is a
way"
Everything is possible to him
who labors with persistent determ-
ination to win"
Every dollar paid out for trans
porting ore to Omaha or elsewhere
is so much paid for "dead horse.
Money paid out for the procure.
ment of smelter is money invested
at a good rate of interest.
By effecting an organization Of
mining men and others interested
We believe a smelling plant can be
procured and operated at this place
successfully; and we trust the read
ers of the KEYSTONE will give the
matter that consideration its i'm.
portance seems to merit.