The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-05-02
THE BOULDER SHELTER.
Il Is the Only One in Montana
Which Treats Pyritic
Ores.
Built by Helena Men Interested
In the Cataract and Basin
Districts.
Liberal Donations Of Land From Jefferson
County Panpie Who Assisted in
the Enterprise.

The Sentinel says IL has long been q
troublesome problem to the nina owners in
the western mining region, what TO do with
their low grade pyritio ores. In Jefferson
county, wherc the greater portion of thu
ores consist largely Of pyritic ores, carrying
a small percentage OF lead, together with
gold and silver, IT has been impossible tc
find a market for this class of ore. There
have been but two srneltors in this country
which treated this class of ore, one Of them
having its works in Colorado and the othe.
in the Black Hills in South Dakota. The
heavy freight charges. together with the
cost OF treatment, has deharred the local
mine owners from shipping any ore.
The attention Of some Of Helena's cap
itAlists, who are interested in the Cataract
and Basin districts, was drawn to the fact
Of our having such a large amount Of
pyritic ore, and they determined to erect a
smelter for the treatment Of this class OF
ores. They organized under the corporate
name of the Boulder Smelling company,
and made propositions to tho citizens of
Boulder, which were accepted, and our
people donated liberally in land and other
respects, Rs thcy believed that anything
eAAS NGACItp OSAIcA - CCuLltv WILL 6uEbiy UG
of benefit to Boulder. The Boulder smelt-
ing company, up to this date. has expended
several thousand dollars in their plant.
The smelter is situated one and a half
miles south of Boulder, close to the Elk
horn branch of the Northern Pacific rail-
road and is we'll provided with ample rail-
road facilities. The plant consists OF a
we'll equipped sampling works, laboratory,
boiler and blast furnace, and smelling fur
mace buildings. together with ore bins mi
everything necessary for the complete re-
duction Of pyritic ores. In the aampling
works is : sixty-fve horse power Atlas en-
zine, two ore crushers aud one sot Of Cor
nish rolls. In tho laboratory is as COM
plete IN assaying outfit for analytical az
saying as there is anywhere in this country.
In the boiler house are two enormous boil
ers, which furnish the necessary power. In
one end Of the boiler house stands the blast
furnace and this furnace is the main factor
IN the reduction Of pyritic ores. It ia divided
into three compartments. I'M consists Of a
series Of nine heavy pipes or stoves in
cased in brick, in each compartment. a
rotary pressure blower forces the air
through these pipes, which arc heated from
the ire places below, and when the air
leaves this furnace, to say the least, it Is
warmer than satan's %dominions. Formerly
in the treatment OF pyritic ore, il was Gus
tomary to slowly roast out the sulphur; but
in this process the sulphur is used as .
fuel instead Of being wasted, and thus on
ables them to treat the ores with less fuel
than by any other known PROCESS.
In the furnace room is a ninety ton
Fraser d" Chalmers water jacket furnace,
with removable bottom plates, which en-
ables the repair Of the furnace with but
little expense. The blast furnace and
smelling furnace are each surrounded by
a labyrinth Of air and water pipes. The
company has already received several car
loads of ore, which has been sampled and
placed in their ore bins.
The ~snnelter will probably be blown in
greater prosperity for Jefferson county
than she has ever known in the past.