The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1894-01-05

nary methods of refining the copper at
best is &.6 fine. The anodes when
brought to this building are not
quite pure containing alleged metals,
Every four days these anodes while
in the vat are taken up and
washed to remove the alleged metals
and hasten the decomposition of the
plate. This electric application is an in
%novation in copper refining, making it
possible for the company to save all the
silver and gold contained in their ores.
The electricity used in this building is
furnished at the power house by
means Of three Thomson-Houston dy-
namos as already stated. The current is
conveyed to the e~lectrolytic house 1900
feet distant by A half-inch copper wires.
In constructing this line carrying the
current, there was used 81 900 pounds of
copper wire ard 1900 porcelain insula-
tors. In addition to this, in the electro
lytic building itself $4,000 pounds of
wire was used carrying the current
along the tanks. and 25,000 pounds for
smaller connections. The tanks are lined
with lead, and it required 444 900 pounds
of that metal for the first covering.
The Slime Drying Room.
AS stated before the residue left in
the watts in the electrolytic house is
called shines. consisting largely of gold
and silver. When the watts are emptied
these shines are fetched to this room
which is next to the boiler house. Here
they are thoroughly dried in a large
boiler, preliminary to the final process.
On these shines being dried they have
.,l1nh tho onnQaronnn nf tho rinhocf crpl-
phuret ores found in Neihart and else
where. After leaving this room the
shines are then taken to
The Silver Building.
This building is 3Ox7O feet. In the
operations carried on here copper is
not a factor, it being no longer present.
Gold and silver are the products.
The product is made after thorough
refining into ingots of about fifty pounds
each, and is then ready for shipment.
Other Buildings.
With the above remarks l have taken
the reader from where the crude ore ar
rives to the last stage of refinement. OF
cours there are other buildings neces-
sary to operations carried on such gigan-
tic scale. Among these is
The Machine Shop.
This is a general machine shop with
three distinct apartments, employing a
large force of men.
The Warehouse
is situated on the hill near the general
offices AMI close to the railroad track.
In addition to these are the bunk
house, boarding house, and general store
on the hill above the dam. West of this
are the private residences of the resident
officers of the company. At the extreme
east end of the company's land quite a
village has been built near the riverside,
where a large number of the employees
make their residence.
Railroad Transportation.
This is furnished by the Great North.
ern railway, which has a spur running
on the west side Of the river. Opposite
the Fifteenth street bridge this spur hi
sects, one track following the riverside
the other running along the bench t.
the upper works. At the works are nu,
merous switches at points where re
quired, and close to these will be OBJ
served bins almost innumerable for thu
receipt of coal, coke, lime, fire brick
sand, etc; and near the machine shop
stands of iron in different forms in guam
tity sufficient to stock a wholesale hard
ware warehouse.
The Works Practically Completed.
The works are now practically com
pleted for the work originally intended
and are in full operation, a praisworth,
policy Of the company being to emplo,
men Of families when practicable.
In addition to the smelling and refining
Of their own ores, the company are ais
treating the matte Of the Butte anC
Boston company.
1t is the rumor on the streets that tb,
works Of the company will be extended
in q few months 70 as to embrace tn,
erection Of a copper wire plant, which
in these days Of electricity will withou
doubt be q paying proposition.
The work at the present time give em
ployment to 600 men, with q MONTH,
pay roll Of upwards Of 3
Conclusion.
The successful result which has beel
arrived at by the operation Of thi
gigantic plant, has been emphasized b
the declaration Of prominent mimi
journals that it has been now prove
that copper ores can be treated at Gres
Falls at a saving Of ~ to 2 cents pr
pound in the net product, as compar
with the treatment at other places.
With the great abundance of waite
handled by a power which once bull
practically costs nothing for its continu
ance, it enables a company to appl
every means possible for carrying til
percentage Of concentration to th
highest possible degree. 1t is state
by the best authority that the giant cor