The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-01
THE YEAR IN ANACONDA
Never Before Vas the SmaltaT City in
Such Splendid Shape.
BRIGHT SIGNS OF THE TIMES
Figures That Give the Reader Some
Idea of the Magnitude of the
Operations at the
Smelters.

The city of Anaconda has enjoyed dur
ing the year 1894 a season of unparalleled
prosperity. Anaconda was ambitious this
year and did not get all that she strived
for, but by the striving she found her
strength. Building began early in the
spring and continued until late in the
fall. Many fine residences we're erected.
and more coy cottages, the homes of the
workmen who MAKE the city great.
Real estate transfers amounting TO
$4,000 were made during the year. 1t
was prosperous period, as is evidenced
by the fact that on the tax list there was
but 81, 1888 delinquent in the city of Ana
conda, and also by the fact that the holt
day trade passed ali previous records.
There arc many improvements pro-
jected FOR the ensuing year, and when
spring opens the work will at once be
begun. Several new business blocks are
already planned. the Hearst library will
be erected, the Anaconda Brewing COM
pany will spend $4,000 in charging the
present plant. MacCal.um q Cloutier IN
tend building several new residences and
tenement houses. The Masonic order eX-
poets to erect n hall, and there are many
more projects that might be mentioned,
II owners were willing TO dlvuige their
plans to the public.
few interesting statistics were gath
the work done in the Anaconda smelters
during the year past may DO formed. For
the 10 months which ended Nov. there
had been treated 747, 500 tons of ore,
shipped from the Butte mines at the rate
of 20 tons to the Car load. This ore pro-
duced 75.5l5 tons of matte, in which there
was about 60 per cent. copper, amounting
to 1886 tons. There was converted AZ, 213
tons of copper and 5,298 tons refined.
About the works during the year there
have been steadily employed from ,200to
1900 men in all departments.
There were used from Jan. l to Nov. 80
22l,OS4 tons OF coal and 68,754 cords of
wood. The coal came from Rock Springs,
Sand Coulee and Belt, divided as follows:
19o.2l6,5OJ pounds from Rock Springs aud
2i6,95z,6SO from Belt and Sand Coulee.
he wood brought from EllIston amounted
TO 30,157 CORDS and from the Bitter Root
valley 80 ,597 cords.
Lumber is no small item and around the
smelters and converter there have been
used this year 100000 pounds, and in
Butte 9O,OOO,Oy0 pounds. 1t is estimated
that lumber weighs about three pounds to
the foot, and il is therefore judged that
the grand total of lumber handled,
amounting To lO3,990,6i pounds, will net
in feet given in round numbers 3J,OO1,O0.
Radical changes have been made in the
refinery during the year, the old system
having been abandoned apd the Thofehrn
plan, as used in France, adopted. The
inventor, Hermann Thofehrn, has been
in Anaconda since last March and is Civ
ing the construction of the refinery his
personal supervision. The cost of the
change cannot yet be told. as the work is
no' complete and will not be for some
weeks yet.
Superintendent Dougherty has made
few changes in the lower works. though
he has made extensive repairs. Twenty
three matte furnaces have been built at
an expense of 5000 each and go fire
boxes have been refitted for burning Belt
coal instead of wood and Rock springs
coal, which has been used heretofore.
Tho converter is a new institution which
was only put into operation this year.
There have been in use eight sets during
the summer and five new ones have lust
been built and placed in position. A set
consists of a cupola and two stands re-
quiring six converters. The plant now
has a capacity for handling 100000
pounds of copper each month. Supt. II.
w. HlXon has also just had a silica mill
built on the west end of the building and
thereby enlarged the floor space in the
main building. The immense converters,
weighing II tons, are shifted from place
to place by an electric travelling crane.
and the work formerly done in Baltimore
is now accomplished in Anaconda with re-
suits that are most satisfactory. The
upper works are now idle except that
some copper is being melted there, but in
the spring II is expected that this smelter
will also &c put into operation.