The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-24
IT IS NOT A SUCCESS
A Magnificent Looking Engine That
Is Weak in Spots.
AT THE GREEN MOUNTAIN
1t Was Guaranteed to Perform
Wonders. but So Far IT Has Only
Caused a Delay in Hosting
Ore-May Be Fired Out.

The immense new hosting engine a
, the Green Mountain mine which, Il
had fulfilled the guarantee of its build
ers. would have been the largest, fines
and best hosting plant not in Butt
alone. but in the entire West, has beer
found TO be seriously defective. and 1
Is not at all improbable that II will
prove a complete failure. The new en-
CINE is guaranteed to hoist a loaded
triple-declSed cage from a depth of 2,4O,
feet at the rate of about 40 feet a sec
ond, and TO run smoothly and perfectly
but during the time that II
has been in, nearly two months
II has not done nearly so much work
as the little old engine whose place II
was to take. nor done 1t so well. IL
Is a massive and magnificent looking
piece OF machinery, but 1t has been
! found to be weak at one of its most
vital points. and on the principle that a
chaan Is no stronger than its weakest
link, the big engine is looked upon as
an almost complete failure.
! The engine was started up on Dec 1.
and Vt has not run altogether more
than 40 days since that time. 1t had
| not been running very long until 1t was
| discovered that the bushings which en-
circle the shaft and go into the rope
| wheels were too light to do the work
of such a heavy engine. A third set of
Dushtngs are now being put in, and if
they do not prove satisfactory the en-
CINE will be thrown back on its build
ers. The engine was built by Webs ter,
Camp d Lane of Akron, o., and its CYL
inder-s are 2Sx72 inches, the largest in
the West.
When this engine was bought" said
superintendent Joe Laird yesterday af-
ternoon as he surveyed the immense
engine with a feeling akin to sadness.
IL was supposed that we were going to
nave the finest hoiSting plant in the
West, and we prepared for 1t. The ex-
cavation and foundation cost $4,000,
ana work was commenced on 1t May l.
we erected magnificent gallows
frame for triple-deck cages and built
nne new hosting works. ~.
"A flrst-class price was paid for the
engine, and we expected a frst-class
piece or machinery, but we haven't got
H. The engine was supposed and was
guaranteed TO run as smoothly as a 10
wheel locomotive, but on starting It up
IL was discovered that one of its weak
est points was that the bushings
around the shaft, which go into the
rope wheels, were too light to do the
work. they got warm and cut the shaft
so seriously that 1t has been a source
OF trouble ever since The engine has
not oeen run to exceed 10 days SINCE it
was put in, and there has been a con-
slant changing of ropes from the new
engine to the old one and back again.
lHere mas been corps of machinists
and helpers around the new engine
ever since II was started trying to keep
" running, but they couldn't do It, We
would start 1t up and find that the
pushlngs got hCt or discover some 9th
er DEFECT and then we would have to
che nge the ropes back to the old engine
again. The busihings are of an inferior
quarry OF brass, and two sets of them
80 Il
Weoster, Camp & Lame are now putting
IN a third set of bushings, and IL they
90 not prove a success there Is nothing |
10 DO but condemn the engine.
The engine looks like a magnificent |
plece or machinery, but 1t don't seem
70 De able TO do the work under the |
present conditions on account of the
small and inferior bushihgs and other |
defects. We don't want an engine
merely to look at, but to do the staple
ana practical work that we have been
uoHng Tor three years with the engines
that we have around u.s.
The failure of the engine to work
perfectly has been a great disappoint-
n1ent 10 us, and has also been the cause
OF considerable pecuniary loss. The
loss has not been in the delay conse-
quent upon changing the ropes from
une new engine 10 the old alone, but in
our decreased ore hoIsting. We have
nad as large force at work since Dec.
| as before, but great many of the
men nave been on top working around
lnfs confounded engine. The result has
been that we have dropped off 30 per
cent. IN our ore production, whereas. If
the new engine had been a success. we
would nave increased our output fully
30 per cent
I'VE had the futile companv build
three triple-deck cages, which are the
1nest In the country, for the new en- |
CINE, and we intended to add another
1eck as soon as II got to running
smoothly. The cages are lying idle al
he hosting works. and it is a serious
question If they are ever used with this
engine"
rs there no way of remedying the
iefect In the engineer inquired the re-
porter.
Well" replied Mr. Laird. 1.-The Tut
lie company Of Anaconda has offered to
'emedy the defect and to furnish metal
" qualify that would wear and give
'atisfactton, but Webster Can1p a.
lane have refused their proposition.
oreferrfng 10 bring their material from
ne East The futile company is well
tole 10 handle the machinery in good
'hape and / believe that they could fly I
his engine 50 that II would work ner-
ectly. They could have taken of the
ope reels and bored them out and re-
)laced the bushingS with heavier and
,etter material. They could also turn ,
he SHAFT down where 1t has been
cratched by the poor bushings and
i've 1t nice surface. The futile COM
AMY has frequently shown what II can
20 win mining machinery. and 1 be- :
feVe that ri could put this engine In
rood shape, and think il is the only :
hing that can be DONE"