Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-10-14

sifted and sorted by machinery, crushed
by heavy stamping batteries or BY the
rolls, afscr which it is carried directly
to the amalgamating pans in which it
is kept constantly In motion by ma
chinery, passing through tie eight pans
In four hours From these the pulp
passes into settlers, which clean up the
charge of 1000 pounds in four hours
more. The mass is then retorted. The
average cost Of an average mill in Ari-
zona was from SO. IL to $500 per ton
Of ore.
"The improvements in lead silver ex-
traction have been perhaps more nota-
BILE than any others. Prior to 1874 these
ores were reduced by amalgamation as
ordinary dry ores. About that time 1t
was discovered that this silver could be
far more easily extracted by process
of smelling. Following this discovery
came the great development of Lead
Vile and Pueblo in the early eighties
The essentials Of this method Of extrao
ton are: () The smelling Of the ore in
an ordinary blast furnace; (2) the CON
centration Of tho silver into much
smaller quantity Of lend; (3) the sepa-
ration of the silver in cupeling fur.
mace. The blast furnace has been great
ly improved during the last 25 years.
"An important feature Of the general
Improvement in the silver industry has
been the rapid introduction Of electric
| ity into mining operations. The use Of
tho electric light has greatly facilitated
all processes carried Oh within tho
mino. Electric power is also employed
in hosting orc and IN pumping, with
| tho very best results both as regards
cost and convenience. Electricity can
be transmitted long distances with only
q small loss Of power, and it is thus
| possible to use power Mt such distance
| from its source ms would render it other
wise unavailable. Tho Importance of
this improvement can be better realized
when we consider that one of the
greatest obstacles which mining, espe-
cially in Mexico, has to encounter is
tho difficulty Of obtaining fuel for pow
or, owing both to the lack Of transpor-
tation facilities and, where these exist,
to the high charges for hauling coal
from tho United States. Where water
power exists within radius Of 90 miles
1t can DO used for tho transmission of
electric power to a silver mine. The
economy Of power IL very remarkable
At one set OF mines in Mexico, those
operated by tho Real Del Monte works,
electric power is obtained from Rcgla
Fol trn rod frn,t r. IN Of mi los
to work pumps, hoists stamp mills
crushers and ventilators
1T is obvious that the results Of this
long series of improvements in silver
mining and silver smelling have been
greatly to lower tho cost of producing
silver. These improvements have doubt
less to some extent been accelerated
by tho falling price of silver, which they
have also tended to produce. 1t was not
to be expected that tho great advances
which have characterized every other
department Of industry would not affect
tho production of silver, and 1t should
DO remembered that there Ia no reason
to believe that this march Of improve
ment will be stayed. To take but one
illustration: II the experiments in tho
utilization of the direct heat of tho sun
nre ever successful, tho smelling of all
kinds Of ores will DO completely revolu-
tionized. Tho problem Of fuel will have
been solved.
''The second and most important ele-
ment Of the production of silver is the
supply of ore" Mr.. Meade here notes
tho many largo deposits # silver, prao-
tically inexhnustible, left in different
parts of tho world, and tho probability
that under now methods Of mining and
smelling tho output Of many mines will
greatly increase.
"a third factor in the supply of sill
7or which has doubtless exerted n con-
siderable influence is tho silver stand
ard prevailing in Mexico and tho Cen
trail and South American silver coun-
tries Tho miners wages AFRO paid and
most Of the supplies arc purchased in
terms Of the silver standard. Domestic
prices and wages have not varied with
tho price of silver, and by consequence
tho fall in silver has not affected the
profits OF mino owners to tho same OK
tent as in tho United States This fact
has placed mining operators IN silver
standard countries ut IN advantage IN
competition with their competitors in
the United States and Europe and has
doubtless to some extent increased tho
supply Of silver, though wo should DO
careful not to exaggerato its impor.
tanco,
"To summarize this portion of our
study: We find that tho increase in the
supply Of silver, which has boon the
main cause of it's fall in price, has been
duo to tho application of improved proc
osses and appliances to series OF orc
discoveries extending over tho last 80
years, and that this advance Of improve
ment has constantly lowered tho cost of
producing silver
Humpty Dumptys Great Tall.
4 w..