Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1898-05-07
ette+o+s+e+s+s+s+srs+s+s ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
s. Mining Department. :;
FUTURE OF COLORADO MINES.


~ - very IN view OF the Ad-
vancement in Handling Ores.
William s. Ward, as mining engi-
neer and practical miner, has been
prominent in Colorado since the early
days. and he Is recognized authority.
Concerning the future of the great
mining industry Of this state, he said:
The material prosperity of Colorado
Is going 10 be largely dependent upon
improvements in the methods of con-
centration and reduction of ores, re-
duced cost of transportation and re-
duced cost of machinery. Much has
been done on these lines, and the result
is that thousands of tons of ore that
once would not have paid the cost of
transportation TO the smelters are now
| shipped al profit.
The reduction in the cost of ma
chinery and the improvements where
by greater economy is achieved have
also been great. For instance, a stamp
mill that used to cost $1,000 per
stamp can now be bought for $500 per
stamp. Transportation used to be
charged for at the most extrayagant
rates; now, owing to the improved IA
cilities and the larger volume Of traf-
ne, railroad rates have been very
greatly reduced.
Now, about concentration. Lead
ores which in the old Leadville days
commanded a treatment charge of $40
to $15 per ton, are now welcome at the
shelters at mere nominal figures.
Looking for reason for this great adj
vantage, we find several. Competition
of the railroads and smelters doubtless
has had much to do with certain
phases of the matter. Then. again, the
rapidly increasing gold output enables
the smelters to obtain valuable sill
cious ores, which will enable them TO
raise the percentage of gold in their
lead bullion. Otherwise the percent
age of gold in silicious ores would not
in many cases be sufficient to pay for
extraction
Now undoubtedly the improved and
more rapid and more economical meth
DDS of concentration have very much
to do with encouraging the mining of
class OF ores which formerly were
not marketable, owing to the excess of
foreign matter which they contained,
mention might be made also of the rap
Id advances and improvement which
has ben made in the local transporta-
ton. That is, so-called wire tramways.
So greatly have these been perfected
in recent years that the ore wagon
with the necessary construction of
ioadways to the mines Is being replaced
by the bucket train.
another advance still in infancy
and yet giving promise of very mater
ial advantage is the use of gasoline
engines in place of steam. We have
in gasoline a force so compact in char
acter as to be readily transported and
very easily set free in convenient me-
chanieal form. Finally, perhaps, as the
most promising and significant of all
matters connected with mining in Colo
RADIO at present is the freedom from the
market of those strictly speculative fea-
lures which have done so much to
injure the legitimate industry.
MEN of capital have become much
more critical and exacting in their de-
mands and look to the owner for a
plausible demonstration of the value
of the properties offered. As result,
when purchase is made and develop
ment undertaken, it is along practic-
able lines and subject to the same
rules as relate to any other legitimate
industrial enterprise.
81 do not believe there is any room
between capital and the barren ground
except for the prospector. A company
would not be successful in exploring
virgin ground. 1t requires the indi-
vidual faith, hope and self-denial of
the prospector to face the discourage
ments in a new district and stick to his
hole in the ground. in spite of all OBJ
stacles until it is proven to be either
valueleSs or mine.
"The railways could do great deal
| by an early and prompt investigation
of the claims made for new districts
contributary to their roads by publish
| ing such information as will attract
prospectors and will yet be free from
the unreliable statements of parties
whose interests are largely associated
with town lots and things of that char
acter This was undertaken by the
Gulf road and the result was unques-
| tionably very satisfactory. When
work like this is undertaken great care
must be observed to have 1t free from
any indication of individual preference
regarding special properties so that
| the statements may be accepted as rot
only reliable, but absolutely unpreju-
diced.
''There is a field for development
companies that will take hold of new
properties that look well and proceed
to work them. There are great mum,
Der of good propositions in this state
which are adding little or nothing tc
| the mineral output, which, however
would produce heavily If they We're in
the hands of people who had money to
buy machinery and do development
/ work.
Every recently / received a letter
| from friend of mine asking how sucl
n company should be organized. l re
piled that the company should have q
| capital of 100000, either in bank oil
subscribed by men who would respond
| promptly when assessed. A man who
! knows something about mines should
| be sent here with say $4,000 in his
pocket. He should get hold of a loca
! man who is familiar with all the dis
/ tricts and get him to show him some
/ of the propositions he regards as good
/ IL he finds something that pleases him
| let the agent of the company put up 1
| few hundred dollars for two-weeks
| option, then take samples of the orr
/ and have it assayed.
-. Il