The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-29
IN THE UPPER SHELTER
Enlargement of the Reberbera-
tory Matte Furnaces.
PRESENT OUTPUT MATTE
Changes in Contemplation at the Roast
ing Department-Two Four Story
Wetheys May Be
Erected.

The improvements at the upper works
Of the Anaconda company are moving
on rapidly. The IS new jigs mentioned
last week are nearly completed, and
good start has been made on the second
series, which is to consist of IS more
The new carpenter work within the mill
is upon such a scale as to at once at
tract the eye of the visitor, and be-
tokens changes of no small Importance
in the operation of the plant. Mean
while, under the foremanship of John
Moriarity. the mill is pounding away.
turning out concentrates as usual.
The enlargement of the capacity of
the concentration of necessity implies
some changes in the smelter, where Ed
O'Brien is in charge as foreman. Here
the work is not quite so patent, but
none the less important. The plant is
provided with 40 revolving Bruckner
roasting furnaces, each with capa-
city for handling Is tons of concentrates
every "a hours, making 600 tons a day
for all. There are besides four Wethey,
two-story furnaces, each 100 feet long
and with a capacity of go tons, making
240 tons for the set of four.
These furnaces are all being run very
nearly to their maximum, and 1t is
quite plain that with the capacity of
the concentration largely increased
there must be something like cores
ponding enlargement of the roasting
department. There Is, in fact, much
talk along that line.
In the old No. l building. which con-
tains the Wetheys, matte furnace is
being torn out, which, with the space
already vacant. will give a clear stretch
of about $50 feet that can be utilized for
roasters.
1t is reported although not authorta-
lively, that two additional Wetheys
will be put in, each of four stories, and
with a capacity of perhaps 50 tons
day each-a very substantial increase.
The 40 tons of concentrates which
two such furnaces could handle, would
represent not far from 500 tons of ore.
The belief expressed concerning the
prospective enlargement of the roast
ing department finds much confirma-
ton in what is being done with refer
ence to the matte furnaces.
The matte department is equipped
with 10 reverberatories.
Recently one-half of these have been
greatly enlarged The changes are
made as the furnaces give out and are
laid up for repairs, the last one to be
enlarged having been finished about the
9Th of the present month. The change
consists in adding eight feet upon the
front and two feet on the rear of the
furnace, thus increasing the length
from, about II feet to Y.
1t is estimated that the change adds
80 per cent to the capacity OF the fur-
mace. As they now stand, these ten FUR
naces will turn out lao tons of matte
every "a hours. The same change is TO
be made in the five smaller furnaces,
which at the ratio given should add
some is or 20 tons of matte to the daily
output of the plant
This indicates that the works are eN-
pected to turn out more matte, to the
extent of nearly one-third above the
output before the enlargement OF the
furnaces began.
Therefore. while there is no authority
for the statement the conclusion is quite
natural that the roasting capacity Will
be increased in something like that
proportion, which in turn means that
the Upper works as an entirety VIII do
about one-third more work.
Such is the roominess of the various
structures that this might be done
without the enlargement of a building.
In illsutration of this may be mem
toned the fact that the lengthening of
the matte furnaces has taken place
without the slightest crowding of the
building in which they are located.
The statement already made to the eff
feet that there will be $50 feet OF clear
space in No. L building for additional
roasters is suggestive of the ample pro-
portions of these great buildings. The
one containing the reverberatories Is
said to be 600 feet in length. and those
in which the Bruckners and reverbera-
tories are located cannot be very much
less.
1t will be in the highest degree inter-
esting to watch these improvements,
for they mean much to the general in
dustry of the state, and to the welfare
Of Anaconda in particular.