The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-29
ITS GLORY HAS DEPARTED
Only the Converter Making
Fumes in These Days.
GOOD WORK OF THE PAST
Glance at the Parrot Smelter-Ramb-
ling Old Plant Which May
Never Again Operate
in Full

A number of times in these columns
reference has been made to the closing
down of the Parrot smelter and. for
that matter, it has been made the theme
of very general discussion and specu-
lation throughout this entire section of
the state.
1t is quite well understood that the
Parrot company has been virtually abb
sorbed by the Amalgamated company,
and that the ore of the Parrot mine is
now being treated, partly at the Colo
RADIO smelter and partly at the Anaconda
works. This condition of things natu-
rally makes the future of the Parrot
reduction plant on Silver Bow creek
the subject of more or less conjecture.
Employing, as they did, probably 200
men, the works have been a factor of
no inconsiderable Importance to the
business interests of Butte, and, looking
at the matter from strictly business
standpoint, their closing down is very
generally regretted.
But this feeling is lightened in a
measure by the physical relief that is
experienced from the greater purity If
the atmosphere, for it is universally
conceded that the old Parrot was a ia
nous smoke maker" and contributed
in no small degree to the discomfort
of the denizens of Butte. The reputa-
ton along this line that Butte has OBJ
tained is far from being deserved. The
place is by no means as bad as it has
been painted. Indeed, a person can get
a good deal of comfort out of life even
in Butte, and it will take him a great
many years to choke to death on the
be admitted that they are not alto
gether pleasant, and were it not for the
business considerations involved the
people would view with more or less of
satisfaction the transfer of all the smell
tiers to some other locality.
But few words with reference to
these particular works. 1t has been OBJ
served that fumes are still emanating
from one or two of the chimneys, and
the explanation is simply this: While
the concentration and smelter proper
that is, the blast, roasting and matte
furnaces-haye suspended operations. a
portion of the converter is still at work
upon matte from the Colorado smelter.
Converting, as has been frequently ex-
planned in these columns is the work
of reducing matte to the condition of
pig copper. 1t is, in reality, process
of refining. The matte, which consists
of about So per cent. copper, the re-
arsenic, ETC., is melted, poured into the
converter furnaces and the iron, sulphur
and other impurities either run off in
Stag or blown away in a gaseous state.
until the fineness is raised to 9S1a or SO
per cent. in metallic copper.
In this work there are some 40 men
engaged, II. A. Galway being still in
general charge as manager, with ]. M.
Evans as foreman. Still, so small a
part of the plant is running that the
establishment seems well-nigh deserted.
The works are rambling, having been
built piecemeal, cover considerable
ground and the visitor is by no means
impressed with the convenience Of their
arrangement. For example, there are
two sets of calcining furnaces, COM
pletely separated from each other by
the boiler plant-a large one, by the
way-which lies directly between them.
There are two blast furnaces of about
$50 tons capacity for each, and the en-
tire plant is said to have a daily capa-
city of about 500 tons of ore. The con-
centrator is provided with trummels,
jigs and Whitley tables, besides some
Frue vanners. The vanners and the
Wilfieys are used for the same purpose,
namely, to save the richer shines, but
at this establishments the Wilheys are
considered to have done the better
work. The crushing was done with rolls.
of which there were eight sets.
For roasting purposes there is one
O'Hara calcirfer, two of the Cole and
Gaylord type, and one Kellar and Col
yer improved, which latter, however,
was never used much. There are two
cupola furnaces, in which the matte
Is remelted for the converters. and nine
Brightman and Stoker go horse power
boilers, of which five are now being
used. These attract some special at
tention from the fact that they are
lad NIT f-fa in 10
of a swinging pipe, the simple moving
of which, by hand, let's the coal down
into the furnaces.
There are three reverberatory matte
furnaces, an electric Stag car, dynamos,
generator. air compressor for the con-
verters. elevators and all the usual APP
| pliances for the operation of such
| plants. 1t Is well provided with shops.
| blacksmith and machine, besides an
ample storehouse and an immense shed
| for the storage of coke, of which 10
| tons a day is used when the works are
running in full. At the present time
the consumption is about two tons.
| But the old works seem to have
| nearly, if not quite seen the measure
| of their days so far as general reduc-
| ton is concerned, and these details
| may be deemed superfluous at this time.
| 1t is well. though, to bear them in mind
| and remember the plant in it's entirety
| for the good it has done in the past,
| for it has brought comfort and happi-
| ness to many a humble home. In
| saving goodbye to it as one of the
| great reduction works of Butte, it is a
| pleasure to know that, unlike some of
| the old silver properties, its suspension
| does not mark the decay of an I'M
| portant industry but merely change
| in the working plans of those in con-
| troll
| Good for Old Ontario.
The Salt Lake Herald reports very
imnortant strike in the Ontario mine. 1t
| quotes Superintendent Chambers as say
| ing that the developments on the 1,1o0
| 200 and 15O0 foot levels are proving
| highly satisfactory. On the 1900 level he
| saws an ore body has been struck So feet
| wide, carrying some value throughout,
| and with large streaks which run into
| high values Mr.. Chambers thinks that
| .rraat deaI of the secnnd-class ore will