The daily sentinel., 1899-07-22
Grand Junction ms Smelling Point.

quently observed and set forth in print by men
both in and out of the metallurgical profession
that it is not expected here to add much to the
information that already prevails upon the sub
| ject. A thorough examination of the field, how
ever, by those contemplating the erection of
| smelter works here, has served to bring into
special prominence the following reasons why
such enterprise at Grand Junction could not
! fail to meet with the most gratifying financial
success:
| Grand Junction is sufficiently distant from
the present smelling points, Denver, Leadville
and Pueblo, easily to draw to itself the output
of rich and productive mining region, impor
tant sections of which are the territory adjacent
to the towns and cities of Leadvlle, Aspen
! Ouray, Telluride, Gunnson and Lake City, in
| Colorado, well certain mining districts of
Utah, which now shipping ore for treatment
to smelling points hundreds of miles east of this
| city.
| 1t has an inexhaustible supply of water, and
a topography adapted to its easy utilization
and the arrangement of n smelling plant for
economical working.
| 1t is now the terminus of five railroads, and
| the Grand valley is the natural highway west
ward for other trunk lines terminating in Den
yer, but whose surveys have been projected
| through Grand Junction; condition which
guarantees reasonable freight rates on bullion
eastward.
Its proximity to fuels, for roasting and smelt-
/ ing purposes, would give its smelter great ad-
| vantage over those which now take both ore and
| fuel from the vicinity of Grand Junction, hun
| dreds of miles over the mountains to Denver
| and Pueblo for treatment. Its position is par
| ticularly good for drawing to its smelter the
variety of ores necessary for desirable smelt-
| ing mixture, The miners of the western slope
of Colorado, who have so long struggled under
the burdens of freight charges made necessary
| by the present long haul over the range to the
| smelling centers would rejoice in the erection
| of smeter at Grand Junction regard it
| home enterprise, and give it their hearty sup
| port.
| Fire clay and lime, for construction. near
| at hand, and the ordinary brick of the city are
| of good quality, shown by the fact that they
| are being used by the Colorado Sugar company
in the building of its plant.
| The question of freight rates and fuel
| to the smelter, and on bullion from the smelter
| to the reiineries, is one of great Importance.
Having faith in the promises of fair treatment
| made us by the railroads, and believing, more
over, that that which is equitable and to their
interest in this matter must prevail, glance at
| the map of Colorado and Utah is encouraging.
We find that and fuel would. generally
speaking, move down grade in coming to Grand
Junction, and that the of supply
are nearer to Grand Junction than to Denver, by
the following distances respectively;
Leadvile, 100 miles.
Kokomo 100 miles.
breckenridge, 100 miles.
Red Cliff, 1870 miles.
Gunnison, $50 miles.
Lake City 200 miles.
Aspen, 220 miles.
Ouray, 30 miles.
Telluride, 270 miles.
Utah lead region, 400 miles.
Tintic Utah, 800 miles.
The fuel from New Castle and Cardiff would
come over uninterrupted down grade to
Grand Junction, distance less by POO miles
than it is now hauled to reach the smeters OF
Denver
The presidents, chairmen of the board of d
rectors, and managers of the railroads centerinl
in Grand Junction, have repeatedly expressed
themselves desirous of doing what they coulc
to foster the enterprise, and equitable treat
ment to freight rates has been verbally prom
: ised by all of them. The matter of rates, how
9 ever, will be found easily adjusted when til,
| erection of smeter becomes n certainty, ant
. | the people of Grand Junction can declare thei
|. city smelling point The railroads will Sc,
!. the advantages to themselves in the upbuildin.
of a large community, the creation of dis
tributing point and manufacturing city on til,
d western slope.
Coal for roasting can be taken from the Litt
Book Cliffs, near Grand Junction. from New
Castle where there is slack enough thrown ava
every day to roast the ores of a large smeltn
plant. Coke for the blast furnaces of the bes
quality made, would be supplied from the oven
. at Cardiff, Colorado, from Castle Gate, Utah
, from both. 1t is believed that coaking Goa
also may exist in Little Book Cliffs. Coax i
, four dollars ton at Cardiff, and should be lai,
down in Grand Junction for less than six dollar
per ton. For long hauls rate of one cent pc
ton a mile, on coax and coal for smelters, ca
~ be obtained The cost of coke and coal is O
N such great importance to smeltcr that the ad
e. vantage of cheap fuel is selfevident.
There would be necessity of running an
barren flux at Grand Junction. The Aspen ore
would supply sufficient lime. Iron ores woult
come from Leadville, and silicious ores iron
Lake City. Ouray, Telluride and Utah. TIL,
: latter places would also send considerable iron
4 and Lake City would ship lead ores.
: The lead mines of Utah, which now find theil
i pended upon for full supply of lead, while, il
y necessary, there would be no difficulty in draw
I ing lead ores from Idaho.
Ore supply.-In this connection only the five
leading mining points tributary to Grand juno
tion, will be mentioned. The others enumer-
ated above, while not shipping much ore at
present, may increase their shipments upon
further development, and when better smelling
facilities offered In one year, for example,
Leadvi!le Aspen, Lake City Ouray and Tellu.